A Place To Lie In

[Drew Stephenson]

Bit of a preview on something I've been working on recently.
https://soundcloud.com/blinddrew/a-plac ... r9cECzWTZl
It'll be going properly live in a few months as I've got my SOS album submission set up to go next week and I like to stagger these things out.

[awjoe]

I like it. I'd've had less outro, but that's just me. I'd've changed nothing else - I like how it builds and opens up, and how it feels.

[Folderol]

Very emotive song, very well paced

[Arpangel]

Just listened to this, tears in my eyes, not the desired effect this morning, this is powerful stuff.
Maybe a bit slower, a bit darker, just my opinion.

[tea for two]

It's so weirrrrddd.

Yes turd day I was watching an emotional film based on a true story with Sean Penn as a drifter
loves his little kids so much makes his little kids so happy joyous making them laugh taking them on adventures letting them be free.
He is a gifted artist. He draws his kids.

But he just can't provide for them.

His daughter and son end up with an abusive step dad and their mom that just covers up the abuse.
The daughter runs away when she is late teens.
She finds her real dad and for a little while they have a little happyness.
But the dad ends up in prison after robbing a store after trying to get jobs getting fired from jobs.
He knows he is a mess he knows he can't cope.
She is a talented writer, she graduates whilst he is in prison.

When he is released from prison years later him and his daughter have an estranged relationship.
Even though it's ripping their hearts to be estranged.

He is a gifted artist. He uses his gift to make counterfeit money.

Whilst she is in a cafe interviewing someone, she is now a journalist trying to fight malpractices of companies, she watches her real dad on the news, car chased by police then shot dead.

Film ends with flashbacks of her happy times as a kid with her dad.

Songs that were played, I thought of your songs Drew.
Your songs would fit such films like a glove.
Then I hear this song from you.
Such Americana films are I feel ideal vehicle for your songs Drew.

[Drew Stephenson]

Thanks for the comments folks, much appreciated.

It's a song that the band were just getting to grips with before the pandemic hit and I was fiddling around with it the other day and thought a stripped back version might work.

[John Egan]

That's a really good song, Drew. I love the way you manage to preserve a sense of mystery throughout, in the best folk traditions.
Regards, John

[RichardT]

It really has a sense of hopelessness and failure - very powerful!

[Drew Stephenson]

Thanks John.

It really has a sense of hopelessness and failure - very powerful!

Stick to what you're good at, that's what I say!

[OneWorld]

That's a really good arrangement and mix, I can't imagine it being improved on, well done

[Drew Stephenson]

Thank you OneWorld. For me it's quite rare that I'll know pretty strongly what I want to come out of it before I go into a mix. I'll generally have a bit of a vision about the overall texture and feel, but with this one I was pretty certain exactly what would be needed.

[OneWorld]

Thank you OneWorld. For me it's quite rare that I'll know pretty strongly what I want to come out of it before I go into a mix. I'll generally have a bit of a vision about the overall texture and feel, but with this one I was pretty certain exactly what would be needed.

Yep, I couldn’t have put it better myself. It’s like the elixir of life, you know what it’s supposed to do but can never quite manage to get the potion quite right, but sometimes it just happens as if by some sort of sorcery

If I ever managed it, it’d be down to just plain dumb luck!

[Drew Stephenson]

Yep, I couldn’t have put it better myself. It’s like the elixir of life, you know what it’s supposed to do but can never quite manage to get the potion quite right, but sometimes it just happens as if by some sort of sorcery

If I ever managed it, it’d be down to just plain dumb luck!

Definitely. I'm completely in awe of those people who can listen to a mix and say, "This needs two bars of melodeon just here" or "We need an oooh sha la la". I normally have to build a load of stuff up first then chisel away at it to get down to what's needed.
And I think I still tend to leave too much in.

[Martin Walker]

I love this track Drew, and you really seem to have a newfound vocal confidence - so relaxed and expressive. Bravo!

[Eddy Deegan]

I love this track too Drew. It's wonderful.

Not related in any way to the music but it grabbed me and I paid attention. The lyrics on the SoundCloud page are somewhat different from those on the recording, I think you posted an earlier work-in-progress of them which didn't match the final cut.

Not a criticism in the least, it's excellent.

[awjoe]

Thanks John.

It really has a sense of hopelessness and failure - very powerful!

Stick to what you're good at, that's what I say!

Shall we start a club? Teeshirts, secret handshakes, the lot?

[Drew Stephenson]

The Hopeless Failures club?
Could catch on.
New band name maybe?

Thanks gents, and I shall go check out the lyrics when I get a moment. They tend to get written down and then evolve a bit with the song and I don't always remember to go back and update them.

[Random Guitarist]

Very nicely judged atmospheric piece. 10/10

[Drew Stephenson]

Thanks RG.

[OneWorld]

Yep, I couldn’t have put it better myself. It’s like the elixir of life, you know what it’s supposed to do but can never quite manage to get the potion quite right, but sometimes it just happens as if by some sort of sorcery

If I ever managed it, it’d be down to just plain dumb luck!

Definitely. I'm completely in awe of those people who can listen to a mix and say, "This needs two bars of melodeon just here" or "We need an oooh sha la la". I normally have to build a load of stuff up first then chisel away at it to get down to what's needed.
And I think I still tend to leave too much in.

Actually, I can't remember who it was, might have been Stevie Wonder I think and was asked what does his first reaction to a 'finished tune' and he says "Ask myself what I can take out, if a song can be stripped back to bare bones, then it is exposed in a raw state, and then I know if it is worth keeping"

[Drew Stephenson]

Yep, I couldn’t have put it better myself. It’s like the elixir of life, you know what it’s supposed to do but can never quite manage to get the potion quite right, but sometimes it just happens as if by some sort of sorcery

If I ever managed it, it’d be down to just plain dumb luck!

Definitely. I'm completely in awe of those people who can listen to a mix and say, "This needs two bars of melodeon just here" or "We need an oooh sha la la". I normally have to build a load of stuff up first then chisel away at it to get down to what's needed.
And I think I still tend to leave too much in.

Actually, I can't remember who it was, might have been Stevie Wonder I think and was asked what does his first reaction to a 'finished tune' and he says "Ask myself what I can take out, if a song can be stripped back to bare bones, then it is exposed in a raw state, and then I know if it is worth keeping"

Can't argue with the man.

[Dave.P]

A great one Drew….says a lot without being too direct and has a really emotive feel.

[Drew Stephenson]

Thanks Dave.

[Drew Stephenson]

Lightly updated version: https://soundcloud.com/blinddrew/a-plac ... Py3Lz7ZewT

[awjoe]

Nice. How about a tad less volume in the accordion/concertina/harmonium during the quiet opening? It's a question as much as a suggestion.

Pretty easy in the ears.