tag:garethlewismusic.com,2005:/blogs/tales-from-the-cryptTales from the crypt2022-05-09T19:56:43+01:00Gareth Lewisfalsetag:garethlewismusic.com,2005:Post/69670482022-05-09T19:56:43+01:002023-12-10T16:57:43+00:00While The Devil Plays The Tune<p><strong>It's been a while since my last blog post, but it feels great and cathartic to be writing this now with a new single about to drop and lots of other songs recorded and ready for release as part of a new EP!</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>While the devil plays the tune </em></strong>is my first single release of 2022 and will be available on all streaming sites from<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/565414/cafd266ca9c6f67d2f032a98a5d577c24ce8ed0e/original/wtdptt-artwork-jpg.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" style="margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 5px;" /> <strong>Saturday 14th May</strong>. It's a song I'm very proud of as it showcases a different side to my songwriting. Most of my songs tend to be about the human condition and the expression of emotions, but this is a story-based song with a strong narrative (in my head I see it as a movie). It was written last year whilst I was writing songs for my first EP <em><strong>Start The Hurricane.</strong></em> I immediately loved it but it didn't fit with the feel of the songs I had for the EP, so I decided to hold it back. At the time I was listening to the latest <em><strong>Bruce Springsteen</strong></em> album and experimenting with more story-based songs... I'm a big fan of underdog movies and modern westerns and this song definitely indulges those influences. </p>
<p>The song tells the tale of a young man who is hounded by the local Sheriff of the town and framed for crimes he did not commit. The song is told from the perspective of the man's best friend who has to take the stand in court to try and clear his friend's name. As the story unfolds, we discover that the man who is wrongly accused has set up the Sheriff to fall, which transpires in the courtroom where justice is eventually served.</p>
<p>As I was writing the song I had a clear vision for the story and how I wanted the song to sound. I wanted it to be country in it's feel and could hear in my head the sound of a pedal steel guitar. When it came to recording the song, I reached out to US based pedal steel player and session musician <em><strong>Hamilton Belk</strong></em>. I was aware of Hamilton's amazing pedal steel playing from sessions he had done for <em><strong>Steve Balsamo</strong></em>. Hamilton took on the session for me and did an incredible job, which raised the song to another level in my opinion. So I'm very grateful to Hamilton for his playing and to Steve for making me aware of him!</p>
<p>As usual, I recorded the song at <em><strong>James Weaver's</strong></em> studio in Mumbles. I've been working with James for coming up to four years now. In that time we've built a great working relationship and work very effectively together. This song was recorded in one day (apart from Hamilton's session) with James handling bass and programming the drums, whilst I played all the guitar parts and took care of the vocals and harmony vocals.</p>
<p>I'm very proud of the final result, it's one of my favourite songs that I've written, and I can't wait to share the very cool video for the song that has been produced by Gareth Davies of <strong><a contents="www.seebehindthemoon.com" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.seebehindthemoon.com/?msclkid=849ca944cfc711eca971515de1e5fd62">www.seebehindthemoon.com</a></strong></p>
<p>I'll talk more about my new EP in time, but all I'll say at the moment is it's more diverse than the last EP with a great mix of feels, some heavier tracks, some softer tracks and a real anthem which is probably going to be the next single!</p>
<p>Before I sign off, I'd also like to mention that I'll be playing a live acoustic set at <em><strong>SWNDFEST</strong></em>, Swansea on Sunday 19th June alongside a line-up of great artists. You can get tickets and further details <strong><a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.gigantic.com/swnd-records-presents-swndfest-tickets/the-bunkhouse/2022-06-19-14-00?msclkid=2e6af4aecfc811eca6bdeb06cf645e14">here</a></strong>.</p>
<p><em><strong>While the devil plays the tune</strong></em> is available from Saturday 14th May. <strong><a contents="Pre-Save it on Spotify here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://show.co/ZNJ5gZA">Pre-Save it on Spotify here</a>.</strong></p>
<p>Gareth</p>Gareth Lewistag:garethlewismusic.com,2005:Post/67215122021-08-21T11:16:46+01:002023-10-04T16:07:05+01:00EP Announcement - Let's Start The Hurricane!<p><strong>I'm very excited to announce that my debut EP, </strong><i><strong>Start The Hurricane, </strong></i><strong>will be available to stream/download from Friday 3rd September. It feels weird saying 'my debut EP' as I've been making music and writing songs for a long time, but this will be the first cohesive batch of songs I've put out under my own name. </strong></p><p>I've been delighted with the response to <i><strong>Vultures</strong></i> - the lead single and opening track to the EP. I want to say thank you<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/565414/19ccca9ae5e207736111727473b87d17550c5330/original/start-the-hurricane-artwork.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_right border_" alt="" /> to everyone who's streamed or downloaded it, and watched the video. At the time of writing this, <i>Vultures</i> is into its third week on the <i><strong>BBC Radio Wales</strong></i> A-List and going down well with all the DJs! It's also been featured on <i><strong>Planet Rock Radio's</strong></i> <i>New Rock Show</i> four Mondays running! I'm a big fan of Planet Rock and Wyatt Wendels who presents the <i>New Rock Show</i>, so it's all been very cool.</p><p>There's always something special about having your song played on the radio, and this week I also found out that I had been made Artist of the Week on <i><strong>Bro Radio</strong></i>, a local station which covers the Vale of Glamorgan; I've also been added to the <i><strong>Welsh Connections</strong></i> A-List for next week, so thanks to Mike Kennedy for that!</p><p>As I said, <i><strong>Vultures</strong></i> is the lead track from <i><strong>Start The Hurricane</strong></i>. Once I'd recorded all the songs, <i><strong>Vultures</strong></i> just felt like a perfect opener musically, and lyrically it sets up the whole EP. There is a strong theme of hope running throughout the <i><strong>Start The Hurricane</strong></i> EP. Each song is based on overcoming fear and adversity, and the EP as a whole is about becoming/embracing the person you were always meant to be. </p><p>The name <i><strong>Start The Hurricane</strong></i> is taken from the chorus of <i><strong>You'll Never Know</strong></i>, the closing track on the EP… '<i><strong>You'll never know which raindrop will start the hurricane</strong></i>.' I think that line sums up the whole sentiment of the EP.</p><p>I actually recorded six songs for the EP, but only five made the final cut. That was more to do with how the songs fitted together rather than the quality of the song that didn't make it. The song that didn't make the EP is actually one of my favourite songs that I've written, and will probably be featured on a second EP next year.</p><p>I hope you all enjoy <i><strong>Start The Hurricane</strong></i>, it definitely feels like my best work yet as a songwriter... and the songs rock! You can help me out by pre-saving the EP on Spotify here: <a class="no-pjax" href="https://show.co/BDFmBUO" data-link-type="url" contents="https://show.co/BDFmBUO"><strong>https://show.co/BDFmBUO</strong></a></p><p>Thanks,</p><p>Gareth</p>Gareth Lewistag:garethlewismusic.com,2005:Post/67057142021-08-03T19:27:10+01:002023-10-04T16:07:35+01:00When the Vultures Come<p>First of all, I'd like to welcome you to my website - a place where you can keep up to date with my music releases and projects. Sign up to my mailing list to get news about the release of my EP 'Start the Hurricane', and have a look around the site where you'll find links to some of the other bands/projects I've been involved in over the years.</p><p>So last Friday (30th July) I released 'Vultures' (<a class="no-pjax" href="https://garethlewis.hearnow.com/vultures" data-link-type="url" contents="stream now">stream now</a>) my first single in over a year, and also the first single from my upcoming<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/565414/2ed3b421996109fb23d15aeba928cede98c7e17b/original/vultures-artwork.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" alt="" /> EP. The response and the reaction to the song has been amazing, and I want to thank everyone who's supported me by presaving, sharing, liking, commenting and listening. </p><p>I was delighted to find out on Friday that Vultures had made the BBC Radio Wales A-List for this week alongside some great Welsh artists, and I was grateful to Behnaz Akhgar for having me on her show on Monday afternoon. We chatted for a while about Vultures and the EP, my music career highlights and a few other subjects and then Behnaz gave Vultures its first airplay! You can listen to the full interview <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000yc50" data-link-type="url" contents="here "><strong>here </strong></a>at the 13 minute mark.</p><p>Vultures is the 3rd single in a row I've had playlisted on BBC Radio Wales, but I feel it is by far the best of the three songs, so I'm looking forward to how it will be received on air over the next week. My connection with BBC Radio Wales dates back to 2015, when I was in the Americana/Alt Country band Dukes of Hafod. The first song we ever recorded - Bloodwater - was featured on the Bethan Elfyn show, who was a big supporter of the band. That led to us being a part of the BBC Wales Horizons initiative and securing funding to help us release our debut album 'All Roads Lead Here', which you can stream on <a class="no-pjax" href="https://open.spotify.com/album/6oJjxMsf51K5EO0J4ApKn1?si=tMjzvrPWQBqtPs-S_cktyA&dl_branch=1" data-link-type="url" contents="Spotify."><strong>Spotify.</strong></a></p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/565414/d0aa24aeb32da9354062132793f9c7ab46ae6788/original/gareth-lewis-welsh-a-list-sqare.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.png" class="size_m justify_left border_" alt="" />Six years later, I'm finally building up to releasing my debut EP, which sounds strange when I say that because I've been making music for a long time, but this is the first cohesive batch of songs I'll be putting out as a solo artist. Timing is everything, and this feels like the right time to be doing this. The songs on the EP are definitely harder and heavier than my other releases, and that is completely intentional, as I feel these songs show who I really am as an artist and songwriter. Just like Vultures, they are more guitar driven with empowering choruses that I hope people will enjoy listening to. I've drawn on my rock and blues influences with the new songs and the themes are all about overcoming adversity and fear, and becoming the person you were always meant to be. </p><p>Vultures is the opening track to the EP and sets the scene with it's lyrical content by dealing with overthinking and negative thoughts. I believe this to be the root of most people's problems/mental health problems, and that we often have to work hard to fight off the 'vultures' to stay in a good place. This is definitely the case in my experience and I'm sure most people will also relate to that. The song overall, however, is empowering, and the rest of the EP continues in that vein. The EP is called Start the Hurricane, I'll talk more about the inspiration behind that in my next blog, but I feel it is the best batch of songs I've written so far and I can't wait to share it with everyone on 3rd September 2021.</p><p>In the meantime, please keep streaming <a class="no-pjax" href="https://garethlewis.hearnow.com/vultures" data-link-type="url" contents="Vultures"><strong>Vultures</strong></a><strong>, </strong>save it to your playlists, and 'keep fighting 'til the vultures go!'</p><p>Gareth</p><p> </p><p> </p>Gareth Lewis