At What Cost

Episode #84: At What Cost     (Song starts at 4:38) Welcome. This week's episode has very peaceful feeling about it. The 30 minutes or so just floated by for me, as I recorded it.  I'm really enjoying myself as I talk, no notes, no pre-production.  Tonight I just walked into my studio, thinking "What song shall I talk about.." And this one jumped out at me. I let the song lead the way each week. I've found over the weeks that by having fun, ‘playing’, if you will, it leads my thoughts to some concepts that perhaps I never would have got to as I analyse the songwriting process.  Even the word analysing seems too cold to use as a description of what I'm up to here.  It's 30 minutes of relaxed chat. I'm not trying to twist any arms. There's no underlying persuasive subtext here. What you hear is what you get.  I'm an honest, creative songwriter, writing songs for the love of it after all these years. At What Cost (song #548, written in 2010), came through when I was just noodling on the piano. A nice peaceful little riff happened. The light goes on. The thoughts are focussed, the potential of the music is considered, a decision is made : the intention to carry it through to a finished song is made.  With this song, I put myself somehow inside the mind of my friend as he was observing what was turning out to be the end of a major romantic relationship in his life. There’s a sense of recognising this during the course of the song, with another realisation of more at the end (I love my ‘punchlines’). There's definitely a commitment when you decide you are in the process of writing a song - and it seems like some sort of 'agreement' to work together with the creative muse happens. It's not a ‘contract’, that's too harsh, But it did feel this: from the word go, the first song, all those years ago...it felt like: “Yes, you will be helped to create this music - on the condition you do your best to share it and put it out in the world”.  Since that day, many years ago, that's what I've tried to do: keep writing, recording and sharing it.  I hope you enjoy getting ‘inside a song’ & stepping into the shoes of a songwriter, again, this week - more than that, I hope you enjoy the sound of my voice as I speak, too - people have let me know they find me relaxing and entertaining to listen to. Great!  I really like this recording, too. This is such good fun, please do join me now for half an hour of creative exploration (and if this is your first time here, welcome, again. There are 80-odd previous episodes to listen to…). If you like the song, check out the album: The Man In Blue (streaming now). Sign up to my email list: info@petepascoe.com - each week you'll get the links and a bit of inside information about: A new painting, a blog post, a podcast episode and YouTube video. Blog: www.petepascoe.wordpress.com  YouTube: Pete Pascoe Art and Music Website: www.petepascoe.com Music on: www.petepascoe.bandcamp.com  and Streaming everywhere Enjoy!

Om Podcasten

Be entertained with a song and an extended chat, ranging from off the cuff banter/humour to life observations and song analysis. Welcome to Song and a Chat. This is the podcast where you'll have the pleasure of listening to a new song each week - plus, you'll get to step into the shoes of a songwriter : You'll hear about the background of the song, the inspiration, how/ why the song came into being.  After the song finishes, I'll go over the lyrics and finish each episode by looking at the song from a songwriting point of view. If you just want the song and no talk, the time where the song kicks in will be in the title of each episode. Hi, my name is Pete Pascoe. I am a performer and composer - I love lyrics and I love a melody. I play piano and sing. I have a number of albums to my name.  I have written over 800 songs. Of course, not all of these songs I written will make it onto an album. As a songwriter, the first step for a new song is ( or was ) to record a demo. Often you catch something unique in this demo - something that is often not replicated in the studio cut....a certain feeling.  If you're looking to be entertained, like listening to new songs and live recordings, I hope you'll enjoy what's on offer here. I have a stack of demos from which I'm sharing one on a weekly basis. Plus I relate anecdotes about my life as a piano man, from around the time each song was written. I treat each show as a mini intimate concert - with extended chat, which ranges from off the cuff banter/humour to life observations and analysis. The idea is : the song can be listened to for pleasure in its own right, or the listener may choose to also be entertained and informed by the story around the song.  I'm really enjoying recording these podcasts. Each week I look forward to getting behind the mic, setting aside my current musical and artistic projects and casting my mind back in time by focussing on a song I've composed. It's turning out to be a satisfying - and sometimes surprising - time of reflection and discovery for me.  The lyrics and the recordings take me straight back to when the song was written. Gain an insight into songwriting and listen to a series of snapshots of life of a songwriter / performer / artist.  It's a great way for me to archive a song and it's 'back story'. Music is to be shared. What point is there In having five songbooks and piles of demos gathering dust?  I welcome feedback - whether you're tuning in to enjoy music for music's sake, you enjoy finding out about the origins of songs, you're looking for tips on songwriting or perhaps you've got tips for me. Either way, I'll be learning plenty as I go along. Thanks for a having a read. Come on and join me for a listen.