The Flow

Episode#131:  The Flow   (Song starts at 3:28 ) So where does a song come from? Well, it comes from…being in the flow. The morning I wrote the lyrics, I’d just woken up and I was still half asleep. Snippets of dreams were floating around. So it’s a creative sort of flow I’m alluding to here. But the dreams were not what I wrote about. I looked around the room and started with: ‘When you pull the curtains back and the gentle morning light is shining, true…’ and from that line, which was really a simple statement, it lead to the last line of what became the chorus : 'and there’s no one can avoid the flow’. I went on, finished off the lyrics and sent them off to Paul Dredge in New Zealand. Paul wrote the music to the verse. Then he stopped and sent it back to me. I then came up with the chorus and sent it back to Paul and he came up with the bridge. I’ve included a phone conversation with Paul that I recorded this week. I thought it’d be nice to get some of Paul’s thoughts on the episode. You’ll hear it’s a very easy relationship that we are lucky enough to have. It’s incredibly rewarding to compose a song. It’s even more rewarding to co write a song with someone. Paul and I have written a good few together now. The flow can be found on our 5th album, 'The Untrodden Track'. If you like the sound of this song, there’s a whole album of songs like this, with this sound waiting for you. On this episode I recount an old memory that popped up recently (you can find an extended written version on my blog this week) it was a surreal sort of memory of imaginary crocodiles which was triggered by a photograph…back when I was a very young child. This sense of childlike play is an essential ingredient with song writing, I think. You just throw caution to the wind, keep in mind your music theory (which is like an underlying supportive net) and just have fun. The Flow has a nice vibe.. I hope you enjoy it and I hope you enjoy hearing about how the song came together. By the way, the folkrock album 'The Untrodden Track' is streaming now on all the usual platforms. You can also hear it on bandcamp, where you can read the lyrics as you listen. (incidentally, you can purchase the album / send a digital copy a a gift on bandcamp), My blog is: www.petepascoe.wordpress.com  you can read more / read the lyrics / view art here.

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.