In the Shadow of the Wild Fig is out today on Spotify and other digital thingys. It’s a collaboration with one of my absolute favorite people. ✌️❤️
In the Shadow if the Wild Fig
Original composition by @guybuttery
Lyrics by Me
Me - vocals, synth
@guybuttery - acoustic guitar, ambient noodles
@nibsvanderspuy - cuatro
@clarevandeleur - cello
@garethgaledrumming - drums
@eveninghymns - ambient additions
Produced by @eveninghymns
Recorded by Maarc Hako
Mastered by Gavin Gardiner
About a million lifetimes ago, in the year 2014 my dear friend Guy Buttery sent me some demos from an album he was working on at the time. One of the tunes really jumped out at me and I immediately set about putting some words to it. I sent it to him and we both thought it was quite nice and then we promptly forgot about it.
Every few years or so one of us would say “What about that old chestnut? We should do something with it.” I would fish it off of some old hard drive and re-record my vocals, send it to Guy, he would add some more ambient joy and we would say “yes, this is quite nice!” and then promptly forget about it again.
Eventually, realising that my voice is what it is and no amount of re-recording would make it sound any better. I decided it might be time. Guy explained to me that time is nothing more than a figment of our collective imagination. He suggested I push the tune even further into a new space. So along with synths and various other tinkerings I also got my friend Clare Vandeleur to add cello.
I am a massive fan of Jonas Bonetta AKA “Evening Hymns”. I once saw him perform at a house concert with about 10 other people in a little flat in Barcelona. After having just experienced the madness of a mega music festival this was such an incredibly beautiful and moving experience. It reminded me of what music means to me. It has since then always been a bit of a dream to work with him. I sent this track to see if he would be interested in mixing it. What he sent back is what you hear now.
It's out on Bandcamp today. If you take the time to listen to it I hope you enjoy it.
For my birthday, go buy this and also “Stations” and read them and then lend them to which ever dickheads didn’t follow my very simple birthday instructions …
