River Walking – Song and a Chat

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:18 — 20.8MB)

Episode #222: River Walking (Song starts at 4.22)

This song is the title track of the album by the same name, by Paul Dredge and myself. It was fun looking back to see how ‘River Walking’ came together.

Although it was written in sections, by 2 people, in a sort of a call and answer style (which we do, as we’ve lived in different countries for some time). We send the sections online back and forth. I think the finished song sounds like it was written by one person.

It’s an example of how much on the same page you can be with someone.

There was a lot already in place, looking back to when we first met at the first gig: the harmonies, the arranging skills – the music fell into place quickly together.

Then there were years where we refined our music together – particularly at a 5 night per week piano bar where we performed as a duo. There was nowhere to hide, our voices and the 2 instruments were right there… no drums to hide behind.

So It was an potentially an intense performance space, in some respects, but the only way you’re going to make a piano bar restaurant work is for the entertainers have to be relaxed. And we certainly were.

But it took a lot out of us, performing so much, even though we both loved it.

To switch off, we’d walk by the river, or maybe fish. The Manawatu river rolls quietly along the rural plains, beside Palmerston North and onward to the coast.

We discovered pretty quickly that the sound of the river, the breeze in the trees, the bird calls had a profound effect on our nerves, our breathing…

It became a regular event, like a ritual, looking back. A very peaceful, restorative thing to do, walking by the river.

Fast forward to now. I find a lot of peace where I live. I’m lucky enough to have some studio space where I paint, compose, write lyrics. I live near the Port Phillip bay,(Mornington Peninsula, Vic, Australia).

I wrote the lyrics, to describe how it feels, being out in nature, unwinding.

I then sent a sheet of lyrics that were really in need of an edit. But I knew Paul was about to go on holiday, which is when he often writes songs, so I felt the need to get some lyrics to him.

Paul came up with a couple of verses, and the bridge…he then sent me an mp3. To carry on with.

You can hear Paul’s ‘initial sketch’ recording on this episode. He recorded it at the camp ground.

It’s really great to receive these from Paul. In the studio, I have it playing in my headphones. I have tracks recording and as Paul’s part stops, I kick in on the piano and voice, carry the arrangement and wing a melody for the next section. In this case it was the chorus. So you’ll get to hear how it happened this time.

And you’ll hear where it finished up: the album version. 5th song on the album ‘River Walking’, I think it’s pretty much right on target, for the sort of folkrock music vibe that we seem to be most comfortable producing together.

There sure is some variety of styles on the album. We are stoked with it.

Ok want to hear more? Hear we go, come ‘River Walking’ with us.