I
distinctly remember writing this song as it was one of those times when
everything just falls into place - I'd got a full song structure in place but
had no lyrics. In addition, I was under time pressure as I'd booked a producer
room for a 12 hour slot at Pirate Studios in Glasgow and wanted to record the
vocals while I had decent gear. It's never quite the same recording at home
trying to make a DIY vocal booth inside a wardrobe!
Prior to this I'd just put to music some spoken prose that my brother had sent
me of the poem 'If' by Rudyard Kipling - you can read
about Playfio - If or watch the Playfio If - 3D video
here. So with that in mind, I quickly scoured the web to find some inspiration
- his writing is certainly that with perfect rhythm and flow.
I came across 'The
Prairie' which was first published on April 16th 1908 in the article 'The
Fortunate Towns' in the Morning Post - one of eight 'Letters to the Family' on
Rudyard Kipling's visits to Canada.
I have taken a
certain artistic license with this poem and deviated from some of his lines and
word choice to help create the required rhythm to match my melody but this is
nothing new and goes on in all forms of artwork. The original poem can be found
here: http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/poems_prairie.htm
My favourite verse:
“Take heed what spell the lightning weaves—what charm
the echoes shape—
Or, bound among a million sheaves, your soul shall
not escape.
Bar home the door of summer nights lest those high
planets drown
The memory of near delights in all the longed-for
town.”
The verses took
inspiration from the above and
subsequently, I added a kind of interlude stroke chorus after Claude had
added this easy, laid back guitar that fits the mood of this one just
right.
The music video couldn't be further removed from the prairie country of Western Canada which Kipling so admired, but takes place in a dark dystopian vision of Bangkok. This contrast of music and video tone seems to fit and the later addition of chorus lyrics provided a suitable match to this wonderfully macabre and dangerous view of our future.
The music video couldn't be further removed from the prairie country of Western Canada which Kipling so admired, but takes place in a dark dystopian vision of Bangkok. This contrast of music and video tone seems to fit and the later addition of chorus lyrics provided a suitable match to this wonderfully macabre and dangerous view of our future.
Links/
Credits:
Written
by Rob Playford with Claude Etienne on guitar and the mix and master engineer
was Adam Titmuss.
Rob Playford http://www.playfio.com/
Adam Titmuss https://linktr.ee/amtaudio
Claude Etienne https://www.facebook.com/Claud150/
Rob Playford http://www.playfio.com/
Adam Titmuss https://linktr.ee/amtaudio
Claude Etienne https://www.facebook.com/Claud150/
Video Credits: A
Futuristic Short Film True Skin by -
N10N TheCGBros : A Futuristic Short Film : "True
Skin" by - N10N | TheCGBros