REVIEW & INTERVIEW: STEPHEN JAMES ORR WITHIN YOU (FEAT. GISUN & ANH PHUNG)
“Within You” is part of Stephen James Orr’s upcoming album discovering an unvoiced part of him while experimenting new collaborations. Each song was written from scratch during the lockdown when Orr was offered a time for self-reflection and exploration. “From never writing full songs on my own before this was an experiment that started as a challenge to myself and turned into a new love,” he commented.
“Within you” features guest vocalist, lyrist Gisun, flutiest Anh Phung, and visual artist Hsiao-Wen. Musically, it was inspired by Neo-soul with jazz fusion undertones. After listening and studying Lianne La Havas, D’Angelo, and Kamasi Washington for extended periods of time, Stephen James Orr had a vision to bring a similar energy into his own creation. “I wanted to start with a major 9th sound which was inspired by the simple chord progression of Kamasi Washington’s “Truth”, where you take two chords and add all the layers/textures to build the song,” Orr commented. The initial chord progression led to few sections of guitar riffs; during the choruses, he replaced the drum loop with percussion for a buildup. As soon as the bones of the songs were built, bass lines and other layers came naturally filling in the space.
Finding the right musicians to collaborate with sometimes can be a stressful process. However, the process can also be full of surprise and excitement: “the most exciting part is receiving the email with their recorded tracks and having that first listen to the song with the new tracks added!” Stephen James Orr commented.
After sending the track to a few, Orr found the perfect person to take his vision further. When he heard Gisun’s interpretation on “Within You,” he fell in love, “her voice adds a beautiful texture to the song and lyrics/message that bring it to life,” he commented. In “Within You,” there’s a natural flow of inspirations and authentic passion from each musician. “Within You” is full of life and creative sparkles. Sharing creative control sometimes can be challenging: “It is easy to become attached to a specific part you’ve recorded but being able to listen to other ideas and try different takes on it is essential to the process,” said Stephen James Orr.
“Poetry and creative writing are therapeutic modes of expression,” said the vocalist and lyricist Gisun, “Hearing an instrumental piece of music further takes that inspiration and turns it into a puzzle, linking melodies, words, and rhythms, stringing it into a song.” After hearing the instrumental track, Gisun wrote the lyrics of “Within you” revolving around the inner search of self-worth as opposed to external validation. “Comparing oneself to others can be truly detrimental.” she commented, “We contain the magic and beauty wholly. Within You tells the story of inner reflection.”
The full album will be released at the end of 2021, featuring guest artists, visual artists, and instrumental interludes.
