Alan Mair On the Making Of “If I Gave the World a Turn”
What was the creative process like for this particular "If I Gave the World a Turn?"
The chorus was written a while back, which I always loved, but I didn’t have any verses so I never completed the song. Then last year I looked at the song again and was inspired to write the verses and finished the song all in one weekend. Finally, the song was complete and ready to start recording it.
Can you talk about the recording and production process for this single?
I played everything myself on “World" and started by setting the tempo and playing all the drum arrangements. Then followed that with playing the guitar part and then the bass part. I always felt the song was crying out for a string arrangement so started working on the string parts and played all of them on keyboards triggering string samples. I have a recording studio at home and recorded and mastered the whole track at home.
What did you enjoy most about making "If I Gave the World a Turn?"
Everything to do with the song felt very creative, the recording just flowed from the beginning to the end. I stayed in a very creative space going from one instrument to another. It felt like the most creative I have ever been and I really got into doing the vocals in a way that I have never sung before.
Is there a specific show that holds a special place in your band's history?
My favourite show came about with The Only Ones. I had seen so many iconic bands play at the Rainbow in Finsbury Park, and always loved the idea of playing there one day. As the band went from strength to strength we eventually headlined a concert at The Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park in 1979.
What challenges have you faced as a singer-songwriter, and how have you overcome them?
When I was a youngster my Mum would take my brother and I on holiday every year to the like of Butlins Holiday Camp or Morecambe Bay and at those resorts they would have singing competitions for kids. I would enter in for those competitions and would often come in second place, which would knock my confidence. Hence I had to work hard on my singing and also took singing lessons which eventually paid off and the more recordings I made and released the more confident I became and feel the vocals on “If I Gave the World a Turn” are the best I have achieved.