Feature: Stuart Lawrence Decodes “Paradise”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Paradise?"
This song “Paradise” started with an intro that was formed by plucking a Dm in a barre chord position without the barre. Which then led to finding the composite chords, which are primarily Dm, Am and G. The verse melody follows the path of the intro, which is common with my songs. The lyrics and melodies for the chorus and bridge just naturally fell into place. The song could just as easily have ended up being called 'bowl of rice' as Paradice, it’s the cadence of the vocal flow. Actually, now I think about it, maybe I should re-record it and bring that 'bowl of rice' phrase into it, might add some additional lyrical texture. I was conscious of the Cold Play song of the same name so sort of was reluctant to use it at first, but the songs have nothing in common other than that word, so “Paradise” it is!
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for "Paradise?"
This is the quickest song I have ever recorded. Lead Guitarist Matt Brook came up with the lead vibe really quickly. I just love the sound he managed to achieve. Actually, just working with Matt is a standout experience, we bounce ideas off each other, it's a very creative environment.
Vocally it was a bit of a challenge as I'd just 4 weeks earlier had covid and it did a lot of damage to my voice. It took a few takes for my voice to settle when hitting the high notes.
Is there a particular message or theme you hope listeners take away from "Paradise?"
No, none of my songs have a message or a theme, no hidden allegory. I aim to tell the emotional significance of some sort of fictional scenario, an emotion that I think resonates with the listener as it does with me. I'm not a perfectionist, very much a pragmatist, but when creating lyrics I cannot settle for anything random or meaningless. Songs tend to evolve, get honed, right up to the point of recording. Every time I play the song prior to that there is a good chance I'll think of a better way to express that emotion.
How do you continuously grow and evolve as an artist?
We all grow in every area of our lives the more put into it. The sincerity of the intention, to want to give my songs their freedom and chance to mean something to other people is enough. There are songs that I listen to that over the years become part of me, my DNA, but the songwriter doesn't even know I exist. That focus on the song, rather than myself, is what keeps me continually broadening my ideas and growing the richness of the content I create. With experience.
Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to follow your path as a musician?
Firstly I'm not a musician. I'm ok on guitar, good enough for rhythm and songwriting but would not call myself a guitarist or musician. I prefer the term 'Singer Songwriter'. That aside, I used to go to an open mic night quite regularly, and the feedback was often intense. The word brilliant seemed to be said a lot. All very encouraging, but I was always a bag of nerves. Then I discovered I have ADHD, and actually it has been responsible for the anxiety I've had, holding me back, all these years. That's when I became determined not to be a victim of my condition any longer. It's still very scary, but I'm not going to permit it to hold me back.
