Feature: Stuart Lawrence Decodes ‘One’
Can you share any interesting or unique stories or perspectives in 'ONE?'
Nothing can prepare you for hearing the sound of your own voice over very loudspeaker on such a regular basis, when recording an album. I think it’s the guy from Metallica who seriously hates the sound of his own voice. I was a bit like that at first, quite self-critical, but overtime the opposite became true. And what’s more, when recording was finished, I was surprised, and proud, that the vocal quality given to all the songs was a consistent presence in each tying them together.
another thing: there is a line in the song "screaming blue murder" that goes... once again my beds in a mess. That's the inspiration for the front cover image
Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for 'ONE?'
I know some song writers use their own experiences as a catalyst for writing lyrics. Digging deep into their own emotions. I don’t know if it’s unusual or not but I never do that. My lyrics take shape from a random word that forms in my head that fits the melody and from that I try to steer that to a story with heart. It’s pure fiction. The song ‘Screaming Blue Murder’ conveys a complex story that emerged merely from the phrase: Screaming Blue Murder that matched the melody. In my next album there is a love song called Eloise. I only used that name because it rhymed with trees!
The next album is to be called ‘A collection of short stores, volume 2’
What did you enjoy most about making 'ONE?'
The recording studio environment is an incredible experience, in-any-case, but when you previously could not have begun to objectively guess how good your songs are but the studio engineers immediately think you must have been a professional for years, that’s a good feeling.
How would you describe your musical style or genre?
Until I started recording, and all the songs I’d written were only performed acoustically, I hadn’t really been able to identify a genre. But now I recognise the genre is essentially quite old school indie but with a unique warm and luscious new kind of sound. This might be the birth of a new sub-genre. I think it should be called ‘Indie Silk’.
Can you walk us through your creative process when writing and composing music?
Now this might sound a bit silly. The songs that I write appear to me like spirits might appear to a clairvoyant. I am just the medium through which they emerge from their other worldly hiding places. Usually lying in bed, while deep in thought or half asleep my fingers autonomously move over the guitar fretboard, and I'll suddenly realise a new melody has appeared. They are then like children which I tenderly nurture and raise to maturity.
And for this reason I feel it important to find the courage to record them. I'm not very much of a wanna be rock star, I just want the songs and melodies to have their chance to thrive. It feels like now that I am releasing them on CD and Online, I am also releasing them as in setting them free.
