Fragile Moments, Now Shared
I’m writing this in what feels like my first quiet moment all year. I am once again sitting and watching the sun set from the hill, only occasionally distracted by this small bird calmly riding on the back of a horse nearby.
After returning from China at the end of last year, I launched straight into two projects. The first, another beautiful collaboration with Alayna, and the second, the final phase of what feels like the most ambitious project of my life.
Alayna – Live at Parachute Studios
Following her stunning debut album, and writing Cherry Tree together, Alayna invited me for the ultimate experience as a fan of her music. We worked together to arrange songs from her album for a delicate, live acoustic performance, with an incredible band. And the most special part – I got to compose strings for these songs that I love so much, specifically for violin, viola, and cello.
Strings are more of a supporting element for many artists, but for me, composing and arranging strings is one of the ways I can express the deepest emotions. And hearing the players transform the notes I write, bringing them to life, feels like magic every time.
Some of Alayna’s album recordings are stripped back, while others are dense with electronic production. But a common thread is that her performances, and songwriting, are delicate and vulnerable. I felt that adding even slightly too much could throw everything off balance.
But in the end, as with so much of Alayna’s music, instead of being overpowered, she drew us all into these fragile, beautiful moments, only now they were shared.
It All Starts with Gravity
When I said ambitious before, what I really meant was a little terrifying. To be honest, the only way I could create my next album, and take this creative leap, was to ignore the fact I would have to share it one day.
After all the writing, production, and recording all the other musicians, including a beautiful string section of my own, the rest came down to me and the microphone. Now, finally, all the creative decisions have been made, every performance captured, and the album is set forever.
So I closed my eyes, pressed the button, and in a few weeks the first song will be yours. It’s called Gravity, and it’s the song that first made me realise what I was creating, and where my new-found voice was taking me.
Thanks so much for reading. Feel free to follow me on your favourite music platform so I can get even more nervous about the release. Or as always, join my Discord Server or send me an email if you’d like to chat.
All the best for now,
Levi
