When people are asked the impossibly difficult question of what their favourite album is, they often refer to memories that ignite a positive nostalgic legacy or emotion that they bind to that time in their life and what they were going through. I feel sometimes we can fail to recognise the true extent the power of music can have on our lives regardless of our connection to it.
When I was living in London my anxiety disorder was as rampant as it was unpredictable. Anyone who has experienced this type of headspace can relate to how deeply isolating and exhausting it can become. It can impede on your ability to function, sleep or even communicate with people, clouding any clarity or rational thinking. Many times I tried to relay this to people around me but I never felt they would understand. Only looking back now can I appreciate the importance music had for me during that period. Not so much the creation of music but rather the consuming of music.
One particular album that gifted me glimpses of calmness during such turbulent times was from an artist called Tom Waits and one of his iconic albums ‘Closing Time’. There was an energy in that record that for me was almost hypnotic. Every note, every word, every chord demanded your full and unreserved attention. There was no room in my mind for anything other than his voice. If you listen to the record you can’t help but be delivered into this almost meditative state. It sounds like a guy is sitting behind a piano in some dingy bar, smoking a cigarette while sipping on a whiskey. I would lie in bed, heart pounding, short of breath, sweating and would put this record on and immediately visualise myself sitting in that bar listening to his incredible voice. It slowed down my thoughts, it allowed me focus on something positive and creative and to this day it still has the same effect over me.
There was one song on the record ‘Grapefruit Moon’ that has this captivating string arrangement that brings every hair on my body upright. It almost has this sonic ability to reinforce a message in my head that everything is going to be okay. You can hear him gently pressing the piano pedals, his breathing as he sings, the interplay with the piano and the strings. It’s a masterpiece that has guided me to sleep on more occasions that I care to remember.
I guess a lot of us have a similar story, an album or song that has that power over us. ‘Songs in the key of Positivity’ for me is a celebration and recognition of this. Music is one of humanities best friends. A Lust for Life wants to recognise this by bringing a group of likeminded people together to pay respect to what makes us who we are, honouring our love of music and how it makes us feel. Hopefully you guys can take something from it, whatever that is.
Since we’re in the month of December it would be rude not to embrace the festive buzz so we have arranged and recorded some of our favourite Christmas songs with some of our favourite singers. Christmas is about many things, it can be a wonderful time and also a hugely difficult time for many but there is no doubt music plays an integral part of this season. Hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed recording it.
Róisín O ‘Please Come Home For Christmas’ for A Lust For Life’s ‘Songs In The Key Of Positivity’
May Kay ‘Winter Wonderland’ for A Lust For Life’s ‘Songs In The Key Of Positivity’
Jerry Fish ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’ for A Lust For Life’s ‘Songs In The Key Of Positivity’
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