Welcome to HeartSongs, our regularly scheduled (probably) look at songs and the people who write them. We spoke to Slovenian-American singer Anja Kotar about her new single ‘Eighteen’.

“Eighteen continues the mood of its predecessor, the first single from the album, ‘How to Be Cool’, but in a slightly different tone. I wanted the song to sound like an ‘80s birthday party, complete with big chiffon dresses and pink balloons. Overall, my goal with this song (along with ‘How To Be Cool’) was to get young people thinking about their life choices. Even if what you’re doing when you’re young doesn’t seem like it will have consequences, this is actually the most crucial time of our lives, so as I sing in the song: “Don’t waste your time!”.

My main objective was to create almost a satire of a typical American sugar pop song which is what the chorus embodies. Everything is bright, floating, there’s synths playing around and doing runs in the back, all simulating a happy, carefree environment. However, the rest of the song is a complete juxtaposition to that. While the chorus seems to enjoy and celebrate the fact that someone is turning 18, the rest of the song unveils the darker realities behind that picture perfect world. One of my favorite parts of the song is the pre chorus which feels very much angsty and nervous, embodying the anxious feeling you experience when you’re 18: “Go to school and get a degree, get high get drunk in the backseat, you’re running out of time to be free so get high get drunk in the backseat”. These feel sort of like call and response; the first line talks about what young adults feel pressured to do, the second half is their reaction - finding a moment of calm through distraction instead of doing what they should.

All of the songs from the Nomad album were written at my home on my piano. Once I had a final selection, I started working with my producer Pascal Guyon and doing weekly sessions with him at his LA studio. I had drafts of each song done in Logic on my laptop, then we worked together to ensure that the production emphasizes and enriches the underlining composition. This was one of the first songs from the album that got sonically finished and helped dictate the sound for the rest of the album - especially with the quintessentially ‘80s synth licks in the chorus!

Just as with every song, it’s never complete until it’s released out into the world and other people start impressing their experiences unto it. One of the most incredible privileges of being an artist is seeing people who you’ve never met, who live in a completely different environment than you, relate to and connect with your deeply personal music and lyrics. Ultimately, that’s the true magic of music - bringing people of the most diverse backgrounds together and uniting them through three or so minutes of notes.”

VERSE 1:

Candlelight illuminating, take a bite

All grown up, patting your shoulders, “don’t screw up”

Text your friends, sneak a bottle in your bag

Sequin dress, fake IDs, girl you're a mess

PRE:

Go to school and get a degree

Get high, get drunk in the backseat

You’re running out of time to be free

So get high, get drunk in the backseat

CHORUS:

Eighteen and doesn’t it seem like fun (like fun)

Eighteen and doesn’t it seem you’re wasting your time?

Eighteen, eighteen

VERSE 2:

Here you go, watch the smoke rise as you roll

Don’t you know, you can numb but time won’t slow down?

BRIDGE:

No one told us what youth feels like

Tiptoeing on broken glass, I

Think I’m going crazy, bleeding

Why walk when you could be running?

Welcome to HeartSongs, our regularly scheduled (probably) look at songs and the people who write them. We spoke to Red Collier from Alaskan shoegazers A Thousand Hours about their new single ‘Violet’.

“One of my closest friends is pregnant, so I wrote her little girl a song. Sort of words of encouragement and advice; "Storm this world but don’t be like me, fucked up and demon ridden.

I produced and mixed this track myself so I went through over 13 mixes to get this right. What stands out the most though was putting up the mix on bandcamp fairly satisfied, only to loathe the vocal levels the next day. I made a mad rush to fix and replace.”

 Listen to 'Violet' on BandCamp

‘Violet’ Lyrics;

This is for you

Violet Dragon

Take to the skies

Open your eyes

I sing it for you

Sleeping dragon

Breaking on through

Open your eyes

Unfurl your wings little girl

Feel the sweet breeze little girl

And take flight

Yours by right

You will have dreams little girl

Just don’t be like me little girl

Take this world

It’s yours by right

Welcome to HeartSongs, our regularly scheduled (probably) look at songs and the people who write them. We spoke to Other States about their recent single ‘Come Back To Me.

“’Come Back To Me’ is another one of our songs which explores this grizzly character that we’ve created.

The idea is the this dude is a combination of the worst parts of all of us, we put him in situations that are pretty bleak for him, and imagine how he would react.

This time round he’s been ceremoniously removed from his pedal-stool, chucked out of his home and blacklisted by his partner.

And he’s out to vent!

It’s a kinda tongue in cheek scenario, as this guy is essentially a psychopath, and his crocodile tears are more a display of damaged ego as much as true heartbreak.

As much as I find the story pretty funny, it kinda terrifies me as I know that there’s a part of myself in there.

Or maybe its therapeutic- exorcising the psychopath!

Anyway, we’ll just keep building our story around this lost soul, maybe it’ll even get better for him one day..”

‘Come Back To Me’ Lyrics

I’ve seen your strength, I’ve seen your resolve

I’ve seen your fires, they’re not growing old.

I wanna be patient here, but I’m falling out my tree

I wanna be patient girl, but you know that’s just not me

Well my suit is torn, and I’m down on my knees

(Won’t you come back to me)

My palms are scratched but girl I’m begging you please

(Won’t you come back to me)

I know your zeal, I know that you’re set

My heart is drowning, I’m up to my neck

Vent your frustrations here, and I’ll promise you anything

Vent your frustrations girl, and I’ll tell you this bird will sing

Well my suit is torn, and I’m down on my knees

(Won’t you come back to me)

My palms are scratched but girl I’m begging you please

(Won’t you come back to me)

My body’s aching from my heart’s desire

(Won’t you come back to me)

And now I’m burning alone, you know you pulled me from the fire

(Won’t you come back to me)

Welcome to HeartSongs, our regularly scheduled (probably) look at songs and the people who write them. With our Blogtober show fast approaching [http://musosguide.co.uk/component/k2/item/4369-musos%E2%80%99-guide-goes-to-that-london-blogtober-preview] ,we spoke to one of our meticulously selected acts , Up Down Go Machine, about their recent single ‘Gambler’.

“Inspired by the epic gangster movies of the ‘80s and ‘90s, we wanted to make this a snarling monster of a track. The vocals and lyrics have pretty dark undertones, as it tells the story of a man whose addiction has taken him to the dark side, and getting this atmosphere and tone across was important to us. The video, which was filmed using a drone on a beach in Liverpool, brings depth to the overall feel of the track, creating a feeling of unease, constantly running away, but effectively not really getting anywhere.”

‘Gambler’ lyrics

Fool me now, into another world

I roll this dice for a living, lady lucks not forgiving

I'll phase it out, but I don't tell the truth

She says, try to be better, I say I'll try to be better

But my heart won't let me

Oh lord let me go

It’s over now, it’s over now

Bruised crimson, dried my head

It’s over now, it’s over now

Yeah he calls me out, seen me for what I am

I try to speak, my breath is weak, final words of a desperate man

And I'm lost in hope that I'll be heading home

I beg him, try to be better, he smiles I'll try to be better, but my heart won't let me

No, my heart won't let me...

Oh lord let me go

It’s over now, it’s over now

Bruised crimson, dried my head

It’s over now, it’s over now

Oh Lord let me go