An exercise in pushing my comfort zone
V1
Search and see
Feel my heart beating
Look, you'll see
You may hold the key to my heart
But I feel lighter far apart
C
Dance with me
Feel me close
Sing along with me
Be my yellow rose
V2
Search and see
Hear my mind racing
To be seen
You may think that you're a piece of art
But I feel lighter far apart
C
Dance with me
Feel me close
Sing along with me
Be my yellow rose
Break
Dance with me
Feel me close
Sing along with me
Be my yellow rose
Break
Be my yellow rose
Merch:
Search and See merch on my Redbubble site:
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/176030380?ref=studio-promote
Why the change in genre?
Once we had finished work on Run + Hide, Will suggested we find a different way to challenge my developing skills and to push me out of my comfort zone. Electronic music has never been a genre I particularly listen to and therefore not a genre I had written in before. I had done a couple of songs that were heavy on the synths, but that was more a symptom of my 80’s phase than an attempt at EDM. This made for the perfect challenge.
Similarly to Run + Hide, our process was to create sections together and then I would go away, write lyrics and come back the following week to repeat. Whilst this had happened on occasion with our first project, I found myself wanting to write the sections as soon as I left Will’s house, leading to many a bus-stop recording. The chorus was a bit more of a challenge, but I somehow found inspiration sitting in the car on a long drive to some holiday destination or other (a.k.a. a caravan park somewhere in England); I believe my parents enjoyed witnessing my process and providing immediate feedback (of which my dad loves to provide plenty).
I will be entirely honest, the lyrics did not have any deep intent or meaning placed upon them by me (that isn’t to say that someone listening couldn’t find their own meaning). My own interpretation of the singer’s pov is that of someone telling their love interest/ partner they think they’re better of friends (though whether or not they call it off isn’t decided by the end of the song).
The lyrics clearly allude to a relationship of a romantic nature, one that makes the singer’s heart race, however there is definitely also a negative tone. ‘I feel lighter far apart’, suggests that even if the singer is in love, those feelings are a burden and that they feel more at peace when away from their lover, who perhaps thinks slightly too highly of him/herself (‘You may think that you’re a piece of art’).
A rose may initially make you think of romance, but a yellow rose typically is symbolic of friendship (and happiness). I chose a yellow rose for two reasons; the first is that it fit melodically (I needed a two syllable descriptor), and the second is that I was thinking of my great aunt when I wrote it, and she has always been associated with yellow roses to me. These are admittedly not the best reasons to choose a lyric, but I like how it changes the meaning of the song slightly. To not just be a couple breaking up but to one choosing friendship over romance.
The cover art for this song is an illustration I modelled after a sim (yes Sims 4) which I specifically designed to depict how the song made me feel (I also just wanted to dye my hair purple at that point in time). The character design and colour palette were also very mermaid-core, which was appropriate as I loved how siren-like my vocals sounded on this track.
It’s funny how this song started as a way to push my limits in a genre I don’t typically enjoy, and ended up being a song I truly love. What’s your favourite genre? And, what is the genre you least expected to enjoy, but ended up loving a song from it?
If you live in North London and need a producer, Will Jackson has my highest compliments:
Niamh Quinn Music 
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