Beautiful World

BACKGROUND

“Beautiful World” is Embers’ third official release. This is another song I dusted off from the vault. It has been kicking around in various forms over the years, but I never recorded it with a full production/band orchestration. One of the things I wanted to emphasize while recording this in the new “Embers era” was a heavier, very guitar-driven vibe. The first two Embers releases (Undone and Whispers) were decidedly mellower than this one, and a handful of people who know me from back in the day also commented that there wasn’t much in the way of guitar soloing/related histrionics. I don’t think I over-corrected that here, but there are definitely a lot more guitar-centric elements in this release.

Part of the equation to get a heavier sound was to drop-tune all the guitars to a variation on a drop-C tuning: C-G-C-F-A-D. That, along with using a 5 string bass with the low B string tuned to open C, gives the song more impact and “beef” on the low end. It also dropped the original key by a whole step, so my vocals wound up sitting in a more “growly” register by proxy, also lending to the style of production.

For my fellow guitar and gear geek friends, I also recently purchased a Line 6 Helix, which greatly expanded my palette of guitar tones, heard throughout the song both on rhythms and leads. Using the Helix, other outboard pedals (the Strymon Timeline and EHX Ocean’s 11 are featured prominently) and in-the-box plugins in ProTools, I also added various “ear candy” effects and textures. No synths at all on this track; all guitar-manufactured goodies. ☺

For the accompanying video, I took a crack at creating my own collage of images and footage, using license-free clips and a wonderful iOS app called Videoleap. Props to a fellow Instagram musician and generally creative dude @SenatorJaiz who recommended it; this is a super-easy and stable app, not to mention lots of fun! I know this is far from professional or groundbreaking video work, but it captures some of the mood and contrasts that the song is about. Which brings me to…

…the lyrics. The song reflects upon what I see as a pervasive cynicism that has somehow become the “new cool” for many. Much of the song looks through the lens of someone struggling to reconcile their jaded feelings and anger with the emptiness this creates in them, and with their true desire to connect with others. The chorus refrains of “much to my dismay, it’s a beautiful world” try to get at someone having their negativity broken down; despite our best efforts to deny it, there is still great beauty in others and in our world, even in these rather fucked up times.

LYRICS

I’m lost in the ether, caught between your world and mine
I’m lost in the ether, looking for a sign

You see and I see silence in the way
Much to my dismay, it’s a beautiful world

Nothing else matters but finding a way to be free
Nothing else matters but teaching a blind man to see

You see and I see anger’s in the way
Much to my dismay, it’s a beautiful world

I’m lost in the ether, damned by the choices I’ve made
I’m lost in the ether, in silence

You see and I see silence in the way
Much to my dismay
Much to my dismay
Much to my dismay
Much to my dismay, it’s a beautiful, a beautiful, beautiful world

Beautiful World was performed, recorded and mixed in my home studio (Kill Room Studios). I hope you enjoy it, and please comment to let me know what you think!