Song and a Chat

Episode #27: In The Scheme Of Things - (Song at 7:35)

Welcome back again to another episode. I'm going to endeavour to give you an insight into how it feels to write a song, the sort of thoughts a songwriter has.

It was peaceful this morning, here in Melbourne -  just little light drizzle, no wind. I found I’d woken in quite reflective state of mind. This particular song came to me as I thought about my place in the scheme of things.

This time last year I was on the Pohangina river in the Manawatu in New Zealand ( beautiful language, isn't it - the way Maori words roll off the tongue - I do my best).

I took a photo of a pool on the river that day - place that has so many memories for me. 

You can see the photo in my blog post this week. petepascoe.wordpress.com The lyrics are there too each week, by the way - in case you’re like me and you like to read along while the song is playing.

It's a beautiful river, a very gentle paced flow. Not fast, not sluggish. Just right for a relaxed walk /wade

A bit later on, back in Melbourne, at the school where I teach piano, the first bit of melody came with a whistle as I walked between students.. I got the melody first. 

Then back in my piano room,  I flicked open my iPad, came across the photo of the river and the words just started to come to me. So I sat at the piano, played quietly stopping now and then to write down each line as it came in. It's such a great feeling. It's something I never take for granted. 

It's great to have this platform to share the process. There's something here for everyone..perhaps you’re a lyricist, maybe looking to pick up an idea or two, or a songwriter? Or  ‘just’ someone - it could be you-  curious to see what goes on.

You'll get a heartfelt song into the bargain, plus some life observations and humour. Also I’ll take you with me back in time for a peaceful walk on the river..

If you like my music, there’s plenty more we this came from. You can stream it, view videos, I’m also a seascape painter and cartoonist.

www.petepascoe.com  website

Youtube Channel: Pete Pascoe Art and Music ( link this to):

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrHYCpWbGGaBQr8ukxASVnw

petepascoe.bandcamp.com 12 albums here.

Enjoy.

Episode #26: Fair New Day - (Song at 6:33)

It’s springtime here in Melbourne. Today was indeed a fair new day. 

Tune in again this week and catch another song. If it's your first time here, welcome! You are now part of an intimate listening audience. Let me entertain and inform you. 

I want to give you an insight as to where this song came from, how it came into being. 

This one started to come through on the night of a big rock roll band gig, featuring yours truly on lead vocals. This particular day I'd woken up with an horrendously sore throat. I was about to head out to the gig, where I'd be basically screaming my head off, getting above drums and guitars... Lots of energy. 

So I thought I better have a very gentle vocal warm up on my piano before I left home for the gig. The warm up chords and gentle humming straight away sounded like a song... 

You'll also hear about a rather annoying neighbours dog that woke me up very early one morning.. (not being a morning person, myself)...

I love writing lyrics. It amazes me how the words seem to come through if their own accord 'on the ether'. The same with the music: the melodies, the chords, all the ideas.. It's as much a mystery to me now as it was the day it first happened for me.

Join me on a journey of discovery as I delve into what it's like to be a songwriter. I 'wing it' and have fun as I roll - while I enjoy sharing some of the nuances of songwriting and share some observations on life in general, I like to keep the tone lighthearted - we are here to be entertained.

Grab a cuppa, put your feet up. Like a yarn or three and some new music ? You've come to the right place. Enjoy.

(By the way, the time where the song kicks in is in the title each week).

Episode #25: Run Away (It’s Never Easy) - (Song at 8:10 & 25:00)

Songs take you right back to what you were up to at the time when they came into your life, don't they? 

When you write a song, a heartfelt song, it seems the effect increases tenfold. 

Particularly if you are writing from the heart. And that's what I do...

Listening to today's song Run Away (I.N.E.), song number #176, it took me right back in time to when I wrote it. 

It's a song about a relationship....if you like lyrics, we dip into the words and see how they came together, what they're about...

I introduce: 'Mr piano man, Pete Pascoe' ...I touch on how it is to be a piano man & more than that...

You'll get to step into the shoes of a song writer - literally, this time: I demonstrate how I start writing the beginning of a song, As I talk, my fingers rest on the keys and I bring the piano in and out of proceedings.

Also you'll get to come on a fishing adventure in the waves at the beach in New Zealand..

Hopefully you'll be entertained , you'll feel informed.

And you'll get two versions of the song today! 

Grab a cuppa, sit back and come on a trip into another world. 

The world of a songwriter. 

It's my passion, it's who I am. 

You can find more of my music and art here ...plus the usual streaming services.

Www.petepascoe,com

Www.petepascoe.wordpress.com. Blog magazine style of art and music posts

Pete Pascoe art and music YouTube.  Art and music videos, funnily enough. 

Enjoy.

Episode #24: Walk By The River - (Song at 6.14)

Welcome to another podcast episode - a big show again, this week! 

Picture me on a stage, with my piano. You're the intimate audience. Yes, you're going to a get a song- song# 385 as matter of fact. But that's far from all you'll be hearing about. 

Come back in time with me and we'll see where the song came from. At the time I composed this song, I was reading Tolkien by candlelight, listening to De Ja vu by Crosby Stills Nash and Young. It was a peaceful time for me.

I walked by the river a lot, fly fishing and letting my worries go. Just as my father did before me and his father did before him, on that same river. 

This song was the last one I wrote before I left New Zealand to come to live in Australia. 

As well as looking at the lyrics and the music, you'll get to hear about a (humorous) unfortunate episode involving me by the river in NZ on a very dark night, finding my way back to my car. And another yarn about a quiet stream, years later, in Victoria, Australia. 

Along with life observations, insights to the song writing process, a yarn or two about gigs I've played and some other surprises ....enjoy some music and a chat. 

Sit back , grab a cuppa and put your feet up for 30 minutes. Let me entertain you!

Episode #23: Winter Blue - (Song at 11.43)

Hi there, Welcome to another episode of Song and a Chat. If it's your first time here, well, I hope you're in for a treat. You'll get to step into the shoes of a songwriter. You'll hear a bit about how the song came together. 

I had ski gig - playing piano in an old restaurant in the evenings, skiing all day when it was fine. When it rained I wrote songs, drew cartoons ....and I went trout fishing. I tell a yarn about the time I was asked to take a party of people white water rafting.... 

If this sounds a long way away from songwriting, well, it is. I'm enjoying just following my nose and relating memories like this adventure... 

Winter Blue is today's song. What's this one about?  Once I'd taken up the gig and got there, I realised I was going to miss ...a lot... and ...someone in particular. 

This is a gentle ballad, with a lilting melody. I will record it with an orchestra one day. 

So in amongst stories, of fishing, and white water rafting (I take you on the river with me that winter's afternoon...) plus we have some music. 

I'll examine the lyrics, and the music of the song, from a songwriting point of view. 

If you've never heard a songwriter speak about this sort of thing, hopefully you'll find this interesting. 

Ok, buckle up for the ride. Here we go off to New Zealand high country in 1988, where there's a young fella waiting to tell a yarn or two, and sing you a song.

Episode #22:  Everyone Falls - (Song at 1:40)

This podcast is a bit like a songwriter speaks type of gig. I'll talk about an old demo, well look at it from a songwriting point view. Plus - and perhaps more so - I'm talking about episodes from my past - you'll get a slice of the life of a songwriter. 

Recording these episodes, I fly by the seat of my pants. It's a casual presentation each week. I talk honestly about my work.

I also talk the featured song of the week -  what I was feeling at the time wrote it. I talk  about the lyrics & the music. 

Everyone Falls is this week's song. It's from an old album called the Patient Hum - this is the 21st year (!) since I released 100 CDs of it (yep, back in the day).  I have recently re-recorded the vocals. I've nearly finished remixing this album. It'll be online soon..

When I composed this, in 1998, I was 2 years into a 'new start' in Melbourne, after leaving New Zealand. 

I went back to NZ for a music tour that didn't happen. So I decided to record instead. In one afternoon we recorded 14 songs. This was one of them. I released the album as I said, and at the time I also released my Eridanus /River Music album.

It turns out (in my opinion) the song Everyone Falls also reads well as a piece of poetry. On the spur of the moment, I give it a reading ...this was a surprise. I think it goes well. 

The lyrics came about reflecting on the fact that I'd gone from playing the lead role of JC Superstar, and playing with the band in a rock festival to suddenly singing covers in a Holiday Inn and starting all over again. 

You gotta have humility, a thick skin, a good sense of humour and a mountain of determination to do this 'artist' thing...

So this song could be about the ups and downs (and resurrecting ) an existing  path, it could be about something that urges us on, rescues us, the natural essence.. call it what you will. 

I hope you enjoy this song and I hope you enjoy the chat. 

Thanks for tuning in.

Episode #21: Don't You Ever Give In - (Song at 12:03 & 28:51)

If you streamed this episode, what would you hear about? Well...

Hi, my name's Pete Pascoe, I'm a songwriter with a lot of songs. Each week I talk about a song I've written & what I was thinking when I wrote the song. I relate anecdotes from around time as well & include observations about life in general - all delivered in a laid back manner with a dose of humour. 

So this week, song number 368, 'Don't You Ever Give In' ... the title says it all: it's been a challenging time..but I won't give in. 

So this song came from 1996 which was the year before I left New Zealand and I headed off to Melbourne to start all over again, 

With all the ups and downs that happened in the years that followed, this song was a bit of a touchstone for me just to keep going - and I still am. I'm pretty determined. 

In between talking about the song, I'll take you on an audition I undertook once trying out for the role of JC in J C Superstar…

This was also the year I wrote and recorded my first piano music album, River Music. And the band played a huge outdoor rock concert ....

It was big year, looking  back. It's been an interesting ride. 

Come along with me on a journey back in time and hear some tales, we'll look at the song lyrics, and there's two versions of the song to boot!

I'm also sharing lots of art and music each week. I'm a cartoonist and a seascape painter along with making the music if you'd like to see some of this check out my blog. Petepascoecom.wordpress.com 

Enjoy.

Episode #20: Photograph - (Song at 5:40)

Welcome back to to another episode of Song and a Chat.

This week’s song talks about the idea of how a photograph - or a single memory can then bring into your mind a bunch of memories from the same time, and then you discover you’ve actually remembered much more from that particular time than you thought you had.

Music has a way of bringing back memories, doesn’t it.

The song Photograph also explores how we ’cast a line’ into our possible future.

..and that gives me a nice segue into letting you know in this episode I talk about a fly fishing afternoon I shared with a couple of friends. In the high country in New Zealand. So this podcast is turning out to be part ‘travel magazine’ too!

Recording these podcast episodes is taking me into some unexpected and often surprising (to me) concepts and avenues. It’s really great fun.

Photograph is also about those few special teachers that come into your life for just the right amount of time to show you something and set you on a course where you’re going to see it through.

As I chat, I sit at my piano and talk about the song from a musical/songwriting angle and also analyse the lyrics. It's all done in a laid-back ‘light’, inclusive manner …

I’ve said it before ; I’m not going to tell you how to write a song, but I am going to tell you how I write a song.

Ok Curious? Want to hear more? I hope so ! Grab a cup, put your feet up and be entertained.

Thanks for tuning in.

By the way, each week, you can find the song lyrics on my blog post of the week - in amongst all the art and other music …I paint seascapes and draw cartoons - that’s what I’ve been up to today, as well as writing a blog, making videos and recording this episode.

www.petepascoe.wordpress.com is my blog.                       Website:  www.petepascoe.com  

Also, if you are enjoying my podcast, please do spread the word…  this is only my 20th episode - I’m brand new to this and I’m loving it. There’s plenty more to come!

Episode #19: A Moment In Time - (Song at 7:10)

Hi, Welcome to another Song and a Chat episode. 

Before we shut down with Covid 19, I used to commute on the train. I can't say I miss the commute, but I did make the most of the time on the train. Sometimes I wrote lyrics. The words to this song were written on the train. 

Of course it wasn't always as productive on my commutes. I used to ride my bike part the way. I won't give it away, but often on a commute, weather plays a part in proceedings. And it helps if you actually stay on your bike as you're pedalling.

What's this all about, I hear you say. Isn't this a podcast about a song. Well, it is, 

The song, song # 679, is a reflection on our perception of time. Sometimes a length of time can seem to go by in a blink of an eye. I touch on our disconnection, but as I tend to do, there's and uplifting optimistic angle where I suggest we might make the world a better place...

I talk about the song writing - there's some song writing tips here again. 

I actually drum on this song! This is a first - Pete Pascoe playing drums publicly. 

I learned to play the drums a little the same year I recorded this. During assembly, I used to jump on the drums in the music room at the Primary School where I teach piano. I'd put the headphones on and have a lash. " right, it's basically what to whack when" ... Ha. I know it's a lot more than that, but it gave me some pleasure and I learned enough to be able to sketch out my ideas musically. Like this demo. 

Sometimes words sit around for a while and then one day they just seem to leap out at you and you put them to music. 

I hope you enjoy this week's chat - and here's some more new music for you. 

Looking forward to recording this one properly one day...maybe this demo is the start... Since we record digitally, often a demo can become the actual recording. We'll see.  Enjoy.

Episode #18: Cathedral - (Song at 6:08 & 28:50)

Hi, If you've been here before, welcome back for another dose! If you're here for the first time, thanks for having a listen.  What I'm doing is offering you an insight into the song, where it came from, how it came together - plus of course you get to hear a demo of the song. 

I particularly enjoy looking back at the time I when I wrote the song, seeing what springs to mind... It's amazing how a song is like a bookmark in time, for your memory. 

This week's song is Song# 357. Cathedral is a song I wrote when I needed to dig deep to get through a tough time. Writing this song was therapeutic, but art is great because it can become something else, something better than a dark piece of therapy. It can become something uplifting, something that might mean one thing to one person and mean something else to another listener. A song can be transformative for both the writer and the listener. 

I think the arts are so important. It's getting us through these covid weeks - it's getting our minds off what is a very difficult and tragic time

 If you want 30 minutes in another world, step into the shoes of this songwriter and I'll take you somewhere else. 

I'll take you the place where I go, the place I discovered as a kid, the place I take stock, regain my balance and get a fresh perspective. 

2 for 1 again this week: first up, a piano /vocal demo and then a band version of this week's cathedral to finish.  Enjoy!