Burn

Burn
Written and Recorded 2014

I think every songwriter has certain insecurities about the work that he or she puts out into the world. Not only wondering if a song is good enough or if people will like it, but often asking, "Do I even like this song?" I can say that all of these thoughts have gone and continue to go through my head, especially the last. For a non-artist, it may seem like a silly thought. How could you not like a song that you just created? And I always thought that I should like everything I make and perform it if possible. After all, nobody is telling me what to write, or when to do it. It is all in my control. As I develop and continue to learn and grow in songwriting, I've made my peace with all of this.

It was a lot harder in Of the North to cut certain songs loose once I was sick of them. With so many people in the band, it took a lot of time to learn a song and play it together. It felt like if I was to cut something out, it would have been a colossal waste of everyone's time. Since Of the North's inception, I've not had much of problem having enough material. But as time goes on, I'm more picky about which songs I present to Whiskey Doubles, take more time with them, and make sure that it is something I'm going to want to play, sing, and share for a good, long while.

"Burn" is the last song that I wrote with members of Of the North in mind. Written about a month before the end, I wanted to create a song that was positive, upbeat, and had some real heart to it. I hadn't quite made the decision to end things yet, and knew that if we were to continue, I had to write songs that were more. I needed to write not only smarter, but also with more emotion. I've talked in the past on how good songs transcend the instrumentation that they were originally written for. For me, this is one of those and one that started a new way of thinking about writing songs. This demo that I've uploaded is one that has Of the North instrumentation (including terrible trumpet playing by yours truly.) If you'd like to hear the updated and far more orchestral version of the song as performed by Whiskey Doubles, check it out on iTunes or Spotify.

• The intro's chords and rhythm came very naturally to me. This progression is very versatile. It can be very tender and introspective (as shown in the opening, solo guitar), but can pack a punch too (full band)
• As if by some happy accident, the lyrics were written very quickly and naturally as well. This song in general is an outpouring of emotions. It has been one of the easiest songs to memorize because it is very real, autobiographical, and deeply personal. I see it as an acknowledgement of the past and hope for the future, which can be difficult.
• I've always loved choruses that have an echo, especially in folk music. I definitely put extra effort into that part of the song. This was a first for me, to have two phrases that work in conjunction, the first with a half cadence and the second ending on tonic. I love the participatory feeling that it gives the song.
• In the Whiskey Doubles version, I tightened up the structure a bit. Now we do what has been dubbed, "The Honoré Two-Step." Essentially, I made the last chord of the chorus the first chord of the interlude. I think it is seamless for the listener, but can be a bit jarring for the musician.
• I'm not sure if has been a conscious decision or not, but I don't often have bridges with lyrics. I say all that I need to say in the verse and chorus portions and leave the instruments to tell the rest of the story or bring out further emotion. This bridge is one of my favorites, despite a very simple chord progression.