‘New Single’ is where a band or artist answers a couple of quick questions about their latest Single release. Up next is Nigel Parry, who has a special new single out in time for Remembrance Day around Europe. ‘One word War’ is a soundscape, a song, a war poem, an echoed memory, something truly different. We caught up with him to find out more about it.
What the song is about lyrically?
Put simply, ‘One Word War’ is about people coming home from a terrible war, but not being able to talk about it. Not even to their loved ones. Not one word. It came about because I was approached by the organiser of a World War One commemoration, asking if I had a WW1 song. At the time I didn’t, but already had an idea worming around in my head, based on two small family anecdotes. So I wanted to pursue the ‘real person’ angle rather than the usual ‘they all went over the top and got slaughtered’ stuff. But I just couldn’t find any more real life, front line stories passed down through the family.
And then it dawned on me. THAT is what the real story was. My grandad never even spoke about it to his wife. Even when she asked. Not one word. You can read more background on this blog post.
Who produced/recorded it? Did the track come together in the studio, or at home?
My home is my studio and I’m working with the amazing Jake at Mordecai Records. I recorded the main vocals and guide guitars first. Then fabulous, gutsy harmonica player Gordon Chamley added his harp. There are some BVs as well, but the real ‘ah hah’ moment came when mixing – I turned off all the guitars, just leaving the voices and harp (even though I composed the tune on guitar). That put the track right where I wanted it to be; imagine a dugout just behind the front line, exhausted soldiers sit or lie on bunks. The sounds and music should help tell the ‘story’ just as much as the lyrics.
Were there any gear or effects that you used in the mix to get the sound you were after?
Oh yes. It’s really important for the song to have the right ‘feel’; it’s a soundscape and a war poem as much as a song. Even the reverb is very carefully crafted to sound like you are in the bunker along with everyone else. I also recorded quite a few added sounds to help place you there if you close your eyes; coughs, sneezes, a match striking and a cigarette being lit. There’s also some ghostly whispers so you never know if it is real, a memory or a dream. And right at the end, you get to realise where the tune the soldier is noodling on the harp came from (I won’t give the game away, just listen to the end…).
Is this a stand-alone track or part of an upcoming album or EP?
Errrm, kinda both, although it’s the strangest thing I have ever released as a single. I have been working on a new album for some time and it was slated for launch at the big Wellington Folk Festival over Labour Weekend. That event was Covid-cancelled, and lockdown delayed some of the last recording sessions. You’ll have to wait til next year for the launch of ‘Tales of Common Folk, Salt and Sweet Kisses’ (Moon, Newtown 3rd April 2022). That feels like a long time, so with Remembrance Day coming up in Europe (11th November), and this one pretty much in the can, I decided to put out One Word War as a single this year.
