When Radical Face went global with 'Welcome Home' it wasn't something he'd planned, or even pursued. It simply happened.
So consider this taking back control. The songwriter has confirmed a date at London's Scala venue, with a new EP incoming.
The material has been sketched out on his own terms, with Radical Face ending the 'Family Tree Chronicle' and commencing on a new, fresh journey.
New cut 'Sunn' is the first step. Airing on Clash, it's a beautiful return, the lyrics unfolding with rare grace as the sparse yet engrossing arrangement shifts and evolves around his voice.
Ben explains:
"So this is the first song I've recorded since wrapping up 'The Family Tree' project. To go from eight years of the same material to total freedom was pretty odd. I had no restrictions on how I produced it, or what I would talk about. I found myself just writing about where I'm at now, in my actual life, and not through characters or disguises."
"I'm producing the tracks entirely based on sounds that I like right now - drum samples from old records, pianos played with old mellotron master tapes, tracking vocals with almost-broken microphones. And this is the first song in an EP where none of the songs sound very similar. It's felt both terribly freeing and a bit nervewracking. I welcome both things. I'm having fun in a way that I haven't in a long time."
Sunn
Radical Face Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I didn't flinch when it
All got burned away
And while in the middle of those fires
I always find myself with nothing much to say
And I used to wish my boy would travel
Then my genetic line
It wouldn't end with me
But in the light of all that's built me
I see that some dead ends
Are probably for the best
Well, come find these thoughts and
Pull them out of me
'Cause they're nothing I have asked for
Sometimes when sleep becomes your enemy
It feels better to dream while
The sun is accounted for
Sing the song I swore I would
Until my voice was gone
Now I'm just listening
While the sunlight cuts it's name in my skin
And I left my ghost along the shore
To find a port to harbor me
But I ain't so young
To believe a home is ever very permanent
Save yourself a little breath
We don't often change what were scared of
And we just paint the scars
And pretend they were never there
You can save yourself a second guess
When it's all a cycle
Well, come find these thoughts and
Pull then out of me
'Cause they're nothing I have asked for
Sometimes when sleep becomes your enemy
It feels better to dream while
The sun is accounted for
'Cause I only wanna let this go
The lyrics to Radical Face's "Sunn" may seem abstract, but they primarily speak about the passage of time, mortality, and the idea of letting go. The first lines of "Sunn" describe watching the sun across one's furniture while it burns away, and yet not flinching. This could represent a stoic response to the inevitability of change, decay, and eventual death. In the face of these burning fires, the singer claims to have nothing much to say.
The second and third verses shift towards the subject of legacy and leaving a mark on the world. The singer had initially wished his boy would travel so that his genetic line wouldn't end with him, but in hindsight, understands that some dead ends are for the best. It's a mature and refreshing take on the desire to want to pass on our genes and leave a legacy. The idea is that some threads are better left unfinished, and that trying to cling to them can ultimately be destructive.
The final note of the song is one of letting go. The singer wants to let go of something, and they only wish to let it go. Despite the uncertainty ahead, and the scars of what has come before, there is a peaceful acceptance in the lyrics. The idea that it's better to dream while the sun is accounted for - while one is still alive and capable of experiencing the world. It's an uplifting and empowering sentiment that speaks to the idea of living in the present and letting go of our worries.
Line by Line Meaning
I watched the sun across the furniture
I observed the sun's movement and activities on the furniture.
And I didn't flinch when it all got burned away
I did not react when everything was destroyed by the sun.
And while in the middle of those fires, I always find myself with nothing much to say
During the fires, I felt speechless and mute.
And I used to wish my boy would travel, then my genetic line, it wouldn't end with me
I used to desire my son would travel because I wanted my family lineage to continue beyond me.
But in the light of all that's built me, I see that some dead ends are probably for the best
After considering my experiences, I realize that some things that appear to be dead ends, are possibly the best thing for me.
Well, come find these thoughts and pull them out of me 'cause they're nothing I have asked for
Please retrieve these unplanned thoughts from me, as I did not intentionally generate them.
Sometimes when sleep becomes your enemy, it feels better to dream while the sun is accounted for
When sleep seems like an enemy, it is comforting to have the sun present during my dreams.
Sing the song I swore I would until my voice was gone, now I'm just listening while the sunlight cuts its name in my skin
I previously sang a song until I was voiceless, and now I am listening while the sun leaves its mark on my skin.
And I left my ghost along the shore to find a port to harbor me, but I ain't so young to believe a home is ever very permanent
I left my spirit or past behind to find comfort, but I am not naive to think that any home or residence will be permanent or forever.
Well, come find these thoughts and pull them out of me 'cause they're nothing I have asked for
Please extract these unintended thoughts from me because I did not intentionally produce them.
Save yourself a little breath, we don't often change what we're scared of, and we just paint the scars and pretend they were never there
Don't waste your breath because we rarely conquer things we fear and instead just mask the scars and pretend they did not exist.
You can save yourself a second guess when it's all a cycle
You do not need to doubt yourself further because everything is cyclical.
'Cause I only wanna let this go
I only want to release or let go of this particular thing.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind