For some time, Aidan Knight was known as a helpful backing musician, playing everything from pop-rock bass lines to violent, pounding hardcore drums. All the while, he was writing songs of his own, recording in intensive three day bursts whenever he was able to raise enough money. Sleeping on the studio floor at Jonathan Anderson's Langley studio, Buena Vista Audio, Knight immersed himself in the project, waking up to play most of the instruments himself. With the arrangements in place, he invited Toronto's The O' Darling to fill in the additional drums, guitars, girl harmonies, strings and horns.
The result of these collaborations is Versicolour, an intimate eight-song collection of haunted chamber folk and moody acoustic pop. Opening track "The Sun" begins with a pulsing, ticking drum loop and baroque piano chords, gradually swelling to a string-laden climax with a dense chorus of harmony, cascading drum fills, and a meditative repetition of the title. "Knitting Something Nice for You" starts as a sparse acoustic waltz, Knight's fingers audibly scraping up and down the fretboard; the mood changes completely halfway through, with a hypnotic keyboard groove taking over while guitar feedback squalls somewhere in the distance.
Even more striking than the arrangements is the songwriting, which is deeply personal yet universally relatable. "Fighting Against Your Lungs," ironically written just a few months before Knight suffered a collapsed lung, is a hushed love song set on top of classic horns and fingerpicked guitar. It's lyric, "I met you on the border cross/And gave up kisses like a winter's frost", a wishful thought between two people separated by the prairies. "Jasper" is humanistic and spiritual in equal measures, describing a summer afternoon spent near the Athabasca River. Over a joyous backdrop of banjo chords and steel guitar leads, the song's group-sung chorus sets a communal atmosphere for Knight's life-affirming lyrics. It's a timeless anthem - no small feat for any songwriter, let alone a first-time artist. With a talent like this, it's clear that it was only ever a matter of time before Knight rose above his supporting role and struck out on his own.
Versicolour was released in 2010.
The Sun
Aidan Knight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I pedal and push
Riding my bicycle
The clouds are too much
I found the brakes
Light came down as I rode away
Tried to look my very best
Wind off an arm, arms
Crossed on my chest
Just what I feared
A knife or a crutch
Caught in the spokes and
Got me all cut up
The opening lines of Aidan Knight's "The Sun" describe a cyclist's journey as they pedal and push their way through the wind. The singer remarks that the clouds are too much, a comment that could be interpreted in multiple ways - it could be a reference to the weather being too overcast, or a metaphor for life's struggles and obstacles becoming overwhelming. As the cyclist tries to make their way forward, they come across an obstacle in the form of a knife or crutch, which gets caught in the spokes of their bike, leading to injury.
The second verse of the song sees the singer getting ready for something - perhaps an event or occasion where they need to present themselves in the best possible light. They tie up their ties and try to look their very best, all while battling the wind that is blowing against them. The imagery of wind off an arm and arms crossed on the chest is evocative, suggesting a sense of protectiveness and vulnerability at the same time. The final lines of the song see the singer facing the unexpected challenge, caught off guard as they get cut up by the object caught in their bike's spokes.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the challenges of life, and how even when we try our best to prepare for them, unexpected obstacles can arise that can cut us down. The cycling imagery is also interesting, suggesting a sense of forward momentum and movement even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The wind in my ear
As I ride my bicycle, I can feel the wind rushing into my ear.
I pedal and push
I am using my legs to propel the bicycle forward, with great effort.
Riding my bicycle
I am traveling by bicycle, enjoying the feeling of freedom and mobility.
The clouds are too much
The sky is overcast and I cannot see the sun, which makes me feel a bit down.
I found the brakes
I located and applied the brakes on my bicycle, slowing it down.
Light came down as I rode away
Suddenly, a ray of sunshine broke through the clouds, illuminating my path as I continued on my bicycle ride.
Tied up my ties
I put on my formal attire, indicating that I may have an important event or meeting to attend.
Tried to look my very best
I put effort in my appearance, hoping to make a good impression and feel confident.
Wind off an arm, arms
As I ride, I feel the wind blowing on my arms and they move freely.
Crossed on my chest
I cross my arms on my chest, perhaps feeling nervous or defensive.
Just what I feared
Something I was afraid of actually happened.
A knife or a crutch
I encountered a dangerous obstacle, represented metaphorically by a knife or a crutch.
Caught in the spokes and
The obstacle got stuck in the bicycle's spokes, causing harm and disruption to my ride.
Got me all cut up
As a result of the obstacle, I sustained injuries and cuts on my body.
Contributed by Bentley P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.