2018 marked McDell’s return with an independently-released record that celebrates her musical roots and the sounds of her upbringing. This new recorded project came together between Auckland, New Zealand and Nashville, Tennessee where she recorded the tracks with Australian award-winner producer Nash Chambers. The record features a hearty cast of country music legends including Kasey Chambers, Bill Chambers and Tami Neilson.
It was the music of her childhood that would form the fundamental elements of what excited her about songwriting the most - an honest vocal, lots of acoustic guitar and deep storytelling. At age 7, while living aboard a yacht in the Mediterranean, when McDell wrote her first song. On that yacht lived a small collection of her parents’ favourite tapes, including albums by Jimmy Buffett, John Denver and James Taylor, which the young McDell formed a particularly strong bond with. She fondly remembers watching her parents perform Jimmy Buffett duets - and occasionally chiming in, learning how to harmonize vocally with her mother. An eager learner, McDell picked up the guitar after studying her fathers’ John Denver chord book collection and has never looked back.
In March 2017, McDell booked a trip to Nashville for a change of scenery and to connect with the environment that birthed the country/folk music of her youth. There she wrote the songs that would make up the fabric for her upcoming record.
Later that year, twelve songs (written solely by McDell) were recorded in two days with full band at House Of Blues, Studio D in Nashville, with Chambers at the helm. Recording this way would boil up feelings of nostalgia for McDell, who’s very first recording experience took place at Auckland’s York Street studios in the same vein.
“This is the closest thing I’ve done to a live record,” McDell says. “I enjoy playing and singing in the same room as everyone, recording full takes, celebrating the liveliness of the players and accepting mistakes or imperfections as a special and important part of the body of work.”
On this new record, McDell’s vocals are the most raw and vulnerable they have ever been - powerful and honest - and reflect her core listening inspirations which include Patty Griffin and Alison Krauss. Her Margaritaville-infused childhood sneaks through in humorous lines like “scared of looking crazy, she opens up a bottle of wine, forgets about her baby and looks to have a hell of a time.”
This new album also marks McDell’s second independent release since going independent from 2016 - the first being a debut album, written/performed with her younger sister Tessa as Dunes. This record has been personally hand-crafted from the ground up, with McDell overseeing everything from the writing, creation, promotion and release. She also creates the visual artwork herself, as a graphic designer by day.
Putting the overall feeling of the album into words isn’t easy, but McDell reflects on the personal challenge of leaving the comfort of home to write something that was honest and true.
“Nashville was me getting out of my comfort zone and finding my way back to it. I like to write songs quickly and alone and quite frankly when I feel like it, and I think being away from home helped me get back to that headspace,”
“The listener is getting a sincerely true collection of stories that haven’t been tampered with since they were written. They are exactly what I felt like saying/singing at the time - raw, unpolished
and deeply honest.”
Life In Sunshine
Jamie McDell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sure this time
Today it's warm outside
Today we're fine
These days we live our lives
Like there's more to see
But I've come to realize
Chorus:
I'm so hot got my feet on fire
I'm so gone turn the beat up higher
And we know we're living life in sunshine
No time for stress we're all lazy
And tonight we're gonna go crazy
Cause we know we're living life in sunshine
This ain't no TV show
This is life right now
So turn up the radio
Sing this song out loud
There's nowhere you need to be
But right here beside the sea
Today I lost my mind and I feel alive
Chorus
This is the golden age
Driving in my car
So listen closely baby
I'm loving where we are
Chorus
This is the golden age
Driving in my car
So listen closely baby
I'm loving where we are
I'm loving where we are
The Jamie McDell song "Life In Sunshine" is an upbeat tune about the beauty of the present moment. The lyrics describe a warm day outside and a sense of comfort and safety in the present. The singer is confident that things will work out and that this feeling of contentment will last. The chorus is especially catchy, with the repetition of the phrase "life in sunshine" conveying a sense of joy and carefree living.
The song suggests that we often overlook the beauty of our surroundings and the simple pleasures of life. We rush through our days, always looking for more, but never taking the time to appreciate the present. The lyrics encourage the listener to slow down and enjoy life, whether that means taking a walk by the sea or singing along to the radio in the car. The idea is to find happiness and contentment in the moment, without worrying about the future or dwelling on the past.
Overall, "Life In Sunshine" is a cheerful and optimistic song that celebrates the here and now. It's a reminder to appreciate the little things in life and to find joy in the present moment.
Line by Line Meaning
I know we'll be alright
I am sure we will become alright through our efforts and positive thinking
I'm sure this time
I have faith and confidence that things will turn out well
Today it's warm outside
The weather outside is warm and pleasant as opposed to harsh and unfavourable
Today we're fine
We are doing okay, both physically and mentally
These days we live our lives
Nowadays we approach our lives with a sense of adventure
Like there's more to see
As if there are many wonders out there to be explored and experienced
But I've come to realize
However, I have come to understand something important
What's in front of me
That the beauty of life lies in what is directly in front of us and not in the faraway distant horizons
I'm so hot got my feet on fire
I am feeling extremely energetic and motivated
I'm so gone turn the beat up higher
I feel so good that I'm going to turn up the music for an even better experience
And we know we're living life in sunshine
We realize that we are leading a positive, cheerful and happy life
No time for stress we're all lazy
We do not allow ourselves to be bothered by stress and choose to be laid back and relaxed
And tonight we're gonna go crazy
We're going to live it up and have an awesome night
Cause we know we're living life in sunshine
As we're living life in a positive state of mind, we know that we will continue being happy
This ain't no TV show
This is not a scripted or directed form of entertainment but rather the reality of our lives
This is life right now
This is how we experience and perceive our lives at present
So turn up the radio
To enhance the mood and solidify the experience, I suggest we turn up the music
Sing this song out loud
Let's enjoy this moment and sing along with joy and enthusiasm
There's nowhere you need to be
You do not need to go anywhere else or do anything out of the ordinary
But right here beside the sea
Just stay right here, close to the ocean, and appreciate the beauty of nature
Today I lost my mind and I feel alive
Today, I allowed myself to be carried away by the sheer thrill of living, and this made me truly feel alive
This is the golden age
This is a special period of time that is precious and worth cherishing
Driving in my car
Driving in my car with a sense of freedom and fulfillment
So listen closely baby
So pay attention and appreciate the little things that make life beautiful and worthwhile
I'm loving where we are
I'm content and happy with where our lives are at the moment
Chorus
The chorus is a summary of the overall message and theme of the song
Contributed by Arianna P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@catsnowcat
Great song! We were just travelling through NZ and kept hearing it on the radio. It took me a while to track it down from Canada...gonna post it on FB and hope others will like it. This would go viral if people heard it in other parts of the world.
@bootz17
Love this song! -3 I'm buying your album!
@kiwiradioNZ
great voice!!!
@georgia9006
Yay Jamie mcdell
@georgia9006
Love it
@shelbybowie8110
I love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@nomsxo
wow your amazing keep up the good work... im going to go and look at all your other videos :) x
@Laura8057
Amazing...:D:D
@kylmaddie
i like! .x
@xIxLovexAvrilx
i think you'll go very far