Panes, who plays mandolin and guitar, is accompanied by Georgie Harris (Viola), Joanne Sy (Cello), Sean Hatton (Drums) and Deborah Panes (Vocals).
Panes is a British songwriter with a guitar to his chest and a heart swelling with hopes and dreams. A common on-paper pitch, perhaps, and one sold a thousand times before. But Dorset-born Panes has something special to offer those willing to wait a while for their favourite songs to settle into place.
Panes’ debut album, ‘Little Giant’, isn’t a collection operating at the vanguard of a cutting-edge, ultimately transient scene worthy of clicks for the next few months. It’s not an album that sets out to trick its audience in any way – what you hear is succinct, honest songwriting, from a place of deep personal expression, resonating with universal truths and values. It’s an embracing set, a welcoming one, which represents everything that its maker has worked towards since first picking up a guitar and exploring his innermost thoughts and feelings through song. No follower of fashion, Panes walks to his own beat.
It’s a strange admission for any artist, but nevertheless: “I’ve never really listened to much music,” says Panes. “Influences from other artists, they’re not really that important. I find that my music comes to me from situations I find myself in – those situations can come to me as songs. In terms of first picking up an instrument, my granny was a classical pianist – we’d go to her house, hear her play, and run around in circles. And my mum used to be in a travelling theatre company, so I was encouraged towards culture, towards the arts. But I always thought: if I want to listen to music, I’ll just write it.”
Don’t mistake confidence for arrogance – such statements come from a sincere place, as Panes’ upbringing in Wimborne, once home to novelist Thomas Hardy, proved more inspirational to his writing than any sessions in the company of a parent’s record collection. The natural beauty of Dorset’s open spaces – and those of the Lake District, a place he loves to visit – have become woven into the fabric of his craft. The peace, the silent solitude: it’s here that Panes feels more alive with ideas than he does in the hubbub of his adopted home of London. There’s a pastoral warmth to ‘Little Giant’ that couldn’t have manifested had its roots been laid within urban limits.
The comfort of home, of a tight and supportive family, punctuates proceedings throughout Panes’ debut LP – which is perhaps inevitable, as the collection was recorded there. Beside producer Rupert Coulson – a man with numerous soundtrack credits, as well as experience of working on records by Portishead, Robbie Williams and Oasis – Panes and his band captured the classic 12-string guitar sounds, rippling percussion and sweeping strings that decorate ‘Little Giant’ in, says the singer, “the music room, down at our house – just a small, wooden-floored room. I thought, why not keep the recording close to where I write the songs?”
He continues: “I’m a really big fan of the idea that you don’t need all the stuff you find in a big studio – it’s about how you use the things you do have. Rupert had a lot of imagination, and got a good grasp of the room and harnessed it. I love working in places that have an atmosphere, and I think it’s good to have that extra, background noise on a record. I’m sure there’s an ambulance on the album, actually.”
He was, briefly, the face of a Burberry campaign, something he describes as “random”. “I was on tour,” he says, “and I got a phone call asking me to do it. I just grabbed the opportunity that was in front of me. I went in a musician, and came out a musician. It’s a short episode in my life, but one that’s had some quite big repercussions.” Indeed, a Google search pulls up many attractively composed black-and-white photographs of Panes sporting fine threads – but it’s music that surges strongest in his veins, above all other passions.
And now that you’ve separated your senses from social media for a while, closed your chattering inbox, just what does ‘Little Giant’ offer above more garden variety singer-songwriter recordings? A little patience provides the answers: this is material that truly connects on an emotional level, its gentle rhythms and compelling cadences topped by vocals that can’t be faked, that come characterised by a complete lack of artifice and affectation. His is a deep voice, one that sounds aged beyond its years, perhaps. And yet, it’s telling of timeless stories, endless ache and forever love. It asks that we all find the right way to see the world around us.
One number that specifically addresses the need for optimism is the single ‘Tiger Striped Sky’. Says Panes: “It’s about the idea where we can look at any situation ahead of us in two ways: either it’s challenging, and off-putting, or you can say that you love a challenge. It’s about the idea that you chose your context, and if you put yourself into a negative context, you’re going to come out with stripes on you.”
The title track is about addressing one’s own shortcomings in order to better themselves. “It’s accepting that you have to realise your own vulnerabilities in order to become stronger,” says Panes. “That’s why there’s the line, ‘Have the heart of a giant / But know you’re a man.’ You have to take things step by step. It’s also got that message of hope, as well.”
These songs are, says Panes, “personal, and vulnerable – but expansive, too. Because I don’t want it to just be about me. Here’s a bit of me, to help you understand a bit of you. I think positivity and hope are things worth giving to people, and I think that the album does transmit a lot of hope.”
I Was Here
Roo Panes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once the world was only me
Now the world is only you
You gave me brighter eyes to see
That what I want is right in front of me
I pray some day you'll see
See through the blind fog that has bound you
'Cause every day
Every day I live to see you live
And hear you say "I was here, I was here"
Many moons and still unchanged
I wish you'd stay this way forever
In every way of you, I'm one
Whilst always searching for horizons
I pray some day you'll see
The wonder that surrounds you
See through the blind fog that has bound you
'Cause every day
Every day I live to see you live
And hear you say "I was here, I was here"
It seems that every moment is
A memory when you're near
Heart keeps beating - "I was here
I was here"
In Roo Panes's song "I Was Here," the lyrics convey a deep sense of love and appreciation for someone. The repetition of the phrase "I was here" suggests a desire to leave a lasting impact and signify that the presence of the singer in the world and in the life of the person they are addressing was significant.
The opening lines, "Once the world was only me, now the world is only you," highlight a shift in perspective brought about by the influence of this person. They have given the singer a new clarity and purpose, allowing them to see that everything they want or need is right in front of them. The lyrics express a hopeful longing for the person to recognize the wonder that surrounds them and break free from any limitations or blind spots that may have held them back. Each day, the singer lives to witness the person thriving and hears them proclaiming their existence and impact on the world.
The second verse continues with a sense of timelessness and a desire for things to remain as they are. The singer expresses a wish for the person to remain the same way forever, suggesting that their presence brings immense joy and contentment. The phrase "whilst always searching for horizons" implies that even in the fulfillment they find with this person, there is still a constant yearning for growth and exploration.
Overall, "I Was Here" conveys a message of love, appreciation, and the transformative power of a significant relationship. It speaks to the profound impact that one person can have on another, and the deep desire to make a lasting impression on someone's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I was here, I was here
I've existed and made my mark in this world
Once the world was only me
There was a time when I only saw things from my perspective
Now the world is only you
But now, my focus and priority is solely on you
You gave me brighter eyes to see
You've opened my eyes to see things more clearly and appreciate the beauty around me
That what I want is right in front of me
I've realized that what I truly desire is already within my reach
I pray some day you'll see
I hope that someday you'll understand
The wonder that surrounds you
The amazing and awe-inspiring things that are present in your life
See through the blind fog that has bound you
Overcome the obstacles and limitations that have held you back
'Cause every day
Because every single day
Every day I live to see you live
My purpose in life is to witness your happiness and fulfillment
And hear you say 'I was here, I was here'
And listen to you express that you've made an impact and left your mark in the world
Many moons and still unchanged
Despite the passage of time, you remain the same
I wish you'd stay this way forever
I hope you never change from who you are
In every way of you, I'm one
I feel a deep connection and unity with every aspect of your being
Whilst always searching for horizons
While constantly seeking new possibilities and growth
It seems that every moment is
It appears that every single moment
A memory when you're near
Becomes a cherished recollection when you're in my presence
Heart keeps beating - 'I was here
My heart continues to pulsate, reminding me that I've made a lasting impact
I was here'
I've left my imprint and made my existence known
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ANDREW PANES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
esp9
Beautiful song! ❤ Thank you for uploading the video.