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.”
Land of the Living
Roo Panes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That we shall cherish and that I wrestle
Don't want to be like the dust that settles
This empire of nothing
I find that I'm king of all these empty homes
That are ruled by my own flaws
But you can't be an old fire
So remember that, you are never a forgotten name
Cause I know a land called the land of the living
It's the world beyond those curtains where we learned to play
I hear the voices of my childhood singing it's the world beyond those doorways
Where we use to play
Cause every moment
Is a chance to define what you want to become
You're not a slave to things you've done
Be brave and be bold,
Be childish and old it's the same old story
Every life needs a hope of glory.
But you can't be an old fire
If your burning with a new flame
So remember that, you are never a forgotten name.
Cause I know a land called the land of the living
It's the world beyond those curtains where we learned to play
I hear the voices of my childhood singing it's the world beyond those doorways
Where we use to play.
I was born to be free, you were born to free me,
I was born to be free, you were born to free me
I was born to be free, you were born to free me
I was born to be free, you were born to free me.
Cause I know a land called the land of the living
It's the world beyond those curtains where we learned to play
I hear the voices of my childhood singing it's the world beyond those doorways
Where we use to play
I know a land called the land of the living
It's the world beyond those curtains where we learned to play
Oh we'll go back, we'll go back to the beginning
And well pick up on the trails of forgotten ways.
The lyrics to Roo Panes's song "Land of the Living" encourage listeners to remember the excitement and innocence of childhood and to strive to remain true to oneself, despite the flaws and mistakes that can accumulate over time. The opening verse reflects on the transience of life and the importance of leaving a lasting legacy. The line "This empire of nothing" refers to the material possessions and accomplishments that are ultimately insignificant in the face of mortality. The singer recognizes that he is responsible for the quality of his own life and relationships, as signified by the metaphorical kingship of his empty homes.
The chorus of the song introduces the concept of the titular "land of the living," which represents a place of hope and inspiration beyond the physical world. The singer associates this "world beyond those curtains" with his memories of childhood play, which imbue it with a sense of joy and freedom. He suggests that each moment in life presents an opportunity to define one's own path and to overcome past mistakes. This perspective requires courage and authenticity, as represented by the call to "be brave and be bold" and to embrace both the maturity and innocence of the human experience.
The final verse of "Land of the Living" broadens the scope of the song to invoke a sense of collective purpose. The repetition of "I was born to be free, you were born to free me" suggests a mutual obligation among all individuals to support each other's growth and liberation. The closing lines of the song express a desire to return to a state of childlike wonder and to rediscover the "forgotten ways" of the past. This call to remember the inherent goodness of humanity and to strive for a better future is a central theme in much of Roo Panes's music.
Line by Line Meaning
Where they go
I wonder where people go, after they die.
That we shall cherish and that I wrestle
We hold on to the memories of those who have passed, but it can be difficult to reconcile with their absence.
Don't want to be like the dust that settles
I don't want to be stagnant or complacent, like the dust that accumulates and doesn't move.
This empire of nothing
The things I accumulate and hold on to in life are ultimately meaningless.
I find that I'm king of all these empty homes
I have control over things in my life that ultimately bring me no satisfaction or happiness.
That are ruled by my own flaws
My flawed perspective and choices are what determine my sense of control over meaningless things.
But you can't be an old fire
You can't simply rely on past successes or experiences to sustain you.
If you are burning with a new flame
You must constantly push yourself to explore new things and find new sources of passion and inspiration.
So remember that, you are never a forgotten name
No matter what happens, you will always be remembered and have a legacy.
Cause I know a land called the land of the living
There is a place beyond this world where we can truly feel alive and fulfilled.
It's the world beyond those curtains where we learned to play
It's a metaphor for childhood, where we were innocent and free to explore and play without the constraints of adulthood.
I hear the voices of my childhood singing it's the world beyond those doorways
I long for the simplicity and joy of my childhood, before the challenges of adulthood weighed me down.
Where we use to play
Those carefree moments of exploration and play are where we were truly alive.
Cause every moment
Every moment in life is an opportunity to shape our future and become who we want to be.
Is a chance to define what you want to become
We have the power to define our own destiny and shape our own lives.
You're not a slave to things you've done
We have the power to overcome our past mistakes and move forward with a new sense of purpose.
Be brave and be bold
Don't be afraid to take risks and pursue your passions.
Be childish and old it's the same old story
We should strive to maintain a sense of childlike wonder and curiosity throughout our lives.
Every life needs a hope of glory
We all need something to strive for and get excited about in life, no matter how big or small.
I was born to be free, you were born to free me
We are all meant to be free, and we all have the power to help others break free from their own limitations.
Oh we'll go back, we'll go back to the beginning
We can always return to a state of innocence and purity, no matter how much we've grown and changed.
And well pick up on the trails of forgotten ways.
We can rediscover lost passions and interests from our past and use them to shape our future.
Contributed by Lucas L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sandra Dunkel
on Know Me Well
Beautiful song.... beautiful voice :-)