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.”
Sing For the Wind
Roo Panes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Unstoppable, untamed and wild,
But a brave face isn't brave I've learned,
And as I searched for wisdom I remembered your words,
You told me "sing for the wind my love,
Fear not for tomorrow,
Cos love's the journey of a lifetime,
So tomorrow doesn't worry me,
And though the path be untravelled at least I'm free,
To be great not just to be,
That's what your wise old words taught me.
You told me "sing for the wind my love,
Fear not for tomorrow,
Cos love's the journey of a lifetime,
And where you finish isn't where you start"
The lyrics to Roo Panes's "Sing For the Wind" explore the idea of being brave in the face of uncertainty and embracing the journey of life, instead of worrying about the destination. The first stanza paints a picture of the singer as someone who is strong-willed and unyielding, but they soon realize that putting on a brave face may not be enough. The singer searches for wisdom and remembers the words of someone important to them, who told them to "sing for the wind" and not fear tomorrow.
The chorus of the song repeats this advice, emphasizing the importance of love and the journey it takes us on. The bridge of the song reinforces this idea, as the singer declares that the unknown path ahead doesn't worry them because they are free to pursue greatness instead of simply existing. They credit the wise words of their companion with helping them to have this outlook on life, and the song ends with the final repetition of the chorus.
Overall, "Sing For the Wind" is an encouraging and reflective song that reminds listeners to focus on the present moment and enjoy the journey of life. It suggests that bravery doesn't have to mean stoicism or stubbornness, but can instead be found in vulnerability and a willingness to love and be loved.
Line by Line Meaning
It's said I run like a stubborn tide,
People say that I am determined, relentless, and strong-willed, just like the waves that never stop crashing onto the shore.
Unstoppable, untamed and wild,
I am unstoppable, uncontrolled, and wild in my actions, driven by an inner force that cannot be broken.
But a brave face isn't brave I've learned,
Putting on a brave face does not necessarily mean that someone is truly brave. I have come to realize that true bravery involves confronting your fears and insecurities, rather than trying to hide them.
And as I searched for wisdom I remembered your words,
As I try to gain more knowledge and insight, I recall the words of someone who has given me guidance and inspiration.
You told me "sing for the wind my love,
You encouraged me to embrace my creativity and share it with the world. You urged me to let my ideas and my voice take flight, like the wind.
Fear not for tomorrow,
You assured me that I should not be afraid of what the future might hold. Instead, I should focus on living in the present, enjoying life, and taking risks.
Cos love's the journey of a lifetime,
You reminded me that life is all about love: the love we give, the love we receive, and the love we create. It is a journey that lasts a lifetime.
And where you finish isn't where you start"
You taught me that life is full of twists and turns, and that nothing is ever set in stone. Just because you start in one place doesn't mean that's where you'll end up. Life is full of surprises, and it's up to you to make the most of them.
So tomorrow doesn't worry me,
Thanks to your wise words, I no longer feel anxious or scared about what the future might hold. I am confident in my abilities and my path, and I know that whatever happens, I can handle it.
And though the path be untravelled at least I'm free,
Even if I embark on a journey that has never been taken before, I will not be afraid, because I have the freedom to choose my own path and create my own destiny.
To be great not just to be,
Your words have instilled in me a desire to be great, not just to exist. I want to make a difference in the world, to leave my mark, and to inspire others to do the same.
That's what your wise old words taught me.
Your words of wisdom have been a guiding light in my life, helping me to find my purpose and giving me the courage to chase my dreams. Thank you.
Contributed by Logan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@nosecualquiernombre
I have music for studying, music for doing exercise and then I have music for myself, to relax, to find myself, put myself together, find my inner peace. This is the most important part, not of my day, of my whole life, and in those moments I only listen to you Roo.
So I first have listen about you three years ago. For three years you have done all the things I've listed above and for that, I am forever grateful.
@nosecualquiernombre
Listened to*
@fajarnurpratiwi9343
😘
@RossCraigGibson17
I must say Roo Panes deserves so much more publicity for what he does, he is such a talented man, really deserves more than 836 veiws!!!!
@zalayeta007
Nearly half a million now :)
Music is such a timeless thing
@NATISNTNORMAL
I still listen to this 5 years later. One day I will have some of the lyrics tattooed. Please never delete this.
@Adrianasco
Almost 2 am lying in bed listening Roo Panes and i'm loving it
@melo9383
6 Years later, doing the same
@shaow1789
6 years later nearly 2 am watching his music
@mdtzclicknow
Roo has a voice and backing that lives inside an evolving vacuum since the 1950s. To me that means he has an historical sense of music and adapts it to our times.