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.”
Weight of Your World
Roo Panes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lay all your burdens aside.
For here, we have no time,
So sleep and just leave it all behind.
Chorus:
And all you have to do is call,
And I'll come running to your side,
Tomorrow's a new day,
And yesterdays tales far away,
All will be alright,
So sleep and just leave it all behind.
And all you have to do is call,
And I'll come running to your side,
I'll take the weight of your world from off your shoulders girl x 2
Nothing can get you, you know I've got you, you're in my arms.
Nothing can get me, I know you've got me I'm in your arms. x2
The song "Weight of Your World" by Roo Panes is a soothing, uplifting track that speaks to both the struggles and the comfort that can come from a devoted love. The lyrics encourage the listener to let go of their burdens and fears, to leave them behind and embrace the present moment. The opening lines urge the listener to sleep and leave their worries behind, indicating the song's emphasis on surrendering to the safety of love and trust in one another. The chorus declares a promise to be there for the listener, to take the weight of their world off their shoulders, emphasizing the deep care and support present in their relationship.
The second verse offers a message of hope for a better tomorrow, assuring the listener that any challenges of the past will fade away in comparison. The song speaks to the transformative power of love and the reassurance it can bring, with the repeated verse "Nothing can get you, you know I've got you, you're in my arms" reaffirming the security they offer one another. In essence, this track offers a message of hope, encouraging the listener to trust in love's ability to heal and offer comfort during difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Sleep, leave it behind
Forget about your troubles and go to sleep.
Lay all your burdens aside
Put all your worries and problems aside.
For here, we have no time
In this moment, there is no time for worrying.
So sleep and just leave it all behind
Sleep and let go of everything that's bothering you.
And all you have to do is call
I am here for you and will help you when you need it.
And I'll come running to your side
I will be there for you immediately as soon as you ask for help.
I'll take the weight of your world from off your shoulders girl
I will take away your worries and problems and carry them for you.
Tomorrow's a new day
You have a chance for a fresh start with each new day.
And yesterdays tales far away
Yesterday's problems are in the distant past now.
All will be alright
Everything will be okay in the end.
Nothing can get you, you know I've got you, you're in my arms.
You are safe and protected in my embrace.
Nothing can get me, I know you've got me I'm in your arms.
I am also safe and protected in your embrace.
Contributed by Gavin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shazneentabassum9833
this is the kind of song you play on repeat at 2 a.m. after a tough day, when you know that although there might be no one beside you, music is something that will remain permanent in your life.
@bibinmathewthomas2910
Shazneen Tabassum i wish you many more happy days...but remember these then still😁
@Son1ca
This song makes me feel like I am being hugged after having a rough time.
@Priscilaaful1
Roo is such an amazing artist. Smooth, with toasty songs and sensible. He's one of my favorite artists.
@MorqanCore
the most beautiful song I've ever heard
@mchllgb
Beautifully written.
@Robipalusaable
Thanks for singing this song. Describes how I feel to this girl.
@elysianka
I love your music, I love it so deeply that it is almost impossible and I would give everything to see you live. cheers and lots of love for you Roo, never stop making music.
@manueldsb
WOW!! I love every single one of your songs! I "discovered" you about a month ago, but I already know all of your songs! I've become your biggest fan from Costa Rica! You have an amazing voice, I even feel that you're singing to me! YOU ARE GREAT AND AWESOME! Greatings from Costa Rica, keep giving us your great music please!
@poppycarroll1038
I can't explain how much this song means to me. Your voice is magical as well.