βI was always a writer," says the man formerly known as Aaron Livingston. "Before I really learned music, I was serious about writing. Didnβt matter what it was. Just playing with words.β
Considering how long he's been making music, that's saying something. Born in Los Angeles to a preacher and a teacher, as a kid he absorbed songs from dusty family records and learned saxophone and piano, though he felt more at home inventing his own language on those instruments rather than following the lesson plan. Adapt or die, as they say.
Cycling through jazz, rock and R&B history, the hungry young son was beginning his true education. A few years later, the Livingstons moved to Queens, introducing Aaron to the active arts of hip-hop, basketball and city life. High school in suburban Jersey left him wanting more, so he headed to Manhattan and Columbia University, where he discovered art, recreational substances, and girls, girls, girls. He dropped out, got a job, got sad, kept journals. He moved to Philly, enrolled at Temple University, met the legendary Roots crew, even played music with them; they put his voice on an album, undun. He had a daughter, then a son. He was happy, still writing all the while.
Then, slowly, the music stalled. Faded. He got another dead end job. He checked out of days. He got sad again. He forgot how to adapt.
But, as it has the ability to do, the songwriting saved him. It was in his blood, he remembered. Coltrane. Hendrix. Santana. Tribe. And this time he vowed to never let it go. That's not to say he's always happy; he's human, after all. But making music helps keep things in perspective.
"I feel the weight of life as I always did, as everyone does," he says. "But I feel the weight lifted, because I love doing this. And the more I do it, the more I love it."
Son Little writes everywhere, every day, finding inspiration on the train, in a car, on the street, in the supermarket, with his children. Sometimes the ideas are fresh. Sometimes a tune comes from his past, a single spark. Nothing is off limits.
"It could be just a thought, and everything else comes from that," he says. "In one of my books could be a phrase that later is a song, and then the song becomes a whole catalog. Itβs gotta germinate from somewhere."
Inspiration firmly struck, the song begins to bloom. There are many channels to Son Little's broadcast, varied stops on the dial, from blues to soul to funk to folk, and jook-joint jazz and chamber pop and back again. His voiceβraw, weary yet alert, grave and gravelly, Marvin and Otis and Stevie all at onceβsoars and creeps, cracks and moans. His songs haunt, thrill, yearn and stomp like all the best work of his heroes.
And the learning never stops. Little has collaborated with highly respected artists like The Roots and the producer/DJ RJD2, mentoring under the former and creating a duo with the latter called Icebird, which allowed him to flex his considerable vocal chops and song arrangement skills.
"I've always loved the studio, but RJ helped me see how I can use it more effectively and find ways to challenge myself, and be inventive with sound. And The Roots, itβs hard to quantify what Iβve learned from them. Everything from how to rehearse to how to occupy the stage and command itβ¦two things that are very fundamental in this business, and they are masters."
This fall sees the release of the first recorded output from Son Little for Anti- Records, an EP called, wouldn't you know it, Things I Forgot. Six songs: three babies (released first as videos), two twins, and an RJD2 remix. It's all there, all those misremembered things: Triumph and trophies, hardship and heartache, soft sentences, loud chapters, facts and birthdays, faces and places and scrapes and scales, nights and weeks and years all lost, gone into the ether, slipped away, out-sizing our normal human bandwidth.
"The singles, 'Cross My Heart' and 'Your Love Will Blow Me Away When My Heart Aches' and 'The River,' were more or less written consecutively," he says. "And so I think they were sort of internal responses to one other, complements. It's harder to place but Iβve been tinkering with the other two, 'Joy' and 'Alice,' for a long time. Theyβre sort of akin to one another in terms of mood. This is a small collection and maybe it's not as much a singular vision...it's more of a handful.β
A grip of memories; Things He Forgot. Son Little writes to remember, matching the disparate vibes of his full, full life with a patchwork blanket of sound, experience and inspiration. Inventing, observing, adapting. And still, it grows.
"I donβt see any end to the learning," he says. "And to understanding more of something that you immerse yourself in. Could be anything, again. Right now Iβm immersed in this music and I feel that my understanding appreciates and changes scope and perspective. It's really rewarding in its own way."
Demon to the Dark
Son Little Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I do that from the start
Im gonna need you as a witness
Though you may have an hardened heart
Have I always been a sinner
Or did the world pick me apart
Can I somehow be put together
Sometime today cause life is short Deacon phillips can you hear me
I think my train is off the railing
Is there some way to get it clean
My heart, my God, is full of stars
And ooh, dont you know,
Dont you know You brought the demon to the dark, ooh
Im in the darkness somewhere shiveeing
Paralyzed beacause of fear
I've been this way now since the 80's
That's when I started with the beer
Just to help me with tremors
The liquor keeps me even-keeled
The powder gets me through the nighttime
And all my saytime friends are pills So I'd never touch the needle
But it pricked me just the same
Started following the money
And everything is just a game
Mistet phillips can you hear me my dear old man, now are you there?
Feels just like the world is ending is there some way to get it clean
My heart my god is full of stars and ooh dont you know dont you know
You brought the demon to the dark, ooh
In Son Little's song Demon to the Dark, the singer is reflecting on his past and searching for redemption while struggling with addiction. He begins by stating that he recognizes his mistakes and is seeking forgiveness, even if it means facing a person who may have previously closed themselves off to him. He then questions if he was born flawed or if the world's influence led him astray. He wants to be able to change his current state and focus on a brighter future because he understands how brief life can be.
The next verse reveals that his addiction, which began in the 1980s, has left him feeling trapped and frightened. He turns to drugs and alcohol to cope with his tremors but acknowledges that these substances control his life, leaving him feeling empty and alone. The singer also reveals that he never touched a needle but has gotten into dealing drugs. He then wonders if there's anyone who can help him reclaim his life because he feels as though the world is coming to an end. The song ends with the singer acknowledging that he brought the demon that controls him to the dark because he didn't address it sooner.
Overall, the lyrics in the song showcase an individual struggling with addiction and grappling with the consequences of their choices. The song's tone is melancholic and reflective, showcasing somber emotions that accompany hindsight. The song's lyrics comment on the long-lasting effects of choices made under the cloak of addiction and how it can slowly dismantle one's life.
Facts about the song Demon To The Dark:
* Son Little's real name is Aaron Livingston, who is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and producer.
* Demon To The Dark is from Son Little's 2015 debut self-titled album, Son Little.
* The song was produced by Aaron Livingston and Eric Broucek and released under Anti Records.
* Son Little has cited several genres as inspirations for his music, including soul, rhythm and blues, and hip hop.
* Demon to the Dark has been described as a bluesy, soulful track that showcases Son Little's musicianship and emotional depth.
* The song has been featured in several TV shows and movies, including Ray Donavan and Better Things.
* In 2015, Son Little was named one of NPR's favorite artists of the year.
* Demon to the Dark has been celebrated for its introspective lyrics and slick instrumentals.
* The song showcases Son Little's unique music style, which is comprised of soulful blues, R&B and rock sounds.
* Although a simple progression, the songβs chords include Am, F, C, and G.
Chords:
Am, F, C, G.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna beg for your forgiveness
I am going to ask for your pardon for my mistakes
And I do that from the start
I will start doing it now
I'm gonna need you as a witness
I require you to testify
Though you may have an hardened heart
Even though you may be cold-hearted
Have I always been a sinner
Have I been sinning my whole life?
Or did the world pick me apart
Or did the world damage me?
Can I somehow be put together
Can I be fixed?
Sometime today cause life is short
Today, because life is brief
Deacon phillips can you hear me
Deacon Phillips, are you listening to me?
My dear old man, now are you there?
My dear old man, are you present?
I think my train is off the railing
I think my life is out of control
Is there some way to get it clean
Can it be cleaned up?
My heart, my God, is full of stars
My heart is full of hope and wonder
And ooh, dont you know,
And oh, don't you know,
Dont you know You brought the demon to the dark, ooh
You have led me to the abyss of my fears
Im in the darkness somewhere shiveeing
I am shivering in darkness
Paralyzed beacause of fear
I am immobilized by fear
I've been this way now since the 80's
I have been like this since the 1980s
That's when I started with the beer
That was when I started drinking beer
Just to help me with tremors
To assist me with my tremors
The liquor keeps me even-keeled
Alcohol helps me remain calm
The powder gets me through the nighttime
Drugs help me get through the night
And all my saytime friends are pills
All my daytime friends are pills
So I'd never touch the needle
Therefore I would never use a needle
But it pricked me just the same
But it affected me similarly
Started following the money
Began pursuing wealth
And everything is just a game
And everything is just entertainment
Mistet phillips can you hear me my dear old man, now are you there?
Mistet Phillips, can you hear me? My dear old man, are you around?
Feels just like the world is ending
It appears like the world is collapsing
Is there some way to get it clean
Can it be purified?
My heart my god is full of stars and ooh dont you know dont you know
My heart is full of hope and wonder and oh, don't you know
You brought the demon to the dark, ooh
You have led me to the abyss of my fears
Writer(s): Aaron Earl Livingston
Contributed by Taylor D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pedrokz
Son Little never disappoints.
Michiru Sato
he has a beautiful voice
Daniel Butler
Goddamn fire. He's saying some real shit here. Addiction is real.
Teagan Justice
I can't stop coming back to this song... I think I might be your biggest fan
rave d
Son little are amazing and should be bigger than they are.
cayden wood
this song is on repeat
Lisa Johnson
Love it
Yvonne Boyd
THIS.SONG.IS.FIRE!
Wolf Black
Cool douceur harmonie π€π
Zehra Zengin
I love it