Oversized clown shoes

Explicit content warning

09/09/24 • 16 min

In which Belfast songwriter Andy White tells the story of writing Self-isolation, opening track from Side 2 of his latest album Good Luck I Hope You Make It.
The story so far? It's a few days before St Patrick's Day 2020. Things are locking down in Ireland and Italy. Not so much in Australia, where huge sporting events are taking place, and the UK, where the government is talking about 'herd immunity'. That's where today's episode starts.
As ever, Andy dives into the recording session to show how many elements go into making the song, and the episode ends with a version you haven't heard before.
Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support, and please subscribe if you haven't already. Exclusive outlets to download or buy the album are below, plus the LP is on Amazon in the UK.
See you next time!
Podcast art: Sebastian White

Andy's albums are available on Bandcamp or www.andywhite.com

Andy's albums are available on Bandcamp or www.andywhite.com

Previous Episode

Book of poems

There is a lot going on in this week's episode of Irish songwriter Andy White's journey through the writing and recording of his latest album Good Luck I Hope You Make It. Andy starts out by telling the story of the mystery missing track, Every Day is Like Today, which includes a poetry slam (that's a competition at a poetry venue or bar where anyone who puts their name can get up and read). The poets reading their work aren't very good ... and that's the point ... but this leads in a roundabout way to the next song on the album.
Andy talks about poets whose work is written to be read, and who influenced him to write. John Cooper Clarke, and the Liverpool poet Brian Patten who read poems in Andy's English class one Belfast afternoon. Nick Cave's book written on airplane sick bags, Brand New Ancients by Kae Tempest, Yeats, Ode to Autumn—it is early March, the start of autumn in the southern hemisphere, where Andy is writing. He decides to write a song that cycles round the seasons, starting with the line "I will write a book of poems" and employing a James Joyce strategy to ensure the lyrics mirror the seasons.
Thanks for listening and please share and subscribe wherever you find your podcasts. If this is your first time, there are two other series to catch up on. Good luck we hope you make it!
Podcast art by Sebastian White

Andy's albums are available on Bandcamp or www.andywhite.com

Next Episode

Talk don't touch

Belfast songwriter Andy White tells the story of writing and recording Talk Don't Touch from his latest album Good Luck I Hope You Make It. This song became the album's closing track, although it was written and recorded about halfway through the sessions.
On March 16 the Victorian government announced a State of Emergency. Airports closed and the lockdown started. Restrictions were severe and news reports from around the world showed why. These and other events, and the prospect of solitary confinement in the studio for an extended period, all went into the song.
Andy dives into the original recording session to play you some of the layers that contributed to the making of the song. Hearing the different vocal sections that go to make up the narrative is especially cool. The episode ends with a rough mix which has a completely different ending from the released version.
Thanks for listening, we appreciate your support, and please subscribe if you haven't already. Do check out the first two series in which Andy talks you through This garden is only temporary and AT. Exclusive outlets to download or buy the album are below, plus the LP is on Amazon in the UK and streaming everywhere.
See you next time!
Podcast art: Sebastian White

Andy's albums are available on Bandcamp or www.andywhite.com