Song by Song
A guide to the songs and compositions on Separate Together
Every Stranger
It’s an old cliche but all your closest friends were strangers until you got to know them, however you got to know them.
You find when you talk to another human you instantly aware that they are a person with a soul, character, knowledge of life, a story and a journey. They are no longer just an anonymous person in the homogenous mass. You make a connection with another human and all your prejudices about them can vanish.
If there is one thing that we all learned from the Covid pandemic is that humans are social animals. We crave community and connection by whatever means. Talking to and engaging with strangers has been a very rewarding experience for me. Sometimes nothing profound results but very often a throwaway line, a comment, a situation from a random meeting can stay with you forever. Its only social conditioning with prejudice, baseless fear and misinformation that stops us being outwardly friendly and welcoming.
Terra Nostra
Tarra Nostra is Latin for ‘Our Earth’. Travel is romantic by its very nature. No matter where you dream of visiting your mind conjures up a scene and visualise yourself being there enjoying whatever the attraction is for that place. For me it’s always majestic, The anticipation of the place and mix of weather people, smells, sights, culture and history…whatever it is that creates a buzz for your travel and alerts your senses. In this track I attempt to encapsulate the anticipation and excitement of travel and combine the range of feelings involved in travel. This doesn’t sound like any specific place but it ‘feels’ like many places…the South Pacific or the Caribbean maybe..
Bass Guitar: Luca N (Italy)
Acoustic Guitar: Ryan J (England)
Marimba: Andrew N (USA)
Keyboards: BJ
Virtual Instruments (Drums, Electric Guitar, Perc): BJ
Mixed by BJ and Ralf
Hidden in Plain Sight
Eckhart Tolle, the spiritual teacher, reminds us to be ‘in the moment’. There is no past, no future; only the present moment. Many of us are so busy running to the next destination we forget about the journey and embracing the moment.
Where better than to be in the moment than with ‘nature’ and immersing ourselves in the sight, sounds, smells and tastes of nature. You can see why the phrase evolved from “can’t see the wood for the trees”.
Hidden in Plain Sight emulates how it feels to walk at one with nature, with a little bit of audio cue of how it sounds with a backdrop of birdsong. Birdsong always brings a smile to my face and feeling of awe and aliveness.
Mana
Mana is a concept found in Polynesian and Melanesian cultures. It refers to a supernatural force or power that can be associated with people, spirits, or even inanimate objects.
This instrumental track has a slightly meditative and mellow feel and reminiscent of the South Pacific. It doesn’t sound like it, but it feels like it. Funnily enough it transports me to Mana Island in Fiji where I visited.
A Question of Faith
We often find ourselves in uncomfortable environments with strangers (such as on public transport or public gatherings) where there can often be an air of mistrust and it becomes very easy to just fall prey to cynicism and fear – two very pervasive emotions and very much visible in todays communication media.
Taking an alternative approach and ‘breaking the ice’ can be very enlightening and positive. Making a joke, funny comment, or sharing a simple observation with others can break the ice and make an uncomfortable situation much easier. Societal norms seem to result in lack of trust being the default reaction but I find it very tiresome.
Do you want to live in a world where no one trusts anyone and you spend your life looking over your shoulder? I certainly don’t. The vast majority of time breaking the ice is so much more rewarding. Sure you have to be aware and alert but you will achieve a positive outcome the vast majority of time.
It’s my firm belief that most people are not trying to ‘get one over you’ They are simply other humans fighting hard battles like you and me every day and are just trying to get through their life and be happy and fulfilled. Simple.
Route 1
Think of a road trip on your favourite route: Route 1. Maybe a road trip up Pacific Coast Highway on the US West Coast to San Francisco via Landmark places such as Carmel, Monterey, Big Sur and San Jose. Or maybe The Stuart Highway to the red centre of Australia, or The Great St Bernards Pass through the Swiss Alps? This tune captures the hope, excitement, belief and anticipation of the open road and the journey ahead. The road is of course both literal and metaphorical. Enjoy the journey – it is indeed the reward.
Bass Guitar: Luca N (Italy)
Brass: Dan C (USA)
Percussion: Luca G (Italy)
Keyboards/Organ: BJ
Piano: BJ
Virtual Instruments (Drums, Electric Guitar, Brass, Synth Bass, Percussion, Steel Drums): BJ
Mixed: BJ and Ralf
Universal Understanding
It’s no coincidence that when there is a humanitarian disaster its musicians the provide the catalyst for highlighting and addressing the solution with festivals and fundraisers. There is an inherent power within music, that can transfer between all humans who come from different cultures, backgrounds and who use different spoken languages. Music’s ability to transcend boundaries is a testament to its impact on our shared human experience! Music provides truly universal understanding.
Kyma
Caelestis
Caelestis is a Latin adjective that primarily means “heavenly”. It refers to something related to or associated with the heavens or divine realm. In a figurative sense, it can also denote something magnificent, preeminent, or god-like.
The scales of the universe and our existence are truly mind boggling and I think every human must contemplate this to some degree during their lifespan and their journey through life.
From smallest up Planck particle to biggest Super Cluster we are all fundamentally interconnected to everything in the universe. If you need perspective on the simultaneous smallness and greatness of your mortality try indulging in some star gazing. It sounds like Caelestis.
Cruisin
The sense of intrigue and limitless exploration, reflecting the idea of discovering extraordinary experiences in ordinary moments. Embark on a journey of curiosity and open-mindedness, embracing the wonders that surround us in every aspect of life. What scenes inspire wonder and awe in your imagination? A bustling street market, a desert sunset, an energetic hike in the country side, sailing on the high seas… all these images combine in the imagery of Cruisin.
Bass Guitar: Pedro C (Brazil)
Piano: BJ
Keyboards: BJ
Virtual Instruments (Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Perc): BJ
Mixed: BJ and Ralf
