Opus Orange - 'Miles From Nowhere (San Clemente version)'
DIY artist Opus Orange reimagines the title track from his 2020 album ‘Miles from Nowhere’ on new record, ‘Miles from San Clemente’.
’Miles from Nowhere’ is one of five of his own beautiful songs Opus Orange has reimagined on his new record, ‘Miles from San Clemente’. Recorded on his laptop and a USB mic in the living room of an Airbnb, looking out over the ocean in San Clemente, ‘Miles from Nowhere' (San Clemente version)’ has an islandic folk feel to it in its gentler reimagining.
Here Opus Orange strips away the uptempo and upbeat tone of the original song, and replaces it wit quiet reflection. Gone is the rowdy percussion driving rhythm we can hear in the original, as Opus Orange feeds in a wistful pedal steel segment played by Carlen Waith which wonderfully compliments his own ethereal vocal fillers.
Tranquility is at the heart of the song, as seen in the trickling guitar work and dreamy, disorientating backing textures; a curious juxtaposition to the emotional depth in the lyrical theme and Opus Orange’s vocal delivery, which is only heightened by Katie Hampton on backing vocals as they both lament, “how did we get miles from nowhere?”
‘Miles From Nowhere’ explores the confusion felt at arriving at the wrong destination, and I guess for many of us, 2020 has been a year where very few people can say they have ended up exactly where they thought they would be. The poignant delivery of this quieter San Clemente version of ‘Miles from Nowhere’ sees every word given the space to ring louder and truer. As the global Covid-19 pandemic roars on, ‘Miles from Nowhere’ is a comforting reminder that it’s ok to feel detached, it’s ok to feel lost, and it’s ok to take a moment to reflect on what could have been when life leads us down a path we would rather not have travelled.
Words of Karla Harris