The Artist Explains: Rhys Lewis - 'When Was The Last Time?'
Oxfordshire born artist Rhys Lewis has just announced his debut album ‘Things I Chose To Remember’, which is due out 24th April via Decca Records. He took a moment to explain his most recent single from the album - ‘When Was The Last Time?’, a track that puts an unique twist on a break up tale.
So your new track ‘When Was The Last Time’ is out now, can you tell us what the track is about?
In this song I wanted to explore the distance that grows between two people falling out of love with each other and the denial that comes with the breakdown of a relationship. Paradoxically we often put off calling it time with someone because we don’t want to inflict the emotional pain of a break up on them. We do our best to ignore what’s wrong in the hope that it will go away. More often than not it doesn’t; hiding from it only serves to drag out the pain and delay the inevitable. We often know something’s wrong long before it’s spoken about. This song is about the moment you confront the unspoken failure of a relationship.
With the single, you have a stunning music video directed by Mike Baldwin, how did that partnership come about and how was the whole experience?
Mike is great and working with him on this video was a real pleasure. We sent him the song and he responded with a concept for the visuals that I instantly felt reflected the emotion of the track. We talked a lot over the phone to develop the idea and agreed that we wanted to create a sense of time standing still when depicting these moments of breakdown between each couple. Being that the lyrics aim to articulate a very specific point in time we felt that a narrative-driven video would have diluted or misrepresented the sentiment of the song. The concept we went for relied upon powerful and emotive performances from the actors involved. Mike did a great job putting together such a talented cast, I’m really pleased with how it turned out.
Any behind the scenes stories from the filming process that you are happy to share with us? Well…I really needed to pee during the ‘car scene’ but there wasn’t anywhere to go, so any emotions I’m conveying in that shot come from the pure concentration of trying to control my bladder. Not sure that’s the kind of BTS you were after…?
The track is a break up song, so how does it differ from the usual tales of heartbreak?
I’m sure there are songs that have been written from this perspective before, but I think it’s an interesting one to write from. We've all been in that position where we can see the person we’re with is just waiting for the right time to end the relationship. It takes guts from both people to acknowledge it, so I think there’s something very human and emotive about two people not wanting to face up to the truth of the situation but for very different reasons.
You are a bit of a bookwork, who are your favourite authors and why?
Yeah I really enjoy reading, I find it a good way of slowing my mind down and getting away from thinking about music. It’s also started to become more of a source of inspiration for my writing too. My interests are quite eclectic when it comes to what I read and for that reason I haven’t spent much time with just one writer’s work, but I have read quite a few of John Steinbeck’s titles in recent years. Whenever I read one of his books I feel like I learn a lot about the world through the way he looks at it. There are lots of philosophical ideas in his writing, and I admire the wisdom and authenticity he explores big concepts with. Older books also offer a glimpse into the past, and like most great writers he was ahead of his time. His opinions on the direction that society was heading in at the time feel incredibly poignant today. In some cases it’s sad, knowing the direction that society has taken, to be sat reading someones worries and concerns for the future from decades ago that warn of some of the problems society is now facing. I spend a lot of time in my own head when I’m making music and I think that can be a little unhealthy, so I enjoy reading as it offers me the chance to spend time with someone else’s thoughts and return to my own feeling enriched.
So 2019 was a great year for you, what does 2020 hold in store for you?
2019 was definitely a year to remember for me. I spent the first half of it recording my album and the second half of it touring the world. It was exhausting but incredibly fulfilling. As for 2020, I’m going to be releasing my debut album, which has been a long time coming. With so much pressure put on the debut record I think I will feel a sense of relief when it’s finally out. I’m really proud of it and I learnt a lot making it so I’m excited to put together another one and push myself creatively in the process. I’m getting ahead of myself, though! I’m looking forward to seeing what the release of this first record brings and and where it takes me this year.