EP Review: Rhys Lewis - ‘Live at Rak Studios’
There is something about live recordings that makes them ever so slightly better than studio versions: In a way, they feel more personal, more intimate, closer to home. In anticipation of his debut album ‘Things I Chose To Remember’ (10th July), Rhys Lewis releases a Live EP showcasing all the best of his emotive songwriting.
‘Live At Rak’ includes recordings of previous singles ‘When Was The Last Time’ and ‘What If’ – both brought to new life in a brilliant orchestral setting. Rhys’s beautifully raw vocals and stunning melodies effortlessly create a sense of longing speaking of his ability to turn emotion into intricate melody patterns, the urgency in his voice positively heart-breaking.
But the brightest star on the EP is new track ‘What Wild Things Were’, a vivid eco-conscious ode to our burning planet, inspired by American journalist David Wallace, that sends chills down your spine as it imagines mass animal extinction – “If I have a daughter, how will I ever tell her that those that came before just broke the home that she has.” It’s no doubt an important message that hits hard, even more so when you truly reflect on his words and the truth that lies behind them.
Talking about the EP, Rhys explains: “One of my favourite records ever is an album from the late Bill Withers, Live At Carnegie Hall, and many of my favourite songs have been recorded live in a room, so to get the opportunity to record some of my songs in this way at Rak Studios was a real privilege, made even more of one for being able to collaborate with such incredible musicians in the process. It also gave me a deeper appreciation for the artists and musicians of the past who recorded music like this all the time. It's a really difficult discipline to master, one that I feel is a dying art in this modern world of music-making. Therefore, I hope that each of these recordings feels like a moment captured, mistakes and imperfections included.”
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven