Singled Out: Southern Pine “Way Back Home”
Who: Southern Pine
From: Asheville, NC
Song: “Way Back Home”
Latest Record: Debut EP out in December
What About It: “It’s easy to be seduced by nostalgia; To long for what was instead of reaching for for what can be. Way Back Home was born out of the realization that nostalgia, though sweet, is ultimately unreliable. It is a filtered memory, cleansed of the adverse – desirable but ultimately impossible.” -Zack Kardon
RLR: What does the song mean to you?
ZK: Way Back home is a reminder to myself to always move forward. Ironically, the song for me is not about returning but rather seeking. It is coming to terms with the fact that what is does not always aline with what we hoped would be. When this is the case, there is a choice that must be made – to be disappointed or to cut ties with expectation and embrace the beauty of the unknown.
RLR: How was it recorded?
ZK: The song was recorded with two of my best friends and creative partners; brothers, Mike Johnson and Jack Victor. Not long after I wrote the song, I made a demo of it with an acoustic guitar, a set of congas, and the beginnings of a string arrangement with violinist, Alex Travers. Working with Mike and Jack we expanded on the groove, recorded a bed of finger picked 12 and 6 string acoustic guitar and and focused the string arrangement (Which was again beautifully executed by Alex). We thought of recording some cello as well but ultimately recorded Mike bowing an old 4 string Silvertone tenor guitar. My dear friend, visual artist and musician, Weeper, added the final touch with a understated but haunting background vocal.
RLR: Did it change shape from your initial lyrics/chords to the final product?
ZK: I felt I had more of a vision for this song than any of the others on the EP. The guitar parts, chords and lyrics remained unchanged through out the whole production process.
RLR: Anything else you want to share?
ZK: The song was inspired by the book 100 Years Of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez . In the book the village of Macondo falls from grace behind the vail of the inhabitants nostalgia. The day I finished the book Way Back Home came rushing out of me.
