Backlash and Vinegar: A Dive into the Songwriting Process

This song is called Backlash and Vinegar and it's a track from my most recent record, Wax. I really viscerally remember writing this song.

Sometimes, writing a song is a bit of a blur, but this one was so specific. I almost never write songs on tour. I just don't have the brain space a lot of the time to write like that. However, with Wax, I wanted it to be very personal and raw.

The Importance of Space in Lyrics

When I'm writing a song that I want to convey deeply, I believe it's essential for the voice to have ample space to deliver the lyrics. When you hear a vocal like that, it's a natural reaction for listeners to fine-tune into the lyrics if the voice has enough room.

This song is emotional. It's a powerful piece for me to play. As I get older and write more, I'm drawn to writing songs that I get lost in while performing. Particularly on this album, this song hooks me in right from the start, allowing me to get lost in the kinetic meditation of playing.

The Inspiration Behind the Song

In terms of the material that inspired me for this song, Wax was a physical, visceral album, and I wanted to be raw. How do you achieve that? You get honest, really, really honest. It's not easy, as it requires vulnerability to share those feelings.

This song was written about someone specific whom I won't name because I believe in not naming and shaming. It's about how that individual made me feel like I wasn't enough and caused me pain. The point of the song, however, is about allowing that to happen to me.

You have to take responsibility for how others make you feel. After all, you choose how you feel about something.

Crafting the Introduction

Knowing this was going to be a highly emotional song, I thought, "How can I start it with just the voice on its own?" I always aim to push myself technically in my songwriting, learning new techniques I haven't tried before.

One of the things I always struggled with was muting on the guitar.

Understanding Guitar Muting

Muting on the guitar means placing your hand over the strings close to the bridge, using it as a dampener. You can use your thumb and finger with or without a pick to play the strings. Instead of letting the chords ring open, you dampen them with the edge of your hand.

This technique creates a rhythmic sound that suggests the chord without flooding it. The muted sound feels incredibly intimate.

The Power of Open Chords

I tend to use a lot of open chords. For instance, instead of playing this A chord, I take my finger off the B string, creating a soaring sound. It's a second addition to the chord, which, actually, may not be a second, but whatever! It sounds nice, right?

Changing up the chords a little and leaving open strings provides a wide landscape feel. One reason for this approach is that I can't effectively play bar chords due to my bony knuckles. When I try, I always get a buzzing sound. So, I've taught myself to play using open chords, which have significantly influenced my music.

Collaboration and New Techniques

A fundamental aspect of this song was working with James Bay. One of the most exciting moments as a player is when someone introduces you to a unique way of playing a regular chord, in this case, the D chord.

Instead of the standard D, he showed me an exciting new shape. I mean, come on! If Gandalf played the guitar, that's how he'd play D major.

As soon as I learned that chord, I became obsessed. When you love a chord, you tend to play it over and over. It's like soul food, discovering a new formation of a familiar chord.

So, I decided to incorporate that chord into my writing. While I'm not very technical and never took guitar lessons, I embraced this "Gandalf D" shape.

With that new chord and the muting technique, anyone who knows my music understands that I'm all about rhythm.