NEW SINGLE - Shining On The Hill
New single - SHINING ON THE HILL - out now.
‘Shining On The Hill’ is the first single from a new set currently in the works; a bluesy and inspirational climb to a place above and beyond the modern world and its worries. Accompanied by James Hallawell of The Waterboys on Hammond organ and a brass arrangement from The Kick Horns (Eric Clapton, The Who) that sounds fresh out of New Orleans, the song is three minutes fifteen seconds of pure summer and comes complete with a suitably sweltering video, filmed in Rio De Janeiro.
Mark explains: “The inspiration for the song comes from a story I heard about a very rich but lonely merchant, who walked many miles to the top of a steep and remote mountain to seek advice from the wise old monk, who lived there. Upon hearing the merchant’s story, the monk said nothing. Instead, he filled a cup with water, plonked it down on the table in front of him and returned to the bed where he had been lying before the interruption. The rich man was confused and sat looking at the cup of water, wondering what the monk was trying to tell him. Slowly, the ripples settled, until the water was completely still and when it was, it reflected the vast sky above him. Eventually the merchant came to understand that the difference between him and the monk was that while he spent his life in a ceaseless search, the world sought out the monk, with people travelling long distances and climbing the hostile slopes of the mountain to be near his perfect stillness, which shone, like a beacon, on the hill. “I wrote the song in February and presented it to my wife, Louise as a musical Valentine, which gave it another dimension of meaning. It now worked as both an ode to inner peace and as a love song, perhaps they are two sides of the same coin? “Amid the joyful hoo-ha of the Fairground Attraction reformation last year, Louise, and our family were confronted with the nearness of death when she had to face a life-threatening health issue. It is strange how the very good and very bad so often come along like two buses. She got the all-clear on the day that Beautiful Happening was released and it was exactly that. As the year closed, feeling extremely grateful, I booked us all a big celebratory holiday to Argentina and Brazil. “While in Rio De Janeiro on Easter weekend, I took the opportunity to make the video, it was hot and that big hill was very steep… but, I’ll be forever climbing to hear the joy bells chiming, where you will… be shining on the hill.”
Writer: Mark E Nevin Published by BMG Rights Management (London) Ltd Produced by Mark Nevin Mixed by Ronan Phelan Mastered by Denis Blackham Vocal and guitars: Mark Nevin Hammond organ: James Hallawell Double Bass: Jon Thorne Drums: Rodrigo González Alto and Baritone Saxophone: Simon Clarke Tenor Saxophone: Tim Sanders Trombone: David Liddell Trumpet: George Hogg Horns arranged by The Kick Horns Label: Raresong Recordings Cat: RARESODB11 ISRC: UKW3Z2501254
See the video via the Video tab above.
