"Things I Remember", track-by-track by Simone Tang
Photo credit: Morten Rygaard
My debut album Things I Remember is an album containing songs that are very close to my heart. I sing about my family, friends, self doubt and lost love, and wanted to make an album that is very personal, and can resonate with others. It’s very stripped down, recorded with my best friend Søren, just two guitars and two vocals, with exception of a couple of songs that have a bit of percussion, and strings added to it. It’s recorded live in one room, and my other good friend and musician Christian Ki has recorded, mixed and mastered the album. I’m very happy that I got to record this with two of my best friends.
1-Hey Little Love.
The opener of the album, and the only song on the album that is being played and sung only by me, on guitar and vocals. It’s a song I wrote after I had been dating this guy, whom I really liked being around, but I also felt I couldn't fully commit to. It’s a song about trying not to hurt someone's feelings, and being cautious with another's heart in one's hands.
2-Caroline.
I wrote this song for my sister, whom I’ve always had a strong bond with. We had a very safe and warm upbringing with our mother, but also at times a chaos with our father, who drank too much, and had a troubled heart. She’s always sheltered me from bad situations, and has always looked after me in every way. I wanted to give her my thanks, and let her know that I will always be here for her.
3-He Wants More
I think it’s very common to dream of something bigger and greater, and wanting to strive for better things in life. We probably look for greener pastures all the time, but it can remove us from being present. I tend to think of what I want to achieve in my career, in my love life, in my relations and living situation, and I wish that I could be even more grateful for the process, and what I already have. This is a song I wrote about a man who always looks for something more.
4-A Boy From a Song
I once knew this guy that I began feeling very strongly about, but whom I knew I could never have. We were just friends, and we never became anything more, other than in my mind, when I dreamt of him. I wrote this song for and about him, and he’ll probably never know it was for him.
5-Brown-Eyed Niece.
My sister whom I wrote Caroline for, also has a daughter, my niece, who is now 7 years old. She’s really the best. She’s so smart and has asked me a bunch of questions throughout the years, that I’ve had a hard time answering as it is questions I have never thought of, or the answer to. I wanted to make a song out of all these questions, dedicated to my niece.
6-Thoughts.
I tend to overthink and overanalyze a lot. Sometimes I think my worst enemy is my own mind. I think of every outcome, good and bad, and turn every table when I have to make a decision which also makes me a very thorough person, but it breaks me sometimes. This song is about all my bad habits of having my mind taking over, and fearing the decisions I need to make. I wanted to make a vibe that was the opposite of this subject that is quite sad and fearful, as why it has turned into a very light and easy-going song.
7-Worth My While.
I still haven't met the guy that I wish to settle down with. I dream of someday meeting someone who I feel connected to, and whom I can fall in love with, and share my days with. I don’t wish to have a boyfriend just to have one. It has to feel right. I guess I am a big romantic at heart, and actually am missing that special someone, although I know I tend to seem very independent and not have the biggest focus on finding him. I wrote this song, about being grateful to have found him, and hope to play it to him, once we meet.
8-Miss Lila.
This one is about a young girl who strives for perfection in everything she does, whether it’s meeting new people, achieving her goals, looking the best, and building the perfect future. I guess it’s also a story about being insecure, and measuring yourself in others. I think there’s a lot of that out there, and I think it’s important to take a moment and appreciate who you are, and what you’ve already achieved.
9-My Only Heart.
I completely fell in love with a Danish duo from the 60’s called Nina and Frederik, when I discovered them about 6 years ago, and I’ve been listening to multiple songs by them. I really wanted to make some sort of tribute to Nina and Frederik on my album, as they’ve been one of my inspirations in writing these songs. I asked my best friend Søren, who’s also playing guitar and singing on the songs, if he wanted to sing this as a duet with me. It’s a love song about unrequited love between two friends who secretly are in love, and have never been able to tell one another. When I tell this live at my concerts, people always assume that it’s about Søren and I, but we are just friends, and the best there is <3
10-Where Do We Go.
This one I wrote about my dad. I lost him 8 years ago, and I often wonder if he’s out there somehow. It’s a song that questions where we go, and what becomes of us when we are no longer here. It’s definitely the ballad of the album, and it took me a while before I was content with both lyrics and the Melody/chords of it. I wanted it to be just right, and now it’s one of my favorite songs on the album.
11-On the Quarrelets of Pearls.
The last song on the album, and in many ways the song that started it all. I wrote it for and about my dad, telling my story as a child growing up with a distant father who drank too much, due to a broken heart. We also shared a lot of good times, and shared the passion and love for music, and used to spend a lot of hours singing and playing together through his small speaker system in the living room. I wanted to write a song that emphasized the good things we shared, while telling my story. I had it laying around in about 8 months or so, because I felt it wasn’t good enough, but ended up putting a video of me playing it, up on my instagram, and got a lot of love and sweet comments on the song, which made me want to make more just on my guitar. I ended up writing a bunch of songs that have now turned into this album, which I’m very proud of.
I made this album will all my heart, and I truly hope you’ll enjoy it. <3
With love,
Simone Tang.