26.02.2024
Gilles Grethen
I had the idea for ‚Forgetful‘ some time before the album, but I never really did anything with it. They were just a few chords by then. But this is something I often do, and that is very important for my composing process: I write down every idea that I have, no matter where I am. Sometimes I sing an idea into my phone while driving (please do not copy me); other times I write some chords on the back of an envelope or just on actual music paper if I happen to find one in time.
Some ideas have just been lying around for months or years. And that’s just part of my process. Most of the time, I completely forget about some ideas (see the title of this song), and years later, I discover some ideas that I can now work with.
The chords to ‚Forgetful‘ were written on an old envelope that I kept on my desk for probably more than a year. When I was taking more time to compose for this album, I just went through my whole apartment to find old ideas, and when I found this envelope, I played the chords on my ideas and immediately had more ideas in my head. The song, as you hear it today, was then finished after just a few more days.
16.12.2023
Gilles Grethen
I rarely tell people exactly where the names for my songs or albums come from. I do tell some stories on stage, but I tend to stay rather vague or superficial because I like to let every listener have there own imagination flowing. Some people tell me after they listened to my music that they had some story on their mind or some specific image and I always love to hear it. So if you ever thought about something special (or not) while listening to my music, please let me know! I'd like to share some thoughts I had while composing 'Outside' with you all. It was quite a journey to write this song to be honest. I wrote it mainly in February and March 2022, just before going to the studio in April. I remember that the working title - that is what we composers use when we have no idea yet about naming the song - was 'Floating' and then later 'Flying'.
In hindsight, both titles would have also fitted the song, especially the more open middle part where the solos start. But it didn't quite fit perfectly for me, so I changed it to 'Space'. For me, all of those names were too literal and gave away too much of the listener's own imagination, so I switched it finally to 'Outside' just before the recordings. But what does 'Outside' mean to me? Well, it has different meanings to me but the main story I had in mind is the following: Imagine you are in a spaceship (quite a small and modest one) and you are shot into space. The intro smbolizes the journey into space, which is rather adventurous and with lots of turbulence. It get's hotter and more turbelent the further you go.
At some point you enter the silent vacuum of space and just float there and that's where the improvised solo part starts: The drums, guitar and bass open up and make space for the trumpet solo. Still every time we play this part, it takes me to another world and I feel like I float through space and time. It is truly an amazing feeling I must say. Towards the end, you start your journey back to earth. This time it will be messy, but with confidence, you'll make it safe back home.