Kelly Saunders
by Kelly Saunders
-
Digital Album
Kelly Saunders is not from here, and not from now. Her voice is like a ghost’s, calling from the past: rich, and otherworldly.
Born in Sydney on July 4, 1983, Saunders grew up in Fiji and Indonesia before returning Australia at the age of seven. Now based in London, after a brief stint living amongst the cloudy bustle of busy Hong Kong, and the flourishing flamenco masters of Seville, Saunders records music at home with the help of her co-producer, and sometimes collaborator, Johnny Dance.
In the tradition of the travelling folk-singer, Saunders’ charmingly simple ditties anchor what is an otherwise unpredictable
Saunders’ songs are not strictly biographical but instead are fictive and elaborative vignettes about the characters she’s met along her way. Writers of Victorian children’s books such as Lewis Carrol, George McDonald and JM Barrie — and more recently Salman Rushdie—create worlds with endless possibilities and pictures. In the spirit of these writers Saunder renders her highly imaginative stories around playfully sweet and hauntingly nostalgic melodies.
Saunders’ first live performance took place at The Magic Theatre in Sydney, Australia — a gypsy-style coming together of artists, poets and other transient creatives. The Magic Theatre took place every second Sunday of each month for two years and was held in a highly decorated space on the fringe of Sydney city. Many of the unusual people Saunders encountered within this community led her to pen her first lyrical stories.
Some of the songs on Saunders’ debut album were composed in her Chinese home thoughout 2008 — a high-rise apartment amid a constellation of skyscrapers in the middle of the heaving, bustling city of Hong Kong. Meditating on the sea of heads bobbing in and out of her birdseye view, Saunders’ reflective compositions express the pangs of loneliness amid an unreachable crowd (or audience) and, more broadly, the occasional ennui and solemnity of a life lived abroad. Picking out strangers from her vantage point and writing descriptive songs about them comprised Saunders’ artistic M.O. for the latter half of 2008. Her unsuspecting subjects inspired songs such as ‘Different Drum’, ‘When You’re Alone’, ‘If I Had A Roof’ and ‘Honey, When You’re Gone’.
Having recently moved to London, into a small, eerie flat above a greasy take-away, from which she can spy the Hackney railway line and the buzzing light of the local 24 hour Tesco, Saunders has added the finishing touches to her debut in the form of ‘Morning Lane’, an earthy tribute to her modest English street, and ‘Kingdom Come’, an exultant and expressive lyrical work in the tradition of an English royal hymn. Still living in London for the moment, Kelly — a true romantic and authentic music-lover — continues to convert the subtle fabric of her quotidian, domestic existence into her cutely textured and finely nuanced compositions.
Saunders lists her recent influences as Karen Dalton, Josephine Foster, Joanna Newsom, Sandy Deny/Fairport Convention, Joan Baez, Neil Young, Johnny Dance, Beach House, Breathe Owl Breath, Des Miller, Magnolia Electric Company, Martha Wainwright, Antony and the Johnsons, and Nick Drake. ... moreBuy Now $14.99 AUD
-
Ltd Ed 12" Handcut Clear Vinyl
Super limited edition, extremely amazing, clear hand-cut vinyl package. Made with love and care by Peter King in the South Island of NZ, this clear cut vinyl will blow your socks off. Who needs gold? Frame it and hang it on the wall. Also includes immediate download! -
Share
1. |
||||
|
| ||||
2. |
||||
|
| ||||
3. |
Bakery
03:29
|
|||
|
| ||||
4. |
Kingdom Come
02:40
|
|||
|
| ||||
5. |
Honey When You're Gone
03:59
|
|||
|
| ||||
6. |
Pond Song
03:34
|
|||
|
| ||||
7. |
Owl
04:11
|
|||
|
| ||||
8. |
Paper
03:33
|
|||
|
| ||||
9. |
If I Had a Roof
02:23
|
|||
|
| ||||
10. |
When You're Alone
02:25
|
|||
|
| ||||
about
Like a record dug up out of a lost collection, Kelly Saunders' debut self-titled album is a rich patchwork of otherworldly folk ditties, and soulful acapella vocal performances.
The songs for the record were composed in her Hong Kong apartment, which stands high in amidst a constellation of skyscrapers, in the middle of the heaving, bustling city. Meditating on the sea of of heads bobbing in and out of view from her high-rise window, Saunders' reflective compositions express the pangs of loneliness above an untouchable crowd and, more broadly, the occasional ennui and isolation of a life, lived abroad.
Picking out strangers from the window, characterizing them, and writing songs about them, became a full-time pass-time for Saunders. Her unsuspecting subjects inspired such songs as 'Different Drum', 'When You’re Alone', 'If I Had A Roof' and 'Honey, When You’re Gone'.
The songs for the record were composed in her Hong Kong apartment, which stands high in amidst a constellation of skyscrapers, in the middle of the heaving, bustling city. Meditating on the sea of of heads bobbing in and out of view from her high-rise window, Saunders' reflective compositions express the pangs of loneliness above an untouchable crowd and, more broadly, the occasional ennui and isolation of a life, lived abroad.
Picking out strangers from the window, characterizing them, and writing songs about them, became a full-time pass-time for Saunders. Her unsuspecting subjects inspired such songs as 'Different Drum', 'When You’re Alone', 'If I Had A Roof' and 'Honey, When You’re Gone'.
credits
released 04 July 2009
Words and Music by Kelly Saunders
With Des Miller on Bass (3), Guitar (3)
Evan Lock: Slide Guitar, Lead Guitar, Lifestyle Tracks (3)
Chris Rudge: Drums (3)
Johnny Dance: Organ (6)
Produced by Johnny Dance and Des Miller
All Tracks Mixed By Johnny Dance
Except Tracks 3 and 5 Mixed By Des Miller and Simon Berkfinger at BJB Studios
Mastered by William Bowden
Thank you to Johnny Dance – will you marry me? Des Miller for your cleverness and patience, Katherine Brickman for your beautiful drawings – your pictures make me want to write songs, Ev Lock and Christopher Rudge for your musical talents, the team at Big Jesus Burger for doing this across the ocean and to Broken Stone records.
Words and Music by Kelly Saunders
With Des Miller on Bass (3), Guitar (3)
Evan Lock: Slide Guitar, Lead Guitar, Lifestyle Tracks (3)
Chris Rudge: Drums (3)
Johnny Dance: Organ (6)
Produced by Johnny Dance and Des Miller
All Tracks Mixed By Johnny Dance
Except Tracks 3 and 5 Mixed By Des Miller and Simon Berkfinger at BJB Studios
Mastered by William Bowden
Thank you to Johnny Dance – will you marry me? Des Miller for your cleverness and patience, Katherine Brickman for your beautiful drawings – your pictures make me want to write songs, Ev Lock and Christopher Rudge for your musical talents, the team at Big Jesus Burger for doing this across the ocean and to Broken Stone records.
tags
license
all rights reserved
feeds
feeds for 
contact / help
For help with downloads, click here.
For all other inquiries, including help with merch, click here.
Redeem download codes here.
- Track Name: Morning Lane
-
Tesco’s lights shine bright tonight
And I can’t get no sleep
The moon shines so bright tonight
And I can’t get no sleep
The railway rattles and rolls tonight
And I can’t get no sleep
Miss Bermondsey shot down tonight
And I can’t get no sleep
Ask The Barber
Ask The Baker
Ask the people
And their maker
Miss Bermondsey shot down tonight
And I can’t get no sleep
By the headstone
By the flowers
By the priest
And the Mourners
Miss Beromdsey shot down tonight
And I can’t get no sleep - Track Name: Different Drum
-
You’re waiting like a lover
Shy behind a head of hair
Shy behind a head of hair
No need to be shy!
You know a feverish dog will die
If you don’t feed its curse
If you don’t feed its curse
And in your room when you’re on your own
In many shapes and shades of grey
Many shapes and shades of grey
There’s a bird in your ear
Singing a different song to what we all hear
You’re trying not to appear
To be dancing to a different drum
And the Russian Gamayan
Tells your fortune
Like it’s any other
Like it’s any other
And if you resolve to remain unsolved
You wont be invited
You wont be invited
There’s a bird in your ear
Singing a different song to what we all hear
You’re trying not to appear
To be dancing to a different drum
(Outro) - Track Name: Bakery
-
In the Bakery Simon does a terrible thing
Bumps a woman on the head with a rolling pin
Didn’t mean to maker her die
He just wanted before her in the line
Cops came unimpressed
Saw the woman lying on the floor in a floral dress
Turned to the crowd to account for the crime
All they saw was Simon standing in the line
(And the People said)
I’m certain this crime was committed by another kind
Yeah I’m certain this kind is not a friend of mine
I’m certain this crime was committed by another kind
Yeah I’m certain this kind is not a friend of mine
They looked Simon up and down
And couldn’t believe a man buttoned from toe to crown could
lift a rolling pin in the air
And deliver a blow that could wake a dragon in its lair
The baker left his post to vote among the crowd
That Simon was a well-dressed man who couldn’t hold a fork
In his right hand
(And the cops said)
I’m certain this crime was committed by another kind
Yeah I’m certain this kind is not a friend of mine
I’m certain this crime was committed by another kind
Yeah I’m certain this kind is not a friend of mine
Reporter gathered what he could with a pen and notebook
That the woman lying on the floor took
And unfortunate fall
And didn’t make it to the counter at all
(As the Judge said)
I’m certain this crime was committed by another kind
Yeah I’m certain this kind is not a friend of mine
I’m certain this crime was committed by another kind
Yeah I’m certain this kind is not a friend of mine - Track Name: Kingdom Come
-
And he said:
‘Fare thee well’
(I hate my self)
‘Take my sword dipped in grief
Shallow is my journey’
Kingdom come
When will this brawl be done?
When will it be over?
If you’re near
You’d comfort me
And I’d comfort you
What’s this world
Without the heart?
That I see in you
Kingdom come
When will this brawl be done?
When will it be over?
I would float
Like you tell me to
If it wasn’t for my skin
It holds me down
And I’m waiting till
This feelings over
Kingdom come
When will this brawl be done?
When will it be over?
And he said:
“Fair thee well”
(I hate myself) - Track Name: Honey When You're Gone
-
There are countless miles to travel
I’m a thousand miles from home
Beyond this bedrock there are mountains
I can’t walk over them alone
I know, you can’t see me
You’ve been gone so long
Honey when you’re gone I’m changing
Well I’m tired of kneeling
With my palms against the floor
I just want to be able to stand up
Just do what must be done
I know, you can’t see me
You’ve been gone so long
Honey when you’re gone I’m changing
Well farewell to the child you thought you knew her
She was too pure anyway
Cause this old souls not made of bedrock
She’ll get through it the good old-fashioned way
I know, you can’t see me
You’ve been gone so long
Honey when you’re gone I’m changing
Honey when you’re gone I’m changing
Honey when you’re gone I’m changing
All she needs is time
Give it a little sweet, sweet time
Cause this old souls not made of bedrock
Give it a little sweet, sweet time
I know, you can’t see me
You’ve been gone so long
Honey when you’re gone I’m changing
Honey when you’re gone I’m changing
Honey when you’re gone I’m changing - Track Name: Pond Song
-
You’re lying at the bottom of a pond staring up at the skies
Woven into the cloud
Woven into the afternoon
You feel light as you watch the guiding hand work around you
Sewing life into the light, it’s all around you
At the bottom of a pond, life really shows
That in this woven land nobody knows
You ask the guiding hand how he sows this land without a thimble
He says its chance just take the good with the bad, be a better man
You wonder which ways better from the bottom of your pond
Is homeward Up or Down?
Were your born from the dust?
Or was it the sky above?
At the bottom of a pond, life really shows
That in this woven land nobody knows
You’re lying at the bottom of a pond staring up at the sky
Woven into the cloud
Woven into the afternoon
You feel light as you watch the guiding hand work around you
Sewing life into the light, it’s all around you - Track Name: Owl
-
An owl awoke one July night
There was no moon,
there was no light
He found a tree so he could see
The fate that awaits you and me
He cast a yellow eye across the land
It lit up roofs so they look like lamps
So he could find a man who sees
But the eyes were shut asleep
Just like me
Asleep like me
There’s a castle beyond the river
Flags are flying, flying high
There’s a castle beyond the river
Flags are flying, flying high
The owl sharpens his pointy beak
To pry the eyes of men who sleep
Oh I hope he prys my eyes too
I wish to see all that I could do
(All that I could do)
There’s a castle beyond the river
Flags are flying, flying high
There’s a castle beyond the river
Flags are flying, flying high
It’s all lies. It’s all lies. It’s all lies.
I’m telling you this I’m asleep not dead
It’s not too late to lift your head
Off the pillow in which you lie
And see what could be
For you and I
(For you and I)
There’s a castle beyond the river
Flags are flying, flying high!
There’s a castle beyond the river
Flags are flying, flying high!
It’s all lies… - Track Name: Paper
-
Paper boats in my brother’s land
Never made by the same two hands
Paper boats in my sister’s land
Never made by the same two hands
Paper boats were made to float
But sometimes they fly
I knew one whose name was Seth
And sometimes he’d fly
Paper boats in my brother’s land
Never made by the same two hands
Paper boats in my sister’s land
Never made by the same two hands
Now I never said that they’d always fly
Sometimes you gotta be prepared to die
I knew one whose name was Job
And he got down to die
Paper boats in my brother’s land
Never made by the same two hands
Paper boats in my sister’s land
Never made by the same two hands
Now the ocean floor, has been touched by many
Who tried to get down not by
I knew one whose name was Luke
He tried to get down not by
Paper boats in my brother’s land
Never made by the same two hands
Paper boats in my sister’s land
Never made by the same two hands
Now didn’t your mamma tell you not to play with string!
Don’t you know that it’s a dangerous thing
She told you once and she told you again
But little Seth he went and did it again
Little string little string
Let that paper boat get on by
Little string little string
Let that paper boat fly! - Track Name: If I Had a Roof
-
If I had a roof I’d
Stare all day
Behind prison walls
To basketball hoops and
Chalk on the gravel floor
And I’d say the same thing twice
That the view is particularly nice
Up here…
If I had a roof I’d
See where the land and sky meet
See where the land and sky meet me
Oh I could see
And I’d say the same thing twice
That the view is particularly nice
Up here…
If I had a roof I’d
Stand on a ledge
And feel the breeze flow through my hair
Till my heart dissolved to air
And I’d say the same thing twice
That the view is particularly nice
Up here…
Up here - Track Name: When You're Alone
-
When you’re alone
You can make the day go slowly
When you’re alone
You can disappear, and make the day go lonely
Well, you’re sitting in the dark
But I still know you're in there
When you’re alone
You discover you’re a sun bear
And it doesn’t take a mirror to show
That your fur is not your hair
You’ve drawn the curtains now
But I still know you’re in there
When you’re alone
You think your toes belong to your hands
And you’re looking through your chin
At a world that makes you want to take a bath
You’re sitting in the dark but I still know you’re in there
You’re sitting in the dark but I still know you’re in there
Well you’re sitting in the dark but I still know you’re in there
