Title: The Subway
Artist: Stacey Walton
Release: 23/05/12
Album: N/A
Label: N/A
Genre: Light rock/Pop-rock
Written by: Stacey Walton
Produced by: Stacey WaltonReview - NMEHaving produced and released one of the standout albums of 2010, a critically acclaimed pop-rock record which garnered rave reviews from every corner, the sky really was the limit for London's teen sensation Stacey Walton. As the calendars flipped over into January 2011, and the singer could afford to look at the 12-months ahead of her, everyone was predicting exceptional advancements from her, with whispers of world tours, sophomore albums and number one hits resonating around her very name. Almost a year and a half later however, those predictions have yet to come to anything. Suffering from one of the most high profile cases of stage fright ever known in the industry, Walton chose to remove herself completely from the world of music, spending the better part of 18 months collecting her thoughts and readying herself for her future.
It was somewhat of a surprise then when a single from the girl herself dropped onto the doormat of our office one early morning. The blurb that came with it talked of a rejuvenated, recharged 21-year old Stacey Walton who had learned much, both from her first crack at the industry, and her time spent in recollection. It promised a much more vibrant Stacey, an artist ready to come back into the limelight, and bring her own unique brand of rock music back to the fore with vigour and a new-found belief. And we were far from disappointed.
Documenting the time that Stacey said she would spend sat on the platforms of the London Underground system, quietly watching the world go by, and watching people go about their daily business, Walton's comeback single is as much an ode to having the freedom to think even when everything seems so hectic and hopeless around you as it is a cry for someone in a time of loneliness.
The Subway is a pop-rock track which displays a great mix between two different styles of music. In the verses of the song, we are treated to an almost creeping haunting acoustic melody, over which the slightly husky and unmistakably London-accented tones of Walton wonderfully wail out an ironic serenade to a world which only exists to be hectic and frantic. In contrast, the choruses, which are heralded by a drum fill each time, welcome the use of an acoustic guitar, an instrument which Stacey undoubtedly feels more at home with as she confidently belts out the pop-rock ballad about spending the time she did alone.
All in, this comeback track from Stacey is a joy to hear. The simple fact that she is back would have been enough, but to hear that she has used her time off to hone her skills and produce something which would have doubtlessly been a standout track on her debut is simply wonderful. One can only hope that this is just a preview of what is to come.
By Luke Brick*****
Stacey said:It felt good to finally get back to doing what I love more than anything with this single. The break that I have taken over the last year and a half has been entirely necessary. I knew that if I had simply stuck around and motored on that the quality of my work would only suffer, and that was just not ever going to be an option for me.
I spent the better part of my time out just hanging in London and seeing what I could learn about myself. I discovered that being alone does far more for you than you could ever imagine. There were times where I would go weeks without talking to anyone except Taylor, and while I felt alone throughout them, I learned who I am. I found a strong young woman, who is now ready to step back into the shoes that she cast aside all that time ago.
The track itself is kind of like a diary of what I did for a while. I spent maybe a month going to the tube (or subway) in London on a daily basis. I'd take a different station each time and I'd just sit for an hour or two with my notebook, watching the goings on, letting my mind wander to wherever it wanted to go, and jotting down anything that came into my mind.
I can only hope that people will be happy to accept me back, and I hope that they enjoy my first offering. I'm proud of this work, and I am ready to start work on a full follow up very soon.
LyricsItalics: Verse - AcousticBold: Chorus - RockBlue: Bridge - Rock (higher key)Default: Outro - Acoustic
Sitting by the platform watching as the world passes by
It's hard to make sense of this pulsating blur but I try
Why you gotta rush
Everything is hushed
No one would even take my hand if I should cry
You stand alone in crowds
Take a solo bow
But I won't turn to you when I dry my eyeAnd in a city of five million people
Why do I, why do I feel so alone
Won't look into my eyes because no one is equal
Even if we're all just trying to get home
There's not a sun in the sky
No there's no shoulder to cry
But in this busy maze of loneliness
It's where I learned to fly I watched you all walk past the perfect reflection
Only mirrored in purity by the sense of rejection
When you gonna speak
Are we all so weak
Would you all step to the side when I needed protection
It's an eerie peace
But there's no release
From the way I wanna jump up so high to air my objection
And in a city of five million people
Why do I, why do I feel so alone
Won't look into my eyes because no one is equal
Even if we're all just trying to get home
There's not a sun in the sky
No there's no shoulder to cry
But in this busy maze of loneliness
It's where I learned to fly Does anyone else know where they're headed to
In my head in my life I'm going somewhere so new
You're giving me a shove
A call from up above
And I'll be taking this chance to stand so true
You won't even worry
No one's ever sorry
Take a stance and don't turn away when I smile at youAnd deep down here where the sun won't shine
In this man-made maze I just feel fine
I can be alone in a crowd of so many
I wouldn't even sell you my thoughts if you gave me a penny
I feel fine, I feel fine,
Walking down this road, everything is mine
You won't take my hand cos we're all so secluded
When did we start to feel like the other intrudedAnd in a city of five million people
Why do I, why do I feel so alone
Won't look into my eyes because no one is equal
Even if we're all just trying to get home
There's not a sun in the sky
No there's no shoulder to cry
But in this busy maze of loneliness
It's where I learned to fly Why do I, why do I feel so alone
Why do I, why do I feel so alone
There's not a sun in the sky
There's no shoulder to cry
But this...is where I learned to fly
