Dry Soul is the new single (13th September via Olive Grove Records) from solo songwriter (and frontman of Randolph’s Leap) Adam Ross. Recorded and produced by Adam himself and featuring guest violin from Pedro Cameron (Man of the Minch), this achingly melancholic earworm continues the winning Ross/Cameron collaboration heard on Adam’s debut album Staring At Mountains released in January this year. However, in a step up from Staring At Mountains’ sparse and minimalist sound, Dry Soul presents Adam’s most full-bodied solo material to date, opening with atmospheric synths and reversed tape effects before driving bass and drums launch the song into a hypnotic collage of sounds. Pedro’s soaring violin elevates Adam’s intricate lyrics as he navigates ideas of mental wellbeing, writer’s block, aspiration and emotion all tied up in a Dylan-esque rhyming sequence.
This provides the richest and most detailed snapshot yet of the songwriting processes – and the thought processes – of one of Scotland’s most talented singers and songwriters.
Thomas Blake on Staring at Mountains
Adam on Dry Soul:
Dry Soul was a relief to write. I’d gone through a patch of writer’s block which can obviously be a bit disconcerting for a songwriter. I released several albums during the pandemic and had developed a reputation for being “prolific” which I was maybe trying too hard to maintain. Suddenly nothing was working. I record and produce a lot of my own stuff but was now struggling to get a sound I was happy with or find enough lyrical inspiration. That’s partly what the song ended up being about, but also about a feeling of running dry in a more emotional sense. Being in a rut, I suppose.
Anyway, it all came together in the end. I’m pleased with my playing and the production since it’s a lot fuller sounding and more ambitious than my ‘Staring At Mountains’ album. A huge credit goes to Pedro Cameron’s violin playing though. He came up to my house in St Cyrus and knocked it out in 3 or 4 takes. What a champ. His playing style is totally beautiful. I’m a big fan of violin in pop/rock music and was listening to records like Bob Dylan’s ‘Desire’, ‘Something On Your Mind’ by Karen Dalton and ‘Lieg & Lief’ by Fairport Convention which all have some extraordinary fiddle moments.
It’s not referenced in the song, but I think travel or at least a change of scene is a good remedy for a dry soul. So I wanted to reflect this in the video. You can’t beat a good train journey.
Dry Soul is out on 13th September via Olive Grove Records
Upcoming Shows
22/09 – Edinburgh
Voodoo Rooms (support from Leo Bargery)
23/09 – Aberdeen
Blue Lamp
24/09 – Oban
Rockfield Centre
25/09 – Tobermory
An Tobar
30/09 – Peebles
Eastgate Theatre (support from Man of the Minch)
13/10 – Glasgow
Glad Cafe (supporting The Burning Hell)
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