I always take pleasure in sharing new music from Bristol-based artist Andy Skellam, and his latest single, ‘Bluebird‘, ranks among his best, on which he’s joined by Jim Barr of ‘Portishead’ and Jamie Whitby Coles of ‘This is The Kit’. The chorus takes inspiration from one of Charles Bukowski’s most touching poems of the same name that opens:
there’s a bluebird in my heart that
wants to get out
but I’m too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I’m not going
to let anybody see you.
Skellam’s melancholic song battles with emotions that are heavily shaped by the weight of lockdown and bringing a child into this world, although Skellam’s are couched in a glimmer of hope, unlike Bukowski’s secret pact with his bluebird. Directed by Daisy Moseley, the accompanying video perfectly captures the song’s mood.
Andy tells us:
Bluebird is the latest release from my forthcoming album ‘Brighten Up The Place‘. It was created in lockdown and voices some of the hopeless feelings we all had during those times. I tried to capture the bleakness I felt but also spoke of a quietly held hope for the future as I was soon to become a father. When I played the first version of the song to my partner, she found it terribly bleak as we were about to bring new life into the world. I had recently read her my favourite Charles Bukowski poem, which inspired the Bluebird in the chorus. It was recorded at J and J studios in Bristol by Jim Barr of ‘Portishead’, – who also plays bass guitar on the track. It also features Jamie Whitby Coles of ‘This is The Kit’ on drums.
The video was directed by Daisy Moseley – https://www.daisymoseley.com/film; it is set in a Bristol pub in Old Market. This visually represents the brokenness of our social interactions following the imposed isolation of lockdowns, alongside a distorted hope for the future represented by an older lady dressed in blue, dancing at the back of the room as if in her own world, isolated and unnoticed.
Bluebird is out now and available on streaming services. It can also be heard in our Mellow Folk Playlist.
Find more of Andy’s music on Bandcamp: https://andyskellam.bandcamp.com/