We Speak Music
Mark Duggan Shares New Single ‘Dance Myself to You’
Irish singer-songwriter Mark Duggan is known for his clever lyricism and combining of acoustic and electronic elements which can reach out and take people somewhere else for the length of the song. He returns with his latest alternative rock tune ‘Dance Myself to You’.
The idea behind the song titled ‘Dance Myself to You’ was to write a melody that would gradually expand from a single solo instrument to a thick sound at the finish. Along with Mark Duggan’s vocals, the single is a longing, yearning one with an interesting production that includes a drum machine, bass, guitar, drum kit, synths, and other elements.
The ballad is evocative of over-the-top ‘80s ballads as it swells from a whisper to an explosion of sound. Beginning with just an electric guitar and voice, the song gradually builds in bass, percussion, ambient pads, and other guitars. An electric guitar solo that was improvised in one take and a choir of voices drive the song’s last minute. Each verse of the song begins with one of three straightforward pictures of loneliness from the lyrics. The characters’ thoughts are drawn to this missing person by these visions, and no matter how hard they try, they are unable to bring them back, no matter what steps they take.
The lyrics had to be written first in order to determine how long the build-up should take, and they were written rather fast once Mark Duggan had the three pictures that opened each of the verses. The reason the outro lyrics were added later is that he chose to complete the build-up with a lengthy fade-out, leaving a significant amount of empty space in the song.
The song’s base of sound fills in the gaps between any rhythmic elements with a variety of synth and guitar parts that use a lot of delays and reverbs. The guitar solo was recorded on the first take with the intention of sounding a little raw and guttural, while the drums were selected to be fairly conventionally ‘80s. He chose to attempt some choral harmonies near the end of the song and added some harmonies to the chorus while performing the vocals.
Mark Duggan chose to write the outro lyrics over them and make sure every instrument plays considerably busier than they did earlier in the song because he liked how they pushed the drama of the ending over the top. After his old bass broke during the demos, he had to acquire a new one, thus the bass was the last part of the song he added. The song’s mix was designed to highlight the contrast between the number of instruments playing at the beginning and end of the song, as well as the intensity of those performances, which provide the song’s dramatic conclusion.
On the song, Mark Duggan says, “An almighty release of a ballad, to me it is an acceptance of a situation and it emotions by letting them explode outward.”
London-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Waz-u returns with his second album, Preludes: Dusk Psalms, set for release on 16 May 2025 via independent label Biodiversity. The 15-track record further refines the artistic depth of his debut, blending electronic textures and classical compositional techniques in an intricate, immersive listening experience.
Ahead of the album release, Waz-u is dropping an exclusive vocal version of ‘Vermillion: G Major’ from the album, accompanied by its original instrumental version. ‘Vermillion’ with Lilyg will be released on 18 April 2025, evoking intimate indie-folk and pop and follows the release of a vocal version of ‘Lament’ with Tom Norrington. ‘The singles are a way to give a voice to the atmosphere of the record and to lyrically encapsulate some of the themes explored,’ explains Waz-u. ‘Lily and Tom are good friends of mine and have both been listening to early iterations of these preludes – it felt right to involve them directly on this record.’
‘Preludes: Dusk Psalms’ marks a new branch of Waz-u’s emerging sound, guided by the duality of tradition and innovation. Combining his musical roots in early ‘90s dub techno and classical music, the album weaves carefully layered synthesizers and electronics to evoke the ambience of sacred music — from the gentle timbres of a choir or an organ to the quiet, open, and reverberating spaces of a church. Also featured throughout the album is experimental musician G9 LUV, who creates textures and drones by bowing his bass guitar, resulting in cello-like sounds. The release follows Waz-u’s 2024 debut LP, Prayer For Dawn, which merged dub, techno, and electronica in an exploration of the ritualistic traditions associated with both organized religion and dance.
Bringing the album’s themes to life, Waz-u will celebrate the release of Preludes: Dusk Psalms with a special performance at Our Holy Redeemer in Clerkenwell, London on 14 May 2025. Set against the church’s resonant acoustics, the event will feature live performance arrangements, including a choir, with further details to be announced soon.
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