UK based singer/songwriter, Sam Gifford, returns with the follow-up to his previous single ‘Gang of Thieves,’ in the form of his brand new and hope-filled track ‘Shadows in the Dark’. The first release from the musician’s upcoming EP, A Second of Love, ‘Shadows in the Dark’ is a powerful, anthemic tune that builds its way up effortlessly to the song’s crescendo. Taking a softer approach when compared to ‘Gang of Thieves,’ Gifford displays incredible vocal control and expertise throughout the track. Reflecting on the world around him during the craziness that was 2020, the artist penned the song as a rallying cry to never give up, to never give in. “I wrote about willing the impossible to become possible,” says Gifford. “About fighting from the ground…and chasing shadows in the dark.” Sam, all we can do is thank you for this magnificent tune!
A passionate, compelling and powerful song, ‘Shadows in the Dark’ shows an artist at the top of his game.
INDIE TOP 39
What does the song mean to you?
In May 2020, I felt a great sense of hopelessness. The country was in lockdown, there were riots in America and in the UK and the world felt more divided than ever. Reflecting on the world around me I wrote about resistance and an unrelenting hope which cannot be extinguished even when all is lost. I wrote about willing the impossible to become possible and about love so determined it is blind to reality. About fighting from the ground, planting seeds in the sand and chasing shadows in the dark.
Tell us about your creative process and how the song came to be?
From a musical standpoint, I had been learning to play ‘U.F.O’ by Coldplay on my acoustic. It’s pretty rare for me to sit down and learn a cover but this song plays with some interesting tuning. It was this variation from standard tuning that allowed me to construct the acoustic guitar part which is a focal point for most of the song. The adapted tuning added an openness to the notes which suited the flow of the song better than if I had played the same notes in standard tuning.
From a lyrical perspective. I drew inspiration from the division and despair I was seeing across the globe. It seemed as though we were further from the world I wanted to see than ever before, so I decided to write about holding onto hope in the darkest moments and continuing the fight, even when it feels as though we are fighting from the ground.
Who do you hope the song resonates with the most?
Ultimately this is a song about hope in the hopelessness. When I wrote this song, it was me who was feeling hopeless, and writing this song was a way for me to reflect on those feelings. This song goes out to anyone who feels as though they are fighting an uphill battle or are up against the impossible. Continue to carry that hope because that is what will drive you forward.
What are your favourite lyrics in the song?
I’m very proud of the lyrics in this song so that it is a difficult question to answer. I usually begin writing the chorus lyrics rather than beginning at the start when I am writing a song but in this instance it was the first verse that got the ball rolling. ‘Save your breath. There’s nothing you can say. I’m gonna say it anyway.’
For me, these are words which capture feelings of heartbreak, hopelessness, resilience, desperation and faint hope. These are all the feelings I wanted to encapsulate and I feel as though I have been able to do that within the first line alone.
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This coverage was created in collaboration with Musosoup as part of the #SustainableCurator movement.
