I recently read about a phenomenon called "Stockholm syndrome"* and thought it would be an interesting topic to explore in song. On this 43 degree day it could also be a metaphor for being held hostage by the sun, but is more likely to be the product of watching too many HBO crime shows. "Stockholm syndrome" or capture–bonding, is a psychological phenomenon in which hostages express empathy and sympathy and have positive feelings toward their captors, sometimes to the point of defending them. These feelings are generally considered irrational in light of the danger or risk endured by the victims, who essentially mistake a lack of abuse from their captors for an act of kindness. Stockholm syndrome can be seen as a form of traumatic bonding, which does not necessarily require a hostage scenario, but which describes “strong emotional ties that develop between two persons where one person intermittently harasses, beats, threatens, abuses, or intimidates the other.

DEMO - Stockholm Syndrome

DEMO - Blackest of Black Fat Lashes And The Shim Shimmy Shade 66

My first DIY home brew recording in my new St Andrews abode. The song came to me as I was contemplating the mp3 format and the vast loss of fidelity we commonly experience consuming music on our various gadgets and gismos. It's a longing for old school records, musicianship, vintage equipment (when things were built to last) and the all round super sonic ideal. 

Big Sing Steel String & The Ol' Tambourine

Live from a walk in wardrobe with accidental ducted heating background ambience and special guest backing vox by ghosts

Cover - Horror Movie, Skyhooks 1975

This song explores the theme of 'music as medicine'. Around the turn of the last century there were many popular all-round tonics and tinctures that claimed to "cure-all" ailments. If you do a google search the ads are very entertaining.. whist some of the concoctions were pure snake oil quackery others had validity to their claims! I decided to make my own cure-all tonic, but one that's sonic; for the ears rather than the stomach. It's a snake oil song, it makes bold claims about the power of rhythm and rhyme. If you like it you can download it as well as streaming (click the arrow button under the music waves)… it's free because it's not a "single" release as such, but something that pleasantly sidetracked me.  

All-round Tonic 'n' Brew that's Sonic

Messing about with a new tune called NO VIDEO...  Ironically I made a little video snippet intro(see via my facebook page www.facebook.com/rachaelbyrnespage). 

I recently read a study about how more creative activity happens in the brain when you listen to music than when you watch a video and listen at the same time. That got me thinking ... are we taking enough time to stop and listen to music and really SEE with our minds eye. I love putting my headphones on, closing my eyes and letting a video create itself in my head. That's the power of music for me.. video or no video. Looking forward to sharing the finished piece. 

No Video - snippet

Written, arranged and produced by Rachael Byrnes, Something's Better than Nothing explores a battle of two opposing ideas 'is something is better than nothing' or 'is it all or nothing?'

Something's Better Than Nothing

Written, arranged and produced by Rachael Byrnes, Far and Few Between can be likened to to a Zen Koan; a story, dialogue, question, or statement, the meaning of which cannot be understood by rational thinking but may be accessible.

Far and Few Between

Low Fi songs recorded entirely on my iphone using a free multi track app called Gig Baby.* Whilst the sound quality isn't amazing, the iphone allows me to capture my ideas and prepare my songs for future studio recording sessions. If you enjoy this music and would like to be involved please email me rachaelhopebyrnes@gmail.com I'm looking for other musicians to jam/perform with as well as good producers and engineers who might want to work with me. thanks for listening! *Mixed and processed by Nic Pallett from 440Hz Studio.

Recorded on Iphone -Tolerance Intolerance Demo Rachael Byrnes

messing about with a cover of the Rolling Stones, Paint it Black.. live from my music room

COVER (Rolling Stones) Paint it Black

Too much is never enough in this society. 

Less is More & The Oily Rag

Once upon a time it was me in that car and the 'me before me' caught me smoking cigars in the back seat playing me like a guitar, once upon a time it was me in that car.

Son of a Bogan

Meet me on the other side of many many steep inclines. Fly with me, when we are flying in love but don't fall, don't fall from above. 

Lake of Lament

You should you should you should you should you should you should. I prefer to say I could. I would I would if I could. I would I would if I could but I'm drowning in all your "should"

Truth is a Loaded Gun (Live)

Live bootleg recorded on a phone.  An original song.. words and music except for the first verse which takes traditional lyrics from the the English folk song "The Blacksmith".

Flattery's Words a Feather

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Rachael Byrnes

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