MAN OF THE HIGHWAY
The story of a woman who is in love with a man, and a man who is in love with the road, and the grace and grit it takes to release him to follow his dreams.

This track features the additional vocal talents of Abbie and Andy Thomas, who also perform on keys and percussion, guitar magic is provided by Danny Mortimer, with final production + mastering courtesy of Struan "Chick" Macfarlane, Man of the Highway is the first track to be released from my debut album, The Understanding, due for release, Summer 2022.

Keep in touch with me on instagram, facebook, bandcamp and via my youtube channel.

I'd love to hear your thoughts and I can't wait to share more tracks with you from the upcoming album and news of my EP, The Road, due for release later this year. 

You can sign up for my newsletter at www.sophiebonadea.com so you receive all my music news and exclusives first! 

Thank you so much for your continued love + Support,
Sophie Bonadea

Man Of The Highway (Album version)

See I ain't got no more, no more time
No I can't lie to you
So can I stay here
One more
One more night
Damn Texas Moon...

Texas Moon

wild horses cover

MAN OF THE HIGHWAY

My man, he’s a man of the highway 
Cap, in hand, only his song to guide him
He aint got nothing planned
Just the lay of the land 

And tonight, I'll do what's right...

When I say, “Take me tonight, i’m all yours,
So, tonight - I’ll do what’s right
And, I’ll say, “Take me tonight, i’m all yours,
My gypsy traveling troubadour
Sing those same old temporary love songs
From the moment you walk out the door 
And ride into the night
Chasing stars and headlights 
And whatever you're looking for

He could never stay, longer than was easy
‘Fore he’d feel the call
He says, “girl, I’ll never leave you for another
But, still I, won’t ever feel those ties you call home”

And, tonight - I’ll do what’s right

When I say, “Take me tonight, i’m all yours,
My gypsy traveling troubadour
Sing those same old temporary love songs
til the moment you walk out the door 
And ride into the night
Chasing stars and headlights 
And whatever you're looking for

Yeah I'll say, “Take me tonight, i’m all yours,
My gypsy traveling troubadour
Sing those same old temporary love songs
til the moment you walk out the door 
And ride into the night
Chasing stars and headlights 
And whatever you're looking for

And every time I wanna ask you to stay - I don’t
(no I don't, no I don't, no I don't no I don't)
And every time I wanna ask you to stay - I don’t
(no I don't, no I don't, no I don't no I don't)
And every time I wanna ask you to stay - I don’t
(no I don't, no I don't, no I don't no I don't)


Cos he’s my man, man of the highway 
Yeah he's my man, man of the highway
And yes he’s just a man
Just a man of the highway
And I guess, well yes, I must like it that way
Cos he’s my man
Yes, he’s my man

original song and words by Sophie Bonadea

Man Of The Highway - acoustic demo

Looking for America
	
Miles of highway burn under reddened sky 
I see the sun blaze I am a dancer in your eyes
Truth be told I don’t know where we’re gonna sleep tonight 
And tonight could be the last night of our lives

He had always maintained we was young and fine and able
He gripped my hand so tight that night he slipped the gun across the table
He says now life sure ain’t easy honey-baby when you’re living off the law
But he swears he loves me mama, sings that song, “I couldn’t love you more”

So close your eyes and I’ll dream a dream for you 
I’ll be your hearts desire
I’ll make your wildest dreams come true

And I promised I’d take you there
Gonna wake up in america
If we’re gonna make it anywhere
Gonna make it in america
And I promised I’d take you there, 
we're just looking for america
we're just looking for america - I swear

So close your eyes and I’ll dream a dream for you 
I’ll be your hearts desire
I’ll make your wildest dreams come true
please close your eyes cos I don’t know what to do
And if I close my eyes will you dream a dream for me too?

And I promised I’d take you there
Gonna wake up in america
If we’re gonna make it anywhere
Gonna make it in america
And I promised I’d take you there
we're just looking for america
we're just looking for america - i swear 

And if we took the money, if we took the money, if we took the money and run 
And if we took the money, if we took the money, if we took the money and run 
If we took the money, we’re not going back where we were then
If we took the money, we’re not going back there no, no not again

And if we took the money we’d be running for our lives
and, if we took the money we’d be running for our lives

words and music, sophie bonadea

Looking For America - Acoustic Demo

Am, F/Fm,Am

Voices, are in my head 
Drowning out the words you said
Voices are in my mind
Telling me what I would find 
If I looked into your eyes      
There’s no way you can disguise           
All of the secrets that you hide
          
You are creeping around, you are crawling around on the inside 
         
On the inside

Voices are in my head
Whispering the things I dread
Voices are in my mind 
Telling me what you would find
       
If you look into my eyes
There’s no way I can disguise
All the secrets that I hide
My demons screaming at me
They are crawling around on the inside
On the inside
                       
They got me breaking doors
I’m climbing walls
I’m on all fours and 
I’m crawling floors and
I’m Falling deep 
As I drop in whole

As silent voices take control 
these voices
             
These voices
          
These voices                   
They got me breaking doors   
I’m climbing walls
I’m on all fours and     
I’m crawling floors and
I’m Falling deep 
As I drop in whole
As silent voices take control

These voices
            
These voices
       
These voices

Secrets, lies and fantasies
Master of my make-believe
Show me things I don’t want to see
As silent voices taking over me 
                      
I can’t quiet these
I can’t quiet these
These voices

original song and words by sophie bonadea

Voices - Acoustic demo

original words and music by sophie bonadea

Texas Moon - Acoustic Demo

THESE DAYS

A                                                                  D
And life seems to flow a little easier these days
           A                                              D
The quiet life seems to suit me quite well 

You ask me if I miss the city

You ask me if I’m still as pretty 

And wild and bold with the whole world under my spell 

No There’s no dancing Til dawn 

Guess those days are long gone

got a house with a lawn 

grew my hair out real long

And I found me a man and he’s kind and he’s true 

Wants a place in the country 

A place for me too

And I guess it sounds fine gives me something to do

While I remember your crimes 

And thank god he’s not you 

No We don’t scream 

We don’t fight

We don’t stay up all night 

Singing songs with tears in our eyes

He won’t prop up the bar

While I take it too far 

And our friends pretend everything’s fine

And tho we’re going places 

My heart never races                                  

And fuck I’m bored out of my mind 

Cos well babe, he’s got nothing on you
                                        
Oh no honey he’s got nothing on you

And thoughts of you will still remain                               

When lovers new can’t take the strain

And thoughts of me will linger on 

When your bed grows cold

And she’s come and gone 

And we ask ourselves

Is it ever enough?

And we ask ourselves -

Is it ever enough

These days.. these days 

original words and song, by sophie bonadea

These Days - Acoustic Demo

This beautiful poem was written by Robert Burns for one of his many lady loves, but I had no idea when I recorded this track a couple of years ago, that one day I would return to the beautiful highlands of scotland and be singing this song, with words which so deeply resonate, to my beautiful daughter who was born here - a bonnie wee thing indeed!

Bonnie wee thing, cannie wee thing,
Lovely wee thing wer't thou mine,
I wad wear thee in my bosom,
Lest my jewel I should tine.

Wistfully, I look and languish
In that bonnie face of thine.
And my heart it stounds wi' anguish
Lest my wee thing be na mine.

Wit and Grace and Love and Beauty
In ae constellation shine!
To adore thee is my duty
Goddess o' this soul o' mine!

The Understanding

"Bonnie wee thing", Rabbie Burns

As part of independent radio station Shell Shock Bam's 6 month celebrations, I took over the station for 2 hours to perform every track from my upcoming album, The Understanding.

I got intimate sharing the stories behind the songs, whilst getting deep on all things love, spiritual, mental health, the new divine uprising and the lost years and life on the road looking for answers - and how that's all changed since becoming a mama.

Crowdfunding campaign launches on Saturday 31 October 
Sign up to my mailing list to get all the news www.bonadea-music.com
and follow me on facebook for regular live performances and events fb.com/bonadeamusic

stay safe,
love Sophie Bonadea

The Understanding: Full live album preview (2hr live show)

Merry Christmas Michael - this one is for you! (and thank you Morven for supporting my music by gifting this track!)

This strange year has brought so many ups and downs, challenges and growth and this year, Christmas looks unlike anything we have ever known - but I am so grateful for everything I have, and everything I have to look forward to thanks to you, your love, support, generosity, and belief in me and my music...I am so overjoyed to say that I have reached my indiegogo funding target! 

65 backers from the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Estonia, Austria and Spain have already claimed 36 albums including digital downloads and signed copies, 2 covers of their favourite songs, 3 original songs written just for them, 2 art books which accompany the songs from the album, personal phone calls, video calls and made donations from the humble to the hefty, and every single one of you means the absolute world to me.


I'm excited to start recording in the new year, and getting pen to paper for those original tracks y'all have claimed! Today I had so much fun recording Counting Crows classic, Mr. Jones for Morven, who claimed the "cover perk" as a gift for her brother, Michael to show her love and express how much that song has meant to them over the years - I hope you enjoy it too! YOUTUBE: Mr. Jones (Counting Crows cover)


       


The campaign is still running until 31 December so it ain't over yet - now any additional money received will go towards marketing costs for advertising, promotion and releasing the record.


This is particularly vital as we head into lockdown again. An artists performing income makes up the largest contributing amount for musicians when self funding a record, and right now musicians are being advised that gigging and live shows are to be on hold until at least late 2021.



But, for now, I am having so much fun recording these livestreams, being at home with my babies and looking forward to a relaxing christmas and hope you are too!


Again, thank you so much for helping me reach this amazing major milestone and I hope you will continue to join me and support me on my journey, and I look forward to seing you more news and music soon! 


Sending so much love, and wishing you a very merry Christmas,
Sophie Bonadea 


Ps. In case you would still like to claim more beautiful musical perks there are only 6 days left -  follow this link to claim yours! http://www.igg.me/at/bonadeamusic
www.sophiebonadea.com
https://linktr.ee/sophiebonadea

Mr. Jones (Counting Crows Cover)

highland alt-country soul•americana music mama//crystal•moon healer//animal•environmental proponent//mental health in the arts advocate 
...

Described as a wandering singer songwriter, Bonadea tells stories of love and life never spent in one place; creating the soundtrack to a road less travelled.

Following the call of the sea, the landscape and the desire to create without limits, Bonadea currently resides in the North East of Scotland where she lives with her partner and their daughter in a rural coastal town on the stunning Findhorn Bay Coast, famed for its dramatic scenery and draw of spiritual seekers.

Fusing the personal with the mystical through narrative folk-like storytelling, interweaved with her own experiences in love and out of love, debut album, The Understanding, takes a reflective look at her relationships and the wisdom and light to come from these chapters in her life. Bonadea often credits her work as a crystal healer, long time Vipassana student and meditation teacher, honed in the ancient practice of harnessing moon energy, as the magic ingredient in her songwriting process. 

Freely exploring references from the 60s and 70s road-trip-americana music she grew up with, Bonadea's songs effortlessly move through folk, rock, alt-country, americana, noir and even pop to create a sound that has been described as both totally unique and warmly familiar, and is regularly likened to outwardly strong yet fragile female singer songwriters such as Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks and PJ Harvey for both stage presence and songwriting style.

“Sophie Bonadea is a power soul voice for her generation and has also done her fair bit of world stravaiging, based in Austin and Berlin for periods of her musical journey, now landed and based out of the Highlands. Wherever she has been she has always impressed and supported her community, her Song Gatherings have become a popular feature of the Highland Music Scene of late and her name a regular feature on Festival posters across Scotland.” - Rob Ellen, Promoter, Mobile Moose Medicine Show

“The organiser of songwriter gatherings around the Highlands, Bonadea is a fascinating talent whose music brings together disparate influences from folk and americana to psychedelia and grunge.” - Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival Review

EPK www.bonadea-music.com/press-kit

Sophie Bonadea

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