Missing You is a song that has enjoyed being a live favourite, but this is it's debut release! 
Quiet & intimate, played on guitar with gentle fingerpicking & voice, it is the love story that never happened, the possible future that wasn't taken further, the deep regret of missing a lover who never was.

Missing You

"The Lovers," a captivating track from Xak Stahl's "Major Arcana" album, is a soulful ballad that explores the profound depths of love and connection. Inspired by the Tarot card of the same name, this song weaves a tapestry of emotion, celebrating the beauty of romantic bonds and the transformative power of love.

Stahl's vocals caress each lyric with tender passion, embodying the intimacy and vulnerability inherent in deep relationships. The lyrics paint vivid imagery of two souls intertwining, navigating life's journey hand in hand, and finding strength in their union.

Musically, "The Lovers" is a delicate blend of soft rock and acoustic elements, creating a warm, intimate atmosphere that mirrors the closeness of a loving embrace. Gentle melodies and harmonies intertwine like lovers' hands, while subtle instrumental flourishes add depth and texture to the sonic landscape.

The chorus serves as a powerful affirmation of love's transcendent nature, with its declaration "We are The Lovers" becoming an anthem for those who have found their other half. The bridge expands this personal connection to a cosmic scale, emphasizing the timeless and universal nature of love.

"The Lovers" is more than just a love song; it's a celebration of the choices we make in the name of love and the profound impact these decisions have on our lives. It speaks to anyone who has experienced the transformative power of a deep connection, offering a musical reflection on the beauty of shared journeys and intertwined destinies.

Lyrics:

In the dance of destiny, where two hearts collide,
I found a spark of magic, in the warmth of your eyes.
Through the trials and the tears, and the moments we share,
Our love grows ever stronger, in the gentle air.

In the choices we make, and the paths we choose,
With every step together, there's nothing we lose.
Hand in hand we journey, through the highs and the lows,
With the light of our love, in our hearts it glows.

We are The Lovers, bound by fate and fire,
In the embrace of the stars, we find our desire.
With the strength of our bond, and the courage to be,
In the tapestry of love, we are wild and free.

In the whispers of the night, and the dawn's first light,
I feel your love surround me, like a guiding light.
Through the storms and the calm, and the shadows of fear,
I find my home within you, where the heart is clear.

In the laughter we share, and the dreams we weave,
With every touch and moment, our hearts believe.
Together we stand, in the face of the world,
With the power of love, our souls unfurled.

We are The Lovers, bound by fate and fire,
In the embrace of the stars, we find our desire.
With the strength of our bond, and the courage to be,
In the tapestry of love, we are wild and free.

Through the seasons of life, and the turns of time,
Our love remains a constant, in the rhythm and rhyme.
With the harmony of hearts, and the song of the soul,
We embrace The Lovers, in the journey as a whole.

We are The Lovers, bound by fate and fire,
In the embrace of the stars, we find our desire.
With the strength of our bond, and the courage to be,
In the tapestry of love, we are wild and free.

In the dance of destiny, where two hearts collide,
I found a spark of magic, in the warmth of your eyes.
Through the trials and the tears, and the moments we share,
Our love grows ever stronger, in the gentle air.

Major Arcana

The Lovers

"Shawn" is an intimate folk ballad honoring a brother lost too soon. Through emotional male vocals and gentle acoustic fingerpicking, this song tells the story of a former soldier who struggled with civilian life after military service. The lyrics weave a poignant narrative of brotherly protection, unspoken pain, and the unanswered questions left behind.

Each verse portrays different chapters of Shawn's journey—from military service to civilian struggles—while the recurring June motif creates a temporal anchor for grief. The pre-chorus captures the devastating moment of discovery, while the chorus serves as both lament and tribute to a "silent knight." The bridge addresses complex family dynamics that often accompany loss, adding emotional depth to this musical memorial.

More than a song, "Shawn" is a heartfelt conversation with a beloved brother whose memory endures beyond his absence—offering solace to anyone who has experienced the complicated grief of losing someone to suicide.

Shawn

"Just Breathe" is a raw exploration of childhood trauma, survival, and the ongoing journey of healing. Written from the perspective of both a child learning to survive and an adult learning to live again, this intimate acoustic piece traces the path from building protective walls to slowly letting them decay. With each "just breathe," the song transforms a survival mantra into a reminder of resilience and self-compassion.

Stripped down to gentle fingerpicking and vulnerable vocals, "Just Breathe" acknowledges that while some scars may never fully heal, we can learn again how to feel. It's a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure, recover, and eventually find its way home - from dissociation to presence, from isolation to connection.

Just Breathe

Xak Stahl: Alchemist of Sound, Architect of Emotion

Xak Stahl is a genre-blurring music artist, sonic storyteller, and relentless experimenter. Every track he creates is a new world—a kaleidoscope of indie folk, alt-pop, electronica, and global flavors—infused with raw emotion and boundless curiosity. Xak’s music isn’t just heard; it’s felt.

From Shadow to Spotlight

For Xak, music is metamorphosis. His journey began in the shadows, transmuting heartbreak and struggle into songs that glow with hope. Early anthems like “Neon Dreams” and “Rising Through the Darkness” invite listeners to find their own light. His newest project, Major Arcana, channels the mysteries of the Tarot—each song an archetype, each lyric a step along the path from the Fool’s first leap to the wisdom of The World.

More Than Music: A Multisensory Universe

But Xak isn’t confined to sound. As a visual artist and writer, he crafts immersive stories that spill across genres and languages—sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, always honest. Whether he’s conjuring lush soundscapes, weaving bilingual lyrics, or creating striking visuals, Xak’s art dares you to feel deeper and dream wilder.

An Invitation to Transformation

Join Xak Stahl on a sonic odyssey that blurs borders—between genres, between artforms, between you and the music. Each release is an invitation to explore, to heal, to become. For Xak, every song is a spell, every album a universe. The only question is: are you ready to step inside?

For over 30 years, singer-songwriter Maryen Cairns’s allegorical folk-pop has offered a form of literate escapism for her worldwide fanbase. “I feel driven to create songs that people can disappear into. I want to pluck them away from reality so that they can lose themselves for a few minutes,” says the Guernsey-based artist. 

In turn, her singular musicality has taken Maryen on a fantastical journey of a music career. This has included releasing 7 critically-acclaimed solo albums; being produced and mentored by Rolling Stone's producer Chris Kimsey; a professional association with former Marillion lead singer Fish; and many other adventures. 

Today, the restless creative shows no signs of slowing down. She will be issuing a newly-recorded series of live albums that reimagine her classic recordings, beginning with One Woman Band, Live at Echotown Studios, Vol 1 which will be Maryen’s first vinyl release. 

Maryen is a solo artist, a multi-instrumentalist, a producer, and a storytelling songwriter with a flair for compelling narrative arcs, character development, and transporting imagery. Her work is both delicate and powerful, featuring her folksy guitar accompaniment, her crystalline piano playing, and her stunning vocals replete with a unique intonation and invigorating register swings.

Her latest era of creativity has been inspired by a 10-date, one-woman-show tour of the UK that took place in August of 2023. The concept initially blossomed from Maryen’s desire to connect with her audience during the pandemic. The story goes Maryen started a couple of initiatives during lockdown, including The Cairns Club, a series of emails with stories and pictures from Maryen’s musical life, and a popular livestream series. For these special streaming shows, fans wanted her to perform intimate, stripped down renditions of her classic repertoire, and Maryen began to experiment. “I am a believer that good songs can shine, presented just with voice, and simple accompaniment,” Maryen says. 

Right after the final date of her one woman tour, Maryen went into a nearby studio for two days with producer Chris Kimsey. There, in front of a small audience, Maryen performed 30 songs from her back catalog. Often, Maryen would sit on a cajón and pivot between a guitar and piano, and perform impressive one-woman band feats. Nine songs from these sessions have been cherry-picked for One Woman Band, Live at Echotown Studios, Vol 1.

This intimate music making has been the direct result of a self-growth evolution for Maryen which will continue to shape her artistic continuum. “When I was younger, people knew me deeply through my music, but I wasn’t as open to connecting as I am today,” she says. “The connection I now have with my audience has breathed new life into my music.”

New tracks tagged #IntimateAcoustic