My new song ‘Into Elysium’; a sad, dark indie pop song that I wrote, recorded and mixed all myself in two days. I used to instruments for this song; my guitar and my keyboard as well as a couple of drum beats. I am very happy with it. I am a huge fan of songs that end in a crescendo which this song does so keep listening till the end. I created a music video using vintage footage for this song which is available on YouTube, it is pretty sweet and nostalgic so I hope you can find the opportunity to give it a watch. As some of you know, this entire project is done by myself and I cannot monetise my content so please feel free to give a donation which is found in my links. There is no pressure of course but it helps me a lot. Thank you!

Lyrics:
I don’t know why I stay
I ain’t got much to live for anyway
And if I decided to fade away
Those ancient seasons will continue to change

I would sing about the good old days
When I was a child and life was a game
I ain’t been happy in decades
I think I’ll rush into the rings of the bay
 
Someone, somewhere will open up that gate
Into Elysium or eternal flame
I will love and I will hate
And if that’s just the way it goes, well then that’s just the way

I always tried my best to be good
But that doesn’t always work out like it should
Lost in translation and lost in the flood
 Lost to the stars that burn above 

Someone, somewhere will open up that gate
Into Elysium or eternal flame
I will love and I will hate
And if that’s just the way it goes, well then that’s just the way

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

I will love and I will hate
And if that’s just the way it goes, well then that’s just the way

Into Elysium

My new single ‘Wildfires’. I wanted this one to have a bit more of a contemporary feel so I added a more obvious trap beat. Please listen all the way through to hear the full crescendo of the song, it’s worth it I promise. I like the way it came out; it’s melancholic but has a vaguely uplifting feel to it because of the drum loop. As always, I wrote, recorded, mixed and produced this all myself with my acoustic guitar, my 80s synth and some electronic drum loops. This song is about a type of drink, see if you can guess which one. I also made a video for this which you can check out on my YouTube channel. The link is on my profile. Please let me know what you think, I am very grateful for any feedback you may have. And thank you for your continued support. I don’t get paid for any of this but just knowing people enjoy it is payment enough for me. <3

Lyrics:
I sail down the poison river
Where sloe blackthorn does glide
Down where he resides
Plymouth dry, feels like paradise

I will drown in the delights of juniper 
Till I see the golden lights up high
Drink his venom
London dry, feels like Heaven 

Cos I’ve got black clouds in the skies of my mind
Yeah I’ve got wildfires around everything I like

Hallelujah 
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

I lie in the stupor of all my nights
Thinking about his bright light
My love, my Old Tom
Navy dry, feels like Zion

Cos I’ve got black clouds in the skies of my mind
Yeah I’ve got wildfires around everything I like

Hallelujah 
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

La la la I love you
La la la I love you
La la la I love you Old Tom 

Hallelujah 
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Cos I’ve got black clouds in the skies of my mind
Yeah I’ve got wildfires around everything I like

Hallelujah 
Hallelujah
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Wildfires

My new song dark indie pop song, ‘The Land of Mist and Snow’, featuring fingerstyle guitar, layered vocals, gentle piano and a looped beat track. As usual, I made this with only two instruments, my acoustic guitar and my 80s synthesiser. The lyrics are actually based on a poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ about a cursed group of mariners. It’s a poem I hated as a student but I recently re-read it and knew I wanted to write a song about it. I recommend reading the poem, it’s long but it’s good. I wrote it loosely from the point of the view of the protagonist who is the only one left alive. I also made a video to go along with this video which is available on my YouTube channel. It contains vintage footage of ships. I hope you enjoy this new single, let me know in the comments. 
Rosa x

Lyrics:
I helm sable tides
Under blood red skies
With waves of monstrous size
That burn like ghosts in my eyes

Oh Captain, I’m sick of it
I saw him, the grin of Old Nick
The cackling of the moon hornèd
I’m drowning in pain and anguish

The sails, the masts are rotten
The pale green earth forgotten
The dead men lying sodden
The rime that was begotten

Oh Captain, I’m sick of it
I saw him, the grin of Old Nick
The cackling of the moon hornèd
I’m drowning in pain and anguish

Alone, alone, all alone
And never a saint took pity on
Alone, alone, all alone
And never a saint took pity on

Oh Captain, I’m sick of it
I saw him, the grin of Old Nick
The cackling of the moon hornèd
I’m drowning in pain and anguish

The Land Of Mist And Snow

My new song ‘Jarvis Valley’, a melancholic folk pop song loosely based on the works of Dylan Thomas. I recorded this at home and all composition, instrumentation, recording and mixing were done entirely by myself with an acoustic guitar, an 80s synth and a looped beat track. The song features fingerstyle guitar, layered vocals and crescendos into a lighter, more dream-like sound at the final chorus. ‘Jarvis Valley’ is a fantasy place Thomas mentions in a lot of his work. He usually presents it as the place we go after death. I like to think such a place exists. I also reference some of the places I have lived myself and the song represents some of the memories that I have there. I often feel that childhood memories have a dreamy paradisal afterlife quality about them. Jarvis Valley, for me, represents both childhood and death and the happiness that comes with both. I hope you enjoy! 😊

Lyrics:
I know of tales from the valley
Yeah, I’ve heard a prospect of the sea
A map of true love that’s drawn within
The fields that dance green and golden

Yeah, I know this place
I’ve been here before
Yes, I know his face
He took me from the war

I too grew up in declivities
The old ones in White Rose County
The land of the ancient queens and kings
Forgotten by years of industry

Yeah, I’ve known this place
I’ve lived here before
Yes, I’ve known his face
He brought me to the shore

Take my hand and run with me
Through green and gold eternity
Into Jarvis Valley
Into Jarvis Valley

Old Callaghan knows everyone
He watches us dance and sing our song
I swear I have seen him play along
In my dreams where I am dead and gone

Yeah, I’ll know this place
I will call it all my own
Yes, I know his face
He’ll bring me to my throne

Take my hand and run with me
Through green and gold eternity
Into Jarvis Valley
Into Jarvis Valley

Take my hand and run with me
Through green and gold eternity
Into Jarvis Valley
Into Jarvis Valley

Into Jarvis Valley
Into Jarvis Valley

Jarvis Valley

My new song ‘Under the Oak’; a very slow, dreamy ballad with minimal production. I made this with just two instruments, my guitar and my 80s keyboard. I have always loved soft, slow jazz beats with brushes and I was able to find one online that I have used here too. I wanted this song to be slow and soft because it is really an ode to nature. I always think that humans often make the mistake of thinking that we are separate from nature when we are actually part of it and we need to make time to appreciate that. Let’s face it, the world is a lot sometimes and this song is about those moments when you find peace in doing something as simple as sitting under an oak tree. Also, I couldn’t get rid of those slight scratchy noises for the life of me, I hope they are not too annoying. I have no training in music production so please forgive haha XD.

Lyrics;
Under the oak
That’s where I go
When I feel alone
And harken the soul
That gently unfolds
Upon its green throne

Under the oak
Yeah, under the oak

Under the oak
Where nothing’s untold
There’s tales of long, long ago
Like how those old folk
By fire and smoke
Would sing, dance and joke

Under the oak
Yeah, under the oak 

Oh, life is Heaven
Oh, when I’m sitting

Under the oak
That’s where I go
When I feel alone
And harken the soul
That gently unfolds
Mounted on its green throne

Under the oak
Yeah, under the oak 

Oh, life is Heaven
Oh, when I’m sitting

Under the oak
Yeah, under the oak
Under the oak
Yeah, under the oak

Under The Oak

My new single ‘Birdsong’. This track was made entirely by myself using my acoustic guitar, an 80s synth and a looped drum track that I found online. It is slow and melancholic at first but becomes heavier and upbeat at the chorus. I recommend listening through to the end as the song gradually crescendos at the final chorus. Any musician knows this but it is amazing how songs develop during the writing (and recording) process. This song was originally gonna be a country, fingerstyle ballad but I’m glad I changed it to this more melancholic dream folk sound. It is about the death of a loved one and how they are imagined to be reincarnated as a bird. Kinda cheesy but oh well haha XD. I also made a music video for this which is available on my YouTube channel (link on my profile). I hope you enjoy and thanks for listening!

Lyrics:
The winter’s long, the winter is so long
Three dark years since he was taken
And now my water is poison
And now my lifeblood is frozen

And though I’ve been sorely forsaken
Trapped, tormented and imprisoned
I like to think he has risen
To eternal chorus high in the Heavens, above

He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong

When all else here is long dead and gone
I know we will not be forgotten
The birds, the birds, the birds, the Holy ones
The birds, the birds, the birds live on and on, and on

He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong

He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong
He sings along to birdsong

Birdsong

My new gothic dream folk track ‘I See the Dead’. I made this song entirely myself using an acoustic guitar and an 80s synthesiser. It’s rather on the dark side lyrically and so I wanted to add some brightness with the flutes and gentle guitar strumming. As is often the case with my songs, it starts soft and gentle and gradually crescendos into a louder sound near the end. This was one of those tracks that was originally much more heavily produced and was only improved by taking stuff out. I have a tendency to keep adding if I don’t like the sound while recording and I am learning that, sometimes, improvements are made by stripping it down. I also made a video for this track using vintage, homemade footage from the 30s which is available on my YouTube channel (link on my profile). Please leave me any feedback you have.

Lyrics:
I don’t wanna be
I’ll dive into the sea
And let it take me

Lay down with me
In the place of gold and green
I’ll tell you what I see

I see the dead written in my eyes
And I will be led to their kingdom high
Oh
I bid you good night

One day, I’ll be free
I’ll run into eternity
And give the earth my skin

I see the dead written in my eyes
And I will be led to their kingdom high
Oh
I bid you good night

I see the dead written in my eyes
And I will be led to their kingdom high
Oh
I bid you good night

I see the dead written in my eyes
And I will be led to their kingdom high
Oh
I bid you good night

I See The Dead

My new track ‘When it Rains’; a melancholic folk pop track featuring themes of death, loss and loneliness. This was recorded using just two instruments, my acoustic guitar and 80s synthesiser and a drum track. It features heavy layered vocals and harmonies and crescendos into the final chorus. As always, every aspect of this song was produced by myself; the writing, the recording and the mixing. I also made a music video for this song available on YouTube (Rosa Lavenne). I’m never entirely sure how to label the genre of my music because, despite being a musician, I’m by no means an expert on different genres so I generally just describe it as dark folk pop. If you have any other ideas as to the specific genre, I would be happy to know as promoting my music often means having to give a label (something which goes against all my instincts lol). Anyway, I hope you enjoy. 😊

Lyrics:
Beyond the water
The sky, the clouds and the ether 
Lives a man that I once took by the hand

The sun was covered in cobwebs
Almost like God had forgotten
To light the fire and life that lives within

I dig my grave with every breath that I take 
The pain of knowing that I won’t see him again
He’s just a ghost with a name
I say, when it rains 

I will wait for the summer
When my earthly days are over
And I will run into Elysium

I dig my grave with every breath that I take 
The pain of knowing that I won’t see him again
He’s just a ghost with a name
I say, when it rains 

Oh, dark day
Oh, dark day
I dig my grave with every breath that I take 
The pain of knowing that I won’t see him again
He’s just a ghost with a name
I say, when it rains

When It Rains

My new dreamy folk track ‘Boat Club’. As per usual, I made everything about this track myself; composition, recording and mixing. I wanted the production to be reasonably minimal. I have a tendency to want to keep throwing things at a track but sometimes you have to let the instruments speak for themselves. As with all my tracks, this was recorded using an acoustic guitar, an 80s synth and a drum track from online. I think the lyrics speak for themselves on this one and I wanted to have a soft, slow production to match. Though the subject is melancholic, I think the louder, bolder instrumentation in the final chorus lifts the mood somewhat. I’ve been trying to resist the urge to add too much vocal layering in the last couple of tracks because I have found that I’ve been relying on that to add atmosphere and wanted to experiment with just one harmony and main vocal. Please let me know what you think.

Lyrics:
I, I wish I could hold you
And you, I wish you’d allow me to
I can’t sleep 
And I can’t dream
I can’t sleep 
And I can’t dream

Throw me onto the pyre
For she is your true desire
It kills me
But I love you
It kills me
But I love you

Ooh
Ooh
You make me so crazy
You make me so wild
You make me so crazy
You make me so wild

You, I wish that you loved me
But I, want you to be happy
I’ll be at the boat club
That’s where I’ll be
I’ll be at the boat club
If ever you need me
Ooh
Ooh
You make me so crazy
You make me so wild
You make me so crazy
You make me so wild

Ooh
Ooh
You make me so crazy
You make me so wild
You make me so crazy
You make me so wild

Boat Club

My new track ‘Camellia Sinensis’, written, recorded and produced by myself. I advise listening all the way through as the song crescendos into the final chorus. I made this song using just two instruments; my acoustic guitar and my 80s synth which has a lot of different instrumental sounds. I also used a looped beat track. It shares similar themes that are found throughout my discography. For my last couple of tracks, I experimented with a single vocal track and although I want to keep doing that as I know some of you think it sounds better, I though this track suited vocal layering. Please let me know what you think of the track and feel free to check out the music video I made for it too. It features animated footage from polish cartoonist Witold Giersz. Thank you so much!

The moonlight is a silver snake
Slithering across the dark waves
Lord knows it’s the only light that I crave, these days
I once lived in the city
Holy north, that’s where I met him
Sweet and hot like blood orange and whisky, whisky

Camelia sinensis
To brighten my senses
I can’t shake the darkness
My misery is endless

Memory, memory

Carmichael lived up in
His grey high-rise heaven
Pint to pint was how he lived in those days, oh my man
Now he’s just some old flame
Never really could be tamed
He didn’t have a penny to his name, what a shame

Camelia sinensis
To brighten his senses
He couldn’t shake the darkness
His misery was endless

Memory, memory, memory, memory

Camelia sinensis
To brighten our senses
We can’t shake the darkness
Our misery is endless
Memory, memory, memory, memory
Memory, memory, memory, memory

Camellia Sinensis

My new track ‘Shy’. This song was written, recorded and produced by myself using my acoustic guitar and an 80s synthesiser. It is one of my most minimally produced tracks (at least until the final chorus). I often tend to throw in any extra harmonies and elements that I can at my song but this one just kept rejecting them. Sometimes it’s nice just to let the melody speak for itself but it can be kind of scary from a production point of view as there is nowhere to hide. A good portion of this song is just me and my guitar which, despite classifying myself as a folk singer, is actually quite rare in my discography. I really hope it works and I hope you enjoy it. I also made a video for this featuring vintage clips of European cities on my YouTube channel, please go check it out!

Lyrics:
Wayward children
This is your sweet night
Silver fire 
Bathes you in her light

I sew letters into the wind
Golden threads and pink ribbons

Careless lovers
Impious appetites
Surrender themselves 
To the hot, ruby night

I sew sadness into the skies
Virgin white and cerulean cries 

Oh Why 
Am I so shy?
I wish to die
Most every night

Oh Why
Am I so shy?
I wish to die
Most every night

He was the prince of
Every girl’s bedroom
But his cold disregard
Just sent me to my tomb

So I sew holy tapestries
Of blood red silk and cherry strings

Oh Why 
Am I so shy?
I wish to die
Most every night

Oh Why
Am I so shy?
I wish to die
Most every night

Oh Why 
Am I so shy?
I wish to die
Most every night

Oh Why
Am I so shy?
I wish to die
Most every night

My new track ‘Sainte-Chapelle’; written, recorded and produced by myself. This track is a dreamy folk track and I made it using my acoustic guitar and 80s synth keyboard. The French chorus was originally going to be a backing vocal but I quickly realised that it sounded better on its own and so made it the main chorus. As with a lot of my songs, I originally plan on making them very minimal in terms of production but I always end up throwing much more than intended at them. However, I really tried to hold back with this one and purposefully made the production quite simple; just adding a few synths on the final chorus. For those who don’t know, the Sainte-Chapelle is a gothic-style chapel in Paris that was commissioned by Louise IX as his personal place of worship and it got me thinking about the contrast between the grandeur of these medieval cathedrals and the poverty of the surrounding cities. Even with these places of immense beauty, the misery of the people cannot be hidden. Not a political or religious message, I just find these kinds of things interesting. I studied it in university cos I am a huge nerd lol. I hope you enjoy.

Lyrics:
Dive from Heaven, golden waterfalls
Sing the light of Christ on these sacred walls
But what blood was spilled in His holy wars?
I guess beauty don’t conceal our Earthly chores

À la Sainte-Chapelle, je prie le Christ
À la Sainte-Chapelle, je prie le Christ

An amethyst jewel of the ancient city
A guardian sky, stars and saintly kings
But what of Paris and its wicked sins?
I guess beauty don’t conceal what lies within

À la Sainte-Chapelle, je prie le Christ
À la Sainte-Chapelle, je prie le Christ
Ooh

Sainte-Chapelle

My new song ‘XpressWay’. As per usual, I wrote, recorded and produced this song myself using my acoustic guitar, an 80s keyboard and a drum beat from the internet. It is a slow alternative folk and I feel like it would be a great driving track for summer. The process of making this song wasn’t as smooth as it usually is for me. In fact, I previously recorded this song with an entirely different production. The original was a soft synth track that was a lot more ambient. However, I didn’t think that suited the track when I listened back a few days after so I scrapped it and re-did the production. Any song writer/producer knows the feeling of thinking the song is going to be one thing but it chooses to be something else and you just have to go along with it. It sounds silly to say that the song chooses what it wants to be but that really is the case. This track is available on all major streaming platforms and I made a music video for it on my YouTube channel which I hope you can check out. 

Lyrics:
Driving the Expressway 
Rolling on the golden waves
Come to meet his ferry
It came in at 8am

My man
My man
My man

There was a rosy haze
That filled up all my days with him
Sweet beauty and grace 
All written in his face like a hymn

I sing
I sing
I sing

Those constellations in his eyes
Show all his pain and paradise
Those constellations in his eyes
Show all his pain and paradise

He made me see colour
During my most dull of days
For I’m a failed singer
He was my one to claim to fame

Oh damn
Oh damn
Oh damn

And when the black of night bled
All over the amber day
We drove the Expressway
And he got the ferry again

He went away
He went away
He went away

Those constellations in his eyes
Show all his pain and paradise
Those constellations in his eyes
Show all his pain and paradise

Those constellations in his eyes
Show all his pain and paradise
Those constellations in his eyes
Show all his pain

XpressWay

My new song ‘Cistercian Grey’. This is a dreamy alternative folk track that I made with my acoustic guitar, an 80s synth keyboard (and a drum beat from the internet). I wrote, recorded and produced this track myself I hope you like it. Lately, I have been really enjoying making tracks that are a bit softer with less heavy production to really bring out the melodies and instrumentation. It’s funny, as I get more knowledgeable about production and more confident in my writing and recording, I actually want to add less elements to my songs; I guess it’s because I don’t feel the need to hide anything with lots of production and heavy sounds. Also, this gentle melody just didn’t require lots of other elements. Lyrically, it has lots of similar themes to many of my other songs; kinda dark and melancholic. Many of my new releases contain lyrics and metaphors that have been floating around in my head for years and this song is no exception. I hope you enjoy!

Lyrics:
Oh, once Cistercian grey
Smothered everything
It howled and bayed
But now that’s all gone away
Seasons they do change
Like crystal tidal waves

Shine your light if you may
Won’t turn the night into day
Still if you abide within me
We’ll get there by foul or folly

For you, boy it’s always you
That I turn to
Your Chartres blue
All misery you will undo
I know it is true
Like Christ born anew

Reach your hands in devotion
Will never placate the ocean
Still we take our idle notions
And bound down the path we have chosen

As sure as green grass grows
As sure as high winds blow
I will with you go
In the rich black of the crows

And pure white of the snow
The sweetness of the rose

The night traffic on the road
Like a stream of blood and gold
Only Heaven knows
He’s a true sight to behold
Bright like marigolds
Handsome, fair and bold

Down in the ashen valley
That is where you will find me
By the gated cemetery
Clutching at memories of him

As sure as green grass grows
As sure as high winds blow
I will with you go
In the rich black of the crows
And pure white of the snow
The sweetness of the rose

Yeah as sure as green grass grows
As sure as high winds blow
I will with you go
In the rich black of the crows
And pure white of the snow
The sweetness of the rose

Cistercian Grey

My new track ‘Poison Waterfalls’. A dreamy folk track that I made myself with my acoustic guitar, an 80s keyboard and a drum track from online. If you have been following my releases lately, you may have noticed that my productions have been a lot softer. This hasn’t been a conscious decision; I have just noticed it recently and I think it’s interesting how creativity evolves over time. I think I am just a bit more confident in my melody writing and don’t feel the need to hide it under more intricate production. This song is particularly soft in its soundscape (aside from the drums in the final chorus). I wanted a nostalgic feel and theme with the track which I hopefully achieved. I also made a video for the track featuring vintage home footage which definitely adds to the themes so give that a watch too! It’s on my YouTube channel (Rosa Lavenne). Let me know what you think!

Lyrics:
Oh when I get home
He will make sure I’m not alone
Cuts me to the bone
Sits me down on my (Bombay) Sapphire throne

Poison waterfalls
Poison waterfalls
Oh my weary soul (lives under)
Poison waterfalls

He is dry and bitter
But he is also sweet; his hues aglitter
You know I’m a heavy hitter
But he brings me right down; he’s a great listerner 

Poison waterfalls
Poison waterfalls
Oh my weary soul (lives under)
Poison waterfalls

He shines the light of memory
Upon all my childhood dreams
He shines the light of memory
Upon all my childhood dreams, dreams

Violet, lavender
Lemon, orange and juniper
Frankinscence and myrrh
Oh my love, my sweetest jenever

Poison waterfalls
Poison waterfalls
Oh my weary soul (lives under)
Poison waterfalls

He shines the light of memory
Upon all my childhood dreams
He shines the light of memory
Upon all my childhood dreams

He shines the light of memory
Upon all my childhood dreams
He shines the light of memory
Upon all my childhood dreams, dreams

Oh when I get home
He will make sure I’m not alone
Cuts me to the bone
Sits me down on my (Bombay) Sapphire throne
I’m gonna go

Poison Waterfalls

My new track ‘Pleasure Beach’, written, recorded and produced by myself. As per always, I made this track using my acoustic guitar, an 80s keyboard synth and a drum track from online. I always like to leave my songs completely open to interpretation but I read somewhere that musicians should exampling meanings as it increases engagement (or something like that) so I would say that this song is about the idea of decay and loss. I have always been interested in tourist attractions that have gone past their hay day; places that once had an image of greatness and have since declined in popularity. For those unaware, Blackpool Pleasure Beach is a seaside resort that I used to visit as a kid. It may seem like a strange this to write a song about but the history of places is something that really interests me lol. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this track!

Lyrics:
Candy floss, hard rock on the pier by the Pleasure Beach
Ghostly laughter of children through the centuries

We’re all decaying quietly
We’re all decaying quietly
We’re all decaying quielty
In a sad northern town like this

The sea is the only one who holds me
Maybe I should breathe it in
Let the water take me
Away from all my misery

By these bright lights of the Pleasure Beach
Misery by these bright lights of the Pleasure Beach

Haunting arcade music fills these blackened streets
Tower of illuminations with its memories

We’re all decaying quietly
We’re all decaying quietly
We’re all decaying quielty
In a sad northern town like this

The sea is the only one who holds me
Maybe I should breathe it in
Let the water take me
Away from all my misery

By these bright lights of the Pleasure Beach
Misery by these bright lights of the Pleasure Beach

Da da da 
Da da da da
Da da da 
Da da da da

The sea is the only one who holds me
Maybe I should breathe it in
Let the water take me
Away from all my misery

The sea is the only one who holds me
Maybe I should breathe it in
Let the water take me
Away from all my misery

Pleasure Beach

My new song ‘Copper Flames’. This track was written, recorded and produced entirely by myself using an acoustic guitar and an 80s synth (as well as pre-recorded drum track). It’s a slow and melancholic ballad (like most of my songs) with narrative lyrics. I am very much inspired by the dark and sad lyrics commonly found in traditional European folk and I think that translates here. I will leave the lyrical interpretation to you. I also made a music video to this that is available on my YouTube channel (see the links on my profile). Anyway, let me know what you think. I have been making music for a few years now and because it is just me involved with this project, I am constantly learning so feedback is welcome. Please enjoy!

Lyrics:
The sun painted strips of yellow
On her skin, dappled like petals
In golden rings, green-lit shadows
In the spring, a westerly wind blows

The years, they go on and on
The years, they go on and on
The years, they go on and on
The years

A handsome man with eyes like copper flames
From a foreign land, no one knew his name
Saw her stand under gilded shade
And took her hand right up to his face

The years, they go on and on
The years, they go on and on
The years, they go on and on
The years

Her open wound was an open letter
To those who knew, she’d never get better
Her open wound was an open letter
To those who knew, she’d never get better

Flecks of gold splashed the dark night
In stories told by the candle light
That she turned cold, a body of icy white
Alas behold, no trace of him by her side
The years, they go on and on
The years, they go on and on
The years, they go on and on
The years

Her open wound was an open letter
To those who knew, she’d never get better
Her open wound was an open letter
To those who knew, she’d never get better

Copper Flames

My new song ‘We Could Shake Stars From the Sky’. I made this track entirely myself (aside from the drums) using my acoustic guitar and an 80s synthesiser. The track has a dark, ambient production. I love the sound of pipe organs which are featured here and I never understand why more musicians and producers don’t use them. I hope you enjoy the track!

Epiphany

My new song. I made this myself using an acoustic guitar and an 80s synth keyboard. I hope you enjoy! 😊

Lyrics:
He was like a diamond
In the cylinder of a gun
His body was a pure white flame
And shot off when I said his name

Cheers to the small-town girls
In necklaces of plastic pearls
Who answer to nobody 
Except what’s only in their dreams

What do you know?
Oh, what do you know?
What do you know?
Oh, what do you know?

You can’t break a player’s heart
He’ll only have you fall apart
It’s something that I never knew
It’s something that I never needed to

Carmichael was lost in time
Erased it all with Buckfast wine
That was way before I left him
Sometimes I think I regret it

What do you know?
Oh, what do you know?
What do you know?
Oh, what do you know?

So, my heart is in a scrapyard
I guess that is where I belong
To marry in a dress of red
You will only wish that you were dead

All the blood that was once shed
Put out all the fires in my bed
Would only God and his true son 
Bless the world with non-existence?

What do you know?
Oh, what do you know?
What do you know?
Oh, what do you know?
What do you know?
Oh, what do you know?
What do you know?
Oh, what do you know?

He was like a diamond
In the cylinder of a gun
His body was a pure white flame
And shot off when I said his name

Cheers to the small-town girls
In necklaces of plastic pearls
Who answer to nobody 
Except what’s only in their dreams

What Do You Know?

A song I wrote. I made this using my acoustic guitar and an 80s synth keyboard. I hope you enjoy!

Lyrics:
A sight, his black hair of glimmering midnight
I take flight to Heaven when I look into his eyes

His fire keeps setting my sad soul alight
And I cry cos he’ll never know how I burn bright

My love, he is everything that I’ve dreamed of
The touch of his phantom hands is all I think of

But it’s not enough, I need him to be madly in love
Cos I’m done with believing I’m never enough

To be free, would that mean I would just have to end it?
You see, I don’t know how much more I can bear it?
For he, he’s become the reason that my heart beats
My dreams mean nothing if he cannot be with me

A sight, his black hair of glimmering midnight
I take flight to Heaven when I look into his eyes

Alexandria

This song is written about the Christian martyr Saint Faith. I wrote, recorded and produced this song entirely about myself.  I hope you enjoy!

Lyrics:
My virginal spirit was wed
To where the pious only tread
A lecherous furnace burning red
To whom my pure white loins were fed

But fire, turn my earthly skin into gold
Pyre, set me free from my mortal hold
Brighten my reliquary with gem stones
Liars, you’ll never take me from Christ’s home

I dance on the martyr’s holy stage
And scriptures upon the blessed page
My gilded body for to gaze
Where chorus of music always plays

But fire, turn my earthly skin into gold
Pyre, set me free from my mortal hold
Brighten my reliquary with gem stones
Liars, you’ll never take me from Christ’s home

Fire, turn my earthly skin into gold
Pyre, set me free from my mortal hold
Brighten my reliquary with gem stones
Liars, you’ll never take me from Christ’s home

Fire, turn my earthly skin into gold
Pyre, set me free from my mortal hold
Brighten my reliquary with gem stones
Liars, you’ll never take me from Christ’s home

Saint Faith

My new song 'Darkness Was My Name'. This song is about lost love. It was written, recorded and produced by myself. I hope you enjoy!

Lyrics:
We loved in a time and place
Gone but never erased
Fire could crack a holy stone in two
Water could mould its rugged edges smooth

So I cast my lonely piece
Into the howling sea
My palms were covered in thick blood
That’s what holding onto lost love does

But curse the rain
For washing off my pain
Penance is gained 
But darkness was my name

But once every blue moon
A memory comes to
Drop a single sweet and venom kiss
On my red and lonesome lips

A fluttering of its wings
Causes the air to sing
Sing some forgotten ancient tune
A tune that I would only sing for you

But curse the rain
For washing off my pain
Penance is gained 
But darkness was my name

Curse the rain
For washing off my pain
Penance is gained 
But darkness was my name

Penance is gained 
But darkness was my name

Darkness Was My Name

A song I made myself!

Lyrics:
Hands made of ochre
Painting all over
Scriptures of colour
Making me smoulder

All through these late nights
Late nights
Late nights
Late nights in love

Mexican summer
Burning hot lover
A means to discover
The beauty and wonder

In his deep black eyes
Black eyes
Black eyes
Black eyes in love

Teotihuacan
Teotihuacana
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacana

A dahlia sunset
Lighting up our bed
With petals of blood red
Nothing’s to be said

All though these late night
Late nights
Late nights
Late nights in love

With hands of sienna
He traced my embers
Loving and tender
I still remember

The depths of his black eyes
Black eyes
Black eyes
Black eyes in love

Teotihuacan
Teotihuacana
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacana

Teotihuacan
Teotihuacana
Teotihuacan
Teotihuacana

Teotihuacan

My new track 'Pietà Waltz'. A soft, gentle folk track that I made entirely by myself. My music lately has been leaning a little softer than usual. I am learning that minimal production can heighten the melancholic emotion of a song. It is easy to hide behind heavy production but on this track, I wanted to let the simple melody come through. Every aspect of this song was recorded by myself aside from the drums. I hope you enjoy!

Lyrics:
Come all of ye weary
Broken and numb
Dance merry and cheery
Sing a little song

Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lie-a
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lum
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lie-a
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lum

Today will be your last day
On this rotten earth
But don’t you be unhappy
Sing with triumph and mirth

Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lie-a
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lum
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lie-a
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lum

And so your time is now done
You will always be free
Et sic in infinutum 
My children, rejoice and sing

Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lie-a
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lum
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lie-a
Lay-a-lie-a-lay-a-lum

Pietà Waltz

My sweet love song 'God Always Knows'. The lyrics of this song are based on a conversation between a man and a woman. I hope yo enjoy!

Lyrics:

I loved him with the redness of flesh
Carried his name on my breath
And each time the sun headed west
We were one

Rose, I loved her and loved her alone
But I confess, it cuts to my bones
I had another woman at home
 It is so

He was the river of blood inside me
Poured himself into my deeps
And his love was easy and sweet
Till he’d gone

Lord, I swear I am a man of your law
I ask not for forgiveness thus more
I deserve all your earthly chores
That is sure

Ah
Ah
Ah
God always knows	

So, I am once again on my own
That’s okay, I got my soul
But yes, wherever I may roam
He’s my home

Me, I will never be able to leave
The sin of infidelity
For the love that she afforded me
Was my defeat

Ah
Ah
Ah
God always knows

Ah
Ah
Ah
God always knows

God Always Knows

My new track 'Jenever'. Written, recorded and produced by me. I hope you enjoy!

Lyrics:
This is my sea of glass
Watch how the waters crash
Flying drops of topaz
That ornament the sky of brass

For some you are the blood of Christ
For others, more like a parasite
They sleep with you on a bed of ice
And follow you to eternal night

I’ve become a crucifer
A cross of cedar’s mine to burn
But I know Heaven and I have heard
God tastes just like juniper

I wear diamonds on my lips
And I drink up their bloodied kiss
Silver stars in each sweet sip
A singing siren for my ship

For me you are the blood of Christ
I wear you like a parasite
I sleep with you on a bed of ice
And follow you to eternal night

I’ve become a crucifer
A cross of cedar’s mine to burn
But I know Heaven and I have heard
God tastes just like juniper

I’ve become a crucifer
A cross of cedar’s mine to burn
But I know Heaven and I have heard
God tastes just like juniper

I’ve become a crucifer
A cross of cedar’s mine to burn
But I know Heaven and I have heard
God tastes just like juniper

Jenever

Lyrics:

I will mourn for a man dropped down dead in the winds by want of a siege
For I fear the wandering soul, the wandering eye heaven knows what he can see
Who amongst us has not sinned?
It runs thick like the blood on golden pins
After truths hide away from all clarity
And the black trickster ego, it runs free

Oh can you hear me through the stone, the catacomb?
And oh is it enough just to be on my own?
I know, I’m the only woman who said ‘no’
But damned if I were to let him go, let him choke 

Overlooked by the stars, like the men, piercing the Theban night
I led his procession, brought the fire to the pyre, prayed, did my crime
I was nothing better than a convict
For the king, for his legions and the counterfeit
For the misery imposed by the mountains
For the men, for the brothers to protect their own skin

Antigone

My new song 'Seven Sisiter'. Inspired by the painting 'Apple Blossoms' by John Everett Millais.

Lyrics:
Clothes of satin in the Spring
Under the flowers, above the green
The youthful pleasantries
Seven sisters and me

I sit holding a silver pot
All I need is all I got
Apple blossoms in Spring
Seven sisters to bring

But oh, when he will come 
He spares but no one
The man clad in black
With a scythe on his back

A picture-perfect adolescence
Oblivious to its transience
Time pouring like tea
Seven sisters and me

But oh, when he will come 
He spares but no one
The man clad in black
With a scythe on his back

No, Lord don’t take me
I wanna stay here in my blue satin
Seven sisters braiding blossoms on the green
I don’t wanna know the end of them and I don’t wanna know the death of me

But oh, when he will come 
He spares but no one
The man clad in black
With a scythe on his back

Seven Sisters

A little gothic number I created.

Lyrics:

The black sky turned crimson
When blood leaked from the Heavens
And the flames, they got higher
Under some callous desire

The town stood in terror
At the evil endeavour
The church lay in ruins
For what was this undoing?

But that was the last time I prayed for the end
Guess I didn’t need God, no, I just needed a friend

See, I was a lonesome child
And nothing could keep my mind
From entering into Hell 
But this I could never tell

I felt like the church’s tower
Relinquished from holy power
When a message Heaven-sent
I would be rebuilt again

And that was the last time I prayed for the end
Guess I didn’t need God, no I just needed a friend 

By summer, the dark went, the nave filled with incense
And I walked to the chevet saying, ‘deliver me, amen’

And that was the last time I prayed for the end
Guess I didn’t need God, no I just needed a friend

Chartres

Lyrics:

Cold as stone lies his flesh 
'Take me down' was whispered in his final breath 
And for no one waits that illusory finger of death 
But if you're ready to go, you’re ready to go 
There is nothing I can do about that 

And she sees shadows 
Behind her eyes 
But lies make up her 
Her graceful disguise 
And for no one will she reveal her true cries 
But if you're ready to go, you're ready to go 
There is nothing I can do about that 
If you're ready to go, you're ready to go 
There is nothing I can do about that 

Oh 

And it's safe to say 
I know a man in permanent torment 
And it's safe to say 
I spend my days in his mourning 
And for no one stops the ground of the earth from a-calling 

But if you're ready to go, you're ready to go 
There is nothing I can do about that 
If you're ready to go, you're ready to go 
There is nothing I can do about that 

Oh 

If you're ready to go, you’re ready to go 
There is nothing I can do about that 
If you're ready to go, you're ready to go 
There is nothing I can do about that

Song For No One

A soft sad song I wrote about love loss with fingerstyle guitar. I used a drum sample and all instruments (apart from my guitar)were made by my Casio keyboard. I really appreciate your attention, I made all my music myself so thank you!!

Lyrics:
Three high cheers for the one
The man who weaved the thread of love undone
He lives now on his island
Far the other side of the sun

At least it seems so to me
The one he caught, he tamed and then set free
For I was never that wild
Since I lost face when I was seventeen

I truly loved him like God loves his only son
But he fled faster than a bullet from a gun
Ooo I don’t know where he’s gone
Ooo he could have been anyone

And I wonder where he hides
When he said he would sail across the tides
And I wonder what woman
Is now sleeping by his side 

I truly loved him like God loves his only son
But he fled faster than a bullet from a gun
Ooo I don’t know where he’s gone
Ooo he could have been anyone

Anyone

Clutching at the coattails of gothic folk, Rosa Lavenne delivers a dreamy sound with melancholic lyricism. Heavy on reverbed synths, as well as the folk traditions of fingerstyle guitar and melodic harmonies, mean that Rosa stands at the crossroads between tradition and modernism. The intricate fingerstyle guitar and natural vibrato of Joan Baez combined with the ethereal sadness and dreampop inclinations of Marissa Nadler is one way to describe the sound of Rosa Lavenne. Under the influence of the acoustic masters such as Leonard Cohen, Townes Van Zandt, Sandy Denny and Bob Dylan, Rosa Lavenne adds her unique twist on folk pop melancholia. 

Rosa has been played multiple times on national radio (BBC Wales) and has been featured in the British folk magazine Folk Radio UK. She has been compared to folk greats such as Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks and Sandy Denny. 

It is important to Rosa that her art is entirely her own which is why she writes, records and produces all the sounds entirely herself. She frequently sings about the loneliness and hopelessness of youth as well as heartbreak, love loss and a longing to return to the past. Like herself, Rosa’s music is introspective, pensive and, at times, pretty gothic. She hopes listeners will come and explore this world with her.

rosalavenne@gmail.com

Rosa Lavenne

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