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 ‘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 song ‘Miseria’ – a bit on the darker side. I wrote, recorded and produced this song entirely by myself using my acoustic guitar, 80s synth and looped beat track. Just a quick side note – I am aware that ‘miseria’ is not pronounced in Spanish or Italian the way I have done in the song; I had to change the pronunciation to fit the song. I have always wanted to add a Latin flavour to my songs as I think it adds to the romance, gothic style. I wanted a bit of a soft, dark Marissa Nadler-esque sound to the song with the fingerstyle guitar, flute and layered vocals. Lyrically, it’s just an exploration of themes such as loneliness, death and religion. All the usual stuff I’m pretty much always singing about lol. I hope you like this song and I would love to hear any feedback you have. Thanks so much for listening!

Lyrics:
Put me upon the old saltire
And send me down the river of fire
For I am lost, I’ve been lost my whole life
I live upon the sharp edge of a knife

The black, lonely night calls me home
And turns my warm flesh to cold, hard stone
I was once dead and I’ll be dead again
I just wish that I had made a friend 

Oh, miseria, miseria, miseria

And red blood still runs down the walls
In the transept of the cathedral
I am a feather on the breath of God
In poematis, idem quod

Oh, miseria, miseria, miseria
Miseria, miseria, miseria, miseria

Miseria

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

New song ‘Celine’ by Rosa Lavenne!
My new song ‘Celine’. As always, I wrote, recorded and produced this song myself using my acoustic guitar and an old 80s synthesiser. I wanted this song to have a more soft and simple production compared to some of my other tracks as the structure is relatively simple and I didn’t want the production to overpower the dark narrative of the lyrics. I am the kind of person that is tempted to keep adding more and more but I felt that this track simply didn’t many elements. I also made a video for this track that is on my YouTube channel (link in my profile) featuring Japanese animation if you want to check that out. Please let me know what you think of the track and, if you enjoyed it, feel free to like and share. I am an independent artist so I need all the support I can get. 😊

Lyrics:
Celine walked up to the bridge
That crossed over the estuary
“In my 21 years
I’ve known only misery”
She whispered with eyes of full of tears
As she turned to the water beneath
Celine

She knew what she had to do
So, she took off her leather shoes
She climbed up over the railing
And there she stood so still
The sound of her cries and her wailing
Would give the devil himself a chill
Celine
A chill 
Celine
It was her will

Celine jumped into the cold water
And let the deep currents pull her
She washed up on Emerald Isle
On the beach she lay
Finally, a smile
On her pretty, white face
Celine
White face
Celine
Was her name

Celine

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 song ‘The Festival’. I was going for a haunting, hypnotic, creepy, almost tribal-sounding production on this track and I hope I have achieved that. The song is about a festival and I tried to keep the lyrics purposefully vague to add to the ominous sound. It’s purposefully simple and repetitive because I wanted it to be hypnotic and cult-like. I really hope you can hear this in the track. I always really like it when something that is supposed to be happy and joyous is turned into something creepy and dark and although I didn’t want to be too on the nose with this track, I do think it’s great for Halloween season! As per usual, I composed, recorded and produced this song entirely myself (apart from the drums), and I also made a video that is available on my YouTube channel. I used an acoustic guitar, an 80s synth and a looped drum beat to make this track and I really hope you enjoyed.

Lyrics:
Come to the festival
Come to the festival
Meet our people
Meet our people

What would you give to the sacred one
What would you give to the sacred one

Dance round the maypole
Dance round the maypole
Laugh till you’re out of breath
Laugh till you’re out of breath

What would you give to the sacred one
What would you give to the sacred one

Light up the pyre
Light up the pyre
Body to the fire
Body to the fire

What would you give to the sacred one
What would you give to the sacred one

Come to the festival
Come to the festival

The Festival

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 song ‘Down the Driftwood Steps’. This song was written, recorded and produced entirely by myself using my acoustic guitar and my 80s synthesiser. I am always astonished by the variety of sounds that can be made with my synth and I have to really restrain myself from adding more and more elements. I have recently tried keeping my production as simple as possible and you might be able to hear that in my recent released. I originally wanted this track to have a country-style production because of the fingerstyle guitar but, as often happens, the song chooses what it wants to be and I have to go along with it. Any recording artist will know what I mean. My discography is generally quite melancholy so I wanted to make a somewhat happier song; something to get you through the cold winter months. I also made a music video for this song which is available on my YouTube channel (Rosa Lavenne). I hope you enjoy!

Lyrics:
Drops of silver moonlight, they will splash down on our skin
The waves, the sand, they could take the pain away from living

You know, it could be you and me, boy
You know, it could be you and me, boy

Let’s build ourselves a chamber of sand dunes and sea pink
Throw away our cares and curses, tell me what you think

You know, it could be you and me, boy
You know, it could be you and me, boy

Ooh, we’re still young and free
Ooh, we live by the sea

And let us not go gentle into that good night
There is only forever between us and the daylight

You know, it could be you and me, boy
You know, it could be you and me, boy

Ooh, we’re still young and free
Ooh, we live by the sea
Ooh, we’re still young and free
Ooh, we live by the sea

Down The Driftwood Steps

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 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 song ‘Red Ribbons’. As per usual, this track was written, recorded and produced by myself using an acoustic guitar and an electric 80s keyboard. The track is about the death of Thomas Becket; a theme I have touched upon in some other songs of mine. I understand it’s a bit of a weird theme but I have always felt very compelled by the story. I mean, come on, an archbishop was murdered in his own cathedral on the behest (allegedly) of the king. At the time, it was the most famous murder in human history (except that of Christ) and I have wanted to use the imagery of Becket’s blood as streaming red ribbons for a few years now and never found the right opportunity. As you can tell, I am extremely cool and don’t have too much time on my hands at all. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this track, let me know what you think.

Where did they place his bones?
In a crypt of Caen limestone
Or maybe a chest of gold
I guess we’ll never know

But where he died, flowers grow
A white lily and a red rose
To signify all he knows
And testify against the throne

His holy blood it pours
Red ribbons down the walls
In our proud cathedral
Red ribbons only He could sew

So say the faded manuscripts
In the funerary crypt
He continues to live
In the stone and grit

His holy blood it pours
Red ribbons down the walls
In our proud cathedral
Red ribbons only He could sew

His holy blood it pours
Red ribbons down the walls
In our proud cathedral
Red ribbons only He could sew

Red Ribbons

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 ‘I Carry a Lantern’. A folktronica track I made entirely myself using an acoustic guitar, an 80s synth and a drum track from online. 

Lyrics:
Look in my eyes and say
You don’t feel anything
I have the hands of a human being
And that surely must mean something

Oh, I need people to know
That I’m here to hold

This world was once beautiful
I don’t know what happened to it all
The land and the rivers they unfold
Maybe we were put here merely to behold

Oh, I need people to know
That I’m here to hold
I don’t want to go
Untold
I’ll be damned if I don’t 
Show my soul
I’m not good at that I know
But it’s all I’ve ever owned

Don’t think that I’m the one
To save the world from its rights and wrongs
My path is arduous and long
 But I carry a lantern in the form of song

Oh, I need people to know
That I’m here to hold
I don’t wanna go
Untold
I’ll be damned if I don’t 
Show my soul
I’m not good at that I know
But it’s all I’ve ever owned

I Carry A Lantern

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

Here is another song I made. I wrote this and recorded all parts myself, only using a nice, slow, jazzy drum beat.
For those who are new to my music, I make slow folky songs with electronic elements with a pretty gothic inclination.
I do everything myself so it is a huge help if my listeners like, comment and repost my songs :)
This song is loosely based on my time as a student in Canterbury and the death of Thomas Becket who I studied. 

Lyrics:Every day looks the same now, under grey skies 
I am well underway now in shaping my disguise
Acers line the pavements, dancing in the night
I brush past from the hillside of the days gone by

I will spend my youth in sad catharsis
Cos I’ve got nothing to do to take away the darkness
I will look out my window at the infinite city
And it will look right back and whisper stories to me

Like I was chastised, deprived when he died, when he died
I made him a saint, he saved the world from sin

I spent the night under lightning to feel the charge in the air
What should have been frightening became a wondrous affair
Like shining golden hands showing me where I am 
This crooked little city was the beacon of the land 

I was chastised, deprived when he died, when he died
I made him a saint, he saved the world from sin

Yeah

Go look past the acers, the greyness to the faces
Go look past the acers, the greyness to the places 

From sin

Saint

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

My new track, ‘Indigo Sea’. It’s a slow, melancholy song with a soft fingerstyle guitar. I was aiming for something that sounded a bit nostalgic and dreamy. I made a music video for this song featuring old vintage clips too which is on YouTube. It is surprising how much you can do with only 2 instruments and a sampled drum beat. This song was recorded in one day with my mic, my guitar and my 1980s keyboard. Everything but my voice, the guitar and the rhythm was recorded on my keyboard. I learnt this guitar fingerpicking style from covering Bob Dylan’s song ‘Boots of Spanish Leather’. I think they fit the chords well. Also, the continuation of the drumbeat was inspired by Lana Del Rey’s song ‘Chemtrails Over the Country Club’. I love it when I can find direct sonic inspirations from other tracks, even if it is a small detail. The lyrics to this song are pretty dark but I think that fits the sound of the track. Themes of sadness and the sea are pretty typical of my music, I like to think this track would be perfect for walking on the beach alone in a storm haha. 

Lyrics:There’s a cliff by the indigo sea
Where I drop all my misery
I watch the silver tides and cry out to the sky, I cry

Oh everlasting one
All hope of true love is gone
Will I be happy
In your cold indigo sea

And diamond moons hang from a jet black sky
And chime in the winds that blow soft up high
I live in moans and sighs, await my time to die, to die

Oh everlasting one
All hope of true love is gone
Will I be happy
In your cold indigo sea

Indigo Sea

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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