In Episode 2, Lucy is joined by Martin, Louis and Phil from the Distant Voices community, to chat about what happens in a Vox songwriting session, and about how songs might hold potential to work as 'problem-solving devices'. We'll hear tracks that express complex themes of protest, solidarity, survival and care, featuring co-writers Emma, Ashley, Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow), Phil Crockett Thomas, Martin, Ross Clark (Fiskur), Tracey and Claire McKay (Martha Ffion). We'll also be joined by guest listeners Martin and Pauline, to reflect on an exclusive song from the Distant Voices archive. As we continue our exploration of the Art of Bridging, this episode considers whether songs and the stories they tell can function as stepping stones that might aid the journey of re-entry.

The Art Of Bridging Episode 2: The Stepping Stones

“Two missed calls from Vicky was inspired by notifications on my phone for a website that I stumbled upon…and when I met my current partner she noticed they kept appearing on my calendar saying I had ‘two missed calls from Vicky’, I obviously had nobody with that name in my list of contacts, and it was quickly and promptly removed! 
So the inspiration came from that. My integrity was well intact but if you’re out there somewhere Vicky this song is for you ❤️” - Pat 

The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 
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On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

PAPER PLANES: VOLUME 1

2 Missed Calls from Vicky by Pat

"Riptide is about my struggle with alcohol and how you can get caught up in something that you don’t even realise is dangerous until it’s too late. It was inspired by Golden Brown by The Stranglers both in the way it sounds and by the message in the lyrics” - Tam     
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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

Riptide by Tam with Louis

“The song started with a writing exercise- I formulated individual song lines that me and Louise put together into a song. It is a song about gratitude to the little moments” - Stephen   
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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

Setting Sun by Stephen with Louise

“‘Homegrown’ is a song about encounters at an agricultural fair, being welcomed by its country town characters. Local heritage is preserved in prize-winning rose blooms, town halls with floorboards and jam stalls, and wood-carving skills passed down the generations. Originally inspired by visiting agricultural fairs in the sun and dust of the Australian countryside, this song conveys an endearing respect for those who grow the food that spreads our tables.” - Hannah 
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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

Homegrown by Hannah with Claire

“It’s easy to be disappointed about what we’ve lost but this song is a celebration of what was.” 'The Girly Whirlies’ (as they named themselves) met weekly between September and December at our space in the Gallowgate and together decided to write an upbeat song about the history of the area… We started talking about all the strong women who were a big part of its history – such as Margaret McIver. We spoke about how the area has changed and decided that doing some photography to go with the song would be a good way to rediscover it. Going out in the pouring rain and taking photos, talking to shopkeepers and locals, we found a sense of community was still present. People regaled us with stories about the buildings, and the history of the area and were very generous with their time.” - The Girly Whirlies 
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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

The Barras Boogie by the Girly Whirlies

“I think ‘Half-lies’ is about the relationships between identity and belonging. It started in a writing exercise that Chris led at Unbound a couple of months ago. We were working on the themes of ‘heritage’ and ‘superstition’. One of the pictures that Chris used to prompt song ideas reminded me of my (recently demolished) high school. That stimulated a rambling bit of writing about how, in the crucible of high school, where we’re all trying desperately to fit in, we have to choose what parts of our heritage to reveal and what parts to conceal. What might expose us to rejection and ridicule, and what might make us OK, or even admirable? It’s all there in the first line really: ‘I knew where I came from, not where I belonged, and I sensed the danger of writing that wrong’. Looking back at that time in life from this distance (40 years later), it strikes me how strangely significant that process is in shaping who we become, for better and/or worse.” – Fergus 

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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

Half-lies by Fergus

“Ba ba baby song is about dreams u have when u are in love with the man u have been thinking of 24/7” - Lynne 

“Lynne and I found a quiet corner together one night at Unbound and the song came together really quickly. She's so expressive when she sings - we had a lot of fun recording it. Our friend Tom came and played some lovely Clarinet and Keys licks to add to the 60s style backing vocals.” Louis 
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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

Dreams (Come Back B-B-Baby)by Lynne with Louis

"The song was inspired by a long-term relationship I’d had. The inspiration was my past. Looking back to the early years but appreciating the present ones as well. I managed to sit and find some chords at home.  I played a guitar riff I had and started penning some lyrics and then I found a thread- my past relationship- and wrote about that." – Andy 

__________________________________________________________

The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

Distant Memories by Andy

“This song was inspired by a conversation I had with a man who had made mistakes in his life that had cost him dearly. In particular, he was struggling with being denied the chance to move on in his life due to the unforgiving nature of social media. He spoke about how he had been reduced to the point whereby he wanted be forgotten and to be allowed the right to disappear and become invisible. Given that most of us hope to share our lives with the people we know and love, I was struck by the realisation that not everyone wants to be remembered.” – Gordon 

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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

The Right to be Forgotten by Gordon

“I wrote this song after watching the ‘Reclaiming Amy’ documentary on BBC 2 on the tenth anniversary of Amy Winehouse’s death. I was touched and moved at how her stardom eventually suffocated her and by the constant attention from the press into her personal life. There’s still lots of debate about her life and its demise and who’s to blame but I’d rather remember her for the talent she was.  This song was to give a helping hand but unfortunately it was too late.” – Pat 

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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

Amy by Pat with Louis

"This group song was inspired by the theme of ‘Colours’. It is about nurturing and looking after the people we love, told through the story of a garden. We talked about the cycle of life – where it starts and where it ends. In the beginning we are seeds and we grow. We also reminisced about childhood games and memories, friendships and freedom. The chorus is about people that are important to us but are no longer with us – they are the jewels in the sky." – Tomorrow’s Women 

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The ‘Paper Planes’ project was a monthly release showcasing songs written across Vox Liminis projects. 

On the last Friday of every month a selection of new songs created through our sessions, in prisons and communities across Scotland, were released on digital streaming platforms. The project gave writers the platform to share the stories and processes behind the songs. Fourteen songs were released between August 2022 and May 2023.

Jewels in the Sky by Lynne, Lorenzo, Mo & Sara (Tomorrow’s Women) with Chris and Jill

The Golden Rules Of Kin

In this special, one-off podcast Admiral Fallow frontman and Distant Voices Creative Lead Louis Abbott sits down with Jamie Savage (Chem19 Recording Studios) for an in-depth look behind the writing, recording, arranging and engineering of 'An Open Door'. Prepare to geek out, music lovers!

'An Open Door' was written by Louis Abbott and Lewis Anderson. It is the second song to be released from 'Not Known at this Address', the debut LP from the Distant Voices project. Originally recorded in HMYOI Polmont in March 2017, it was then re-recorded with Admiral Fallow in Chem19 Studios in January 2018.

Podcast produced by Richard Bull

An Open Door - Deconstructed, with Louis Abbott (Admiral Fallow) and Jamie Savage

Distant Voices - Not Known at this Address - 01 - Kris Drever - The Man I Used to Be

Distant Voices - Not Known at this Address - 02 - Pronto Mama - Rendezvous with War Paint

Tagged & Tamed?

In this podcast the co-writers of ‘Pure and Right’: musicians Jenny Reeve and Jill O’Sullivan aka Bdy_Prts, and Mark Holloway (Acting) Head of Operations HMP Inverness share the ideas and experiences that shaped their song. The co-writers are currently living far apart in New York, Glasgow and Inverness, so the podcast was constructed out of phone-recorded answers given by each collaborator to questions asked by Distant Voices research associate Phil Thomas. The song was an unusual collaboration in that the co-writers were brought together to make the song by Vox Liminis. In both the song and the podcast, despite an initial distance, shared experiences emerged which resulted in this beautiful, bittersweet song.

Pure and Right is the 6th song to be released from ‘Not Known at this Address’, the debut LP from the Distant Voices project. It was recorded in Chem19 during January 2018, and released on 25th May 2018.

This podcast was produced by Richard Bull.

Like Birds Flying Towards the Light

This podcast was produced by Richard Bull to document our 'Seen and Heard' Vox Session. The session took place at The Old Hairdressers in Glasgow in February 2016, to explore people's experiences of supervision, and what it means to be supervised.

Supervision: Seen and Heard

Based in the East End of Glasgow, Vox Liminis is a charity that is interested in  building community, and exploring rehabilitation in and of criminal justice through creative arts. The podcasts that we create will live here. To explore more of our work visit www.voxliminis.co.uk

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