Midnight Wayne just today released the new track ‘Run So Far’. And I was so excited to get a listen to it before its release date and to have a quick chat with Wayne about life, meditation, death, rebirth, David Lynch and Bruce Springsteen.
“Probably one of my most pop tracks yet”, But there is certainly nothing wrong with that. Wayne is tapping into our nostalgia and our longing for the past. A longing for a less shattered world, and is helping us find this peace, calm and love within each release he gifts to us.
Last year we were embraced with the EP ‘Ouroboros’ and swallowed tail first by its magic within. The Ouroboros, said to be the serpent Jörmungandr, is one of the three children of Loki. It is said that if this giant serpent which wraps around the entire globe, was ever to release its tail, it would symbolise the beginning of the end. I suspect this is more of a positive take on the myth surrounding the Ouroboros such as an eternal cycle/renewal of life, but you don’t have to take my word on it, as I had the chance to ask Wayne himself.
Carl: In regard to your last EP Ouroboros, what is your take on this word “Ouroboros”? What does it represent for you and why did you choose it as the title of the EP.
Wayne: “I’ve always loved the image of the Ouroboros. It’s such an ancient symbol and its use over time is remarkable. I’ve got a book on alchemy and mysticism and the imagery influenced me. It represents the circle of life, new beginnings, death/rebirth etc. The songs on the EP embody those sentiments. Band ending, new band started, made friends, lost touch, gained new people in my life, having a child of my own and watching my folks get older. I try to have a rebirth in a sense with every song I make, even if I’m the only one who notices it.”
2023’s EP brought us tracks like “Get What You Got”, released first as a single, on the 22nd of June. I first came across this track via Instagram with a video of Wayne lying on his floor like a scene out of The Big Lebowski. All Wayne was missing was a bowling alley track, and a spliff. Wayne was set up on the floor with nothing but his old school Marantz PMD Tape recorder, a guitar, and his signature Falsetto-esque voice going straight into the chorus. Beautiful stuff. ( https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ciw-O5ZjyUn/?hl=en ) We also got to hear the beauty on tracks like “Dream mOver”. Something so magical and
otherworldly about this reversed take on life. For me it’s painting a picture from a movie. A scene of reflection almost. A second take on life. You get to dream all over again. Could be a track off a John Frusciante album also.
Ouroboros showed us some insight into the home studio shed of Wayne Soper with his tea station in the corner and hard work in every other corner. But its not the kind of hard work that you and I are used to. It’s the kind that helps you forget if you are even working at all. A passion, a love, a mindset. Along with some meditation.
Carl: In your recent appearance on The Irish Frequency Podcast, you mentioned a lot about meditation and Transcendental Meditation. Is meditation a big part of your life and does it affect your ability to connect with the sounds? For me, when I get the chance to meditate, it pulls me back into myself and allows me to think and breath and of course prevents my anxiety from spilling over the sides. How is Meditation helping you personally, and musically.
Wayne: “Yes, I always give myself time to sit and just be. it can be the hardest thing ever sometimes, then sometimes there’s moments of pure clarity and soft warm happy waves enter. it definitely helps with the creative aspect, a relaxed mind is a more creative one, and just in general overall sense of relaxation and being in a better mood around loved ones. I seen a thing online with David Lynch and TM (transcendental meditation). I ended up booking an intro course at the TM centre in Rathmines. It was great. I must follow it up and go for it. The extra knowledge will be worth it”.
Midnight Wayne, the new character created during Covid 19, was an emergence from a cocoon of the same stuff gone before. A chance to start fresh, and just let the music come to you, rather than chasing a sound, pre-determined. Run So Far, the new single from Midnight Wayne, is set to be released this Thursday the 15th of August. A Sparkling track full of light and nostalgia. Acoustic vibes but with that electronic bass and snare that we have come to love on Wayne’s tracks. A layering of harmonic voices hitting on notes you would expect a synth to be hitting but it’s a beautifully controlled human voice nonetheless, following along with each pluck of the string. High, positive energies, it’s like a perfect soundtrack to life that you can listen to anywhere.
This is one cracking summer festival tune that I can already picture myself driving around Dublin with my hand out the window, surfing on the air passing by.
Carl: You had a quick turnaround with the writing and recording of Run So Far, what do you think has changed within you, that made you be able to write and produce this track in such short notice? Was it just creative flow and everything appeared in front of you? Or have you worked on your mindset towards music, and you want to strip things back and present it as natural as possible?
Wayne: A bit of both really. It was a mad creative flow that only comes once in a while. So you have to really engage with the energy when it comes. I think my mindset was very relaxed. I wasn’t thinking of music all week. I just popped the head in the studio, I picked up the guitar, and the chords and melody for the chorus just came immediately.
I wrote a little beat to help carry it along, ended up keeping that beat and kept it very simple. Sometimes in my head, I imagine I’m another songwriter making that song and thinking like, what would they do here or there? It’s a fun exercise. That day I was actually channelling Bruce Springsteen because it felt a bit cheesy. The “Run so Far” line was like “Born to Run”, and the beat was a total Dancing in the dark vibe, that space creatively was new. So, I went for it. It was a thrill. I was actually laughing to myself while making the song. it’s always good when you get a laugh.
And what’s even more beautiful is that Wayne has invited his Wife Sarah to provide some backing vocals and harmonies.
Carl: You have your Wife Sarah featured on this track. What was it like working alongside your partner in crime and is this something you have done in the past and or plan on doing more music together? Can we expect more from this magical Duo? � Sarah being an incredible artist herself, I’m sure you both learn from each other, and it’s a brilliant thing to hear her on this new track.
Wayne: Sarah isn’t mad keen on singing that much, just for the craic, which is grand. I had to set it up right and have the right song, give her demos. We were just hanging out at home with our son and the vibe was right. I had the session open and the mic on, she did the takes in like 30minutes with our little boy there trying to get a word in (I have him on another track) it was all fun and very relaxed. We do influence each other artistically and always run ideas by each other. Although it’s mostly me looking for advice. She is a powerful artist with a true vision. I’ll definitely be asking her to sing again. I love her voice and it’s nice to have a different colour to add to the songs.
Two Activists using their talents to promote love and peace in a world where hatred, genocide, racism and fascism is overflowing. But it’s not blocking these two from spreading good messages around Dublin and shining some light. Sarah has also recently collaborated with Midnight Wayne on a custom shirt in which he wore at the Lost City stage at All Together Now. The front of the shirt was adorned by two watermelon slices, which, of course, symbolise the colours of Palestine. Beneath the slices, is the quote by Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos: “They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds”. And on the back “Saoirse don Phalaistin”, “Free Palestine” as Gaeilga. ( https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-PuNRRMcxW/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D )
Sarah is an incredibly talented and diverse artist, and I would highly recommend checking out some more of her work. ( https://www.instagram.com/sarahbrackensoper/ )
Carl: What is the meaning behind “Run So Far”
Wayne: “Runs so Far is really about having a deep and long relationship in my life and having someone to turn to no matter what. “let go of the past, we can run so far”. I can try anything in my life, win or fail, but knowing you’ve got someone there with you is truly a gift of life, it’s about moving forward through it all.”
Carl: You do all of your own EP Artwork; do you find that your art is connected and emerged from your love of music? Or are they two separate things that have come together? (What came first? The chicken or the Egg? lol)
Wayne: “I just take to collage art. It’s actually really easy when you sit down with some magazines and a scissors it’s a bit of meditative thing for me really. I need artwork so I just put the two together. I like assembling pieces together, it’s kind of like producing a song in a way. For the latest one, Sarah took photos of me running, I printed them in different sizes and cut them out. Fun.”
Carl: Do you find it easier as a song writer, creator, artist, to work on your own or do you miss being part of a band? Sometimes with clashing egos and musical taste, creating a song might be difficult at times, has this become an easier thing now that you work by yourself?
Wayne: “I just got used to doing it alone now. I do prefer it. There are downsides like being stuck on a tune for months and months, and not getting the sonics right etc. but ultimately having full control is something I thrive on. Being alone in a room with instruments and recording software is my happy place. I would love to work with another producer on a full project like an album though, just to bounce ideas off and get it sounding really good, so hopefully soon.”
“Run So Far” was released today Thursday 15th, so be sure to keep an eye on all of Midnight Wayne’s social media platforms.
BABY WE CAN RUN SO FAR!
Listen to Wayne here:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/41GrSmoxsiWstJNwVmNsmu
https://breakingtunes.com/midnightwayne
Words & photo – Carl Foran.
EP cover – Midnight Wayne.