Liv Dawn – Welcome Home (2020)
As times goes by, who we evolve as we develop as people. Liv Dawn considers this through the story of ‘Welcome Home’. The single tells the tale of a friend Liv has not seen for a long time coming home and her asking if time has changed them. While delving into how we change, it also talks about looking after yourself and holding onto hope. These are both things that everyone can relate to, particularly right now.
This single is the one that led Dawn to the final of BBC Radio Scotland’s Singer-Songwriter of the Year Award. During lockdown, she developed a fuller version of the single with Eslpeth Mackay and Gus Harrower providing the cello and piano respectively. Both were linked to the singer-songwriter award and help highlight the special connection between the song and the award.
‘Welcome Home’ draws you in with a gentle opening line. The guitar is soft like a gentle hug when you have been gone for a long time. There is a slick folk flow to the guitar before the piano and cello smoothly enter. They create a layered effect to the music that is raw and emotive. There is a sad thread to the cello as it seems to accept that things have changed and nothing will be the same. As the cello swells the melancholic tones give way to an easier flow that is still sombre but offers some happiness.
Dawn’s vocals are vulnerable as she tells the story of her friend coming home. While vulnerable, there is a lot of power in her voice as she moves from welcoming to a plaintive realisation that she has not really changed. Close to the end of the track, her vocals overlap for a layered effect which is reminiscent of emotions tumbling over each other.
Liv Dawn considers how people change while holding onto hope and being kind to yourself in the vulnerable tones of ‘Welcome Home’. The layered melody is soft and gentle while invoking a sense of melancholy at how things change. Her vocals are powerful yet raw and vulnerable as she works through the story of the lyrics.
Find out more about Liv Dawn on her website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
