Adriana Spina releases a new single, ‘Still’..

Inspired by “the stillness of lockdown at dawn and the sense of hope that comes just before daybreak,” the “contemporary lullaby” is a departure from the Scottish-Italian singer-songwriter’s usual guitar-driven sound.

The song stems from a challenged by fellow songwriters in her Sunday Songwriting Facebook Group to write a haiku – a short form poem from Japan consisting of three short lines that do not rhyme.

Spina penned the words: “Daylight is creeping; Birdsong is my lullaby; Another night gone” and then, with the group set the task of writing a song based on their haikus, she incorporated ‘found sound’ in the form of birdsong from her surroundings.

‘Still’ was written and recorded at home, over the space of a couple of days, using exactly 20 words, with vocals were recorded at 3am to capture the serenity of that particular time of night.

Producer Mark Freegard also adds additional synth, mixing and programming to the track, having been introduced to Spina by acclaimed songwriter Boo Hewerdine, who also helped guide the creative process.

Of the track, Spina said: “Having put recording plans for my third album on hold due to the current pandemic, I wanted to use the space to maintain some creative momentum and delve into new writing approaches.

“I never expected this song to come from my little haiku, but when I wrote ‘Still’ it felt like something just clicked and the track had a life wider than my home recording. Mark then took it to an even more special place. It was fantastic to work with both him and Boo to bring it all together.

“I regularly find myself in my garden at dawn with my dog and love watching the light creep back into the sky. At no time is that stillness more intense than in the small hours and this is what I sought to capture.

“The writing and recording happened all at once – I wrote and recorded the verse before the chorus was written, it was a new and really organic process for me.

“Despite being a significant stylistic departure for me, Still evokes a very specific time which I wanted to share. I hope my fans like it as much as I do.”

The new track follows most recent recording, 2017’s studio album ‘Let Out The Dark’, Spina having been busy in the live music scene since. As well as supporting Joan Armatrading on the Scottish dates of her most recent world tour (including the final tour show at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall) she has opened for Sheryl Crow, Paolo Nutini, Eddi Reader and Dar Williams.

‘Still’ is available now to stream or download.

More at www.adrianaspina.com / www.facebook.com/adrianaspinamusic.