#SecretsalbumbyTheNorthernLight

[musicarenagh]

Memory, Melody, and Meaning: The Story Behind ‘Secrets’   I recently made a discovery of a band called “The Northern Light” who connects vintage rock landmarks with modern sonic trends. The US-based trio Northern Light taps into Neil Young, RUSH, and Dinosaur Jr.'s musical wells to create their three-piece rock compositions while distinctly modernizing classic rock. Since their breakthrough hit "Waiting For The Flood" the band moved onward by avoiding musical limitations. Their recently released "Secrets" demonstrates their musical growth. This track recorded between Seattle's Temple of the Trees and Orbit Radio delivers think-filled melodies from dreamy guitars that envelop listeners. Frontman David Pollon created this special song while writing at Lake Huron during a journey home when silent moments expressed deep meanings. We talked to the entire band including singer David Pollon who plays guitar and bass player Carl Larsson who plays synths along with drummer Kip Rondorf about "Secrets" and the changes happening within The Northern Light. Listen to Secrets below Secrets by The Northern Light Follow The Northern Light on Facebook Spotify Bandcamp Instagram Youtube Tiktok   “Secrets” is a compelling title—what inspired the creation of this track? TNL: Most of the words for the track were written during a family visit in the summer of 2022 to a town on the shore of Lake Huron in Southwestern Ontario Canada. Parts of my (David Pollon's) extended family have lived in this area for many generations and shores of the lake have a lot of meaning for my own family too. I felt deeply that the great depths of the lake and even the stones of the beaches that surround it echo with the stories of generations current and past, including secrets that will never be revealed. What is the central theme or story behind “Secrets”? TNL: The central story is that if you walk along the beach and if you listen carefully and quietly enough, you'll be able to hear and feel the stories of generations past. Does the song explore personal experiences, or is it based on more universal ideas? TNL: Both personal and universal. I've been returning to this same area every summer since the late 1980s. But the same idea could apply to any place on Earth where families have put down deep roots over the generations. How would you describe the emotional tone of the track? TNL: Wistful, dreamy but not regretful. What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away from “Secrets”? TNL: Telling the truth can be difficult, don't wait until it's too late to retrieve truth from the depths of obscurity. Can you walk us through the songwriting process for “Secrets”? Was it a solo effort or collaborative? TNL: The song developed over time, longer than most of our songs. The first version of the song was drafted by David with music on ukulele. The verses appeared in complete form early on. We moved the music over to the full band and recorded demos but the demos just didn't feel right...didn't capture the necessary emotions of wistfulness and hope. During a rehearsal we came up with some new riffs and somehow these were perfect for the mood we wanted. The lyrics came over and we were able to finish the choruses. Some songs are born complete and some take a meandering path. This is a rare one for us where we chose to walk away from an existing song structure and be ready to wait for music that served the words properly. [caption id="attachment_58635" align="alignnone" width="2000"] Some songs are born complete and some take a meandering path.[/caption] Did the lyrics or melody come first when creating this song? TNL: Our best songs always have the words come first. Were there any surprising moments of inspiration during the process? TNL: Since the original music was written on the ukulele, I tried to carry some of the voicings of the uke over to electric guitar. I capo'd a 6-string guitar at the 5th fret and was able to use ukulele chord voicings. So the chords should sound unusual to guitarists who are used to standard tuning.

Did you experiment with any unique sounds, instruments, or production techniques for “Secrets”? TNL: We recorded Secrets at Temple of the Trees studio near Seattle. The studio is housed in a beautiful building which is reminiscent of a Romanesque churche and we are always inspired to record there. Otherwise, the song was recorded in a very live manner with very few overdubs. How long did it take to finalize the song from concept to completion? TNL: 2 years, from the original lyrical inspiration and song structure outline while traveling to final recording in October of 2024. That said, our songs are never completed, they are constantly changing as we perform them. Songs from our first record in 2019 are dramatically different, usually heavier sounding, from the recorded versions. https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Jm83A0ZE9QXkV5Bn31h7R What does “Secrets” mean to you personally, and does it carry a deeper significance? TNL: The song doesn't glorify Secrets, in fact carrying secrets along with you...whether on your personal journey or over generations is a heavy weight. It's best to not let this sort of burden keep you from living your best life. Will “Secrets” be part of a larger project, like an album or EP? TNL: We are releasing a series of singles in 2024 and throughout 2025, we expect to collect all of these into a new album in early 2026. Looking back on your career, how does this song showcase your growth as an artist? TNL: The song shows growth because as a band we're becoming willing to wait for songs to fully speak to us and to not rush them. In the past, I've always brought fully conceived songs to the band and this was our most collaborative effort yet.