The story behind the song, by Naomi LaViolette

Oregon is an amazing place to live, especially in the summer. I’ve lived here most of my life and feel blessed to call this place home. I made it a goal this summer to write and release a song that celebrates the season and one of my favorite things to do on a summer night - stargaze.

There are many spots in Oregon to get away from the city lights and see a wide expanse of stars in the sky. I love to keep track of the moon’s cycles and make sure I get outside during a new moon, when the sky is really dark and the most stars are visible. Finding constellations makes us feel connected to the ancients, and taking in the night sky makes us feel wonderfully small. It’s one of the few things that humans of all generations, origins and walks of life can connect on - the stars are amazing.

“Pictures in the Sky” releases on July 31, 2019, the night of a Black Moon in the US, which is a second new moon in a single month. I hope this song inspires us all to slow down, breathe a bit more deeply and enjoy the starlight together. It’s a reminder to connect with nature, each other, and our little precious existence in this universe.

The artwork to accompany “Pictures in the Sky” is a photograph by Jessica Selig, photographer, hiker, camper, and nature lover living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  

To find out more about her artistic process or inquire about photos, email Jessica: jess@jesspdx.com
Or visit: www.jesspdx.com
www.instagram.com/jess_pdx

It brings me so much joy to feature talented visual artists alongside my songs. Thank you, thank you, to Jessica!  

Finally, for any of you curious about my creative process, I thought I’d share a few notes about the composition of this song and musical choices in the writing, arrangement and recording.

One of my creative goals for 2019 is to release all of my new songs with guitar accompaniment. Being that piano is my primary instrument, this is definitely a stretch for me! But guitar is so perfect for this song, because it’s a little easier to carry along for a night of stargazing. I wanted this song to feel like something a group could sing around a campfire up the mountains, or sitting on a blanket on the beach.

I sent a vocal / guitar demo to my good friend and producer Gus Berry, and we worked together to create the track. It’s a combination of acoustic instruments - guitar, ukulele, shaker and drums - with electronic sounds - electric guitar with delay effects, ambient synth sounds, and reverses in the bass track. My hope is that it seamlessly blends an organic, natural essence with something atmospheric and other-worldly.

Although my other goal with my summer release was to write a “happy” song, I couldn’t help but start with just a touch of melancholy in the first verse, when I sing “I need a little slower motion” and “breathing deeply isn’t so easy anymore.” But the song doesn’t stay in that spot for long - stargazing becomes the antidote to the fast-pace rush of life. The pre-chorus is all about inviting someone you love to join you - “take my hand and let’s go.” This could be a child, a lover, a friend, a grandparent - you can enjoy the stars with basically anyone and everyone! The light we see from stars began a long time ago, traveling across space for many many years, but enjoying it is something that happens in the moment. When the chorus says “Don’t think about tomorrow, set yesterday aside,” it’s referring to that gift from the stars to have a very present-moment experience.

The “ohs” after the chorus are designed to have a communal, universal feel. Gus and his wife added some vocals in those sections, and they expand in layers throughout the song. I hope it sounds like a whole bunch of people coming together to connect and enjoy the glory of the stars.