The song explores themes of relationship, love, uncertainty, excitement and fear. New relationships are usually difficult. Trusting new people and opening up to them is difficult and not always sensible either. So the lyrics delve into the personal dilemma’s faced in new relationships, which is why a holiday romance is a useful canvass to paint on, asking questions like “should I really open up or not?” “how much can I trust this person? how much do I really know them?. A holiday romance can be a fast track for emotions. An opportunity for a bit of escapism, a new location stimulating greater openness and freedoms, dropping the guard and enjoying whatever life throws at you, but also carrying many of the uncertainties and doubts that everyday life carries with it.
Some of the locations are important to me personally, for example the opening shots of the coastal road in California between Malibu and Santa Monica. That road is still one of my favourite coastal drives. The locations are fabulously romantic and symbolic – Paris, Venice, London, Rome but there is also a regular travel theme which teases the listener with the idea of getting away from things, maybe getting away from situations or people. I think that travel can often create a journey inwards, a journey into ourselves, at the same time as outwards into the world – in other words a chance to pause, think and reflect and work things out in our heads. That’s another little dimension to One Way Holiday.
For me a song contains a set of possible core ingredients. The lyrics, the melody, the musical arrangement and composition. It begins with creating something that you enjoy listening to. But very quickly we decide unconsciously whether or not the song has connected with our hearts. For me, when I write from the heart, it seems to connect faster with the hearts of listeners, at least that is the feedback I have had. So if you are writing from your heart you are allowing themes and ideas and emotions to tumble out of you. Sometimes what tumbles out of me are societal issues and concerns. I think most of us would agree to feeling some sense of concern about modern life becoming more shallow, more materialistic, more self focused and less caring. So, when I am lucky enough to be in a place where I am writing from the heart, then maybe it’s only natural that societal issues etc are some of the things that tumble out of me. Is it essential to address those issues through music? I would say it is because it is my personal belief that what matters most in life are people and relationships and how we use our voice, talents etc as a power for good. You can’t take money and possessions with you when you pass away, but you can live on in the hearts and memories of people who you have connected with in some way.
I like a picture painting approach, I like to try and build pictures in the minds of the listener, that’s why taking people back to holiday locations appeals. I take inspiration from so many things. Some of it is personal, some of it is observational, and some is fiction. By the time everything is turned into a finished song there might be one or two elements of the lyrics drawn directly from personal experience, but it has become embellished and gilded with story, fiction, cryptic messages ,homespun advice and lots of pictures. It becomes like a cocktail or a mulled wine. A golden thread of a story with a bit of sugar and spice, shaken, stirred or heated up. What is important is the emotional connection with the listener, and how it makes them feel and what they take away from it. I hope they feel better having listened to a Beldon Haigh song, maybe more hopeful, more empowered, dare I say even more comforted by the song. That is a key thing for me. Some kind of message of hope and comfort. A message of realisation. A message of growth.
Absolutely, I live in a small town which has all the earthiness, ups and downs, pluses and minuses of living in a small provincial town. Most small towns in Scotland have similar issues and responses. Years of under funding and lack of investment, but inhabited by wonderful, resourceful, generous, community minded people who continually adapt to make the best of the situation. Falkirk is a historic town surrounded by some incredible natural beauty, but the town itself and particularly the town centre has struggled for investment in the last couple of decades. It looks a bit dilapidated in places, it looks like it’s in need of a lot of TLC. Living here, you can’t help but feel affected by that, but at the same time inspired by the struggles of people in places like this, especially when you take time to notice the daily commitment, courage and positivity shown by people to adapt and make the most of what we have.
Lots of new music on the way. There will be a single release every six to eight weeks until the end of February 2024 when there will be gigs and an album release which will shortly be announced.
Final note, thank you for the interview and for helping us to publicise Beldon Haigh songs and music. Thank you too to any of your readers that enjoy the music. Please subscribe to Beldon Haigh on Spotify, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook :
