Artist – Paul Iwan
Single – Returning
Release date – 3rd April 2020
Reviewer – Graham Holland
Every year since 2011 the Liverpool Acoustic Songwriting Challenge has tasked songwriters with creating a brand new song inspired by a work of art on public display in the local area.
Those who rise to the challenge have a month in which to find their inspiring work of art, write the song, record it and submit it for judging.
In 2018 Liverpool Acoustic was approached to run another Songwriting Challenge as part of Across the Threshold. We didn’t want it to be a repeat of the regular challenge so we put our collective heads together and came up with a new concept. I mean, hey, who needs a whole month to write a new song? How about a week? What? Still too long? OK then, how about a day? And with that the Liverpool Acoustic 24 Hour Songwriting Challenge was born!
The winner of last year’s 24 Hour Songwriting Challenge was local musician Paul Iwan. The 2019 theme was ‘Returning’ and this was the name of the winning song.
To coincide with what would have been the first day of Threshold 2020 Paul has released two newly recorded versions of the song.
The singles comes in two flavours: Returning (Blue) is an intimate acoustic version, whereas Returning (Red) is an alternative electro version.
Returning (Blue) was produced by Paul Iwan at Studio 45 Liverpool
Mixed and mastered by Andy Fernihough at 3rd Planet Studios.
Paul has taken his solo, acoustic song and added drums, keyboard and other instrumentation to produce a fuller sound.
For Paul Iwan, who has suffered from PTSD, this is a deeply personal song, exploring the theme of returning as it relates to relapse and regression.
Paul speaks about how the competition pushed him outside of his usual comfort zone, and into a more acoustic setting, letting the song speak for itself. Well it certainly spoke to the judges who gave him the winning spot!
Graham Holland
Review © 2020 Graham Holland, Liverpool Acoustic
Returning (Blue) and Returning (Red) are released via Ditto Music and are available on all major digital download and streaming services.
Paul Iwan
Website – musicglue.com/pauliwan
Facebook – facebook.com/pauliwanliverpool
Twitter – @pauliwan79
Check out the rest of our Liverpool Acoustic reviews. And if you’d like to write for us get in touch on our Contact page.