Northern Star (Single)

by Ainslie Wills, James Knight

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Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Pink (EP), Eyes on Me (Single), Celebrate (Single), Don't Dream It's Over (Single), Primal Animal (Reimagined), All You Have Is All You Need (Live), Northern Star (Single), Northern Star (EP), and 10 more. , and , .

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about

Ainslie WIlls:
The kernel of this song began with me at the piano playing a semi gospel style tune. The concept of finding one’s Northern Star had been orbiting around my head for a while and landed into a very simple narrative of someone experiencing intense loss and wanting to anchor themselves again. I sat with James on a zoom for about 20 minutes where I played through what I had and we arranged the rest of the form. I then recorded the piano part using midi and sent it through to James to do his thing on it. One of the most exciting parts of collaboration is when you are to-ing and fro-ing to come to a final song destination. When James sent this back to us, my literal response was “Aaaaahhhhhm! Sorry???! What the actual f%#k? This is magical…” he had taken the simple little gospel tune and transformed into a world that I never anticipated.

James Knight
So Ainslie and I got on a Zoom and she had a really cool gospel sequence and the beginnings of a melody/lyrics, I remember getting to the descending outro sequence and just thrashing about wanting it to go through all the keys to get back to root which Ainslie (happy) obliged. I think at that point I had a fairly clear picture of where I wanted the tune to end up so when the MIDI piano arrived I could get into it. Most of the sounds came really quickly, it felt really natural and Ainslie has such a beautiful way of phrasing (even on a rough demo) that it just kind of poured out. Lots of the sounds are analogue and I ran a load of this through my tape machine to warm it up. Sending tracks back is really nerve-wracking as it was a long way from the 12/8 gospel thing we Zoomed but Ainslie’s reaction was heavy on the positive!

lyrics

I wait for my Northern Star to show
I wait for my Northern Star to show
Since you made the choice to leave
I’ve been trying to find my feet
I didn’t get the chance to be more for you
I coulda done more, more

I wait for my Northern Star to show
I wait for my Northern Star to show
The thing that’s going round my head
Is that I’ll never get that time again

I wish I knew that then
Oh-oh-oh
I woulda done more, more

I wait for my Northern Star to show
I’ll wait for my Northern Star to show
I’ll wait for my Northern Star
I’ll wait for my Northern Star
I’ll wait for my Northern Star
I can’t wait for my Northern Star
I can’t wait for my Northern Star to show

credits

released October 9, 2021
Northern Star was recorded remotely in Victoria, Australia and at Knight Time Studios in London, United Kingdom.
Written by Ainslie Wills and James Knight.
Produced and mixed by James Knight.
Mastered by Randy Merrill at Sterling Sound, New York.
Upright Piano and Vocals by Ainslie Wills.
Jupiter 8, Mini Moog, Additional Synths, Saxophones, Programming by James Knight.
Management: Charlotte Abroms at Hear Hear Group
Art Direction & Photography: Ty Johnson
Creative Direction: Ainslie Wills, Krystal Bick, Ty Johnson

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about

Ainslie Wills VIC, Australia

Ainslie Wills has earned an enviable reputation for writing songs that are musically powerful and earnestly delivered. Combining unfaltering vocals with profound lyricism and thought provoking melodies, Ainslie sets out to create music that is genre bending. Crafting honestly told stories, Ainslie is gathering an army of lifelong converts. ... more

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