Chris breaks away from his comic satire songs for this moving ballad
'Right Back Again' is a heartfelt ballad that refuses to sit quietly: with its piano-rock style, raw, impassioned vocals and a compelling chorus that swells with emotional poignancy. The lyrics grapple with love and loss; as mind over matter proves to be a futile exercise...
The sincere emotion is perhaps the most surprising facet of this song from a singer-songwriter that is mostly known for satirical social commentary.
Tavener states that this song in fact came from personal experience:
“This song came very naturally to me. I think a lot of people can relate to that feeling of losing someone, and trying to rush your recovery when your heart and mind are continually being taken back to memories shared with them”.
The minimal production by Aron Bicskey really allows the song and Tavener's vocals room to breath. The driving drums and upright piano make the track seem determined to move forward, while there's an emotional fragility put forward by the ethereal sounds and an almost Americana-feel to the sparingly-placed electric guitar.
The single is the second from Tavener's upcoming EP 'Easy Ways To Be Happy'. The ironic title seemingly comments on society's increasing fixation towards a quest for happiness.
The new pop-rock, five-song EP will be released in the middle of this year.
Right Back Again is out now- https://ffm.to/pkej1a9
About Chris Tavener
Jangly-guitar rock and a biting sense of humour meet in the satirical stylings of Chris Tavener. A deft lyricist with an acerbic wit, Tavener writes his storytelling songs from the perspective of flawed characters that he draws from 21st century life.
His cynical social commentary, dressed in punchy, uplifting pop-rock and acoustic ballads has won him acclaim from BBC 6 Music and multiple BBC Introducing stations. He's popular for his unique and theatrical live performance that has seen him sharing the stage with Super Hans, Emily Capell, Tony Hadley, and Peter Hook of Joy Division, whilst also writing songs for the likes of Sir Ian McKellen.
Growing up in Northwich in Cheshire, Tavener was always keen to go against the grain. While his peers were listening to the top 40, he was watching old George Formby films and listening to old concert recordings of Randy Newman. Since he first took up songwriting, he has performed at Glastonbury Festival, The Great Escape, Latitude Festival and The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. In 2018, he released his first live album and embarked on an 18-date European tour through France, Germany and The Netherlands which was soon followed by a UK joint tour with Gavin Osborn. Following the tour, he appeared at the famous Lowry Theatre for BBC Radio Manchester’s Christmas Extravaganza.
In 2019, Tavener toured Ireland, both North and South of the border, before releasing a much-anticipated video collaboration with Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. His song was the centrepiece of a short animation, in which Tavener co-starred on vocals with national treasure, Sir Ian McKellen.
When the 2020 pandemic hit, Tavener took his musical wit online performing live streams and supporting acts including Britain’s Got Talent’s Micky P Kerr. A stream he recorded with BBC’s Mark Radcliffe became one of the first to air on Sky’s new 'Showcase TV' in April 2021, BBC Upload Festival selected, and broadcast his pandemic song ‘The Folks I Know’ in a programme celebrating lockdown art.
In 2022, Tavener will release 'Easy Ways To Be Happy', a rock-inspired EP that interrogates modern measures of success through his keenly sardonic style and energetic sound. His latest work also contains some of his most sincere and emotionally-raw lyrics, as he explores the common insecurities of life and love.
”An interesting lad with an elastic turn of phrase” – Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music
"Nice set. Kinks-y vibes” – Carl Barat, The Libertines
“The idiosyncratic but ever so loveable Chris Tavener. Try and see him live, he really creates an amazing atmosphere” – Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2)