Tony Lewis Talks to Madison Records About New Acoustic EP
Tony Lewis Goes Acoustic
For fans of Tony Lewis accustomed to seeing him playing bass guitar while performing high-energy concerts, get ready to experience a whole new side of this talented musician’s arsenal. This May, Tony’s released acoustic versions of three of his latest songs -- “Here and Now,” “Into the Light,” and “I’ll Still Be Here,” with track by track commentary.
“I’ve always liked songs that feature just an acoustic guitar and a single voice,” Tony says. “When it’s stripped down like that, it’s really the ultimate test of a good song.”
It all started with an acoustic recording of “Here and Now.”
“I’ve always liked songs that feature just an acoustic guitar and a single voice,” Tony says. “When it’s stripped down like that, it’s really the ultimate test of a good song.” Tony added that sometimes it feels as if the song’s sentiment gets lost when it goes through production. Putting it out there in acoustic form really lets the message of the lyrics come across.
For these three songs, Tony played his Gretch Rancher Falcon 12-string guitar, which has an amazing sound that comes across almost like a harpsichord. As bass player for The Outfield, many people aren’t used to seeing Tony with a guitar, but in fact, about 90% of his writing is done with an acoustic guitar. “I learned to play guitar before I picked up bass, so the transition between the two instruments comes naturally to me,” Tony says.
Accompanying the release of the acoustic versions of the three songs is commentary from Tony. Here’s a glimpse into that commentary, in his own words:
“Here and Now: For me, this song is about acknowledging the past, accepting the present, and looking into the future. On this track I was able to show I’m not just a one-trick pony, as a singer/bass player, but instead I showed I could play, record and arrange all the instruments myself.”
“into the Light: The first time I performed this song live it was like an out of body experience. I had never performed a song I composed myself before, so I was nervous of how this song would be received. Happily it went down well, and as fans were singing along, my confidence grew.
“I’ll Still Be Here. The feel and direction of this song is a huge departure from my pop rock tracks. The backing track had to be dark and heavy, as the lyrics of the song were about being left behind and coping with loneliness, which is a difficult message to get across in a pop song.”
Listen below to hear more of Tony’s commentary and stream the new acoustic versions of these songs from his solo album.