This was my submission for the RPM Challenge 2021.
My original goal for the RPM Challenge was an EP called Nostalgia. I have been writing songs for almost 30 years by now and I have been dying to record and release these older songs since in the 90s this wasn't possible unless you had a record deal.
In fact, I had just started working on another album when I heard about the RPM Challenge. I decided to sign up very spontaneously and just produce the EP as a side project. However, in the middle of February, I realized an EP wasn't going to happen, at least not in the way I had imagined it. So, I decided to just go with the one single that was nearly finished to reduce pressure. That being said, the Nostalgia EP will still come, just a bit later.
As for the song itself, I wrote By Your Side in 1994 when I fell in love with a French guy called Stéphane. Sadly, he had to leave before we really had the chance to get together. Back in August last year, I asked my incredibly talented fellow indie artist Nathan Illes whether he wanted to record By Your Side with me and luckily he agreed. But only in February did we actually record this as a duet. As guitar and vocals were done, I decided the song needed cello and percussion to give it a bit more texture. On Fiverr, I found Charlot Rivero (cello) and Larry Salzman (percussion) – in fact, I had worked with Larry before on another song called Petite Planète. But still, the song needed something else. I had always loved the sound of a harmonica since it has this kind of nostalgic feel to it. So I asked my equally brilliant fellow indie artist Orange G whether he'd play it. Luckily, he also agreed to do it. As everything was recorded, Nathan mixed the song. Anyway, I'm so happy I found the RPM Challenge, I will definitely sign up again next year, it's a great concept!
Please find Nathan's and Orange G's music here:
nathanilles.bandcamp.com
orangeg.bandcamp.com
released March 19, 2021
Music & Lyrics: Annika Elting
Produced by Annika Jayne and Nathan Illes
Acoustic Guitar: Annika Jayne
Vocals: Annika Jayne & Nathan Illes
Harmonica: Orange G
Cello: Charlot Rivero
Percussion: Larry Salzman
Mixing and Mastering: Nathan Illes
Cover Design: Akila Shehan
The cover art shows the silhouettes of a couple sitting back to back with bent knees.