If you’re looking for some laid back acoustic vibes with melancholic lyricism and emotive vocals, Wylam Dene’s new single “Me (Again)” is exactly what you need. This single showcases the talents of Lee Matthewman – the man behind the project, Wylam Dene – who handles the vocals, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, and piano. The project started in 2021 when he collaborated with a progressive house duo called LasKee on a single titled “Abyss.” From there, Wylam Dene began writing and creating music that was more aligned with his taste, heavily influenced by alt-folk, alt-indie, and pop-folk music.
The single’s main influences include Novo Amor, Bon Iver, Hollow Coves, David Gray, Bears Den, Passenger, and Benjamin Francis Leftwich. According to previous reviews, “Wylam Dene has been weaving threads of indie folk into a web of contemporary pop for his emotive sound. Intricate acoustic guitar riffs paired with his deep, honest vocals, he effortlessly creates songs that you want to sink into.”
“Me (Again)” was recorded at Wylam Dene’s home studio/office, predominantly with a single large condenser microphone. The track then evolved over a period of two weeks and was sent to Marsden Mastering for a full professional mix and master. The song’s inspiration came from listening to a lot of Novo Amor, and Wylam Dene remembers picking up his acoustic guitar and immediately singing the chorus one dark and dull winter morning. From there, the song practically wrote itself, and he sat back and digested the words.
“Me (Again)” is a song about living with imposter syndrome, and the constant “inner chatter” inside your own head. It’s a relatable message that speaks to anyone who’s ever felt like they’re not good enough. The whole song could be interpreted as a song about love or heartbreak, but that’s the beauty of music and how it is perceived by the listener.
Recording from a home office has its challenges, especially when living with kids and dogs. Peace and quiet are rare, and that’s exactly what you need when the microphone picks up everything. But despite the challenges, “Me (Again)” represents the journey of the artist. This is Wylam Dene’s third self-released single, and it feels different from his previous releases, but it feels right. The single starts as a laid-back acoustic track but grows into a full production with piano, bass, and drums. It’s a beautiful song that showcases stunning songwriting and vocal abilities, and it’s definitely worth a listen.
You can find more of Wylam Dene at:
You can listen to ‘Me (Again)’ below:
Karen Harding is a Melbourne, Australia based singer/songwriter, founder of Sounds On The Couch, and founder and operator of boutique music PR service for emerging and independent artists, Rise Indie.