Scottish-Italian singer songwriter Adriana Spina celebrates the stillness of dawn with new single

Scottish-Italian singer songwriter Adriana Spina says her latest release is inspired by a haiku and the stillness of lockdown at dawn.

Still, which is released on September 4, sees Adriana depart from her signature guitar-driven sound, to an “enchanting contemporary lullaby” paired with synth and bird song.

Challenged by fellow songwriters in her Sunday Songwriting Facebook Group to write a haiku, Adriana penned the words: “Daylight is creeping; Birdsong is my lullaby; Another night gone”.

The group was then set the task of writing a song based on their haikus which contained no more than 20 words and incorporated ‘found sound’ from their surroundings.

This morning, I was up early enough to catch up with the true stars of Still. They seem rather non-plussed that the single is out on Friday. I guess they must've pre-ordered already. #birdsong #lullaby #still #NewSingle pic.twitter.com/XCSxs6q2ct

— Adriana Spina (@adrianamusic) August 31, 2020

Adriana wrote and recorded Still at home, over the space of a couple of days, using exactly 20 words.

Her vocals were recorded at 3am to capture the serenity of that particular time of night and she recorded the bird song from her back garden.

She said: “Having put recording plans for my third album on hold due to the current pandemic, I wanted to use the space to maintain some creative momentum and delve into new writing approaches.

“I never expected this song to come from my little haiku, but when I wrote Still it felt like something just clicked and the track had a life wider than my home recording.”

Joining Adriana on the track is producer Mark Freegard, whose additional synth, mixing and programming breathed more magic into the track.

Adriana was introduced to Mark through acclaimed songwriter, singer and producer Boo Hewerdine, who also helped guide the creative process.

“Mark took it to an even more special place,” Adriana said. “It was fantastic to work with both him and Boo to bring it all together.

“I regularly find myself in my garden at dawn with my dog and love watching the light creep back into the sky.

“At no time is that stillness more intense than in the small hours and this is what I sought to capture.

“The writing and recording happened all at once – I wrote and recorded the verse before the chorus was written, it was a new and really organic process for me.

“Despite being a significant stylistic departure for me, Still evokes a very specific time which I wanted to share. I hope my fans like it as much as I do.”

Still is available to download and stream on Friday