Establishing the mood with textured, syncopated drums and an enigmatic bassline, Paul Cafcae opens Banks of Marble with atmospheric vocals and situational prose as he sings, “I’ve travelled down this country, from sea to sea to sea, and it really made me wonder the things I got to see…”
We immediately connect with the narrative-driven journey that Paul Cafcae takes us on, the astral nature of the Spaghetti Western inspired guitar riffs, and the immersive choruses. The guitar solo is simply out of this world, tapping into a cinematic and transcendental vibe before a timeless and anthemic finale. The opus is laced with poetic prowess and philosophical depth as Paul shines a light on zeitgeist and important issues.
Speaking on the message behind Banks of Marble, the talented creator from Vaughan, Canada confesses, “The single was inspired by the growing inequality and lack of democratic agency for the people of Canada.”
We learn that the conceptual idea for Banks of Marble came to Paul as he witnessed the working and living conditions of people in Ontario degrade in the last decade. The visionary and conscious artist continues, “The pronounced inequality in the levels of democratic agency between the people and their employers has been troubling me for years. I believe that we need more unions if we want things to get better.”
During his tour through Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Northern Quebec in the Spring of 2023, the star observed similar socio-economic trends and began introducing the half-written song in his concerts.
As the tour progressed, Paul continued refining the opus, realizing its resonance with those struggling in the current system. After completing the second tour in Eastern Canada in November 2023, Paul and his band felt prepared to record the song for their upcoming album. The lyrics, music, composition, and delivery reflect the tension between owners and workers, drawing inspiration from the 1949 song The Banks Are Made of Marble by Les Rice, famously recorded by Pete Seeger.
We love the intentional depth that Paul Cafcae creates with, and have added Banks of Marble to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our new TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Paul Cafcae‘s wider discography, including his 2021 album, Where I Am.