By now you will know that we are huge fans of Ray Johnson and his timeless, intentional brand of song creation, so you can imagine our excitement to receive a preview of his upcoming release, The Things I See, with permission to share our experience before the song officially comes out next week with a video!
Enticing us with a glistening, acoustic, layered guitar soundscape, Ray Johnson opens The Things I See with metaphorical, descriptive prose as he sings, “I can’t speak of castles sunrises over hills, couldn’t be more lucky loving you all these years, every passing day so much more to say…”
The star continues with a theatrical edge for the ballad as he shares, “I’ve spent a lifetime inside your heart, setting my spirit free these are the things I see…”. We are immediately captivated by the chord choices, and the high emotional quotient of the opus.
The depth that Ray manifests with his timbre and message is profound as always. There is a cinematic allure to all of his creations and The Things I See is no exception. Philosophically, the lyricism explores the concept that true love and meaning are not found in external landscapes, but in the intimate cosmic experience of love and authentic connection. This is paralleled in Ray’s wider body of work.
Anyone that has experienced it, knows that love can transform perception, making everyday moments feel out of this world, and this is exactly what the song brings to life. There is also a deep sense of gratitude with the lyricism tapping into a conscious energy, which encourages us to connect with ourselves and the present moment, instead of just seeking external validation. Of course, there is a deep spiritual connection rooted within the prose too.
The accompanying music video, by Karin Johnson, showcases stunning landscapes, but more importantly, the intimate and real connections between couples in love, especially those that appear to have been in long term relationships. It’s cinematic, but also highly emotive, bringing a tear to our eye as it taps into our heart’s centre.
We look forward to the official release next week, and in the meantime, will continue to explore the wider discography of Ray Johnson and his collaborator Dave Bieritz on Bandcamp!