Nick Byrne – Houses

“Houses” is the tender and poignant new single from singer-songwriter Nick Byrne. it features fingerpicked guitar with hushed, emotive vocals – and just a dash of electric guitar. The song explores themes of nostalgia and seizing the moment, and considers the sentimental significance of a house beyond its four literal walls. To Nick, a house is not just a home — and in some cases, it might not be. As the lyrics portray, a house represents history, family and belonging, and is a metaphor applicable to life in​ general.

View this post on Instagram

Here's the original photo I used for the ‘Houses’ single artwork. This was taken when I was 6, my family had just moved into this bungalow, where I lived for 12 years, it's where I grew up and spent most of my childhood. I placed this house in front of a forest and sky for a number of reasons. It seems like it would be an amazing place to live – as if from a dream where your brain mixes up several places into one. It represents putting work in to make a comfortable and safe space (and by extension your life), and also because the natural setting reminds me of visiting Chile and Ireland, where my parents are from). Houses references my relationship with my dad, a builder by trade – he spent many years working on this house – I know I’m lucky to have lived with my family in a secure and safe home. Sadly my dad wasn’t able to finish the house – alcoholism and money issues amongst other things affecting his livelihood as well as us as a family. As I grew older I realised that he was letting life drift him by, and this is something I still don’t think he’s able to see. It’s so important that we try to make the most of our lives, and are grateful for what we have. #photo #vintage #oldphoto #photograph #musician #graphicdesign #behindthescenes #artwork #history #singersongwriter #indiefolk #folk #folksongwriter #acoustic #acousticfolk #melancholy #melancholyfolk #houses #home

A post shared by Nick Byrne (@nickbyrneuk) on