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Once Was

by Bart

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about

Over the past year the band Bart, led by Toronto-based studio wizards Christopher Shannon and Nathan Vanderwielen, have been quietly releasing a series of sophisticated pop singles that follow up and expand upon the sound of 2019’s critically acclaimed "Today, Tomorrow, and the Next Day". On their latest, "Once Was", the duo invite collaborators Jason Bhattacharya (Drums), Jay McCarrol (strings), Eliza Niemi (cello), and Patrick Lefler (vocals) to help craft an elegant ode to change and the passage of time.

Nathan explains the circumstances surrounding the tune’s creation:

“I wrote 'Once Was' after cutting off parts of some fingers on my right hand in a woodworking accident. The song came from me playing what I could on a piano without using the part of my hand that was still healing. The lyrics, then, are really about going through a physical change that I couldn't reverse, accepting that life sometimes just happens to us, and eventually adapting. We tried recording the song a few different times before really getting into it when we landed at our current studio, Aytche. Chris and Jason cut the bed track live, and we enlisted Jay McCarrol to arrange the strings that really ended up telling the story of the song.”

Combining classic melodic pop with contemporary production, Bart demonstrate why they remain in-demand collaborators and why "Once Was", while feeling instantly familiar, also feels utterly modern.

lyrics

What I once was could never be (x2)

Things that used to be have faded slowly
They say if you have faith it’s only easier
Pray to God and wait for death’s emotion

What I once was could never be (x2)

Pray to God and wait for death’s in motion
They said if you have faith it’s only easier

Time will change
Things will change in time

Space and time wander slowly
Wake and tide come to me
Flowing fire, spitting flames
Peace and time come through me

Time will change
Things will change in time

credits

released December 10, 2021
Produced, Engineered & Mixed by Christopher Shannon & Nathan Vanderwielen
Written by Nathan Vanderwielen
Mastered by Kevin McPhee
Artwork by Graham Ruddy

Nathan Vanderwielen - Piano, Synth, Vocals
Christopher Shannon - Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Synth, Wurlitzer, Vocals
Jason Bhattacharya - Drums, Percussion
Jay McCarrol - Strings
Eliza Niemi - Cello
Patrick Lefler - Vocals

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about

Bart image

Bart Toronto, Ontario

In the spring of 2016 Bart released their debut full length record, Holomew, a work that Clash Magazine stated “embraces everything from free jazz to prog rock” going on to describe it as “musically complex while maintaining an incredible sense of directness”. In the band’s hometown Now Magazine simply stated “Bart might be our favourite new Toronto band”. ... more

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