Much like the uncertain traveler, conquering the serpentine, mountainous tracks I cannot help but recognize and continuously remind myself of nature’s relentless demand for balance in each and every aspect of our existence. In a strenuous uphill battle great things are being accomplished. On the other side of the scale, what has been built easily plummets into the abyss building downward momentum. It can certainly seem like that at any rate...

As they say, “life happens when we’re busy making other plans”, but on a hike, we should place our steps carefully and deliberately. Still, my thoughts are often in the clouds or with the horizon. And before I know it, I forget where I was and where I was headed; nonetheless, always finding another path to travel on in the end.

I wrote mountain trail in between circa March and April 2023. Mentally, I was already preparing for my vacation and the journey to Switzerland, Interlaken. Although I didn’t manage to finish writing the song before embarking on the journey, I managed to finish a decent enough part to continue pondering on the structure and listening to a first draft during the time in Switzerland. Little did I know, that that was only the first of many drafts to come. The song would actually take more twists and turns down the road. Starting with just shy of three minutes, in it’s final form the song eventually became longer than five minutes. It’s worth mentioning, that that was not an immediate intention of mine (I actually wanted to keep the song short) but rather natural development manifesting itself. I finished writing the song with all of its final embellishments only weeks after returning. What you listen to today is the final shape of the back and forth. A mountain trail with many ups and downs, secrets and perspectives.

The initial idea and intro (as well as the central theme of the story) came to me when I was exploring the new TC helicon amplifier I treated myself with, which Calum Graham inspired me to get. Since I first listened to Waiting by Calum Graham, I knew at once, that I would be writing at least one song with this tuning not knowing when and in what capacity this will actually come to pass. It turned out trying to learn the Liorah’s Lullaby was the spark needed. When I understood that this idea fully gripped me, I pushed the pause button on learning Liorah‘s Lullaby for now. Sometimes these ideas just get in the way of other things, but what can you do, right?

So, nature, the mountains, every day life as an uphill battle and a downward slope…Obviously on the musical side of things Calum Graham’s music was also an inspiration, but I feel there is some RD King essence hiding in there, as well. Personally speaking they are two of the greatest guitarists I look up to, so I welcome the inspiration.