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Black Stone

from Black Stone EP by The Belle Sounds

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about

I had written the beginning of the first verse, "I was born a December child, soft and wild, soft and wild" a while back. I sat with it for a while and wasn't sure how to create a song out of that line, but I knew it had to be the first lyric you hear. I gave myself the space to imagine why I conjured those words, and it became clear that I wanted to honor my childhood, growing up on Mt. Tamalpais in mill Valley, CA. I lived in the redwoods. I mean, in them. I walked out my door and was on the mountain. There was a Native American tribe that lived there years before, and so I was always digging up obsidian arrowheads and artifacts of their existence. I felt the spirituality of that place deep in my bones. It was my teacher and playground my whole young life. I used to drive to the top when I was 19 or 20 and just starting to play guitar. I would park my '67 Valiant on the peak, stare out at the ocean and play songs. The red tailed hawks would fly over me, as if they could hear and appreciated the music. When I was in college at San Diego State, I had my Native American Medicine Wheel read to me. It has to do with all of the earthly elements that represent your spirit. My stone is obsidian (the black stone), my animal is the Black Elk. My color is black, which explains my closet. There are other elements involved, but I found it fascinating when I read the connections between my personality and my elements. I also have to mention that Emily and I share the same birthday, and André is also a December child, so we have a lot of that kind of energy in our band. All of this finally came out in this "Ode to Mt. Tam" song, reflecting my appreciation for having a childhood like that, and how my heart still aches for that mountain, even after living in Austin for 10 years. In the studio, this was a one take deal for most of the band. André played his ass off on this track, so we kept every note.

lyrics

Black Stone (words and music by Noëlle Hampton)

I was born a December child
Soft and wild, soft and wild
I was born on a snowy night
With a light in my eye, a light in my eye
Dirty hands and dirty knees
A tomboy in the redwood trees
I was born a nature’s child
Soft and wild, soft and wild
Ooh ooh…

Paint my face with red dirt clay
Watch it dry and turn to gray
Hills of golden grasses sway
The rapture of a summer’s day

I was born in a sacred place
Where all those sacred lay in grace
I was born on a mountainside
Soft and wild, soft and wild
Sleeping lady majesty
I think of you, do you think of me?
A red tailed hawk on your highest peak
I dream of you, do you dream of me?
Ooh ooh…

Hold the broken bird in hand
Sugar water, help it stand
As it flies away again
Part of you will never mend

Black stone, Black stone, Black stone, like a mirror
Black Elk, Black Elk, Black Elk coming nearer
Black stone, Black stone, Black stone, I can see her
Black Elk, Black Elk, Black Elk across the river

credits

from Black Stone EP, released September 9, 2014
Noëlle Hampton: Acoustic Guitars/Vocals
André Moran: Electric Guitars
Emily Shirley: Keys/Vocals
Kris Nelson: Bass/Vocals
Evan Hutchings: Drums/percussion
Neilson Hubbard: Wurlizer/Synth
All: Body percussion loop

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The Belle Sounds Austin, Texas

Synth-pop quintet The Belle Sounds have been called “one of the best pop bands in Austin” (Austin American Statesman), “Best New Band” (Austin Chronicle) Their sound is rich with effervescent harmonies & poignant lyricism, floating guitars and sparkling synths, all anchored by a reverence for good old fashioned hooks. ... more

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