No Such Thing
This is my first single from my first major label album, Room for Squares. It's called "No Such Thing." And it's got that rapid-fire lyrical thing that you have when you're in your early 20s where you can't wait to get it out. And I think it sort of goes with the lyrics. You know, the sort of: I'm ready to go, I'm raring, let's go.
And so it's really interesting to get onstage now and sing, \[speaks very quickly] "welcome-to-the-real-world-she-said-to-me-condescendingly-take-a-seat-take-your-life-plot-it-out-in-black-and-white-well-I-never-lived-the-dream-of-the-prom-kings-and-the-drama-queens-I-like-to-think-the-best-of-me-is-still-hiding-up-my-sleeve-they-love-to-tell-you-stay-inside-the-lines.-inside-the-lines-but-something."
And I would argue that as you get older, you get more potent in what you're writing, and therefore don't have to write as many lines. But every time I hear the song, and every time I play the song, I'm reminded of that youthful zest, if you will. But it's just got that starting-gate energy. "It's called No Such Thing."
"Ends of the Earth" by Lord Huron
Lord Huron has been a favorite of mine since I discovered them in about 2012. And I had kind of considered them one of those bands that's everyone's little secret. Until I realized that they have streamed almost three billion times on one song called "The Night We Met." I suppose it's massive because of social media, and because it's a great song, but I will always remember my band that I discovered in 2012, where every song of theirs was great, and I personally listened to every one pretty equally, 'cause the record is so good. The record's called Lonesome Dreams. This is one of my favorite songs by Lord Huron. It's called "Ends of the Earth."
"Satellite" by Dave Matthews Band
When I first got a four-track recorder — and back in the day, it was unbelievable that you'd be able to get a home four-track recorder — you could record over yourself three times. Now, for those of you who know I like the sound of my own voice, multiply that by four. That's how happy I was.
But one of the songs I loved playing on a four track recorder was "Satellite" by Dave Matthews Band. Because I was able to lay down the original part: [sings main guitar riff from "Satellite"]. And then I went, [sings second guitar layer from "Satellite"]. And then I went, [sings violin melody from "Satellite"]. Then I harmonize that. [Sings harmonized violin melody.] So you could say that this song, "Satellite," kind of taught me about multitrack recording, 'cause it was one of the very first things I ever recorded on my home four-track. This is the finished product as performed by the original artist. It's called "Satellite," it's by Dave Matthews Band. It's on Life with John Mayer.