City Lights is my second collaboration with producer Andrey, who goes by many different artist names. His pop dance-oriented persona is known as Wsdm.
At the time I wrote this, I was listening to a lot of Khalid, so I wanted to emulate some of his vocal phrasing. Patrick and I wrote the first verse together, so I used his voice as a guide for the range. I finished verse two in the wee hours of the morning, after binge-watching season 3 of The 100. Clare’s ill-fated romances weighed on me, and I imagined alternate universes for the bridge:
Finding the right singer was a puzzle. We found a pro we liked who took notes well, but something felt eerie about hearing him nail all the details of my demo, even little idiosyncrasies I thought of as mistakes. We released the song quietly, as I was uncertain about it. No regrets – just onto the next one. That’s the way it goes sometimes as you’re learning and practicing creativity.
I still really like this song. It means a lot to me, especially that bridge. Maybe someday I’ll record a version in my own key. KM
City Lights
Ask another stranger for the time
I don’t bother to keep count of the days
People always say they want a change of scene
But all I want to do is stay in one place
Somewhere out beyond these city lights
I can’t see them, but I know the stars are shining
Somewhere out beyond the neon night of the city lights
I know you’re looking up at the same sky
So I’ll keep looking up, looking up, looking up, looking up…
It’s been so long since I’ve heard your voice
You might not recognize my face
But I know if I could only hold you in my arms
You’d know exactly what to say to make it okay
Somewhere out beyond these city lights
I can’t see them, but I know the stars are shining
Somewhere out beyond the neon night of the city lights
I know you’re looking up at the same sky
In another life we’re side by side
And laughing at the thought
That in another life you and I
Wound up this far apart
Somewhere out beyond these city lights
I can’t see them, but I know the stars are shining
Somewhere out beyond the neon night of the city lights
I know you’re looking up at the same sky
So I’ll keep looking up, looking up, looking up, looking up…