South London’s Crystal Palace has provided an ideal setting for Paul Garside’s songwriting, and this sense of place is evident in the warmth and individuality of his music. Garside approaches his work as a careful observer of everyday life, displaying a bit of dry British humour and a good understanding of folk storytelling. The way one listener described him as “The Kinks if they had been a roots folk group” is appropriate here. The song “Mariana Trench”, which was recorded at RMS Studios in Selhurst Park, presents him as an artist willing to turn difficult subjects into hopeful songs.
Released on September 1 this year, “Mariana Trench” addresses depression by using the image of the deepest part of the ocean: a place characterised by pressure, darkness, great distance, and isolation. However, the song is not concerned with staying underwater; instead, its main theme is recovery, and its strongest feature is how hope comes about rather than being imposed. The rising and falling movement of the chords mirrors the emotional struggle, yet the song moves forward. When the chorus comes along, it is as if the clouds have finally broken. This feeling of relief is what gives the song its gentle emotional strength.
How Garside sings is right for the song since it sounds human and natural. Instead of forcing the expression of emotion, he lets the words carry the weight, thus conveying the impression of a songwriter sharing with his listeners something very important to him. Although his phrasing is conversational, there is still a sufficient amount of feeling beneath the surface to ensure that the more sombre sections have their intended impact. In contrast, the chorus has an even greater effect, beginning with a feeling of relief and a renewed vigour. There is a certain similarity between listening to the song and watching someone find their way back to firm ground.
Folk music plays a major role in that experience. Jamie Jordan’s Scottish bodhran provides the song with a steady beat, and JJ Bugoma’s Ugandan percussion contributes colour, rhythm, and a tangible feeling of movement. Thanks to them, the track doesn’t end up being overwhelmed by its theme. The production is designed to have a spacious, “big room” quality, giving the instruments room to breathe and making it easy to hear their individual characteristics.
The aspect that remains with me most is the contrast between a song on depression that never romanticises the darkness but yet manages to find beauty in the process of getting out of it. Garside realises that hope can be subtle, flawed, and yet still powerful enough to have an impact on people. “Mariana Trench” is folk music with a beating heart, based on genuine emotion and enhanced by a production that knows how to move forward and when to allow the song to breathe. Towards the end, the song seems less like one about being lost and more like one about remembering that the surface is still there. Listening through headphones, I found myself playing the song on repeat, which is an essential part of the music.
Listen to “Mariana Trench” on Spotify
