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- December 29, 2021
“It’s a beautiful world if you open your eyes / It’s a beautiful world if you’re willing to live like it’s your last day” is a chorus line within Ghosts of Our Former Selves’ newest single, “Beautiful World,” that will undoubtedly create a warm glow in your heart and set your day on an upbeat path. Recorded at Metropolis Studios in London, the up-tempo track fuses modern soul and funk. The band worked with funk keyboard master Jon Moody (Frank Moody) to create the uplifting energy that brings this track to life. As is a trademark of the band’s songwriting, the sound and title of “Beautiful World” belie its deeper meaning, and a deeper dive into the lyrics reveals a poignant contrast of dark and light. Theo Brehony, singer and lyricist, explains
It’s actually about feeling trapped by life – I’m having a conversation with myself in the song. You start negotiating with yourself, making plans and promises but you have to be careful not to fool yourself. You can turn around and life has passed you by. I always had this feeling that the world is so beautiful that you have to live like it’s your last day.
Comprised of Theo Brehony, guitarist Sanderson Rocha, and producer Fred Ala, the London-baed band released their second album in 2020, filled with laser-written songs addressing everything from a relationship where time is running out, fathers, internet dating, and many more. They are a force of funk live and have supported Beverley Knight on tour and played Secret Garden Festival, winning over new fans every night. For the two summers pre-2020, they toured France, playing shows in the most beautiful settings within castles and vineyards. They traveled with a small camera crew in tow to capture every moment; that tour footage is now used in their music video for “Beautiful World” as motivation for all there is to look forward to in the future.
Jazzy piano keys set the backdrop for Theo’s introspective lyrics for the first verse of the track. As the track builds into the chorus, more instruments are introduced to complement the swell in joyful emotion that frames the grounding belief of living life to its fullest no matter what. The video cuts between tour memories, band scenes, and solo scenes of Theo as he sings out his inner thoughts in a forceful tone that drives the message home with listeners. If you’ve been feeling stuck in the reptition of the world recently, this is the song you want to listen to before heading in 2022 to not only uplift your spirits, but also to set intentions for how you may want to approach the new year.
