Many of us can link a certain album to pivotal moments in our lives. Whether it’s the first record you bought with your own money, the chord you first learnt to play on guitar, the song that soundtracked your first kiss, the album that got you those awkward and painful pubescent years or the one that set off light bulbs in your brain and inspired you to take a big leap of faith into the unknown – music is often the catalyst for change in our lives and can even help shape who we become.
In this series, Music Feeds asks artists to reflect on their relationship with music and share with us stories about the effect music has had on their lives.
Don MacKenzie, Lucifer Gunne – Pixies, Doolittle
Dear Doolittle,
I would have first heard your voice while rocking out and headbanging to Dad’s music in my Mother’s womb, and you’ve been on my mind ever since. You were there for the countless drives home from rugby matches; you were there when I learnt ‘Debaser’ on my brand-less, knock-off Stratocaster; and you were there when I bumped into Rory, our singer, at your creator’s show. It’s weird writing this to you, as you’ve been here all of my life and admittedly, I’m nearly half your age. But they say that love is timeless and that is certainly true for my love for you.
You have been the album of my life and I have never fallen out of love with you. Every time I blast you through my headphones, I am filled with a joy that I can’t explain. There is a true momentum and energy in you that I’ve never seen with any other album. No song overstays its welcome and no matter where I am in life, I know I can count on you to distract me from what’s going on.
I had the pleasure of seeing Pixies on their Head Carrier tour in 2017 and against all odds, I got to hear a lot of songs from you. I was sat in the dining room eating dinner, knowing that Pixies were in town and I died inside knowing I wasn’t able to go. My Dad, having seen Pixies live twice while Kim Deal was on bass, had decided not to buy tickets and I was devastated that I wouldn’t be able to hear you in person after knowing you for so long. It was then when my friend, Henry, called me saying that he had a spare ticket. I dropped everything that I was eating to meet him there. The stars aligned and nothing was going to stop me from seeing you.
I lost my gig virginity that night to the pummelling bass line of ‘Gouge Away’, my favourite Pixies song. It was then when I knew I was meant to hear you live. All of that love and joy for you that had been contained within me for the past 17 years of my life was let out that night. I danced to ‘Mr. Grieves’, sung my heart out to ‘Hey’ and let out tears of joy hearing ‘Debaser’, one of the first songs I had learnt on guitar. By the end of the night I had completely lost my voice. You blew me away and left me breathless. You gave me the night of my life.
I can’t write this love letter without mentioning to you the second joy that you’ve brought me. In the crowd of thousands, I had bumped into a former bandmate I had in intermediate, Rory McDonald. He had just finished recording ‘The Red King’ EP and was looking for musicians to back him at shows. I quickly accepted the offer and that is where the band, Lucifer Gunne, had formed. Without you, I wouldn’t have been blessed with the second love of my life, Lucifer Gunne. Whether it’s the jagged guitar playing, fun lyrics or the non-stop drive, I try to incorporate as much of you as I can when we write for the band to thank you for everything that you’ve given me.
You’ve been there for me through thick and thin, have inspired me in my musical journey and have been the best album to rock out to for the past 18 years and I’m certain that I’ll spend many more years of my life with you.
Thank you for everything Doolittle
I love you
I love you
I love you
I do.
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Listen to Lucifer Gunne’s latest single ‘Energenetic’ here.
