Tim Allan stops by Happy Mag for a track-by-track guide of his stellar new EP, Songs I Used To Busk With.
Earlier this year, we were treated to Tim Allan’s debut EP Songs I Used To Busk With. Previewed by the March single By Your Side, the seven-track collection forefronts the Melbourne singer’s candid lyricism and raw vocals, as anchored by an acoustic-pop sound.
Fittingly, Songs I Used To Busk With is comprised of tracks once performed by Allan along the streets of Melbourne, though the EP itself proves that the singer’s reach stretches well beyond his hometown, with universal tales of love, coming-of-age and family.
Fresh off the launch of his EP last month, we caught up with Tim Allan for a track-by-track run through of each song on Songs I Used To Busk With, from the “pop-rock banging” single to the “fast and chaotic” Little Rock. Check out Allan’s track-by-track guide below, and head here to listen to the EP on Spotify.
By Your Side
The EP opens with a pop-rock banging opener. Like the rest of the EP, we originally recorded this song entirely acoustic. It was only once we finished that we realised the opportunity to fill it out.
I’m proud of the arrangement we came up; it’s this fusion of synths, sax, pop and rock influences, with all my chops laid out in a shredding guitar solo. The song came out so good that I had to drop it as the first single and put it at track one.
We’re also dropping the music video for this song in June, which was a blast to make. It especially lays out the yearning that comes with any long distance relationship, and that’s what this song’s all about.
Take It All Away
I remember the exact moment in 2016 when I was sitting in a café on Collins Street, having coffee before a busking session. I was journaling about where my relationship was at the time and how I was feeling.
That became this song. It’s an open book. The song builds up one layer at a time and crescendos into a huge bridge, before we literally take it all away. This song’s as vulnerable as I’ve ever been and is a remake of the first song I ever released in 2017.
Little Rock
Scrolling through my family history one day, I found out ‘Allan’ literally translates to ‘Little Rock’. I have no clue what that means, but I named this song after it. Little Rock is about me; where I’ve come from and where I am.
I’ve updated this song with new verses over the years. The verses have always been fast and chaotic. They’re biographical and move so fast, kind of like I’ve felt my life has been. Whereas the hook line is the breath in between. I wrote the last few verses about where I’m at now in my life.
Juliet
Juliet is the most requested song I have. It’s the lovey-dovey fingerpicking ballad with all the cheese you could stuff. Check out the lyrics of the bridge, I’m actually super proud of them. I was sitting on a train at Flinders Street when I texted them to my girlfriend and she immediately replied in all caps, ‘YOU HAVE TO MAKE THAT A SONG’.
Those lyrics turned into Juliet, a song that’s become a staple in the live set. Whether I actually write it on the set or not, I know someone will call it out.
Last Kiss
I wrote this song at 16 and it is the epitome of teenage angst. This song is so fun and it’s swift, brash and absolutely unapologetic. I used to have so much fun playing this song in Southbank, building loops and bitching about an ex. Relatable.
For All of Time
I wrote For All of Time after my Nan passed away. The song was from the perspective of my Pa and in a way, was a cathartic goodbye from the both of us. When she passed away, he kept doing the little things around their home that they used to do together. Simple things like making tea for two; that’s what inspired this song.
The last section of the song is about how they’ll be together again. He began to wither away quickly after her death and so whenever I play this song, I remember them sipping tea together. It gives me this beautiful comforting feeling that they’re together again now.
Everytime
Everytime was the first song I ever wrote that made me feel like I could make this music thing happen. I remember the exact moment I was looking up at the night sky, waving goodbye, when I came up with that chorus. I dashed into my bedroom and smashed out the song.
It was an electric feeling. It’s boppy, acoustic and simple, like so many of the best songs are. It was 2012 when I wrote that song and I played it almost every day after, whenever I performed, up until 2019. The song used to close my shows, so I felt it was perfect that it closes this EP. Almost like the perfect bookend to that chapter of my life.
I’m so excited to continue on this musical journey so follow me for the ride and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.
