Michael Rudd “Chained to a Stone”
Americana Highways presents this premiere of Michael Rudd’s song “Chained to a Stone” from his forthcoming album, set for release vial Invisible Road Records. The album was produced by Michael; recorded and mixed by Jason Reed at Frogville Studios in Santa Fe, NM; and mastered by Carl Saff at Saff Mastering, Chicago.
This song will be released on August 28.
“Chained to a Stone” is Michael Rudd on vocals and electric guitar; Pat Malone on electric guitar; Mark Clark on drums; Susan Hyde Holmes on electric bass; and Brant Leeper on clavinet.
Michael shared a few details and gave perspective on this song: “‘Chained to a Stone’ is from the perspective of a narrator whose mental illness feels like an enormous weight, a burden that he needs to somehow bear every day and night. He is anxious, frustrated, and beyond help, but he still carries that “stone,” having no choice. This is one of a number of songs on the album that deals with aspects and perspectives of mental illness.
“Inspiration for writing the song came from many friends and family members who deal with the oppressive nature of their own brand of mental illness, whether it’s all-pervasive voices, intrusive thoughts, OCD compulsions, or a host of other disabling obsessions. The pain is real and unrelenting. In the middle of the worst of it, you feel beyond hope or redemption, and even beyond prayer. All you can do is hold on until the struggle lets up a bit.
“The approach to the singing and phrasing and lyrics tried to keep all of that in mind. Creating a melody that does justice to that level of despair seems counter-intuitive – how can melody exist at all when a brain in crisis is filled with chaos and dissonance? I tried my best to capture the experience the best I could. I don’t think there’s a single human emotion or experience that can’t be the subject of a song. It’s just a matter of figuring out the most authentic way to express it.”
Not every song is optimistic and upbeat; some of them plumb the depths of the more difficult aspects of human experience, and this song is of the latter type lyrically in combination with at least a touch of the former musically. Sometimes we humans encounter Sisyphean struggles, as Michael sings, “It’s too late to pray, I wouldn’t know what to say, Chained to a stone, And I drag it up that hill alone, Just watch it, watch it fall again.” And although it feels like we are all alone in our challenges, songs like this reach out and let you know you’re not alone, as it brings catharsis. Your toe might even start tapping along and there’s a spirit of solidarity.
You can find the music here: https://open.spotify.com/album/4KLH54GsLwJ8kjq9ShnGAa
Enjoy some of our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Michael Rudd “Ways of the World”