It Makes Me Smile Too!

It Makes Me Smile Too by Matthew Gair

I wanted to write a song that had a very Zim feel to it. I love Zim music, from Tuku to Chimbetu. The amazing musicianship of Zim guitarists is awe inspiring. So I have been trying to come up with something catchy. A love song that got cutesy and then didn't take itself very seriously and then got fun again.

I miss being in Zim and I suppose absence makes the heart grow fonder! Hence the mbira obsession and now the pseudo-jit stylings on It Makes Me Smile Too.

The ambiance was recorded in Zambia by a friend on location for a shoot which is great because it immediately plonks you in the world I'm trying to create with the guitars. The words don't reference Zim at all but I like that, I wanted to music to do the talking and the words to bring another flavour in.

Into and out of the Bridge there is a looped voice that comes from the last word of the third verse and the last word of the bridge. It's pitched up in semi tones and ushers in the bridge and then lets us leave it. I like the way it sounds, it's fun, quirky....reminds me a little of those old circuses for some reason. Into the bridge it starts on the previous note and pitches up to the first note of the bridge vocals.

The guitars were recorded with analogue gear to give them some warmth. Basically the track is one guitar playing three parts and a lead, bass and a couple types of shaker but I like how full it sounds. It sounds like a lot more is going on. I hope you like it!