Now now now before we get ahead of ourselves, this is not a real collaboration. I have used an existing Buckethead song and added my own lyrics and melody without his knowledge.
This is where you can find the release called Far by Buckethead. https://bucketheadpikes.bandcamp.com/album/far
Well, this is weird and unexpected. After a chat with my Buckethead friend Doug, I found myself at his suggestion thinking about words to Buckethead songs. His song suggestions were Far and Dancing in the Snow, both of which I am not very familiar. I chose Far as I already owned it but hadn’t yet really listened to it. It’s very difficult to listen to all of Buckethead’s work as it is a vast catalogue.
This is what has transpired in the last 48 hours.
I finally got my collaboration with Buckethead, well, a simulation anyway. 😭😂 (Of course, Buckethead is not involved here). And this song too…it’s so bizarre! Of all songs to pick. The emotions I felt while working on it were possibly almost as good as a proper collaboration with Buckethead so it was a very worthwhile exercise for me and I tell you what, hearing my voice interwoven with Buckethead’s guitar is magical for me.
Over the last decade (or more) I’ve tried in various forms to contact Buckethead for a collaboration, all with no success. These attempts included snail mail, emails, multiple trips to the USA…. I was serious!
Ironically, and in my usual fashion, I took my friend’s suggestion literally. He was most likely trying to make me feel better and probably had no idea that I would actually write the melody and lyrics and record the thing. The Far release by Buckethead is a gorgeous work and I think he may be hinting at Cosmicism here; the HP Lovecraft theology, I guess you would call it. It’s only speculation but I decided to go with that as inspiration anyway. My lyrics are inspired by a deep long relationship, platonic or romantic, metaphor crossed with hints of Lovecraft’s Cosmicism which also make great relationship metaphors in parts. I decided to stay close to Buckethead’s melody in the first section while expanding out as it goes along into my own melodic direction. My vocals are me working in a one take marvel mode and I like that human element shining through in a world of over processed unnatural vocals. I really tried to make my voice match the magnificence of Buckethead’s guitar and I did a very fun octave belt over his one chord per bar section. For the first time in my life, I used a long reverb on my vocals. Normally I like things very dry and natural but I think the song calls for it.
Because it was such a beautiful process – thrills and goosebumps galore – I might make these little Buckethead songs unwitting collabs a regular occurrence. Hopefully he won’t mind and life is short.
Press the play button on the video at the top of the page to have a listen. Photos of Buckethead were taken at Sony Hall in New York City in 2024. My pics were screen captures while recording today.
Lyrics by Anne-Lise Larsen
Seems so far
And do you know
Where the time has gone my friend?
You know that
We still care for each other
Still care, for what we once were
What if we break through and find what we’re looking for and see it’s looking back at us? Back at us.
Seems so far
Angle of the sun
Reflecting from your silver eyes
Before I start my journey
Before the lane I turn
Are you ready to face the great unknown?