Today South African star Elan Lea tells us about "Take The World" which is the lead single from his U.S. debut "Conversations Over Time". Here is the story: This was a great day.. It was in fact my last day of writing and recording in the UK. I literally had my bags packed and with me when I arrived at "Take the World" co-writers house Sam Roman, and piano and song writing maestro Andy Murray was already there. I had been introduced to Sam and Andy by my "Uncles" in the music business Dean Gillard and Matt Ward AKA - Full Phatt Productions. We set out to write an upbeat, happy inspiring piece of music. You see at heart I'm a balladeer. Give me an instrument and you're going to get a ballad or mid tempo record on most days haha! This is why we co-write, to bring in other ideas and flows :-) So like I say.. we set out to write something up tempo. We were in Sams massive writing/gym room, and we could make as much noise as necessary without disturbing anyone else haha. Andy immediately sat at the piano, upon meeting him I had no Idea he was such a genius at those ebony and ivories! Man, when he started playing and coming up with riffs my jaw literally hit the floor and only to hit the floor again when at the blink of an eye he could just switch keys he was playing in to where it was comfortable for my voice.
So the 3 of us around a piano began coming up with what is today "Take the World." This particular song began with melody and notes first, once we had the structure of it all established, so the fun began. Andy played on repeat to give Sam and I the bed upon which we could throw lyric ideas on, I can't remember exactly how we got to "Take the World" as a lyric but it had something to do with the fact, that thats exactly what Im trying to do - and most importantly to do so in my own way! In a few hours we'd gone from meeting, to writing, to recording the demo in Sam's home studio room, and today its my first single released throughout the USA - gotta love it! So about the actual song: Its all influenced by personal thoughts and feelings. The first verse is about doing things differently and looking for lines/paths/gaps others cant or are afraid to see, but also learning from previous mistakes, having lost when you/I should've won.
The pre Chorus: talks about life and the way people deal with the challenges in it, some people stand up to them and others break, but ultimately life is truly about appreciating what we have and the things we do. The Chorus: Is about "Taking the World" however you interpret that, its your version is the point! To live to the full, and to live in a way that is right to you, not just in anyone else's eyes! The 2nd verse: sometimes its just gob smacking when people can't live like that, with no want or desire to improve, or achieve whatever a goal may be, big or small! So sometimes when asked for advice I feel like I'm talking to myself – I think everyones been there!
Hearing is believing. Now that you know the story behind the song, listen for yourself here and learn more about Elan and the album right here!