Singled Out: Tristan Clopet's The 4:45 Through Remembrance

Lyric: The 4:45 Through Remembrance is the first 'full story' song I've ever written. Beginning, middle, end, etc. But the appeal of the song comes from what's not said. Yes, there's a narrative, our character, while traveling on a train through rural landscapes and backyards sees ordinary objects and happenings that emote extraordinary reactions. So much so that he eventually suffers a near panic attack before being brought back to the surface by the loudspeaker of the train, reminding him of his dimension.

Why? What has this guy been through before he got on the train that day? It's a bit like a good scary movie rule of thumb - 'don't show the bad guy. That way, the unknown is automatically the worst case scenario for each viewer.'

It personifies it to the point where everyone can relate in the comfort of their own terms.

Music: Musically, which atypically came after the lyric, I knew I wanted something similar to a soundtrack. Something to mirror and enrich the emotions of our character. Several parts were needed. So I went through each stanza or section and found exactly the color that each situation needed.

I originally wrote it in C major, then transposed it a half-step up to C#, just to give it a bit of a tense edge.

Live: I like to throw a piece of music right into the end of the dream section, what I might imagine our character is listening to that day. Just as you would stare off into a dream or fall oblivious to your surroundings having been caught in a song or piece of music. Right now, it's Debussy's Claire De Lune, which might be my all-time favorite melody