Insomnia

by Aphra Taylor

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This song was written during the first coronavirus lockdown in 2020 and explores themes of sleeplessness, guilt, and forgiveness.

“I just remember that I couldn't sleep properly for like a week. I was finally falling asleep at like 5am everyday and sleeping for about 3 hours at most. It was a really tough time for everyone and I just remember finding the concept of being stuck inside with all of my thoughts debilitating".

Insomnia explores the impact of past relationships on later life. Lyrics such as ‘the space is bigger than the picture’ reflect the feeling of getting rid of photographs of someone you loved and being struck by how their absence is a more bitter reminder of the person than the
presence of the photos.

“I was stuck in my room which had so many reminders of a past toxic friendship and I couldn't stop thinking about things they had said to me which were so cruel. There was then this added level of my own actions and I was completely consumed by feelings of intense guilt which led to my sleeping problems”.

“Writing this song was a very healing process for me as it allowed me to work through my feelings and assess who I was as a person and how I went about relationships with other people. It also allowed me to forgive people for the ways they treated me and to forget about them so that I could move on with my life".

This song is the second of three new songs to be released in the lead up to my appearance at Truck Festival 2022 (I play the Veteran's and Virgins stage at 1:30pm on the Friday).

I have attended every Truck Festival since I was born, I was so excited when I heard that I had been selected to play by BBC Introducing and it's even more special that it's Truck's 25th anniversary this year! It seemed a perfect opportunity to release the new songs...

lyrics

I’ve been an insomniac,
For about a week,
And I want my sleep back.
Coz you’re still there,
At 5am,
Saying everything you hate about me.
You were always kind,
Until you weren’t.
Reeling hearts,
Forming parts,
Of a blue star.

When the space is bigger than the picture,
I’ll burn it ‘til I feel warm.
I knew when your breathing got heavy,
You’d say the words,
Wrap them round my form.

And please,
Please find yourself,
Something to love,
More than a person.
Coz oh I’ve learnt,
You can’t rely,
On a soul if it’s not open.

When the space is bigger than the picture,
I’ll burn it ‘til I feel warm.
I knew when your breathing got heavy,
You’d say the words,
Wrap them round my form.

And the space is bigger than the picture,
So I’ll burn it ‘til I feel warm.
I know when your breathing gets heavy.
You’ll say the words,
Wrap them round my form.

I’ve been an insomniac,
For about a week,
And I want my heart back.
Coz you’re still there,
At 5am,
Memories more vivid than the life I’ve been living.

credits

released June 22, 2022
All songs written by Aphra Taylor.
All vocals and instrumentation by Aphra Taylor.

Artwork by Aphra Taylor.

Produced and Mixed by Aphra Taylor.
Mastered by Tim Turan (Turan Audio).

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about

Aphra Taylor London, UK

Indie/Folk musician from Oxford now based in SE London.

'Aphra has a sleepy-eyed mellifluous voice that allows her gentle ruminations to sparkle'- Nightshift Magazine

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