The Indie-Folk Artist Sage Of New England Delivers An Awakened And Inspired Single About The Spirit Of Generosity And Compassion
Woodstock, NY-based Sage of New England, an indie-folk act comprised of songwriter/guitarist/vocalist Matthew Hayes Jacobs and producer Justin Tracy, have released “Racunga”, the fifth single off of their upcoming EP, “Encounter“. “Racunga” details a fictional spirit of the same name, calling for the generosity, compassion, and adventure embodied therein to come forth from within the hearts of the song’s listeners. An “agent of kindness,” Racunga reminds us all that we are not alone and that we should live life to its fullest.
“Racunga”, with its ambient tones and acoustic expertise, is sincere in its message and mellow in its delivery. The lyrics are deeply personal to Hayes, who wrote this song in a dark period twelve years ago as a means to cope with the mental health challenges he was dealing with at the time. While not everyone can completely relate to this, we are left feeling a kinship of sorts by the time the song ends.
This song is meant to convey the hope that ought to be felt in dark times, with the offered promise of brighter times ahead. The line, “Racunga, come on out,” could therefore be seen as a mantra, easily remembered by listeners as a means to express that hope. As it were, this devotional is one of strength and visions of future joy.
We also got a chance to glean some insights from Matthew Hayes Jacobs about this new single:
How did you come to find the inspiration to write the lyrics to “Racunga”?
While going through a rough time, I came up with the lyrics wanting to invoke positive qualities in myself and others. The song and lyrics are like a ritual for this.
MJH
You’ve been on record as being influenced by Bjork and Radiohead, among other musicians of the 1990’s. What other artists helped inspire the mellow musicality of “Racunga”?
I am really into Brazilian music, and I was inspired by many Brazilian artists’ soulful and genuine qualities.
MJH
Since “Racunga” feels so chill in its end result, we’d like to know: For you, what was the most daunting part of the production process for you when working on this song?
At first it was unclear which direction to go in with the production. While collaborating with Justin, my producer, we came up with some wonderful ideas, backing vocals, great synth sounds, groovy drums and bass. We’re happy with the end result.
MJH
While music is different for everyone, what messages do you think your listeners should take from “Racunga”?
That inner peace is possible for everyone, and that overcoming hardship will be worth it in the end.
MJH
Ultimately, we can all learn a thing or two from “Racunga”, and, by that same token, Sage of New England. The upcoming EP, which releases next month, will further explore themes of transformation and compassion. Sage of New England’s instrumentation has been influenced by the likes of Bjork and Radiohead, among other 90’s influences.
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