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Click on the song title above for lyrics and songwriting credits
Marianne Faithfull and her grandson musician/producer Oscar Dunbar feature together on this new version of ‘Love Is’, a tender rumination on the mystery of love. Written by Marianne and Oscar the song, released today, also features Marianne’s granddaughter Eliza on violin. The artwork for the single is by Maggie Hambling, from her series Nightingale Night, that use the nightingales song as a metaphor for the fleeting beauty of life.
“‘Love Is’ feels like a connection with my grandmother which I’ll always treasure, and every time I listen to the song, I’m transported back to being with her. 50 percent of love is sadness and, as Oscar Wilde said, ‘hearts are meant to be broken’. I feel this song touches on that side yet also has a feeling of hope, of looking back and forward simultaneously.” Oscar Dunbar
An alternative version of the song, produced by Head, was included on the Burning Moonlight EP, released on vinyl in April for Record Store Day and digitally on June 6. Now Oscar’s version, produced by his friend Oscar Gumuchdjian, is released. Here he tells us about the genesis of the song:
“Marianne was the most maternal, caring and loving grandmother one could ever hope to have. It was a joy, an utter to joy to know her. Beyond her innate loveliness, she was highly intellectual, inspiring and funny (sometimes by accident!) Music meant everything to Marianne, and she turned me on too much of what is now the foundations of my taste. One afternoon whilst watching Call the Midwife or Star Trek together, I was noodling away with the guitar, Marianne heard the riff I was playing and liked it. I suggested that we should write a song around it, and she agreed. Marianne went on to write the lyrics and I finished the music; we came up with the melodies together. My friend Oscar Gumuchdjian produced the song and at the end of recording it felt like the track could do with one extra part. Fortunately, my little sister Eliza is a virtuoso on the violin, so we recorded her and I think it gives the song just another flavour which helps get the message across.” Oscar Dunbar
