Paul Garside – Mariana Trench (2026)
What began as a musician strumming along on his acoustic guitar grew into the international collective, Paul Garside. From London, England, to Finland, Poland, Uganda, and Scotland, the eclectic group embraces the power of remote collaboration to create sophisticated, original music – and the members haven’t even met face-to-face. This is my introduction to Paul Garside, but his Spotify shows a discography heading back to 2020’s ‘This Is Hard Enough Without Your Help’. Join us as we turn up the speakers on the latest single, ‘Mariana Trench’.
Produced by UK-based Andy Le Vien and mixed by Finland-based Niilo Sirola, ‘Mariana Trench’ is a musical concoction described as “expansive and creative” and “a burst of sunshine after the clouds move away.” Using an organic arrangement, Garside’s guitar drives the melody with a charming effect. JJ Bugona adds a cinematic hush with shakers, while Jamie Jordon’s bodhran beats in the background. Tyson Trbczyski’s bold bass grabs you, while Chris Madden inserts a wistful flair with the keyboards.
For me, listening to ‘Mariana Trench’ is like walking along a sonic path with a refreshing breeze rustling in the trees; a light chill dances on your skin, a sense of comfort grows as you take a sigh of relief and enjoy the moment. Interestingly, the track is about hope, empowerment and moving from dark to light – just like being on that sonic path. Paul Garside explains:
“This song is about overcoming depression… I felt very alone and isolated, very far away, in the dark and under lots of pressure. It seemed apt. When I came up with tended to descend and ascend – kind of like dealing with my moods when affected by my particular strand of depression… Although it’s about dealing with depression, I think it’s probably the most positive and uplifting song I’ve ever written. It’s not quite anthemic, but it’s as close to an anthem as I’ll ever write. The basic message is “swim up”… get to the surface and breathe the air. You will make it.”
Find out more about Paul Garside on his Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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