When I Started Loving You
ORIGIN STORY
I am a romantic. But I have never found the love I have most wanted… or maybe it’s never been requited. This song captures that longing, and also that moment when the search is over and love is found.
I was in my early 20s. I was a newly signed songwriter, visiting LA, and trying to write all of these pop songs for other artists. I was outside walking on the streets and heard a romantic melody. It wasn’t for anyone else and I loved it.
I just let it incubate for years. Ian helped me come up with the lyrics in the verses. He introduced the feeling of gambling and win or lose. And finally in 2012 I sat a piano and tried to really bring it all together. You can hear me mumbling through the work in progress here:
It still wasn’t done, but I knew I loved it. It reminded me of the romantic movies like Singing In The Rain or La La Land. When I moved to Nashville in 2016 I asked Alex Wong if he’d help me bring that part of the song forward. I hired him and some local musicians to re-create a 60 piece orchestra. Alex arranged the music (including a key change in the bridge that I loved). And the song really became an epic experience!
I love this version! I’m so excited to share this recording with you here now. It got me through some hard years. I would blast this song in my headphones when I felt most alone on our long tours and I would imagine the most romantic music video you’ve ever seen!
But when it came to the album, I just felt like this version was too much. It’s the kind of recording that needs a music video or movie or story for new listeners to find their way into it (which I’m not entirely ruling it out!). But for the album, I decided to do a version that was simpler. I kept the key change, but transferred the arrangements to a string quartet with the help of Gideon Klein.
The hardest part of being a recording Artist is actually choosing the definitive recording you want to share with the world. I love both versions, but I feel like I made the right choice for this album. I’d love to know what you think in the comments!
