Ten minute tea with Afternoon Tea. Spend ten minutes with Afternoon Tea. In the time it takes to boil one kettle, and let one cup of tea steep, we will have your daily art + music fix covered. Take your afternoon tea break with our Afternoon Tea curators.
Today’s tea + soundtrack + visuals curated by Rory Taillon.
Alternative indie folk singer Rory Taillon (pronounced Tay-lawn) has a voice that needs to be heard. Since 2012, Rory has released three albums and two EPs with his fourth full-length album, Now It’s Quiet, due August 20th.
Trained as a classical singer from a young age, his years of study are evident in the power and control that he has over his voice. He uses his warm guitar tone, haunting lyrics, dynamic voice, layers of looping and the thumping of his kick drum to take the audience on a journey through his set from exhilarating highs to emotional lows.
“Wish You Would Stay” is the second single from his forthcoming LP. Not one to shy away from difficult subjects, his music confronts loss, grief and the struggles of mental health issues.
Stream + share “Wish You Would Stay” now:
About his latest inspiration, Rory says: “I was listening to an interview about songwriting exercises and heard a suggestion about naming a song and then writing it. I thought of ‘Death Wish’ (the title changed) and I really like double meanings, so I started writing a song about a conversation with the entity of Death and what I wish I could say to them.” Despite its depth and a slightly uncomfortable riff, Rory assures there is a brightness to it, remarking that “Wish You Would Stay” ultimately brings him joy.
Song: The World Spins Madly On by The Weepies
As soon as the idea of Ten Minute Tea was presented to me, this song popped into my mind. This surprised me as I hadn’t thought of this song or the video I’m recommending for many, many years. After putting some thought into the selection, I feel that my mind went right to this song because like, “Wish You Would Stay”, “The World Spins Madly On” is a very beautiful and happy sounding song that hides the darkness of the lyrical content.
It makes me think of a Tom Waits quote: “I like beautiful melodies telling me terrible things”
The line, “I thought of you and where you’d gone. And the world spins madly on…” speaks to my experience with losing someone I love and dealing with grief. You are stuck wanting to hold on to the moment and the memory of someone who is no longer there, but time continues to go on no matter what. And as the person left behind, you need to learn how to continue to move on with the passing of time.
Artwork: Thought of You by Ryan Woodward and Choreographed by Kori Wakamatsu
This almost feels like cheating, but the artwork that I’m recommending is, “Thought Of You” by Ryan Woodward which is an animated interpretation of “The World Spins Madly On” choreographed by Kori Wakamatsu. This is a beautiful piece of animation that to me shows someone dealing with loss and what it feels like to wrestle with the memory of someone who is no longer there. The main dancer dances with the memory of his loved one, but constantly, she disappears abruptly or dissolves just like dealing with grief. You can sit and remember someone you love, but eventually the reality that they are gone hits you abruptly and reopens the wound that the grief inflicted. I also love the one scene where the main dancer tries to get up from his sleep, but his body extends and tries to pull him back down under its weight. That reminds me of the feeling of grief and of depression where just getting out of bed some days seems impossible. I love this video, it is a beautiful piece of work.
Tea: Pomegranate Echinacea by Four O’Clock.
I find memories tied to flavours come rushing back to me with clarity with that first taste. Cheap honey lemon tea out of a paper cup immediately makes me think of being on the road touring. Fruit teas make me think of being at home with my wife, cozying up in our bed to watch TV or read a book or sit by the fire to warm up on a cool day. The Pomegranate Echinacea (with a bit of honey) is a lovely, subtly sweet flavour with a little bitterness that fills me with nostalgia of home and being with my favourite person. I feel like that matches with the sentiment of both the song and the video I have recommended today and I hope that you enjoy.
Tea + Me 