Song Premiere And Interview: Sister Hazel “All Goes By So Fast”
Aug 14, 2024
Sister Hazel – “All Goes By So Fast”
Americana Highways is hosting this premiere of Sister Hazel’s song “All Goes By So Fast,” from their forthcoming album, which is scheduled to be released on November 15 via Rock Ridge Music. This song will be available on August 16. The album was produced, mixed and recorded by Ben Jackson; recorded at East End Studio in Nashville; and mastered by Benny Quinn.
The song was written by Ken Block and Alaina Block. “All Goes By So Fast” is Mark Trojanowski on drums; Dave LaGrande on synths; Jett Beres on bass; Ryan Newell on guitars; Ken Block on lead vocals; Drew Copeland on background vocals; and Ben Jackson on additional synths, guitars, percussion, and programming.
Situated in Florida, Sister Hazel plays at a number of celebrations, festivals and gatherings regularly. Americana Highways had a brief chat with Ken Block about the song. The premiere appears just beneath the interview.
Americana Highways: Can you tell us what inspired you to write this song and what it’s about?
Ken Block: Actually, I was playing guitar at my house, and my 18-year-old daughter, Alaina, walked in the room in and asked if I wanted to write a song with her. Now, when your daughter asks that question, the answer is always gonna be YES! We had actually written two others over the years, but both times it was me initiating the ask. This was different.
AH: How did it come together? What was the songwriting process like?
KB: Alaina said she wanted to write something that felt like some of our earlier releases. She’s actually a fan of the band, which is amazing to me, and she knows our catalog really well. She’s moving out this August and starting college. It’s super emotional and really heavy for me! She and I are super close, so that was on both of our minds. That led to us talking about how “it all goes by so fast.” We just kept bouncing lyrics and melodies off each other, and it came together fairly quickly. She has a great sense of what sings well. And she’s a great “editor” if something I’m trying just isn’t working.
AH: What kind of a vibe were you going for on this song? How does the final version differ from what you imagined it might be before you went into the studio?
KB: At first, it was really acoustic guitar-based. More of a singer-songwriter vibe with a big chorus. I cut a demo of it that reflected that. I told Alaina when I took it to the band it might change vibe-wise and sonically. That’s our band process. And, man, it really did. Fortunately, she LOVES what we did. Me too! It’s very different from the demo. It still has the singer-songwriter melody and verses, but a huge chorus, and sonically it’s got a very cool groove and incredible power guitar work. We had a blast as a band getting creative and fresh with it. Our bass player, Jett Beres, really had a cool vision for us to run down. We swung the bat, and it really worked. It sounds amazing!
AH: What do you hope listeners get from hearing the song?
KB: Lyrically, I hope it makes people think and to pay attention to all the moments that matter, as they’re actually happening! To love on the the people you love in the now! And to realize that this life really does go by in a flash. Don’t blink. Don’t miss it. Sonically. I hope it makes people move, sing along, and crank it up!
AH: Have you played this song live? If so, what kind of reaction has the song gotten from audiences?
KB: We haven’t played it live yet, but we’re going to debut it live at one of our shows at our “Hazelnut Hang 18” event at Isle of Palms in SC. It’s one of our annual fan events, so it’ll be pretty special!
AH: What’s coming up next for Sister Hazel?
KB: Tour, write, record, release our new record, run our Lyrics for Life cancer foundation, host our 24th annual The Rock Boat, host our 18th annual Hazelnut Hang in SC, host our Euro-Hang river cruise. Enjoy our families, and have gratitude for all the fans who have supported us for three decades now! Lather, rinse, repeat!
And it all goes by so fast. Thanks very much for chatting with us Ken.
This song is about the raw emotions that are stirred up, for example when you have a baby and you turn around and they’re off to college. Written by father and daughter, arranged in summertime semi-80’s rock vibes and upswells, Sister Hazel will make you laugh and cry all at once on this one. “And it all goes by so fast / Nothing’s made to last / And we’ve all been fooled together / Thinking we’re gonna live forever / Yeah we’re gonna live forever.”
Song pre-save link: https://lft.lnk.to/