Song Deconstructed: ‘Keep Out The Rain’ by Dom Malin

Dom Malin: “Music is my outlet for internalised feelings, and this song challenges us to be open to sharing thoughts and building relationships based on trust and love.”

Traversing through misunderstandings and internalised feelings, the Midlands singer-songwriter arrives at a place of resilience on this upbeat indie-folk number

Dom Malin is a Midlands-based singer-songwriter known for his warm and weathered indie-folk sound. With influences pulled from Americana, rock and folk and lyrics inspired by nature and personal experiences, Malin’s music captures a wide range of emotions, making his songs both relatable and authentic to his own experiences. His latest single, Keep Out The Rain, showcases his ability to blend emotive songwriting with a more upbeat, electric style. An instant favourite, we were desperate to know all about the parts that make up such an alluring whole, so it’s over to Dom…

INSPIRATION

The primary inspiration stemmed from personal experiences of optimism, frustrations, and resilience. These emotions resonate deeply with everyone, especially when working closely with others and sharing intimate spaces. As someone who internalises feelings, I often translate these into my music. The song reflects a journey through misunderstandings, hurtful words, and the struggle to communicate effectively within a close relationship. 

Specific events and universal themes played a significant role, particularly the challenges I’ve faced with communication and the desire to navigate emotional turbulence while holding onto hope for positive change. The initial idea sparked while on tour in Germany, during a reflective moment in Bad Berleburg. Sitting with my guitar, I found a theme of resilience, which resonated deeply as I processed the tour’s journey and the people I met. Music is my outlet for internalised feelings, and this song challenges us to be open to sharing thoughts and building relationships based on trust and love. The refrain about building a roof to keep out the rain symbolises creating a safe environment together despite challenges.

LYRICS

The lyrics developed organically, beginning with the guitar, which set the tone and thematic concept. Once I had a theme, I refined words and lines that best connected with the story, exploring melodies that accentuated the emotional impact and storytelling. Typically, I use an instrument to set the tone, allowing the lyrics to flow naturally until I find something that speaks to me and excites me. Procrastination and overthinking are common challenges, but I overcome these by taking walks, seeking feedback, or moving to different stages of the song. The breakthrough moment came when the musical integration reflected the theme perfectly, creating a seamless fusion of lyrics and melody. Refining the lyrics is an ongoing process, involving embodying the story and exploring new perspectives. Once I had the chorus, which expressed hope and revelation, I knew the verses had to be the internal monologue reinforcing the imagery and metaphors. Revisions and edits were made to ensure the flow, rhythm, and clarity of emotions remained intact.

Dom Malin: “Trust your instincts, know your audience, and have fun.”

MUSIC

Initially, the music had a relaxed, singer-songwriter style with four chords played using a slap/strum approach. During pre-production, I realised the guitar needed to be strummed to create a richer, fuller sound. The song is in the key of F minor, with the chorus following a 1-5-3-7 pattern and the verses shifting to a 1-4-3-7 pattern, building tension and releasing it in alignment with the lyrics. The melodies were crafted to mirror the emotional rise and fall. Although there weren’t direct musical influences, I considered how artists like Bruce Springsteen and Sam Fender might approach the song. This helped shape the sound during production while staying true to my folk roots. The song’s arrangement involved rhythmic variation, harmonic progression, and emotional mapping, similar to gears in a car, with the intro in gear one and the outro in gear five. The bridge provided a contrast to the verses and choruses, achieved through harmonic delivery and production choices.

Instrumentation was straightforward, focusing on a five-piece band arrangement, relying on subconscious intuition to maintain creativity. I demoed the song to explore ideas, ensuring the guitar and drum tones were right from the start, contributing significantly to the song’s development.

IN THE STUDIO

Recording this song was a streamlined process, completed in half a day. Having already demoed the song at home, I re-tracked instruments like drums, guitars, and vocals at Greenmount Studios in Leeds, a place known for its old gear and unique vibe. We recorded to tape using a two-inch 3M 16-track, aiming to capture the live sound of a performing band. Setting up all instruments in the same space and recording them together allowed the song to breathe, making quick, informed decisions and focusing on what the song needed. As a solo performer-songwriter, I handled most of the recording myself but collaborated closely with studio engineers to achieve the desired sounds. Their knowledge was crucial to the end result.

Recording in the live room with the gear enhanced the song’s cohesiveness, ensuring it felt like a live band performance. This hands-on approach differed from my initial concept, allowing me to follow the song’s arc and find that extra five percent. A memorable moment was discovering my perfect electric guitar setup, which consisted of a Collings 470 JL into a Magnatone amp, contributing significantly to the final sound.

Dom Malin: “Music is my storyboard to the world.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Reflecting on the completed song, I believe I stayed true to its integrity, achieving a balance between the lyrics, melody, and harmonic content. Listeners can discover something new with each listen. The creative journey taught me not to dilute my unique style and to take risks, as this new direction has opened many doors and brought new people into my life.

My advice to aspiring songwriters is to trust your instincts, know your audience, and have fun. Stay true to your roots, even during moments of doubt. Keep Out The Rain remained consistent with its initial concept, and the studio recording highlighted its potential in both acoustic and band environments. This reaffirmed the value of the initial spark. This song showcases the different aspects of my compositions and production skills, building on the foundations of previous releases while exploring new areas. Music is my storyboard to the world, and through it, I continue to grow and evolve alongside my audience.

Keep Out The Rain by Dom Malin is out now. For all the latest music and more, visit dommalin.com

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.