Loved ones we have lost is a bittersweet thing to consider. We all have that yearning, that need, to see them, hold them, smell them, and hear their voice, jut one last time. Steffany Beck, from Portland in the USA but now resident of Ōtautahi, verbalises her wishes to see her late father one last time, in heart-rendingly beautiful verse and music.

Steffany‘s Dad was a carpenter by trade, and he passed ten years ago, leaving Steffany, her mother and siblings. Steffany tells us of his strength, and of his Fatherly ways. And of how his presence is everywhere she looks. The melody is a moving one, with poignant lyrics and a gorgeous chorus where she proudly calls out herself as a Carpenter’s Daughter.

It’s an acoustic Country song. Steffany has a wonderful, in fact perfect, pitch for the genre. Her timbre is soprano, but she’s got a set of pipes that let her reach for the skies when she needs to. She delivers very well indeed vocally, and, as mentioned, has written beautiful lyrics. The track was recorded by Ben Edwards at Lyttleton’s Sitting Room studio, and went to Kog for mastering by Chris Chetland. The acoustic guitars are nicely layered, delivering a warm tone underscored and well supported by the bottom end. The keys are chosen well and intertwine with the backing vocal. Really sweetly done.

The video is spot on for the song. It’s a performance video, in what looks like it was Dad’s workshop, with flashes of the tools and other acoutrements one would expect to find in the old man’s cave. Nicely lit, and non-challenging camera angles and timing, just what the track deserved. Well done to Neato Productions and Lustre Audio for their respectful, perfectly weighted restraint for this piece.

Steffany‘s piece for her Dad really touched me. It’s obvious she loved her Dad fiercely, and respected him because he deserved it. Well, as a Dad myself, and a Gen Xer (Steffany mentions her Dad playing his 80s music) to boot, I can tell her that if the song were for me I would be bursting with pride at how my little girl turned out, and what a wordsmith she is. I have no doubt that, with him being the Man she sings about, he’s sitting beside her in that video, nodding his head gently with the beat, wiping away a happy tear as he watches and knows that she’s going to be just fine, and that she keeps him with her always. Well done Steffany Beck, you did your Dad proud here and I have no doubt you always have.

It’s Country, and should be seen live. Fortunately Steffany plays live a lot! Be sure to catch her at the Canterbury Folk Festival this year. I have no doubt there will be more shows. An immensely talented vocalist and songwriter, with a love of the live show! What a winning combination.

The vid is on the You Tubes, and the audio is on her Spotty Fly and ours too, of course. Even if Country is not your scene, give this track a listen. It’s poignant, got beauty and a resonance with all of us who have someone we would wish to just get one more moment with. Us Welsh have a term: Hiraeth, for which there is no direct English translation. It captures the yearning, the loss, and the underlying love behind those feelings, for a person or persons, a place or a time, that you can never quite get back.

You’ll be glad you gave Steffany a listen. She’s GOT to get this on air in Nashville.