Lauren Passarelli’s richly resonant interpretation of George Harrison’s 1973 gem, “Be Here Now,” does more than just cover a classic. She resurrects it with art, reverence, and a personal stamp to call her own. As a multi-talented hyphenate, songwriter, producer, recording engineer, and Berklee College of Music guitar professor, Passarelli brings her decades of musical experience, along with an abundance of intuition, to the track, which feels both ethereal and grounded, yet sensory.
Passarelli’s masterful slide guitar plays like sunlight through stained glass, ushering you into a state of calm presence. With a tender and confident voice, she sounds simultaneously fragile and wise. Home recorded and mixed, Passarelli gives everything a sense of intention while adding just the right amount of texture. The XO drum groove, along with the sounds of the Indian swarmandal and tanpura, contributes to the meditative vibrations of the recording. There are also some MIDI guitar-driven strings and cello, which lend the song some cinematic swells, propelling it into a dreamlike space.
Kate Chadbourne’s gentle piano and Mike Bishop’s sturdy bass provide the track with warmth, and Passarelli plays every other instrument and sings every layer with the touch of a pro who still loves tending to all the small things. “Be Here Now” is a reminder that there is beauty in the quiet and in Lauren Passarelli’s hands, that beauty becomes something transcendent. This song is a feeling, a breath, a pause, a peace we all need.
Connect with Lauren Passarelli on Instagram – @lpassguitar
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