I Am The Pilot

Album: Nut (2022)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "I Am The Pilot" is an empowering and uplifting song that celebrates the idea of letting go.

    "The song is really an instruction manual to mindfulness for myself," explained Tunstall to The Sun, "and trying to capture the soaring feeling of flying free that can come with sitting in meditative silence."
  • Tunstall wrote the song with Cathy Dennis and Martin Terefe. English songwriter Cathy Dennis has contributed to #1 songs by Kylie Minogue ("Can't Get You Out Of My Head"), Britney Spears ("Toxic"), Sugababes ("About You Now") and Katy Perry ("I Kissed a Girl").

    Swedish producer Terefe has written and produced songs for Tunstall since her 2004 debut EP False Alarm.

    "I love the percussive, tribal verses, the almost remix-like, euphoric choruses," said Tunstall, "and how the outro takes you on a new journey somewhere else."
  • Tunstall recorded "I Am The Pilot" for Nut. The album completes her trilogy of albums based on "soul, body and mind," with Nut being about the mind.

    The informal use of the term "nut" to refer to the brain or the mind harks back to ancient Egypt. In Egyptian mythology, Nwt (usually transcribed as "Nut") was the goddess of the sky who represented the celestial sphere. She was believed to be the mother of the sun god Ra and was associated with the concept of rebirth and renewal. In this context, the nut symbolizes the mind or consciousness, as it is often associated with higher thought and enlightenment.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Eric Clapton

Eric ClaptonFact or Fiction

Did Eric Clapton really write "Cocaine" while on cocaine? This question and more in the Clapton edition of Fact or Fiction.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."