Tag: alternative music

My latest song is, “Reflection of Distant Eyes”. This song is about seeing someone whose life has been enveloped in darkness, but offers a potential wayout through God and prayer.

Lyrics:

Waned Sun has set now
Moon has failed to rise
Light passed to shadow
Reflection of distant eyes

Trapped in the cold place
Bleak, sodden earth round
Mists start to gather
Weak voice will not sound

Waned Sun has set now
Moon has failed to rise
Light passed to shadow
Reflection of distant eyes

Love need to gather
Prayer life needs to sound
God please be with you
Let yourself be found

Sun starts to rise now
Dark is all behind
Left your deep shadow
With God all is peace inside

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If you enjoy the track, please consider downloading to offer some support.

I have released “Waves” for download, my latest music album.

Currently it consists of three tracks:

01. Sun Becomes My Leaven

02. You Opened One Eye – Classical Version

03: Now You Fall In The Shade – Classical Version

Each song comes in both MP3 and WAV formats.

The idea for the album came after editing “When I See Your Child’s Face”. After creating this track and uploading, I felt a little unhappy. The song was sickly sweet, in that the melody lacked depth and complexity. It was like the “intent memory generators” (baby goggles) scene in Donny Darko. There was no darkness. I had been using only white keys on the keyboard up until that point, and I was noticing, firstly, that the songs were always on the uplifting side of the spectrum, and also, that the song was using leading melody notes instead of using chords, and letting the melody sing for itself.

So, I adapted the song. I decided to learn how to use chords. This was a lot harder for me than writing melodies, and I have so little idea of what I am doing, that I don’t know if I’m breaking rules or what not. Everything I do and make is by ear. I don’t follow any music theory.

Once the new song began to materialize, I realised how poweful black keys and minor chords could be. They provided tension and contradiction; an ambiguity to proceedings. Eventually, I felt that I had a song with not only more sonic depth, but it also reflected my bittersweet perspectives about my positive, but long distance, relationship with my daughter, and also, lyrically, in the contrasting perspectives on life of an adult and child. I called this song, “Sun Becomes My Leaven” . I had to change some lyrics from the first song to work with the new added darkness.

Once I had this initial song, I was eager to transfer my melody reverse techniques to both, “Now You Fall In The Shade”, and, “You Opened One Eye”. Both songs are lyrically quite sad or melancholic in nature, and so the introduction of minor chords worked well. In fact, I am happy with all three songs, as they only sound similar in lyrics to the originals. Combining both major and minor chords provides a totally different sound and complexity.

The third step I took with all three songs was to minimise the more electronic synthesizer sounds, and introduce classical instruments. I felt that this added further depth and emotion. There is something about classical strings which connects with the soul. I still left some electronic sounds in there, but they are subtle, there to pad, or add a little dissonance.

Lyrically, the songs remained much the same, which is to say that the songs remain quite raw. The songs were all originally written in states of high emotion. I find it easier to write in these periods. The lyrics are highly personal. Although I felt in some way that perhaps I shouldn’t share my feelings, especially where others were lyrically involved, I wanted a record of this period, particularly for my daughter, and also for others.

I called the album, “Waves”, without giving much thought. But if I were to analyse, I would say that we are all on a sea, sometimes calm, and sometimes turbulent. This album represents a more turbulent time of my life.

I have made a classical version of the original song, “You Opened One Eye”.

What I have been finding is that chords sound better with actual physical instruments (although I am using vsts), particularly the string instruments, Cello and Violin. I just feel that these instruments have a lot more emotion, which suits the topics I tend to sing about.

I do include a bit of synth too, but it is more subtle, I think complementing the string instruments, whilst also adding a bit of atmosphere.

In this particular song, I sing about my struggles following a marriage separation, and in particular, the difficulties over being separated from my young daughter, as I have no extended custody rights due to a medical reason. Two hours every two weeks is just not enough time. Every day I have the struggle of wanting to be able to see her, of missing her, and wondering what can I do as a parent in this situation. The solution seems to be to continue to work with the medical establishment to prove that I am fit enough to receive custody. But the timeframes are long.

Lyrics:

You opened one eye
There was not a cry
I saw you first time

I held you all mine

So small and so sweet

We finally do meet

The months have gone by

Gods gift from on high


Now I’m elsewhere from you

Separation so cruel

Not allowed to see you

Only two hours and through
Still I write you this song

Hope it wont feel too long

Till I hold your hand once more

Heart no longer feels sore

Please imagine I’m there

though it does not compare

Mornings when I heard your voice

Halls all filled with laughter

Said “ducks” by the lake

first word you did make

Now you say “love you”

I know it is true

I said I must go

pale lights they did flow

I want you to know

it brought me so low

Now I can’t see you grow

Be in boat to aid row

Give you seeds to help sow 

Scare away all those crows
Still I love you from far

A close family we are

See you when I close my eyes

 Inside I stop my cries

Each day tears me apart

Dark waves pound at my heart

Miss you when the sun comes up

And through the deep black night

The lyrics were written over two periods. The first period I wrote the first 3 verses, and I was feeling terribly emotional. The fourth verse was written months later , when I was feeling more stable about the situation. So while what I have written is true to an extent, there has been some poetic license taken. For instance, “Each day tears me apart”. I do feel torn ever day over not seeing my daughter, but the presence of Jesus in my life means that it is more bearable for me. I trust that this will resolve for my daughter and I in the best possible way. Of course, there are days when I feel worse, but generally, I am coping, just about. This doesn’t detract from me missing her more than people can imagine, but having Jesus brings a sense of peace to my days. So I wanted to state this, so that I am still being truthful, whilst also giving credit to God.

Back to the song, my singing is far from perfect, but I am just starting out, and have no voice training, and currently do not know of any techniques for improving vocal range. So I consider this an early version of this track. As the months go on, I will come back to this song when I feel my vocal range has widened…. Who knew that you could train your voice?

So, I have made the song available in my shop.

If you like the song, please consider supporting by paying for a download.