DEMO 2.17.2007

This idea eventually evolved into Easy As Pi from By The Numbers. I worked on this one quite a bit, which explains the number of files below. It began in Prague in early 2007 and was finished almost three years later at The Gallery in New York City.

EASY AS PI

COME OVER HERE

MAKE YOUR ARGUMENT

FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE

SING IT LOUD AND CLEAR

YOU LEARNED THE MOVES

BUT FAILED TO UNDERSTAND

WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS FAITH

SO NOW YOU JUST PRETEND

THAT YOU’VE BLOWN AWAY

THAT YOU’VE BLOWN AWAY

THAT YOU’VE BLOWN AWAY

THAT YOU’VE BLOWN AWAY

BUT I CAN TAKE YOU FAR FROM HERE

I WON’T MAKE YOU LOST

BUT I’LL ENGINEER 

OUR ESCAPE

DEMO 2.13.2007

This one went on quite a trip. My first memory of it was on a bus somewhere in Germany. I think it was raining. I’d created the rhythm in my head using my teeth (as I tend to do), then managed to program it into ProTools a couple weeks later and add some melodies. It went through a few other iterations in Prague then was set aside for a couple years until I started working with Brian Forbes during our time in New York. The last file is where we left it in late 2009.

DEMO 2.2.2007

I wrote and recorded this in our apartment in Prague, soon after I had finally picked up my guitar again after working digitally over the past few months. The first file is where things were finally left in late 2008, followed by an earlier and slower guitars-only version. I still like this song very much and very happy I came across it again. I’ve already rehearsed it a few times this week! Hopefully I can work it into a show someday. To hear it again and feel how it feels is very special indeed.

APARTMENT

DON’T GIVE UP ON ME

I’M A WRECK, YOU SEE

SOMETHING’S WRONG WITH MY HEAD

APARTMENT

DON’T CLOSE IN ON ME YET

JUST LET ME CATCH MY BREATH

BEFORE WE GET DOWN TO WORK

WITHOUT WORK

APARTMENT

TELL ME WHAT COMES NEXT

CAUSE I’M A BIT PERPLEXED

HOW I’VE MADE IT THIS FAR

APARTMENT 

TELL ME WHY IM HERE

MAKE IT SO AUSTERE

SO I WILL NEVER FORGET

HOW I LIVED

APARTMENT

YOU’RE MY CLOSEST FRIEND

I HOPE YOU’LL UNDERSTAND

WHEN I BID YOU FAREWELL

DEMO 1.30.2007

This begun on the same day as the previous two and was intended to demonstrate something that had been in my head for awhile. I don’t remember working on it much though upon reflection. It isn’t particularly interesting to me now, but perhaps it will be. There’s a song in there somewhere though. Maybe I’ll serve it better someday.

DEMO 1.29.07

Looks like I started this one on the same day as the last one. My objective in listing these from when they were first created is intended to provide a better understanding of how things evolved over time. Should there be another list from when they stopped though? First things first I suppose. Here’s where I left this one in late 2008.

DEMO 1.29.07

Here’s another that began in January 2007. I remember enjoying walking while listening to this. I could certainly keep working on it. Such is the case with all of these I suppose. They were all abandoned/postponed for the sake of something new, cast off onto a hard drive somewhere. Here’s where I left this one along the way.

DEMO 1.23.07

I managed to get a little further on this one. It began in early 2007 and proceeded to where I seem to have left things almost two years later in late 2008. I don’t know where I was headed with it to be honest. I obviously enjoyed working on ideas like this though. Why else would I spend so much time on them?

DEMO 1.15.07

Here’s another electronic idea that failed to materialize. It seems like I just kept layering things but never took anything away. I guess I thought it all sounded pretty cool back in the day though. Every idea seems like the most important thing in the world when I’m working on it. Then you listen back one day and wonder how you ever thought it was worth the time.

All part of the process, right?

DEMO 1.10.07

I stopped working on this idea after the first few layers. I guess I was focusing on other ideas and forgot about it one or decided it wasn’t worth pursuing at the time. Maybe I should pick it up again someday? I feel bad that I can’t devote enough time to ideas like these. Don’t some people say how every song they write is like a different child? If that’s the case, I’ve been a very bad father.

DEMO 12.12.06 - FOUND SOUND

Here’s a series of noises I recorded around Prague in late 2006. Each noise was isolated and looped to produce the semblance of a rhythm, then layered with other noises and FX on top. It’s all a bit much for current me to be honest. Why did I spend so much time recording and editing all of it? Why do I feel compelled to organize things in such a way? It’s something in my brain.

Number 7 is a little different though - as I was walking home one night I heard a group of people singing in a tavern down the street from our apartment. It was the only time I ever saw that place open for business. I still wonder what words they are singing. I should have learned more Czech! If anyone can tell me, I would be forever grateful.

DEMO 12.7.06

Here’s another string arrangement. If I remember correctly, a section of this went on to become Easy As Pi, although in 5/4. I recall this being a favorite to listen to over and over again, especially near the ending. I really don’t know where it all came from. I must have had it in my head for some time and found a vehicle to take it out. I would love to collaborate with someone on this someday.

DEMO 12.6.06

Let’s get back to the demo project I started a couple years ago. This is a string arrangement from December 2006. I think I meant for this to serve as a segway between songs. Perhaps it still could be someday. I’m pretty sure this was my first attempt at composing with virtual string instruments. Nothing fancy just some looped chords I thought sounded interesting. Wouldn’t it be nice to record with a real group of classically trained musicians?

COVERS - SPRING 2018

This past Spring I recorded a large collection of covers that were speaking to me at the time. Below are few songs from those recordings. I’ll share more as soon as I can. I don’t know what to say about these songs. I guess I’ll let them speak for themselves. I did my best to honor their spirit and the people that wrote them.

Thanks for listening.