Fan Works - Piso Mojado

The Story -

Well, I wasn't aware of this until recently, but apparently, the site is now cool enough to garner songs in response to songs that have been posted. This particular work is some kind of response to "Rebel Bell Yell," so...enjoy. If I remember the details correctly, this was done as a project for a music class...a friend of the site had to make a song, but couldn't use any instruments. All things considered, it turned out pretty well...I hope you got an A, John. I do have to agree with your mom though...at first it is kind of hard to tell that it is you talking. It almost doesn't sound like you at parts. (Random observation of the day.)

The Lyrics -

Honestly, just listen to the song...and be amazed.

EDIT -

I just got word from John and...he got an A!

Hurray for John!

Commission Me!

As of today (2/18/08), I have decided to open my doors to commissions. This means if you want me to write a completely personalized and customizable song just for you, now's your chance!

I've set up the following F.A.Q. / Contract for anyone is interested.

Question - How should I get in contact with you?

Answer- The best way to reach me is through my email, at fromthewayside AT gmail DOT com.


Question: How much will it cost?

Answer: Song will cost $5 a pop. There will be $2 down payment for me to start work, and an additional $3 for me to release the final song to you.


Question: How long will it take?

Answer: At this point songs are estimated to take about two weeks to complete. If it takes longer, you will receive a dollar off your total purchase price for each additional week the song takes to complete*. A maximum of two dollars will be taken off your purchase.

*There are two exceptions to this - First, if the song is being composed in a peak period (EX: Valentine's Day), or I encounter extreme circumstances (Death in the family, Finals, Midterms, Etc), I reserve the right to extend the production period a reasonable amount (depending on the event) to finish the song.


Question: What if I am dissatisfied with the song?

Answer: If you are dissatisfied or want revisions to your song, it can be adjusted or re-written for $2-3 depending on the amount of work that goes into the revision. (EX: Rewriting some of the lyrics)


Question: Will you write any song? What about cover songs?

Answer: I reserve the right to refuse any song, but most topics will be accepted. I normally will NOT do cover songs, because I have no way of getting in touch with the original artist. I'm not here to infringe on copyright law.


Question: Will you write using any musical style?

Answer: The short answer is yes. The long answer is that I excel at certain styles over others. I will rarely turn down a song because of the style, but I may offer my own "artistic interpretation" of the style requested.


Question: Can I provide my own lyrics?

Answer: Yes. I will accept any lyrics, riffs, etc, as long as they are not pulled straight from someone else's song (see my thoughts on doing cover songs above), and they don't bother / offend me (a very hard thing to do). Lyrics and riffs may be tinkered with to make the song work.


Question - I don't like your voice / want a female singer / etc. Will you still do a song for me?

Answer - Yes. I will do everything in my power to arrange for the right person to perform your song for you. Be aware though, that I have limited resources to make this happen, so it may not always be possible.


Question - Can I give a copy of the song to my friends?

Answer - Of course! You are completely free to distribute as many copies as you like, as long as you are not selling the song for a profit.

NOTE: I will retain sole copyright / licensing to the song.


Question: How will I receive my song when it is finished?

Answer: I can send it to you in one of several ways. Normal costs include an mp3 of your song, sent to you over the internet. If you prefer to have the song burned on a CD (jewel case optional but recommended) and sent to you, there will be an additional charge. I will not pay shipping fees.


Question - Will you post every song you write on the site?

Answer - No. If you don't want me to post a song on the site, I won't. I will always try to wait for your permission to post, but if I don't receive a yes or no within one month of completion, I may post it on the site (though none of the commissioner's information will be included).


Question - What method of payment do you prefer?

Answer - I prefer cash when possible (local deals), and will accept pay pal and certified check payments. If none of the above work for you, contact me and we can discuss payment.


Question - I have a question that hasn't been answered here!

Answer - Email me at the address listed above and below.


Question - How should I get in contact with you?

Answer- The best way to reach me is through my email, at fromthewayside AT gmail DOT com. (I know I included this information twice; I just want to make sure no one missed it.)


I hope this little FAQ has sparked your interest and answered any questions you might have had! Feel free to drop me a line at my email address. I look forward to hearing from you!

Love In D'd

The Story -

This is a little something I came up with for Sam's birthday. It is dedicated completely and entirely to her. I should note that I did try a few things in this song that turned out better than expected. First, in the initial hum, I double-tracked the vocals. This isn't the first time I've used two vocal tracks, but it is the first time I've used it to record the same track over itself. I heard about this particular technique when watching a program about "Dark Side of the Moon," and "Machine Head," (by Pink Floyd and Deep Purple, respectively), so I figured I would give it a try. I'm dissatisfied at best with the vocals, but at least they're in tune. I should at least get a few pity points for that. I actually like both the guitar and bass in this one. I think that the bass is often too quiet (for some reason my bass records very quietly), but I jacked the volume up pretty high so hopefully it will balance out. The last two things I want to mention are the mood shift and the surprise ending. I really like the riff at the mood shift; the driving guitar is a little jangly, but all bad-ass. As for the surprise ending...well - have a listen and we'll see what's what. Let me just say this - when you first think the song is over, it may well not be over.

I know it doesn't all gel together at times, but I'm working on it. I just need to listen and let my fingers do the talking.

The Lyrics -

Let our love
Be the story
Of the mountain
And the sea
Let us fade
Into each other
I am you and
You are me

---

I pray
The day
We go our separate ways
Doesn't come.

Concept Album

Ccheck this out for a premise (perhaps of a poem, book, or album) -

"Kurtzbleckistan" is a recently formed state (country) in the Middle East. It consists primarily of revolutionary separatists. Though they are not necessarily associated with any "real-world" country or religion, there are certainly "religious" overtones at work within its borders. It is ruled by a seemingly benevolent dictator who allows for a puppet democracy, so as to promote a "good feeling" in his support base (virtually all of the country). Citizens that vote are given, "government subsidized medicine," or what boils down to drugs for votes. Citizens that don't vote are rounded up and imprisoned. Some are shot for the amusement of the dictator, but mostly they are just left to rot in cells. There is a mild, but ultimately futile resistance movement in Kurtzbleckistan. Oil revenue is a major boon for Kurtzbleckistan, so much so that "Universal Healthcare" is offered. As it turns out, Kurtzbleckistan is actually populated by a lot of very fair skinned citizens. This proves to be a major burden on the healthcare system. Hilarity ensues when, instead of revising or discarding the system, the dictator simply decides to detonate the sun, thereby negating any healthcare issues. The work itself would discuss Kurtzbleckistan, from its inception to its peak and ultimate collapse.

Track Titles (Perhaps In Order):

- Welcome To Kurtzbleckistan
- One Man Revolution
- Power Is My Religion
- The Mind of a Dictator
- "Mommy?"
- The Birth of a "Star;" the Death of a Star
- Epilogue

Any thoughts?

Think

The Story:

I basically had one major goal with this song - to make my voice more dynamic and less "whiny." I think I did a pretty good job at that goal. Hopefully, this song will make you do as the title suggests. If not, at least it's catchy, right?

The Lyrics (Disclaimer - I may not have written down the lyrics exactly):

Chorus:

Sha-la-la
If I love you today
Sha-na-na
You'll be leavin' tomorrow

Walk out That door and
Save me
The Sorrow

---

Yeah (x2)

[Chorus]

So much more to cry about
My tears are running dry
Does it really matter
If you date another guy?

There's blood in the streets
And weapons at hand
To take up the cause
Of killing a fellow man

Even at our doorstep
People burn just for their skin
One death is far too many
But the crude always seem to win

Count your blessing baby
Or they'll take you away
Blind eyes open wide
As rifles have their say

If we knew how good we had it
If we forced ourselves to see
Maybe then we'd realize
There's more than just you and me

[Chorus]

Rebel Yell Bell

To be honest, I don't really even know what the words are. Just listen to it and know that it makes no sense whatsoever.

To be fair, this is technically a collaboration between the Magnificent Mr. Ho, Bowlin' Dolan, and myself. It just sort of happened. For those who are about to ask...yes, I suppose it is supposed to sound like that.

Edit - This one will not be available for download until my other site at DMusic decides to work again...so...yeah.

A Modest Endeavor (Part 1 and 2)

Today is mildly monumental; it marks the completion of my first 2 part song set, "A Modest Endeavor." I've tried to combine a lot of different ideas I've had floating around in my head for some time now, and I think some of them came out quite well. Others, unfortunately, did not. Now, a little bit of an explanation is in order. First, however, have a listen.

Part 1:



Part 2:



Now, on to business.

Part one is meant to be an instrumental introduction to part two. Part one is a little bit of a strange beast because it uses both classical guitar (Spanish style) and electrical guitar. The slow (60bpm) intro is actually played on said guitar, and was recorded using a mic (which might explain some of the weird spots). I think my soloing skills are becoming a little less random and a little more directed, which is a good thing, though I realize that I have a lot more work to do. Basically, the entire point of this intro was to create an atmosphere of isolation and loneliness. If that's how you feel after listening to the intro, then it's done it's job. If that's not what you feel, well...I'll try harder next time. One last note about part one: the entire inspiration for this intro was a single phrase, strummed on the classical with a capo (a device that holds down all 6 strings in a specific place on the fingerboard of the guitar) at position 5. If I ever feel a little less lazy, I might cut a very short track consisting only of that inspirational lick.

Lyrics: A Modest Endeavor, Part 2.

[guitar / bass intro]

Long after the last day had past
Long after the seasons had died
Long after all hope was lost
Stood a single man, shake, but alive

Greeted by the naked sun
In the western sky
Painting with its tattered brush
Crimson hues and dies

[muted guitar solo]

Words had long since
Lost their way
Besides, who had
Something to say?
Let the birds be his voice
The breeze be his ears
With the death of culture
Gives the birth of frontier

[bass solo!]

In the warmth of winter
In the life of night
He forgot his feet
And the ground took flight
He kissed the wind
And he touched the sun
Only pieces were left
And the deed was
Done.

The Story:

I'm going to leave this one in particular up to interpretation (at least for a little while). My goal in creating this song was to use a lot of strange metaphors, but not simply for the sake of being weird. I've recently been listening to a lot of classic rock, and many of the lyrics are influenced by drug use. I wanted to create that sort of vibe without being on drugs. I think I've had a mildly successful effort, but I have plenty of ideas for improvement. Hopefully you can hear how my voice is more consistent, but I still need to work on volume control / tone / transitioning between phrases. It's kind of a running gag around my house about how bad my voice is, but at least this is a step in the right direction. Also, I think the bass solo could have been a little more fleshed out, and the guitar was off rhythm in certain parts, but I chose to overlook some of those flaws (for now), for the sake of finally publishing the songs. I'm still trying to find my voice (in the literal sense), but I'm happy just to be able to practice and get my ideas out there.

As always, the song is available for download at:

hypnosis.dmusic.com

I'd love to hear some feedback on this one, so feel free to leave a comment or shoot me an email at:

fromthewayside (at) gmail (dot) com.

As far as future songs / projects are concerned, look for more collaborations / blues music / holiday themed music in the (hopefully) near future.