Play Audio or Download MP3:
If I Could Go Anywhere

LYRICS – WE ARE THE PEOPLE (OF AMERICA)

After all this time
After all we’ve been through side by side
We’re still standing strong
Holding on to the love deep inside
And I wouldn’t trade it for the world

CHORUS
If I could go anywhere
Anywhere in the universe
And if I could have anything
That my heart desired
I know where I’d want to be
And I know what I’d want to have
If I could go anywhere, have anything
I’d be here with you

I can cry a tear
And you’ll always be there holding me tight
So I’ll take a chance
And wear my heart on my sleeve
By letting you know
Just a bit of how I really feel

CHORUS

There may be other places more beautiful than this
But they’re not the same without you by my side
There may be other people who try to catch my eye
But they don’t know anything about what moves me

CHORUS

***********

Cherish Whisner was a young female singer from Victorville, CA and I was asked to write a song for her voice. “If I Could Go Anywhere” was the song I wrote for her.

I try to write all my music from a place of sincerity and personal experience if I can. This song is a love song but I actually wrote it about a church that I worked at. In the time I wrote this song I played music for a very small church in Southern California and was getting offers from a larger church. But I liked that small church very much – and this is the song I wrote about that. The lyrics were written to convey that it was a love song between two people.

This was a demo recording – I would love to hear what it would sound like with a full dedicated production. I think it could be very powerful.

When running my recording studio for so many years I would often write music for people for free if they recorded at my studio. It was a great way for me to compose a wide variety of material, have demo recordings of those songs and still retain ownership. It was a work of love and still is.

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Askland Nocturne #6

Music Only – No Lyrics

***********

The Piano Nocturnes album was one of my favorites to record. All the pieces are improvisations on an old Chickering grand piano. The recording was done late at night in a church sanctuary. I did about 25 or so improvisations and then picked my favorites for the album.

Deb Carole was the “assistant producer”. She sat in the sanctuary and listened while I played. Then she would say “Oh I like that” and help give me feedback.

Like a nocturnal animal, a nocturne in music is a piece to be played at night. And I think this album is perfect to listen to late at night when the listener is alone. It captures a mood that I am very satisfied with. This is one of the few releases I have recorded where I never get tired of listening to it. And I listen to it each time like I’m hearing it for the first time.

Recording was done in Hesperia, California. I don’t remember the year. Sometime around 2002 I think. Maybe someone can post the year if they remember.

The Nocturne also ties in to a great historical legacy from Chopin and other great composers. To me the improvisations are a mix of melodic elements Chopin might use, but with more of a Baroque feel to the execution. And of course not as complex as Chopin in my opinion. But the goal for this recording was not to be complex – but to be beautiful and simple. In that regard I feel the recordings hit the mark.

I am very happy that I recorded these on a real piano. If I had done the recording on a digital piano I would not like to listen to it as much. A real piano has such a great texture of overtones.

I chose the #6 nocturne from the album at random. There are other nocturnes that I also like very much from this project.

One final thought – one of the reasons I treasure this recording so much is that it was just something I did because I wanted to. There was no marketing or sales drive behind it like with my other studio projects. In fact I never did any marketing or sales on it. It is like my secret. I treasure it. It’s pure…

Play Audio or Download MP3:
We Are The People (of America)

LYRICS – WE ARE THE PEOPLE (OF AMERICA)

Our lives may never be the same
We’ll continue on again and again
Each day you wear that fine uniform
We want you to remember this:

CHORUS
We are the people of America
And we stand proud right next to you
Raisin’ that red, white and blue
The people of America
Live in freedom because of you

Know that you are not alone
We are with you in the prayers we say
Just bring our boys and girls safely home
Let freedom ring another day

CHORUS

We hold you dear and wish you near
We stand proud right next to you

CHORUS

***********

This song was written as the US was preparing to invade Iraq in early 2003. There was a lot of emotion at that time in America over this.

Special thanks to Jaye Sooter for singing on this song. I think he did a great job. (He’s one of my favorite vocalists).

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Dracula Overture – Sample

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Dracula Overture – Full Version

LYRICS – DRACULA OVERTURE

Drako de so le kriva
Iste reava Christo
Seya measto akra prietua

Lokra priaso lape teah
Se pregulate via
Creato fia Drako selah

***********

Scary! The language is my own making, a sort of bastard latin with words and syllables chosen for their sound and feel.

In early 2007 I was asked to do sound effects for a production of “Dracula” at McIntyre Hall in Mount Vernon, WA. The composer for the project didn’t finish the music in time so I composed this Dracula Overture 3 days before opening so they would have something to set the mood.

The backstage techs would sing along after several performances and they had a name for this song. What was that name…mmm….the Lochrian Chant? Something like that.

I still remember how excited I was the first time they played it before the show. Because this piece is so very dark. Even though the show was Dracula, I knew people weren’t expecting something so very dark. At a couple of the shows I saw parents take their little children out of the theater even before the show started because the children were scared and crying. I actually enjoyed that because my goal was to have a piece that would truly frighten people.

Ironically, the female vocals were done by members of a “High School Musical” cast because I was in also in rehearsals for that show at the time and had to record very quickly to get this piece ready for Dracula. So we recorded after an HSM rehearsal and I went home and mixed it.

This piece has been circulated somewhat around the internet – I even saw a website that offered part of it as a ringtone.

I have the “sample” available above because I actually prefer the shorter version. Apologies for the theft prevention overdubs. You can download the full version below that one.

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Agnus Dei – New Faces Vol. 4

LATIN LYRICS – AGNUS DEI
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi,
miserere nobis.

ENGLISH LYRICS – AGNUS DEI
Lamb of God, who take away sins of world,

have mercy on us.
***********

I have always wanted to write a Mass, which is several different parts. One of those is the Agnus Dei. An alto and mezzo-soprano/soprano duet for strings and piano. Later I wrote another part of the mass, the “Gloria” which you may find on this website. (The Gloria is with full chorus as it is traditionally performed).

I actually do have a specific visualization of this piece. I have always wanted to write for movies, but as of yet have not done much of that. This piece to me is what Hannibal Lecter would listen to while drinking a glass of wine, pondering his next macabre move. Lecter in Silence of the Lambs would often listen to classical music and opera. I think this piece would be perfect for that type of scene.

The piece is classical and retro, but it is actually meant as an underscore to a contrasting mood.

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Who Cut The Cheese? – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – WHO CUT THE CHEESE?

Who the cheese?
Can you open up a window in here
Because I can’t breathe

I said who cut the cheese?
It smells like it was silent
But deadly

I said who cut the cheese?
It is and always will
Be a mystery

CHORUS
But I think it was Eddie
‘Cause he never ever admits it
He cut the cheese
But I know that he cut the cheese

Who cut the cheese?

CHORUS
But I think it was Eddie
‘Cause he never ever admits it
He cut the cheese
But I know that he cut the cheese

Well I know that he cut the cheese

***********

Rarely has a song from any genre captured the frailty of the human condition in so few words. Rivaled only by Shakespeare in it’s concise description of our experience on this floating speck of solar driftwood.

To my memory, Opposite 3 was a high school punk band from the Barstow, California area. And every one knows I love song about burps and farts.

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Worry ‘Bout Nothin’ – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – WORRY ‘BOUT NOTHIN’

CHORUS
Worry ’bout nothin’
Pray about it all
Pray about all things big and small
Listen to the Lord and read His word
Take advice
Do what you’ve learned

Don’t waste your life
Don’t waste your tears
With bitterness, envy and fears
Wasted days into years
Don’t waste your life
Don’t waste your tears

Yeah – yeah – yeah

CHORUS
Worry ’bout nothin’
Pray about it all
Pray about all things big and small
Listen to the Lord and read His word
Take advice
Do what you’ve learned

When we are afraid
He will be our strength
When all hope is gone
He will lead us on

Yeah – yeah – yeah

CHORUS
Worry ’bout nothin’
Pray about it all
Pray about all things big and small
Listen to the Lord and read His word
Take advice
Do what you’ve learned

****************************

Paula Sexsmith was absolutely the overall best experience I had producing an album for an artist (and I’ve worked with a lot of very cool people). She was so upbeat and open to so many different ideas. Every day she showed up was like “ok, what do we create today!”.

I hope she’s still singing and performing. She has such a gift to share.

I produced her album on Pro Tools. We did a lot of fun things on her album including a string quartet and a massive host of guest musicians laying down tracks.

Paula, come to China. Let’s do another album!

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Never Again – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – NEVER

It’s the peer pressure from within
The temptation of the skin
Which causes me to sin
Later on feeling discouraged
Just again and again
Now the sense of hopelessness
Is starting to win
This condemnation from Satan
Begins to seep in
Until the state of depression
Hides away your chin
What day in in the ice
That you’re walking in is thin
And the possibility of heaven
Is still so very slim
You’re feeling defeated
Like fat people in the gym
Drowning in your sorrow
Like a child who can’t swim
And so close to death
That you’re hanging on a limb
What are you doing when you close your eyes
And see nothing but black
Your vision is gone
You know the old man is back
Feeling the anger of God
And what He thinks about that
A spiritual death
With no Jesus at your side
Is like a blind man
Without any type of God
Moving slower than a man
(Speaking of) number four rod
I’m falling by the side
I’ve lost my sense of time
Now I’m paying for the crime
I’m (pouring) in sin
Suffering for this reason
And goin’ through a drought
Even though it’s due season

CHORUS
Satan you can come and have your pick at me
And never again will I choose iniquity
Instead it’s Jesus the sacrificial lamb
‘Cause now I’m dedicated to the great I Am

Completely fed up with life
And all it’s frustrations
The thought of suicide
Keeps handing me it’s invitations
(It’s time I throw) Christian
I’m running short on patience
Enjoying the sound of death
Wanting to make it’s reservations
Sometimes I hate life
And it makes me want to cry
Sometimes I hate life
And it makes me want to die
But the emotions I hate the most
Are the ones I can’t explain why
Why in the word do I be feeling these ways
It’s like the spirt of death
Only attacks on certain days
(And the spotty) tryin to keep myself
From gun blaze
I got to watch myself
Because the devil’s been talking to me
Now I’m (playin’ with never)
Tryin’ to sell my soul
But my answer remains never

CHORUS
Satan you can come and have your pick at me
And never again will I choose iniquity
Instead it’s Jesus the sacrificial lamb
‘Cause now I’m dedicated to the great I Am

****************************

I love the track I created for this song. I think it really fits the vocal well. I like the conviction and performance of the lyrics.

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Stupid Little Girl – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – STUPID LITTLE GIRL

Stupid little girl

Mister insecure
Mister out of line
Mister please believe
I’m saying goodbye
I’ve had enough
I’ve played your game
I’ve tore it up
Forgot your name
You got what you wanted out of me
And you turned out not to be so clean

Well maybe I was a child in love with you
My heart gone wild
Mr jealosy
Mr so you’re saying
Mr over age
I’ve had enough of your accusing
Of your using and abusing
And I’m leaving

You’re lazy
I’m crazy to have fallen in love with you
You’ll never do anything
Didn’t mean a dang when you said I love you
You’re a liar and you’re lazy

Mister you’ll come back if I ask you to
You’ll do all the things that I ask you to do
‘Cause you’re so naive
You’re just a girl
And you’ll believe anything in the world

You’re lazy
I’m crazy to have fallen in love with you
You’ll never do anything
Didn’t mean anything when you said I love you
You’re a liar
And you’re lazy

But I’m still a little girl
Stupid girl

****************************

I like the groove and guitar movement on this song. This is another example where the songwriter would lay down a track with acoustic guitar and vocal – then I would do the arrangement around their original performance.

Play Audio or Download MP3:
Medulla Oblangada – New Faces Vol. 4

LYRICS – MEDULLA OBLANGADA

Deception’s game is being lost
By those who are giving in
Rarely choosing what they feel is right
As opposed to what is actually sin
So who’s to convey what is actually true
As opposed to what remains taboo?
You might be thinking what can we say
What can we possibly do?

CHORUS
Jesus is the way
He shatters all the lies and deception
Jesus saves the day
He’s coming down again

He’s coming down…

Lookin’ around now we see the sin we see
And people try to make them make believe
That if we learn to tolerate then everything’s ok
Waste of time

Jesus has come to show the way
He is living with us here today
He is standing here with open arms
Welcome (us and)

CHORUS
Jesus is the way
He shatters all the lies and deception
Jesus saves the day
He’s coming down again

I want to tell you about my friend who’s Jesus
He is my friend
Loves us all
He is my friend
Standing here right now waiting for you

****************************

I think Brothers of the Creed has so much talent. I just love their organic sound, it’s like you can just crunch your teeth into it. They were a very convicted group and I enjoyed working with them very much.