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Tag: song

  • My New Song “Sloan River” Released Today

    My New Song “Sloan River” Released Today

    “Sloan River,” a tune that came to me almost exactly on this day in 2019, was finally released today. I say finally. Really, it was one of those rare ones that just came all at once, even pretty much the lyrics. If, back then, I was thinking like I am now, I would have chased it down and gotten it out then. I never thought it was the greatest thing in the world, although I did think it was interesting and organic, and I was impressed by the way it made me sing (really high, especially on the verses!), but what I mean by that is that it captured the mood of a moment in time very accurately and spontaneously, and I think it’s better to chase those down in the moment and get them out closer to when they are born. Maybe all of them should.

    Another reason I think it’s good to get them out quickly, especially when you get the rare gift of the music and lyrics right there all at once, is that doing a million different demos sucks the soul out of you and makes what is exciting (making art!) suddenly not just a chore but a neuroses! And it nags at you! This little song, which again, I don’t think is anything special, has been nagging at me for the better part of two years! That’s just not healthy, either for the artist nor the art. I think what I’m looking for is that exact middle ground between rushing (as if it has to be out tomorrow) on the one hand versus procrastination on the other. That middle ground is a psychological state of acting, of progress, but within the bubble of calmness, relaxation. It’s a state that’s rewarding in and of itself, no matter what activity it is applied to.


    I am proud I at least got it out though, and with each new release I feel like I’m learning more and getting better.

    -Stephen Pickering, Little Rock. July 2021


    Lyrics for "Sloan River":
    
    [Opens with four line chorus]
    Sloan River takes you down
    Sloan River makes you drown
    Sloan River takes you down
    Sloan River makes no sound
    
    I wanted to pay
    Pay my mistakes
    Tried to walk away
    But I could not escape
    
    [chorus first two lines only]
    
    I wanted to skate
    And walk away
    But memories of your face
    I could not erase
    
    [Chorus first two lines]
    
    I wanted to leave
    I wanted to find
    The lady of the lake
    Lady of your mind
    
    [Final Chorus full]
    'Cuz Sloan River takes you down
    And Sloan River makes you drown
    That honey river will take you down
    That haunted river makes no sound. 

  • Suburban Sweetheart

    Cover of the Josh Rouse tune “Suburban Sweetheart” I did on logic.

     

    “Suburban Sweeheart” Lyrics by Josh Rouse

    Got a gift, hesitate
    Never make the same mistakes
    If you could only see the person
    If you could only reach the man yeah

    We could move back to the suburbs
    Rent a house, change our name
    If you could only find a purpose
    If you could only stay the same yeah

    Sweetheart
    Sweetheart
    Sweetheart
    I could help you open and unfurl

    Shut up and listen
    Shut up, you talk too much
    You’re my source for inspiration
    You’re my hopes for retire

    I plan a trip, get away
    Never make the same mistakes
    If you could only be a person
    If I could only be a man

    Sweetheart
    Sweetheart
    Sweetheart
    I could help you open and unfurl
    And unfurl
    And unfurl

  • Song Produced Entirely on iPad: “Kuzbass”

    Hey, I really love working with Garageband on the iPad. I think it’s a revolution. It’s so intuitive, unintimidating, and most importantly fun! Of course, it still has a way to go to be a “professional” production device, but I feel that is coming in years to come, and as you can hear this production sounds pretty good! And this was done on an iPad1 along with merely singing into that little pinhole mic. Other than that all the instruments were just “smart” instruments played entirely on the iPad. Hope you enjoy. This song is called “Kuzbass” by Josh Rouse that I covered.

  • My First New iPad 1080p Video

    Well, except I cut my head off, but I guess you can see the guitar clearly! If you have enough bandwidth you can select the HD option for viewing, although Youtube apparently just supports 720p? I thought it went up to 1080p. Did I really shot this in 1080 or is that something you have to select on the new iPad? I’m performing “Kuzbass” by Josh Rouse. I guess I should print the lyrics because I couldn’t find them anywhere on the internet.

     

    Kuzbass – Josh Rouse – Lyrics

    I got so tired
    didn’t have the heart to say
    Woke up side my skin and
    Couldn’t find the cap to slap back in
    Couldn’t see past
    Pretending that I’m ok
    Cuz I got so tired

    I could walk a thousand miles
    Never see your soul and aim for north
    I could walk a thousand miles
    All that remains is on that track
    Like the cold
    Cold from the Kuzbass…

    I’ve killed memories of people we know
    Got a lot of things I
    Things I would like to show
    But I know that it’s wrong and
    Cuz things seem very cold
    Out here where it’s older

    I could walk a thousand miles
    Never see your soul and aim for north
    I could walk a thousand miles
    Disappear into the black
    I could walk a thousand miles
    Never see a soul and aim for north
    I could walk a thousand miles
    All that remains is on that track
    Like the cold
    Cold from the Kuzbass…
    Cold from the Kuzbass…

  • New Song: “Keeping By the Only Way”

    [audio:http://stephenpickering.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Nowhere112011.mp3|titles=Nowhere112011]

    Iphone/Ipad/Download Link

    When Google Music was announced last Wednesday, and they introduced they’re new “Artist Hub,” it motivated me so much that I did this song in one day, thinking I would upload it to the store the next day. I still haven’t done that because I keep wanting to re-mix and master it. Or maybe send it along with another song which would be a “B” side to a professional Mastering Engineer. Hope you like it.

     

  • A New Original Song “Silent Serenade”

    [audio:http://stephenpickering.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Sserenade71611.mp3|titles=Sserenade71611]

    Direct Link: iPhone/iPad Download

    “Silent Serenade”

    Lyrics and Music Stephen Pickering – Creative Commons 2011

    All is calm
    I can’t go on
    Leaving love behind
    In the still summer night

    There’s a pain over there
    That the rain won’t spare
    And a piece of the sky
    That my heart wants to climb

    Chorus:

    It’s been a while
    It’s been a long one
    Since we’ve been apart

    I could’ve sworn the pieces had fallen
    Leaving motionless the stars

    But I know there’ll come a day
    for our silent serenade.

    Here comes May
    The Sun after the rain
    We swim through flowers all day
    And found a bower to lay

    You’ve got your call
    Feels as cold as rain in the fall
    Where’s the peace of the night
    Where our love used to hide?

    There’s a thief who stole
    All the diamonds and gold
    Where the soul used to hide
    When I had you by my side

    Chorus 2:

    It’s been a while
    It’s been a long one
    Since you’ve been a apart
    They could’ve made up the same lines
    A little closer to the heart
    I would’ve shown what I made
    In this silent serenade.

    Creative Commons 2011 – Stephen Pickering