It Sounds Like Me

Just when I thought I'd narrowed it down to the twelve songs that will make it onto my record, two more appeared! My objective for this album is to reflect a snapshot in time, and the songs will be ordered to tell a story. I flipped through my lyric book from this past year and found a couple more that might lend themselves nicely. Each song needs to be crucial to the story, musically captivating, and lyrically intriguing. If any of them fall short of that, I'll omit them. No filler. If I'm not compelled to listen to each of them over and over again, why should you be?

Another aspect I'm excited about: no vocal pitch-correction software. Many of today's productions utilize software such as Auto Tune and Melodyne in order to make the vocals sound "perfect." In my opinion, though, this method - even when used sparingly - coats the voice in a sickly-sweet glaze that doesn't sound natural or authentic. My voice is not always technically "perfect." It breaks, it wavers, it misses a note it's shooting for...in other words, it's human. Granted, if I truly biff a word or phrase and it makes me cringe to hear it played back, I'll retake that word, phrase...or even the entire song. Lately, I've been recording three vocal takes per song and that's been all that's required. The emotion is raw, the pitch is sufficient to my ears, and best of all, it sounds like ME....for better or for worse, it sounds like me.

Retreat

I am so very happy to present one of the songs that will be on my upcoming record, brought to life with the creative partnership of Daniel Dempsey and Dominic Massaro. Press Play on the music player to hear "Retreat." My lyrics can be viewed below the music player.

"Retreat"

I remember the night
Your eyes went cold and dead.
I killed the woman I was
So I could keep you instead.

When the chips are down,
The coward shows his hand
And the game of Life
Can not go quite as planned.

Retreat, retreat,
Raise a white flag high.
Retreat from this war you've chosen
To wage between you and I.

I remember the fight -
I begged you not to go.
My loving tears rejected,
Your choice a heavy blow.

When the storm had passed,
The damage still remained
And the love we'd shared
Forevermore was strained.

Retreat, retreat,

Raise a white flag high.

Retreat from this war you've chosen

To wage between you and I.

I know a man's gotta do

What a man's gotta do,

But you chose guns and destruction

And I only chose you.

Retreat, retreat,

Raise a white flag high.

Retreat from this war you've chosen

To wage between you and I.