Music collaboration

LYRICS -WHEN THE WORLD FEELS SMALL-

Does time forgive
When it’s not our time to give us
Now there’s no turning back
I put my hand in the fire
I signed away in blood
I gave my heart with a spire
Now we sit in our corners
Seeking a vision to believe
We’ve got our lives to live
My place in yours but a myth
As are my dreams
As are my dreams
So many parts of me leave with you
Which one will you keep 
I saw the colours in full bloom
But now time has taken them away to

When the world feels small
When the world feels small

WTWFS drops June 4th on all digital platforms.

LYRICS -WANDERLUST-

Need to see
Need to be
Beyond what's in front of me
Beyond

Solis Contingunt, Ultra

Now I can feel euphoria
Above the horizon
I can touch the sun

Staring at my ceiling
Used my ticket to the sky
My wings touched the sun

I thought these lyrics put words to the story behind the music and allowed for a multitude of interpretations all depending on the listener. I found euphoria as a concept to be on point. Its symbolism, the infinite means that can be taken to attain it and the journey into achieving its sensation can be related to wanderlust. I especially felt this concept worked seeing how the music was written with the intention of telling a story that unravels adventure prompted by feelings of being trapped and using imagination for escapism before returning to “reality”. 

I wrote in the Latin verse Solis Contingunt, Ultra because I thought it would add depth to the vowels sounds that Paul handed over to me.

I don’t speak Latin, I simply typed in “Touch the Sun” and “Beyond” in Google translate and there it was.

Paul was into the idea and from that point I created the vocal passages/splits of the entire SATB choir and sung them all in my little home studio closet (44 + tracks of me). I knew that harmonizing with concrete words would allow for a tighter more powerful choir. I took on the vocal arrangements for Wanderlust over a period of several days as each one required a particular singing style and mood.  

There are two versions of the title track Wanderlust on the EP. There is the orchestral/choir version and a very soulful/dreamy/intimate acoustic piano version. The acoustic version to me is like laying on freshly cut grass on a beautiful summer day and watching a few clouds pass in the blue sky. It makes me want to “go higher” to find outwardly beauty all the while taking in the “simple things”. In the case of the acoustic version, the simple things being voice/piano/harmony. That is the best way that I can describe the piano version of Wanderlust. Both versions seek experience beyond reality through fantasy, but each has a distinct approach in its method.  

Listening to all that we created for the music and how it came together is quite thrilling. The incredible music Paul had written really inspired me to push my boundaries and create/interpret some of the most technically challenging music I ever had to do. There were moments where I sat in my tiny dark, low oxygen closet (aka my quarantine recording home studio) where I even cried a bit because I wondered if I could successfully add my vision to the music. I felt the fear of the failure and persevered. As much as there is so much fantasy in this music, I believe the quest for reaching higher ground is one that is ever evolving in us all.  

I look forward to sharing this music with you on June 4th  .

With the release of Wanderlust (a four track, plus two bonus track cinematic EP) approaching, I thought to shed some light on how this collaborative project between Paul Zambrano and myself came to be and why I was interested in performing and writing lyrics for such a cinematic music project.  

It all started in September 2020 when I was scrolling IG and came across a post advertising Paul’s instrumental album Death is Beautiful. I remember finding the title combined with the dramatic music very intriguing because of the strong associations and contrasts of words “death” and “beautiful” in the title.  I figured there must be a psychological/literary explanation behind the title. I liked that as a concept so I clicked and followed Paul’s profile.  

Soon after Paul DM’d me and wrote that he liked my single Back to Life and we started chatting. About a week later I released my black metal song Judgment and Paul his album Death is Beautiful. Come October 2020 we both understood that we shared a dark artistry when writing music. 

Then one evening, I can’t pinpoint when due to the murkiness of time passing in 2020, Paul DM’d me while I was recording some harmonies in my home studio and asked me if I would be interested in working on a cinematic style EP in 2021. I had never worked on this type of project before even if my own music is found to be quite cinematic. But what can I say, I like to experience the realm of human emotions through my music and it is my ultimate joy to be able to tap into feelings and “little universes”. I sensed this project would really allow for that. Hence, I was up for it and looked forward to what was in store. 

To conclude this brief introduction, the symbolism behind Paul’s instrumental album that so intrigued me in September was just as I thought: complex, dark and thought provoking. I believe that our collaborative EP Wanderlust possesses these same qualifiers but in the same way a phoenix rises from the ashes: I let my vocals really soar to new heights for these songs as the music lends itself for such interpretation.

I also reached a place that felt so raw and disheartening through my connection to the music. It was a wild ride to say the least especially since all of my recordings took place on the floor of my tiny closet. I’m 5’11 so basically living in an apartment and singing passionately into a microphone without disturbing the peace happens in this little place. I did the same for most of Corners. Sometimes my legs fall asleep for all the sitting on my feet and contortion. A form of artistic athleticism where I feel I am reaching gold standard in endurance 😉 

I will be writing more about its songs and the process in the upcoming weeks. 

Wanderlust streams on all digital platforms June 4th 2021.

To find out more about Paul and his music you can click the following links:

-Paul’s Website

-Article on Death is Beautiful