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Music collaboration

Song-When The World Feels Small

All littleuniverses music, EPs, Music collaboration, Wanderlust (EP)

When The World Feels Small-the song

When the World Feels Small (WTWFS) is a song on the upcoming EP that I have written lyrics to and perform on. Just like Wanderlust, it also has an acoustic piano version. When Paul composed the music for WTWFS he told me it was meant to send listeners down a path of tears and disappointment. In his words, he told me:

“This track is heavily influenced on our fear of abandonment coming into fruition, where everyone in our life leaves us, and we are feeling alone. Where there was once vibrant colour in our world, it is only filled with a grim black and white.  Our biggest dreams are just that…dreams, not reality, and painfully coming to terms with that. The middle section is huge and epic for a reason, we are pushing ourselves to move forward and be strong, but as soon as those strings come back in for the final act, we once again realize how alone we are, crying ourselves to sleep, with uncertainty that things will get better, or if there will be anyone and anything else to lift us up”. 

I used his explanation of WTWFS as my inspiration for the lyrics and similarly to Wanderlust, I wrote lyrics with double entendre that had elements of fantasy but also had the ability to be perceived in different ways depending on the listener. My intention was for the listener to be able to shape the meaning of the verses to their respective life experiences in the same way that poems can take on new meaning with the passing of time. I wanted this transformation to occur within WTWFS. Its lyrics elaborate on the themes in Paul’s quote above. 

littleuniverses wtwfs

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.

Song-Wanderlust

All littleuniverses music, EPs, Music collaboration, Wanderlust (EP)

Wanderlust-the song

In my previous blog post Collaboration-Wanderlust EP I mentioned that I would write more about my process for the upcoming EP and so I thought to start with its title track Wanderlust.  

When Paul told me in February 2021 that he had almost finished composing the music for the EP I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself into. In fact, when he emailed me the WIP orchestral version of Wanderlust (there are two versions of the title track on the EP), I registered all that it was with great surprise because it was orchestral and had a choir. I didn’t expect this, especially seeing how the music I write is more indie rock-Ish, but it didn’t faze me either, I found it rather inspiring.  

Wanderlust came across to me as a piece that unlocked “chambers” in the mind as it progressed. Its beauty and complexity unraveled a series of emotions in me. I loved that about it. At this point in the process, its language was communicated through its instrumentation, digital choir and a vowel driven vocal passage that Paul created with the use of a vocal library.  

I spoke to Paul shortly after listening to make sure I fully understood his vision. He told me that Wanderlust unravels an adventure prompted by feelings of being trapped and using our imagination for brief escapism before finally returning to the no-so-exciting day-today reality we all face. We concluded our conversation when he told me to write/interpret lyrics as I see fit and basically perform what I felt would be best suited for the piece. This carte blanche turned out to be quite a memorable adventure for me. 

Wanderlust was unlike any song I had ever sung before and wrote lyrics to. It contained a choir, a vowel driven agile vocal passage that I felt was reminiscent of spell sung by a mystical princess and a musical structure dense with orchestral arrangement of piano, violins, horns, drums, ethnic flutes as well as digital sounds. With Wanderlust I needed to break down and interpret the vocal passages that existed and create new lyric driven ones that stayed true to both our styles. I wanted to compliment and amplify what was there to encourage the epic journey behind the song. Lyrically I needed to find a balance of vocals and lyrics that prevented the song from sounding like a rock opera or a musical theatre piece which was not our intention at all.  

I wrote the following lyrics.  

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.  

Wanderlust

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

Collaboration-Wanderlust EP

All littleuniverses music, EPs, Music collaboration, Wanderlust (EP)

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

Wanderlust

New music: Judgment Lyrics

All littleuniverses music, Music collaboration, Single
BLOG
Adorn 16 Logo

Judgment is a Black Metal duet between Zeke (frontman of Adorn16) and me. It is a song about playing with death for pleasure. It tells a tale about an insatiable need for thrills by living on the razor’s edge and pushing to a point of no return where souls rise to salvation or are judged to damnation.

At the early stage of our collaboration, when Adorn16 sent me the guitar stems for Judgment I felt inspired to create a song with a theme of pushing life to the edge. As a metal fan, I wanted to add to the dark atmosphere of the music with lyrics that create full immersion into a point of no return. I felt an interesting way to do so would also involve splitting the vocals seeing how Zeke’s are basically the opposite of mine. I liked the idea of this contrast as it plays with “dark and light”.

I constantly like to test my boundaries and believe that many of us do the same in our everyday. There is a particular thrill that arises from surpassing limitations that could be self inflicted, imposed upon us or simply just doing something new for the love of experiencing an adrenaline rush. Pleasure and pain. With this song I brought forth some of that essence except Judgment plays with what is supernatural. It explores a downward spiral of an addiction to getting a rush until a point of no return is reached.

What truly awaits at this place where human mortality and its limitations are confirmed? Can we live on the razor’s edge forever and expect to step into the light, or exist in a place of eternal horror?

Which brings me to share this interesting fact about Adorn16; Zeke has an excellent YouTube Channel where he not only talks about the metal scene in Azerbaijan but also features some great horror films.

Nuff said: below are the lyrics to song. It comes out Friday September 18th on Spotify, Apple, Soundcloud, Deezer etc.. or just come back to my site, I will have all links on my music page.


JUDGMENT LYRICS

In covenant
Create pain
Bow down to meet your maker
Bow down to meet your maker

Walk the line
Follow it will take you
Walk the line
Take you to salvation
Play the pawn
Rest amongst the thorns
Will you survive

There is one bullet in the chamber
To give, To gain, To take away
In the light we are born
In the darkness we play to die

The path selected is the game
Roll with the wicked
Play the turn
Led by the demons

That you can no longer escape

Hang on tight
You’re in it for the ride
Aren’t you
Hang on tight
You’re in it for the ride
Aren’t you, aren’t you

Is this all there is?

Bow down to meet your maker
Bow down to meet your maker

Walk
Take me to salvation


For more information about Adorn16 click the links below:

Adorn 16 Logo

RECENT POSTS

  • Song-When The World Feels Small
  • Song-Wanderlust
  • Collaboration-Wanderlust EP
  • Song-Before it Begins
  • Song-Getting By

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