i burned myself to feel my nervous system working - xójira

our second ep. this has been an incredibly long time coming and finally documents every song from our current era. all of these songs were written from late 2021 to late 2022 and were recorded in march 2023. in fact, we have now released every song we've ever written.

viewfinder II

pic of your head after is been hit several times w a bat

まほうのじゅうたん/Mahou No Jyuutan

I could forget you honest
It’s a gift I’ve been given

Half measures, son
Half measures, son

You promised me a bolder life
Adventures on the sand
Whispering to me the news of love
And fortunes spent

I don’t blame you for anything

Half measures, son
Half measures, son

You promised me a bolder life
Adventures on the sand
Whispering to me the news of love

I could just walk away
Or I could just trust you

Half measures, son
Half measures, son

You promised me a bolder life
Adventures on the sand
Whispering to me the news of love
And fortunes spent

John Makarewicz - Bass
Nick Nunziata - Guitar, Vocals
Stephen Murphy - Drums, Backing Vocals

Half Measures

in the direction of sunrise and night light

dim quiet

Downhill

what about us?

It’s easy to be resentful. I carry resentment around with me everywhere I go. It’s alway been my default. Things don’t always go the way I want them to, life doesn’t always break the way I want it to, I can’t always do the things that you want to, and I start keeping score. It builds up. And then I find myself being miserable, and being a miserable person. 

During one recent session my therapist suggested that I practice gratitude. He suggested that, rather than keeping score of the bad things I start keeping score of the good ones. Sounds pretty simple and intuitive, right? What do I need to pay him for?

As I started practicing gratitude I became increasingly aware of all of the good things that I have in my life, and that inspired me to write this song. Maybe it’s a little sappy. Maybe it’s a little obvious. But it works. 

It’s a pretty simple song. I recorded the progression and the hammer harmonic part on my Black Pearl Telecaster and used the neck pickup on my Cherry Sunburst Heritage H150 for the lead. I absolutely love the tone. That guitar sounds huge. It is easily one of the best guitars I have ever played and I can’t believe that I am fortunate enough to own it and to be able to play it anytime I want. 

I am, ahem, incredibly grateful to be able to make music. I try not to take my ability and opportunities for granted. It is so easy for me to see the things that I don’t have the time and/or energy to do. Being able to write, play, and record a song like this just shows me how good I’ve really got it. 

My life has taken some unexpected turns over the years. I haven’t taken the easiest or most direct path to get to where I am now. But I am exactly where I want to be. I have a great life, and I am grateful for it.

Gratitude

converto.io

百景 (Hyakkei) - Kagefumi

Standing Still In A Moving Scene

Prairie

What happens when you teach a kid Suzuki violin, have him grow up in the home of a rock band, and then give him a guitar and get out of his way?

Throw in a love for Dave Brubeck and odd time signatures, some Phil Keaggy and open guitar tunings, a little Klayton and Trent Reznor, a touch of Adrian Belew, a dash of Danny Elfman and Alan Silvestri, and then stir in a heaping helping of big dumb guitar rock, and you’ve got a mishmash of influences that make up my sound. 

I like to make interesting music, and I get bored easily. I am equal parts composer and performer. I sing a little. I play a lot. And I really dig making absurd beats in weird time signatures that don’t make any sense until they do.

Gratitude

Friar Didymus

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