Black Tears - 2019

Credits :
Production : Josh Freidman (Boston, MA)
Co Production + Feature Artist (Drums) : Adam Soucy (Boston, MA)
Songwriter / Vocals / Album Art : Anna Madsen Jefferies (Boston, MA)
Mixing : Jeremy Inhaber at Larrabee Studios (Los Angeles, CA)
Mastering : Adam Ayan at Gateway Mastering Studios (Portland, ME)

Black Tears

This is one of my favorite B side Taylor Swift songs - I cried the first time I heard it, because it hit me so hard. 

I wanted to do this cover for my mom as a Mother's Day gift a couple years ago, but I struggled getting through my vocal takes because I kept getting so emotional! Eventually I was able to pull it together. :)

Set up was in my apartment with an acoustic karaoke back track and a microphone. Hope you like it. <3

best day (cover)

One of my favorite The Band Perry songs I've ever heard. I belted the shit out of this in my car when it first came out. IT'S SUCH A BANGER. I'm also obsessed with the southern gothic vibe and the art/music that comes out of that aestheticism.

Set up was band camp, a karaoke back track and a microphone. I recorded this during the pandemic.

better dig two (cover)

I've been listening to Lana since her debut record - but I didn't have the same emotional reaction to some of her post Paradise era in the way that I did for her record Norman Fucking Rockwell. This is one of my all time favorites of hers and I was really happy with the way this one came out. Enjoy!

mariner's apartment complex (cover)

I wrote this song 6 years ago and I was experimenting with writing songs in different genres that I normally don't write songs in - and I ended up writing some of my favorite tunes from that time of my life. 

This song is unfinished, but I wanted to finally release it - because what am I actually waiting for? Enjoy. 

Lyrics :
They say there’s no peace for the wicked. 
But I closed my eyes, for a whole thirty seconds.If hell is where I’m supposed to be, you can eat my faint of heart, and watch me bleed. 

They say there’s no love for the wicked. 
But I felt his tongue in places restricted. 
If heaven is where I am supposed to be,
then why do I set fire to things close to me.

I won’t look at you while I run.
Load the crooked chamber of your gun. (2x)

They say there’s no death for the wicked.
But I say when I’m done, you need my permission. 
If I walk the Earth for eternity, 
it’ll only be in your little memory.
It’ll only be in your little memory. 

I won’t look at you while I run.
Load the crooked chamber of your gun. (2x)
I won’t look at you while I run.
Load the crooked chamber of your gun. (2x)

wicked (demo)

This song is very self explanatory if you read the lyrics. I never was able to finish this song, but I still really love the angst behind the demo. Maybe someday I'll be able to finish it! 

Lyrics :

my delayed reactions 
are just a fraction
of a problem that is greater 
my hand is heavy   
with a plastic bottle 
that I keep for good behavior 
do I speak too loud
when Silence’s talking
am I prone to shutting doors
I hold the past between 
white knuckles 
my head is getting sore. 

I’ve got one too many problems,
99 doesn’t even scratch the surface.
How do I get from the bottom? 
The view from here should be 
better than this.
God and hell are making me sick,
I think I prefer mental illness.
God and hell are making me sick,
I think I prefer mental illness.

my knees are bruised from 
darker days 
when I ate the ground
in earnest 
now angels fill my ears
with sound they tell me 
I deserved it 
every weed was once 
a flower  
till we defined what it was for 
my father told me I had faith 
now my sanity tells me more

Chorus 

You know I try 
will ever feel better 
and I cry 
but it’s always bad weather
in my mind 
in my mind 

I’m drowning in my sorrows
I’m drowning in my sorrows 
and the memories I borrow 
make reality much harder

bipolar (demo)

Wrote this song for a musical I'm working on - this is the rough acapella demo for it.

kiss me deadly (acapella demo)

I write all my songs as acapella arrangements first, but sometimes I love the demo almost as much (if not more sometimes) than the final end product. 

I tend to like my original demos because there is usually a lot of raw feelings that go behind cutting your first vocal on a new song - and I can't always replicate that in a studio in the same way.

hate you, be near me (acapella demo)

I was going through a lot of emotional turmoil when I wrote this song - so it ended up sounding more angry than I originally pictured. I was never able to finish this song, but since I've moved past this point in my life, I'm okay leaving it where it is. 

Lyrics :

HYMN

I like small towns
They don’t challenge me
Am I timid at the crosswalk
Or am I waking up

I burned myself accidentally 
If I didn’t flinch 
What does that say about me
When I’m by myself
My throat hurts from
All the words I 
Can’t say aloud

I am a hymn that my mama 
Didn’t teach me
My heart is empty
But there’s no vacancy
Split down the middle
Neither sinner or a saint
Raising a human was her
Greatest complaint
I am a hymn that my mama
Didn’t teach me
Heaven’s a smile she could
Never grace me
What is strength anyway
Will kindness really kill them
Will kindness really kill them

My photograph isn’t on your wall
Hollow words fragile thoughts
When you see my face
Do you see yourself?
I scream, I lie, 
I build up walls
I’m a manic fucking mess
Who feels nothing at all

I am a hymn that my mama 
Didn’t teach me
My heart is empty
But there’s no vacancy
Split down the middle
Neither sinner or a saint
Raising a human was her
Greatest complaint
I am a hymn that my mama
Didn’t teach me
Heaven’s a smile she could
Never grace me
What is strength anyway
Will kindness really kill them
Will kindness really kill them

Spilled my coffee on a
Brand new blouse
Missed phone calls
Running my mouth
I’ve got theories on my
Crazy eyes
Covered up mirrors
There’s a bright side
There’s a bright side
There’s a bright side
There’s a bright side
There’s a bright side
There’s a bright side
There’s a bright side
There’s a bright side

I am a hymn that my 
Mama didn’t teach me
My heart is empty but there’s no vacancy
Split down the middle
Neither a sinner or a saint
Raising a human was her
Greatest complaint 

I am a hymn that my mama didn’t teach me
Heaven’s a smile she 
Could never grace me
What is strength anyway?
What is strength anyway?
I am a hymn that my mama didn’t teach me
My heart is empty but 
There’s no vacancy
Split down the middle
Neither a sinner or a saint
Raising a human was her greatest complaint

I am a hymn that my mama didn’t teach me
I am hymn
I am hymn
I am hymn that my mama didn’t teach me
Didn’t teach me
Will kindness really kill them?

hymn (demo)

I wrote this song . . . 7 years ago? It kept floating around in my demos, but I never took it to studio. Instead, I just used stuff around my apartment to make sounds (like the wine glass sound in the beginning!) and used my voice / harmonies to pad the arrangement. 

I never recorded the second verse I eventually did write for this song, so I do repeat myself on this demo.

bad taste (acapella demo)

This is one of my favorite songs I've written in recent memory, both lyrically and musically. I wanted it to have a southern gothic vibe and while I hope to finish this song one day in a studio, I fucking love how haunting this demo is. 

Lyrics :

C&C 

I punched my hands on the steering wheel
cause I felt like cumming and crying
at the same time
and I know you were thinking of me
how the fuck am I supposed to move on 
when we’re running out of time
there’s a hole in my chest
and it’s growing and I miss you
more than I care to know why

get out
get out
get out of my head

we are a weathered beauty
caught you regurgitating stems
of flowers
after throwing pretty petal words at me
I’m not the one you want
but when you venture down my body
you’ll swallow me like an infected cut
that won’t do any healing

I punched my hands on the steering wheel
cause I felt like cumming and crying
at the same time
and I know you were thinking of me
how the fuck am I supposed to move on
when we’re running out of time
there’s a hole in my chest
and it’s growing and I miss you
more than I care to know why

get out
get out
get out of my head

the four walls that I talk to
caught me believing that 
when you think of me 
you’re leaving calling cards in my sleep
you’re not the one I want
my obsession would disagree
there’s a room inside my haunted house
where I can hear you screaming

I punched my hands on the steering wheel
cause I felt like cumming and crying
at the same time 
and I know you were thinking of me
how the fuck am I supposed to move on
when we’re running out of time
there’s a hole in my chest
and it’s growing and I miss you
more than I care to know why

get out
get out
get out of my head

c&c (acapella demo)

I wanted to write a dark bluesy song, so this is what I came up with one afternoon this past winter. While I also hope to take this song to studio someday, I was proud of how this demo came out. 

Lyrics :

Pieces of skin 
from my chapped lips 
Are in your mouth 
since we last kissed 
no big deal, 
I guess you now have a part of me 
since the pieces that you had 
are gone - obviously 
I’m not the one you want 
but you won’t let me leave 

Chorus  Well he’ll say 
“I love you baby, 
but I’ve got no time,”
Well, did you know that you stutter 
when you tend to lie? 
And I’ll say 
“Be honest, 
you don’t love me - but angry women 
will eventually leave,”  
you got me on the ground 
cause you prefer me to bleed 
when they ask me why I frown  
I say it’s cause of stained teeth 

V.2 I’ve got my hands 
wired behind my spine 
to keep from calling 
so I don’t waste your time  
Oh morning headaches 
make me want to scream 
at clouds 
you'll cite my diagnosis 
when my affection gets loud 


Chorus

Bridge What’s the point in even being with you 
I’m drowning here in ashes
from the fires you grew 
give me a reason
why I should stay
when I’ve got notebooks full 
of reasons why I should run away 

Chorus 

Outro  I told you every angry woman will eventually leave and your former angry woman is finally free

stained teeth (acapella demo)

Dark pop version of my musical theatre song "Dead Daisies".

Pushing Daisies (Dark Pop)

My acapella rendition of "I Could Have Danced All Night" originally from the musical "My Fair Lady".

dance all night

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Select tracks from Anna Madsen's 2016 release, Efflorescence.

Irena's Lullaby ft. Anthony Phillips

Madame Laree

Produced, recorded, & mixed by Brian Coombes
Additional recording by Josh Kimball
Recorded & mixed at Rocking Horse Studio, Pittsfield, NH
Mastered by Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering, Boston, MA
Assistant Mastering Engineer: Maria Rice

All vocals & lyrics by Anna Madsen

Devil's Garden (Madsen/Coombes)
Eric Wagley: drums
Jonathan Mover: drums
Brian Coombes: synths, omnichord, therevox, programming 
Myron Kibbee: guitars
©2016 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)

If You Run  (Madsen/Coombes)
Dave Mattacks: drums
Brian Coombes: synths, programming, percussion 
Myron Kibbee: guitars 
Mike Effenberger: piano
©2017 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)

Palm Reader (Madsen/Coombes/Pierog)
Eric Wagley: drums
Dave Mattacks: drums
Brian Coombes: keyboards, programming
Myron Kibbee: guitars
Kate St. John: cor anglais
Jeremy Harman: cello
©2015 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)/Joseph Pierog (BMI)

Black Dress  (Madsen/Coombes/Kibbee)
Jonathan Mover: snare drum
Ian Sleeper: bass, acoustic guitar
Brian Coombes: synths, piano, taurus pedals, programming 
Myron Kibbee: guitars 
Anthony Phillips: guitars 
Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki: violin
©2016 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)/Myron Kibbee (BMI)

Dead Daisies  (Madsen/Coombes)
Adam Soucy: drums
Brian Coombes: synths, therevox, bass
Myron Kibbee: guitars
©2017 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)

Golden Room  (Madsen/Coombes/Black)
Brian Coombes: synths, taurus pedals, timpani, glockenspiel 
Rick Black: piano 
Kate St. John: cor anglais 
Rob Townsend: flute
©2015 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)/Richard Black (BMI)

Luna  (Madsen/Gochez)
Eric Wagley: drums
Joey Pierog: bass, percussion
Brian Coombes: mellotron, bass, percussion 
Rick Black: celeste 
Myron Kibbee: guitars 
Jeremy Harman: cello
©2015 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Patrik Gochez (ASCAP)

Paint the Town Red  (Madsen/Coombes/Pierog) 
Eric Wagley: drums 
Brian Coombes: synths, programming 
Myron Kibbee: guitars
©2017 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)/Joseph Pierog (BMI)

Cimmerian (Madsen/Coombes/Pierog)
Eric Wagley: drums
Joey Pierog: bass
Brian Coombes: synths, mellotron, optigan, omnichord 
Rick Black: harpsichord, celeste 
Myron Kibbee: guitars 
Jordan Tirrell-Wysocki: fiddle
©2015 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)/Joseph Pierog (BMI)

Fingerprints  (Madsen/Coombes/Kibbee)
Brian: synths
Myron: guitars
Josh Kimball: programming
Adam Soucy: snare drum, cymbals
©2017 Anna Madsen (BMI)/Brian Coombes (BMI)/Myron Kibbee (BMI)

Golden Room

Dead Daisies

If You Run

Revenge track. Alternative pop. Boston.

Credits :
Production + Mixing + Mastering : Josh Freidman
Songwriting / Vocals / Album Art : Anna Madsen Jefferies

Scarlet Letter

Efflorescence

Devil's Garden

Irena's March

Pretend you're in a movie, honey.

professional vocalist + singer & songwriter + analog photographer

Anna Madsen

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