A playlist full of tracks created by the writers, musicians and producers of our music community, "The MusiCollective" - this is the July 2022 edition!

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in this. We have a mix of complete recording newbies, seasoned pros and everything in between. All as incredible as each other. 

The MusiCollective is a community of people that get behind each others' projects, for example by helping with songwriting, arrangements, recording and production. It is a continuation of TGS Records (@tgs-records) which started as a lockdown project and has been snowballing new members in ever since. If you'd like to join us, get in touch by emailing themusicollective21@gmail.com or filling in this short form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScgUPAkshXrqaB3yjG3Npa5lZVMs2uqxgzYX77DeZb8HHCYpA/viewform?usp=sf_link

TMC Records - July 2022 playlist

A playlist full of tracks created by the writers, musicians and producers of our music community, "The MusiCollective" - this is the July 2023 edition, featuring both new songs and some old hits from last year's July list!

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in this. We have a mix of complete recording newbies, seasoned pros and everything in between. All as incredible as each other.

The MusiCollective is a community of people that get behind each others' projects, for example by helping with songwriting, arrangements, recording and production. It is a continuation of TGS Records (@tgs-records) which started as a lockdown project and has been snowballing new members in ever since. If you'd like to join us, get in touch by emailing themusicollective21@gmail.com or filling in this short form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQL…wform?usp=sf_link

TMC Records - July 2023 playlist

A playlist full of tracks created by the writers, musicians and producers of our music community, "The MusiCollective" - this is the May 2024 edition, featuring both new songs and a couple of oldies from our first May playlist in 2021.

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in this. We have a mix of complete recording newbies, seasoned pros and everything in between. All as incredible as each other.

The MusiCollective is a community of people that get behind each others' projects, for example by helping with songwriting, arrangements, recording and production. It is a continuation of TGS Records (@tgs-records) which started as a lockdown project and has been snowballing new members in ever since. If you'd like to join us, get in touch by emailing themusicollective21@gmail.com or filling in this short form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQL…wform?usp=sf_link

TMC Records - May 2024 playlist

A playlist full of tracks created by the writers, musicians and producers of our music community, "The MusiCollective" - this is the December 2024 edition, featuring this year's two collaborative Christmas covers and a few favourites from throughout this year (1 song per month), to exit 2024 with a musical bang!!

A huge congratulations to everyone involved in this. We have a mix of complete recording newbies, seasoned pros and everything in between. All as incredible as each other.

The MusiCollective is a community of people that get behind each others' projects, for example by helping with songwriting, arrangements, recording and production. It is a continuation of TGS Records (@tgs-records) which started as a lockdown project and has been snowballing new members in ever since. If you'd like to join us, get in touch by emailing themusicollective21@gmail.com or filling in this short form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQL…wform?usp=sf_link

TMC Records - December 2024 playlist

A very personal track dealing with themes of anxiety and the importance of love and communication. X

The Conversation (Demo)

Cover of "Ignore It" by Marliz: https://soundcloud.com/marlizmusic/marliz-ignore-it

Ignore It (marliz. cover) feat. Flash

Del Rey Sunshine - Demo

Polaroid Demo

I'm driving around the UK living in a van called Travis. As we drive around we get to talk to lots of different people and like to write songs inspired by some of the notable ones we meet. This is inspired by Imogen aka 'Scout' who was the previous owner and namer of Travis and so helped to get us started on this whole adventure.

Lyrics:

Scout dreams of a better world
Think of more than just to please ourselves

Loves sustainability
Conservation work and planting trees

Scout knows where to go
Life's a winding road
Whether we have near or far to go
Scout knows where to go

Principles live without fear
Conscience can be hard for them to hear

Ostracised and turned away
Judged by the society she saves

Scout knows where to go
Life's a winding road
Whether we have near or far to go
Scout knows where to go

Scout

Intro: E

Riff: E - Ab - Gb

Verse: Ab - A - E - B
We hide inside these chambers
We hold on to our own
And if our lives were wasteful
May they sacrifice our souls  

Fallen into squalor
All of us breathe the poisoned air
Forget all that we came for 
B                        A
Be sure there’s nothing there  

Chorus
Find no fame or fortune
Find nothing at all
No way left to tame her
Find a safe road ___

Riff

Verse
And now we ball confusion up 
with the sorrow we befriend
As if our lives were equal 
to the fake praise that we penned

And if you’re so frustrated
Swallow pride and look around 
At silhouettes of people 
Reminiscing on what’s gone

Chorus
 We accomplished nothing
And we’re still on the run 
Nowhere left to tame her
Find a safe road home

Bridge:
A - B - Ab - E
And now we hide in tunnels
Sheltering from the rain
 Come and grab a sliver of the
Lives we built in vein   

And now we’re subterranean
We’re painting our own skies
Ab - A
We hold onto magic 
A - B
We hold onto everything that’s light

Intro again

Safer Roads Demo

This is the third demo of songs written in my songwriting group. The prompt for this session was "too full", and we had an hour to write. enjoy :) 

photo by Jenn Seguinot (Thru Jenn’s Frames Photography)

Move Slow

I am too full
Of things that I like 
I want everyone around 
And then I want them out of sight 

I have dreams big
I am chasing them now too
And I get so annoyed 
By everything I have to do 
			      
I just wanna lie down in a field 
I just want a second to feel 
All the parts of me I can’t get to 
The places I want to go 
I wanna move slow 

I am carrying 
Things that aren’t mine and
Some resentment creeps in
From time to time 

I am in a better spot
Than I was before 
But I am not at ease
Instead it’s more and more 

I just wanna lie down in a field 
I just want a second to feel 
All the parts of me I can’t get to 
The places I wanna go 
I wanna move slow 

All the parts of me I can’t get to 
The places I want to go 
I wanna move slow

Move Slow (demo)

A song about longing and obsession in the age of social media. About falling in love with someone through a screen. Someone who may or may not be real

----------

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I can hear the sound of dreams
The cigarettes and faded blue jeans
The photographs and played back scenes
Never knowing what they mean

I can see your days collides
The indecision codified
The fantasies and rising tide
History happens in real time

ooh ooh ooh

You could be my daydream
My landslide, my slipstream
My devil chasing moonbeams
Intention lost to the mainstream

I could be your joyride
Your agent on the outside
Your lowest low and highest tide
Watch as I revert to type

ooh ooh ooh

Daydreams And Algorithms

Demo 12 of songs I wrote in my songwriting group. The prompt for this song was to write a recipe in song form. This was a fun/silly write….but also, it’s pretty accurate, so if you want to make some delicious soup just follow along (who needs measurements…)!

photo by Jenn Seguinot (Thru Jenn’s Frames Photography)

The Soup I Was Planning to Make for Dinner

Tomato paste
Tomato paste
Not to be put in with haste 

Tomato paste
Tomato paste
Oh you have to wait

We start with the onions 
The garlic and the ginger					
We think of the feast 
We are having for dinner

Then we add the vegetables
Vegetables, it’s time
I like zucchini and potatoes but use what you have
Anything is fine

And now…tomato paste
Tomato paste
Not a minute more to waste

Stir in tomato paste 
Tomato paste 
Stir once more just in case

Now grab your spices
Garlic powder, cayenne pepper 			
Paprika, salt, oregano 
It all makes it taste better 

Now a can of diced tomatoes
And a lot of olive oil 
And some broth, fill up the pot
It’s time for it to boil 

Tomato paste 
Tomato paste
It’s almost ready to taste

Add more olive oil 
Now the time is up
Fill your bowl and your cup

The Soup I Was Planning to Make for Dinner (demo)

A song that came out of an atrocious songwriting challenge to write a tune with less than 20 words. So, not my usual wordy rhyme galore style (and makes me cringe a bit still) but a lot of repeating and stretching words out as long as possible, so I hope the extra harmonies somewhat offset the lack of substance... very rough mix at this stage as well because I was in a rush, so the levels and panning are probably a bit dodgy.

Verse 1
Wide awake, awake, awake now
I’m wide awake
The demons inside inside inside
Wanna play

Chorus
I wanna let (it) go
Let it go, let it float away

Verse 2 (6)
I’m holding on and on and on
I’m holding on 
To the devil I hide I hide I hide
I hide away

Chorus
I wanna let (it) go
Let it go, let it float away

Bridge
Wide awake, awake, awake now
Wide awake
Float away, away, away
Float away

Chorus
I wanna let (it) go
Let it go, let it float away

Verse 3
I’m wide awake awake awake now
I’m wide awake

Wide Awake (demo)

Crash Test Dummy

I'm Down

Winter Sunset

A sort of storytelling song I started writing because Alex asked me which of my songs we could try playing with The Grand Old Echo and I figured I might as well try to write a new one that fits the mountain theme we already have a few of in our repertoire. It might be inspired by a recent trip to the Canary Islands and the volcanic landscape there but is otherwise entirely fictional. The bridge is a bit of a mouthful and I hope the other bandmates will do that bit eventually so I don't have to embarrass myself :)

Lyrics:
Verse 1
They called her Mad Mary, all alone with her canary
In her hut on a hill where the air’s always still
While the winds round the mountain are howling and shouting
About sins and revenge and the way things will end
 
Chorus
Endless doom x2
 
Verse 2
There once was a time when the villagers were kind and
Took care of their island but after a while they
just took it for granted, wasted half of what they hunted, they
Polluted their waters and were cruel to their daughters and
 
Verse 3
They all laughed at old Mary and her harrowing fairy-
tales of fires below smouldering, waiting to show
Them the beast they created with their greed and their hatred
Getting ready to erase those who won’t mend their ways
 
Chorus
Endless doom x3
 
Verse 4
She repeated her warnings, but the village just yawned
Until then came the day when they chased her away
So she took her canary and all she could carry,
Crying  ‘the mountain’s awake, don’t you see what’s at stake’
 
Chorus
You’re all doomed x3
 
Bridge
She felt the Earth rumble, as she ran, tripped and tumbled
Down the side of the mountain, only turning around when
She arrived at the seashore, found her float, finally she saw
Clouds crashing, and the mountain’s passionate flashes, covering it all a black blanket of ash and
Columns of smoke that swallow all colour as they roll down the slopes on their mission to smother
Any hope of escape of those who noticed too late
That all life on the island had gone awfully silent
While a new kind of fiery violence arrived to devour the night while burning bright
So she turned her face away, cut the rope and set sail
Towards the golden horizon with a new sun on the rise while
The inferno’s hot breath kept bringing destruction and death
To everyone but Mad Mary and her loyal canary, singing…
 
Chorus
You’re all doomed x3
 
Verse 5
Mountain of fire, spitting out high into the sky,
They ignored all her warnings and called her a liar
Now fountains of relentless red, glowing rivers of regret that they just laughed at her when she said
 
You’re all doomed

Doomed (demo)

Shedload Of Blues

Not Me Dot Guv

A song I threw together in a bit of a rush to have something new ready for the TMC May playlist, based on an old progression I had lying around, about resurfacing after burnout/depression/any kind of rough time. Ironically, it almost sent me straight into the next crisis, because the verses weren't exactly jumping out of my head, but I got there in the end I think.

Lyrics:
Verse 1
Climbing - I can almost see the peak it’s within reach for me
The sky above is free and clear now,
The clouds and - my doubts disperse below 
they’re no more hanging over me right now I feel serenity

Chorus 1 
But I was off the rails, I couldn’t set my sails in the head wind and rain
I let the tide pull me away from myself
But now I’m back, I’m back, I’m back on track and back in the game, I navigate
The space between heaven and hell and everything else

Verse 2
Healing - believing hope will rise and dot 
the darkest skies with starry guides towards a brandnew dawn/morning 
Blinding - light that opens up my eyes 
to new horizons now, and beauty thriving all around

Chorus 2
I was lost on forbidden trails winding away through the thicket of my brain
I let the fog lead me astray in myself
But now I’m back, I’m back, I’m back on track and back in the game, I navigate
The space between heaven and hell and everything else

Verse 3
Breathing - leaving distant pistol shots ricocheting round my mind 
behind and tune into the silence
I don’t - know how long the calm before the storm will last this time
But I’ll enjoy the view while I am… fine

I'm back (demo)

I'm Back (demo)

Hoping (demo)

It's the 4th Advent 2024 and Santa seems to have been having some travel hiccups on his way to town, but it looks like he is now finally on route - so without further ado, I proudly present to you “Santa Claus is coming to town”, featuring plenty of Mariah-rivals and the usual obligatory jingly madness.

Big applause to everyone involved, and as always a very special thanks to Doug for pulling this together (and going back in repeatedly to try and make sure everyone is audible-ish!) and spending a day with me a week ago starting the assembly process which you can revisit here – while also doing my tax return, an annual tradition! Here's the lyrics sheet if you want to see who all these dulcet tones belong to https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CaWrCkFyqLwIHM74aigm3vNKH_QNF-Zi/view?usp=drive_link - well done everyone!

Credits:
Drum track, bass, assembly and production: Doug
Guitar, violin and guide vocals: Jenni
Vocals: the good people of The MusiCollective, as listed in our lyrics sheet (see above)
Barking and running around at the end: Paco, the dog - R.I.P. :(

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town - TMC cover 2024

Do you believe in Father Christmas?

Whether yes or no, we’ll find out tonight (if you’re, like me, in Germany) or tomorrow whether you were right! To sweeten the wait and get you in the right merry mood, today we’re releasing our second collaborative Christmas cover this year, “I believe in Father Christmas”, masterfully assembled and produced by our very own Andy Wilson (whose other work you can check out on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stanbadraga/ and SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/stanbadraga as well)… 

Congrats to everyone involved in this, you’re all sounding fab, and I’m particularly pleased to highlight that this one features not just one, but two of my talented ex-flatmates, Charlotte and Zoe! Merry Christmas and happy new year!

Polaroid Demo

Ash Matt