"The Stars In Us" was inspired by a work by the same name created by impressionist painter James Burpee. In Burpee's words, "My lover and I were inland from the North Shore on a Summer night and lying back on a blanket digging the Milky Way...Then we went in our cabin and laid in bed together very happy, and very loving of each other." The song captures this same sentiment and speaks from the voice of one lover to the other.

Words and music by Alex Hamberger

Performed by Nailah Middleton and Alex Hamberger

Mixed and Mastered by Kevin Israel at RiverRock Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota

"The Stars in Us" painting by James Burpee, ca. 1995

www.jamesburpee.com

More from the artist available on YouTube:  James Burpee Art Legacy:
https://youtu.be/NA2X-0OQMu4

The Stars In Us

Watch the video here --> https://youtu.be/OgqbtPcoOfE

When you cry anime tears, time stops in a freeze frame of anguish. Everything falls away but you, your emotions, your tears. The tears sound brightly and fall with added weight in the dark void of time and space. "Anime Tears" depicts a melodramatic moment of longing and love, trapped in passion and draped in desire.

Words and music by Nailah Middleton

Performed by Nailah Middleton and Alex Hamberger

Produced by Aram Bedrossian 

Mixed and Mastered by Kevin Israel at RiverRock Studios, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Anime Tears

Why do we dress up our lives up in adornments and decorations instead of really working to welcome the quality and beauty of life itself? 

Not everything needs tinsel, glitter, glamour or frosting; we still have to live the lives we create for ourselves. Why not value the beauty that lays therein?

Words and music by Alex Hamberger and Nailah Middleton.

Performed by Nailah Middleton and Alex Hamberger.

Engineers:
Matthew Gorski, Julian Karahalios, Benjamin Hubbard.

Mixed and Mastered byJulian Karahalios and Benjamin Hubbard.

Twinkle Lights

I was reading a collection of Pablo Neruda love poems and pouring over lessons from the Tao Te Ching when the inspiration for “Sonnets” struck. The piece is a song of longing for the self, set forth with the intention of reconnection. Throughout our lives, we are taught slowly but surely to reject so many things about ourselves. Our physical features and personalities don’t measure up to the characters we see in the media. We begin to view the places and communities we come from as embarrassing or shameful. Yesterday’s top shelf becomes today’s leftover castaways in the blink of an eye. The amount of learned hate we carry with us leaves our souls withered and dry. When we finally bathe again in our own flowing streams of creativity and light, we are restored to our full, ripened capacity for giving and receiving love.

Nailah [Middleton]’s cool and alluring voice floats over the percolating rolling chords from my electric bass. Special guest percussionist Michael Ohlinger adds cerebral textures by way of bowed cymbals, bells, shakers, and gongs. All elements are tactfully tied together with Julian Karahalios’ reflective production.

~Alex Hamberger

Mastered by Benjamin Hubbard
Released by Sol Sounds Records

Sonnets

Bashful Creature intertwines introspective lyricism with colorful textures and harmony. Combining classic songwriting and an innovative accompaniment style, the group is able to cast a sonic shadow larger than their small size would lead one to believe.

Nailah Middleton (harp/voice) and Alex Hamberger (bass) serve as the primary songwriters for Bashful Creature. The material that comprises their forthcoming debut album (due out summer 2016) tackles the themes of unrequited love and understated commitment.

With equal measures of jazz, synth pop, and folk-inspired melodies, Bashful Creature presents an unforgettable sound and live show.