2021

This is about how life is constantly presenting challenges. We must learn from each incident/experience and use that learning to try and be more resilient and be able to move forward. 
I wrote it on my 3/4 size Hofner classical guitar. It’s first song! I used open G tuning after being encouraged to try it by Mark Spruce (Original Spruce - great songs- give them a listen!). Thanks Mark! 
Hope you enjoy it. Best with headphones! 
Take care 
James 

Lyrics 
My Uncertain Steps 

As a boy, I was scared of the sea
With my family, on a beach in Normandy, 
a French boy told me the ghosts of drowned sailors grab your legs and dragged you down
I wouldn’t go in! 
Too naive and trusting! 

As a teen, I was all over the place! 
Always confused, just didn’t know which way to face
Too many temptations, suggestions and thrills, distracting and wild
Couldn’t think straight 
Couldn’t concentrate! 

It was always their demands and directions 
Had to meet their dreams and expectations 

My uncertain steps
No confidence 
(Trying to find my own way)
My uncertain steps 
At my own pace
(My way) 

My wreckage of a life, with this chaotic love
Constant demands, you can never do enough 
Mix in the bullies, the twisters and those egos too
It pulls you apart
Breaks your heart 

I’m seasoned, I now know this path
One crisis avoided, another starts 

My uncertain steps
More experienced 
(Trying to find my own way)
My uncertain steps
At my own pace 
(My way) 

And now I expect to see the worst
In everyone and everything I know
Just know how it is, but feel I can somehow 
see it through

(outro) 
I’ve got friends (for my uncertain steps)
I’ve lived and learnt (for my uncertain steps)
I’ve got you (for my uncertain steps) 
I’ll get through this (my uncertain steps) 


James Whiteman copyright  18 January 2024

My Uncertain Steps

Krosan by Night

Krosan By Night

“It's like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. That story makes you what you are. We build ourselves out of that story.”
--Patrick Rothfuss

OneKind- Desist

Summer In An Olympic And Paralympic Year

Cast of Characters:

Jeff Roberts-- @jeff_roberts – bass, seed idea
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– guitar solo, rhythm guitar, arrangement , production, mix, and mastering
Mistermark – @user-432503709 – Mark – production, editing, synth bass in the break section
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- organ, electric piano, synthesizer
Llanpsych-- @llanpsych -- Tez – guitar solo
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums, percussion, lyrics and lead vocals in the bridge section 
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – rhythm guitar, lap steel, vocals and lyrics for the verses, vocal harmony in the bridge
Composition – The Eclectic Collective

 This song began with a bass part that Jeff came up with and shared with Stephen, who had added some fiery guitar and foundational rhythm guitar to it. However, it languished on his digital shelf for many months as two parts, until he recently remembered that he had it. So, he decided to share it with the rest of the group. We were salivating, all of us, when we heard Jeff's bass line, so we began with Ken laying in the groovy drums and the tight, driving percussion, which propels the entire song. Once we had a beat, we decided to edit the part to include the break you hear about a minute into it. Mark took on that task, and deftly added the bass in that section, too. 
  Josh was up next, and decided to add a rhythm guitar inspired by Talking Heads. Once he had done that, he started hearing a simple, catchy melody in the main verse part, too, so he came up with some simple lyrics and recorded the vocals for that. At the same time this was happening, Ken also came up with some lyrics and a vocal melody for the breakdown part, which he added. After Ken had added his vocals, Josh added a harmony part on them. He also added the lap slide melody you hear in that section, as well. 
  JJ was next up to bat, laying in the breathtaking organ throughout. He also backdropped a canvas of synthesizer throughout and put in some electric piano too. Tez came along not long after and added the ripping guitar solo in the jam section. Once everyone had added their parts, it was up to Stephen to produce, mix, and master it. He arranged and added some length to it, then mixed it in his usual expert manner.
  This is the first song the Eclectic Collective has done with Jeff, though Stephen has worked with him in the past, and we were all fans of his music, and thus very excited for the chance to make music with him. Hopefully, this will be the first of many.
  We all hope you enjoy listening to this as much as we enjoyed making it. If you comment, please share, too. 

Original lyrics by Josh Clary:
The trees talk to each other
They send messages through the breeze
There's magic all around us
If we look for it, we can see
 
Original lyrics by K2 and the Three:
Hey, how you feeling about love and lust
Hey how you dealing with all the lies you trust
We're here to be clear
Not a walk in the dark

A little woweluja
Little halleluja

Wowlelujah (Eclectic Collective) - feat. Jeff Roberts

Green over the Blue #GS2024

A yoga holiday in crete
Smashing plates around my feet
Don't worry they were specially made
There's no need to be afraid

Of the environmental footprint
It didn't cost a mint
I'm lying here in the sun
Eating greek salad, its a lot of fun

To drink the wine and downward dog
Lets hope my stomach won't honk
Namaste, pranayama, drishti and asana

Dont know what any of it means
get the mat and I'll meet you in my dreams
To the bar we frequent
More regularly than lent
Despite being a healthy holiday
We can eat what we like and party
We can eat what we like and party

402. a yoga holiday in crete (harding).mp3

Written & Performed by Ruviru
Beat Produced by Antun V
Mixed and Mastered by David J




Spirit Remains, Love Prevails

Tim Mathews of DaBelvis Undaground/SmogBaby added Strings and Backing Vocals re-mixing this track into something much more enriching than the original...We hope you enjoy it too! 

Tim Mathews - Synths, Backing Vocals, Master Mix
Adam Coppock - Real Live Drums
Michael Walker - Guitars, Bass, Harmonica, Lyrics, Vocals 

Much Love - The Screach

Just A Little While

I know I messed up and I am just going to need a little while
To Try and figure out it all in my head
I know I can’t take back all the things that I have done
I am going to need a little while to figure it out

When I look back I can’t believe myself
I can be so, so self absorbed sometimes
I can’t believe myself I just have to think about it for a little while
Figure out how to deal with it all by myself

I don’t blame you if you have to go away from me
I can’t blame you if you are going find another man to hold on to
I am going to need a little while because you know I can’t stay
I never have and I never will

The wheels are turning and the winds blowing
I am going to have to chase down another mile or two
Before I get it right, 

I am going to need a little bit to think about it
I know I messed up 
I know I really messed it all up this time

The winds are blowing the wheels are turning
I have to chase another mile down
Think about it all by myself again
I promise I will try to slow down Someday
Stick around for more than just a little while…


Just a Little While

01 - SA - HZS - 60 Cellos All Standard - C Sord PP Long Soft CS
02 - SA - OPW - Ice Piano
03 - SA - OS - Woods High - Combo Swarm
04 - SA - Aperture - Refractions - Tremolo_Refractions - Normale
05 - SA - WE - Intense Sirens
06 - SA - BDT - Ensembles - Flute & Pic.soft_Ensembles - Bass & CI Soft

On The Way Back [Hans Zimmer Strings]

All tracks  are recorded in a spontaneous manner typically in a single take. Most lyrics are also spontaneous improvisations derived from the feelings of the moment. We let the guitar and drums interact and the music just happens. Most if not all of the music is inspired from this interaction.

The recording equipment up until January 2019 consisted of a dated Fostex 8 track and a few microphones...We simply lay down a guitar and drum track and let it unfold the way you are hearing it by bouncing tracks. We just have to make music to live. Music of any kind, music that speaks for itself... 

In January 2019 recording equipment was upgraded to Logic X and a UA Apollo MKll Quad Core Recording interface...We entered a new building and still trying to find the light switch so bare with us as we keep lighting matches...  

MW