We wrote a party song about climate catastrophe. 

The ghost of Hurricane Sandy still lurks in New York City almost nine years later. You can see it in the high-water marks memorialized in corners of Red Hook, the endless service disruptions still caused by the flooding, and the millions of dollars allocated for defenses against rising sea levels that still have yet to break ground. In short, New York is a city haunted by the promise of its future: climate change.  

What do we say to make it ok? Where’s the outrage? There’s someone more brilliant and qualified solving it. So everyday life as we know it doesn’t have to change...right? 

WATER RISES is an ironic invitation to look a little closer. What would the government say to soothe us if spring disappeared? Plastic flowers are just as good? It sounds ridiculous, but is it so different from the mechanical polonizing “bees?” floated to solve our dying bee problem? 

But screw bumming. WATER RISES is here to make you smile, make you think, and maybe make change by moving to a climate change anthem. 

We hope you’re also inspired by the distorted, glitchy samples of Greta Thunberg's speech at the United Nations (2019), and moved to groove by the mason jar coin shakers, the paper recycling we taped behind the hammers of our piano, and the straw “mutes” we wove into the guitar.  

We hope you'll join our trash party as we dance our way to climate revolution.

Producers: ALMA, Steven Xia, Alexander Rodriguez 
Audio Engineers: ALMA, Steven Xia 
Mixing Engineer: Elliot Moss  
Mastering Engineer: Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound  
Vocals: Alba S. Torremocha, Lillie R. McDonough, and Melissa Kaitlyn Carter  
Percussion: Alba S. Torremocha 
Accordion: Lillie R. McDonough 
Guitar: Horace Bray  
Horns (trumpet & saxophone): Bobby Spellman & Emily Pecoraro 
Keys:  Noah Kellman 
Drums: Steven Xia

Water Rises

There's a lot of things I miss during the pandemic, but one of the things I miss the most is swimming. There's not much warm freshwater near where I live, and all the public pools are all closed until at least mid-June - and probably longer than that, given how the variants are spreading. I know it seems selfish to care more about this activity when lives are at risk, and I try not to. But I miss the feeling of being free in the water, of not having any weights on me as I run laps or tread in place. It's one of the few things left that can really clear my mind, and I can't wait until I'm able to do it again.

To try to smooth the waiting, I've decided to do a cover of one of my all-time favorite songs, "Nightswimming" by R.E.M. I didn't have a lot to add to the original, so I didn't. This one's just me on piano, tin whistle, and vocals, with a synth patch doing the cello. I hope you enjoy it, and if you do, please check out the original too.

The photo is from the Indian Springs in Calistoga.

Misc.

Nightswimming

The No Think Jazz Ensemble - Judder IV (LIVE at No Think Records HQ)

After a really rough break-in, Cheri Rivière moved to a fishing cabin in the middle of the Toronto wilderness. With nothing to record on except a potato and a piece of string, they put together a playlist, which is what you're hearing right now.

Cheri Rivière - London, ON

Break (2016)

Jeremy Passion's cover of "Aloha For Now," originally by Kaleo.

Aloha For Now

Aloha For Now (Kaleo cover) - Jeremy Passion

Choopie The Demon Child Ft. Doodle The Adult - Doodle's Discord Vocal Lesson With Charlie

What are you waiting for?
Won’t you give me a call?
Will you wait for a sign?
Will you make up your mind?

Well I wrote you this song. 
Now you can play along. 
Made your choice black and white. 
This is your bright green light. 

Don’t you want this romance?
This is your only chance. 
Will you wait for a sign?
Will you make up your mind?

Lift yourself off the floor.
Push yourself out the door.
Run at the speed of light.
Make the most of tonight.

Choopie The Demon Child - Green Light

Milkshake Monologue Ft. Doodle The Adult - Peaches

If you think I’m a classic guy

Wait til you see all my moves

If you think that I’ll melt with you

Wait til you see how I groove

If you give me Caprese

You’d better send it right back

If you think I’ve been gone too long

That’s why they call me the Mac



Oh, so much flavor in just one bite

I’m excited, don’t take it away

And if this sounds cheesy at all, it’s cause

My love is thick crust

With barbecue sauce

And chicken tenders in between

A full bed of cheese

Tenderizer - Tiger Rhodes Ft. Choopie The Demon Child

First and foremost, a pianist. Second, a singer-songwriter. Lastly, a guy who plays anything he can get his hands on. 

Expect a variety of styles, including pop, rock, folk, electronic, cabaret, prog, or whatever happens to be on my mind at the moment.

I also record as Cancer and Capricorn. You can find all of their albums and songs on the Bandcamp page below.

Nightswimming

Charles Kieser

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