The one that started it all...

The title is a play on some lyrics from my favorite band that I won't mention. However, it feels very fitting as September essentially marks what was the end of a trying time in my life, as well as the beginning of what would become a huge positive change.

I can remember that first kriya practice with Jill. It felt like we were marching into some sort of battle. This evoked some sort of shift in me and heavily influenced the drums on this track - as well as the abrupt change in tempo and time sig at the end.

September Stays So Cold

Wrote during a time of a lot of solitude and deep reflection - hence the title. It was a tough month with a lot of pent up frustration that you can hear being released towards the end of the bridge. The change at the end resembles a sort of "what's next?" attitude as everything slowly fades out.

Nightmare In This Mirror Of Mine

Inspired by Heather Dixon who was battling a brain aneurysm at the time. I wanted to slow down and write something a lot more mellow. However, I soon realized (based on yet another abrupt change towards the end) that my writing style is somewhat sporadic and chaotic - which is a direct representation of what's going on in this crazy brain of mine.

Heather, Hold Your Ground

This is about as EITS as it gets. Probably my favorite piece. December was a time where I was slowly becoming aware of all the little things I do, and just how they affect not only myself but everyone around me.

Presence: Patterns And The Problems They Present

This song is so In Flames... quite a departure from the style of my previous pieces. At this time, I was getting caught up in all the New Year's resolution bullshit. I began to doubt myself and wanted the New Year to represent some big change in my life... However, I quickly realized how silly that way of thinking was - so I decided to go back to a style that influenced me almost ten years ago.

Wishes Washed Away

This is my least favorite piece from this series. This "happier" vibe and instrument choice is influenced by a trip to Asheboro zoo with Rayneen. I will leave it at that.

A Couple Key Changes

Oh man. March was a hard time. I was so angry and frustrated - to this day I am still not sure why. I skipped out on a couple days of this module because of this. The frustration can be seen in the dissonance and somberness in the beginning. However, this changes towards the middle and turns into a much more triumphant piece. The title is very fitting; it is amazing what a simple hug can do sometimes.

March And Move On

I can remember starting this one when it was pouring rain. A bit cliche with the whole "April Showers" bit...  However, I wanted to include showers in the title as homage to Rachel Showers - the person who inspired me to start this journey in the first place. I was aiming for the structure of the song to go something like (peaceful - chaotic - upbeat) to resemble "weathering the storm" as that is what I felt like had happened in the previous months.

Scattered Showers Shatter The Lens

Originally, I had written something for the final piece that sort of compiled aspects of each of the eight previous songs. However, I didn't like it. It was too long and seemed like a bunch of recycled material. So this song came way later than I wanted it to. Very much back to the EITS feel. I am a huge fan of the way the bridge transitions to the outro. To me, it sort of culminates the entire album in just one minute.

Sound The Surrender

Mayday! No More Sinking Ships

"All your stuff sounds like you wrote it."

Influences: Circa Survive, Explosions In The Sky, In Flames, Mike Kinsella, Thursday, and sometimes T Swift?

Colin Amatucci