underneath the surface (tracklisting edits)

Hey Andy! Can you believe its been 10 years?I just compiled the full list of songs in process. It's kind of long, but it would mean a lot to get your perspective. You'll quickly hear which ones need the most help. The songs with full instrumental background - I own the exclusive rights to 5 or 6 of them and a few others (that won't sound as profesh) are collaborations with my DFW Andy Livingston (who as much as I love him, will never replace you). LOL. Lastly, there's only a couple that have final vocal takes...most were temp vocals recorded on my phone. When you listen to "Sister," I'd love to know if you think I should put it out in it's current state. I kind of like the feel of if it.

Playlist for Andy Livingston - what if???

Curtis & Brandin 2022

The Other Side - New Album Demos & Tentative Tracklist

#dfw #songwriter #gay #gaysinger #uplifting #inspirational #dallas #malesinger #original #curtishill #cover #covers #coversong #tombailey #curtishill

Temporary Track courtesy of Tom Bailey Backing Tracks: https://youtube.com/c/TomBaileyBackingTracks

Make You Feel Better

#dfw #songwriter #gay #gaysinger #uplifting #inspirational #dallas #malesinger #original #curtishill #cover #covers #coversong  #curtishill



Underneath the Surface Interlude (Acoustic Demo)

#dfw #songwriter #gay #gaysinger #uplifting #inspirational #dallas #malesinger #original #curtishill #cover #covers #coversong #tombailey #curtishill

Written by Curtis & Nick Hill 
Temporary Track courtesy of Tom Bailey Backing Tracks: https://youtube.com/c/TomBaileyBackingTracks

Hey Friend (You're Amazing)

We Found Love (Acoustic Demo)

There must have been a point in between
my late thirties and my teens
when i started to pick up on all these things that I do just to get through the day
Like hiding all my tears, all my feelings, all my thoughts,
for so long that I'm overflowing box after box 
it ain't working. I'm hurting. I've run out of space.
So how many years will I let my fears keep me from facing my reflection?
Consumed by my pain, by my doubt, to get help, to find out
how to move in a new direction.

I know I need to be strong. I need to fight. 
but I don't really feel so strong sometimes...
it makes me wonder if there's really more to life?

Stuck like glue
I try and try but I can't move
I'm not sure how much more that I can take
Trapped beneath the weight of my mistakes
Stuck like glue
Please someone tell me what to do
so I can move on...all I want is to find a way to start over new,
but I'm stuck like glue.

Stuck Like Glue (updated demo)

(needs adlibs, corrected harmonies and lead chorus vocal to complete demo - preproduction) 


Lyrics:

Long winding roads, fighting battles that kept getting harder, getting old
and even when we'd both start over again - 
all of the pieces we'd put back together would blow into the wind and scatter

But you never stopped believing in us. No you never ever let me give up...
and even when I couldn't understand you were there to tell me that...

The pieces are moving in the right direction
I can feel it...I know that...
It's finally getting better for us
Oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh oh

When I think everything we had to go through
Times so hard I was afraid that I could lose you...
So many things I wish that I could give you.
So many times I was afraid that I disappointed you...
But you stayed strong, you kept believing
And now I see that you're the only reason that we made it through.
Yeah, we're only standing here today because of you

Can you see the sun is getting brighter?
Can you feel the weight is getting lighter?
The best of us is still in front of us...I know because

\\
The pieces are moving in the right direction
I can feel it...I know that...
It's finally getting better for us
Oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh oh

Pieces (Restructured Demo)

Underneath the Surface Interlude (Cut Version)

It's hard to know where to start
It's hard to open up when all you've done for years is learn to guard your hard and build up walls so high that no one else can see...
That everyday you numb your pain with another pill to drown out all the voices in your head but you still wonder if they know you're not the man they thought you'd be.
So you push away the people that love you,
cause you're so afraid of what they might think of you
You feel like such a disappointment sometimes

And you say, you're doing ok,
because it's easier than telling everyone how it feels
And you say, you're doing ok,
because to tell the truth would mean you'd have to face that it's real

It's hard to know where to start 
when everytime you try your hopes and dreams,
everything just seems to fall apart 
and leave you wondering, "Is there really something more?"
So you do your best to leave your past behind you,
but some way somehow it always seems to find you,
picking up the pieces of your heart off the floor

And you say, you're doing ok,
because it's easier than telling everyone how it feels
And you say, you're doing ok,
because to tell the truth would mean you'd have to face that it's real

How it Feels (You Say) Acoustic Demo

Sister

What if all these embers are what's left of this December, and there's no more you and me together now?
I guess some things can't last forever, but it's making me remember you and me on Christmas Eve.
I don't know how you expect that I can sit beside the fire watching it die.

I guess you can't hold love too close to the fire, or it'll burn, it'll burn, it'll burn...
and what can I do if I'm not who you desire, but let it burn, let it burn, let it burn...let the fire burn.

Running out of whiskey, drunk texting you, "Do you miss me?"
Got my volume up, but i won't hear a sound.
The night is growing colder
Just can't accept that this this is over.
Someone tell me what Im supposed to do now?



All These Embers EP

Embers (Let it Burn)

Embers

Written by Curtis James Hill & Jesse Gomez
Produced by Curtis James Hill
Laughter, innocence & nostalgia by Jude Gomez (a.k.a, Young Jenius) and Lucy Gomez (a.k.a. Saywhaa?), captured by my beautiful sister, Cyndi Gomez (a.k.a...wait...what were our cool kid code names???)

Singer-Songwriter based in DFW. Always up for collaborations. Thank you for listening and sharing my original songs!