Instrumentals

Precious Things

Lyrics: 
Buckets of secrets in this place, 
(The elephants in the room) I'm going to talk about em
While you pretend "sleeping face" 
You've got eyes like fucking owls. 
If I may say such a thing, though it may not be my place.
And I've got the dust on the legs. I know that's what you think.
Sure we've made ourselves cages, but I like it when they clink.

(This needs to be re-recorded! maybe with actual instruments.)

Tortoise Days (rough)

Old demo recording dug out of an old hard drive

lost songs (2005) no one wakes me here

christmasy

Tell me where it hurts, honestly 
and tell me even when it was me.
I’ll tell you I am glad to see what you see.
that your needs are not a burden, 
they’ve set me free, because

Oh how I needed to
Oh how I needed to 
Oh how I needed to
be struck by a blue sapphire stone.

and if ever shattered I’d find each piece
and never rest till it was whole
If a kind word’s all that’s ever needed
I’ll cheer for goal… 

‘cause oh I think I’ve seen it shine 
a little brighter when I’m near,
revealing eyes that lead me,
to the one home I’ve felt in years

Oh how I needed you 
Oh how I needed you 
Oh how I needed you 
The light of that blue sapphire stone.

That holds all of my secrets
My greatest love was told,
but these words aren’t written for
a love that has grown cold.
Since then I’ve never fallen 
quire the way that I’ve been
for a gem inside a garden
I’ll walk beside and never barge in, I’ll

Keep trying my best not to
Keep tryin my best not to
Keep tryin my best not to
fall for a blue sapphire stone.

but if I ever do…

Fall distantly
I’ll try to only see  
the gift from my heart, 
for my heart to be free
to heal the haunting wounds
and escape a love that left me.  so that someday when my future love
wonders what had let me, 
I’ll say

Oh how I leaned into
Oh how I leaned into 
Oh how I leaned into
The love shown through 
a blue sapphire stone.

then, some might say, 
“falling in love alone 
ain’t no way to be free.”
Ask anyone I’ve loved 
and they’ll say 
you obviously 
haven’t met me. 

Cause we all can, 
meet, eyes with someone,
give, our love to someone who,
builds, a life with someone, and
still, mend the heart in 
depths, we survive on ,
sad, we never sing their love song, 
I won’t waste another line on, 
Those who left me broken
cause now I can let go of anyone…

Who made me feel 
so much more alone
Than just to sit quietly
by my blue sapphire stone. 

Love can heal us strangely
in ways we’re never told
making new paths and turning
broken streets to gold,
but if you look back at mine 
to see what saved my soul.
There you will find, 
don’t you know? 
Of course you know!
A brokenness has been paved
By a blue… 
sapphire road, 
sapphire road, 
sapphire road.

2020 Demos

Sapphire Road (demo)

ong: 
I miss the time that you missed me, kissed me, 
wishing words wrote were't woeful or wispy
kiss me, close closed eyes keep killing the cold 
can't keep cuddling, coddling old 
memories manifest morgellonite mold 
constantly opening another road
to treat the time taken like up like gold
it's. killing. us. both.  


I wish the times that you kissed me whistly
warded wild wars with worse words briskly 
but see, Insults minor possess the hosts
lighting up lies as living ghosts 
which took our place. masked our face.
We dwell in a world that's been erased.
Invisible us inside this space
Is. killing. us. both. 

Insults Minor

I can no longer steal bread for my mouth 
I want to make it on my own two feet 
even though this is not my dream
time creates a longing for stability

But I never want to die   
a living is a path 
carved and my knife is a blade
defiant of the others 
death is only if it 
breaks leaving direction
to the fake

and inside this longing for stability 
grows justification for less 
soft ground may be easy to to tread 
no rivals to the comfort in that bed
but I’ll run towards what I wish for instead

because I never want to die   
living is a path 
carved and my knife is a blade
defiant of the others 
death is only if it 
breaks leaving direction
to the fake

There is nothing there
curtains drawn  
your eyes stare 
at a black room

empty illusion 
of allure 
is a spirt 
haunting 

you will find the end 
begins with 
all the things 
you did 
instead
instead 
instead

When I die on this path it will be
born of scars left by my own true feats
defiant of the others death will be
what it takes 
to remain 
a bird in an endless sea of snakes

but how will I ever die 
when death is defined
as only the path
left by a blade 
carved out by others
instead? 

instead (rough demo cut)

This is a demo recored on a Tascam 22-4 reel to reel with zero mixing done (reverb comes from the board).  This is my first fully analog recording (converted to digital via the rca outs on the tape machine>focusrite forte line ins>iMac).

Half the sunlight in the world, is your face
and the other half exists inside the space
Of which I haven’t found a way to crack it like an egg
and let its contents shine upon my face

Half the music in the word is your name
and the other half seems to be erased
And if I was allowed to sing one last song to you
it would be about how I have gone insane
Believing I have died and dwell inside an empty world
Where I can do anything but see your face.

'Cause you’re alright
but it haunts me
That you survive
and it haunts me
That you can try 
without me
'case you are strong
-er than me

Keeping things inside is what creates every decline
and is the catalyst that disintegrates

Incompatibility for seven years I can’t believe
nothing could be done to save us
cold required silence makes the

heart in you grow cold for me
Your self fulfilling prophecy 
That I haven’t made a change
one mistake I’m the same

While you’re alright
and it haunts me
That you survive
and it haunts me
That you can try 
without me
'case you are strong
-er than me

But asking why your sad is not a
curse it isn’t bad and if you walked my way 
a little bit you’s see that I care in all of it 

When you ask, 
You’ll ask those who say I’m alright
When you ask, 
You’ll ask those who say I’m alright
When you ask, 
You’ll ask me when you I’ve got to say I’m alright

But I’m not doing very well
I’m not doing very well
I’m not doing very well
I’m not doing very well
Oh I’m not doing very well

But you’re alright
and it haunts me
That you survive
and it haunts me
That you can try 
without me
'case you are strong
-er than me

half the sunlight in the world is  your face
and the other half seems to be erased

Without Me - (one shot recording on 1/4" reel).

Walking through the woods
Pretending there are no wolves
I tell you where they are 
and you just push me to the ground 
I thought it was a gift you would desire 
but you press on 
without a word

and the gnawing of those fangs was so painful 
but my screams were never heard. 
Now I second time I have proof 
Some fingers got swallowed down 
but your glassy  eyes can't focus 
too long you've left them alone 

So you might not know you're afraid 
'Cause you might not want to be devoured 
and may the Lord keep you safe 
His precious child. His precious coward. 

Presbycusis

Cat Griffiths is an artist and nomad. Follow her on Instagram http://instagram.com/cat.griffiths 

Straight Into a Sea

portrait: Anges Krown is a creative fashion, makeup and art enthusiast from Slovenia. Find out more: http://agneskrown.blogspot.com

beautiful vines

yes I would

a little prayer for Sunday.

Oh God, I just want to feel safe in my own home
where my life doesn't hang in the balance
of the thoughts I'm thinkin'
where neither good nor evil are allowed in
where nothing's wrong with the friend's I'm keepin' 
where nothing's wrong with the beer i'm drinkin'
and nothing's wrong with the life I'm livin' 

Nothin's Wrong

Portrait: Genevive. She is an illustrator from California. To find out more about her check out: www.genevievemariani.com

They don't care what you wear 
as long as you stare
at the trusses of the houses 
moving throats and fleeing mouses
will have matches on their tails 
burning structures down to nails 
and uttering pikes; 
you'll wet my eyes
but in the shadows I will hide
and smile bravely 
removing fuels
for your ego to abuse
so in the end I have the plans 
and you; the pen. 

Plans

Attention

Lyrics: 
My own mother 
was a complicated women 
she had less ears than most people 
so I never listened 
to make it even
my whole life, I built shields 
they were moderately effective 
so I gave them to my sister 
no sound could get through them
no sound could get through them

and I don't know why trying is like now
no I don't know what trying is like now
I don't know what trying is like now
I don't know why I can't walk forward 
I don't know why I can't walk forward

$1 download

Moderately Effective

In was walking on the sidewalk today
Thinking about hope everything’s gone way
I used to shine like a light bulb
Could light up a room 
Now I’ve dimmed so dark
Can’t even find the room 
Where I used to lay my head

Dimmed So Dark

Portrait: Bethany Stauffer. She is an amazing portrait artist from Minneapolis. To learn more check out: facebook.com/museumcustomart

Fancy (B-sides, circa 2008)

Model: Shannon McDonough, facebook.com/pages/Actress-Shannon-McDonough
Lyrics:
I was waiting for a train to come and get me 
out of this wicked city 
but a bottle of doubt, turned my head away. 



Wicked City - (b-sides, circa 2011)

No greater pressure when we're alone
to make something beautiful again, at last
but we forgot to build a home 
to protect our outcomes 
in days past 
now running on the fumes 
of old important thoughts
about who we used to be 
but the less on was untaught
by truth manufactured 
always manifested
as cold as arctic ocean
to lever be contested 
"you're inexperienced 
you're ill-qualified
outcome being failure
practically prophesied."
just feel all the spying 
feeding us a flock of lies
spit them out we try and try
but some are bound to slip right by 
and the cause we seek and find 
was all invented in our mind 
and the cause we seek and find 
was all invented in our mind.
So let's not forget the reasons why 
we created the first time 
and these self imposed deadlines
are the pressure in your spine 
and all your friends are dying 
for the fruit of trying 
to be as sweet as last time 
and anxiety you feel 
it is crushing it is real 
comes from creativity 
being shelved by thinking. 
To much "them" when reasoning
led you to a lake of sleep 
and as self doubt wet your feet
you began that sinking.

Spine

We had a home
Not much to tell 
You had my face
Your wishing well 
Water was deep
Water was muddy 
Flowed all around you
Only dirt to study 

Like you were let down 
Some of the time 
Then some of the time 
Was all of the time. 

Not much to tell

I’m like a dog you own
trusty but never equal 
I appreciate your bones 
and I might be the only one 
who appreciates your bones. 
You throw me a smile 
a lie 
I know it every time 
but I can see what lies behind 
your eyes 
deep inside your bones 
my heart 
deep inside your bones 
you’ll find out 
when you’re all alone 
that I was your servant
and you sat upon the throne 
of my heart 
and deep inside your bones
you’ll find out 
I’m your only home 
you’ll find out 
only when I’m gone 
I was never a slave
I was only hanging on 
to the wishes we had 
deep inside your bones (x3)

I know you, I'm not sure I can know you any more than I do. 
On the other hand, I'm not sure I can know you anymore. 
See, I believe you love me, and I've got no reason to.
I believe you love me, and I've got no reason to.

You're just sweet enough 
to keep me around
But not sweet enough 
to be around
You're just sweet enough 
to keep me around
but not sweet enough
to be around... me. 

he he he
he he he he
he he he

You're like a thread of gold
cast upon my crown 
refractions of light 
threw it to the ground
not to mention the hook 
forever in my mouth
you didn't put it there but please take it out
you're the only one who can do that now
'casue I don't have the strength to be without 
your heart, deep inside my bones
your eyes, deep inside my bones
I've buried you, deep inside my bones
you're the only one, deep inside my bones. 
deep inside my bones (x3) 
bones, bones, bones, bones

he he he
he he he he
he he he 
he he he he

You're not sweet enough to be around... me

Bones

so there I am 
comfortable
Sleeping in my grave; waking on 
colored bubbles 
floating along the ways 
in which you speak to me 
a haze of faint desires 
none that take the cake 
making me quaint 
a little fuzzy 
toy 
you fish for at night 
when sleep ain’t alright 
I creep in the window 
just behind your eyes 
The same place as the lie 
that I could never love you 
it keeps me just past 
your fingers and toes
call them them troubles 
I can whisper 
them away 
put them in their grave 
if you could just believe in 
The words that I say.

Colored Bubbles

The forgotten may return

An old song that was never released. Likely recorded I  2007.

Cigarettes

Creaks - digital release edition.

Ends with summer at New methods

soon

strain

lost invitatior

Ivy Shortstack is a Painter from Minneapolis. To find out more about her go to: www.dimmedia.com

Song: 
So, it was cold in her head 
never trusting never said 
how she felt, cause she felt 
like we're all monsters 
with sandpaper claws 
trying to take our pound of flesh 
scratching at the walls 
but its only implied 
so we dance, water plants 
go to work and abide 

surprises never happened 
goodness couldn't be
just selfish ploys
a spectacle
to make her believe

that they've got shiny coats
and need everyone to see
that their atop a mountain 
and she's below the trees

== chorus ==
it's not a trick that I do 
there's nothing up my sleeve
when I give it's not so that I receive

It's not a ploy to gain your trust 
or an act to deceive 
I'm not trying to make you 
anything that you believe 
it's real. it's just real. 
====

why have faith 
in such a dark thing 
you can never prove?
that nobody loves 
and no one can choose anything 
but selfishness. 
feign that you're ok with it
always reading your tired stories
allowing it to narrate all the bodies 
instead of discovering us anew.
it's such a sad thing, 
and so completely untrue

== chorus ==
it's not a trick that I do 
there's nothing up my sleeve
when I give it's not so that I receive

It's not a ploy to gain your trust 
or an act to deceive 
I'm not trying to make you 
anything that you believe 
it's real. it's just real. 

Its not a trick that i do

tr1bes

Uploaded with AudioShare app - http://kymatica.com/audioshare

Next Victoria

Holy kiss (teaser)

Written and recorded after work one day. 
One shot recording.

started, live recording

lying

hello my name is Franklin here with a brief survey

Modernity

purchase album: http://www.fictionsfictions.bandcamp.com

Fictions is an existential and musical thought project from the mind of Jeffrey James, a neo- surrealist, songwriter, and conceptual artist based in Minneapolis, MN. For much of the last decade, the Jeffrey James sound has evolved into “spook folk;” a genre that he invented to describe his own style of haunting avant-rock, psych folk, and experimental music.

His newest EP, “Music for Ghost People” is the work of a dark troubadour, covering themes of meaningless and disillusionment but overall hopeful and poignantly beautiful, much like the feeling of waking up from a dream and slowly realizing everything is the same as it ever was. “Moderately Effective” in particular, as the hazy, layered vocals syrup out non-sequiturs that seem to come straight from dream logic, “I don't know why trying is like now/ I don't know why I cant walk forward”

“Kids” is by far the darkest and most haunting track, beginning with the lilting sound of piano, and what sounds like the hiss and crackle of an old answering machine recording in which the artist laments in elegiac voice, the death of the muse in the face of a society that is swallowed by the facade of imposed reality, which is a fiction in itself. Here he speaks in free verse form, “It's not a game of hiding as long as you can/It's a game of realizing that you are hiding”

Aside from writing music , Jeffrey James is currently working on a series of a conceptual art projects. The first one, called “Nails,” explores what the fiction of image means to the online viewer.
- by Savannah Louise

Fictions

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