Gary, of Mountain Songs (https://soundcloud.com/mountain-songs)
contacted me about 2 years ago and offered me a baseline stem from an Alpha Roots collaboration he was working on with Joerxworx. About 2 years ago, that is crazy! I, of course, said I would take the stem. I needed to finish some other songs that were in the works before getting to play with Alpha Roots’s baseline. By the time I was ready to connect with the vibe, Russia had invaded Ukraine, unfathomable tragedy had begun, and the world was changing again. My song writing reflected the horror of what was going on. By the time all the stems were gathered, vocals were recorded, and the song was mixed and mastered, another war had broken out and the horror continued. 

Massive thanks to Mountain Songs for  trusting me with these blessed Alpha Roots stems. So glad Jamie, Jonathan, Joerxworx, and Russ got a chance to work with Alpha Roots again. Alpha Roots lives on. 

And the song is ready just in time for Halloween! 

Track Credits:

Alpha Roots: Bass
https://soundcloud.com/alpha-roots
Jamie Rhind: Organ
https://soundcloud.com/jamie-rhind
Jonathan Beckenstein: Guitar
https://soundcloud.com/jonathan_beckenstein
https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com
Joerxworx: Sax
https://soundcloud.com/joerxworx
the Couch King: Lyrics, vocals, and production
https://musiciselation.bandcamp.com
Russell Sinfield: Mix and Master
https://soundcloud.com/russell-sinfield
https://soundcloud.com/the-exe-stencilists
The Chaos Cookhouse: Studio
https://chaoscookhouse.bandcamp.com

Lyrics: 

Sleep walker doing bidding in the night
Night stalker, half asleep, right now, while you fright, wow
Sleep walker hypnotized prowler by the moon
Moon shocker, mindless rocker, from the tomb eww

Dr. Caligari caught cha sleepin’
Day dreamin’ though you woke
Never thought what you were thinkin’
Now you only speakin’ what he spoke

It’s a somnambulist break in
Break in
Gonna stab them in the bed now
It’s a somnambulist break in 
Break in
Fillin’ ‘em with dread ya

Sleep walker doing bidding in the night
Night stalker, half asleep right now, while you fright, wow
Sleep walker hypnotized prowler by the moon
Moon shocker, mindless rocker, from the tomb eww

Dr. Caligari gonna open
The coffin where you’ll rest
On his order you awaken
Now you answerin’ without questionin’ his behest 

It’s a somnambulist break in
Break in
Gonna stab them in the bed now
It’s a somnambulist break in

Sleep walker doing bidding in the night
Night stalker, half asleep right now, while you fright, wow
Sleep walker hypnotized prowler by the moon
Moon shocker, mindless rocker, from the tomb eww

Dr. Caligari caught cha sleepin’
Day dreamin’ though you woke
In the shadows see you creeping
His knife hidden inside his cloak 

It’s a somnambulist break in
Break in
Gonna stab them in the bed now
It’s a somnambulist break in 
Break in
It all turning red now

Somnambulist Break In

Alpha Roots, Jamie R, Jonathan B, Joerxworx, Russ & the Couch King - Somnambulist Break In

maybe that´s the way it´s meant to be!
"Red Sound" Electronic music with vocals and guitar

Red Sound

(Free WAV Download available here under '••• More'; and eventually as part of my Foul Weather Friends album)

Greetings to the music community. I’m glad you stopped by. Today, I have the privilege of sharing another collaboration (#8 in fact) with our ever inspiring friend, Carlos Vivanco (https://soundcloud.com/carlosvivanco-1, https://carlosvivanco1.bandcamp.com). I always get stunning results, working with this fellow. :)

But first, the haiku that inspired the title:

O snail,
climb Mount Fuji,
but slowly, slowly
- Kobayashi Issa

I literally discovered ‘O snail’ as Carlos was sending me his guitar elements. The timing was too coincidental (thus the title).

As you may well imagine, the haiku of the Snail climbing Mount Fuji implies patience, perseverance, and remembering to enjoy the journey. But we never understand the trials of the snail; only his speed limitations. I feel like it’s good to face some truths about ourselves that might be interfering with our journey; and hearing someone else share their challenges has often helped me not feel so overwhelmed by mine.

For example, I have a strangely persistent ‘low self-esteem’ issue that has been with me for as long as I can remember. There are numerous childhood experiences keeping that thinking alive. But if I’m being completely honest with myself, they are all just part of my story… and the majority of them are not even happening to me any more. Yet despite 55 year old Justin’s accomplishments, that dark little fellow shows up from time to time, to… I don’t know… put me back in my place? Or something?

And here’s the annoying thing. There is an abundance of evidence indicating I’m a good person, living a worthwhile life, doing good things. I’m a highly logical person; and the math on this is pretty solid. This should be a breeze to overcome.

Surprisingly, it’s not. 

So clearly, there are certain perspectives that simply defy logic. And I suspect many of us carry similar thoughts and feelings deep inside; those annoying little clingers-on that defy reason, and fight to keep us down. That part of us that always wanted to be accepted by and fit into something that never really matched our shape to begin with. 

This is ultimately about us realizing that we are ridiculously amazing beings. Higher minded Justin truly believes every one of us is fundamentally perfect (and perfectly capable), because we are here right now… living this. I believe we are all in a very advanced class (or at the very least, approaching finals on a very rigorous curriculum), and we wouldn’t be here if we hadn’t met the prerequisites. We stand here right now (although I'm sitting as I type), with purpose and opportunity coming at us full steam. It’s going to be an amazing, sometimes horrifying, sometimes beautiful beyond words experience. And we all get to do it together. Wild ride, right?

The bottom line is… it’s time we gave ourselves a break, and loved and accepted ourselves… as is. That is so key to the rest of it working out for us, and it’s truly worth prioritizing. 

Also, what if we try our hardest to honor and respect each other’s paths. Every path is sacred… even if some seem harder to understand. And they all combine to make up this story, which would not be so poignant (or easy to learn from) if not for the extreme light and extreme dark elements giving us such wide angle perspective.

Carlos and I hope you enjoy ‘Climbing Mount Fuji With My Snail.” :)

F.W. Friends

Climbing Mount Fuji With My Snail | Carlos Vivanco & GrevusAnjl

Me on the vocals again :)

For those moments when you feel your passion and your purpose...

Free download.


Lyrics

Chorus

The universe reached out
there was no need to shout
I could see the signs
I could figure them out

Verse 1

I'm on a new path
oh you may laugh
you've heard it all before
you know it for sure

Open up the floodgates
flow towards where the one waits
it's so close I know
I've searched high and low

Verse 2

The freedom of constraint
shows a picture i can paint
I am free to be at one
no need for restraint

Somethings come alive
like the drones within a hive
let it bleed out
let it wash away the doubt

Verse 3

As I travel deeper
words wake from there sleeper
an interrupted flow
can still begin to grow

Cover art created with https://www.canva.com/

RiZLiX - Signs (Free Download)

It's the month for some dark music! 🎃
The lyrics to this song is a poem that my friend, Keith Dorman had published in 1993 called Commission. When I first read it I thought wow, this is dark! And it stuck with me ever since.
Keith kindly gave me permission to use the poem for a track. 
I blended a pitch shift in with my vocals whilst I recited the poem as I didn't want it to sound like myself as I wanted it to sound more horror movie vibe! 
Anyway, hope you all enjoy a rare vocal performance from myself.


Commission 

I commission you artist 
Paint me a terminal illness
Mixed media make it real
I commission you artist
Paint me worry and emptiness 
I must feel the hurt
I commission you artist 
Paint agony and horrific pain 
Reds and lightning flashes
I commission you artist 
Paint death and stench
Let it make me ill
I commission you artist 
Paint me dead

K. Dorman 1993

Guitars used:
Gibson Les Paul Studio
Yamaha Revstar Standard (P90 pickups)
Fender Precision Bass 

Plugins used:
Neural DSP Mesa Boogie MKiiC+ suite 
Line 6 Helix Native
Spitfire Audio Labs - Amplified Cello & Evil Cello
Crow Hill Company Vaults - Attic Grand Piano

Drums:
Toontrack EZ Drummer 3 - Dark Industrial 

I Commission You

TOCATA.  by KaKoMix

Produced by Clay Young
Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's short story (1839)
Video by Becky Coleman https://youtu.be/GSV75BkQbqA

The Fall Of The House Of Usher

ALIENFONK

Underground Vibes2 - 100 BPM

11/11/24

H55 NON-POPPET

never animated by a heina
no strings and no pOppet
manipulation hell no
I stop it

I’m saying no
to another mother tie-down
keep my money. small
stacks but they’re mine now

put the shine on the 
metal flake baracuda ->
hemi under the hood 
mag-naflow tooter

mashin down the boulevard
. cars and trucks
. bumper sparks dirty cops
givin no fucks

gotta a full tank
- it’s time to cruise
pina colada - asada
and the oldies tunes


rollin blunts like 
I’m born with cancer
the everyday kind 
bud pyromancer

sounding off to the 
heinas in the back row
suited up black 
red duds pretty tho ->

nike cortez 
and my bills stackin
i like the one with the 
matador black jacket

kitten breath when 
I wake you up
—you got your hair 
messed up and a big butt


pullin out the jammy 
when the opp goan flex
rhodes mark 8 
and I missed your text

I took a chance 
and I held your hand
I got armor and a lance 
and I’m still your man

got the rock in your pocket 
roll cabbies for days
ghosts in the walls
they come out and they stay 

watch your head top
I’m chiefin with the best crop
still trippin off the way
that the beat drop

H55 NON-POPPET

Whirl (2024)

(Jan 9th, 2025) Just a quick message to let you know I'm not going to be active here for a while. If you need to reach me, you can always message me at GrevusAnjl@mac.com. 
__________________

Welcome to my sonic playground. I don't consider myself a skilled musician. I just sculpt sounds to quiet my mind... often with surprising and humorous results. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed your visit. :)