Talking heads meets Roger Waters...I love the dark intellectual appeal.  Beautifully executed!

This is really cool. Love the vocals and synths are sick. Great work!

your voice sounds kind of like AWOL ONE! Are you awolrus one?? ;o laugh loud. a super fascinating track. it has a lot of elements that remind me of my youth: idm, hip-hop, roger waters and talking heads... i threw in the last two to tie in with the other commentator! :)

Great vocal - love the bass line here, and everything in this mix, just went into that spoken bit with a different vocal, that was cool! Really nice track.

cool sound. Vibes are clean and smooth my brother.

Always something unique and unexpected in your music. Love these recent exploratory 'collages', full of richly textured layers.

Excellent groove. Got your unique feel to it

Related tracks: Don't Feel Like Working Today

This ones For Hannah

As We Grow Old

This was written in South Africa in 1987, a few years before the release of Nelson Mandela - really digging into the archives here! It was one of a handful of songs co-written with Pravinand (@johnny-minstrel). I had the first verse and an inkling of a melody, and Pravinand finished it off. We were very chuffed by the end result. Hope you like it.

The Prisoner (Peters/Maharaj)

The empty space he feared
Was fixed between his ears
To live is but to bear
The scourge of twilight years
He lost the strength to fight
He lost the will to live
For all that was his right
They took away from him

He cannot move his arms
The iron weighs him down
His feet, they cannot dance
He feels no joyful sound
He alone must grieve
The toll of passing years
He alone must feel
The loneliness and fears

His eyes reflect the pain
A man should never bear
How long will he sustain
To hurt for what is fair
And in the dark he prays
No one hears his heart
Except the one who made
Man from dust and blood

The Prisoner

We all gathered in the square
It seemed like everyone was there
Then the creature began to speak
I felt my body getting weak
Strange colors filled the air
But, no one seemed to care
Scented drinks were passed around
Then everything came crashing down

I woke up in a field of grass
Amid mountains made of volcanic glass
Gnarled trees whispered an ancient song
A song I’ve known all along
A wave of light lifted me high
Then dropped me as I liquefied
Then the creature started the countdown
And everything came crashing down

Then The Creature Began To Speak

Hard To Get

This one is called Hard To Get. A young guy has his eye on a lovely young lady. He can't help but notice her every time she walks by. Especially when there's no one else around.  But she never really says anything to him. He thinks she is playing hard to get by not saying anything to him.  Never figuring out that she's been trying to get his attention for the whole time.

Lyrics;
It was hot and muggy
On a hot summer day
I was sitting on the steps
When I saw her walking by my way
She had a sundress on
And sandals on her feet
And I just watched her walk
All the way on down the street
But I knew that she was playing hard to get
One day she'd be all mine
One day but not just yet
The leaves were falling
There was a chill in the air
The breeze was blowing
I was the only one out there
Then she was walking by
In that blue and black sweater
Never even looked my way
But no one could look better
Still I knew she was playing hard to get
But one day she'd be all mine
One day but not just yet
It was a cold and cloudy day
And ice formed on the trees
I was shoveling the drive
With snow over my knees
And there she was
In a ski coat and sock hat
Building up a snowman
And I thought get a load of that
She's making a man with a heart as cold as ice
she should think about me
I'm warm and oh so nice
The seasons pass
But one day she was standing right there
Looked me right in the eyes
And said ah you men, I  swear
And I was thunderstruck
And I began to sweat
She laughed and said
Why do you play so hard to get?

Hard To Get

Stonerjazz, Uziel, and me have joined forces once again for another adventure in our fantastical concept album universe 'the land of Zed'! This time we are also joined by a new collaborator, Zed a.k.a. Francesca from Italy. It is just coincidence/synchronicity that her name is the same as the title of this series, but after crossing paths on soundcloud and listening to her music, we thought she would be a good fit!

The lyrics for this one pick up on a thread of the story that we left hanging at the end of episode 2, 'Johnny and the Holy Din' ... but there are call-backs to nearly all the other songs in the series too if you listen closely.

Check out the whole story (so far) here: soundcloud.com/tea_are_sea/sets/land-of-the-zed

Words and vocals by Stonerjazz @user-911083679

Vocals by Uziel @user-455619833

Atmospheric background synths and samples by Zed @zed4209819

Beat, synths and mix by me @tea_are_sea

Artwork by Lotus Crab https://lotuscrab.artstation.com/

Lyrics:

Through some inexplicable and somewhat puzzling magical circummstance beyond understanding as we know it; an opening opened amongst the craigs and mists and the protruberances high in the mountains of southern Zed.. And out of the dank and dark and stink of the stank stepped a warrior so fine with a golden accordian that did shine like the sun.

And the musicians all trapped in the sky screamed and they cried for they had lost all their hope and their mojo was gone and they were prepared to die. They were prepared to die..

So Johnny sat down on the ledge in front of the cave so incredibly brave with legs dangling in space and began to play a tune so sweets that even the red parrots and monkeys started to cry, and Roy the despicable despot was Shaken to his shoes and said: 

"Hey Johnny, can you play me some Blues??"

All of Zed did head for the byways that led to the mountains that day.. The Azzure eyed twits and all of their brats, the crows in their leathers with beads in their feathers, the Rats in their custom made chevys from mars. Though sadly the Trout had to stay but needless to say, there was a grand party that day when twenty two hundred entered that cave with visions of home, songs in their brains, and hopes in their hearts...And No one suspected the Evil that lay deep in the guts of the southern mountains of Zed..

Johnny Plays The Blues (Land of the ZED #6) - Stonerjazz | Uziel | Zed | tea are sea

Title of song by Martin Hirsch
Lyrics by Tony Harris (That inspired Glenny G listed below)
Vocals, Music Production/Mix by Glenny G's One Man Band 

ELVIS, THE KING OF ROCK AND ROLL
DISCOVERED AT A YOUNG AGE
THAT HE HAD MUSIC IN HIS SOUL
AND LOVED BEING ON THE STAGE

HE WOULD GATHER AROUND THE PIANO
AND JAM WITH FRIENDS AFTER CONCERTS
THE BACK UP SINGERS COULDN'T SAY NO
HE REALLY APPRECIATED THEIR EFFORTS

(CHORUS)
IF I COULD JAM WITH ELVIS FOR ONE NIGHT
IT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE 
IF IT ONLY LASTED TILL DAYLIGHT
WHAT A NIGHT THAT WOULD BE
OH, WHAT A NIGHT THAT WOULD BE

WALKING IN TO SUN RECORDS
TO RECORD A TRACK FOR HIS MOMMA
PUT HIM IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
TO RECORD HIS FIRST HIT SONGS

IMAGINE GOING BACK IN TIME
JAMING WITH ELVIS AND THE BOYS
AT HIS HOME CALLED GRACELAND 
WHEN HE WAS STILL IN HIS PRIME

(CHORUS)
IF I COULD JAM WITH ELVIS FOR ONE NIGHT
IT WOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE
EVEN IF IT ONLY LASTED TILL DAYLIGHT
WHAT A NIGHT THAT WOULD BE
OH, WHAT A NIGHT THAT WOULD BE

ELVIS DIED WAY TO YOUNG
AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT HE
IS JAMING WITH THE ANGELS 

2021 © Lyrics by Tony Harris

If I Could Jam With Elvis For One Night - Collab by Tony Harris & Glenny G's One Man Band - Original

Fun with some found sounds and a beatnik poetry clip from the movie "High School Confidential" 

Lyrics:
You're inside my head
With those things that you said
Throwing smoke bombs in the stairwell
Hand grenades in the bed
And you've brought
Cigarettes, kindling, and gasoline
You've got me looking all over the neighborhood
I'm checking my phone 300 times a day
You'll come over
But you'll never stay

Chorus:
Baby, please give me the keys
Release me from this firetrap
Give me the keys
Release me from this firetrap

The oxygen is down on the floor
It keeps me on my knees
3000 degrees
(Chorus)

When did you discover that you were such a magnificent liar?
Is it when you were young?
Look them in the eye
And send them on their way
I head out to bars
To see some friends
But, I can't have any fun
Feeling the fahrenheit 
(That's tight)
And the kerosine nights
And the footlights
And the magic that you do
While you're in my head
With kindling and gasoline
I beg you, baby
Please, give me the keys
Won't you release me from this firetrap
Release me from this firetrap

Firetrap

Wheelwright: voice and lyrics, vocals recording and their sub-mix, song form editing. You can visit with him here: @wheelwright

Jonathan Beckenstein: initial music, all instruments, mix

Fictive Sisters is a transatlantic collaboration of Wheelwright and Beckenstein. Our album Immaculate Distraction is available at: https://fictivesisters.bandcamp.com/album/immaculate-distraction

There's a message
It says come back right now
And you looked like you'd seen a ghost
People talking
Then they're moving away
And you're questioning everything

Transatlantic
And the earth was shaking
Lost in transit
Lost in mid translation

Oh and the kingdom to come
Will be a kingdom of reason

Did I tell you
All the things we could see
When they held you up to the light
Drink some vodka and then
Walk out the door
You said this is better for everyone

[Chorus]

We like the meaningful songs
They send a meaningful signal

In the Hare Krishna restaurant in Soho
No one recognised you
Coz you didn't look much like the photo

On the inside
I said everyone's lost
And you said yeah but nobody really cares
Run the numbers
And learn to be smart
Now the world is turned upside down

[Chorus]

Image by Cash Macanaya unsplash.com/@cashmacanaya

bandcamp

Lost In Transit  (with Wheelwright)(Fictive Sisters)

This is a fun song dedicated to.........Well we  all know at least one...enjoy 

Just for fun not based on anybody that I know ...if you see yourself here it is just a coincidence ...ha ha 

Johnny

Look at me ( The Narcissist's anthem )

Pablo's open collab track Reflective Perc with remix, fuzz bass and guitars by Llanpsych
Pablo's original track
https://soundcloud.com/pablomoretti/percussion-mantra-open-collab

Reflections - Pablo Collab

℗ © Copyright Ian Stokes. All Rights Reserved
Recorded and mixed using Logic. Mastered in Soundcloud
Guitars played: Morris Nylon String
Photography: Thanks go to Nigel and Libby Hume at Hume Photography.

Now the winter is nearly upon us, I thought it was time to do some more recording. I decided to use my nylon string guitar for this song, imagining the setting: arriving at a remote beachside bar in the sunshine, to discover the bar owner has taken the day off.............
Lyrics:
There’s a sign…… on the door
Says owner……. is away
Weather………looking fine 
Don’t feel like working ……….today

I should be back by sunset
If I’m not just close the door
Even so you’re welcome to stay
Make yourself at home
You can sleep on the floor
Don’t feel like working……….today

There’s plenty……. of ice cold beer
Help yourself ……..pull up a chair
Leave some money ……….in the till
You can sit ……anywhere. 

Put up your feet
Maybe take in the sky 
Let your worries 
Float away
Pull your hat down
Over your eyes
Don’t feel like working ………..today

Instrumental

I should be back by sunset
If I’m not just close the door
Even so you’re welcome to stay
Make yourself at home
You can sleep on the floor
Don’t feel like working……….today

There’s a sign…… on the door
Says owner……. is away
Weather………looking fine 
Don’t feel like working ……….today

Don't Feel Like Working Today

I wrote this song as a tribute to love that endures beyond this world as we know it. My best friend lost his battle with cancer several years ago, but as I often think of him I have envisioned his parting moments with his dear wife by his side. This is just my thoughts on it, I won’t pretend to represent the actual intimacies that would possibly have transpired, but I do have a good idea of how much they cared for each other, and still do.

Craig Durgy (vocals & guitar)
Nat Daniels (piano, bass and production)

Lyrics:   Summer Rain by Craig Durgy

Time slowed down to greet me, to carry out my light
You caressed me sweetly, always there right by my side

And as my eyes conceded, that leaving you I must
Despite your tears that pleaded, I just rose out into dust

I became an angel, you held to my sleeve 
Now the summer rain will
Let you know I’ll never leave

Yes, I became an angel, the moment that we kissed
Through all the years of loving you
That brought me here like this

Now the dust has settled, life and love go on
Raindrops on a petal, and you know that I’m not gone

In this life we’re flowers, but it’s only life’s cocoon
As fresh as summer showers, forever love can bloom

And, I became an angel, you held to my sleeve 
Now the summer rain will
Let you know I’ll never leave

Summer Rain

Close 2 U

Jimena Arroyo - Vocal and Lyrics
Alexander Yakunin - Music

Jimena Arroyo:
https://soundcloud.com/jimenaarroyo

2017 Jimena Arroyo, Alexander Yakunin

Abyss Of Agony (featuring Jimena Arroyo)

Have a listen to my album "Curiosities Of Outsider Art" (Sept 2025). Quirky and interesting tunes.
Thank you for listening!

I try to write with rich lyrical details and self-deprecating humor about the human condition. Plus, that unique Shade Structure sound!  It sounds best with headphones. Thanks for any comments, reposts or likes.

Discography: Available under Album tag on my Soundcloud main page. 
* Curiosities Of Outsider Art (Sept 2025)
*All this Useless Beauty (2025)
*Rockers (2024) 
*Arrhythmia & Blues (2024)
* The Curse Of A Good Looking Ghost (2024)
* Low Profile (2024)
* Smilers (EP 2023)
•Short Songs For Tall Minds"  (2022)
•Friends, They're Gonna Get Your Story Wrong (2021)
•A Suburban Dadaist With Some Store Bought Beats (2021)
•All Feel and No Technique (2020)
•This Is How I Spend My Nights (2019)
•California Songs (2018-2019)

All sounds contained within are home-made/DIY recordings. Most songs are short stories, as I am influenced by Musicians & Writers like Raymond Carver, Warren Zevon, Mountain Goats, Tom Waits, Mark Eitzel,  Randy Newman, Destroyer, Steely Dan, Captain Beefheart, Loudon Wainwright III, Leonard Cohen & The National. Most songs have the lyrics on the song page. Thank you for listening!

Firetrap

Shade Structure

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