I love it my beauty! *chef's kiss* perfect xx

I felt this in my soul! I love the outdoor recordings you included. Everything sounds so clean and clear. Stunning! 🥰

Wonderful! What a clear voice and the production skills are levelling up!

Lyrics

I’m watching the days roll by
And I'm comparing them side by side
Nothing ever seems to change at all
Just trapped in a loop of dull.

Will someone ease my brain?
‘Cos I just want to feel the rain again
On my skin, glistening, as the thunderstorm begins.
I just want to feel, alive again.

I wanna live my life, but it’s on pause
When I talk to my friends it’s on calls
My eyes can’t take much more of this blue light
But there’s no escape in sight.

Will someone ease my brain?
‘Cos I just want to feel the rain again
On my skin, glistening, as the thunderstorm begins.
I just to feel, alive again.

And I know there’ll come a day
When I hold your hand again
And though it may seem far away right now
I’ll see you soon, I’ll wait for you!

Alive Again

This is the third of our five Christmas covers recorded collaboratively with the musicians of The MusiCollective (TMC) as part of this year’s festive song advent calendar. We’re well into December now, so to crank up the Christmas mood we’re releasing a new track every Sunday leading up to Christmas, and the final one on Christmas Day. We got 38 people on this track spanning all levels of singing and recording experience, brought together by the powers of BandLab, relentless nudging (sorry!) and the mixing magic of our Christmas elves. Very special shoutout to Elliot who has taken the sound quality of this one to the next level with his production skills – not an easy task given the large number of contributions to fit in. The result was well worth the effort – well done, everyone, and Happy Xmas (soon to come anyway)! 

Oh, and full disclosure: we’ve taken the liberty to rewrite the “The yellow and red ones” line, which seemed a bit outdated, to a possibly less racially loaded and more inclusive “For all of the colours” (beautifully sung by Lucy). And while we’re at it – if you cannot hear yourself distinctively on the track, trust that you are in there and blending nicely into the choir Dolby surround sound – we’ll make sure you get a solo line on one of the other tracks if you haven’t already had one 😊

There's also a festive music video to go with this where you can see everyone's faces fly and bounce around on the screen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaGpyW1K2ak&list=PLd8JtUs4dXc5DdwlHiBl_o_8I3ThtWeTn&index=4

Here’s our singers and the rough time stamps when they come in / are most audible:
0:01 – Lucia (@missluciesblues), Pete (@user-340515103)
0:03 – Pete (@user-340515103)
0:13 – Jon (@user-855543074)
0:22 – Lucia (@missluciesblues), David P
0:31 – Alex D, Sophia (@user-898796305)
0:42 – Mark (@user-927129270), Tomás (@tomas_romeiro), Sharon, José, Sonia
1:01 – Chloe (@kloee-b)
1:03 – (War is Over) Sayanti (@gsayanti), Mark (@user-927129270), Jean (@user-449069773)
1:11 – Jenni (@jenni-grossmann), Alex D
1:21 – Sinéad (@sinead-davoren), David P
1:23 – (War is Over) Brittney (@pisgah-official), Jean (@user-449069773), Ilana (@ilana-529025203)?
1:30 – Lucy (@lucoline), Alex D
1:40 – Sam (@sam-robinson-885906690), José, Andrew T (@dusty-cornishman and @someone_else_ahead), Sharon
2:00 – Elliot (@user-560151090), Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)
2:02 – (War is Over) Doug (@doru_uk and @someone_else_ahead), Sandrine, Ilana (@ilana-529025203)
2:10 – Michael W, May
2:20 – Ash (@ashish-matthew), May
2:22 – (War is Over) Naresh (@nareshtatu), Jenni (@jenni-grossmann), Jean (@user-449069773)
2:29 – Thierry, Maggie
2:40 – José, Richard S (@user-141402509), Nick (@eleanor-collides), Ilana (@ilana-529025203)
3:00 – Delta (@deltaoconnor), Theyab, Tomás (@tomas_romeiro), Brian, Jean (@user-449069773)
3:20 – Will, Sharon, Maggie
3:39 – “Happy Christmas” from everyone in various languages
3:58 – Harvey ("Bah Humbug")

Production & mixing: Elliot, Doug
Bass: Kerry
Drum track and string section: James
Piano, guitar, violin, guide tracks: Jenni

Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (John & Yoko) - TMC cover 2021

This is the fourth of our five Christmas covers recorded collaboratively with the musicians of The MusiCollective (TMC) as part of this year’s festive song advent calendar. To crank up the Christmas mood we’ve been releasing a new track every Sunday leading up to Christmas, with the final one due on Christmas Day. We got 33 people on this track spanning all levels of singing and recording experience, brought together by the powers of BandLab, relentless nudging (sorry!) and the mixing magic of our Christmas elves. Special shoutout to Doug again who’s joined me on another zoom night shift stitching this cheese-fest together. The result was well worth the effort and today’s sleep deprivation – well done, everyone involved and a festive last couple of days before Christmas! 

There's also a festive music video to go with this where you can see everyone's faces fly and bounce around on the screen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKC_AKGLJrc&list=PLd8JtUs4dXc5DdwlHiBl_o_8I3ThtWeTn&index=5

Here’s our singers and the rough time stamps when they come in / are most audible:

0:36 – Eloise
0:45 – Sinéad (@sinead-davoren)
0:53 – Andy W (@stanbadraga)
1:01 – Guy (@guy-thomas-burton)
1:27 – Thierry
1:35 – Jon (@user-855543074)
1:44 – Yas (@yasiralani)
1:52 – Vikram (@versuswhat)
2:00 – Sonia, Naresh (@nareshtatu), Alex D; backing vox: Doug (@doru_uk and @someone_else_ahead), Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)
2:08 – Delta (@deltaoconnor), Naresh (@nareshtatu), Alex D; backing vox: Doug (@doru_uk and @someone_else_ahead), Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)
2:16 – Alex D, Sayanti (@gsayanti), Jean (@user-449069773); backing vox: Will, Ilana (@ilana-529025203)
2:25 – Mike H (@mickyhicky), Sayanti (@gsayanti), Jean (@user-449069773); backing vox: Will, Ilana (@ilana-529025203)
2:48 – Ilana (@ilana-529025203)
2:59 – Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)
3:06 – Mark (@user-927129270), Thierry, Sayanti (@gsayanti)
3:17 – Nick (@eleanor-collides), Thierry
3:23 – Sophia (@user-898796305), William, Yas (@yasiralani), backing vox: Theyab
3:32 – Lucy (@lucoline), Alice, William, Yas (@yasiralani), backing vox: Theyab, Jean (@user-449069773)
3:40 – Nassie (@nassssy), Mike H (@mickyhicky), Ash (@ashish-matthew), backing vox: Brian, Jenni (@jenni-grossmann), Jean (@user-449069773)
3:48 – Jen, Mike H (@mickyhicky), Ash (@ashish-matthew), Jenni (@jenni-grossmann), Jean (@user-449069773)
3:57 – Carlos (@caligula2270), Michael S (@user-254011985), Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)
4:08 – Andrew T (@dusty-cornishman and @someone_else_ahead), Sayanti (@gsayanti)
4:13 – Ash (@ashish-matthew), Lucy (@lucoline), Brian
4:25 – Doug (@doru_uk and @someone_else_ahead), Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)
4:33 – Brittney (@pisgah-official), Eloise, Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)
4:48 – Thierry (totes emosh outro vocals)
4:54 – Marie (whisper)
5:21 – Michael S (@user-254011985) (crazy harmonies)
5:26 – Eloise (whisper)

Production & mixing: Doug, Jenni
Bass: Brian
Drum track: Doug
Lead: Ash
Piano, synth, guitar, guitarlele, guide tracks: Jenni

Last Christmas (Wham!) - TMC cover 2021

Hasti (Glitter In The Air)

A song about being "on the outside" or not part of something and looking in, and then monitoring yourself while you're unhealthily dwelling on that feeling rather than just leaving it alone. I had the words "on the outside looking in" lying around forever in my lyrics bank and then finally tried to turn it into a song the other day, and this came out. Still at demo stage, and musically inspired by / heavily borrowing from "Illicit Affairs" by Taylor Swift - woops!

Lyrics:
Verse 1
I’m on the outside looking in again
At those candles on the table and your
Fairy lights on the ceiling
And I can’t help but feel it’s
Not right to be out here 
But my feet won’t move.

Verse 2
And I am hypnotised and a part of me 
Tries to give in and just Inhale that 
Old sense of belonging, 
That sweet siren song and
I know that it’s wrong
To be staring at you.

Chorus
I’m outside now
Of the inside of me somehow 
What a peculiar way to be
Simultaneously trapped and free
Here I am, looking down on me.

Verse 3
I’m on the other side of the window again
By the blue light of the TV but all I see is
You over there with your
Hands in the air and
Your friends, you’re all laughing out loud.

Verse 4
And I pretend I got my eyes and ears on the screen 
like I’m not waiting for you to wave at me 
It’s time to give up,
Tell my mind it’s enough, 
Close the blinds, go to bed and pass out.

Chorus
I’m outside now
Of the inside of me somehow 
What a peculiar way to be
Simultaneously trapped and free
Here I am, looking down on me.

Bridge / Outro
I still see the beginning, and I know how it ends
It’s a game that noone’s winning and it doesn’t make sense
Yet we’re playing it again and again and again
And there’s always someone on the outside just looking in
Looking in
On the outside looking in
Just looking in.

Outside (demo)

Maybe I’m Lonely

A song about the temptation of flogging a horse even you know full well it's dead, and wanting to stop craving some sort of closure you'll never get.

Lyrics:

Verse 1
Hello… old friend… it’s been a while
Since you last wiped that smile from my face, and I
Don’t… understand… how all that bitterness
Can taste so sweet the minute you reach out to me…

Pre-chorus
And I know I’m falling into the same trap again
With every step I take towards you,
And isn’t it appalling I can’t seem to regret it enough
To turn my back, it’s overdue.

Chorus
I wanna be like Teflon to you,
Just want you rolling off the surface
You don’t deserve to get back under my skin again, I
Wanna be deaf on that ear
Instead of scanning the atmosphere 
For a signal from you saying what I wanna hear.

Verse 2
The thing... with you… is I can never
Tell if I’m in hell or heaven, there’s saints with horns and singing devils
In… the same room…
I pull one thread, the rainbow tapestry unravels, and entangles me...

Pre-chorus
And I know I’m falling into the same trap again
With every step I take towards you,
And isn’t it appalling I can’t seem to regret it enough
To turn my back, it’s overdue.

Chorus
I wanna be like Teflon to you,
Just want you rolling off the surface
You don’t deserve to get back under my skin again, I
Wanna be deaf on that ear
Instead of scanning the atmosphere 
For a signal from you saying what I wanna hear.

Bridge
Out of sight is out of mind, until you find a way pry the window open again,
And I start running for the hills, cos it gives me chills how a part of me won't let go of the thrill of
Everything spinning, I know there’s nothing in it for me, and I’ll never win this and I just...

Double-Chorus
I wanna be like Teflon to you,
Just want you rolling off the surface
You don’t deserve to get back under my skin again, I
Wanna be deaf on that ear
Instead of scanning the atmosphere 
For a signal from you saying what I wanna hear...

I wanna be like Teflon to you,
Just wanna run away from this circus,
You don’t deserve to get back under my skin again, I
Wanna be deaf on that ear
Instead of scanning the atmosphere 
For a signal from you saying what I wanna hear.

Verse 3
The time… has come… for all the
The saints and devils in the room
To preach paradise and endless doom
And I’m… the one…
Who somehow keeps the wheel of fortune spinning,
Eternity is just beginning…

Teflon (demo)

A song that came out of an atrocious songwriting challenge to write a tune with less than 20 words. So, not my usual wordy rhyme galore style (and makes me cringe a bit still) but a lot of repeating and stretching words out as long as possible, so I hope the extra harmonies somewhat offset the lack of substance... very rough mix at this stage as well because I was in a rush, so the levels and panning are probably a bit dodgy.

Verse 1
Wide awake, awake, awake now
I’m wide awake
The demons inside inside inside
Wanna play

Chorus
I wanna let (it) go
Let it go, let it float away

Verse 2 (6)
I’m holding on and on and on
I’m holding on 
To the devil I hide I hide I hide
I hide away

Chorus
I wanna let (it) go
Let it go, let it float away

Bridge
Wide awake, awake, awake now
Wide awake
Float away, away, away
Float away

Chorus
I wanna let (it) go
Let it go, let it float away

Verse 3
I’m wide awake awake awake now
I’m wide awake

Wide Awake (demo)

A sort of creepy lullaby I started writing a loooong time ago (verse 2 and chorus 2). I then discovered I had an old verse from a horrible write-a-verse-a-day-songwriting-challenge lying around that kind of fit the theme, so turned that into verse 1 and added a chorus 1. I am not sure how much sense the whole thing makes, but basically it started with the more reassuring second half that was inspired by "Safe and Sound" (Taylor Swift ft. The Civil Wars), and then verse 1 and chorus 1 make up the more disturbing first half.

Lyrics:
Verse 1 
Daylight’s fading, darkness follows me home,
A silent shadow with no escape, it’s out to swallow my bones.

Pre-chorus
Now the whole world’s fast asleep while I’m wide awake
With cold hands and feet, and tomorrow at stake,
I toss and turn, can’t stop the thoughts rushing in,
The minutes fall off the clock and crawl right under my skin.

Chorus
Before the sun comes up the demons take control of my mind
They come crawling out of cracks with taunting truths I can’t deny
Suddenly I see them dancing all around
And their screams at night inside my head are deafeningly loud.

Verse 2
Whatever is weighing heavy on your mind
I’m sure it all seems so much darker now in the dreariest dead of night.

Pre-chorus
So rest your head on your pillow as the dusk turns to dawn
And in the morning light it won’t seem so forlorn
Let the new day wipe away the decay and the grime
Some traces may stay but soon you’ll leave them behind.

Chorus 2
Cos when the sun comes up the demons got nowhere to hide
It’s time to check on all the cracks and drag them out into the light
And suddenly you’ll see what they’re really all about
And their screams at night inside your head won’t seem so loud.

Lullaby (demo)

This is the first of our three Christmas covers recorded collaboratively with the musicians of The MusiCollective (TMC) as part of this year’s festive song advent calendar. December is still young, but to get us all in the right mood, we’re releasing a new track every Sunday leading up to Christmas, and the final one on Christmas Eve. We got over 20 people on this track spanning all levels of singing and recording experience, brought together by the powers of BandLab, relentless nudging (sorry!) and the mixing magic of our Christmas elves. The result was well worth the effort – well done and Merry Christmaaaaaaaas, Everyone!

Singer-timestamps MAYBE to follow eventually once Doug and I have recovered from this marathon

For now, some credits:
Bass: Guy
Guitar: Ash
Drums: Doug
Production: Doug (@doru_uk and @someone_else_ahead) and Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)
Backing track and guide tracks: Jenni (@jenni-grossmann)

Alive Again

Ilana

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