My second DAW song.

Fortress of Fear
Please help me out, please help me out, out

I'm trapped inside this fortress of fear
I'm trapped inside this fortress of fear
Walls closing in, their shadows coming near
Mean voices and noise that only I can hear
It comes back a long forgotten tear
It comes back a long forgotten tear

I cannot find out, flee from the noise so loud
I cannot find out, I am nothing but doubts

Please help me out, please help me out, out

I'm trapped inside this fortress of fear
Ever higher the strong walls they grow
Inside this tower my soul feels low
Oh I feel so real insanity grow
Watch me sinking as madness overflows
Who can remember once I was a rose
Who can remember once I was a rose

I cannot find out, I could scream and shout
I cannot find out, I could scream and shout

No way out, no way out, no way out
How to get out, how

Fortress Of Fear

Copyright 2024 Joe Stroffolino & Michele Ansani

When Michele Ansani. sent me his initial lyrics for this song, my first thought was that. I wish I had written them because I can relate to much of his musical journey.  He suggested that I turn them into a song so here it is. 

When I was thirteen I picked up my first guitar
it was my mother's, it only had one nylon string 
I tried to play it like a rock star
I learned to play the Coca-Cola jingle
So I could teach the world to sing
When I was fourteen, I put on six new strings
I learned to play Beatles, I learned a Bob Dylan song
I sounded out of tune but I tried to carry on
At fifteen I wrote my first original tune 
So bad it sounded like it might have been written by a baboon
When I was sixteen, I got a new guitar for my birthday
The metal strings sawed through my fingers 
But I continued to play
And the calluses formed and every day I learned a brand new chord
I was obsessed with that guitar and I never grew bored.
I wrote songs every day and most of them were a mess
But I believed that through hard work, I could achieve success
Malcom Gladwell wrote a book that said it takes ten thousand hours
To become and expert at your craft

But now all it takes is two commands and an enter
And in two minutes you have ten versions of the same damn new song,
You just have to choose the type
folk, rock, rap, pop, metal, jazz, trap or blues.
You don't even need to write the lyrics, 
your push a few buttons let the AI choose.
And people will like your songs because they’re danceable.

AI is generative and like the sleep of reason generates monsters
And like the sleep of reason generates monsters
the sleep of reason generates monsters

When I was 20, I did my first concert, it was time
it occurred in a village square
there were four cats all friends of mine
I was still using the plectrum and sometimes I got the chords wrong
at thirty I finally wrote what  I thought was a decent song
It had a very well thought out structure
And a catchy vibe and beat
It was overly verbose but when I played it people tapped their feet
In my forties I stopped wasting my time
Work was more fun I was doing just fine
I had a steady paycheck that could feed me 
And the record companies didn’t need me
In my fifties once again my musical juices started flowing
I bought the necessary equipment 
I was eager to get going
I recorded all my strumming and saved it onto my PC
The internet and technology were advancing rapidly
I took those special songs I’d written of which I was most proud
Posted them Instagram, You Tube, Tik Tok and SoundCloud
I asked myself if a tree falls in the forest and no one’s around
Does it make a sound?

And now all it takes is two commands and an enter
And in two minutes you have ten versions of the same 
damn new song,
You just have to choose the type
folk, rock, rap, pop, metal, jazz, trap or blues.
You don't even need to write the lyrics, 
your push a few buttons let the AI choose
And people will like your songs because they’re danceable.

AI is generative the sleep of reason generates monsters
And like the sleep of reason generates monsters
the sleep of reason generates monsters

AI Sucks Song [M. Ansani - J. Stroffolino]

THE BOY - YOUR FLOWER IS IN THE MAGICAL WORLD👸
Out Now on Everywhere
Link in Bio

Do you like human music?
This is full of humanity, something you don't find in modern pop music. I made this song remembering my feelings from my childhood. And I want to prove that the old-fashioned band sound can still be used as pop music. To move your heart is my biggest goal. Please press the play button.

YOUR FLOWER IS IN THE MAGICAL WORLD

The Hunchback of Notre Dame – The Gypsy Dance 
January 2025
Duration: 2:35
Listen to more music for the ballet: https://soundcloud.com/bruce-klepper-1/sets/the-hunchback-for-notre-dame
Based on “Gypsy Fire” by Romane
Music for Danse Etoile Ballet (www.danseetoile.org) who will be performing The Hunchback of Notre Dame June 6th and 7th 2025 in Colorado.
For strings, accordion, guitar and percussion

The Hunchback of Notre Dame - The Gypsy Dance

Megacosm

Nacreous Twilight

simple song about a simple time way back when
#lofi   #first love  #losing yer VitaminC

Tangerine
                                                                                     
Well I was thinking of how we used to play                                        
Oh so many years ago
Made up some silly names
No one knew what we meant
Where did that time with you go

I recall you had a passion for those fruits
Called me your Red Raspberry Toy
You were my mashed Banana Girl
Well that really cracked you up
And I was your Cherry Baby Boy

Then our time was over when you said                                                                        
Your Daddy’s gonna move the family west
On that final day, you pleaded, “Hold me Sugar Plum,
and whisper the name I like the best”

Tangerine, Let me be  the Apple of your eye
My Tangerine, I’m sticky and sweet, your guy
Oh Tangerine, my first love
Now say goodbye

You sent me letters saying you’d always wait for me
Using veggie names to cheer me up
I became your Broccoli 
and I christened you Sweet Pea
It was all I had but it was enough

Saying when can I see you my Cauliflower Queen
I would call you up but we couldn't talk for long
Paying by the minute, those long distance charges added up 
There was only time for me to sing your favorite song

Tangerine, I wanna  be the Apple of your eye
My Tangerine I’ll always be sticky and sweet, your guy
Tangerine, you were my first love 
Now say goodbye
Goodbye





Tangerine

Cast of Characters:

Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 –Josh – Warwick four string fretless bass, vocals, lyrics, and seed idea
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken–drums
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen– Tom Anderson custom T electric guitar
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – clavinet and VST sax     
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- Yamaha Genos 2 electric piano voice and lead organ
Llanpsych-- @llanpsych -- Tez – electric guitar, mix, and production
Eclectic Collective -- composition

This song started its life as one of a batch of bass lines Josh came up with around the New Year holiday. He recorded it to a rudimentary drum loop, which Ken replaced perfectly with his own beat. JJ was the next up, bringing his magical organ into the mix. He had to replace it, though, after discussions within the group about the overall form, particularly a suggestion from Stephen that led to the formation of the choruses. He joined the project next, adding his fuzzy, foundational guitar you hear underlying the entire song. Not to miss out on the guitaring, Tez came up with the ethereal guitar fills that float around in there. Mark came after Tez with his textural wah clavinet, also adding the wonderful sax solo you hear in the middle.
After it was done musically, Josh went back and wrote some lyrics and sang them, too.
Once it was in the can, we asked Tez to do the honors of mixing it for us, which he did in his always expert fashion.
This is a fine example of the Eclectic Collective coming together to create a heartfelt song. We hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by Josh Clary:

Sometimes I think about
Things we used to talk about
Now I have to go without
Ever looking at your face x2

But I want you near me
Wish that you could hear me

What if we could ever reach
Out to the other each
But what would we say?
Is it just another routine day? x2

It makes my heart hurt bad
When I think of what I had
Now you’ve slipped away
Seems I saw you just the other day

Life can be really cruel
And I can be a fool
But I wish there were a way
I could hear what you would say

Loss (The Eclectic Collective)

After The Storm

Into Hyades (2003)

File Updated: Lots of goodies added

Notes
I'm thinking of the mentalists who fascinate me in this tune as well as other things. The idea of neuroplasticity and actually wiring your brain. releasing negativity just by intending it or doing the same conversely if that's your frame of mind. Derren Browne and Keith Barry are two great mind specialists worth a rabbit hole each. 


432 A - EADGAD - 96 bpm

Lyrics
One can never know
Ones suffering
It might not show
You might just get a glow & a grin

Brave faces found
We know deep down
Their light flickers sound
Pain as Earth pounds and pounds and pounds and pounds and pounds ...

So give me your pain
Let me release it
Let me find some peace for it
Give me your pain
Let me release it
Let me find some peace of it

Then it gets hard
Untenable
We disconnect
We end this fake mirrored show
We sleep
We wake
Hands tied
Joints and pills to take
We're trying to feel alive
May we all survive

Oh give me your pain
Let me release it
Let me find some peace for it
I'll be your devil drain
Let it out to cease your sore
Lets find peace for more



Give me your Pain

I re mixed lyrics over Sparky Boneheads original instrumental track here. Their original tune is a great piece of music and production. I also added a small bit of piano to gel what I had done vocally better

Connect with Sparky Bonehead here: https://soundcloud.com/sparky-bonehead

Original Instrumental Track here: https://soundcloud.com/sparky-bonehead/untitled-2-in-a-major


Lyrics
Hey, where are you from?
I'm from here
Feel my part of the sun
Our life short meets long
Big disc of dust was dawn
Pass some four odd billion years
It's ON!

In all one's we are timed
Calm tempered tempo toughened to chime
Real rhythm rhyme rolls now like wine
Distilled, fear detox dealt divine
The pleasure is mine
Your pleasure is fine
Pleasure be kind
Pleasure...

Pleasure

Songs with a twinge of humor (and some a bit more serious).  
I do not use AI to create my songs. 
Recently I have had the urge to pick up my guitars (Taylor 114ce and Fender Squire) and I have been trying to use more guitar in my songs.  
My go to .vst plug ins are  EZkeys 2, EZ Bass and  EZ drummer 3) and my DAW is Logic Pro 11. 
I welcome your comments and enjoy listening to all the great music on SoundCloud. 
All songs are originals and copyrighted.