New solo work. Everything you hear was written/composed and performed by me. :) The song was written for my girlfriend as a birthday gift. Hope everyone can enjoy it! It's definitely my most upbeat work thus far! I had a lot of fun writing this song, and I hope it's just as fun to listen to!

Cheers!

Lovers Need Love

I made this today for a class. It's really short, and I had to produce it on a software I don't like as much (because that's what the class is teaching).  I figure if this is decent, imagine what I can do with a lot more time and better tools. Its not really well mixed, but this is, after all, a product of about 6 hours from scratch.

Cheers!

Too Short For A House Beat (mp3)

As part of a school project, I have arranged this song for a string quartet primarily for its auditory pleasure. The Internet supplied me a truly unreliable and clumsy score for five piano hands, and a flute that mimics Jim Morrison’s voice. I took it upon myself to condense the six voices into four (two violins, a viola, and a cello). My lack of skill in composition might evidently show in the score, as I had to follow the unfortunate score that I found online. Thus, I cannot truly trust that the notes in my score are all correct by the standards of current Western classical composition. However, granted by the notation software, Finale, I was able to use my ears to adjust certain parts to sound good by my own standards.
Many parts in this piece come from my own composition. I utilized my decent understanding of musical theory to create harmonies that do not exist in the original song. For instance, to emphasize the melodies that mimic Jim Morrison’s vocals, I sometimes harmonize the viola with the first violin.
The expressions chosen in the score are present because I decided they were necessary. The lack thereof (if by examining my score you should believe it to be) is because I did not believe any more were necessary. I have experimented in the arranging of this score with many different nuances and expressions (such as the use of pizzicato), but I did not like what I heard upon listening to these experimentations.
I attempt to bring my listener on a short journey downstream an aural river. The current of which is smooth, yet visceral; the water gently caresses the listener, yet careful rapids approach. Soon the river throws the listener down a vast waterfall. Alas, (yes,) the river knows the listener will be safe, as the deep pool below will catch and release the listener to float off toward the sandy shore.
Sincerely, Justin Presley

Yes, The River Knows (Arranged for String Quartet)

Valley Visits was written, composed, performed, recorded, and produced by myself, Justin Presley.

Valley Visits - Lyrics:

Call me intoxicated
Maybe too much to write to you
But I'm telling you
That rock and Roll is coming back
With a vengeance
So come for a visit
And park your car by the hills

Immortality at its best
It's the reason I'm smoking stale cigarettes
Under the bright night sky 

The stars have yet to teach me
The truth behind these clouded lies
The stars have yet to show me 
The faces behind this disguise

So lets make plans for next week
We can take your car for a stroll
And check out the abandoned prison 
Where your father used to lay so cold
So cold…

Innocence can be so subtle
It's the reason I'm drinking gin right from the bottle
Under the bright night sky 


Valley Visits

A song from former Early Abstractions (Justin Presley and Mitch Labrosse)

Lyrics:

Tonight we'll dance around the flame
Cold hearted lovers crave,
But her foggy breath won't sing the words I long to hear.
In this crowded room we'll lie alone,
She's the only love i've ever known,
But her foggy breath won't sing the words i long to hear.

She's alright, alright
She'll be here all night

Red as wine, your lips seem hard to find
After a kiss so kind, you'll never leave my mind
This crimson room is shrinking like the moon
My dear, my dear why must you leave so soon?



Alan Turner's Dream - Early Abstractions

A song from former Early Abstractions (Justin Presley and Mitch Labrosse)

Lyrics:

We found the missing pieces in the sand;
A british flag and a wooden wheel.
And we wondered what was put here in our hands
as we walked on water with broken heels

O sweet sand refuge
Show me the coast, show me my lovers ghost
O sweet sand refuge
My life's been but an anchor in the sea

There's blood on our feet from the seashells on the beach,
And the colours of the land turn to red and white.
And the tide came in to drown us out of reach,
And washed away these pages that we write.

O sweet sand refuge
Safe from the cross tides and the undertow 
O sweet sand refuge
She was taken from me before she can shout "land ho!" 


Sweet Sand Refuge - Early Abstractions

Played this live on 92.1 Rock a few weeks back. Pretty neat experience!

JustinPresley