Original music and lyrics © Keith Parks 2025. Music created in the Reaper DAW, vocals created with Synthesizer V Studio Pro, Natalie voice.

LYRICS

 Equilibrium

The world is spinning as we play with fire.
I drift through a city of metal and desire.
I gasp and I sigh while the rivers fall and rise.

Almost done, almost gone.
Open doors, let me be the one.

Are we builders of a temple, or a crumbling wall?
Are we architects of the rise or of the fall?
Fingers crossed with hope, thoughts tangled in despair.
Can we change our path, or do we even care?

Almost done, almost gone.
Open doors, let me be the one.

Feel the pulse of the Earth, beating wild and untamed.
Underneath the heavy sky, we are lost but still named.
With every breath we take, a price we’ve yet to pay.
In the days still to come, will we find our way?

Almost done, almost home.
Open doors, let me be the one.

Shadows stretch and twist. The world feels wrong.
I hear whispers of songs, see faces bright, voices strong.
I hear laughter in the rustling leaves, reminding me when the world believed.
But today’s not tomorrow, it’s too soon to breathe.

Almost done, almost home.
Open doors, let me be the one.

Through this chaos there’s a rhythm pure and sweet.
In the heart of the storm, resistance we meet.
I gasp and I sigh, but I am not torn.
Together we survive. Together, reborn.

Almost done, almost home.
Open doors, let me be the one.

Equilibrium

I entered the world of music through accordion lessons in elementary school. Had a mini-Moog and a few other keyboards in high school. Now I've been playing with the digital workflow for around 5 years, purely for my own amusement.

Eric Schultheiss stands at the vanguard of contemporary composition, forging a unique path that bridges the rhythmic drive of global percussion with the infinite possibilities of digital sound. As a composer, percussionist, and educator, Schultheiss is acclaimed for his hybrid electro-acoustic works—pieces that fuse the organic pulse of drums with orchestral richness and the sonic innovation of modern electronics.

Rooted in a Southern California upbringing steeped in progressive rock, classical discipline, and the improvisational freedom of jazz, Schultheiss draws on a vast tapestry of influences. His music channels the off-kilter accents of Stewart Copeland, the lyrical intensity of Neil Peart, the storytelling depth of Peter Gabriel and Sting, and the progressive artistry of Genesis, Dream Theater, and Spock’s Beard. This synthesis results in compositions that are as intellectually rigorous as they are emotionally evocative.

Currently, as Head of Percussion Studies and Electro-Acoustic Composition at the Middle Tennessee Conservatory of Music, Schultheiss is an outspoken advocate for the DAW as a true instrument. In his hands, digital workstations become canvases for sonic experimentation, allowing for real-time orchestration, microscopic precision, and the layering of polyrhythms and timbres that would be impossible with traditional notation alone. He champions technology not as a shortcut, but as an authentic extension of the composer’s voice.

Signature works such as Lights Twinkle—a Christmas percussion-ensemble piece blending Japanese Taiko, harp, and haiku-inspired vocal textures—showcase his ability to unite tradition with innovation. Airidea’s Journal explores the dialogue between structure and freedom through dance-driven percussion and atmospheric synths, while As You Sleep and Terminal Memory reveal Schultheiss’ penchant for ambient soundscapes, introspective melodies, and cross-media collaborations. His compositions have been commissioned for film, dance, and multimedia productions, performed by leading ensembles, and praised for their intricate interplay of rhythm and resonance.

As an educator, Schultheiss is dedicated to shaping musicians who are not only technically skilled but also creatively fluent in both acoustic and digital modalities. At the Middle Tennessee Conservatory, he mentors young composers in hybrid techniques, polyrhythmic structures, and DAW-based workflows, encouraging them to embrace technology as a creative partner. His influence extends beyond the classroom, as he helps students gain visibility in the digital era and equips them to thrive in an evolving musical landscape.

Through his relentless curiosity, innovative spirit, and commitment to artistic growth, Eric Schultheiss is redefining what it means to be a composer in the 21st century. His work is a testament to the power of bridging tradition and technology, and to the limitless frontiers that await those willing to explore them.