Snowy Rumors Tawny

Feel It Too (Demo)

This is the highly requested FAST version of I Prefer the Dusk.

Lyrics:
If I take my time I make up my mind
And anyway, I find I hate sunshine

I prefer the dusk. I prefer the dust.
Can't give you a reason
Feels just like I'm me when I'm out there in your rust
Full van orange crush
Smells like burning leaves and
In the summer breeze I am thinking we're the same
Fell for you like a toy aeroplane
I can feel your pain
I can feel the things that you're not saying
Cruising around town and country roads
Lost and now I'm found, I'll never know

Might take some time to make what's mine mine
and anyway I find I hate Twilight

I prefer the dusk. I prefer the dust.
Can't give you a reason
Feels just like I'm me when I'm out there in your rust
Full van orange crush
Smells like burning leaves and in the summer breeze I am
Thinking we're the same
Fell for you like a toy aeroplane
I can feel your pain
I can feel the things that you're not saying
Cruising around town and country roads
Lost and now I'm found, I'll never know

And there's no reason for all the vacillating of our time
Like there's no reason for all the gasoline pollution
But boy does it shine when it reflects the light of the sky
And boy does it shine when it reflects the lights in the night
Night night

I prefer the dusk. I prefer the dust.
Can't give you a reason
Feels just like I'm me when I'm out there in your truck
Full van orange crush
Smells like burning leaves and 
In the summer breeze I am thinking we're the same
Fell for you like a paper airplane
I can feel your pain
I can feel the reasons you're not staying
Cruising round small towns and country roads
Lost and now I'm found, won't forget ya

Credits:
Production, Instruments, Vocals by Max Oakland
Mastered by actdomake 9624

I Prefer the Dusk (Fast Version) Single

I Prefer The Dusk (Fast Version)

"Antifreeze" is a sonic blend of Timbaland, Backstreet Boys, and Nirvana. Featuring a unique and mysterious opening with a vocal sample from Alex Pezeshkian and an unusual 60s organ called the Optigan. The song takes listeners on a journey through a frozen desert night, with a catchy boy band chorus, house baseline, and jungle-sounding drum fill that will undoubtedly get stuck in your head. The bridge offers a slight reprieve with a focus on vocals and light instrumentation before jumping back into the intense and almost happy chorus, complete with a reversed chord progression to end the song on a high note. 

Lyrics:
Winter hits the house. Rolling down my mouth
Pour on antifreeze. Like a summer breeze rolling into town 
Winter hits the state. Frozen lakes and graves
Pour on antifreeze. Summer hits the sea. Rain keeps pouring down

What do I think I’m doing?

When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I can’t breathe
I need antifreeze. Yup
When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I’m not free
I need antifreeze, yup
Yup yup yup yup

Winter hits the world. Frozen boys and girls
Pour on antifreeze. Now you’re at the beach
Dive into the surf
Winter hits my life. And it’s your eyes
Pour on antifreeze. Now you’ll run with me
Run and laugh and cry

What do I think I’m doing?

When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I can’t breathe
I need antifreeze. Yup
When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I’m not me
I need antifreeze, yup
Yup yup yup yup

When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I can’t be
I need antifreeze. Yup
When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I’m not free
I need antifreeze, yup
Yup yup yup yup

Antifreeze (Single)

Antifreeze

Faster version of Antifreeze. Antifreeze takes you on a journey. First through a frozen desert night, then a warm and sunny singalong chorus with a catchy house-inspired bassline. The bridge is upbeat and mostly vocals and then it jumps back into a more intense and jubilant version of the chorus to end the song on a high note

Lyrics:
Winter hits the house. Rolling down my mouth
Pour on antifreeze. Summer hits the sea. Rain keeps pouring down
What do I think I'm doing?

When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I can't breathe
I need antifreeze. Yup
Yup yup yup yup

Winter hits the world. Frozen boys and girls
Pour on antifreeze. Now you're at the beach
Dive into the surf
Winter hits my life. And it's your eyes
Pour on antifreeze. Now you'll run with me
Run and laugh and cry
What do I think I'm doing?

When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I can't breathe
I need antifreeze. Yup
When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I'm not me
I need antifreeze, yup
Yup yup yup yup

When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I can't be
I need antifreeze. Yup
When I freeze up, when I seize up,
When I feel like I'm not free
I need antifreeze, yup
Yup yup yup yup

Since you read all the way down here I know you know so comment "Yup yup" and I'll give you something cool

Antifreeze (Fast Remix EP)

Antifreeze (Fast Remix)

Got Time (Acoustic) was originally planned for a scrapped POWERLINES ACOUSTIC EP that I didn't finish. This one was the most complete version of the song and I really like it so I decided to finish it

Mixing the trip hop beats of Lana Del Rey, baritone outlaw country of Orville Peck, and the tuneful angst of Nirvana, Max Oakland is weaving tall tales about life in the liminal spaces of alleyways and dead malls.

Lyrics:

When I'm in the road I make it out. When I'm in the road, I make it loud

Night is falling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Night is falling, dream so easy, leaves are falling now
Night is calling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Awoo
Waiting, waiting for you
Awoo
Waiting, waiting for you…

When I'm in the road I make it out. When I'm in the mood, I make it loud

Night is falling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Night is falling, dream so easy, leaves are falling now
Night is calling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Awoo
Waiting, waiting for you
Awoo
Waiting, waiting for you…

Night is falling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Night is falling, dream so easy, leaves are falling now
Night is calling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Awoo
Waiting, waiting for you
Awoo
Waiting, waiting for you…

Got Time (Acoustic) - Single

Got Time (Acoustic)

Really excited to share my new EP! This has been years in the making. I learned so much about mixing and production and it really shows. Emotionally, these songs switch between hope and despair. Sometimes even in the same song. "…And You're Terrified of What You Found" has breezy acoustic production and dark lyrics. "Antifreeze" starts out bizarre and dark and blast into an upbeat disco chorus. "Leaving the Party" contemplates giving up over vintage synths and heavy beats that sample arcade machines. "I Prefer the Dusk" finds me musing about an ending relationship over post rock guitars and R&B beats. "Camera's Grain" calls out against bad treatment while enveloped in clean guitars and strange synths.

Lyrics:
When it's obvious the slimy sun already forgot us
When something's coming up and it sure don't smell like roses
When you lost touch with your god cuz you got tired of praying
When you are not afraid to die, you're already decaying

They don't know, no they don't care
Are not aware, or won't go there
That emptiness is what they fear
But when you're good then they fall in to feed

Cuz you left your good fortune on the side of the road
Its shrinking image in your mirror
Where is it now? You just don't know
Am I careening down or riding the road?
While you watch me disappear

They don't know, no they don't care
Are not aware, or just won't go there
That emptiness is what they fear
But when you're good then they fly in to feed

I'm in and around and beyond all of them
The spit of the snake, yes I am the poison
In some kind of state where my feed kiss the sky
And when they ask you they don't listen
To the answer you dredged up…

Terrified EP

…And You're Terrified of What You Found

It's about letting go of insecurity and realizing you can have a good day. It’s about waking up and feeling really bad about yourself and the world, then going on a walk that changes my outlook. Getting out of the house always makes me feel better. Seeing interesting plants, people, and things going on. The fresh air. The light. The breeze. This is about that

Lyrics:
Good morning, I'm in mourning. Past the labs and laboratories
I'm hurting and so boring. Past the scabs and slavish stories
See he's not a failure like me. Gotta work out

Mistakes and your N-O cakes. I don't got what it really takes
I'm so fake and now I'm awake. And now I'm baked but I'm OK
I see. I'm not a failure, I'm free. It's so warm out

Light as light and loud as water. Light as light and loud as laughter
In my dreams I heal the slaughtered. In my dreams I die of laughter

Good morning Tuesday morning. Past the labs and lavatories
I'm warning you I'm ornery. Pack my bag eyes while we're boarding
See? Not a failure. I pray it'll work out

Piss takes and urinal cakes I don't know what it really takes
I'm so fake and no, I'm awake. I know I'm baked but I'm OK
I see. Not a failure, I'm me. That was easy

Light as light and loud as water. Light as light and loud as laughter
In my dreams I heal the slaughtered. In my dreams I die of laughter

Good Mourning (Single)

Good Mourning (Short Version)

Listen on all your streaming services here: songwhip.com/max-oakland/leaving-the-party

Lyrics:
I know I’ve been living on the road
I know I’ve been searching for a home
I know I’ve been looking down the lane
I know I’ve been walking in the rain

And I feel low and I’m just sopping in the rain
And I think I’m ready to go
But I wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
And I feel like I’m just working all the time
And I’m not ready to die
But god, it’s just so hard to be alive sometimes

And I wonder if they’ll ever stop me
Wonder if they’ll ever see me
Wonder if they’ve really got me
Wonder if it’s ever gonna be

And I feel low and I’m just sighing in the rain
And I think I’m ready to go
But I wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
And I feel like I’m just working all the time
And I’m not ready to die
But god, it’s just so hard to be alive sometimes

And I feel low and I’m feeling strange
And I’m not ready to go
But I wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it
Wonder if it’s worth it
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it
Morning sky

Credits: Song and Lyrics by Max Oakland
Samples: Scott Murphy

Leaving The Party (New Mix)

Rope & Wire is about Insecurity, fear, and the hope that one day you'll put those insecurities behind you and fly above the wasteland

This song is the first time someone else has entirely produced the instruments and wrote the backing music. Shoutout to Cousin Ches for his great work! We'll be collaborating more in the future.

Lyrics:
Am I fast enough? Am I broken? Am I brash enough?
Am I fresh enough? Am I open? Am I fessing up?

I wanted to be alone. Wandering vacant lots is all I've known
I wanted to be your home. Wandering, vacant. Thoughts in alleyways
I wanna have time with you to do the things we never had time to
I wanna have time with you beneath vanilla skies

Am I fast enough? Am I broken? Am I brash enough?
Am I fresh enough? Am I open? Am I fessing up?
Some say the sky is always open wide
Some day I'll fly to you over rope and wire

Wandering around the liquor stores and alleyways
Wanting to afford the does, applause, and all the plays
Wondering where you have been to today
I miss you like the sunset misses the morning

Am I fast enough? Am I broken? Am I brash enough?
Am I fresh enough? Am I open? Am I fessing up?
Some say the sky is always open wide
Some day I'll fly to you over rope and wire


Rope and Wire - Single Release

Got time reminds me of a warm night in the summer, outside under the street lights and everything else is dark. With people or sitting alone on the porch. Listening to the sounds of cicadas and the quiet, waiting for someone

Stream the full POWERLINES EP here: https://songwhip.com/max-oakland/powerlines
Stream Got Time here: https://songwhip.com/max-oakland/got-time

Got Time came to me when I was experimenting with recording on my computer with beats from Garageband and using a glass from my kitchen to play the guitar, making a slidey sound. It's one of the most relaxing, pretty songs I've ever written and I love it because of that.

When I’m in the road I make it out. When I’m in the road, I make it out

Night is falling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Night is falling, dream so easy, leaves are falling now
Night is calling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Awoo
Waiting, waiting for you
Awoooo
Waiting, waiting for you…

When I’m in the road I make it out. When I’m in the mode, I make it loud

Night is falling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Night is falling, dream so easy, leaves are falling now
Night is calling. Dream so easy. Leaves are falling down
Awoo
Waiting, waiting for you
Awoooo
Waiting, waiting for you…

Power Lines Mixed Unmastered

Got Time

I wrote Die Alone sitting on the floor of my room. It was really different from my other songs at the time, but it stuck with me. At first I recorded it with GarageBand on my computer with loud vocals and noisy guitars. My brother Alec and I recorded it later with our band The Peaches for our Flyover Country album. Later, I redid it for fun, first in Garageband with some of the backing instruments that can still be heard in the final version and then took that to my friend Jake Whitecar Orangutan Sound studio in Montana where we recorded the final vocals, instruments, and live drums. I can’t believe there was a time when we could actually travel

Jake asked Jon Filkins to provide real, live drums and Amanda Ceaser to add background vocals. He also played bass, some synths, and some guitar. The song wouldn’t be what it is without their amazing contributions and I can’t thank each of them enough for participating

The result is peppy, but also dark. It has a heavy beat and some really cool vocals. I especially love the bridge where it gets really quiet and echoey and then builds to the most intense moment of the song

I recorded this song at a really hard time when I had to go to voice therapy because I had hurt my vocal cords and I was just recovering after a year wondering if I’d ever be able to sing again. I still hadn’t fully recovered during the recording process, but the result is cool because my vocals are a lot breathier than usual. My philosophy is: turn that mud into gold if at all possible

Die Alone. It’s about knowing that something or someone beautiful is gone, hoping they might come back someday, but not waiting around because you also have a life to live. It’s a dark song. Not exactly happy, but not unhappy either. Just fresh and raw from the pain and disappointment. The title comes from the phrase “You don’t die alone on the road”, which came from nowhere but really fits the overall energy, about moving forward despite all the uncertainty

In my mind, it’s a lot of dark night driving images which is going to feature in the video that will be released in the weeks after the song.

Die Alone will be out on ALL streaming platforms on Friday, September 25th. Here’s a pre-save link for the fans who don’t want to miss release day: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/maxoakland/die-alone

Listening to it, following me on Spotify and other social media, and sharing it will help me make this hard-won song as successful as possible. Thanks for your support, it’s always helped me keep motivated

Lyrics:
Oh I know it’s gone forever, but I can’t help but wonder
Can’t help but wondering
Filth dissolved in rain, like the clouds crashed and we're OK

You don't die alone on the road. Too many monsters to take your soul
You don't die alone on the road. Just gonna sell everything you know

Oh I know it’s gone forever, but I can’t help but wonder
Can’t help the wondering
Salts like cyanide washing away in the tide

Keep this one in my pocket to remind me of younger days
when the smoke we saw was dragons evolving in their caves
into you and your little sister all alone now in the snow
have we become the monsters when we drive away all alone?

You don't die alone on the road

Credits:
Songs by Max Oakland
Produced by Jake Whitecar and Max Oakland
Mixed by Jake Whitecar at Orangutan Sound in Missoula, MT
Performances
Max Oakland - Vocals, Guitars, Synths, Programming, Slide, Samples
Jake Whitecar - Bass Guitar, additional guitars & synths
Jon Filkins - Live Drums
Amanda Ceaser - Background Vocals

Die Alone (Single)

Die Alone

One muggy summer night, I was hiking by the cliffs. I heard the vague sound of music coming from a parked car next to me. I couldn’t really make it out but I thought I could make out a piano and a beat. As I walked away, I started getting a melody in my mind. “Ready, are you ready? Ready?” And I liked it so much I started singing it into my phone as I walked along. I knew I looked weird but the song was too good to care.

And that little g̶i̶r̶l̶ song grew up to be Waves of Gold

This is the song that really sets the tone of the Powerlines EP for me. It’s the most Powerlines of the songs, the most retro, the most faded VHS, the most sunset. The most of all the things that makes this EP what it is. Hope you like it :)

Lyrics:
Are you ready? Ready for your waves of gold?
Are you ready? Ready for your waves of gold

You know your waves of gold
No I won’t I’m trying not to
You know you’ll waste your gold
No I won’t I’m dying not to
You know you’ll waste your gold
No I won’t I’m sorry for you
You know you’ll waste your gold
No I won’t I’m sorry for you

When I saw your face I knew that I would leave this place
When I saw your mind I knew that you’d be unkind
The flashlight over there, the monsters everywhere
The countless, endless hours questioning

Ready, are you ready? Ready?
Ready for your waves of gold
Are you ready? Are you ready? Ready?
Ready for your waves of gold?

You know your waves of gold
No I won’t, I’m trying not to
You know your ways to go, Uh huh
No I won’t, I’m dying not to
Your know your ways to go
No I won’t, I’m sorry for you
Your know your waste your gold
No I won’t, I’m sorry for you

When I saw your face I knew that I would leave this place
When I saw your mind I knew that you’d be unkind
The fleshlight over there, the marks on underwear
The countless, endless hours questioning me

When I saw your face I knew that I would leave this place
When I saw your mind I knew that you’d be unkind
The flashlight over there 
The monsters under stairs
The countless endless hours questioning 

When I saw your face I knew that I would leave this place
When I saw your mind I knew that you’d be unkind
The flashlight over there 
The marks on underwear
The countless endless hours questioning 
 
Me, me, me… My my my…. Flesh flesh…
Four three two one

Ready, are you ready? Ready?
Ready for your waves of gold
Are you ready? Are you ready? Ready?
Ready for your waves of gold?

You know your waves of gold
No I won’t, I’m trying not to
You know your ways to go, Uh huh
No I won’t, I’m dying not to
Your know your wings’ll grow
No I won’t, getting better in the moment
Your know you’ll waste your gold
No I won’t, I’m happy for you

Ready, are you ready? Ready?
Ready for your waves of gold
Are you ready? Are you ready? Ready?
Ready for your waves of gold?
You know your waves of gold

Credits:
Songs by Max Oakland
Produced by Jake Whitecar and Max Oakland
Mixed by Jake Whitecar at Orangutan Sound in Missoula, MT
Performances:
Max Oakland - Vocals, Guitars, Synths, Programming, Samples
Jake Whitecar - Bass Guitar, synths
Jon Filkins - Live Drums
Amanda Ceaser - Background Vocals

Waves of Gold (Single)

Waves of Gold

Listen on all your streaming services here: https://songwhip.com/max-oakland/leaving-the-party

Lyrics:
I know I’ve been living on the road
I know I’ve been searching for a home
I know I’ve been looking down the lane
I know I’ve been walking in the rain

And I feel low and I’m just sopping in the rain
And I think I’m ready to go
But I wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
And I feel like I’m just working all the time
And I’m not ready to die
But god, it’s just so hard to be alive sometimes

And I wonder if they’ll ever stop me
Wonder if they’ll ever see me
Wonder if they’ve really got me
Wonder if it’s ever gonna be

And I feel low and I’m just sighing in the rain
And I think I’m ready to go
But I wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
And I feel like I’m just working all the time
And I’m not ready to die
But god, it’s just so hard to be alive sometimes

And I feel low and I’m feeling strange
And I’m not ready to go 
But I wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it 
Wonder if it’s worth it 
Wonder if it’s worth it if I stay
Wonder if it’s worth it 
Morning sky

Credits: Song and Lyrics by Max Oakland
Samples: Scott Murphy

Leaving the Party (Single)

Leaving the Party

Low budget alternative pop rock. Max Oakland's music is perfect for the liminal times when the day is ending or beginning. Driving around on a summer night right before sunset, walking through alleyways, sitting at home, on a bus, anywhere

Max strives to build community through the art that he creates. With its stripped-down production and complex arrangement, Max’s music truly drives you to look into yourself to see whatever may be there.

Popular tracks by Max Oakland