As a gift, I'm sending out one song of mine, for free, every week. I'm sharing the best existing recording of virtually everything I've written, in alphabetical order. This includes the songs on my albums, my songs on the Mommyheads and Connotations albums, live recordings, unreleased studio recordings, multilayered home recordings, a few videos, and early, lo-fi recordings made on cheap tape machines. A huge range of styles from 80s New Wave, dark art ballads, and classical instrumentals, to melodic pop, electronica, and wholesome folk.

There are two ways to partake:

	•	Join this Facebook group—https://www.facebook.com/groups/HoltSongs—where the selections will be posted weekly, and you can be part of conversations about them. 
	•	Or email me (pianotroubadour@gmail.com) that you’d like to subscribe, and I'll send the song to your inbox each week. This is the surer way to not miss a week, and it will also include a link to the week's Facebook conversation.

Each song comes with a little story about what inspired it, who played on it, etc. Vocal songs include the lyrics.

You will by no means be expected to listen to every song, or to respond to them. And you can unjoin or unsubscribe at any time. So if you'd like to partake, do join the above FB group, or email me to subscribe. 

Thanks lots,
Michael

Songs of the Week

Mellow

Written and produced by Sam R. 
Performed by Beauty Queen, Glassio 
Engineered and co-produced by Shuta Shinoda
Mixed by Steve Vealy 
Mastered by Ariel Loh 
Artwork by Sam R.

A Friend Like You (feat. Beauty Queen)

WesGhost - CURSED

hypeddit.com/wesghost/cursed

CURSED

Miskine Luidji sped up

our epic Zach Bryan remix to relive all those nostalgic summer nights and soundtrack your upcoming fall ones, outrageous fun y'all

Zach Bryan - I Remember Everything (MC4D Remix)

Summertime Sadness - LexMorris, HALUNA

Thanks for checking out my songs of the week!

If last week's song asked, "Am I Alone?", this week's one says, "Yes." It's not true. My wonderful girlfriend Tracy and I just celebrated our first anniversary, and I have lots of loved ones, including you. But it certainly felt true in 1982 when I wrote "Alone" at age fourteen.

Reviving this song, I'm struck by how effective it seems. I think that's because it's musically and lyrically very basic, channeling something that not just sad teenagers can relate to. I should write more simple, emotional stuff like this.

I don't remember ever playing "Alone" for anyone, and I never recorded it. Yet I always heard a big production in my head. So for this sharing, I called again on the Spiked Frugals (my old band with Dan Seiden and Erik Pearson), and our friend Jonathan Feinberg. Thanksgiving delayed the recording, pushing it a bit out of alphabetical order.

Spiked Frugals + Feinberg.jpg
(Clockwise from top left: Erik, Dan, Jonathan, me)

We start with the original solo version—me on piano and voice. Then as each musician joins—Erik on bass and left guitar; Dan on right guitar; Jonathan on drums, guitar solo, background vocals, and synth—it grows, really achieving the fullness I envisioned. And as you listen to it now (ideally on earbuds, headphones, or a decent speaker), it becomes even less alone.

MP3 attached; lyrics below. Feel free to email me your impressions or join the Facebook conversation here.

Love and thanks,
Michael


ALONE

Alone, alone in my heart
Alone, alone from the start
Alone, alone in the dark
A candle without a spark

I always wanted something
Something to know
Someone to go with me places
And I only wanted some way
Not very much
Just a chance to touch one of those faces

Alone, all through the day
Alone, in somebody’s way
Alone, alone in the night
Alone, alone all my life

I only wanted someone
Someone to hold
When it gets cold cuz it’s winter
And I always wanted someone
Someone to kiss
Someone to miss when it’s over

Alone, alone on the street
Alone, with no one to meet
Alone, alone in a crowd
Alone, not making a sound

Oh I never asked for someone
Someone to sit
Just for a bit and tell me a story
And I never asked for no one
No one to stay
And later to say, “Look it’s morning!”

Alone, alone in my heart
Alone, alone in the dark
A candle without a spark
Alone, alone from the start

Alone

Prelude in D flat major (Manhattan Skyline)

Live My Life

Loud and New

By Michael Holt, arranged from his 24 Preludes for Piano

Manhattan Skyline (Prelude in Db Major, arr. cello and piano)

My music's in many different styles (some previously unheard of) so please sample a few selections!