About the Song - This song is about as angry as I get on the record. It was written after realizing that my children might be casualties of my marriage breakdown if we didn't clean up our act. I think in a breakup we all seek on some level to destroy the other person. Maybe it's because we want to justify our need to leave the relationship or maybe it's out of jealousy and the hope that our ex-partner won't be able to find someone better than us. This insecurity and venom only destroys both parties.. well not only... there are always victims on the periphery and caught in the crossfire. 

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. 

Everybody Loses in a War

About the Song - This song was written in December of 2015. People often compare dealing with a breakup to being lost at sea. I'd just seen the Moby Dick film and (i don't recommend the film.. sorry) but I had being lost at sea on the brain. It's absolutely true that the ups and downs and shifting from hope to hopelessness and back again that I can imagine you'd feel drifting on the current is any comparison to the sensation of suddenly seeing your the vessel of your relationship sink to the bottom of the ocean. Will you sink or swim? Can you be patient? What if you drift forever? I'm not certain of this "facts" validity, but I would imagine that if you drift on a current long enough, you are bound to hit dry land eventually. Can you survive the journey and what will you do with that time may be the only questions worth asking yourself.

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Adrift

About the Song - This is another older song. I wrote it sometime between 2007 and 2010 with Jay Brunswick in Nashville. I recorded it in Nashville with my band, The Cumberland Collective, and included in on my Confluence album. I was asked to play it at a show in November 2015 and the lyrics hit me in a new way. Later, I added the lyrics in the final verse to bring the meaning around to the rest of the album. I recorded the guitar for this song in a 1,000 year old church in South East England. It sounded real nice in there... you can hear the birds chirping as the track ends.

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

You Are

About the Song - This is E's favorite song. I had always planned to record it one day, and this seemed like it might be my last chance to share it. Originally recorded by the Beach Boys on Petsounds, I tried humbly to make it my own artistically while still honoring the subject matter and musicality of the original. For what its worth, this freaking song is hard as crap. Musicians of the world.. am I right? 

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

God Only Knows

About the Song - This song was written during one of my darker moments, but I lifted my own spirits by juxtaposing my anger and depression against some relatively light musical accompaniment. I think in any situation that we are rejected whether its by a lover, friend, or something work related, one of the core elements of the resulting emotion causes us to question our own self-worth and validity even in existence. I don't feel this way anymore by the way.  Also, its my daughter's favorite track by far.... she likes the pop music.

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. 

Invisible

About the Song - I wrote the first verse and chorus of this song after my last major serious relationship breakup. The song was originally called "Lazy Days," However, I never really loved my lyrics on the second verse, so one rainy Sunday afternoon in November, a second verse quite literally fell out of me. This is one of my favorites on the album, and it serves as a reminder that I've had these feelings before, and if I've had them before, perhaps, this situation has more to do with me than anyone else.

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. 

On Days Like Today

About the Song - This is the first song I wrote and recorded for this project which is probably why the lyric includes the image of a pendulum.  I believe we go through life swinging from one extreme to the other. In one sense time never ceases moving forward, but in another sense, we seem to repeat the same basic motions endlessly. We make the same mistakes, we see the same patterns of failures and successes, and more. We change constantly and yet nothing seems to change. 

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Life on a Pendulum

About the Song - This song is brand new. In fact this recording is literally the first time I played it from start to finish after writing it. Many people told me during my struggle with the breakdown of my marriage that it was wrong to maintain hope, but even as I type this, I struggle to see the damage. Maybe that will change with time. This song is my response to the conundrum of deciding when its best to maintain hope and what that really means.

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Fine Line

About the Song - This is an excerpt and interlude of a song I wrote in 2010 as love song to my wife. While this version only includes lyrics from the bridge and chorus, the full version can be found on my album, As I Am. In the context of this album about loss and separation, the purpose of including this song is to remind the listener of the hope and dedication I'd intended in my marriage before allowing things to deteriorate. 

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

Will you walk with me?

About the Song - I wrote this song with Clay Evans and Natalie Hemby several years ago. I think it's been five years to be exact. We wrote it after learning that Corinne Bailey Rae's partner had passed away. The aim was to write a song that captured the deepest darkest part of our human struggle with loss - depression. While this song has been performed and recorded many times, this is my first time actually releasing the song publicly. 

About the Record - Pendulum Groove: A Revelation of the Heart is an album recorded, mixed and mastered using only my iPhone 6. This songs on this album chronicle my struggle to overcome the challenges of my marriage breaking down in October 2015. I've tried to include songs, both new and old, that resonate with the five stages of the human experience of processing grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.

The World Doesn't Work

About the Song - Every now and again, a song will fall out of you. Well, maybe in your case it's not a song, but a fully formed idea, a painting, you'll suddenly beat your best 5K time by 3 minutes and not know why... whatever it is, it seems to be inspired and come from nowhere. My guess is that this thing which seems a gift has been rolling around in your being for quite some time - waiting for you to be ready to experience and deliver it. That's how this song was for me. I sat down to play a guitar in Corner Music, because it was pouring rain and I didn't want to get soaked, and in 3 minutes I'd written a reminder to myself that I had much to be grateful for in my life. I imagine we all share a struggle with this. We all set our sights on what we desire and fail to appreciate what we have before us. There have been many times, I've performed this song and reminded myself again of how blessed I have been by the people I've known and the opportunities I've had to grow as a person.

About the Album - I made this record in 2010 or 2011. I was honored to work alongside Viktor Krauss who produced great albums for a range of singer/songwriters in Nashville including one of my favorites, Jason White. Viktor and laid the basic tracks and my acoustic guitar and vocals down live at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville. We then completed overdubs primarily at Viktor's home studio. After playing guitars and keyboards and the occasional body percussion, we asked vocalist virtuoso Jason Eskridge to put the icing on the cake. The album was mixed by Niko Bolas at Capitol Records in Los Angeles. He put his own spin on things and it really ended up sounding great. 

All That You Need

About the Song - I wrote this song (and many many others) with Matt Rogers while we were staff writers at Better Angels in Nashville. It's a song that highlights my amazement in the fact that despite my many failings and short-comings, my partner stood by me and loved me anyway. The line, "She has witnessed all my failures. She has seen me fall from grace. She could judge me more than any other, but she loves me anyway," always resonates deeply with me when I hear it or play it. I think its because that must be a universal truth. The ones we allow to be closest to us, see us at our absolute worst. It's a shame that we subject the ones we love the most to such ugliness, but maybe the joy of being accepted regardless of this fact is worth the challenge.

About the Album - I made this record in 2010 or 2011. I was honored to work alongside Viktor Krauss who produced great albums for a range of singer/songwriters in Nashville including one of my favorites, Jason White. Viktor and laid the basic tracks and my acoustic guitar and vocals down live at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville. We then completed overdubs primarily at Viktor's home studio. After playing guitars and keyboards and the occasional body percussion, we asked vocalist virtuoso Jason Eskridge to put the icing on the cake. The album was mixed by Niko Bolas at Capitol Records in Los Angeles. He put his own spin on things and it really ended up sounding great. 

About the Songs - The songs on this record were written after I'd spent a fair amount of time back on the road as a touring musician. Leading up to this, I was released by my first publishing company in 2009 and was laid off by my full-time employer two weeks later. For perspective's sake, this is about the time the bottom truly fell out of the worldwide economy. It was a frightening time for me and my family, but it was also liberating. My partner encouraged me to pursue my passion and to share my music with the world. She knew that's what I needed to do. The songs that came from this period are a representation of the excitement of my new adventure and the unexpected regret I felt from being away from my family. 

She Loves Me Anyway

About the Song - I wrote this song with Katie Klim. She's a great singer/songwriter from PA and was a good friend in college at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Look her up! This song was started after I'd toured through the SouthEast USA a few times. By the end of each trip, I found myself longing to see my partner and my children, so it wasn't uncommon for me abruptly pack my things into the car and drive through the night from wherever I was to Nashville. It was hard to be present when my mind was elsewhere. Anyone else ever feel that way?

About the Album - I made this record in 2010 or 2011. I was honored to work alongside Viktor Krauss who produced great albums for a range of singer/songwriters in Nashville including one of my favorites, Jason White. Viktor and laid the basic tracks and my acoustic guitar and vocals down live at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville. We then completed overdubs primarily at Viktor's home studio. After playing guitars and keyboards and the occasional body percussion, we asked vocalist virtuoso Jason Eskridge to put the icing on the cake. The album was mixed by Niko Bolas at Capitol Records in Los Angeles. He put his own spin on things and it really ended up sounding great. 

The Only Thing On My Mind

About the Song - I forgot I wrote this one. It's a bit tongue-in-cheek, talking about how my partner at the time was always my most worthy adversary and my loyal friend. Nothing too serious here though.. 

About the Recording - I figured it was about time for a live track and I stumbled upon this. It was recorded at a live solo show on February 16th, 2011 at Eddies Attic. Eddies Attic is one of the best acoustic music venues on planet Earth and I was fortunate enough to grow up just down the road from it. With Eddie Owen and his little listening room, I think my life would look very different. I don't know whether to hug him or hit him. He's now the man behind Red Clay Theater in Duluth, Georgia. If you have occasion, please stop by both venues.... and tell em i said, "hello!"

I Don't Know (How To Make My Baby Ch

About the Song - This track was supposed to be hidden, but you can't hide a track on SoundCloud..... so.... surprise... 

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

Hidden Track

About the Song - This kind of song has kind of become a solo record staple of mine. The introspective, bluesy, 6/8 or 3/4 acoustic number. Eddie Owen, founder of Eddies Attic, suggested he ask the little known (at the time) Sugarland to record it. I declined. Stupid.... stupid.

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

Still In Love

About the Song - I had Earth, Wind, and Fire on the brain writing this one. This song led me to meet my friend Sheree Spoltore. Sheree has been a friend, mentor, advocate, and we laugh that she's my "Nashville Mom." Her company, Global Songwriters Connection, is the successful realization of her vision of helping songwriters across the world to connect with each other, mentoring, and unique opportunities from all walks of the music business.

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

Hold Me

About the Song - I tend to write this song over and over. A song about cycles and ending up seemingly where we started. I suppose we all do that, but what I've learned recently is that our lives may bring us around to the same types of problems, we may make the same mistakes again and again, but each time we carry the lessons and perspective we've gained from the previous journey around. Maybe it's not a circle.. but an outward spiral.

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

Return

About the Song - I wrote this song in my living room in Boston circa 2002. This version is edited from the original slightly to move more like a pop song. It was my idea. I don't know if I love the changes or not, but anyhow,. I wrote the song after seeing my ex with her new sexy tattoo. A tattoo that she'd always told me she wanted to get. A tattoo that I'd drawn for her. Needless to say, it left a mark. (see what I did there?) 

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

Tattooed

About the Song - I wrote this song in Los Angeles with Aaron Kamin. He used to be in a band called, The Calling, and we were tossing around the idea of producing some music together. The deal didn't work out in the end, but I got an awesome song and a music video out of the deal. 

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

Holding My Breath

About the Song - I wrote this song with Daniel Gardner my former bandmate with Escape Artists. He's a great pop writer and has had a few of his own bands. Writing this song was the first time, I really thought of myself as a "pop" guy. Fun stuff.

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

She Comes Around

About the Song - This was Zack and Kenny's favorite. I think anyway. I wrote this one right before we tracked the record. Also, self-explanatory. Waiting by the phone... etc..

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

I Will Stay

About the Song - There's not much subtext here... Pretty much just saying it out loud. Join me on the "oooo's"

About the Record - This album was made at Tree Sound Studios with the help of Pat Swindall, my employer at the time and a family friend. It was produced by a relatively new production duo in Zack Odum and Kenneth Mount. They've since gone on to do big things. We took the songs in a total pop direction, and while I was hesitant at first, I truly love the way this turned out. The musicians featured are Daniel Gardner, Rob Dyson, Zack, Kenneth, some dude i forgot on drums and my sister even sings backgrounds on one of the songs. Do me a favor and listen all the way through uninterrupted at some point. It's meant to work all together.  Thanks for listening!

Can't Get Away

About the Song - This is one of many I've written with Matt Rogers. He's a fantastic singer and writer and I've written some of my best stuff with him. The song is about moving on which of course can be applied to many things - the end of a relationship, death, or even just knowing in yourself that you need to make a change. Matt just celebrated his first #1 with a "We Went" by Randy Houser. I think its safe to say he's on his way...

About the Recording - This is a worktape made in a writing room in Nashville in November 2011. We had just finished writing the song, and recorded it using a phone to make sure we didn't forget anything. The focus obviously isn't on recording quality or delivering a flawless performance, but I've found that many times these worktapes can be the most honest of any recordings ever made of the songs we write. 

On My Way (Work Tape)

About the Song - I wrote this song with LA-based writer and producer Brett McLaughlin (known professionally as Leland). We were writing together during an ASCAP workshop in Nashville. It was fun to try to break the "Nashville" mold a bit, but I'm sure this sounds country to you.

About the Recording - This was tracked at Sony ATV with an all star cast of Nashville "cats." Among the stellar crew were Ilya Toshinsky, Nick Buda, Mike Rojas, and Mike Johnson. If you listen to the end, you'll hear the boys get a little too funky... its too funky.. just stop. 

Give Give Give (It Up)

About the Song - This song was written during my first or second year in Nashville, but the inspiration for the lyric and feeling comes from my final years in Boston. I call those years, "the dark ages." I was depressed and aimless. I truly lost my way, and at times I felt suicidal. The image of gravity and concrete is meant to convey how I felt trapped between the unforgiving nature of the hard ground and the weight of the world pushing down on me. Those were difficult years and I know now that I didn't gain from it what I could have. True to the way I handled my grief and despair at the time, there is no real positive twist to this song. Sorry...

About the Recording - This is another Nashville Session. I'm pretty sure it's Ilya Toshinsky on guitars and stuff, Nick Buda on drums, Mark Hill on bass, Mike Johnson on pedal steel... after that, I just don't know. Sorry again!


Gravity and Concrete

About the Song - I wrote this song with Steve Dean and Jay Brunswick about halfway through my time in Nashville. It's one of my dad's favorites. The song tells three stories of people with extraordinary challenges. For me it serves as a reminder that the challenges we face not only stand in our way but serve to connect us with our correct path. On the BBC, I heard a person reporting on the history of the settlement of the north of the UK the other day. One thing he said stuck with me. He said, "Many think of oceans as barriers, but they're actually carriers." I thought that was pretty interesting.

About the Recording - I recorded this live with Tailgate South in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I was lucky enough to join up with my friends Mickey Kelley, Tony Lopacinski, and Glen Mitchell for a mini-tour of the US. Tony had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Cancer the year before and while no one knew for certain at the time, this was indeed his farewell tour. He loved this song and I loved playing it with him. His guitar work and high tenor vocals added so much to our songs, and this is a stellar example. Tony was also a great producer and engineer. The final mix of this recording is his. 

Mike Willis Music

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