Papa Muse's Running the Schoolyard will be the 2nd single released this year previewing the upcoming Papa Muse EP "NOISE." The environmental anthem is a rallying cry that aims to inspire us to protect and rescue the environment. The title and concept for this song is a simile comparing childhood bullies in a schoolyard with the corporations who bulldoze and destroy our natural world for their own profits and benefit.

Running The Schoolyard

The song Sunshine is about waiting to get through a long lonely winter. The song was written in 2020 and largely inspired by an individual that I was in a relationship with at the time in Ithaca N.Y. She had a cheerful disposition, an affirming attitude and a bright personality. I had left my Ithaca life behind for my annual winter migration to Austin, where I was also performing and building my music career. My trip south was meant as a temporary absence, and it was a very difficult transition that would prove to be permanently life changing.

After getting back to Austin Texas and finding a place to live and pulling together a band and setting up 4 months of shows and rehearsals, the Covid 19 pandemic hit and canceled my plans and changed the world. We all became very isolated and had to rethink our priorities. Because life is short, you don’t get to do everything that you want to unfortunately, so sometimes we need to choose between things and it can be hard to know what will turn out best.

So “Sunshine” is about dreaming of spring and summer adventures and freedom. It’s about festivals and refreshing swims in nature and new love. And it’s also about longing for those we miss, regret, loneliness and isolation.

Humans have an opportunity to feel bliss and sorrow and live life to its fullest. To dive in head first, even if we wonder if another choice could have been better. We can imagine a future for ourselves and roll with the punches as life turns in unexpected ways. Winter comes and kills, so that spring can revive.

The song was written in 2020, during the isolation of the pandemic lockdown. My drummer and "pod mate" Damian and I were jamming in my Ithaca studio and because it was just the 2 of us, I created a loop to play along to with my guitar, a cascading melody. A tribal and infectious beat and then a vocal melody and harmony ensued. I took a video with my phone and finished the song some time later.

Mixed and mastered by Matt Saccuccimorano in Ithaca NY and featuring talented musicians from both Ithaca and Austin TX, Sunshine has been waiting to see the "light" of day for some time.
Sunshine will be the first single off of my upcoming "Dare to Dance" album and it nicely exemplifies my Indie rock and World music vibe. Please stay tuned and ready and show me support by adding it to your favorites, to your playlist if you have one and by giving a good listen. I hope you will enjoy this new song as much as I do. Out everywhere on Friday Feb 23rd.


Credits:
The song Sunshine was written by Way (Papa Muse)
And mixed and mastered by Matt Saccuccimorano.
Musicians that played on Sunshine: 
Damian Dodge - Drums,  Jared Becerra - bass guitar 
Oliver Scott - Keyboards,  Jaime Ospina - Maracon Gaiteros (from the band Superfónicos Austin Tx),  Lydia Froncek - Talking Drum (from the band Ley Line Austin Tx)

Lyrics:
When the moon is up, and the stars are bright
I long for your warmth, through the long cold night.
	Sunshine

In the winter freeze, when the earth's asleep,
I long for you, to nourish me.
	Sunshine

People change like seasons do, 
But all the while love shines through.
Embracing time exploring your mind,
Soon the spring will bring the Sunshine
	Sunshine

When you're far away, and the sky is gray
I long for you, to brighten my day
	Sunshine

Stormy weather comes, nowhere safe to run.
Waiting out the storm,  waiting for her warmth
         Sunshine

Sunshine

Our minds predict the future, prepare for that future, and create that future all as an instinctual defense mechanism using our past experience as our guide to try and protect ourselves. But we need not be slaves to our subconscous auto-pilot. We have a choice in every moment, to consciuously choose the future we want for ourselves

Meaning Makers - Single

As an observation of intense political division in the United States, the song "PM News" is about the rise of activism and the passion and anger that has grown over the last several years. The song doesn't take sides, but begs the question, what makes a patriot? And it encourages folks to take a stand for what they believe in. Crossing blues and rock "PM News'' has an aggressive and gritty rock guitar reminiscent of Jack White, but the song also embraces elements of swing and big band jazz.

PM News

High energy melodic rock, touches of prog and dance-able world music with catchy grooves and intelligent lyrics. Papa Muse offers an animated and fun participatory performance.