Original acapella Che Paxin (Looperman)
https://www.looperman.com/acapellas/detail/22932/without-you-by-chepaxin-102bpm-pop-acapella
Photo : Paris vu de Montmartre

Without You Ft ChePaxin

In Search Of Purpose blends delicate solo piano by Francesco Adornetto with the haunting, ethereal voice of Blackbird — a sonic reflection on longing, surrender, and inner stillness.
This piece invites the listener into a meditative space, where questions echo softly and answers float just beyond the horizon.
Perfect for moments of contemplation and quiet connection.

In Search Of Purpose

In Search of Purpose – Vocals by Blackbird

https://youtu.be/dLLddlqKIHc?si=wT5hmEY_W3Fp5ZvI 

This is my attempt at performing this song in a single take with just me and my guitar (Taylor 114 ce)
Also to compare and contrast, here’s a  link to a more polished full band version of this song that I recorded with the help of the Eclectic Collective 
https://soundcloud.com/josh-clary-1/ai-sucks-the-eclectic?si=67d29d363d2a419dacbf860fa471165e&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Many thanks to SoundCloud musician Michele Ansani  https://on.soundcloud.com/A24Cig19AVNqQmCk8 who's lyrics inspired me to write this song and collaborated with me to help bring this song to life.
***
Lyrics
When I was thirteen I picked up my first guitar
it was my mother's, it only had one nylon string 
I tried to play it like a rock star
I learned to play the Coca-Cola jingle
So I could teach the world to sing
When I was fourteen, I put on six new strings
I learned to play Beatles, I learned a Bob Dylan song
I sounded out of tune but I tried to carry on
At fifteen I wrote my first original tune 
So bad it sounded like it might have been written by a baboon
When I was sixteen, I got a new guitar for my birthday
The metal strings sawed through my fingers but I continued to play
And as the calluses formed and every day I learned a brand new chord
I was obsessed with that guitar and I never grew bored.
I wrote songs every day and most of them were a mess
But I believed that through hard work, I could achieve success
Malcom Gladwell wrote a book that said it takes ten thousand hours
To become and expert at your craft
And now all it takes is two commands and an enter
And in two minutes you have ten versions of the same damn new song,
You just have to choose the type
folk, rock, rap, pop, metal, jazz, trap or blues.
You don't even need to write the lyrics, 
your push a few buttons let the AI choose.
And people will think your songs are great 
even though you didn’t write or play a single note.
When I was 20, I did my first concert, it was time
it occurred in a village square
there were four cats all friends of mine
I was still using the plectrum and sometimes I got the chords wrong
at thirty I finally wrote what I thought was a decent song
It had a very well thought out structure and a catchy vibe and beat 
It was overly verbose but when I played it people tapped their feet
In my forties I stopped wasting my time
Work was more fun I was doing just fine
I had a steady paycheck that could feed me 
And the record companies didn’t need me
In my fifties once again my musical juices started flowing
I bought the necessary equipment I was eager to get going
I recorded all my strumming and saved it onto my PC
The internet and technology were advancing rapidly
I took those special songs I’d written of which I was most proud
Posted them Instagram, You Tube, Tik Tok and SoundCloud
I asked myself if a tree falls in the forest and no one’s around
Does it make a sound?
But now all it takes is two commands and an enter
And in two minutes you have ten versions of the same damn new song,
You just have to choose the type
folk, rock, rap, pop, metal, jazz, trap or blues.
You don't even need to write the lyrics, 
your push a few buttons let the AI choose.
And people will like your songs even though you didn’t write or play a single note.

AI Sucks Acoustic Live Version

URBAN SOULS. is a mix of genres,Jazz and ambient, a walk through the maze of streets where each one reveals its soul....

URBAN SOULS. 🎧

WATER TO WINE
 
Words & Music: Goff Johnson
Vocals: Todd J McLean
Keyboards & Rhythm Guitar: Goff Johnson
Drums and Hammond Organ: Kat Hendrix
Lead Guitar: Tim Porter
 
Mixed and Mastered by Kat Hendrix at Absolute Time Studios, Vancouver, May 2025
 
About the Song

"Water to Wine" is a song about the appeal of perfection we often see online, contrasted with the seemingly unremarkable and ordinary lives that most of us lead. It’s a reflection on the emotional toll that comes from chasing validation through likes and follower counts— and the emptiness that can follow when the spotlight fades.

Our value, though, goes far deeper than what shows up on a screen and authenticity holds more power than appearances. Take a deep breath and if we look up from the scroll and take a brave look at the world — and each other — we might find something much more real!

Behind the Song (from Goff Johnson)

Ironically, while the message of the track talks about isolation and the cost of surface-level connection, the making of Water to Wine was the exact opposite of that! It came to life through collaboration with the incredibly talented Todd J McLean, who, in addition to his awesome vocals, and red-hot music connections, also created the cover art (Woman in Yellow Chair) for the track! The overall result is something far richer than either of us could have created alone.

Working together brought depth, direction, and new energy to the song — proof that the best things happen when we connect for real. No filters, just music, shared purpose, and mutual trust!

Final Notes (from Todd)

This is my first collaboration on SoundCloud. I could not have been more fortunate than to work with Goff Johnson, an immensely talented singer/songwriter/musician. When I first came across Goff, I listened to his entire Stories of Stardust album end-to-end and I was so impressed with this concept and significant body of work. I highly recommend checking it out on Goff’s SoundCloud page. https://soundcloud.com/goff-johnson/sets/stories-of-stardust?si=9db35566a42747b9b63a5780334f67ea&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Although Water to Wine is not part of Goff’s Stardust series, it is nonetheless a beautifully written song and it’s been a privilege for me to sing it. Besides, I love to sing the Blues. Thank you so much, Goff!

We owe a huge shout-out to both Kat Hendrix, a master musician and our producer, and Tim Porter, a virtuoso on guitar. It is a real privilege to work with these West coast legends.

Lyrics: 

Verse 1
Someone wrote a playbook for perfection 
with lives of photo ops, their outtakes seldom seen 
today a star, the next you’re a pariah 
“Be Kind” they say, but that ain’t what they mean 
 
Chorus: 
Well I never watched the water turn to wine, 
and i never took a flower out of the desert, 
but i walked until my feet bled, and I looked until I was blind, 
and I reached out for a hand to hold in mine 
 
Verse 2 
Well there’s nothing quite as quiet as “the silence” 
after fame has passed, so flashbulb fast, away 
and i wonder if it really makes a difference 
cos the next in line wait for their time, to shine but not to stay”

Chorus: 
Well I never watched the water turn to wine, 
and i never took a flower out of the desert, 
but i walked until my feet bled, and I looked until I was blind, 
and I reached out for a hand to hold in mine

Cover Art: Woman in Yellow Chair, Todd J McLean

All rights reserved

Water to Wine

Breathe the light, soft on the sea
Dive where the sky empties
No more words are needed, only this sound
The sun is silent, the water is long

The wind is soft, the air tastes of salt
Paths without a trace, in a golden glow
The waves tell of things that pass
But everything remains if we simply stand

Sun and sea, a silent gaze
Colors flow, return
No goal, no plan, only this moment
Which calls itself like a distant promise
Sun and sea... between light

The evening falls, the hours pass
Shadows move gently, creating worlds
When I lose myself in the sound of the sea
I myself become wind and idea

Sun and sea... between light
A breath, a shimmer, a silent weight

Sun and Sea

Reminiscence – The Gentle Return
Sometimes the heaviest moments are the quiet ones.
When a single piano speaks louder than any voice,
not with words, but with the aching stillness left behind.

Reminiscence is the sound of looking back,
of revisiting the empty chair, the quiet room,
the laughter that once filled it – now just an echo.
It’s not a cry for comfort, but a slow exhale of memory.

This piece doesn’t try to escape the sorrow.
It walks beside it – unafraid, tender, honest.
Because some things cannot be forgotten.
They live on in sound, in silence, in the spaces between the notes.

Performed entirely on the Bechstein  –
a grand piano from EastWest, known for its haunting intimacy.
Its velvety resonance and delicate detail bring life to the sadness,
like a whispered goodbye that lingers in the air.
Every nuance was shaped by human hands – with reverence, with grief.

Part of the album Tides of Melancholy.
No AI. No shortcuts. Just soul, sorrow, and sincerity.

Composed, played, and felt by myself –
for all those who carry someone in their heart but can no longer hold them.
Thank you for listening – and for making space for this gentle return.


Reminiscence – Die leise Rückkehr
Manchmal sind es die stillsten Augenblicke, die am schwersten wiegen.
Wenn ein einziges Piano lauter spricht als jede Stimme –
nicht mit Worten, sondern mit dem Schmerz,
den nur die Abwesenheit kennt.

Reminiscence ist ein Blick zurück.
Zu dem leeren Stuhl. Dem stillen Raum.
Dem Lachen, das einmal darin lebte –
nun nur noch Erinnerung, verhallt im Nichts.
Dieses Stück sucht keinen Trost.
Es atmet die Trauer – langsam, behutsam, aufrichtig.

Denn manche Verluste verblassen nicht.
Sie bleiben – in einem Klang, in der Stille,
in dem, was zwischen den Tönen unausgesprochen bleibt.

Eingespielt auf dem Bechstein Sus Rep Lite DYN –
ein Konzertflügel aus der EastWest-Piano-Serie,
geschätzt für seine emotionale Tiefe und intime Klangcharakteristik.
Sein samtiger Ton und seine fragile Präsenz
verleihen dem Schmerz eine Stimme,
wie ein leiser Abschied, der in der Luft stehen bleibt.
Jede Note wurde mit Sorgfalt und Gefühl geformt – von echten Händen.

Teil des Albums Tides of Melancholy.
Keine KI. Kein Trick. Nur Seele. Nur Trauer. Nur Wahrheit.

Komponiert, gespielt und empfunden von mir –
für all jene, die jemanden im Herzen tragen, den sie nicht mehr in den Armen halten können.
Danke fürs Zuhören – und dafür, dieser leisen Rückkehr einen Platz zu geben.

℗ 2025 DestKorn | © 2025 DestKorn. All rights reserved.
Unauthorized use, reproduction, modification or distribution of this track is strictly prohibited and will be prosecuted under applicable law.
℗ 2025 DestKorn | © 2025 DestKorn. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Jegliche unautorisierte Nutzung, Vervielfältigung, Bearbeitung oder Verbreitung dieses Tracks ist untersagt und wird rechtlich verfolgt.
Artist & Publisher: Matthias K. / DestKorn
SenneRecord – established 2012

Reminiscence

This track is my very personal take at the Koan "Hear the Clap of your Hand". My lyrics version (https://soundcloud.com/konrad-spittelberg/the-clap-of-one-hand-pp) might make things clearer. (yes, this is my sneaky strategy to guide you from one song to another :-))

Compositionwise, the track is roughly split into two equal parts. The first part introduces its cinematic theme in the very beginning, taking it thereafter up several times with slightly different accentuations and rhythms which gives it a fresh feel with different highlighted nuances in each repetition. Several interludes contribute to the cinematic feeling. 

The second part, starting @1.53 starts by a more Jazzy version of the main theme. However, from 2.20 onwards, it is very restricted in its harmonies - only two harmonies are used from thereon until the end, C major and C# major. The tension arises purely from the rhythmic changes (such as the shift from 4/4 to 3/4 @3.17 and back), climaxing at the end.

The Clap of One Hand (Piano Miniature)

A song of unrequited love.. from my early twenties… precious metal reasons.. I’m so blue! ( not about Detroit Lions.. or Hawaii, ha!😆) .. give me a C.. a bouncy C!! 😅..just moving another song from K2 and the Four.. back to my @ paid page! One of my earliest recordings.. from 2020.. best year ever!!!🤔🤣🤩

Honolulu Blue and Silver

On The Sea

Available on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Google Play/YouTube, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, ClaroMusica, Saavn, MediaNet, Shazam etc

VIP Rick Medlock @Rick4-1 - Vivacious In Percussion.
@phil-mcwalter The Other Significant Stuff Embodying Righteousness ;-)
'Flute' solo (outro) played on vintage Tokai Strat using the Fishman TriplePlay wireless midi controller.

Special thanks to Bruce @Conover for suggesting the lyric "On his hands" and initially putting the 'go more acoustic' challenge to me! I know I cheated more than a little(!) but the main guitar/rhythm is an acoustic Fender steel string, DI'd from a Fishman Pro Onboard Pickup System. The track did sort of grow...

SOUP FROM A COLANDER

He’s just a poor boy and no-one sees him straight
He’s eating soup from a colander
Living in a crate
He’s got some holes in his thinking
Got some holes in his heart
If he had his time again
I don’t think he would start
He’s got time
Oh too much time
On his hands

The world was an oyster the world was made of gold
We made him promises when he was young 
Before he got so old
He had some lines he has forgotten
Lines across his sand
He used to hold a candle
Until it burned his hand
Oh he’s got time
Oh too much time
On his hands
On his hands

This sad sorry broken world 
That blows paired swans apart
Promises said like nursery rhymes
Committed life and crimes... times...
Vows they’d never break...

He manufactures happiness 'keeping busy' times
He daren’t stop and look behind in case he reads the signs
He’s got some (holes in his thinking)
He's got some (holes in his hands)
You’ll often see him red-eyed
Sometimes taking part
He’s got time 
Oh too much time
On his hands
On his hands

The world was his lobster the world was made of yore
We made him promises when the world was young 
Before we got so poor
He had some lines he has forgotten
Lines across his sand
He used to hold a candle (for her)
Until it burned his hand
Oh he’s got time 
Oh too much time
On his hands...

Put your hands together everyone
He's crawling on his hands, yeah
On his hands...


©Phil McWalter June 2018

Soup From A Colander

iTunes Spotify etc

SOUP FROM A COLANDER

!!!HOT NEWS!!! New Valuable Friends vinyl album and CD available! ALSO 2nd Deluxe Vinyl & CD+Booklet "Songs That Mean Something" See links below. 

Composer/Guitarist/Producer

Songs: We find them unpainted in our hands, throw them up into the air of our imagination, turning them in the colours we see after we close our eyes until they feel just right, and sometimes we catch them perfectly, without blemishing them...

My music is on most platforms for your ease.

Wow!!  417K+ plays and 4,000+ valued followers and friends on SC alone, that provide lots of wonderfully helpful comments that fuel the next track! Really big thanks to the SC community for listening and providing such brilliant feedback and support. It means so much to myself and my collaborators - huge thanks.

I work in different styles, as the inspiration, dreams or bubonic plagiarism comes! I use Logic Pro X on Mac.
 
I write, produce and play all my own stuff (unless otherwise stated), play vintage Tokai Strats mainly, PRS Torero, Steinberger, Gretsch G2627T, Classical, Fender Dreadnought, Yamaha and Rickenbacker basses, keyboards and sax. I use Native Instrument's Komplete, Omnisphere 2 and my own organic samples.

I mix on Sennheiser HD 280 Pro's and HD 650's (closed and open headphones) when not making a bigger noise through my Yamaha HS8 studio monitors. I use Focusrite Clarett 2Pre ThunderBolt and Apogee audio interfaces, Neumann & iSK condenser & AKG dynamic mics. 

Hardware: Feb 1978 Marshall JMP 50W Combo, BOO & BOSS stomps

I love collaborating with other musicians and will compose with, play guitar for, produce, arrange, master or even just hum along with other SC musicians. Please ask!

P.S. I am a long standing member of the Performing Rights Society and PPL through my old TV and theatre work as well as my record and publishing deals.