Last year, after being laid off from a job I’d dedicated 12 years of my life to—countless late nights, endless overtime—I finally found myself with something I hadn’t had in a long time: time. Time to reflect, to grieve, to rediscover who I was outside of the grind. In that stillness, I turned to music.

I wrote "Crossroads" in July, fueled by frustration—not just with my own situation, but with the state of the world around me. Rap became the outlet I needed to say the things I couldn’t say out loud, to speak truth where silence used to live. The first version was raw and honest, but I always knew I’d come back to it.

Today, with new perspective and sharper tools, I’ve reimagined "Crossroads"—this time blending my love of fusion genres into something deeper. Gritty lo-fi conscious rap, layered with ambient textures, moody cinematic beats, old-school boom bap rhythm, and haunting atmosphere—this version finally feels like what I was trying to say.

With everything happening in today’s world, especially under the current administration, "Crossroads" feels more relevant than ever. It's a reflection. It's a reckoning. And it's a reminder that even when the lines between right and wrong get blurred, the truth still matters.

Crossroads

“I was inspired by indie pop for this song, which is about moving on, getting back to yourself and reflecting on how far you have come. Life is full of moments and when you are in them those moments might not be so great in hindsight or those terrible moments might be the best thing that ever happened; a complete turn in your life, the making of you. I took inspiration from “Down” by Blink-182 for the chorus. This came together quickly, one of those exciting projects that flows. Thank you for listening.” 

did that even happen?

Have you forgotten about me? 
I kept my heart running while my soul was off its feet and down on its knees
I was praying for rain to set me free 
So set me free from this unease
It’s something that I just can’t believe 

Did that even happen? 
Does the time gone by make sense of it all or is your hell still a fire? 

Do you remember those times?
We felt love deep inside then the waves came crashing
Did that even happen?

A fire, a rebel and a ghost making hell a reality, now history  
A feature in a magazine, a home grown heart burning machine 
Remember to never forget me 

Was it a tall story? 
Fictional history? 
A thing of make believe? 
Was I so naive? 
Was it pain or love?
Did that really happen to me? 

© heart house and the new kindness. 2025

Written, performed, recorded, produced and mixed by heart house and the new kindness. 
Mastered by DOLBY

did that even happen?

/в небе нет сомнений - и не каждый полёт нуждается в карте/
I will make a paper airplane
and send it to you
along the route of a migratory bird
from the sea - point A - to your point B

white origami sheets
folded into
sharp corners
so as not to get lost in the clouds
and checkered sheets - so as not to get wet..

the maps lied to us with a dotted line
if we listened to their lies -
then we would fold our wings and fall
thinking that we will not find the truth..

where the airfield does not accept
a paper airplane will fly
and its radars will not catch
all the dashing air defense - take off!..

....
I will make a paper airplane
and send it to you
along the route of a migratory bird
from the sea - point A - to your point B

***

сделаю бумажный самолётик
и пускай он полетит к тебе
по маршруту птицы перелётной 
с моря — пункта А  - в твой Б

оригами белые страницы
сложные и 
острые углы 
чтобы в облаках не заблудиться
и не мокли в клеточку листы..

карты нам пунктирами наврали
если бы мы слушали их ложь -
то сложили крылья и упали
думая что правды не найдёшь..

где аэродром не принимает
долетит бумажный самолётик
и его радары не поймают
все лихие ПВО —  в пролёте!..

....
сделаю бумажный самолётик
и пускай он полетит к тебе
по маршруту птицы перелётной 
с моря — пункта А  - в твой Б

to you

#indie #folk #pop #alternative #electro #feelgood

A Forest ( feat Aimee Mann )

candy

Escape of pain

Oh, Summer Sun

With this music I would like to caress the mind and hearing of you who are listening!

Con questa musica vorrei accarezzare la mente e l’udito di te che ascolti!

Piccole Amenità (Small Amenities)

City lights are blowin'
Wind is kinda howlin' tonight
Street dogs are prowlin'
While you hold me tight

Is it me or is it gettin' hot in here
Tell me now I need to know my dear

Supersonic heart beat
Goes boom boom boom 
Supersonic heart beat
All because of you

Supersonic Heartbeat .mp3

My brain's a blender spinning fast 
Words escape me can't make them last 
A puzzle missing all the clues 
My pen's a liar spilling blues  

Lines go backward upside down 
Sentences wear a crooked crown  

Oh what a shambles what a scene 
Letters dance where they've never been 
A tangled tune a scribbled guess 
This dyslexic heart is a beautiful mess

Jumbled up .mp3

Not autobiographical.
I found a list of themes for song writers on the internet; I was at a loose end. And this is one theme which I had utilised previously but thought I could tackle again in a different way. Sometimes a good idea to  leave the  comfort zone for a little R&R. Hope you like it.

Since I Lost You

Xak Stahl: Alchemist of Sound, Architect of Emotion

Xak Stahl is a genre-blurring music artist, sonic storyteller, and relentless experimenter. Every track he creates is a new world—a kaleidoscope of indie folk, alt-pop, electronica, and global flavors—infused with raw emotion and boundless curiosity. Xak’s music isn’t just heard; it’s felt.

From Shadow to Spotlight

For Xak, music is metamorphosis. His journey began in the shadows, transmuting heartbreak and struggle into songs that glow with hope. Early anthems like “Neon Dreams” and “Rising Through the Darkness” invite listeners to find their own light. His newest project, Major Arcana, channels the mysteries of the Tarot—each song an archetype, each lyric a step along the path from the Fool’s first leap to the wisdom of The World.

More Than Music: A Multisensory Universe

But Xak isn’t confined to sound. As a visual artist and writer, he crafts immersive stories that spill across genres and languages—sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, always honest. Whether he’s conjuring lush soundscapes, weaving bilingual lyrics, or creating striking visuals, Xak’s art dares you to feel deeper and dream wilder.

An Invitation to Transformation

Join Xak Stahl on a sonic odyssey that blurs borders—between genres, between artforms, between you and the music. Each release is an invitation to explore, to heal, to become. For Xak, every song is a spell, every album a universe. The only question is: are you ready to step inside?

Crossroads

XAK STAHL

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