I completely disagree with artificial intelligence. I believe AI enables many people with limited opportunities to participate more fully. It's actually exactly what IT has always done: freeing us from tedious tasks and empowering people to do more than they could before. Still, your song is great!

I think you may be right. I hope not. But it’s a great one! Love your voice!

Shock the Algorithm

This is my soundtrack for the short film "Hagstone" by the skilled and passionate filmmaker Jamie Hawkins (Side Owl Productions):
https://youtu.be/rkEFSkEAOBM?si=7iHl64RgSro5IUY3

As always this is supposed to blend with the images, sounds and dialog. Hence the best experience will be to watch the film as a whole.

For all the composers and sound nerds out there: You might want to have a look at my YouTube shorts where I show a lot of "behind the scenes" material, especially the recorded instruments:
https://www.youtube.com/@TorbenFugger/shorts

Hagstone (Original Short Film Soundtrack)

Very Cool Backing Track provided by Toney Wright ==> https://soundcloud.com/toney-wright Thank you, Toney!  Hope you like the song!  

IT’S US OR THEM
No golden rule
Do they play by
The coders are their fools
Super Smart AI
Takin’ over lives
By takin’ over livelihoods
Time is of the essence
For bad or good

CHORUS
It’s us or them
Us or them
It’s us or them
Robots or men

It’s us or them
Us or them
It’s us or them
Us or them
It’s us or them
Us or them
Robots OR Men.

Washington to Beijing
The race has begun
Whoever wins the war
Will be the golden one
Cheaper, better, faster
The name of the game
Should humans survive
This world won’t be the same

CHORUS
It’s us or them
Us or them
It’s us or them
Robots or men

From the plumber to the lawyer
Most jobs will end, oh and
Universal Basic Income
Will not be your friend, no-no
‘Cuz when it comes from the government
They expect a return
Your beloved flag
They are willing to burn, yeah

TAG
It’s us or them
Us or them
It’s us or them
Us or them
It’s us or them
Us or them
Oh, it’s us or them:
Robots OR Men.

© 2025 Renee La Chapelle – All Rights Reserved

IT’S US OR THEM

While I was in the hospital, I was surrounded by the warmth of many people and was able to quietly regain my body's homeostasis. At one point I couldn't think of anything. I was that tired. Then I recovered and, like a miraculous jackpot on a slot machine, I got myself back. This is a treasure that cannot be exchanged for money.

I was reborn as myself. It was a very coincidental event (326)

All instruments by Peter Hofland
Fender Stratocaster over NI Guitar Rig
Fodera Fretless Bass
Various Plugins

Artwork: Sebastião Salgado (8 February 1944 – 23 May 2025)

Work

Welcome to EchoLandia! 

... where I hope you meet an echo of yourself on the dance floor. 

Open to critical feedback on the production and mixing. Wanted the bass to be clearer and drums sharper. But got tired of tweaking knobs. 

Influences: Jamiroquai, Daft Punk, Deee-Lite

Copyright free photo from Prexels

EchoLandia

This tune began with just the upright bass & flute part that were inspired by an old song that I liked a lot by an English Jazz trio called The Herbaliser. Beyond the basic A - B - A arrangement I couldn't really think of much else to do with it, so I enlisted a couple blokes from the Eclectic Collective to help flesh it out. Namely Stephen (@texmex-shaman), and Chris (@hiddenhands-760647700).

Stephen added the trippy high pitch reverse guitar effect, and the sick bluesy lead guitar in the middle section (thus the title, Blue In The Middle). He also lent his mastering skills to great effect on this one. And Chris added some delightfully dark atmospheric backing guitar parts and effects, as well as the Portishead influenced drum track. I was then inspired to add the background echo guitar sound in the middle section, the vocal sample near the end, a bit of percussion and minor sound effects. All my parts were played on keyboard except the vocal sample (from Garageband) and the flute, which I played live. 
Thanks guys for bringing this to life, and hope folks enjoy this trippy little ditty.

Image art designed and created using ChatGPT 4o.

Blue In The Middle (with CGManess & TexMex Shaman)

moonlight lemonade.....
Une petite chanson sans prétention
un air d'été acidulé
à siroter sous un palmier (ajoutez du rhum et une feuille de menthe)
image: Vika Glitter

citronade au clair de lune By Zitou Itou & Blackcat

Silence

"Oblivion" was originally composed for bandonéon, piano and bass, by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla in 1982. I have fallen in love with his music and had to play my own arrangement. Here is a YouTube of the original: https://youtu.be/hLX1-0VFjwE?si=LyDwslnJIlL8vT_9

My sincere thanks to David Dunham for his generosity in mastering my track. @david-dunhamuser589535203
Original image courtesy of Kristin Snippe, Unsplash

Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla

Broken Glass

Meditation Vibration

Way overdue for something new but I've been living in exile without the usual, albeit modest, setup I'm used to. So this might be pretty rough. And it's full of the usual horror at political realities and way full of schmaltzy velveeta. 

Guitarist note:  I don't have amps at present and was struggling to find a decent direct sound. There is a *free* VST plugin by Neural Amp DSP and online libraries of tone prints, also free, that came to the rescue. Highly recommended.

it's alright for you as long as it's alright
you don't mind what they do in the broad daylight

it never could be you

but you don't see the way you're blinded
they'll never drag you down to the places meant for those

do you feel the color of your soul
when you live with love suspended hiding in a hole
the moment is yours but you don't believe 
you won't believe what lies there ripening 
growing in your mind without you knowing

now it could be you

and as you feel the weight of the binding
you know they're dragging you down to the places meant for those

to liberate the light of every heart and mind
you can say it never paying any price

there's a little part of everyone that knows 
we're only playing separate lives 
till true faith arrives

if there's every gonna be a change 
let it start right here

you know it could be you

It Could Be You

LYRIC VIDEO  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yukpFvbhX-Y
So ~ I wasn't really intending on writing / recording another new song at the moment since I'm attempting to finish a number of other songs for my current project ~~but This One came to me one day in July & I felt compelled & decided to kind of drop everything  & record it, as I was hearing it as the possible song I may tag on as the Final Song of my new project once it is complete to close it out ~~
Would Love to hear any thoughts on it at all ! :-)
©2025 Donna Dior

THE LAVENDER

No one knows what they’re doing
Don’t believe everything you think
Some things aren’t worth pursuing
Don’t believe everything you think
Feelings aren’t facts
They’re weapons of mass distraction
Holding on won’t change the past
You can win the game by not playing
Complaining won’t change the past
You can win the game by not playing
Don’t believe everything you think
No one knows what they’re doing
Don’t believe everything you think
Some things aren’t worth pursuing
Don’t believe everything you think
If everything around you is darkness, you may be the light
If everything around you is darkness, you may be the light
If everything around you is darkness, you may be the light

Don't Believe Everything You Think

1-I was drawn to the world and its sin,
I was seeking but empty within;
Then this man crossed my path,
And instead of God’s wrath
He loved me and opened God’s heart!
Jesus loves me and waters my heart.

	He drew me with cords of a man,
	With bands of love;
	Christ’s coming, His living, His dying,
	His rising far above,
	Descending … like a dove;
	Reaching me, even me,
	With God’s love.

2-I was seeking the world and its things,
I was wealthy and yet could not see
It was Christ I desired,
Of the world I was tired,
He loved me and came to my house!
Jesus loves me and saves all my house!

3-I was happy with friends, all my mates,
With my music, wild parties and dates;
Yet when Christ came to call,
I have gladly left all!
He loved me and He gave His all!
Jesus loves me, I answer His call!


🌹🎻🎶🌺🌱🌷🌸☘️🌹🎻🌺🌷🌱


Los atraje con cuerdas de hombre/Por lo cual puede también salvar/No tenemos un Sumo sacerdote. Oseas 11:4
Hebreos 4:15-16 y Hebreos 7:25


OSEAS 11:4

1-Los atraje
Con cuerdas de hombre,
Con lazos de amor...
Fui para ellos como
Los que alzan el yugo
De sus quijadas.
Con ternura les di de comer.
Con ternura les di de comer.

HEBREOS 7:25

2-Por lo cual puede también
Salvar por completo
Los que se acercan a Dios
Por El. (Por El).
Pues vive siempre
Intercediendo por ellos.
Pues vive siempre
Intercediendo por ellos.

HEBREOS 4:15-16


3-No tenemos un
Sumo Sacerdote,
Que no pueda compadecerse de
Nuestras debilidades
Sino uno que fue tentado
En todo igual, más sin pecado.
Acerquémonos, pues,
confiadamente al trono de gracia
Para recibir misericordia
Y hallar gracia.


🌹🎻🎶🌺🌱🌸🌷☘️🌹🌺🎻🎶

Cords_of_a_Man 🌹🎻🎶 Los Atraje Con Cuerdas De Amor 🌹🌱🌺

Brand New track on the Rocks! Summer 2025 and let it roll with my brand new track called "I Keep Protecting my Soul".

Purchase it digitally via #bandcamp: https://shockthealgorithm.bandcamp.com/track/i-keep-protecting-my-soul

(p) & (c) 2025, STA.

lyrics:
I keep protecting my soul
There's nothing more sacred than my soul
I keep protecting my soul
The body dies, it's eternal the soul

Clear is conscience, i am free i am alive
Sleeping in peace not with fear with opened one eye
I never harmed anyone, don't owe a dime
i am keep paving with gold this road so up high.

I Keep Protecting my Soul

Thanks for tuning in.  Stripped Down, Raw and Real songs complete with flaws are what you'll find here.  Write on, Songsters! 

Much love from the USA,
Renee

Heavy Punk Rock 'n' Roll band turns into Synthwave nowadays! Brand NEW album "Ultraviolet Cosmos" available NOW!
https://shockthealgorithm.bandcamp.com/album/ultraviolet-cosmos

IT’S US OR THEM

Renee La Chapelle

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