A song for my brother.

My musical journey truly began back in the year 2000, when I started 8th grade at a brand new school because my family had just moved. In my homeroom class, I started talking to the kid behind me because we both liked to draw DragonBall Z characters. That was the day I met my brother, Jarrod.

We became best friends, and he had started taking guitar lessons, so naturally, I wanted to play guitar too.  We didn't stick with the lessons very long, but we spent all of our time learning how to play our favorite songs in his garage, and the rest is history. We've been best friends ever since, and have played music together in a variety of projects together over the years, and I owe all of musical talent to him because I always thought he was a better singer and guitar player, and I was trying to keep up.

I wanted this track to be reminiscent of our days playing eclectic hard rock like we did in the band A Life Among Ghosts. I also wanted my brother to be there along side me for the ride, and Jarrod was gracious enough to offer his voice and guitar solo.

I love you, brother.  We turned ourselves around; that's what it's all about.

Special thanks to Rob Dessimoz and Nate Burns for their contributions as well.  Don't worry, I'm gonna write a love song for each of you too ; )

Halfway Down feat. Jarrod Brown

A cover of Bruises by Lewis Capaldi featuring Teresa Zelnis, a good friend and colleague.

This is the first cover that I've recorded in the studio rather than simply performing live. I was somewhat familiar with this song, but had only heard Lewis Capaldi on the radio. This is the first of many tracks to come that will involve Teresa as we works on her own original songs, and this is a nice way to dip her toe in (pun intended, both in regards to the lyrics of this track, and that we both work around pools).

This song took me back to a place where many of us have been, where someone or something you love takes root so deep into your psyche particularly when you are young and this may be the first time you experiencing those types of feelings on such a grand scale. The kind of things that is buried down so deep in your subconscious, that despite feeling like the wounds have long been healed, you wake up in a cold sweat after you've just experienced the most vivid and heart-wrenching dream, over a decade later and you think to yourself, "what the f**k was that?" My own life-long journey of companionship has had its share of twists and turns over the years. I believe I have found the part of that journey where I won't have to find myself having to go on alone.

Bruises (Cover) feat. Teresa Zelnis

Original works by Schmidt are eclectic, yet thoughtful, alternative pop/rock. Schmidt also performs popular music covers, both current and classic, kept fresh and unique with looping beats and guitar licks alongside harmonizing voices.

Halfway Down feat. Jarrod Brown

Schmidt

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