Remix by @scratchcard_glory

Check out the original at https://soundcloud.com/brianvaughn/you-know-me-better

Brian Vaughn - You Know Me Better (Scratchcard Glory Remix)

Music and lyrics by Brian Vaughn
Photo by Linmiao Xu (unsplash.com/@linrock)

---

Not big enough for both of us.

Brooklyn sidewalk
No-snow sky fall
I thought I made a mistake
Memory driving
Mind on auto

On a walk to Fuzhou town
My mind replays our last conversation
Didn't mean to let you down.
I wish it could have gone some other way.

But I think I said what I had to say.
And now what do I do about it?
Now what do I do?

I guess I'll sit with the feelings instead of running from myself.
I'll try to stick with the feelings.
Yeah, I'll sit with the feelings.
This time I won't run.
I'll try to stick with the feelings.
I will ride it out, forever.

Sit With the Feelings

My Brother

So Much Brighter

To the bone, our souls worn down
Crowded out, from devilled half-truth sounds
Found clarity, such a commodity
These days it won't stop

And it's so, damn hard which truth to know
Polarity, paid with morality
These days we can't stop

Woah, fire in our veins tonight, set us alight 
Woah, we defy and we're resolute
So show me your hands

Yeah, but whose direction?
Yeah, but whose direction?

Fired up, our blades drawn to disrupt
Barbarity, feign solidarity
These days I can't stop

Woah, fire in our veins tonight, set us alight 
Woah, we defy and we're resolute
So show me your hands
 
Yeah, but whose direction?
Yeah, but whose direction?

Slow down, and wash this all away
Lay down, stay down
BACK DOWN
BACK DOWN 
BACK THE FUCK 
Down

Yeah, come take
Come take the knee
Come take a knee
Come take the knee

Woah, fire in my veins tonight, set me alight 
Woah, I defy and I'm resolute
So show me your hands

Ready to tear this fucking roof off
But it's just treachery

Broken Compass

I have mixed feelings about the role AI will have to play in the future of music. 

On one hand, I've admired and idolised so many artists over the years for their creative process, and ability to tap into aspects of the human experience which resonate with people. It's a great shame to see that starting to become trivialised, to the point where a few lines of 'prompt' can create a studio quality song instantaneously.

On the other hand, a tool that helps artists bring ideas to life at a level of quality that they never could have achieved otherwise, opens up a world of exciting creative possibilities.

I hope that the artform, and artists I love, can find a way to continue bringing something special to the human experience through the music they create; even if the form of that looks different in the future.

For myself, I've found 'complete song' generative AI services like Suno, to be an interesting novelty, but creatively very unfulfilling. If anything, it's disheartening to hear an algorithm, with minimal input, produce something of better quality than a song I've poured hours of my time and soul into.

However, I've been experimenting with an AI tool that allows me to retain all creative control and influence, whilst enabling me to create parts I never could have before. 

This tool, (ACE studio - not sponsored btw!), generates vocal performances from lyrics, vocal melodies, and harmonies that I compose for it. I can even tweak various characteristics of the performance to fully control what's being produced, as well as design a unique tone for the 
voice in a similar way to how I do for a regular synthesiser or guitar.

To me, this feels far more personal, creative, skilful, and fulfilling than finding a royalty-free vocal sample to include on a track, or generating a full song from a few lines of text.

My latest track, Bittersweet, is my first attempt using this technique. The female vocal performance has been synthesised by AI, but the words, vocal melodies, and vocal harmonies have all been hand-crafted by me. There's even some of my own vocals in there. 

Let me know what you think!

Lyrics:

Smiling cheek to cheek 
All dressed in green
Only twenty three
A few drinks deep
A tired picture to remind
A slice of life now left behind
Late nights, great sights
On a patchwork collage of memories
For our fading identities

Push and pull into the frame
Pictures from the weekend
But only the same space remains
Layer upon layer
Of moments we shared

Years go by, we drift away
Like ships caught in the waves
Even though I could reach out
Could we even find the space in our lives now
To set sail together, again anyhow?

Push and pull into the frame
Pictures from the weekend
But only the same space remains
Layer upon layer
Of moments we shared

Bittersweet

Brian Vaughn and I first collaborated on a track called 'Sakura' some four years ago now. Recently we decided we'd like to embark on some more collaborations (perhaps with a slightly rockier vibe!), and we're going to do this under the brand 'Let This Rain'.

I'd originally intended Let This Rain to be a solo side-project for some heavier stuff. (I put out a track called 'Broken Compass' which features some experiments with aggressive vocals - make of those what you will!).

I'm very excited to have Brian on board, as I think together we're going to be able to really bring the vision to life, to a level I could never manage on my own.

This is our first track for the project: Split. 

Thanks to https://www.instagram.com/sandroid_dreams/ (Sander) for the cover picture.

Lyrics:

You ran me down
And I tried to say that I was losing myself
When I leaned in, you pulled away

But you never said anything
And I kept hoping you would change
And we could be a little better

I thought I was alright until I saw your face
And then I fell

The moment we detached
We were both flung so far away that I forgot your face

Breathe in, breathe out

I'm on fire inside
Scratch out my eyes
Turn off the lights and crawl away
I thought I was alright until I saw your face
Just once and then I fell apart
Like an unloved child, afraid of a touch
Fuck this distance between us
I hate what it's done

All I want to know is
When did you know it?
When did you know?
Where did you go?

I'm on fire inside
Scratch out my eyes
Turn off the lights and crawl away
I thought I was alright but then I saw your face
Just once, and then I fell apart
Like an unloved child, afraid of it
Fuck this distance between us
I hate what it's done

Can you see the end?

Split

I've been sat on the instrumental for this track since I wrote it back in 2020! I gave it the working title 'Camel', since it was inspired by some CamelPhat tracks I was listening to a lot at the time. I could never find quite the right vocals for it, but recently I dug it out again and forced myself to finish it off.

It's a slightly satirical dig at the superficial nature of most EDM, but I don't go too hard; lest I end up a complete hypocrite. And besides, who doesn't love a superficial banger from time to time!

Bonus points if anyone can pick out the full-blooded scream I kept in low in the mix somewhere, ha.

Credit once again to https://www.instagram.com/sandroid_dreams for use of his delightful neon tomato photo.

Lyrics:

We heard all your songs,
They say "dance till we drop"
Four to the floor, no chords
Dance, while we pop
Keep the vibe
Stick to the right tempo
The beat will reach your feet
But can it reach your soul? Dance

We heard all your songs,
They say "dance till we drop"
Four to the floor, no chords
Dance, while we pop
Keep the vibe
Stick to the right tempo
The beat will reach your feet
But can it reach your soul?

Fall and just melt away
Breathe life into me
Right on through me
One more day 

We heard all your songs,
They say "put your hands up"
Led to the door, we roar
When, the bass drops
Smoke machines
Disguise our plastic dreams
This night could change your life
What does that even mean?

Fall and just melt away
Breathe life into me
Right on through me
One more day 
Fall and just melt, just melt away
Breathe life into me
Right on through me
I'm okay

Dance. Dance. While we pop
Dance. Right tempo, while we pop
Dance. Right tempo, while we pop
Dance. 

Fall and just melt away
Breathe life into me
Right on through me
One more day 
Fall and just melt away
Breathe life into me
Right on through me
And renew me
I'm okay

Plastic Dreams

Music and lyrics by Brian Vaughn
Photo by Monica Gozalo

At the moment i'm an airplane
Like the kid I used to be
And this feeling like an old friend slips his hand into my hand
And then we're flying

I thought it was a memory
The warm sun on my face
And I wish you were here, so maybe you are
And maybe I can be the shape
The shape your light illuminates as it shines on me

Sometimes in my mind, I still pray
But I don't know why
I just say, "God"
And then the words don't come
They don't come at all

Like an old friend who lives too far away
I think a lot about you and I wonder

Airplane

Guitar, lyrics, and vocals by Brian Vaughn
Percussion by Aaron Sharpes
Bass guitar by Karl Ridgeway
Photo of San Francisco by Casey Horner

"Fear"

Out of fear, she was holding on
And I saw it for what it was only because I'd been there

What if the best is behind us and by hoping for better we ruin what we have?
Sometimes I feel too old
I spend most of the time in the past
And it adds up

The last time that I felt alive, I was with you
Now I just kind of get by
The city streets after dark
And a warmth that came from you that lit my heart
I've played it over time after time

Feed me lies and I'll be fine
Stream of conscious
Tell me what's been on your mind
And I'll read in between the lines

I can remember a time when I knew
The song I should sing is about you
Staying up late at night to read the words that I hoped you would write
but you never do

Fear

Music and lyrics by Brian Vaughn
Photo by Paweł Czerwiński

When do you say it
And how do you know
And where does the time go
Tonight, while I sit inside
You're on the opposite coast

Do you think that in some alternate line we never got this close

Would that make this all worth while
Do you think we could be alright

You ask the questions and I try not to hide
Because I promised I would try

Would that make this all worth while
Do you think we could be alright
Given all our insecurities
If there's a path ahead
I'll try

Alternate Line

Bristol, UK based musician, producer, & composer

https://linktr.ee/ScratchcardGlory

Bittersweet

Scratchcard Glory

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