Opened the vault this week for a cover I recorded years ago. All it features is vocals, slide guitar, and ~vibe~, man. I was experimenting with using minimal instrumentation to maximize the emotion out of a song. This particular song came to mind recently because I'm working on some new songs with similar intentions and was recalling my thought process here. Suffice to say, I think it sounds better than I did after I first recorded it. Let me know in the comments down below what you think.

Long Gone Lonesome Blues (Hank Williams Cover)

Jeff Buckley - I Want Someone Badly (Spells and Curses)

Soul Ballad Medley 1957-2006

Digging the vault again to find an old cover/mash-up I did of a Polica song with some Sade in it. You can practically hear the early stages of babyRave's artistic mind begin to take shape. This was my first foray into combining what I like in dance-vocal processing and bringing it into other genres of music. Still working out the kinks.

Cover Art by https://www.instagram.com/georgeevangelista

Polica x Sade - Lay Your Cards x Cherish The Day

Oh my love, is it you tonight? 
Would it be alright if I stayed alone with you? 
To impress your lips, 
I would beg for this. 
Silhouette mistress, you know that I try for you. 

Just to have and to hold, 
How long before I have this much again? 
Just to have and to hold, 
I wanna be with my best friend... 

I just want you to hold me, 
Like I know you can. 

As the sun begins to fade, 
And everything takes on a new shade, 
It's your colors, your oils, and hues, 
That mesmerize me. 
I don't care if it's hard to believe, 
But it's your voice that narrates my dreams, 
Through the darkness that you held me through, 
And all I can't see. 

Just to have and to hold. 
How long before I have this much again? 
Just to have and to hold. 
I wanna be with my best friend... 

I just want you to hold me, 
Because I wanna be, 
Wanna be with you 

And maybe 
Life will be wrong 
And maybe 
It's all because I'm not strong 
And maybe when the lights go down 
And all I need are loving arms 
And yours just don't belong to me 
I will know that I was wrong to leave. 

I just want you to hold me, 
Like I know you can.

_____________________
Full Mixtape available @
http://spellsandcurses.bandcamp.com/album/suadade

SUADADE

Spells and Curses - If Only You Knew (Original)

Written by P.F.C. Martin J Bozym and P.F.C. Ben M Latino (Co. "D" 18th INF.)

A beautiful piece, written by a World War II vet for his future wife, whom he met in England during his stay there. Years later, the vet's grandson discovered the sheet music, almost 20 years after his grandfather's death. Hopefully, it's a decent Mother's Day gift to the grandmother =]

This is my interpretation. I was thinking about singing it, but I felt it was too personal for me to put my voice on.
So instead, I tried going for an old-timey, phasey, somewhat un-syncopated guitar sound, to try to mimic the music of the era, especially with the production style. 
The story behind the song, and it's re-discovery, is just incredible. It was a fun experiment

Please, Be Carefull

FREE DOWNLOAD: https://goo.gl/J5jdwY

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I was rushed with a surge of inspiration this week to record this song when I re-discovered it at random. I guess something about Halloween just fires up my creative juices. The entire process for this track took me 2 days to finish, from arranging to mastering. That’s a personal best!

I’ve got a new found appreciation for Joey Jordison. He was already one of my favorites, but he’s hands down top 5 after breaking down what he did on this track (with the help of additional percussion). It’s not even one of the harder Slipknot songs! I didn’t wanna do an exact copy, so I tried to keep to his spirit, while still having some fun myself.

In addition, I was playing around with some vocal production moves. James Spader was an influence.

Lastly, I’ve been dealing with this terrible cough all month. I figured I’d try screaming it out, but that didn’t work. You don’t have to take my word though, listen for yourself:

Slipknot - Prelude 3.0 (Spells and Curses)

FREE DOWNLOAD: goo.gl/Wg1Lyj

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This took a bit longer to make than the other tracks in the CYAF series, but it was worth it.
I worked hard on having the arrangement take this song to a new zip-code, while still maintaining the same grey skies as the original. I’m pretty proud of this mix too; it’s a step in the right direction for me.
Also to note, it’s the first track that features JD on the bass. We melded our minds together, and his fingers did the rest.

Adele - Hometown Glory (Spells and Curses)

Like most of the CYAF tracks, this cover is an experiment of sorts. It's more or less an indicator of what I'm trying to do with regards to the vocal production for some of the tracks on the upcoming EP (particularly the vocal harmoniessss!). It was also really fun going crazy with the guitar to get some the "out there" sounds you hear on this track (yea, that's not an orchestra sample I got there, tehe!)

Initially this cover was only going to be vocals and guitar. But then it gave me "Little Wing"-vibes and I decided to throw on a mallet instrument too. After that came the guitar solo and all the crazy aural experimentation that comes along with it. Everything sounded great, but then I figured it could use some drums to make it more trap-soul-ish. I didn't even want bass on it to be honest, but after some more experimentation, I figured why not and VOILA!

CYAF 2

Maxwell - Pretty Wings (Spells and Curses)

Like the devil, you’re the worst one
You give me the first taste
There’s beauty on the way down
You could see it post-haste
You don’t have to wonder why
You just gotta let it be
Possibilities, baby

Put a cover on my eyes
Anticipation is crazy
You know it gets better, better, better
I know that you go wild
And you know no one’s coming to save me
So it only gets better, better, better (yea)

I come around for the badness
Stick around for the madness
Front row seats to you
She’s not the kind of girl that you wanna meet
She’s just the kind of girl that you do
And you know it’s nothing serious

She’s here to work, work
She don’t give a damn about you
She’s got a job, her job
She’s got a job to do

Space ships and karma are all I give a fuck about
Streetlights and armour are all I need to make the route
And this is what I’m feeling now
Send me home full of doubt
Follow up with a text saying:
“We only get lost at your discretion,
Alone just you and me.
You’re the only one who understands my nature.
Our way home is off our feet,
So I’ll see you tomorrow, baby.”

I come around for the badness
Stick around for the madness
Front row seats to you
She’s not the kind of girl that you wanna meet
She’s just the kind of girl that you do
And you know it’s nothing serious

Because she’s here to work, work
She don’t give a damn about you
She’s got a job, her job
She’s got a job to do, oh yea

And I guess I never learn
All this time and all this effort, you’d think I like getting burned
But the story on the pages, yea they all remain unturned
But I still don’t give a fuck because I know

She’s here to work, work
She’s got a job to do

Back and forth and back and forth and back and forth and back and forth

Go to work like a hobby
Connect the dots on her body
And it ain’t over yet

Work, work
She don’t give a damn about you
(she don’t give up, she’s got it)
She’s got a job, her job
She’s got a job to do

And I guess I never learn
All this time and all this effort, you’d think I like getting burned
But the story on the pages, yea they all remain unturned
But I still don’t give a fuck because I know

She’s here to work, work
She’s got a job to do



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Sinful Things

LasVegasAngeles

I sing for the once lost love and the lightening footsteps use to leave
I sing for who I know you use to be

It’s a chance in a million
A scar that is brilliant
But someone’s got to believe
I know that you could hear me underneath

So I sing to gods I hope will slowly bring you down
Down to me
For all to watch you float on level ground
Now…

The cracks in the mirror could not be clearer to me
They show me who you are and use to be 
Those cracks in the mirror could not be clearer to see
They show me who you are when you see me

And I see
The gods I hope they fucking bring you down
Down to me
Crash land baby
You know I’d love the sound 
right now

I’ll stay away of memories that still deceive
Of how I wanted you to be

But the cracks in the mirror could not be clearer to me
Show me who you are and use to be
Those cracks in the mirror could not be clearer to see
They show me who you are when you see me

Now I see
The gods I hope they, hope they bring you down
Down to me
Oh I hope you’ll always be around...

(GUITAR SOLO)

Cracks in the mirror, in the mirror
Show me what you are and use to be
Cracks in the mirror, in the mirror
Show me what you are when you see me

Now I see
The gods I hope they… I hope they….
Bring you down to me, down to me
Oh I hope you’ll always be around…

I said show me what you are 
You’re my lucky star
Show me what you are when you see me

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Cracks In The Mirror

Decide what you want from me
Release me from your vicing machine
Won’t you let me go?
Though our futures are not aligned
Are we so helplessly intertwined? oh yea

So far the finger’s pointing right at you baby
It’s too bad we’re letting go
But I don’t know, I don’t know
No no, I said NO, I don’t know, I don’t know, 
No
No

Stand by yourself, by yourself 
You know what it’s like when I align myself to you

Push, pull, falling
Euphoria galore
Too good to be true 

So far the finger’s pointing right at you baby
It’s too bad we’re letting go
But I don’t know, I don’t know
No no, I said NO, I don’t know, I don’t know, 
No
No


Comparisons
Always Comparisons
That come by consequence of who we are
And common sense,
Oh where’s the calm in sense,
Your holy eminence,
Before we restart?

(GUITAR SOLO)

This time I think it’s coming right at you baby
It’s too bad we’re letting go
But I don’t know, NO
I don’t know, NO
No


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Vice Grip

I remember when I met you
Your fourth eye was open
Your words were soft spoken
I remember when I let you
My fever dreams worsened from the arms with the serpent’s mouth

But who am I to scream?
I’d bow at the altar that brought you to me
If you’d let me stay, I would
And surrender to you despite signs from fate
That say 

She’s been wicked for days
Playing all her wicked little games
She’s been wicked for days
And I know it, I know it, I know
Yea I know it, I know it, I know

I’m not afraid
Of love ever since I lost in a sense 
So just make me believe
That our relationship runs off more than denial

I hear the voice of my defeat
You map it out with the stars that nourish me
I give in to the craze
So willingly, to spite my own face

But she weaves all things together
She is the earth after all
She breathes moonbeams and ember
She’s the rise of the fall

She’s been wicked for days
Playing all her wicked little games
She’s been wicked for days
And I know it, I know it, I know
Yea I know it, I know it, I know

[GUITAR SOLO]

She weaves all things together
She is the earth after all
She breathes moonbeams and ember
She’s the rise of the fall

She’s been wicked for days
Playing all her wicked little games
She’s been wicked for days
And I know it, I know it, I know
Yea I know it, I know it, I know
Yea I know it , I know it I know,
No

Yea I know it, I know it, I know
Yea I know it, I know it, I know
I know, I know, I know, no no no 
I know, I know, 
No no no no no no no 
No no no no no no no 

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Wicked For Days

20 thousand miles of air beneath our feet
That’s where both our eyes first came to meet
It’s where you told me you were running from your family
FUCK 'EM

Grounded to the world wanted from a far
Quick to burn your heart for the morning star
Though you’re far from home, I get the feeling you know just what you’re doing

The longer I want her, the more I think that she can tell
I’m lonely but I’ll go 

Through the hell that you put me through
You know, you know, you know I would
You know, you know I would
You know, you know I would

Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
Woooooooooooooooo!

Your word is like a narrow bridge and I’m trying not to be scared
What’s on the other side of this, more lies and eyes to make a vanity fair?

But the longer I want her, the more she keeps on doing it well
I’m lonely but I’ll go 

Through the hell that you put me through
You know, you know, you know I would
You know, you know I would
You know, you know I would

And as for the landslide
That knocked you away and swept you right into my life
It once more came to take you from me
As word made it’s way about the homecoming queen
Who’d return on the day of reckoning
To be given to a man of their choice
But you were down with an American boy

Whoa, whoa-oh-oh, down with an American boy
Whoa, whoa-oh-oh, down with an American boy
Whoa, whoa-oh-oh, down with an American boy 
Uh oh, yea

(GUITAR SOLO)

Through the hell that you put me through
You know, you know, you know I would
You know, you know I would
You know, you know I would
You know, you know I would

Sing my little Helen of Troy
Thank God you were down with an American boy

Whoa, whoa-oh-oh, down with an American boy
Whoa, whoa-oh-oh, down with an American boy
Down with an American boy uh-oh
Yea!


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Through The Hell

The skies reflect off you
The lights follow on queue
But I try not to stare
But it drives me insane
Oh why does July so good you?

Through auburn days and midnights
You walk the same because it feels right
You never know, they never hide
Cinnamon pearl, what’s inside?
What’s inside?
What’s inside of you?
What’s inside?

There’s fire, there’s FIRE
Fireworks on your face
I get high, you get higher
Fire works on your face

Can you feel her?
Or believe in her?
Because I know, no one is there
The girl ain’t home

I’ll drink your face through both my eyes
This is the place we realize the night is yours
And so am I
Cinnamon pearl, what’s inside?
What’s inside?
What’s inside of you?
What’s inside?

There’s fire, there’s FIRE
Fireworks on your face
I get high, you get higher
Fire works on your face
And I swear, I could feel her 
Burning up from my skin 
And that’s why I can’t deny her
Fireworks

What a night for a ride
But what’s inside?

There’s fire, there’s FIRE
Fireworks on your face
I get high, you get higher
Fire works on your face


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Mercedes

I recently had a very important conversation with a close friend of mine about some things I was going through, and it opened my eyes to a perspective that was really helpful. I recorded this song just a few hours later, but I was gonna leave it in the vault. It was only recorded for me to listen to when I needed something to act as my medicine and help me out of a pretty dark place in my head (regarding this particular situation, at least). However it's been really helpful; listening to this recording was balancing me back to normal. I suppose something about hearing my voice say the words was kinda like confronting myself with the truth. No hiding from it this time. It was so helpful for me, that I figured it might be the same for someone in need as well.

Yes that's me breathing heavy, having a hard time getting the lyrics out. Yes those are dissonant chords thrown in to give you an idea about how fucked things can sound/feel in my head. This was just meant to show you what "going through hurtful shit" feels like for me. But I'm surviving, and guess what that means? So can you.

SO CAN YOU. I promise.

Michael Jackson - She's Out Of My Life (Spells and Curses)

The last song I uploaded was one I put into the vault but ultimately decided to release. In the weeks since then, I've combed through a few of the unreleased stuff lying around the vault and found a song that I felt captures where my head's at currently. This is a song I recorded a while ago, but the words still ring true for me at this point in life. I suppose there's a trend happening here...

I think everyone we know (and perhaps ourselves too, if we're being honest) are all going through some deep stuff. Maybe it's really heavy, maybe it's just nagging, but it's ultimately unhealthy if we keep it bottled up. Let's just remember to be kind to ourselves and ask for help when we might otherwise be too spiteful, prideful, or scared to. Let's remember that we are not alone; not on this earth, and certainly not in this life. We are all here, and have each other for a reason.

Hit me up if you need to talk.

Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Tears Of A Clown (Spells and Curses)

It's the most wonderful time of the year! What better way of celebrating than engaging in grand acts of passion towards the very evil doers of your heart? It's like TP'ing someone's house, only there's a lot less to clean up afterwards (or a lot more depending on how you roll). 

Remember children, the key to any kind of criminal achievement is to always have fun and be yourself.

Cruelly Yours,

theRave.

Nina Simone  - I Put A Spell On You (Spells and Curses)

When asked what drives me to create, my answer has always been the same: my anger. Whether leaving toxic situations or being accountable to my flaws, it’s all a process of creation and the drive behind it has always been a pissed off kid angry enough to do something about it.
 
Recently, I’ve been facing a lot of resistance and negativity for just trying to be myself. These past 2 years saw things happen with the sole intention of keeping me from releasing music ever again. I’ve always prided myself on being able to turn the venom of opposition into the basis of my courage. However for this brief period of time, that wasn't the case.
 
This song is important because it’s about when I became vulnerable to that venom again. I forgot how to turn it into fuel; instead allowing it to slow me down, because deep down I felt that's what I deserved. Sometimes drowning is a choice. Thankfully, coming back up can be too.

Album Art: Philipa Craig 

Mixing Engineer: Fabian Ramos Gonzalez

Bewitching Pool

Spells and Curses - Bewitching Pool

Black Sclera (Angry Louis Remix)

This track documents the first time Spells and Curses ever recorded in a professional studio (Eastside Sound Studio), with a 3x Grammy Award Winning Producer (Marc Urselli).

Producer: Marc Urselli

Assistant Producer: Duff Harris

Album Art: Sophie Gavidia

Love That We Make

Despite our past trauma, surviving and making a better life is the ultimate revenge. This music acts as a “spell” to enhance the moment or a “curse” to damn it.

Spells and Curses

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