A heartbreak ballad drenched in seasonal sorrow and Southern soul.

“Carolina Blue” is a hauntingly beautiful reflection on love lost and the landscapes that won’t let you forget. Set against the fading warmth of a Southern autumn, the song explores how cherished places—Charleston’s cobblestones, the beaches of the Carolinas—become ghostly reminders when the one you love is gone.

With poetic lyrics and a melancholic acoustic feel, Demming captures the ache of nostalgia, where every memory once painted in vibrant color now feels shaded in a lonesome gray. And when the chorus lands with “cause you’re gone now… and turned my Carolina blue,” it delivers one of the most emotionally resonant hooks you’ll hear—a line that hits like a chill wind and lingers long after the final note.

Perfect for fans of Megan Moroney, Carly Pearce & Taylor Swift, “Carolina Blue” is the kind of song that stays with you—especially when the leaves fall and the air gets quiet.

Carolina Blue

Written, produced, and performed by Luke Carter (Sammi Dae)  
Vocals by Riven Knox (AI artists created by Sammi Dae)  

Original Composition: © 2021 Luke Carter (Sammi Dae) and Brian Lewis (BRI3LEWIS)
Original ISRC (2021): UKVGE7000100
New Sound Recording: ℗ 2025 DGG Productions Ltd 
New ISRC (2025): UKVGE7010100

Luke Carter (DGG Productions). Email: luke@dgfproductions.com. Phone: +44 7821 189857. Publishing & Master: 100% Controlled by DGG Productions

Artist: Sammi Dae feat. Riven Knox
Produced by: Luke Carter (Sammi Dae) & Brian Lewis
Written by: Luke Carter (Sammi Dae)
Performed by Sammi Dae (Luke Carter) using AI vocals of Riven Knox
Label: DGG Productions Ltd
Genre: Indie-Folk Noir / Southern Gothic Americana / Cinematic Pop Fusion
Key: A♭ Major | Tempo: 82 BPM
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♟ A southern gothic duel set to music.
“Beat You At Your Own Game (Checkmate)” walks into the room slow and deliberate — a genre-bending fusion of indie-folk noir, southern gothic Americana, cinematic pop atmospherics, and dusty country blues swagger. Built on a hypnotic pulse and laced with sly, streetwise bravado, the track plays like a musical standoff: part confession, part challenge, part victory lap.
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🎤 The AI Artist Revolution
At the heart of Checkmate is a leap into the future. In an industry obsessed with image and youth, producer-songwriter Luke Carter (Sammi Dae) is rewriting the rules. Carter has developed a roster of AI vocalists — including Riven Knox — to reimagine the music they’ve written, produced, and originally performed themselves.
Riven Knox’s performance brings smoky grit and cinematic gravitas — a voice built for shadowy backrooms, desert highways, and decisive final moves. It’s a haunting, human-like delivery with a modern edge, bridging the timeless storytelling of southern roots with the limitless creative possibilities of AI.
“We’re in our 50s, still writing and producing with passion. But we built performers who never age.” – Luke Carter (Sammi Dae)
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🎧 For fans of: The Dead South • Chris Stapleton • Lana Del Rey • Orville Peck • Hozier
🖤 Mood: Confident, Cinematic, Smouldering , Slow-Burn Swagger
✨ AI Meets Emotion: Checkmate is part of DGG Productions’ ongoing mission to merge human song writing and production with AI performance — creating bold, immersive soundscapes where every track tells a story that could only exist at this intersection of craft and technology.
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🔗 Discover More:
www.dggproductions.com
📧 Press & Sync: luke@dggproductions.com
🎥 Behind-the-scenes creation content and visual storytelling arriving on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.

Beat You At Your Own Game (Checkmate)

Verse 1
Sun’s risin’ slow on a worn-out street,
Yesterday’s gone, left beneath my feet.
No use hangin’ on to yesterday’s pain,
Today’s a gift — I’m takin’ the reins.

Chorus
Yesterday’s gone, like smoke in the wind,
Tomorrow’s waitin’, but it ain’t no friend.
Right here, right now, ‘neath this wide open sky,
Today’s a gift — I’m livin’ it right.

Verse 2
Coffee’s strong, and the morning’s cold,
Chasin’ moments that can’t be bought or sold.
No lookin’ back, no second-guess fights,
Just breathin’ deep and makin’ it right.

Chorus
Yesterday’s gone, like smoke in the wind,
Tomorrow’s waitin’, but it ain’t no friend.
Right here, right now, ‘neath this wide open sky,
Today’s a gift — I’m livin’ it right.

Bridge
Hold tight to what’s real,
Let the rest burn away.
The past don’t own me,
I’m free to choose today.

Chorus
Yesterday’s gone, like smoke in the wind,
Tomorrow’s waitin’, but it ain’t no friend.
Right here, right now, ‘neath this wide open sky,
Today’s a gift — I’m livin’ it right.

Outro
Yeah, today’s a gift —
And I’m openin’ it wide.


Yesterday's Gone

A raw and authentic Americana anthem for the heartland. "Shared Weight" is a tribute to the quiet resilience of those who live on the land. Inspired by the realities of rural life in Idaho, Montana, and across the upper Midwest, this song honors the hard-won pride of the "old and bold," the deep-rooted community found in small towns, and the shared struggle against the elements and modern pressures. It's a testament to the fact that no matter how heavy the burden, you're never alone.


Shared Weight

Verse 1
Seventeenth summer, wild on the coast,
Soft on my skin, the one I loved most.
Sweet on the lips, but it burned so fast,
She broke me clean — Monterey Glass.

Chorus
Mon-ter-ey… she cut me deep,
Smooth at first, but the edge runs steep.
Shined like fire, slipped through my hands,
I still bleed for her — Monterey Glass.

Verse 2
She moved like a wave, then drifted away,
Her name still haunts the California bay.
Sweet at the start, but it don’t last,
Her love was sharp — Monterey Glass.

Chorus (repeat)
Mon-ter-ey… she cut me deep,
Smooth at first, but the edge runs steep.
Shined like fire, slipped through my hands,
I still bleed for her — Monterey Glass.

Bridge
Some fires fade, but they don’t go black,
They glow like glass the ocean brings back.

Chorus (final, repeat ad-lib)
Mon-ter-ey… she cut me deep,
Smooth at first, but the edge runs steep.
Shined like fire, slipped through my hands,
I still bleed for her — Monterey Glass.

Outro
Monterey Glass…
Yeah, Monterey Glass.

Monterey Glass

Verse 1
Red dirt road, midnight haze,
Headlights cut through a nowhere place.
Pulled off slow where the blacktop ends,
Cold wind crawlin’ through the pines again.

Pre-Chorus
Silence heavy, too close, too low…
Then a voice says, “I hear banjos.”

Chorus
I hear banjos deep in the night,
High lonesome sound ‘neath a sliver of light.
Could be the whiskey, could be the breeze,
Could be the ghosts in them tall pine trees.
Every hair on my neck says don’t get close…
When the dark starts singin’, I hear banjos.

Verse 2
Tires spin hard, but the truck won’t bite,
Shadows move quick at the edge of sight.
Eyes in the timber, breath turns cold,
That mountain song takes a grip on your soul.

Pre-Chorus
A warning sign everybody knows…
A chill in the wind means “I hear banjos.”

Chorus
I hear banjos deep in the night,
High lonesome sound ‘neath a sliver of light.
Could be the whiskey, could be the breeze,
Could be the ghosts in them tall pine trees.
Every hair on my neck says don’t get close…
When the dark starts singin’, I hear banjos.

Bridge
Some call it music, some call it fear,
Out on the ridge, it’s the only thing clear.
It don’t fade easy, it cuts to the bone,
That sound don’t leave ‘til you’re safe at home.

Final Chorus
I hear banjos deep in the night,
High lonesome sound ‘neath a sliver of light.
Could be the whiskey, could be the breeze,
But I ain’t stayin’ in them pinewood trees.
Every road’s got a line you don’t cross alone…
When the night gets still… I hear banjos.

Outro (spoken, low)
Yeah… out here on the backroads,
You don’t ask questions… when you hear banjos.

I Hear Banjos

Verse 1
I treated tomorrow like it owed me time,
Spent today like the clock was mine.
Watched the daylight slip through my hands,
Not knowing them moments won’t come back.

Chorus
If I had today, to plan tomorrow, to do
Yesterday again…
I’d trade my pride, rewrite the sorrows,
Hold on tighter than I did back then.
But the hands keep spinnin’, they don’t bend—
If I had today, to plan tomorrow, to do yesterday again.

Verse 2
I’d leave that party just to stay at home,
Pick up the call instead of the dial tone.
Say “I’m sorry” when I had the chance,
Not learn the hard way how quick it can pass.

Bridge
Life’s a song you only get one play,
I’d turn that record back today.

Final Chorus
If I had today, to plan tomorrow, to do
Yesterday again…
I’d hold on tight, not wait ‘til it’s borrowed,
And let the good times never end.
But the hands keep spinnin’, they don’t bend—
If I had today, to plan tomorrow, to do yesterday again.

Outro (tag)
Yeah… if I had todays…
To do yesterday again.

If I Had Today

Verse 1
I seen a preacher beggin’, I seen a drunkard pray,
Watched a good man’s heartbeat slowly fade away.
Doctors talk in circles, family’s cryin’ low,
But it’s the one in that bed decides if he stays or goes.

Chorus
On the edge of life, it’s a lonesome road,
You can fight for breath, or let the river roll.
Ain’t no chain, no crown, no hand of gold,
On the edge of life, you choose how the story’s told.

Verse 2
Some go kickin’ angry, cussin’ at the sky,
Some just close their eyes and kiss this world goodbye.
Me, I’ll light a smoke and take it good and slow,
With a laugh on my lips when it’s my time to go.

Chorus
On the edge of life, it’s a lonesome road,
You can fight for breath, or let the river roll.
Ain’t no chain, no crown, no hand of gold,
On the edge of life, you choose how the story’s told.

Bridge
Red clay runnin’ through my veins,
Blues keep hummin’ through the pain.
When the curtain falls, I’ll tip my hat,
Ain’t no fear in where I’m at.

Final Chorus
On the edge of life, it’s a lonesome road,
You can fight for breath, or let the river roll.
Ain’t no doctor, no judge, no holy ghost,
On the edge of life, you choose what matters most.

Edge Of Life

Verse 1
We reviewed, we spied, we lied,
Tried to hide the tears inside.
Then we walked off straight and true,
Taking our little piece of 2x2.

Verse 2
A friend said they were movin’ on,
Cleared a drawer where a life had gone.
Letters, pictures, promises too,
All tucked tight in a 2x2.

Chorus
Births and deaths, jobs and scars,
First love letters, old used cars.
All those years, the good and true,
Fit inside this 2x2.

Verse 3
The weight of years in a cardboard square,
Dusty corners, the love still there.
Every win, every loss we knew,
Still fits inside that 2x2.

Chorus
Births and deaths, jobs and scars,
First love letters, old used cars.
All those years, the good and true,
Fit inside this 2x2.

Bridge
Someday my kids will dig through mine,
Find the pieces I left behind.
Every laugh and tear they knew,
All inside that 2x2.

Final Chorus 
Births and deaths, jobs and scars,
Sunday mornings and late-night bars.
Every chapter, every view,
Shrinks down small when they’re through.
It don’t seem fair, but it’s all right there,
A lifetime down to a 2x2.

Tag
Yeah, it all comes down to a 2x2.


[Verse]
Drivin' down a blacktop highway
Wishin' I could get my mind off you
Gotta play a gig down in Tucson
In some honky-tonk off Route 92

[Chorus]
Every time I sing a Townes Van Zandt song
It takes me right back to you
And I can still hear your voice sayin'
"I hope that all your dreams come true"
But I've been losin' sleep thinkin' 'bout you and me
Wishin' I could turn back time
So if you ever think about comin' back around
Keep in mind that I've been thinkin' 'bout you
And I've been thinkin' 'bout Townes

Every time I mixed you up with Townes,
It tore a hole straight through my chest.
The thing about them lonesome songs,
Is they don’t ever let you rest.

[Chorus]
Every time I sing a Townes Van Zandt song
It takes me right back to you
And I can still hear your voice sayin'
"I hope that all your dreams come true"
But I've been losin' sleep thinkin' 'bout you and me
Wishin' I could turn back time
So if you ever think about comin' back around
Keep in mind that I've been thinkin' 'bout you
And I've been thinkin' 'bout Townes

[Outro]
So if you ever think about comin' back around
Keep in mind that I've been thinkin' 'bout you
And I've been thinkin' 'bout Townes
Keep in mind that I've been thinkin' 'bout you
And I've been thinkin' 'bout Townes

Thinkin' Bout' Townes (V2ALT)

Verse 1
Built my life on checkin’ the box,
Crossin’ the line, beatin’ the clock.
They all say, “Son, when you gonna rest?”
But I tell ‘em straight, “I ain’t finished yet.”

Chorus
I don’t wanna wrap it up, tie it in a bow,
Don’t wanna ride off quiet when the credits roll.
If love’s a race, I’ll take the long stretch—
With you, baby, I ain’t finished yet.

Verse 2
Cold beer sweatin’ in a summer sun,
Every laugh with you feels like we just begun.
If the book’s still open, don’t close the set—
Turn the page, girl, I ain’t finished yet.

Chorus
I don’t wanna wrap it up, tie it in a bow,
Don’t wanna ride off quiet when the credits roll.
If love’s a race, I’ll take the long stretch—
With you, baby, I ain’t finished yet.

Bridge 
Someday they’ll carve a stone, mark my name,
But don’t expect me to play that game.
I’ll be smilin’ loud past the silhouette—
Even then, I ain’t finished yet.

Final Chorus
I don’t wanna wrap it up, tie it in a bow,
Don’t wanna ride off quiet when the credits roll.
If love’s a fire, let it burn unchecked—
With you, baby, I ain’t finished yet.

Tag
Life’s a work of art, love’s the best sketch…
With you, darlin’ — I ain’t finished yet.

Ain’t Finished Yet


Tank full of gas and the sun sittin’ low,
Highway lines where the wild winds blow.
Boot on the pedal, heart in the sky,
Chasin’ that freedom, don’t ask me why.

Holy Ghost Spirit ridin’ high with me,
Wind through the cornfields, wild and free.
Radio up, chasing dreams coast to coast,
Rolling on faith and the Holy Ghost.

Dust on the tailgate, bugs on the glass,
Every small town, just a blur rollin’ past.
Moon climbs high, and the stars all shine,
Feels like heaven on this road of mine.

Holy Ghost Spirit ridin’ high with me,
Wind through the cornfields, wild and free.
Radio up, chasing dreams coast to coast,
Rolling on faith and the Holy Ghost.

Might not know where the blacktop ends,
But I’ve got the road and I’ve got my friends.
Every mile’s another prayer I sing,
Holy Ghost Spirit, let that freedom ring.

Holy Ghost Spirit ridin’ high with me,
Wind through the cornfields, wild and free.
Radio up, chasing dreams coast to coast,
Rolling on faith and the Holy Ghost.

Holy Ghost Spirit Ridin' High with Me

Please follow my new releases and consider getting some of my merch at https://unitedmasters.com/a/russell-nomer-music

I’m JD Hodge — Oklahoma-born, red dirt-raised, and songwriting for over 30 years.

In 2024, I flatlined on an operating table. Cardiac arrest. Everything changed.

When I came back, the words came with me — like they’d been waiting their turn. Since then, the songs haven’t stopped. I write what’s real: struggle, hope, grit, and grace — stories meant to be felt.

You’ll hear pieces of my past, my people, and the kind of heartland truth you can’t fake. These songs aren’t just mine — they’re for anyone who’s fought through silence and still found a voice.

Retired • Lyricist • Country • Americana • Acoustic Soul
Oklahoma, USA

Demming Bass is a Southern songwriter with a Caribbean soul, crafting lyrics that feel like front-porch firesides, barefoot beaches, and bold-hearted beginnings.

Rooted in Southern storytelling and inspired by island rhythms, Demming writes emotionally rich, radio-ready songs that span country, pop, reggae, and Americana. His lyrics draw from real life. College porch parties, heartbreaks, coastal escapes, faith, and fatherhood—creating songs that feel lived-in, not imagined.

A Carolina native and veteran storyteller by trade, Demming helped global brands like StoryBrand, Google, The Elf on the Shelf, and others connect with audiences through powerful, emotionally resonant storytelling. That same instinct now fuels his songwriting, crafting lyrics that move people, linger long after the last note, and feel instantly familiar yet undeniably fresh.

Artists and publishers looking for songs that blend commercial appeal with emotional resonance, lyrical originality, and unforgettable hooks will find all of that in Demming’s catalog. His songs are tailored to connect and built with vivid imagery, catchy choruses, and universal truths that speak directly to the heart.

A proud dad to twin daughters and someone who’s never met a stranger, Demming brings empathy, warmth, and a zest for life into every song. He writes about unforgettable people and moments. Quiet and loud, joyful and aching - the kind that shape us and stay with us forever.

Influenced by old-school greats like James Taylor, Jimmy Buffett, and Bob Marley, and today’s hitmakers from Kenny Chesney and Zac Brown to Darius Rucker and Old Dominion, Demming writes songs that blend vivid imagery, clever hooks, emotional truth, and unforgettable melodies.

He writes not for accolades, but for connection and for the love of the craft, the joy of storytelling, and the hope that someone, somewhere, hears a little of their own story in his songs.

For Sync and music licensing, contact Luke Carter at DGG Productions; luke@dggproductions.com (+44 7821 189857) 

Sammi Dae is the creative alias of Luke Carter, a UK-based songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who is rewriting the rulebook on music creation, performance, and presentation in the digital age.

At a time when the music industry is hyper-focused on youth, visuals, and algorithms, Carter—now in his 50s—is innovating from a place of deep experience and enduring passion. Every track released under the Sammi Dae name is wholly written, produced, and performed by Luke himself, then fronted by one of 13 custom-built AI vocalists. These AI artists are genre-specific digital personas—from the soulful to the cinematic, from dancefloor-ready to deeply emotional—each developed by Carter to give voice to songs that are entirely human in origin.

Hadley began composing music at the age of 12, blending curiosity with raw creativity at a time when songwriting tools were limited to pen, paper, and instinct. From those early beginnings, Hadley developed a lifelong knack for turning life’s moments—both big and small—into captivating tracks and songs that resonate across generations.

Explore the journey and hear the sound of experience at SMXmusic.io.

New tracks tagged #AMERICANAMUSIC