"Five Forbidden Seconds of You" is a sophisticated contemporary ballad that weaves together soul, jazz, and orchestral elements into a tapestry of human connection. Through the sultry vocals, the song explores those suspended moments when time seems to pause and ordinary spaces become sacred. The composition moves from intimate piano and voice to rich orchestral arrangements, complemented by smooth jazz harmonies and soulful expression. The interplay between vocal interpretation and instrumental textures creates a cinematic journey through the landscape of unspoken possibilities.
This Valentine's Day release celebrates love's mysterious ways of finding us in the most unexpected moments, turning brief encounters into eternal echoes in our hearts.

Craving your glance, my heart's in chains,
in my veins, your image sustains,
never fading, like a spear in my sight,
deep within thoughts, day turns to night.  

Your fleeting presence, my daily thrill,  
come close, yet far, a forbidden thrill,
only in passing, our worlds briefly touch,
quietly sparking, a flame so much,

Under your gaze, I burn like fire,
intense, your smile, my heart's desire,
a volcano's heat, in your eyes, my love's dire.

Five forbidden seconds of you

"Slipping Away" is a profoundly emotional ballad that explores the heartbreaking experience of grieving a loved one even before they're gone. With a delicate piano-driven melody, gentle orchestration, and soulful, expressive vocals, the song conveys the quiet agony of watching someone slowly fade away. The lyrics poignantly capture the helplessness and profound sadness of witnessing each cherished moment grow dimmer, yet desperately holding onto hope and love until the very last breath. It's an intimate journey through loss, memory, and the enduring struggle to find strength in the wake of immense sorrow.

Slipping Away

A hushed, a cappella journey through loss, memory, and renewal. Echoes of Yesterday layers a luminous female lead with tenor and baritone harmonies.

The Last Goodbye

Hope Through the Dark

Shadows of What We Were

Ghost of You

Empty Rooms

Autumn Leaves Falling

Fading Photograph

Scars That Remain

Xak Stahl: Alchemist of Sound, Architect of Emotion

Xak Stahl is a genre-blurring music artist, sonic storyteller, and relentless experimenter. Every track he creates is a new world—a kaleidoscope of indie folk, alt-pop, electronica, and global flavors—infused with raw emotion and boundless curiosity. Xak’s music isn’t just heard; it’s felt.

From Shadow to Spotlight

For Xak, music is metamorphosis. His journey began in the shadows, transmuting heartbreak and struggle into songs that glow with hope. Early anthems like “Neon Dreams” and “Rising Through the Darkness” invite listeners to find their own light. His newest project, Major Arcana, channels the mysteries of the Tarot—each song an archetype, each lyric a step along the path from the Fool’s first leap to the wisdom of The World.

More Than Music: A Multisensory Universe

But Xak isn’t confined to sound. As a visual artist and writer, he crafts immersive stories that spill across genres and languages—sometimes haunting, sometimes playful, always honest. Whether he’s conjuring lush soundscapes, weaving bilingual lyrics, or creating striking visuals, Xak’s art dares you to feel deeper and dream wilder.

An Invitation to Transformation

Join Xak Stahl on a sonic odyssey that blurs borders—between genres, between artforms, between you and the music. Each release is an invitation to explore, to heal, to become. For Xak, every song is a spell, every album a universe. The only question is: are you ready to step inside?

Godvliet Records | Where Stories and Music Converge

Welcome to Godvliet Records, your destination for music that transcends genres, decades and speaks to the soul. 

Join us on this journey and discover music that moves you. Likes, shares, comments are welcome

Subscribe now and be part of our growing community of music enthusiasts.

- Part Pianist, part composer, part poet, part IT technologies technician/programmer, 100% musician. -

Otoniel Rojas is a Dominican pianist and composer celebrated for his unique fusion of classical music with the rich rhythms of his homeland. Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, he was immersed in a vibrant musical environment from an early age. His father, an accomplished musician, served as the principal flutist and later as the piccolo player in the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, instilling in him a profound appreciation for music.

At just seven years old, Rojas began his formal music education at the National Conservatory of Music, initially focusing on the violin. Simultaneously, he nurtured a passion for the piano, teaching himself to play and developing exceptional sight-reading abilities. His prodigious talent quickly became evident as he accompanied his father in numerous public performances, church services, and television appearances across his native country.

Determined to refine his pianistic skills, Rojas pursued formal piano instruction, excelling in performance, counterpoint, music theory, and solfège at the conservatory. Despite his musical successes, he briefly explored an engineering career at the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD). However, his unwavering dedication to music led him to resume his artistic journey.

Seeking broader horizons, Otoniel relocated to the United States to study at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York—a hub for international students and a springboard to esteemed institutions like Juilliard. Under the mentorship of acclaimed pianist Agustin Anievas, a celebrated American classical pianist known for his recordings of Chopin and Rachmaninoff. Under Anievas' tutelage, Rojas flourished, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Piano Performance, earning the distinction of Cum Laude. His exceptional musicianship was recognized when he won the conservatory's piano competition, performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3 with the college orchestra.

Deeply involved in the college's musical community, Rojas participated in chamber music ensembles, served as a piano accompanist, and sang in both the specialized chamber choir and the conservatory choir. He expanded his compositional skills under the guidance of Robert Starer, an Austrian-born American composer known for his contributions to contemporary classical music. His collaboration with the university's ballet program led to his composition "A Passing of Time" being incorporated into the ballet's repertoire, which was performed internationally by the university ballet in Prague.

To further diversify his expertise, Rojas studied conducting with Karoly Kope, chamber music with Stoddard Lincoln and Marion Feldman—a distinguished cellist and professor at New York University—and delved into music history under H. Wiley Hitchcock, a leading authority on American music.

Upon returning to the Dominican Republic, Rojas continued to compose and perform. He was commissioned by the Sinfónica del Cibao to create "Mozartina," an orchestral piece that masterfully intertwines traditional merengue rhythms with themes from Mozart's "Jupiter" Symphony. The work features the tambora, a traditional Dominican percussion instrument, symbolizing a fusion of his classical training and cultural roots. "Mozartina" premiered with the Sinfónica del Cibao and was later performed in a revised version by the National Symphony Orchestra in Santo Domingo under the baton of Caonex Peguero, a prominent Dominican violinist/conductor/composer.

Today, Rojas continues to share his music with audiences worldwide. Through platforms like SoundCloud and published sheet music, he brings a unique blend of classical and Dominican musical traditions to listeners and performers alike. His journey reflects a lifelong dedication to music and a commitment to bridging cultures through his art.

New tracks tagged #ContemporaryBallad