"Beautiful Lies" explores the seductive comfort of self-deception. Through dreamy melodies and gentle vocal delivery, it acknowledges how we sometimes choose pretty illusions over harsh truths. The song doesn't judge this choice, instead understanding it as a survival mechanism, a temporary shelter from reality's sharp edges. The musical arrangement creates a dream-like atmosphere, mirroring the comfortable bubble of self-deception.

Beautiful Lies

"Silent Screams" captures the suffocating experience of being unable to express overwhelming emotions. Through tense musical restraint and controlled vocal delivery, it portrays the internal pressure of unexpressed pain. The song builds like a pressure cooker, never quite releasing, mirroring the experience of containing intense emotions behind a calm exterior. The musical arrangement emphasizes the contrast between surface composure and internal chaos.

Silent Screams

"Paper Wings" explores the delicate nature of hope and dreams through the metaphor of fragile paper wings. Unlike typical songs about hope, it acknowledges and embraces the fragility while choosing to fly anyway. Through ethereal musical elements and vulnerable vocals, it captures the bittersweet courage of daring to hope despite knowing how easily dreams can tear. The song celebrates the beauty in this temporary, fragile flight.

Paper Wings

"Invisible" examines societal blindness to those who don't fit prescribed norms. Through stark urban soundscapes and isolated vocals, it captures the experience of being unseen in plain sight. The song contrasts the choreographed flow of conformity with the painful reality of existing outside accepted patterns.

Invisible

"Square Peg" confronts the painful pressure to conform to societal norms while celebrating the courage to remain true to oneself. Through contrasting mechanical and organic musical elements, it illustrates the conflict between forced conformity and natural identity. The song progresses from the exhaustion of trying to fit in to the liberating decision to embrace one's unique shape.

Square Peg

"Outside the Lines" celebrates the courage to express oneself authentically in a world demanding conformity. Through contrasting musical elements of structure and chaos, it captures the tension between societal expectations and individual expression. The song evolves from the pressure to conform to the liberating embrace of one's unique way of being, even when others see it as disorder.

Outside The Lines

"Numbers Game" confronts the dehumanizing effect of being reduced to statistics in modern society. Through cold, mechanical musical elements contrasting with human vocals, it depicts the struggle to maintain individuality in a system that seeks to quantify and categorize every aspect of human experience. The song progresses from resignation to resistance, claiming humanity beyond the numbers.

Numbers Game

"Glass Wall" explores the painful experience of social isolation while being surrounded by life. Through muffled musical elements and clear vocals, it creates the sensation of watching life through an invisible barrier. The song captures the agony of seeing but never touching, of being perpetually outside while watching others live freely, highlighting the experience of those who feel permanently separated from "normal" society.

Glass Wall

"Different Kind of Dance" celebrates the courage to move to one's own internal rhythm despite society's demand for conformity. Through contrasting musical elements - structured beats versus free-flowing melody - it illustrates the tension between prescribed patterns and authentic expression. The song evolves from the pain of being out of step to the liberating embrace of one's unique dance, finding beauty in movements others call chaos.

Different Kind Of Dance

"Mannequin Smile" exposes the exhausting performance of maintaining socially acceptable emotions. Through contrasting artificial and authentic musical elements, it reveals the pain of suppressing real feelings beneath a perfect surface. The song progresses from maintaining a flawless facade to the liberating moment when the mask finally cracks, celebrating the messy authenticity beneath.

Mannequin Smile

"Footnote" transforms the pain of societal marginalization into a powerful reclamation of narrative. Through a progression from quiet, lower-register notes to stronger, rising melodies, it captures the journey from being dismissed to demanding recognition. The song celebrates the strength found in the margins and the beauty of stories society tries to minimize.

Footnote

Loss of interest

"Behind the Smiles" examines the contrast between curated public faces and private struggles. Through intimate verses and revealing choruses, it explores how we present perfection while hiding our truths. The song touches universal experiences of maintaining appearances while dealing with inner battles.

Behind The Smiles

lyrics:
(I was just pretending)
I was just pretending

this is a recreation.
the story behind this song is that Sophie originally meant Pretending to be a real song, but she felt it was too on the nose, so she slowed it by 1500% and turned it into an ambient track. i reversed it here to show how the original sounded

Sophie - Pretending (Original Demo)

Some tracks i have loved in 2024 and bring such a fun energy

I.De 2024 Best of Tech House P1

Written and recorded in summer 2023, "Pretending" is a personal ballad that we had a lot of fun making. It's closeness gives a personal feel, with piano and strings holding the piece together for the vocals to shine. Please leave your thoughts in comments and we hope you enjoy!

Pretending

172 Fmin/Fphrygian/Fphrygian-dominant > Bmin

Mymn - Pretending

Life is rough

Music takes me to new worlds. Life is the best teacher. Writing about life is a challenge and experience is what guides me. Loves, pains, disappointments, sadness, joy, despair, hope, melancholy, happiness, all these feelings burn in my veins and make me create.
You all welcome to follow my journey.

Cross Atlantic songwriting duo based out of Nashville, TN and Chesham, UK. This is a page for our demos, some finished and some still a work in progress. We hope you enjoy what you hear, any feedback is welcome!

All tracks written and recorded by Matthew Fryer and Michael Bryant unless otherwise specified.
Produced in Chesham, UK.

If you want get involved with a co write, please send us a DM! 

Matt & Mike

Lover of music and passionate about Trance & Deep

18   @8wk #Secrecy    Music 
.·:*¨¨* ≈⋇⊶⊰ೃ⁀➷⊱⊷⋇≈ *¨¨*:·.  Music
linkrot therapy Jade Blades Help Me

New tracks tagged #Pretending