The 300

A real pleasure collaborating with Rosin Dust. To hear more of her violin go to: https://soundcloud.com/rosindust
Was just having some piano fun when Tatiana agreed to collaborate with her violin.

Some background to what I was thinking when writing this music:

There’s a book by Jared Diamond (Pulitzer prize winning author of “Guns, Germs & Steel”) called “Collapse” which attempts to analyze why civilizations fail. Some chapters talk about Montana, Viking settlements, the rise and fall of African empires and much more. A common theme is that the zenith is reached right before the collapse, frequently caused by the depletion of a natural resource needed to culturally or physically sustain society. He tries to paper over a fundamentally pessimistic outlook towards the end with talk about the promise of his daughter, but it certainly made me think.

Oblivious To Oblivion

Oblivious To Oblivion | Rosin Dust & TheGat(s)

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

This is a long one...hope you find the time to listen. Extensive liner notes below to keep your attention.

Logic Pro X: Brooklyn Drums, Thumb Bass (3 lines, one high), Upright Bass
Korg SV-1: Full Tonewheel (Rhodes), Grand Piano 1

For the vocal I mainly started out with what in Logic is called "Warm Vocal" and and also the "Telephone Vocal". There are four vocal tracks in the chorus. The vocal effect at the end is achieved using Stereo Delay with different timing on the left and right channels. 

I spent some time working on  compression in Logic Pro X before mastering in Izotope Ozone. My objective was to get the compression "breathing" with the track. Happy to receive comments on this aspect.  

This started out as a Rhodes jam I called "G Bluesy" and just got longer and longer - I'm a little obsessed with the sound. I wanted to make a hopeful breakup song, giving the feeling of life moving on to a better place. I left many of the jammy elements in resulting in somewhat of a challenge when adding the other instruments as every here and there it goes off meter. For those of you that have heard my previous tracks there is nothing new and innovative here - its just me having fun with my favorite sounds.

As opposed to many other songs this one is in fact mostly autobiographical. When I got divorced back in the 1900s I ended up leaving the joint apartment in 15 min with a suitcase and my Roland Digital Piano (it still works 30 years later). I didn't have anywhere to go and moved from place to place for six months. It actually caused me some problems finding a new job as not having a permanent address didn't inspire a lot of confidence with the potential employers. One of those nights, when in my single bedroom apartment above a bakery, I was watching a VHS (the video rental was 15 meters from the entrance to my building) with Vivienne Leigh, and decided I wanted to live a more comfortable life like in the movie. The result was changing jobs and moving to South America after which I never looked back. I'll let you figure which movie I was watching by yourselves.

IT’S ALL OVER

It’s all over
Yeah
It’s all over

Said my last words
Packed my bag
Took a breath
Took a first deep drag
Closed the door
Sped through the night
No place to crash
No hope in sight

Ohh, I got me, myself and I
Yeah, no-one to care about
Ohh, what I was looking for
Yeah, it’s such a bore

As I think it through
And finally its true
It feels so sad
But it’s pretty fucking far from bad

It’s all over
It’s all over
It’s all over
I’m never going back 
It’s over

It’s all over
Yeah
It’s all over

Early AM 
Another reel repeat
Late night drill
Too much time to chill
Found my dream
With Vivien Leigh
Left all I knew
Sailed across the sea

Good times and bad times
Memories and losses
No regrets, no tears
I’ve left all my fears
All that’s past is gone
All that’s left is straight ahead

It’s all over
It’s all over
It’s all over
I’m never going back 
It’s over
It’s all over
It’s all over
It’s all over
I’m never going back 
It’s over

It's All Over

Violin: Rosin Dust (Tatiana Makarova) https://soundcloud.com/rosindust
Piano & Production: Jan Schonander

I wrote and played the piano for this piece a while back, but I always wanted real acoustic violin as accompaniment. More than happy to take the back seat to Tatiana's magnificent violin as she brilliantly takes over. With just a little classical percussion this is now a bonafide classical piece with maybe a little rock production & mastering wrapping it all up.

BECAUSE YOU TAKE YOUR LIFE IN STRIDE

Because you take your life in stride

Because you aren’t afraid to kiss the dirt

Because a mind no other mind should try
to fool has always failed to fool your heart

But most because no best is quite so good 
you don’t conceive a better, 
and because no evil is so worse than 
worst you fall in hate with love

Human one mortally immortal I
can turn immense all time’s because to why

– e.e. cummings

In Stride with Rosin Dust

In Stride | Rosin Dust & TheGat(s)

Music & Lyrics, Organ, Bass, Vocal: Jan Schonander
Guitar: Eric T. https://soundcloud.com/boilerman-615719656
Drums: @Stonecatcherye

So many people that put up with bad behavior, being scorned and ridiculed and still find a way to smile and make the rest of us feel better. This song is for all of you.

This is based on the same drum track as DystOpia. Stoney sent a drum track that eventually became two different tracks - one more grungy (DystOpia) and this one a little more organ heavy. I asked Eric to come up with something different for this tune and boy did he deliver the goods.

TOUGH AS NAILS

Tough as nails
You fall down
Tough as nails
You rise again
Tough as nails
Your body a scar
Your spirit, your soul, your mind
It’s too hard to find
The time, the peace, the will
You reach down deep
You take a leap
You’re tough as nails
You’re tough as nails

Through the thick and thin
Through the good times and bad times
It all fades away
Through the quips and shame
The looks and sighs
Fade away….

Tough as nails
You rise again
Tough as nails 
You fall down
Gentle soul
You lift us up
Kind heart 
Never let us down
The sorrow, the sadness and pain
Washed away….
Your touch and your smile
Your smile
You’re tough as nails

Through the thick and thin
Through the good times and bad times
It all fades away
Through the quips and shame
The looks and sighs
Fade away….

And they just can’t see
And they don’t understand
They don’t understand you at all

And they just can’t see
And they don’t understand
They don’t understand you at all

Fade away, fade away, fade away…..

Tough As Nails

Tough As Nails (Fade Away) | The Boilerman 🎸

Percussion, guitar, bass, vocal, lyrics: Stone catcherye https://soundcloud.com/stonecatcherye
Percussion, organ, vocal, lyrics: Jan Schonander https://soundcloud.com/thegats

Call this a retro dystopian future....

DYSTOPIA

Endless chatter, walk the fields
No horizon, blade towers 
Cloudy sky, 20-20 vision
See the light, the nights delight

Endless line, endless party
Endless time, endless future
In the air, never to die
In the flow, irresistible way

I saw the hole
I saw the hole

Just stop this light from reaching me
I'm frail and fragile in my serenity

The silence, brown fields
Big sky, damn the sky
Blue sky, clouds in my eyes
Bright night, blinding darkness

Endless line, endless beggars
Endless time, endless waiting
Surface down, the depletion
Wanderer, aimless loss

I’m burning
I’m burning
I saw the hole
I saw the hole

Just stop this light from reaching me
I'm frail and fragile in my serenity
just dropped from heights you cannot reach
One nail, one coffin that I will never need

It's only air we're breathing
Despair of season
Wary of reason
Depths of treason
It's only air we're needing
The care of heathens
Contraire, the meaning
Years of being

Dystopia

DystOpia | Stone catcherye & TheGat(s)

Cover of Gary Numan's "Are Friends Electric".

Unmitigated synth fun here...When doing covers I always try to give the same feeling as the original but without trying to reproduce an already fantastic track. For this one I switched up the vocal melody and added vocal melody to what were spoken parts in the original. That also forced me to take some artistic freedom with the lyrics. Instruments have changed a bit since 1979 and I also tried to give this  a much more lush sound than the original.

If you're wondering how I did this:
The main synth is a combination of the Korg SV-1 Tonewheel Organ (for gritty fuzziness) and the Logic Pro X Alchemy Classic Super Saw (for the smooth and bright sound). To get the swirliness out the SV-1 you have to use a pedal here and there. And of course with the Super Saw getting the envelope and touch on the keys right is the trick. For the "guitar" it's a Logic Pro X backward clean guitar which I post-processed with a British Combo Amp - it's all about the gain & timing when doing that. Actually finger played the kick and snare for the drums and combined that with the virtual drummer for the high-hat and fills (Smash drum kit). Used the Liverpool Bass and Alchemy Swarm Riser & Noise Tide synths for the effects.

ARE FRIENDS ELECTRIC

It's cold outside
And the paint's peeling off of my walls
There's a man outside
In a long coat, grey hat, smoking a cigarette

Now the light fades out
And I'm wondering what I'm doing in a room like this
There's a knock on the door
And just for a second I thought I remembered you

Now I'm alone
I can think for myself
About little deals
And issues
And things that I just don't understand
Like white lies
Or a slight touch
I don't think it meant anything to you
I don't think it meant anything to you

So I open the door
It's the 'friend' that I'd left in the hallway
"Please sit down"
A candle lit a shadow on a wall near the bed

You know I hate to ask
But, are 'friends' electric?
Mine's broke down
And now I've no one to love

So I find out all your reasons
For the phone calls and all the smiles
And it hurts
And I'm so lonely
I should never have tried
And I missed you tonight
So it's time, time to leave

YouTube

Are Friends Electric

The awesome drums: Gonzalo Serrano https://soundcloud.com/user-600615411
Organ, Standing Bass (Logic Pro X), Stinger Bass (Logic Pro X): Jan Schonander @thegats 

The kind of track that only gets done and published on Soundcloud. With one minute available there is no time for intros and outtros, you have to get down to business immediately, and that is what I tried to do. 

According to Google the number one psyche problem is stress, so let's call this one exactly that.

The melody line of the organ was treated with some ringshift. The upright bass was treated with a British Combo amp.

Psyche Problems Nr.1

llustration: Jonathan Djob Nkondo https://absenteism.tumblr.com/ 
Drums: Gonzalo Serrano https://soundcloud.com/messages/486957645:834842971
Piano, Analog Stack Synth, Granular Magnetic Guitar, 
Studio Horns, Stinger Bass: Jan Schonander @thegats

The original Pyrrhic victory came courtesy of Pyrrhus of Epirus, a Greek king who was undone by his costly battles against the Romans. Pyrrhus first invaded Italy in 280 B.C. after allying himself with Tarentum, a Greek-speaking city that resented the Roman Republic’s increased domination over their homeland. He arrived with a force of some 25,000 men and 20 war elephants—the first the Roman legionaries had ever faced—and immediately scored a famous victory in his first battle at Heraclea. The following year, he bested the Romans a second time during a heated clash at Asculum.

Pyrrhus fancied himself a latter day Alexander the Great, and he’d hoped his invasion would give his empire a foothold in Italy. But while he’d routed the Romans at both Heraclea and Asculum, he had also lost more than 7,500 of his most elite fighters, including many officers. Pyrrhus had no way of replacing his casualties, and his failure to deal the enemy a deathblow sent morale plummeting within his ranks. According to the ancient historian Plutarch, the warrior king was quoted as muttering, “If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.” Following a setback at the Battle of Beneventum in 275 B.C., he reluctantly called off his campaign and sailed back to Greece.

From the History Channel

PYRRHIC VICTORY

Caviar and cigarettes
Dances in pirouettes

Are you feeling good
It seems you should
Now the smoke has cleared
Now that you are feared

Your triumph is great
Are you ready for your fate
Cause for elation
A grand celebration

Oh, it doesn’t feel right
Oh, this dishonorable plight 

Caviar and cigarettes
Dances in pirouettes
Glitter, riches, fame and glam
Black tie Russian roulette

You lick your wounds
All your lovers are gone
Alone in your palace
Your light has shone

All your friends in flight
All your allies are foes
It’s not an end
The start of your woes

Caviar and cigarettes
Dances in pirouettes
Glitter, riches, fame and glam
Black tie Russian roulette

Pyrrhic Victory

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

Not being a drummer or having access to a collaborating drummer very often I have been moving away from using the Logic Pro virtual drummer and playing the drum grooves on my keyboard. I have to admit it has given me added respect for the art as it is not easy (at least for me) to keep a consistent beat even for a few bars. For this I used the Vintage Breaks+ drum kit, but to get the deep sound applied the Space D reverb, which I then also used to give the same overall sound to all the stems. The bass is a Logic Baby Bass treated with a Full Stack guitar amplifier. For the vocal in the chorus I used a reverse Space D reverb to achieve the ghostly effect. Lyrically I think this song speaks for itself.

TWO SPEED

There’s vintage and new
All kinds and looks
On this brand new two speed highway
I can see you clearly
You’re holding on and dearly

There’s a clear road ahead
Slipping into 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th
There’s a lane you can choose instead
Letting go, letting go 

I’ll pass you by
Why don’t you even try
I want to love you 
I want to hold you

I can’t wait for you
Makes me wanna cry
Stay away from you
I’m afraid of you

Unless you help yourself
Take good care of yourself
And love yourself
Unless you help yourself
Take good care of yourself
And love yourself

So much more than you and me
Can’t slip into he said, she said, we said, they said
A shiny city on a hill  
I wanna get there, you wanna get there
 
Free flowing air
Full speed ahead, but
To be close to you
Spend time with you

I’m breaking free
I wish that you could see
I can’t love you
I can’t trust you

Unless you help yourself
Take good care of yourself
And love yourself
Help yourself
Good care of yourself
And love yourself

Two Speed

Music & Lyrics, Drums, Bass, Synth, Organ, Piano, Vocal : Jan Schonander
Music & Guitar: REKHA IYERN [FE] https://soundcloud.com/rekha-iyern-fe

Some rough’n’ready rocking with REKHA….

Too much time with over 300 passed away every day.

THE 300

A dependable man
Drives his kids to school
Takes his time from work
Doesn’t miss an event
Or a single bedtime story	

A standout woman
Young and old they need her
It’s her life’s work
Behind every event
And never needing glory

You’re gonna be
One of three hundred
You’re gonna be
One of the lucky
You’re gonna see
How you blundered
Didn’t have to be 
Three hundred
Two hundred
One hundred

Just a boy and a girl
A hand, a touch
A caress, a first kiss
Don’t miss a glance
Never straying afar

A curly haired child
Tent torchlight at night
An adventurous life
Doctor, astronaut, explorer 
A movie star

You’re gonna be
One of three hundred
You’re gonna be
One of the lucky
You’re gonna see
How you blundered
Didn’t have to be 
Three hundred
Two hundred
One hundred

They’re all together
The three hundred
They’re all together
The three hundred
They’re all together
The three hundred

You’re gonna be
One of three hundred
You’re gonna be
One of the lucky
You’re gonna see
How you blundered
Didn’t have to be 
Three hundred
Two hundred
One hundred

The 300 | TheGat(s)with guitar by REKHA IYERN [Fe]

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

This is what happens when I get bored on a Saturday night. Probably one of the simpler tunes I have written - a D/Am/C/G progression repeated from beginning to end with some variation to how it is expressed. Lyrically there is a double entendre that some of you may catch.

FOR YESTERDAY

Yesterday felt so easy
Yesterday felt so good
Yesterday felt so easy
Yesterday felt so good

Walked to the gate
Not a worry in the sky
Turned to my baby and I waved her goodbye
Saw her through the window
Sweet tear in her eye
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

I picked up the phone
Dialed a memorized number
Told her I love her didn’t talk about the weather
Sat at my desk
Wrote the first of many letters
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

It was so easy
It was so good

I went to the bar
Started talking to my neighbor
Nobody thought I was a sicko stranger
Didn’t think twice
I gave my name and number
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

It was so easy
It was so good
It was so easy
It was so good

For Yesterday

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander
Guitar: Mike G of Unguided Express https://soundcloud.com/user-928406991

Thrilled when Mike sent me this guitar stem out of the blue. Thanks so much.  

This is what happens when I get bored on a Saturday night. Probably one of the simpler tunes I have written - a D/Am/C/G progression repeated from beginning to end with some variation to how it is expressed. Lyrically there is a double entendre that some of you may catch.

FOR YESTERDAY

Yesterday felt so easy
Yesterday felt so good
Yesterday felt so easy
Yesterday felt so good

Walked to the gate
Not a worry in the sky
Turned to my baby and I waved her goodbye
Saw her through the window
Sweet tear in her eye
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

I picked up the phone
Dialed a memorized number
Told her I love her didn’t talk about the weather
Sat at my desk
Wrote the first of many letters
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

It was so easy
It was so good

I went to the bar
Started talking to my neighbor
Nobody thought I was a sicko stranger
Didn’t think twice
I gave my name and number
Oh I long for yesterday
I long for yesterday
Yesterday
I long for yesterday

It was so easy
It was so good
It was so easy
It was so good

For Yesterday | Unguided Guitar Redux

Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Drum Programming, Synths,  eBass, Organ: Jan Schonander
Music, Guitars, Vocal: REKHA IYERN FE https://soundcloud.com/rekha-iyern-fe

FOREVER LOVE

The first time I saw you
The last time I didn’t think of you
The one and only moment
The air, the time stood still
I could never get my fill

I will always remember
I will always look back
An instant for my ages
An endless fountain
My source of strength, my muse

Forever love
Forever my love
Forever in love
Forever love

The first time you touched me
The last time you held me
A current through my veins,
my heart, my soul
I could never be alone

Never be alone
Never be alone

I will always remember
I will always look ahead
An eternity together
An endless voyage
The wind in my sails, my life

An eternal life
An eternal life together

Forever love
Forever my love
Forever in love
Forever love

Forever love
Forever my love
Forever in love
Forever love

For better or worse
To hold and behold
For rich and poor
This day forward
Forever love
Forever in love

If anybody is interested in the demo organ only version it can be found on my bits & bobs site here: https://soundcloud.com/user-212009311/forever-love-demo-organ-version

Forever Love

Forever Love | REKHA🎸 & TheGat(s)

Cover of Jealous Guy by John Lennon

Came to think of this song as my Springer Spaniel "Rico" once again thrust himself between myself, my wife and my children just as I was trying to say hello after a short business trip. And that is what he is - a jealous guy. Think of this as being sung by him as he casually grabs a few love bites. Some "minor" changes to accommodate my vision for this song.

JEALOUS GUY 

I was dreaming of the past
And my heart was beating fast
I began to lose control
I began to lose control

I didn't mean to hurt you
I'm sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn't want to hurt you
I'm just a jealous guy

I was feeling insecure
You might not love me anymore
I was shivering inside
I was shivering inside

Oh, I didn't mean to hurt you
I'm sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn't want to hurt you
I'm just a jealous guy

I was trying to catch your eyes
Thought that you was trying to hide
I was swallowing my pain
I was swallowing my pain
I didn't mean to hurt you
I'm sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn't want to hurt you
I'm just a jealous guy

Jealous Guy | Canine Special

Synth Strings: Gina Wood https://soundcloud.com/gina-wood-837506330
Guitars: Davy Vance https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Idea, piano, bass, synths: Jan Schonander

An old track of ours remixed, remastered, to take advantage of some knowledge I have acquired over the last few years. Also replayed the piano and added a few things to make the line a little more interesting. Lastly, I changed some bass notes in the hope of pulling it all together better. And you have to visit Gina and Davy to hear more of their great music.

Delayed Ecstasy

Delayed Ecstasy Revisited | Gina Wood, Davy Vance & TheGat(s)

Cover of "The Passenger" by Iggy Pop
Performed by Jan Schonander

The Passenger was one of the 1st songs I recorded and published on Soundcloud. It was interesting for me to see what it would sound like 3 years later with different equipment and some better understanding of audio engineering. Below a link to my original upload (I will take this down eventually). 
https://soundcloud.com/thegats/the-passenger?in=thegats/sets/the-passenger/

Here are the main differences:

1. Replayed the piano on my Korg SV-1 instead of my 30 year old Roland Digital piano. Most importantly, in the 1st recording the only way I could record was running my piano through a guitar amplifier and from there a USB link into my computer. Today I connect my Korg into a Scarlet 2i4 and from there to my computer.

2. Resang using a AKG Condenser Mic through the Scarlett instead of through a nondescript USB Mic with an integrated amplifier. Little detail: the input volume at which I recorded was at most half the the input volume vs the 1st recording.

3. In the 1st recording I used a heavy dose of modulation delay whereas nowadays I use none of that and aim for a much more natural sound with some reverb and a little echo. I have also stopped the fairly massive equalization of my voice that I used to apply.

3. Post-reprocessed the organ (and a few extra bars) to get a much wider and swirly sound using a Logic Pro X effect called Ringshift.

4. Applied some reverb to the drums to get a fuller sound

5. In the original recording (GarageBand) I bounced the track with massive output volume with a lot of clipping and then uploaded to SC - basically I had no idea what I was doing. For this newer recording (Logic Pro X) I made sure the output  was around -8dB before applying some compression at a ratio of 2.5:1 and adjusting the release and attack to taste before bouncing and importing into Izotope OZONE for mastering. OZONE is a whole world itself and I am still learning to control all the variables. For this track I used a preset called "Adaptive Dynamics" and the main manual change I made was to allow the output volume to peak at -0.1dB.

I remember Justin (of GrevusAnjl) writing that in the beginning we all suck, and 3 years later I can only agree. The good part is that we can all learn and I hope this recording demonstrates this point. 

If you made it this far, thanks very much for listening and reading, and if you've never really payed any attention to the lyrics to this song, they're pretty good and pretty serious.

The Passenger

Original Composition, Music, All Instruments: Daniele Turani https://soundcloud.com/danieleturani
Lyrics & Vocals: Jan Schonander

COLD SWEAT

In a cold cold sweat
Can’t get any sleep
In a cold cold sweat 
Feelings running too deep

On the streets of ancient gods
Hit a red light, see a Greek memory
Push the gas, see the ghosts of ambition
It’s an avalanche only in your mind

Did you finish
Did you even start 
Do you have the time
Can you see the line
Do you even need it
Does anybody give or care

Home again there’s good and there’s bad
What a day will it ever get better
You think you did all that you could
Still feels like less than you should

You find yourself in a wet shirt
Can’t remember if you’re young or old
It’s a hot night and still you’re cold
Not the first time or the last time
Not the last time

It’s a cold cold sweat
Can’t get any sleep
It’s a cold cold sweat 
Feelings running too deep
It’s a cold cold sweat
It’s a cold cold sweat
Feelings running too deep

Days gone by you did the right thing
A great success admired by all
Sometimes you even forget
Sometimes
 
Sweet life no ifs and buts
Fall asleep in a star studded dream
A night like so many others
Not the first time, not the last time 
Not the last time

I can’t shake this cold sweat
I can’t shake this cold sweat

Cold Sweat

Cold Sweat | Daniele Turani & TheGat(s)

Music, Guitars, Vocal: REKHA IYERN [Fe] https://soundcloud.com/rekha-iyern-fe
Music, Lyrics, Organs, Bass, Drums, Vocal: Jan Schonander @thegats

The origin to this song is a guitar track by REKHA. I added som organ, synth bass and a keyboard played drum track as well as wrote lyrics and sang the underlying male vocal. REKHA finished it all off with the lead female vocal. This is long, but we do hope you enjoy listening.  

FLAMES OF MY DESIRE

I can see 
I can feel
I can see you
I can feel you
Without you
I can feel you
Without you
I can be

I can see where you are
I can see where you’re going
I can see where you’ve been
I can feel what you want
I can feel what you need
I can feel your attraction
A chemical reaction
I can be your one and only fire
Your singular desire
Throw oil on the fire
Feed the flames of my desire
The flames of my desire

I can love
I can love
With you
Within you
I can be

I can drown in your scent
I can love your body
I can feel your reaction
I can lose my head
Be your one and only fire
Your singular desire
Feed the flames of my desire
Flames of my desire
Flames of my desire

I light up a cigarette
Open my window
I let out the steam
Signs and tells on the floor
The glow
The embers
The flames of my desire
The flames of my desire
The flames of my desire
The flames of my desire

Flames Of My Desire

Flames Of My Desire | REKHA IYERN [Fe]🎸 & TheGat(s)

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

Standup bass, Trumpet, Baritone Sax, Mix & Mastering: Damon of tZDIQ https://soundcloud.com/tzdiq
Guitar: Davy Vance https://soundcloud.com/skub1955
Vocal, Piano, Stinger Bass, 7-piece Brass Section, Trombone, Drum Programming: Jan Schonander https://soundcloud.com/thegats

Huge thanks to Damon and Davy!

THE MONEY

She floated across the street
Red dress slit straight up to heaven
Looked straight at me 
Flashed a pearly white smile
Blonde hair to my dreams

Aahh, she teased me then she
Strutted her way to the bus stop
Mmhh, I blushed and and then
I stumbled across the sidewalk

She said honey
You ain’t got the money
Gotta live my life
Can’t be just any man’s wife
I’ve gotta make the climb
I’m in my prime
You ain’t got a dime
Don’t waste my time

Aahh, so close and so far 
Cut short by a red light
Mmhh, so close and so far
My checkbook stuck in red

I cleaned up my dirty act
I payed up for a haircut
Every last dollar and cent
Candlelight dinner
Just to be there, with her

She said honey
You ain’t got the money
Gotta live my life
Can’t be just any man’s wife
I’ve gotta make the climb
I’m in my prime
You ain’t got a dime
Don’t waste my time

She floated across the street
10 years later straight from nowhere
She looked in my eyes
Flashed a pearly white smile
Stepped into my dreams

She said honey
I don’t need the money
Gotta live my life
Can’t be just any man’s wife

She said honey
You’re the money
Come be my life
Let me be your wife

The Money

The Money | tZDIQ, Davy Vance & TheGat(s)

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

Having some fun with the piano here, and beating the c**p out of four chords. For those interested the following instruments and patches were used: Piano, Thumb Bass, Sidechain Overdrive, Marbles In A Glass bowl, Electrical Interferences, Theatrical Chord Builder, Bike Riser, East Bay Drum Kit, Crate Digger Drum Kit.

Listen with headphones - and loud!

ET EXPECTA - AND WAIT

Soon it’ll be over
Soon they’ll let you through
Soon they’ll let you in
Soon they’ll let you go
Soon

Sometimes a single hour can seem endless
Sometimes in a second can seem forever
Sometimes  you wanna move
The wait - it’s almost over

Sometimes you need more than you get
Sometimes you feel more than your love
Sometimes you hold yourself back 
Sometimes you have to wait

Soon it’ll be yours
Soon you’ll get what you want
Soon you’ll have the time
Soon you’ll go anywhere

Soon it’ll be easy
Soon you’ll lose your fear
Soon she’ll let you in
Soon you’ll let it go
Soon

Et Expecta

A third collaboration with the inimitable Belial, and it is always a pleasure. Go to Belial's page for some unforgettable musical experiences: https://soundcloud.com/belial-pelegrim

This one is dedicated to the nurses and doctors doing all the heavy lifting in these times. Our thoughts are with you and we wish you safe days.

Viola Synth, Reaktor Synth: Belial Pelegrim
Music, Piano, Sidechain Overdrive, Sugarhill Brass, Percussion: Jan Schonander

Previous collaborations with Belial:
Disposal At The Tarpits: https://soundcloud.com/belial-pelegrim/disposal-at-the-tar-pits-pelegrim-thegats-1
Magnetic Attraction: https://soundcloud.com/thegats/magnetic-attraction

Pressure. Grace.

Pressure. Grace. | Belial Pelegrim & TheGat(s)

Some hope in these worrying times...with some absolutely fabulous vocal harmonies by Rekha, a real treat.

Vocal Harmonies: Rekha https://soundcloud.com/rekha-iyern-fe
Music, Lyrics, Vocal, Piano, Bass, Drum Programming: Jan Schonander

APRIL HOPE

All the sad faces
In all of the places
Emptied their sidewalks
Waiting

She danced on the streets
Kissed strangers on their cheeks
A playful sprite, a light in the dark
Pixie dust in the park

Under the blossoming trees 
There were thousands
Thousands gathering solemnly

Emotion busting out
Children held in longing arms
Travelers from near and far
Distance now a faint scar

Under the blossoming trees
There were millions
Millions gathering silently

All the sad faces
Replaced with embraces
From all of our places
To the games and to the races
Emptied sidewalks
Hustle and bustle
Lovers and friendships
Carefree touches

Her name was April Hope
April Hope
April Hope
Her name was April Hope
April Hope
April Hope

A moment of peace
The promise of memory
She left in a flurry of stars

There were billions
Under the blossoming trees

All the sad faces
Replaced with embraces
From all of our places
To the games and races
Emptied sidewalks
Hustle and bustle
Lovers and friendships
Carefree touches

Her name was April Hope
April Hope
April Hope
Her name was April Hope
April Hope
April Hope

April Hope

April Hope ft. REKHA

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

Sometimes people close to us pass away far earlier than expected, and sometimes they come back to visit us in our dreams.

Here's the breakdown of what I used on this track:
Drums: Logic Pro Virtual Drummer Max Punk Rock with the Bluebird drum kit
Bass: Logic Pro Thumb bass with some chorus and delay
Electric Piano: Korg SV-1 Reed EP-2 preprocessed with chorus and plate delay, post processed with echo, spreader, ensemble and flanger. With all these effects and a sustain pedal, if you hold the pedal down and repeat notes in rapid succession, a crescendo effect is created (with the built in analogue amplifier).
Synth: Logic Pro (Alchemy) Strings Morph and Buss Bar (Funky Crunchy)

MISS YOU

I see you when I close my eyes
I dream of you when I despair
Too much time since I held you
Years gone by since I saw you

I miss you
Are you watching over me
I miss you
Did you come see me

When you sat down right next to me
Did you tell me that you’re gonna be alright
Did you tell me that the future is bright
Did you tell me to not lose sight

I miss you
Are you waiting for me
I miss you
Will you take care of me

Sometimes you’re with me
Sometimes I feel good
Sometimes you’re with me
Sometimes I feel good

I wake up reach out for you
I lose myself grasping for air
It feels so real swear I saw you
Years gone by seem like yesterday

I miss you
Are you watching over me
I miss you
Did you come see me

I miss you
Are you waiting for me
I miss you
Will you take care of me

Sometimes you’re beside me
Sometimes I feel good
Sometimes you’re beside me
Sometimes I feel good

A gaping hole inside me
At all times I miss you
A gaping hole inside me
At all times I miss you
A gaping hole inside me
At all times I miss you
A gaping hole inside me
At all times I miss you

Miss You

Bandcamp

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

When I was in 10th grade I asked my Belgian Spanish Teacher (Ms. Van Stichel) why the Spanish word “esperar” was used for both waiting and hoping. Maybe a sophomoric question (excuse the pun), but her answer has stuck with me through the years. She said “to wait is to hope”, and how right she was. 

I HOPE

I hope there’ll be a new beginning
I hope to tell right from wrong
I hope you get what you want
I wait, and I hope

I hope all manner of sins will be forgiven
I hope, I hope for my better angels
I hope, I hope for a wide open door
I hope, I hope you feel the same way
I hope we’ve got a lot left to live
I hope I’ve got a lot left to give

I hope you get what you want
I wait, and I hope

I hope to make a change for the better
I hope, I hope there is another way
I hope we can see it all clearly
I hope, I can open up inside
I hope we can find the time
I hope we can find a rhyme

I hope there’ll be a new beginning
I hope to tell right from wrong
I hope you get what you want
I wait, and I hope

I Hope

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

Remixed this, changed the bass line and removed a lot of effects from the instruments and vocal. I also remastered this using Izotope Ozone - I think it changed the song significantly, and so I am relaunching this as a new track. 

SEDUCE ME

Tonight this could be easy
You’re strong and you’re bold
One step at a time
One step again

Don’t think too much
Move with a smile
Nothing bothers you
Nothing worries you

Come near, seduce me
Wind me up
I see you want me too
Don’t give up
Keep your eyes on me
Come near, seduce me

You’ve got the passion, you got the glow
You’ve got attitude, you’ve got heart you got soul
I can see that you got all that you need
Say the word honey, I’m your baby tonight

Burn for my love
Go slow, take your time
You don’t have to rush
This is not a crush

Take it easy
Gently, it’s comin’ to you
Everything is light
Everything’s alright

Come near, seduce me
Wind me up
I see you want me too
Don’t give up
Keep your eyes on me
Come near, seduce me

You’ve got the passion, you got the glow
You’ve got attitude, you’ve got heart you got soul
I can see that you got all that you need
Say the word honey, I’m your baby tonight

Come near, seduce me
Wind me up
I see you want me too
Don’t give up
Keep your eyes on me
Come near, seduce me

Seduce Me 2020

Music & Lyrics, Vocal, Synth, Drums: Jan Schonander
Guitars, Bass, Drums: Norbert Meyer https://soundcloud.com/nobsmeyer

Reworked version of Break Out Of This Cage with Norbert Meyer (N.o.b.S) - what an incredible guitar track he came up with. A lot of iteration on the levels and production of this track before coming up with this final mix. Norbert also took care of the mastering.

For those that are interested here is a link to the original: https://soundcloud.com/thegats/break-out-of-this-cage

BREAK OUT OF THIS CAGE

Break out of this cage
Why can’t I hold on to the bars
Is it all in my mind
The weight on my shoulders 

Better than that 
More than that
You deserve so much more
So much better than that

Round and round and round…..

Up and down
Round and round
Off the ground
I don’t want to hear a sound
Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh….

Break out of this cage
Break out of this cage

Break out of this cage
Why can’t I hold on to the bars
Is it all in my mind
The weight on my shoulders 

Uh uh uh uh uh uh uh…..

Round and round and round…..

My future
Your future
Our future
It’s all in the past
It’s all in the past
Get off of this circular path

Break out of this cage
Break out of this cage  

Break out of this cage
Why can’t I hold on to the bars

Break Out Of This Cage

Break Out Of This Cage | N.o.b.S & TheGat(s)

Cover of Lou Reed's song "Busload Of Faith" on the album "New York".

Why not start off the year with some plain old rocking.

Busload Of Faith

BECAUSE YOU TAKE YOUR LIFE IN STRIDE

Because you take your life in stride

Because you aren’t afraid to kiss the dirt

Because a mind no other mind should try
to fool has always failed to fool your heart

But most because no best is quite so good 
you don’t conceive a better, 
and because no evil is so worse than 
worst you fall in hate with love

Human one mortally immortal I
can turn immense all time’s because to why

– e.e. cummings

In Stride

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

LIE FOR YOU

If you tell me lies
I’ll follow you
If you tell me lies
I’ll like you too

If you spread the word
I’ll travel the land
If you call my name
I’ll give you a hand

You travel first class
I sleep on the street
When you drop your mask
I risk my life
And my family too.

If you tell me lies
I’ll follow you
If you tell me lies
I’ll like you too

When I’m standing back
I’m ready for you
When I’m standing by
I’m waiting for you

If you’re in my house
I’ll help you too
When you break the law
I’ll lie for you
 
If you tell me lies
I’ll follow through
If you tell me lies
I’ll fight for you

Lie To Me

Lie For You

Music & Lyrics: Jan Schonander

I think a lot of us of can agree that we have done a number of embarrassing, silly and downright stupid things in our lives. Somehow, when looking back, I end up laughing at the memories, and often time simply erases every trace of an event. For me, it’s the things I didn’t do and say that cause the rueful moments. Dedicating this song to my wife - I should tell her I love her more often.

From a musical perspective I reused the instrumentation from my collaborative effort “Feline Fever” with REKHA. I readily admit that this song is heavily influenced by Iggy Pop's "Beside You". I am also trying out a warmer more natural way of producing my vocal.

FORGOT TO SAY

I forgot to say I love you
To say that I’m gonna miss you
I forgot to say I love you
That I’d be lost without you

So many times my face in my hands 
The things that I’ve done
So many times I took a fall
I can’t count them all
Did I tell you I’d repeat it all
Did I tell you it all feels small

Not my mistakes
Or how I did
Not my missteps
Or how I failed

Not my mistakes
Or how I did
Not my missteps
Or how I failed

I forgot to say I love you
To say that I’d miss you
I forgot to say I love you
To say I’d be lost without you

There are times when I look back
I think of the ways that I chose
Did you know
Did you understand
Should I have told you more often
Did I hurt you
Were you lonely
Did I make you wait for too long

I forgot to say what matters
I forgot to say that I care
I forgot to tell you that I need you
I forgot to tell you how I feel

I forgot to say I love you
To say I’m lost without you
I forgot to say I love you
To say I’m lost without you

Forgot To Say

Words & Music: Jan Schonander

This song is written from a man's perspective, but I think it could be equally valid for a woman. I have plenty of friends that have found their companions using dating apps. I also have a number of friends that have many - let's say - interesting experiences. And, maybe it's best to realize what you've got.

In terms of how this was recorded...there are no real guitars. I used Logic Pro X Revolving Lines with a couple of gain settings as well as the Distorted Stratocaster. There are two bass lines using the Prog Rock Bass and as always I am programming the virtual drummer. The various organs and piano are all Korg SV-1 native with some post processing. Basically it's the same stuff I used for "Forgot To Say" and "Feline Fever".

Lastly, I've noticed that some listeners interpret my lyrics as all personal experiences. In this case I would among many things be a three time felon, met my "working" wife on  a crossing and I would actually be African American - I can report that this is far from my ordinary life.

BLIND DATE

Choosing left and right
An ordinary night
On his own
Scotch in his hand
Microwave dinner
Looking for some company
Some sweet lovin
Looking for a friend
Didn’t want another dead end

Didn’t want another blind date
Looking for a better fate
Didn’t want another blind date
Looking for a much better mate

She stepped in the bar
Painted to the nines
Three martini lush & more
Preached about men
Layed down the rules
He looked in her eyes 
Made sure that she understood
She was more than he could
He left that chat for good

Didn’t want another blind date
Looking for a better fate
Didn’t want another blind date
Hoping for a much better mate

He looked left and right
Nothing recognizable in sight
And then she said “Hello,
I think you’re my beau”
A completely different woman
His face turned wooden
Oh its so tragic
Not his kind of magic

Didn’t want another blind date
Looking for a better fate
Didn’t want another blind date
Hoping for a much better mate

Staying at home
Staying at home
All on his own
Right next to his phone
He heard her chime
Turned on a dime
She said “Honey, I miss you”
He said “Not another blind date,
not another blind date”

Blind Date

Thanks for visiting. This is a retro eclectic genre androgynous music mix with a strong keyboard base.  Looming influences from Iggy Pop, David Bowie, Lou Reed & Jon Lord. 

A Gat is a cat in Catalan - it all makes sense if you’re me.

To all of you likers and reposters that don't listen - what's the point?

TheGat(s)

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