Winter Roads

Started this one over a year ago but didn't have the production skills to finish it the way I wanted until now.  The ambience reminded me of a soundtrack to a modern nature show, so I put in a bunch of animal sounds to create the full soundscape I was imagining.

Modern Planet

Made in a day for my college astronomy final creative project.  Had to incorporate 13 different celestial objects (planets, stars, black holes nebulae, etc) in order to work with what the rest of my group was creating.

In order of appearence:
Nebula: Hopeful and mysterious piano chords point to the life giving capability of Nebulae, the creators of stars.

Binary Stars: A simple synth melody spiraling and panning from right to left represents the duality of these co-dependent stars orbiting one another.

Venus: Lush strings and a vibrant soundscape recreate Venus’ thick atmosphere and dark chords point to a hostile, volcanic surface below

Uranus: Drums play in 6/8 while the rest of the instruments remain in 4/4, creating a polyrhythm reminiscent of Uranus’ sideways tilt against  a “right-side up” solar system.

Pluto: Not quite a planet, Pluto is incomplete.  To represent this, off kilter chords and broken synths create interesting music, but not a complete song.

Supernova: Chaotic sound effects and a sudden low rumble represent the explosive supernova which becomes…

Black Hole: Bass sounds communicate that there no escape upward.  You will only sink deeper into this warping of spacetime where there is neither time nor light

Dark Matter: Dark synths and whispers represent how dark matter might be the remains, or the “ghosts” of dead stars and other celestial objects

Jupiter: In mythology, Jupiter is the king of the gods.  In the solar system, it is a protector planet, blocking asteroids from reaching earth.  Musically, regal horns represent Jupiter’s kingship and protection.

Red Dwarf: Soft chords and gentle fire sounds represent the cool and calm existence of red dwarf stars.

Comets: Uptempo drums, a peppy melody, and whooshing sounds recreate the rapid and random journeys of comets

Neutrinos: Bouncy and phasing synths represent the random dispersion of these complex particles

Astronomy Final Project

Don't worry, I'm not leaving.  This was a song I wrote a year ago as I was thinking about my friends and I growing up and preparing to leave for college.

It took a while to get the production the way I wanted, but now it's done!

Lyrics

Verse 1:
From suburbs down highways
Now look where we are
Each moment and minute
A step from the start

All of the mistakes
Scratches and scars
All but a memory
Held in our hearts

Prechorus:
I’m getting older
I still feel so young
Carry on my shoulders 
The weight of days to come

Chorus:
The last time that I say goodbye to
This place I know
I still will hold onto
All of the names 
Of faces and places 
Where I once belonged
But for now 
So long, my friends

Verse 2:
We just have tonight,
Until we say goodbye
To remember the good times we’ll leave behind

Duty is calling,
And I’m off college
But I pray that I’ll see you again

Prechorus:
I’m getting older
I still feel so young
Carry on my shoulders 
The weight of days to come

Chorus:
The last time that I say goodbye to
This place I know
I still will hold onto
All of the names 
Of faces and places 
Where I once belonged
But for now 
So long, my friends

Bridge:
I wanna go but I don’t know if I’m ready
I wanna leave home, I don’t want to leave you no

Chorus:
The last time that I say goodbye to
This place I know
I still will hold onto
All of the names 
Of faces and places 
Where I once belonged
But for now 
So long, my friends

So Long, My Friends

Original composition I finished over Thanksgiving break.  Turkey is good for creativity!

Piano Portrait No. 1

This track started in the cafeteria at my college.  My friend tapped his smoothie cup on the table and it made a great sound which I promptly recorded on my laptop and turned into a song.  The kick and the snare are made from that plastic smoothie cup sound and the hi-hats are a fork and a knife being tapped together.  Sampled vocals from "smoothie" by corook really brought the project altogether.  Check out her great song as well!  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ps1Hw3wxww

Smooth Blendz

Started this around two years ago, but did not finish it until now.  Used a steady form to ground some stylistic experimentation as I combined electric piano and bass with some unusual synths and programmed drums.

Uphill March

An original piano composition.

Recorded with the Blue Yeti microphone.

Beautiful Conception

An original piano composition.

Thanks to Dan Storie for help with mastering.

Forged

A original mini-musical written for a US Government class assignment about the formation of the U.S. Constitution and based on the popular broadway production "Hamilton."  Please find the lyrics below.

Daniel Shays:
The name’s Daniel Shays
I’m a soldier and a farmer
But those bankers in Boston took my farm away
Not the British, they’re American.  But act the same
Now I can’t go any longer till’ my debt’s been paid
No way
I’m gonna rise up
Cause’ I’m running out of options
Articles of Confederation were good for nothing
I’m done with talking, cause’ that’s all we ever do
And really what has Hamilton even done for you?

Just saying, just saying.
Shays Rebellion

Alexander Hamilton:
Since you called me out,
Let me have a chance
To offer a solution
To your circumstances.
Man, I get why you’re angry
Perturbed, even miffed
But there’s another way to really make a difference

I wanted to rise up too 
That’s the American way
No tyranny or taxing me
Without my say
For the people by the people
For our natural rights
Life, liberty, and property
Or fight, fight, fight, (fight)
   
That was John Locke 
Liberty
State of Nature 
Anarchy
Anarchy?  Anarchy.
Jefferson would agree
Secure my rights
Then stay out of my life
Yeah we don’t like the government,
Our revolution continent.

So articles were made, and freedom reigned,
But rights are only nice until you can’t get paid.
See no taxes, no army, no income, no trade,
The government can’t help you if it doesn’t have a way

But do we have a choice?
Can freedom have a voice?
Is it chaos and noise?
Did Hobbes have a point?
Order was tyranny
This isn’t much better
Where do we go now?
I think I have the answer

(Chorus)
What we really need is a Constitution
Halfway between what we need and what we like
For your rights and mine, we fought a revolution
Now let’s give it some reason
So freedom can thrive

We’ll create a federal government
And separate power into three branches: Executive, Judicial, and Legislative
Each branch will be operated by elected representatives
Like the president, senators, and Supreme Court justices
They’ll be strong enough together to help the American people,
But too weak individually to abuse power
Because each will put a check on another branch
For example, only the Legislative branch votes on what bills it thinks should become laws, but the president has the power to veto a bill at any time.  If a bill does become law, the Judicial Branch is able to declare that law unconstitutional.
This way, the government has enough power
But not too much that things get out of hand 
(back to chorus)

Melancton Smith:
Hold your horses,
I’m sure you have a few
Cause the money in politics has been good to you
And that’s my point, what’s to stop you or anybody else
From taking advantage of the system and building your wealth
Checks and balances sure, but there’s no real guarantee
Of our rights being protected like when the government’s weak
Keep things on the state level, that’s how we’ve done it so far
It might not be perfect, but why would your way be any better?
Anyways, if you want New York, and you do need our vote
Grant us a compromise, a bill of rights, just so we know
This Constitution has a chance of serving all the people
Not just yours and mine, no, America should be equal    





(Chorus)
We need a bill of rights
To protect us tonight
Little bit of everything
For all the troubles life will bring. 
A bill of rights
If you wanna compromise
Give us some assurances
Of freedom then we’ll vote you in 
We need
A bill of rights
Oh yes we need
A bill of rights

Freedom of speech
Bill of rights
Freedom of Religion
Bill of rights
Give me my guns
Bill of Rights
I don’t want soldiers
Bill of Rights
Show me the warrant 
Bill of Rights
I’m not talking
Bill of Rights
I want a jury
Bill of Rights
Only fair punishment
Bill of Rights

If you want our vote
We need this
There’s other way around it 
(back to chorus)

Hamilton's Return (The Prequel To Hamilton)

Hamilton's Return (Prequel to Hamilton)

Hamilton's Return (Prequel To Hamilton)

Chicagoland-based student and songwriter.

Paul Wolfe

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