I wrote, recorded, mixed & mastered Violins on my own, over the course of two years, in some of the least-ideal conditions possible. I play all of the instruments on the album, with the exception of the cellos in "Houdini" as well as the backing vocals throughout.
Thematically, "Violins" sits at the crossroad between adolescence and adulthood. Its a time period of difficult change, when nostalgia begins to set in and sentiment becomes fleeting. Because I stayed in New York after dropping out of school, I found myself suddenly thrust into the famous, "real world". Despite my motivated commitment to my choice, I was desperately homesick. Suburban Massachusetts is no place for a career to begin, but coping with the notion that there will be no returning to that simple, beautiful way of life became increasingly saddening. This album, in a way, is my tribute to my childhood. I included a great deal of miscellaneous sounds I dug up from my past, such as the crickets that chirp on summer nights in the pond behind my house, audio samples from my early days of recording with my friends and even phonograph recordings of my late grandparents. I knew that I would only have one chance to accurately capture all of these emotions and themes in my writing before the memories became too fractured. This album took a toll on my spirit, as well as my health, but I have no regrets. Even as I type this with hands that have turned arthritic from my computer mouse, this project was worth it to me. "Violins" is the time capsule I never got around to burying.

LYRICS:
Bury me next to my dog,
to serve my sentence there,
under our backyard.
But, leave a shovel in my arms.
I'll wake up & I'll carve a hole into my heart,
a tunnel to the stars.

Why a milky way so great?
Why an ocean dug so deep?
Why this frame of time for me?
& why this tiny galaxy?
Why the stars that I can't see,
why the light years in between
& why a heaven out of reach?

A species cursed, but we'll maintain
a stranger's wave is not so strange,
a mother's love that knows no range.
So, give us pistols, give us planes.
Give us hope that we might change.
Give us time to try again.
Give us wine made from the rain.

My obituary's gallery:
One newborn, on elderly.
& what a shame; this age may look the best on me.
I'm scared I'll work these days away
while my puppy's turning grey.
But, I'll be back, for her, to stay,
but, I'll never live to see that day.
There's no way.

Violins

Por Qué

I wrote, recorded, mixed & mastered Violins on my own, over the course of two years, in some of the least-ideal conditions possible. I play all of the instruments on the album, with the exception of the cellos in "Houdini" as well as the backing vocals throughout.
Thematically, "Violins" sits at the crossroad between adolescence and adulthood. Its a time period of difficult change, when nostalgia begins to set in and sentiment becomes fleeting. Because I stayed in New York after dropping out of school, I found myself suddenly thrust into the famous, "real world". Despite my motivated commitment to my choice, I was desperately homesick. Suburban Massachusetts is no place for a career to begin, but coping with the notion that there will be no returning to that simple, beautiful way of life became increasingly saddening. This album, in a way, is my tribute to my childhood. I included a great deal of miscellaneous sounds I dug up from my past, such as the crickets that chirp on summer nights in the pond behind my house, audio samples from my early days of recording with my friends and even phonograph recordings of my late grandparents. I knew that I would only have one chance to accurately capture all of these emotions and themes in my writing before the memories became too fractured. This album took a toll on my spirit, as well as my health, but I have no regrets. Even as I type this with hands that have turned arthritic from my computer mouse, this project was worth it to me. "Violins" is the time capsule I never got around to burying.

LYRICS:
Go.
Go & go alone.
Go while you're young,
before all you said wasn't done,
while your legs can run.

A sign
Should a sign arise,
then watch the fools divide
to port or three starboards.
Reserve your right.

But, grab a coat,
don't forget the ropes
& show them to your ghost.
Bring just enough for the sails you've sewn
Waste no line, wind or time on the flag you'd flown

----

Was last seen waving goodbye
from the beach, where he will die,
for the summer sun to bleach him white.
So, "Fare & fly well & high!" I should've cried.
But, my trusty anchor,
unchained, will descend.
So, be brave now, old friend
& rust away your trust in men,
when down & down you go again.

Then, straight from the river's mouth, fell an ocean.
A lighthouse in a white blouse, stood the siren.
& right then, the deep end never looked so shallow.
& had His bedroom ever bled such a red, 
as it did this morning, when we woke,
when the day broke?

----

Touring Stockholm won't barricade the brig.
A weathered cage for the truth He wouldn't sing,
but, twenty years between the deck and the abyss,
until the syndrome & sin drove the locks from His lips
& He said,

"Go & cut me right down the middle.
Because, we all need a second fiddle
& I've been dying to feel the sickle.
So bring an ear close & hear about your hero:

Those ill-hammered nails bloodied no son of mine!
His needles thread lined sleeves of hidden wines;
the Houdini of his time.
No, he didn't have to die.

----

Violins;
Today a cow died for my sins again.
What an image to be painted in,
but, it has never dried so slow,

so go.

Houdini

I wrote, recorded, mixed & mastered Violins on my own, over the course of two years, in some of the least-ideal conditions possible. I play all of the instruments on the album, with the exception of the cellos in "Houdini" as well as the backing vocals throughout.
Thematically, "Violins" sits at the crossroad between adolescence and adulthood. Its a time period of difficult change, when nostalgia begins to set in and sentiment becomes fleeting. Because I stayed in New York after dropping out of school, I found myself suddenly thrust into the famous, "real world". Despite my motivated commitment to my choice, I was desperately homesick. Suburban Massachusetts is no place for a career to begin, but coping with the notion that there will be no returning to that simple, beautiful way of life became increasingly saddening. This album, in a way, is my tribute to my childhood. I included a great deal of miscellaneous sounds I dug up from my past, such as the crickets that chirp on summer nights in the pond behind my house, audio samples from my early days of recording with my friends and even phonograph recordings of my late grandparents. I knew that I would only have one chance to accurately capture all of these emotions and themes in my writing before the memories became too fractured. This album took a toll on my spirit, as well as my health, but I have no regrets. Even as I type this with hands that have turned arthritic from my computer mouse, this project was worth it to me. "Violins" is the time capsule I never got around to burying.

The Dirty Hemp

I wrote, recorded, mixed & mastered Violins on my own, over the course of two years, in some of the least-ideal conditions possible. I play all of the instruments on the album, with the exception of the cellos in "Houdini" as well as the backing vocals throughout.
Thematically, "Violins" sits at the crossroad between adolescence and adulthood. Its a time period of difficult change, when nostalgia begins to set in and sentiment becomes fleeting. Because I stayed in New York after dropping out of school, I found myself suddenly thrust into the famous, "real world". Despite my motivated commitment to my choice, I was desperately homesick. Suburban Massachusetts is no place for a career to begin, but coping with the notion that there will be no returning to that simple, beautiful way of life became increasingly saddening. This album, in a way, is my tribute to my childhood. I included a great deal of miscellaneous sounds I dug up from my past, such as the crickets that chirp on summer nights in the pond behind my house, audio samples from my early days of recording with my friends and even phonograph recordings of my late grandparents. I knew that I would only have one chance to accurately capture all of these emotions and themes in my writing before the memories became too fractured. This album took a toll on my spirit, as well as my health, but I have no regrets. Even as I type this with hands that have turned arthritic from my computer mouse, this project was worth it to me. "Violins" is the time capsule I never got around to burying.

LYRICS:
New York's silly city sings
taxi cabs to accompany
But, this jungle is not so green
& the tallest trees I've ever seen

I've got friend's I seldom see
I've got a bed, but I seldom sleep
So, Santa Claus, don't spoil me
if I'm not home by Christmas Eve

Hello, I'm a monkey, I'm a man
I've been told to climb these trees the best I can
Then, a little pig spun me one little story
about something big & bad & headed for me
Now I'm stacking bricks to heed his big, bad warning
If I see the morning, I'll mourn two friends gone before me

First time stealing at sixteen
the day I graced the sky with a B.B.
But, that bird still haunts my dreams
& I curse the hands that took the wings

Someone, save the monkey, shoot the man
The keeper of the zoo; my evil twin
But, "The cage is not a curse, it is a blessing"
Until freedom, in the mind, starts manifesting
So, if first thing is first, I'm stopping second guessing
& when I see the moon, that ring of keys, I'll be collecting

New York's weary city sleeps
Brooklyn cries, Manhattan weeps
But I've given up on counting sheep
No stars above, no home to me

Walking just to lift my feet
No quicker sand than this concrete
No place like home, no better time machine
But, I still don't know;
Am I more man or monkey?

City Song

I wrote, recorded, mixed & mastered Violins on my own, over the course of two years, in some of the least-ideal conditions possible. I play all of the instruments on the album, with the exception of the cellos in "Houdini" as well as the backing vocals throughout.
Thematically, "Violins" sits at the crossroad between adolescence and adulthood. Its a time period of difficult change, when nostalgia begins to set in and sentiment becomes fleeting. Because I stayed in New York after dropping out of school, I found myself suddenly thrust into the famous, "real world". Despite my motivated commitment to my choice, I was desperately homesick. Suburban Massachusetts is no place for a career to begin, but coping with the notion that there will be no returning to that simple, beautiful way of life became increasingly saddening. This album, in a way, is my tribute to my childhood. I included a great deal of miscellaneous sounds I dug up from my past, such as the crickets that chirp on summer nights in the pond behind my house, audio samples from my early days of recording with my friends and even phonograph recordings of my late grandparents. I knew that I would only have one chance to accurately capture all of these emotions and themes in my writing before the memories became too fractured. This album took a toll on my spirit, as well as my health, but I have no regrets. Even as I type this with hands that have turned arthritic from my computer mouse, this project was worth it to me. "Violins" is the time capsule I never got around to burying.

LYRICS:

Where We Lost The Wheels

I wrote, recorded, mixed & mastered Violins on my own, over the course of two years, in some of the least-ideal conditions possible. I play all of the instruments on the album, with the exception of the cellos in "Houdini" as well as the backing vocals throughout.
Thematically, "Violins" sits at the crossroad between adolescence and adulthood. Its a time period of difficult change, when nostalgia begins to set in and sentiment becomes fleeting. Because I stayed in New York after dropping out of school, I found myself suddenly thrust into the famous, "real world". Despite my motivated commitment to my choice, I was desperately homesick. Suburban Massachusetts is no place for a career to begin, but coping with the notion that there will be no returning to that simple, beautiful way of life became increasingly saddening. This album, in a way, is my tribute to my childhood. I included a great deal of miscellaneous sounds I dug up from my past, such as the crickets that chirp on summer nights in the pond behind my house, audio samples from my early days of recording with my friends and even phonograph recordings of my late grandparents. I knew that I would only have one chance to accurately capture all of these emotions and themes in my writing before the memories became too fractured. This album took a toll on my spirit, as well as my health, but I have no regrets. Even as I type this with hands that have turned arthritic from my computer mouse, this project was worth it to me. "Violins" is the time capsule I never got around to burying.

LYRICS:
This world is tearing out her teeth.
She swears her heart don't bleed;
Never this bad.
Curse of the species, she maintains,
with hope that we might change
or spend these lives afraid.

She says, "Good luck finding me again."
Because she knows how I find what I don't seek.

But, on this bridge across the sea, I stand.
& who will save me from Sir Isaac's dream? This land of the free?
Her colors run from rain, but I think she's painting me.

----

I miss the blue September sky, the candles of July
& the fire in my eyes.
I've read some lips within the dark,
I've heard some breaking hearts & I've seen the scars.

If we fall below that damn trap door, that hole we dug in the floor,
then she found out what that lever was for.
But I recall dreams of stealing cars; Drives to where I'm far away.
What a wonderful place to be lost.

& when the highways all got crossed
& the wheels had all fall off,
I dreamed I'd take me a walk.

----

She says, "Good luck trying to breathe again."
Because she knows how I'd smoke these lungs to sleep.
So every night I try to dream again, but how could I sleep?
If dead men never weep, then how could I believe?

But, on the day she caught me between the bridge & the sea,
I swear I saw her wings.

Wings

Kidding (Intro)

This is one of my favorites from S&G - It truly exemplifies Paul Simon's mastery of songwriting at the most fundamental and humanistic level. I salvaged these mono guitar & vocal tracks from a failed cover video attempt, then added the extra instrumentation afterwords. I'm wishing I had spent more time learning the details of Paul's guitar part, but I hope I did it justice nonetheless.

*** To check out my original music, you can find links on my Profile page or simply search " Brady O'Keefe " on your streaming platform of choice. Thanks for checking it out!

Overs (Simon & Garfunkel Cover)

This is a shortened version of the 6th track off of 'Violins', released in March of 2018. The penultimate track of Violins, Houdini serves as the album's sonic climax, as well as the turning point within the album's narrative. Lyrically, it begins with a desolate picture of the inner-conflictions that travel alongside solitude. It is a regretful look back on the hurried efforts of stepping off into the world, having never taken the time to cherish the bliss of adolescence before it was far behind. The previous songs on Violins each revolve around this same regret. At the midway point of "Houdini", my focus shifts from the past to the present.
"Then, straight from the rivers mouth, fell an ocean. A lighthouse, in a white blouse, stood the siren. And, right then, the deep end never looked so shallow."
This is the moment when, for me, the narrowing narrowing hope which I was chasing gave way to a powerful sense of purpose and inspiration. Having given myself nothing to return to and nothing to fall back on, the only thing that lay ahead was endless possibility. My realization that it is exclusively one's own responsibility to live passionately, morally and fully continues to develop throughout the rest of the track. A divine conversation before the final climax validates the sacrifices one must make in seeking an independent purpose, and the liberation within realism.

Houdini (Radio Edit)

Marli and I found out about this contest that Portugal. The Man is holding in which we could cover their song, "Live in the Moment". We were a little late to the party and had to scrap this out in less than a week, but we hope y'all enjoy nonetheless!

Vocals:  Marli Delaney, Brady O'Keefe
Instrumentation:  Brady O'Keefe
(Panflutes & Kalimba: Marli Delaney)

Recorded, produced, mixed & mastered by Brady O'Keefe

The loveli Marli's soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/marli-delaney

This is a cover of a song by Portugal. The Man, & they rocketh.

Live In The Moment (Portugal. The Man Cover)

I grew up in Franklin, a suburban town in southern Massachusetts. I began privately writing music in my early teenage years, hoping I would eventually strengthen my abilities enough to feel comfortable sharing my songs with the world outside of my bedroom. At 19, I decided to drop out of college in New York after two frustrating years, and instead devote my time to furthering my own music. I have spent the entirety of my time since then honing my writing and musicianship and developing some type of artistic voice. Over the last year & a half, my main focus has been creating an album with which I hope to expand my audience and establish myself as an independent artist. I wrote, recorded, mixed & mastered my first record, Violins, on my own over the course of two years, in some of the least-ideal conditions possible. Following the release of the album, I moved from New York back to Massachusetts.

Now, I am regularly gigging and performing my original music with a band of my close friends, in addition to writing more new music. Despite all of the doubtfulness and apprehension I experienced during my time in New York, I couldn't be happier with where my band and I have ended up. With a talented and reliable team in my corner, I now see a much brighter future and a much clearer path for my music. Follow me on instagram for updates on when you can catch us playing live (usually in the Boston area). Also, feel free to shoot me a message if you're interested in booking us, or adding us to a bill for a show.

You can find my published work on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, YouTube and Bandcamp. Hope you like what you hear!

PS - Check out my producer / miscellaneous Soundcloud account called "Franklin Public Schools" to hear what my friends and I have been cooking up in our spare time!

Brady O'Keefe 2

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