Cjbeards

I have had this song on the backburner for a while now and I’m super glad I got it to a place where I feel good about releasing it! It has been a number of months since I made a song where I wrote my own lyrics/vocal melody and I love the play on words I had with this one. Also the finished version you see here is actually not the only version of the song I made. I originally made the song with a more slow-paced/chill feel, and I’ll add that version below for anyone curious. I love working with new vocalists as well and it was really cool to work with Trenton on this one, hope you all like some jazzy vibes :)

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/4re4ydr5xduqvc6/Killed%20The%20Cat%20Instrumental.mp3?dl=1

▶ Killed The Cat (Version 1):
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2fjf9o5oau6oq8r/Killed%20The%20Cat%20%28Version%201%29.mp3?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Trenton:
https://www.instagram.com/trentonmusicofficial/

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-killed-the-cat-feat-trenton-lyrics

Free Download / Stream

Cjbeards - Killed The Cat (feat. Trenton)

I have seen a huge amount of deep house cover songs recently and been getting a bit addicted to the style myself. With that in mind I decided to try and return to the deep house genre for this song and throw in a bit of my own flare as per usual :). Hope you all like it!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/12feijg1gy550w4/Devil%27s%20Twin%20%28Instrumental%29.mp3?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-devils-twin-lyrics

Cjbeards - Devil's Twin

In some of my past songs I experimented a bit with an electric guitar sound, and for this one I went a little crazy on the distortion to try and turn what was a nice guitar into a powerhouse of spooky energy. At the same time recently I have been trying to not overdo it on the high end to make more room for the instruments that often take center stage there such as the vocal and guitar, so in this case that involved putting the bass more in the background than usual. I’m loving the spooky vibes recently though and I hope you are too!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9rkrugr9gzvet1q/Monster%20Under%20The%20Bed%20-%20Instrumental.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-monster-under-the-bed-lyrics

Monster Under The Bed

I remember a while back wanting to give the drum and bass genre another try and that was exactly how this one began, with the drum beat. Quickly though as per usual things took a turn, and -50 bpm along with one creepy electric guitar later, this tangent of a song was born. Hope y’all like it, I’ll be back soon with another one I’m pretty hyped about!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ptuuq4748r9hr02/Closer%20-%20Instrumental.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-closer-lyrics

Closer

It's been a little while since I’ve written my own lyrics (since Killed The Cat) and so I’m really excited to have taken another stab at it with this one! I’ve found it fun and interesting to take common expressions and twist them in weird/unexpected ways and you’ll likely see more of that in the future :). Here we go, tick tock tick tock pee-ka-boom!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hhjhsbq1kl1bx9o/Peekaboom%20-%20Instrumental.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-peekaboom-lyrics

Peekaboom

It’s October 2021, I’m in a barber shop waiting to get a haircut and hear Ghostbusters playing on the background radio. I noticed the “drop” sounded a bit like a Cjbeards song and thus, the idea was born. I tried to really take things to the next level and with Joey’s voice everything just seemed to fall into place. Not to mention the spooky ghost artwork was also drawn by my good friend. Happy Halloween!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/jgizlqieywsqpy3/Who%20You%20Gonna%20Call%20-%20Instrumental.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Joey Diggs Jr.:
https://www.instagram.com/joeydiggsjr/

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-who-you-gonna-call-lyrics

Who You Gonna Call (feat. Joey Diggs Jr.)

After “Sweet Dreams” somewhat blew up the past few years I knew I wanted to revamp it. I didn’t want to exactly recreate the song however and so I decided to take the final melody which was a small part of the old song and effectively turn it into its own song, with an awesome new vocalist as well. I hope you all like this version, should I revamp more past songs? 

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/zuth3m71jwbm6h0/Sweetest%20Dreams%20-%20Instrumental.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Ivy Marie:
https://www.instagram.com/ivymariemusic/

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-sweetest-dreams-lyrics

Sweetest Dreams (feat. Ivy Marie)

Aaaand we’re back in 2023! I figured it was about time I changed up my look to make way for the next album, and here we are with the first song kicking things off! Since making “Killed The Cat” and then “Peekaboom" I got really into taking common sayings and twisting them lyrically in interesting ways. Now I’m really excited to be releasing these next songs having written almost all the vocals/lyrics myself instead of using samples, and most of which I based on common phrases (foreshadowing next album title…). Scarlett was also the perfect vocalist to drive this one home. Hope y’all are as excited for this year as I am!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1ube54x1r4f69sr/Sticks%20And%20Stones%20%28Instrumental%29.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Scarlett:
https://www.instagram.com/musicbyscarlett/

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-sticks-and-stones-lyrics

Sticks And Stones (feat. Scarlett)

Years ago I made a song called “Time” and was a big fan of the melody and instruments used. Though while looking back I realized how much I would change if I were to do it again today, and since I’m in the mood of somewhat revamping older songs, this idea was born. This was also the first song I’ve done where the lyrics are original but I didn’t write them. Instead l wanted to hear how a vocalist might write (Jenny) on top of the already written instrumental and see how things turned out! I’m a big fan and I hope you all like this one with a slightly more consistent sound!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ksgbf4w821xglt6/Deep%20End%20%28Instrumental%29.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-and-jenny-g-deep-end-lyrics

Deep End

I couldn’t leave you all hanging on my last short instrumental, so two weeks later here we are! You might be able to tell from the lyrics I made this song around Halloween time, and had quite a bit of fun experimenting with some gnarly bass sounds. I’ll be back soon!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lyu22ia9e11knsa/Trick%20Or%20Traitor%20%28Instrumental%29.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-trick-or-traitor-lyrics

Trick Or Traitor

It has been a little while since I’ve made a vocal song with a drop that didn’t have a vocal focus (and a while since I’ve brought back a dancy feel), so I figured it was time. I might also be listening a bit too much to the SALT playlist on Spotify with all these edgy lyrics…, but even so I hope you all like how this one turned out, see ya at the next one! 

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/se1k1snco8uohvm/Hand%20That%20Feeds%20Ya%20%28Instrumental%29.wav?dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-hand-that-feeds-ya-lyrics

Hand That Feeds Ya

I’ve long been a big fan of The Lord of the Rings and subsequently The Hobbit, and the Ed Sheeran song “I See Fire” that plays at the end of the second Hobbit movie always felt so moving and powerful to me. One day after listening to it again I was inspired to stack a slice of my style onto the song. This one’s definitely pretty different from my usual sound and still keeps some elements of the original tune in there, but I think (hope) if you listen till the very end you won’t be disappointed.

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/fhypjeei2j4kj9fyhh3tj/I-See-Fire-Instrumental.wav?rlkey=qwcgnx8gsx6ldmqrywootbqko&dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-i-see-fire-lyrics

▶ Acoustic guitar played by Gabriele Cento
https://www.gabrielecento.com/

I See Fire

Sometimes instead of starting a song completely from scratch I’ll play around in one of my past project files with some of the instruments and sounds I like. Eventually at a certain point the song will take a turn and introduce either a new element or combination of those past sounds, turning it into its own thing. That was the case with this song after messing around in the “Sticks And Stones” project file for some time and stumbling across some wildly panned strings. Hope you all like a bit of a return to the dark side! 

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/z4u4d6aczir9wkz4hyemf/Bad-Deeds-Instrumental.wav?rlkey=wogsgrbjo8n3v11jboa576rer&dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-bad-deeds-lyrics

Bad Deeds

In the second drop of “Sweetest Dreams” I had a combination of sounds that I really wanted to revisit and build a full song around, with my own unique lyrics. That idea turned into this catchy dark track with a returning vocalist that I think just nails the vibe. Is scaredy-catty even a real word? Who knows, but I hope you all like it!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yzfwjqjrb9e8oneo6uv4b/Scaredy-Catty-Instrumental.wav?rlkey=26qsd9402p41hsvr5cyisg45q&dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-scaredy-catty-lyrics

Scaredy Catty

This song is a bit different from my usual style with a slightly more pop feel and some pretty minimal instrumental parts in the intro and bridge. I’m noticing it can be very difficult to make a vocal sound in-key and powerful by itself but I hope you like this attempt at a slightly different style (and still some darkness for those that listen till the end). Enjoy the slick animation and my first “explicit” song! 

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/821hsyq7x1rnuz11keu41/Box-Office-Killer-Instrumental.wav?rlkey=ol895wy9e0fjzjrrcc5xulqc0&dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-box-office-killer-lyrics

Box Office Killer

Whenever I feel I’ve made something really original and the start of something new I’ve liked to use that as my break point to start the next set of songs. “Sticks And Stones” was a great example where I felt the style was both me and really original, and it started a new theme with twisting certain popular expressions. I also think it has been great to group songs and be able to look back at how my sound has progressed through those different periods. And now here we are with ‘Masquerade’, a new favorite of mine including one of my favorite go-to vocalists, to kickstart a new look. Also fun fact, I remember being initially inspired to make this song by some of the music from the “Werewolf by Night” Marvel Special. So let’s pull back the curtain and discover what the next chapter has in store shall we! 

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/nlimstut53m3vlcjngs8s/Masquerade-Instrumental.wav?rlkey=gpayvcfi4get0jek59ugf0zpm&dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-masquerade-lyrics

Masquerade

I originally created this song as another take on the ending string melody from one of my previous songs, “By My Side”. After having gone back I realized how much I loved that melody, and with Scarlett nailing the vocal as per usual, when all was said and done this song turned out to be a new favorite of mine. Looking forward to exploring this style more in the future!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/v2v5lqisjoddo7lo8n677/Boo-Hoo-Instrumental.wav?rlkey=gvvjj7xmxo9q50bm4v65vikf7&st=bcif3ruy&dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Scarlett:
https://www.instagram.com/musicbyscarlett/

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-boo-hoo-lyrics

Boo Hoo (feat. Scarlett)

My goal for many of my upcoming songs in this next phase is to take a more playful approach and build on some sounds from my previous album, with the big exception of this dark song. I actually spent more time working on this song than any song in the past and while I don’t expect it to be the most popular, it turned into something truly unique that I’m really proud of. I based this song on the experience of the Joker (particularly from the 2019 film) and the idea that “a villain is just a victim whose story hasn’t been told”. You might notice two distinct voices in the song: one in the present and a darker voice from the past shaping the present voice into a villain. Maybe you can spot some Joker quotes as well :). I hope you all like the journey this one takes you on and the new look, I’ll be back with a bit more fun soon! 

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6nrxednn0zyobzarokay0/Cast-A-Villain-Instrumental.wav?rlkey=pa42g1rbg0418ukgd6etrysp3&st=8q1kmgmn&dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-cast-a-villain-lyrics

Cast A Villain

It’s time to make things a bit more fun and play a game of Marco Polo, happy Halloween!

▶ Instrumental Version Download:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yybg8t32iace9uyd80eve/Marco-Polo-Instrumental.wav?rlkey=8vgabgqmz7tb16cnxtd5x0eng&st=c06lgcqr&dl=1

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-marco-polo-lyrics

Marco Polo

It’s time for a new song, and the last one in this mini series! This one really took a turn and became something I did not expect and of course have no idea what genre to call it. Still building on my dark-ish side though. Stay tuned, the next one coming out is, I believe, the best song I have made yet :). Hope you all like it!

▶ Free music usage and how to credit:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZTM7nf4Uia19c-NQheqPnLAk1Bs6NS6XZiLt7Mk4Z1Q/edit?usp=sharing

▶ Lyrics:
https://genius.com/Cjbeards-sweet-dreams-lyrics

Cjbeards

WhoKnows