Un funk mécanique

do we even exist anymore?

Strawberry Lips

Pull Back The Sea

Pull Back The Sea (Duo)

My maternal grandmother's cousin, Bill, had a lifelong interest in magic. It all began during his childhood when he had the flu. A friend taught him a few card tricks to help pass the time, and from that moment on, he was captivated and dedicated himself to perfecting his skills. In 1929, shortly after college, Bill joined the Society of American Magicians, hoping to make magic his career. His parents were concerned and did not approve of their son becoming a magician and entertainer. They encouraged him to give up magic and follow his father into the insurance business. He tried it for a while, but the allure of magic was too strong, and he eventually became a professional magician. Throughout the 1940s and 50s, he was constantly touring, performing a wide variety of illusions alongside well-known entertainers of the era, as well as his wife, who was his onstage assistant. Sadly, after many years, magic and fame became an unhealthy obsession that took a significant toll on Bill and his family. However, in the beginning, it brought him a sense of wonder and adventure. This piece aims to capture those early years.

The Magician

Cast of Characters:

Cgmaness – https://open.spotify.com/artist/0RmKLMyiXe4eVeXa032MDV?si=pJS46q9cRDmArzLu-g_3qQ – Chris – acoustic guitar, composition, production, and mix
K2 and the Three [and the Four]--@k2andthe3, @k2-kara –Ken– drums
Entheogenic Psychonaught (Josh Clary)– @josh-clary-1 – Warwick four string fretless bass 
J.J. Terrell-- @j-j-terrell—JJ-- piano and lead synth
Mistermark-- @user-432503709 -- Mark – VST cello, strings, clarinet, flute, and synth pad
Nyla K-- @user-162163879 -- vocals and lyrics
TexMex Shaman– @texmex-shaman –Stephen–  Gibson Earle Scruggs banjo

This song started as many of our best do, with Chris coming up with it on his acoustic guitar. He shared it with the rest of us shortly after, and we were all very excited to tuck into it. 
  Ken was fist at the trough for this one, adding his jazzy, expressive drums. Josh came in as soon as he had a beat to work with, adding his signature fretless bass to the mix. Not long after that, JJ broke out the hauntingly melodic piano and Shine On You Crazy Diamond timbred synth you hear throughout. 
  Once it had a good structure to it, Mark came in and added the dynamic cello swells that open the song, some subtle strings, the melodic clarinet and flute, and a bit of synth pad near the end to spice up the soup a bit. He also had the great idea to ask Nyla to add some vocals, which she did in her typically dynamic and expressive way using her original lyrics. Last, but definitely not least, we convinced Stephen to add some of his perfectly mood-setting banjo. 
  Once it was all in the can, it actually sat for several months before being revived by Chris, who also did the production and mix, expertly, as always.
   This song is an example of Eclectic Collective coming together to bring another one of Chris' brilliant songs to life. You should check out his new albums on Spotify, which you can find by clicking the link next to his name in the credits. 
  Also, this is our first time collaborating with Nyla K. We wanted to find a way to include her talents on this one, and her vocals here are magical. You can hear a lot more of them on her page if you follow the link next to her name in the credits, too. We hope you enjoy listening to this song as much as we enjoyed creating it.

Original lyrics by Nyla K: 

I once overheard 
a hushed up conversation 
'tween the fishes coming home 
and thank god for a holiday
yea
making the bull frogs sing for joy
as they awake
yea
...and this... is what they had to say

Spanish moss and bullfrogs
cattail cotton in the wind
yea...
and won't U take me to the river
yea...
take me on down to the river
and U better not say....


Better Not Say (The Eclectic Collective)

Schwimmbad

Finding Out

שיר של אנאבל


Shiver in the doorway
Secrets on your skin
Nightmares in the corners
They're creeping back again
You wear a painted silence
A fragile masquerade
But shadows love the quiet
Where heavy hearts are made


Speak the storm that’s in you
Let the thunder break through

Time to talk  let the walls fall down
Time to talk  turn the fear around
Time to talk  in the echo, we belong
When we share the pain, we grow strong

Footsteps in a hallway
Pacing through your mind
Trouble leaves its fingerprints
On everything you find
But I am here beside you
A lantern in the black
Name the ghosts that haunt you
We’ll never let them back


Speak the storm that’s in you
Let the thunder break through


Time to talk  let the walls fall down
Time to talk  turn the fear around
Time to talk  in the echo, we belong
When we share the pain, we grow strong


Whispers sharpen, cut like knives
But shared they soften, shifting lives
No one bleeds in solitude
Raise your voice, break the brood


Time to talk let the walls fall down
Time to talk  turn the fear around
Time to talk  in the echo, we belong
When we share the pain, we grow strong


TIME TO TALK

David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World (Ryan Pearce-Kelly Cover)
Tribute to the late David Bowie & Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)

David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World (Ryan Pearce - Kelly Cover)

zebra 1 - guitar/vocals
zebra 2 - guitar/vocals/art
zebra 3 - bass/vocals
zebra 4 - drums/vocals

do we even exist anymore?

yellow striped zebra

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