The Black Swan is my most serious song. It is about chasing nothing but excellence, about living with the kind of devotion that refuses to accept anything less than your best. It is about wanting every action, every creation, every performance to be so precise, so pure, that it hurts. I have always been fascinated by the price of excellence. A ballerina dancing until her feet bleed, a drummer playing until their palms are raw and calloused, an artist painting or writing until their hands ache and their mind is exhausted. That pain is not weakness. It is proof. Proof of devotion, proof of discipline, proof of a passion that refuses to settle for anything ordinary.

Excellence is brutal. It is raw. It is unforgiving. And yet, in that very brutality lies its deepest beauty. There is a strange grace in the suffering that comes from perfecting your craft. It strips you down to who you really are. It pushes you past comfort and demands honesty. It tests your limits and forces you to confront yourself in ways that nothing else can. It is where human resilience and obsession meet. It is where the ordinary becomes extraordinary. When passion meets excellence it does more than shape skill. It defines character. It reveals the core of a person in ways that no easy success ever could.

The Black Swan is about embracing that intensity. It is about understanding that greatness does not arrive casually. It is not for the lazy, the distracted, or the unwilling. It demands everything and asks for everything in return. Those who pursue it will bleed, sweat, and endure in the name of the art they love. And in that struggle lies the most profound beauty. The transformation that comes from pushing past limits turns effort into something transcendent. Every scar, every blister, every aching muscle or calloused hand tells a story of dedication, of sacrifice, and of passion that burns brighter than comfort or fear.

Every note, every beat, every word in The Black Swan carries this truth. It is a celebration of those who refuse to be ordinary, who fight for their vision with everything they have. It asks the listener to consider whether they are willing to give their all, to face struggle without turning away, to accept the pain that comes with excellence. Passion without excellence fades quickly. Excellence without passion is hollow. When the two meet they create a force that cannot be ignored. It leaves a mark on anyone who witnesses it. It is unforgettable.

This song is my tribute to the relentless pursuit of mastery. It honors every soul who sacrifices comfort for craft, who pushes themselves beyond what seems possible, who understands that the beauty of life is found not in ease but in effort. The Black Swan is dark and intense, demanding attention and reflection. It mirrors the human spirit at its most dedicated, its most raw, and its most alive. It is proof that greatness is not free but that the journey toward it is worth every step, every pain, and every sacrifice.

NOW ON SPOTIFY TOO!!
https://open.spotify.com/track/2rwYsZpDKwX06qSJ3olKYX?si=905269c954b04cfe

The Black Swan

Time passes, but it changes nothing. Days blur into nights, seasons shift, and yet the ache remains. I try to move forward, to live a life without her, but every step is shadowed by memory. I see her in the faces of strangers, in fleeting glances, in echoes of laughter that remind me too vividly of what I had. I try to fill the emptiness with music, with friends, with work, with routine, but the spaces she once occupied in my life remain untouched.

Even in my attempts to let go, the memory of her clings to me. I remember the small things: the way she tucked her hair behind her ear when she was nervous, the way she hummed softly while cooking, the way she smiled when she caught me staring. I remember the nights under the trees, the rain-soaked walks, the intimacy we shared, the quiet moments of understanding without words. Those memories are mine, yet they are bittersweet, filled with both warmth and sorrow.

Sometimes I sit with my guitar, letting it speak the words my lips cannot form. Each note is a confession, each chord a lament, each melody a scream into the void. The music becomes my refuge, the only way I can process the storm inside me. I pour everything I feel into it—the longing, the anger, the grief, the love, the betrayal. It cries with me, it screams for me, it mourns with me. Through it, I find a semblance of release, though the pain never fully fades.

I reflect on what we had, what we lost, and what I carry forward. I am haunted, yes, but I am also alive, still capable of love, still capable of feeling, still capable of creation. The memory of her is both a wound and a lesson, a reminder of the intensity of life and love. I may never fully understand why it ended, why she betrayed what we had, why happiness was so fleeting, but I can honor what we shared. I can hold onto the beauty, even as I grieve the destruction.

And so I lament. I lament the love, the joy, the intimacy, the dreams, and the betrayal. I lament the emptiness that follows and the echoes that remain. I lament what was lost and what can never be reclaimed. And yet, within that lament, there is also a strange, fragile gratitude. For in loving her, in living those moments, in feeling so deeply, I experienced something extraordinary. I carry it with me, in my music, in my memory, in my heart.

Even now, when I close my eyes, I see her, I hear her, I feel her. And even though it hurts, even though it haunts me, I would not erase it. I would not erase the laughter, the passion, the nights under the trees, the love we shared, the fire we ignited. I will always lament, and I will always remember. And in that remembrance, I find a small, quiet strength. A strength that says that even in loss, even in betrayal, even in grief, love leaves its mark, and no one can take that away.

ITS ON MY SPOTIFY TOO
https://open.spotify.com/track/6L87eUVaHVat0SbR7RBzUm?si=36cd206f81f24772

Lament

On the last weeks of July, I heard some news from a friend. It was about someone close to me, someone I’ve always cared about like family. We have had our differences, even fights, but this one cut deeper than anything before.

I learned that things were said about me that were private, things meant only to stay between us. That kind of betrayal hits in a way that makes your chest tighten and your blood boil. I was angry, filled with rage, thinking about all the moments of trust that seemed to mean nothing.

I wrote a song about it. It is called Loose Tongues. Even though it comes from a place of pain, it also comes from a desire to heal. I want to forgive, not because the other person deserves it, but because my soul needs it. Holding on to this rage only drags me down. People can hurt you in ways that feel personal, and sometimes that is all they know how to do. But letting it consume me is my choice, and I choose peace.

Forgiveness does not mean I want to keep seeing or speaking to this person. I want distance and boundaries. But I also want peace. There is strength in saying, “You hurt me, but I will not let this define my heart.” There is freedom in letting go, in stepping away from pain without letting it grow inside.

Life teaches us through moments like this. People will betray, they will lie, they will misuse trust. At the end of the day, we decide how much power those actions hold over us. I choose not to let anger rule me. I choose to forgive.

I know this is not easy. Rage whispers in your ear, convincing you that revenge or resentment is the only answer. But it is not. My soul deserves peace. That peace comes from forgiveness, even when the other person does not ask for it or may not deserve it.

This is a reminder to myself and anyone reading this. Forgiveness is not for them. It is for you. For your mind, for your heart, for your soul. Rage may feel justified, but peace feels better.

That is why I wrote Loose Tongues. It is my song, my release, my way of moving forward.

OUT ON SPOTIFY TOO!!!
https://open.spotify.com/track/29ozaKSCzMMZ4ZsYHGmnQ2?si=1312919dd74e4c2d

Loose Tongues

"Cleo" is an Egyptian-inspired type beat that feels larger than life, built around the power of a full string orchestra. It is big, punchy, sexy and exotic, giving off a sound that feels both royal and dangerous. The strings sweep across the track with intensity, carrying a cinematic weight that makes the whole beat sound like it belongs in the heart of a desert empire.

This track marks a turning point for me because it is where everything finally clicked. I learned how to thicken my 808s just right, adding distortion for body without losing clarity, making them hit harder than ever. The mix sits perfectly with clean headroom, balanced peaks, and a master that punches at -8 LUFS with no clipping or limiter issues. It is a professional sound and easily the best mix I have ever done.

What makes “Cleo” even more special is how it all started from a simple drum loop I found in my downloads. That loop, filled with traditional percussion and groove, locked in perfectly with the orchestral layers, creating a beat that is both groovy and danceable. Looking back, this song reminds me how far I have come and nothing feels better than seeing that kind of growth in my music.

Cleo

“Murciélago” – Spanish for bat – is a beat born from late nights and lessons learned. Dark yet smooth, punchy yet refined, it glides through shadows with power and elegance. This isn’t just a track, it’s the sound of growth and perfection after struggle. Step inside the night and ride with it.

Murcielago

“Just Us” started from a random melodic loop I found online. I almost skipped it since I’m not usually into using loops, but I decided to flip it my way. Added a groovy, punchy drum pattern inspired by Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind and Umbrella and built the rest around that vibe. It’s chill, soulful, and a little nostalgic. Feel free to use this track for free, just make sure to credit Zach Arnado as the original creator.

#freeforuse

Just us

Silk and Satin is an Egyptian type beat where tradition meets modern vibes. I started with a violin sample I found online, broke it down note by note, and flipped it into something new that blends ancient melodies with a G-Funk lead, the kind you’d hear in GTA San Andreas. In the middle, I aligned the G-Funk lead with the drum change to give it a modern bounce, while the first half keeps a more traditional pop-inspired rhythm that fits the violin’s tone. The contrast between both parts makes the track evolve like a story.

The drums don’t stay static. They move, change, and hit harder as the track goes on, breaking rules while staying clean. Midway and near the end, I added a second 808, and instead of clashing, both bass layers locked in perfectly, adding depth and power without any mud.

This beat is about freedom, breaking patterns, and trusting instincts. I hope it sparks curiosity, makes heads nod, and gives listeners the same energy I felt while making it.

Available for purchase or free download on Bandcamp with full credit to me as the producer!!!

Silk & Satin

“Crimson” dives into the dark and exotic, built around a detuned nylon guitar that breathes imperfection into beauty. Every off-pitch string mirrors the grace found in our own flaws. We love what’s real and this beat is exactly that, raw, haunting, and human.

Zach Arnado

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