**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 04
Written 6th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
This was quite a quick write.
I was watching a film.
Someone said "No matter what the odds".
So I thought: what about a song called No…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 03
Written 6th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I started this one first but got stuck in the surrealism of the opening line (it was "He" originally). I really didn't want to give the suntan…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 02
Written 3-5th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I had most of it on the 3rd, but wanted a middle 8 (bridge).
Struggled a bit with energy and how busy I am at work...
I managed to write…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 05
Written 8th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I was writing this from about 1am this morning before I went to bed, then on and off in between takes on the demos of the previous three today…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 03
Written 6th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I started this one first but got stuck in the surrealism of the opening line (it was "He" originally). I really didn't want to give the suntan…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 01
Written Saturday-Sunday 1st-2nd February 2025
Written 1st-2nd Feb
Demo recorded 2nd Feb
****
I wasn't gonna do this FAWM thing this year, but they sent me an email...
And then I wrote…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 05
Written 8th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I was writing this from about 1am this morning before I went to bed, then on and off in between takes on the demos of the previous three today…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 03
Written 6th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I started this one first but got stuck in the surrealism of the opening line (it was "He" originally). I really didn't want to give the suntan…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 02
Written 3-5th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I had most of it on the 3rd, but wanted a middle 8 (bridge).
Struggled a bit with energy and how busy I am at work...
I managed to write…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 04
Written 6th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
This was quite a quick write.
I was watching a film.
Someone said "No matter what the odds".
So I thought: what about a song called No…
Love this one too! I hear a big production anthem style someday. An arena full of people singing this at the top of their lungs! Fantastic! What a fun morning for me to listen to so much of your great music!
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 05
Written 8th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I was writing this from about 1am this morning before I went to bed, then on and off in between takes on the demos of the previous three today…
Wow! This one really hits a deep emotional chord. Your writing is superb as usual, but this spare arrangement just feels like raw emotion. An instant fav!!!
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 03
Written 6th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I started this one first but got stuck in the surrealism of the opening line (it was "He" originally). I really didn't want to give the suntan…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 05
Written 8th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I was writing this from about 1am this morning before I went to bed, then on and off in between takes on the demos of the previous three today…
oh my, another beauty! Your voice is out of this world. The wee hours are great for creativity. The structure of this song is great and the melody!!! Bravo.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 03
Written 6th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I started this one first but got stuck in the surrealism of the opening line (it was "He" originally). I really didn't want to give the suntan…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 05
Written 8th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
I was writing this from about 1am this morning before I went to bed, then on and off in between takes on the demos of the previous three today…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 04
Written 6th Feb
Demo recorded 8th Feb
****
This was quite a quick write.
I was watching a film.
Someone said "No matter what the odds".
So I thought: what about a song called No…
Hello peeps!
Long time no public activity from me.
I've been working on a bunch of stuff with the guitarist from my old band. None of its ready...
However, I've been experimenting with different ways of jamming and doing demos. And in the…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 01
Written Saturday-Sunday 1st-2nd February 2025
Written 1st-2nd Feb
Demo recorded 2nd Feb
****
I wasn't gonna do this FAWM thing this year, but they sent me an email...
And then I wrote…
Hello again! Great to see you back :) Beautiful song!! You are off to a great start. Amazing what you can do with just guitar and voice...real musicianship.
Who Is My Neighbour - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1992
Recorded 12th March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
I wrote this 30 years ago when I was 29. There were a bunch of people killing other people. There were refugees.
By the…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2025**
Song number 01
Written Saturday-Sunday 1st-2nd February 2025
Written 1st-2nd Feb
Demo recorded 2nd Feb
****
I wasn't gonna do this FAWM thing this year, but they sent me an email...
And then I wrote…
Gorgeous guitar sound. And what a song! And I love the arrangement, how the production builds... I've committed myself to a "no production while doing song demos, not even backing vocals" rule for February, just so I can get a challenge done... One of the unforeseen side-effects is I'm really HEARING and appreciating other people's arrangements and production choices... I always listen for that anyway, but now I'm hearing the ones that grab me with extra envy!!
Lookin over the calendar
Seems like you're getting old
Feel a little bit achy now
A remedy is sold
Goin to the healthy store
Buy what you need
Tryin all the products
To heal your achy knee
But you won’t feel brand new
You…
Nice one, hope you're having fun. I'm exhausted! (But feeling extremely empowered, and yes having fun).
I'm digging this one too. Love that wah guitar break. And again, the subject matter hits home for me... I could sing these words to someone very close to me!
Can you hear me?
Can you see my screen?
I'm explaining
Exactly what I mean
There's an error on the next slide, and I hope that you will bear with me
15 minutes
Read it word-for-word
You'll be reading
Exactly what you heard
I will…
Can you hear me?
Can you see my screen?
I'm explaining
Exactly what I mean
There's an error on the next slide, and I hope that you will bear with me
15 minutes
Read it word-for-word
You'll be reading
Exactly what you heard
I will…
Mighty cool. I'm doing songs for FAWM (I don't think I could manage RPM) and working at home and... this song strikes home for me! Probably does others too. My colleagues are jealous of my meeting background - and it's real, not digital (my "studio" doubles ad my office, so there's a wall of guitars).
"I will send the deck out after" ....LOL "hey where's those slides you said you'd send out at the last meeting?"
Here is a little experimental instrumental piece I had almost forgotten about....interesting experiment, with the percussion elements consisting of, amongst other things, metal hangers, door latch, scissors, paper being shaken and finger snaps!!
IN MY ROOM
In my room there's no day and there's no night
In my room, just an incandescent light
...hanging from a wire.
In my room there's no hot and there's no cold
In my room,I'm not young. I'm not old
...hanging from a wire…
Some blues/boogie fun.
Ain’t no fun
It's a well known fact
When you’re with the wrong woman
And caught in the act
Sworn to secrecy
We even made a pact
But didn’t matter
We were caught in the act
Been watched and followed
Traced…
Song 5 for the RPM Challenge. Building tunes around an incessant bass line is oddly appealing to me. This is a bit of a dystopian song of sorts. Thanks to anyone who listens!
Take me to the river
and hold me under water
Bow down beside…
Nice one. Yeah, I've been thinking (listening to stuff elsewhere) about writing to basslines. Most of the time I write with an acoustic guitar, singing it as I play it - no recording equipment is used/harmed. But something else happens if the bass is laid down first. And, as a writer, I also find it strangely appealing. Cool track... I'm ready for the next one!
Song 2 for the RPM Challenge. Wrote this at the piano and then had fun trying all sorts of spontaneous vocal harmonies. Switching time signatures for the chorus made for some challenging recording!
Song 3 of RPM 2022. For the many tortured artists I've met with a bit of a dance spin to it. Most of my songs are unintentional and unplanned....they just happen. Thanks to anyone who's listening!! :)
Song 4 of my 2022 RPM challenge. A simple popish tune to add to the mix.
I never told you
what I wanted
no, it don’t feel right
the things you say
the things you do
well they hold me hold me
I never asked you
for anything
I…
The coffee table gang helped me round out this one that I shared earlier. I love this version with Mark Lofgren and Greg Connor's wonderful talents on the backup vocals and guitars. I like how my ukulele blended in on this version.
Sometimes…
A song I wrote over the last few days. Did a one-take-wonder on the recording, so it's pretty simple. Hope you like it!
Sometimes You Don't
Verse 1
Sometimes in the early morning hours
As the sun lights up the sky
I look back and think…
The Minnesota Association of Songwriters issued a writing challenge this January to "borrow" conceptually from a writer that has influenced our writing to create a new original work of our own. Once you hear this, I think you'll get the idea…
Sunshine fill my soul
Let the blues be the first to go
Sunshine can’t complain
If life shows us a little rain
Chorus
Sunshine through the window
At first morning’s light
All the stars fade away
When sunshine gets so bright
When sunshine…
Like it. I just read Colleen's comment and realised that I was bopping my head along with the tempo too! Loved that "oh yeah" at the end of the bridge.
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
I swoon ...I think its a beauty as it is
I'm the one who made the mess ......
shame your not about when I'm coming home from the pub ......another good one Andrew
Had another listen….. haunting…. I just love this one!
Europe, and in Ancient Russia
This hits home. You got me laughing. It’s all true!
Wow! I listened to this last night and again this morning. Lots of emotion in here. Well done.
Fun way to start a song! This is another great one. I love the energy of it. Those chord changes are amazing. oohhh, fun use of the voice too.
Love the chorus on this one!
Love this one too! I hear a big production anthem style someday. An arena full of people singing this at the top of their lungs! Fantastic! What a fun morning for me to listen to so much of your great music!
Wow! This one really hits a deep emotional chord. Your writing is superb as usual, but this spare arrangement just feels like raw emotion. An instant fav!!!
Your dip into the surreal has left my imagination spinning! Awesome!
oh my, another beauty! Your voice is out of this world. The wee hours are great for creativity. The structure of this song is great and the melody!!! Bravo.
"Brandishing his lethal daffodil" Genius! Good god, my man: Good god!
Awesome!
Outstanding! You are an inspiration
oohhhh. Also beautiful! Fun to come back and find your new music :)
Hello again! Great to see you back :) Beautiful song!! You are off to a great start. Amazing what you can do with just guitar and voice...real musicianship.
thanks for your comment andrew , this is great song , love the lyrics and vocals , great listen ,......cheers tony cee
this is brill love your voice , nice guitar to ,.....cheers tony cee
Comments made by Andrew Russe
Gorgeous guitar sound. And what a song! And I love the arrangement, how the production builds... I've committed myself to a "no production while doing song demos, not even backing vocals" rule for February, just so I can get a challenge done... One of the unforeseen side-effects is I'm really HEARING and appreciating other people's arrangements and production choices... I always listen for that anyway, but now I'm hearing the ones that grab me with extra envy!!
Nice one, hope you're having fun. I'm exhausted! (But feeling extremely empowered, and yes having fun). I'm digging this one too. Love that wah guitar break. And again, the subject matter hits home for me... I could sing these words to someone very close to me!
Still, I wouldn't trade it for going back to the commute!!
Mighty cool. I'm doing songs for FAWM (I don't think I could manage RPM) and working at home and... this song strikes home for me! Probably does others too. My colleagues are jealous of my meeting background - and it's real, not digital (my "studio" doubles ad my office, so there's a wall of guitars). "I will send the deck out after" ....LOL "hey where's those slides you said you'd send out at the last meeting?"
That's a fine piece of noodling. Loved the opening piano. And the percussion elements work nicely.
I'm loving these short ones - kinda meaningful statements in short chunks... leaving me wanting so much more....
Oh WOW... how did I miss this?
This is the stuff. Fabulous sound and suitably bite-sized for the modern "work from home" attention span! :)
Nice one.
WOW forgotten how much I loved this track
Nice one. Yeah, I've been thinking (listening to stuff elsewhere) about writing to basslines. Most of the time I write with an acoustic guitar, singing it as I play it - no recording equipment is used/harmed. But something else happens if the bass is laid down first. And, as a writer, I also find it strangely appealing. Cool track... I'm ready for the next one!
Oh yeah. This is a nice one. Love the lyrics.
Yep, that's heartfelt. Love the feel of the lead in the instrumental. Some fine harp as well.
Oh crumbs... loving your stuff. Faved and followed... I'll be back to listen to more.
And this... wow. Loving your vocal delivery. Very cool song too.
I saw your name going by and thought "I've not heard them, are have I?". Woo... like this.
Wow. And this version. Love those guitars.
And this is a bit gorgeous too. LOVE that chorus.
OH MY, this is gorgeous
Like it. I just read Colleen's comment and realised that I was bopping my head along with the tempo too! Loved that "oh yeah" at the end of the bridge.