**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 13
Written Saturday 19th February 2022
****
UPDATE: 8 Hours after posting I just spotted that I listened to and favourited a song called... um... "We're Done" by oldfolks2 - check it out…
I had your FAWM playlist going and sort of forgot I was supposed to be active listening, but this one pulled me right back into it... then I saw your liner notes. I know the feeling of not being happy with something but needing to get it out, but this is great. I'm curious to see what you do with it, because I think it works far better than you it seems.
You better close the stadium with this one, because all those lighters and voices in unison are going to violate some sort of by-law.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 3
Written Tuesday 8th February 2022
****
So, here's today's little ditty.
(I don't know whether folks outside the UK would know what a Chelsea Bun is. I love them, they are extremely yum…
I'm a little perplexed at the narrative, but oh what a great narrative it is. That second verse paints a pretty vivid picture, although I'm a little unsure that being denied pastries is an apt consequence, but then Ive never had a Chelsea Bun.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 1
Written Sunday 6th February 2022
****
OK, this is a bit of a departure for me - posting songwriting demos.
This is a one mic recording made this morning in the living room, touch of reverbs…
Congratulations on the FAWM "win", especially with only 23 days to do it. A great start as well.
I share the sentiment on production. Part of me wants to do RPM next year because I wonder if I had too, could I move fast on production? It sounds a lot more exhausting than FAWM, that's for sure.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 14
Written Monday 21st February 2022
****
This is it ... FAWM's all finished for me... time for a lie down now.
There's still nearly a week to go, but I'm done, 14 songs written in 16…
Well sir, you smashed this challenge - and ended up with a stunning unplugged album. It's made me want to hear some of your established tracks with similar stripped-down arrangements, leading the listener to concentrate on the sheer artistry of your words and astonishingly soulful vocal. Next challenge for you is the 24 hours album. 24 minutes of original music in 24 hours. I believe it originated on alonetone. Off you go.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 13
Written Saturday 19th February 2022
****
UPDATE: 8 Hours after posting I just spotted that I listened to and favourited a song called... um... "We're Done" by oldfolks2 - check it out…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 10
Written Wednesday 16th February 2022
****
I've had the little guitar bit in the middle for years and years and years.
Even my wife recognises it, I play it so often.
Yesterday while…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 9
Written Tuesday 15th February 2022
****
I decided it was time I wrote a song that wasn't so hard to sing and play!
****
**Once Again - A A J Russe**
Every day
You keep asking…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 7
Written Saturday 12th February 2022
****
This one was easy to write but hard work singing and recording.
I'm fairly certain this one is high on the list of "arrange me later" - I kept…
Great song writing - loving the sentiment and your tender vox here. I love it when the FAWM and RPM parameters draw out his kind of track, any more of an arrangement would detract from the message - IMHO.
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 6
Written Friday 11th February 2022
****
I was meant to be resting and chilling.
In fact, I was resting and chilling.
But then I got a message from Lala saying she was listening to the…
I Hope I Love Them - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1989
Recorded 2nd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This one has tugged at me for many many years.
I absolutely adored it from the moment I wrote it in 1989... But I thought…
I Hope I Love Them - A A J Russe
Written sometime in 1989
Recorded 2nd March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
This one has tugged at me for many many years.
I absolutely adored it from the moment I wrote it in 1989... But I thought…
Foolishness - A A J Russe
Written 3rd January 1988
Recorded 1st March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
While writing and recording songs for FAWM 2022 I discovered that I can create acoustic demos of nearly any song I've ever written…
Hehehe... there's LOTS of youthful angst is these Songs from the Shoebox... possibly an embarrassing amount... You wait... let's see if I'm brave enough to record the ones from 1978/9!!!
Foolishness - A A J Russe
Written 3rd January 1988
Recorded 1st March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
While writing and recording songs for FAWM 2022 I discovered that I can create acoustic demos of nearly any song I've ever written…
Foolishness - A A J Russe
Written 3rd January 1988
Recorded 1st March 2022
The Shoebox Demos Vol 1
****
While writing and recording songs for FAWM 2022 I discovered that I can create acoustic demos of nearly any song I've ever written…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 5
Written Thursday 10th February 2022
****
What can I say? Mrs R likes it.
I knew she would.
Scheduling-wise, songs per day, I've now caught up with having missed the first 5 days of…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 1
Written Sunday 6th February 2022
****
OK, this is a bit of a departure for me - posting songwriting demos.
This is a one mic recording made this morning in the living room, touch of reverbs…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 5
Written Thursday 10th February 2022
****
What can I say? Mrs R likes it.
I knew she would.
Scheduling-wise, songs per day, I've now caught up with having missed the first 5 days of…
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 15
Written Wednesday 23rd February 2022
****
I wasn't able to stop! I really meant to, but... Oh well.
It's still February, so it can go with the others.
IT IS MY FIRM INTENTION TO…
(Remastered 22/10/2021)
I've been missing in action for ages - apologies to all, I'm about to start listening again too.
For ages, I'd been considering a move away from my trusty Boss BR1600 on which I've recorded and mixed nearly everything…
I saw your comments on my site. Thanks. It sounds like you’ve got this recording process figured out. I’m still learning as I go. Thank God for YouTube. 😎
**Song-writing Demo for FAWM 2022**
Song number 15
Written Wednesday 23rd February 2022
****
I wasn't able to stop! I really meant to, but... Oh well.
It's still February, so it can go with the others.
IT IS MY FIRM INTENTION TO…
The vastness of the ocean
A darkness in the sky
A lifetime of emotion
How hard you've had to try
To navigate the currents
And the demons in the deep
You have to stay awake
'Cuz they might take you in your sleep
You wish that you could…
Heard something crawling in the walls this morning
Later on, I heard that fateful snap
The little critter never had a warning
I'll have to head on down to face the guilt that's waiting
When I check the trap
A pair of trees I planted in…
I saw the title when you uploaded a couple of weeks back... LOVE the title... and it doesn't disappoint (slightly different song than I'd have written with the same title, though!)
I suppose it could be worse
I know I'm lucky I'm all right
But I can tell that you've been cursed
And it keeps me up at night
So few are born to come in first
So many born into a fight
If the roles had been reversed
Would they still believe…
Some say, "It's the price you gotta pay"
Some say, "You gotta learn to walk away"
But I'm still standing in the light
And I won't go down without a fight
Some say, "True love is just a lie"
Some say, "You'll give it up before you die…
new song i wrote a few weeks ago about my feelings about god and stuff... (no hate directed to any religious person with this btw, this is just my own personal opinion!)
sorry for swearing so much in this lol??
also, special thanks to storm…
Wow wow wow ... nearly missed this amongst all the albums getting posted... Read the blurb, wasn't sure what I was going to make of it... But, as usual, wow... What a powerful performance. Your voice is stunning on this one. So glad I didn't miss this.
In the fading light, I compose a line
And then tongue tied tangled down upside
Unbroken
Unspoken
Better than the words I would have stumbled over
If you read my eyes, you could catch my vibe
Then I wouldn’t have to die inside
When the shivers go right down your spine like a river
Or the whiplash from turning your head to the coast
Brace, the stormfront breaching outside,
Every tree, bends like a dragons tail
We lean our bodies toward the headwinds
turning our…
Out in the field I spy a rabbit
One of the ordinary kind
You never thought you’d meet the neighbors, did you
You never thought you’d take a drive
I see you now you’re running fast
You’re turning inside out
Caught the blade, shovel’s edge…
Bit the apple through the core, then made sure to taste the poison
You can’t fare thee well no more, when you’re out on the horizon’s edge
Don’t stare at the sun, an Icarus flight, we’re all meant to come, back down.
Shoot an arrow off…
Pointed sextant toward the north star
True direction is where you are
Roads of Rome lead to elsewhere
Can we go, no echo, no opinion
Unreal show, on your phone, no one’s watching
A din of quiet desperation
Soothing blanket fort vacation…
Wow. Some serious guitar going on in all these layers... you're making me feel/think Alex Lifeson. This is some seriously good orchestration of guitars. Love the song too!
Queen maybe doors ajar, shall we take dinner and a movie
Can’t wait for shooting stars, when all the galaxy’s for choosing
One step to the floor
One step maybe more
King certain in cement, no phantom stair to keep you guessing,
Your…
Where did you go, man on a mission, path of omission
Out of control, lack of contrition, where did you go
You hid the clouds, black helicopter, waiting forever
A man the crowd, a plant or an actor, where did he go
You were caught there…
Holy moly... I only listened to the first minute or so last night (we were settling down to eat and watch a film) ... I thought I might not be so impressed this morning - WOAH! Love it.
Where did you go, man on a mission, path of omission
Out of control, lack of contrition, where did you go
You hid the clouds, black helicopter, waiting forever
A man the crowd, a plant or an actor, where did he go
You were caught there…
Look, it's not a Letter Seventeen record if I don't end it with something like this. Plus, I spent way too much time playing with orchestral libraries all summer to not use them somewhere.
It started off so nice
A time for you and me
Taking…
I developed a strong obsession with the building blocks of pop songs and tried to craft one. Unfortunately, I wrote it in a key that was high enough that the combination of the rapid-fire words and the pitch nearly made me pass out while singing…
Comments on Andrew Russe's stuff
I had your FAWM playlist going and sort of forgot I was supposed to be active listening, but this one pulled me right back into it... then I saw your liner notes. I know the feeling of not being happy with something but needing to get it out, but this is great. I'm curious to see what you do with it, because I think it works far better than you it seems. You better close the stadium with this one, because all those lighters and voices in unison are going to violate some sort of by-law.
I'm a little perplexed at the narrative, but oh what a great narrative it is. That second verse paints a pretty vivid picture, although I'm a little unsure that being denied pastries is an apt consequence, but then Ive never had a Chelsea Bun.
Congratulations on the FAWM "win", especially with only 23 days to do it. A great start as well. I share the sentiment on production. Part of me wants to do RPM next year because I wonder if I had too, could I move fast on production? It sounds a lot more exhausting than FAWM, that's for sure.
Well sir, you smashed this challenge - and ended up with a stunning unplugged album. It's made me want to hear some of your established tracks with similar stripped-down arrangements, leading the listener to concentrate on the sheer artistry of your words and astonishingly soulful vocal. Next challenge for you is the 24 hours album. 24 minutes of original music in 24 hours. I believe it originated on alonetone. Off you go.
Glad you didn't bin it! Liking the driving feel - immediately hooky also.
A sweet almost-lullaby - glad this one found a home in your February. So very pretty.
Really love this melody and the breezy feel. Some gorgeous little acoustic guitar runs in there too.
Great song writing - loving the sentiment and your tender vox here. I love it when the FAWM and RPM parameters draw out his kind of track, any more of an arrangement would detract from the message - IMHO.
Woohoo! Logged in and back from Brighton. <3 Can now fave this utter classic.
Hauntingly sad and beautiful
Great tune Andrew. we held back on a few old ideas too. i'm glad you put it out there
Hehehe... there's LOTS of youthful angst is these Songs from the Shoebox... possibly an embarrassing amount... You wait... let's see if I'm brave enough to record the ones from 1978/9!!!
That's rather wonderful ...... a bit of youthful angst ??
You've been a writer / poet for so many years!!! How delightful to put these songs out. I'm glad you found the shoe box.
Another beautiful piece of storytelling through haunting voice and gentle music
You sing these words perfectly … I am just in awe of your story telling
So lyrical
Intrigued … who is this written for? Whoever it is is a lucky person … love this
I saw your comments on my site. Thanks. It sounds like you’ve got this recording process figured out. I’m still learning as I go. Thank God for YouTube. 😎
Another little gem ......
Comments made by Andrew Russe
Oh huge sound again - love it. Fabulous song.
I saw the title when you uploaded a couple of weeks back... LOVE the title... and it doesn't disappoint (slightly different song than I'd have written with the same title, though!)
Massive stereo! Gorgeous sound... loads of space for the message in the middle.
Oh yeah. Love that "All I am..."
Wow wow wow ... nearly missed this amongst all the albums getting posted... Read the blurb, wasn't sure what I was going to make of it... But, as usual, wow... What a powerful performance. Your voice is stunning on this one. So glad I didn't miss this.
Fantastic end to a superb album. I was going to listen to a couple of RPMs this morning, but I need a rest now, this was so good, many thanks.
This one too. Wow, this one is amazing.
I absolutely ADORE this one.
Oh yes.
Wow. Some serious guitar going on in all these layers... you're making me feel/think Alex Lifeson. This is some seriously good orchestration of guitars. Love the song too!
There's some really cool chords in this one. Love the swagger. And then the saxophone(?) on the out. Mighty cool.
Holy moly... I only listened to the first minute or so last night (we were settling down to eat and watch a film) ... I thought I might not be so impressed this morning - WOAH! Love it.
Woah!!! Maybe me too... (but I'll probably be dialling it up tomorrow) .... rockingg! :)
Yeah we like this a lot ("we" being Mr & Mrs R)
Enjoyed listening to this set. Cool title, Meet The Neighbours, too.
Oh yes, nice one.
Love the groove on this one. Cool song too.
Oh yeah. Like this opener... I'm in!
Excellent set of songs. Well done.
Another v cool chorus. Excellent vocals.