Airplanes...again

I kinda went back to the original feel on this song at least in tempo and such. I originally was doing four quarter notes to a chord just basic basic strumming. I changed it to a finger picking but the pulse is similar..more info on the soundcloud page about it, kinda lazy right now. Airplanes again by efilsitra

Different Inspirations - New Version

Different Inspirations version..? by efilsitra Here is another version of this song. I am really liking the groove here and the background vocals. What do you think?

here are the lyrics so far:

Different Inspirations

By Chris Shaw

Verse

I try to think of different inspirations

But all I can see is your face

The back of my mind is all I need to find

To get into some good head space

V

What you've done is nothing that you said to me 

But actions speak so clear

Maybe this is what you need

Distract so you don't bleed

Even after all of these years

V

I've got so many many questions

Nothing that I know I can ask

I want to look back but it's so damn new

it's just not the right time for that

Chorus

I don't see what you see

I don't believe what you believe

I just think we disagree

And no one is to blame but it's hard to see

Video Post 2 - End Goal

Video Post - Process

People In The Streets Lyrics

Here are the lyrics, they are not done yet and the mp3 doesn't reflect all the lyrics, I was mainly just getting the feel of the song not concentrating on lyrics. I have some work to do on these. I sometimes get inspired by homeless people, pan handlers, etc. This song is kind of a combo of watching people while walking around the city. I recognize some homeless people just by seeing them and I think about their stories and how some of them choose to be homeless and some of them are mentally ill. No matter if it's their choice or not to be homeless it is not an easy life. A lot of them are addicted to drugs and though yes it is a choice to do drugs it can be very hard to get out of when you go so far deep in that hole. No, I have never been addicted to drugs but seeing different documentaries about it and even being around it (a little), and from what I have learned in school and what not it is not easy to get off drugs. I also believe that we are all affected by are surroundings. People with good support and that come from a healthy home are often less likely to be addicted to a substance. This is of course not always true, some people just have addictive personalities. I guess I just am thankful that I do not have one and that I am in a good position in life. Ok, enough rambling.

People In The Streets
Chris Shaw


Verse
These people in the streets
They don't know what they mean
They find themselves in the middle of a crossroad barking up the family tree


V
The seek just what they need


It's not right but the roots grow deep
We're past the point of choice now we need a remedy
The dope is only just a tiny part of the disease


Chorus
What gets buried underneath
Can never be revealed in the sunlight
It's gotta come out somewhere some how
This is the time to let it free
In good company


In good company


V
What's with this family
Everybody's cold and they're so hungry
They don't need food but they crave sanity
Another complication of dependency


V
It's not the bullet it's the belly of the beast
It's not the mashed potatoes it's the whole damn feast
It's the whole entire puzzle not just a piece
It takes your whole life not a day not a week


Bridge
If we can't see past what we want to see
And we only see what we want to believe
We can't make this grow and be who we want to be
We gotta take this life and ....something?

People In The Streets

People In The Streets ver1 by efilsitra

This track I have been working on writing for a while. It started on acoustic and has evolved into more of a full band sound. It was one of the first songs where I was trying to write in a "style", the chorus was the part I really wanted to get right in that soulful type style, regardless I like it. The feel has really come along. Today I am experimenting with the guitar part making it less sterile and more funky, kinda Curtis Mayfield inspired. Here's a great Mayfield track, I actually just got turned on to Curtis and I really enjoy this track in particular, going to try and learn it as a cover..see if it works.

New Home 2

Here is the second version with a swing feel. I like the bounce it gives the song feels like it keeps the momentum going. What do you think? New Home ver2 by efilsitra

New Home

So I am really trying to figure out the groove to this, I like the structure, chords, melody, vocals, but the groove I am not sure about, is it too boring? Going for a Motown-ish feel, a vintage pop sound...I think. So what do ya think? New home ver1 by efilsitra

Different Inspirations

I just wrote the chorus of this today, still a work in progress but I like it so far. I am trying to piece these three parts together so I have uploaded them just back to back, this is not how they will be but I wanted to see if they flowed with each other. Any ideas on this one? Anyone reading? :) Come on don't be shy.
Different Inspirations (parts) by efilsitra

Two Different Hearts

Oh break up songs. So far I have recorded two versions of this song. I was originally trying to write a soulful song that was fast, I tend to try to write in a slow groove feeling but every once in a while ya gotta have a fast one. I really like this Alicia Keys tune "Wreckless Love" so the beat was kinda inspired by this, or the rhythm..it's not the same but this was kinda a kick-off point.


Also the guitar rhythm is an easy James Brown rip-off. I picture if it does end up fast that it will be a lot of ride cymbal/bell work and syncopation. I will upload both versions, I like the slow one as well so which is better?

Fast version:
Two Different Hearts by efilsitra
Slow Version:
Two Different Hearts ver2 by efilsitra />

Blind Willie's Bar Lyrics and Audio

"Blind Willie's Bar" or "Spent My Whole Life" (working titles)

Verse

Amaj7 G

I'm sitting here at ol' blind willies bar

Kinda funny how i've outlived willie by this far

This place was once a diner,1979 

When willie bought it out man this place was a dive

V2

He had some aspirations fixin up the place

Soon enough his wife had left and didn't leave a trace

Coming into the bar yeah willie was a mess

I was drinking Heineken that year but i digress

V3

There's a girl in the corner I think that she's fine

That son of a bitch Eddie is testing out some pick up lines

He always gets the girls, the  young ones too

If I had a girl like that you know I wouldn't know what to do

Chorus

F Am D7 Am F Am D7 Am G

I've spent my life in this place

I've seen it struggle and I've seen it  do great

Heads split open, I've seen birthday cakes explode

drunks crying in their drinks they don't never want to go home

This is kinda what I have so far, mostly I think these lyris are going to be in the song with some edits possibly, I like them so far though.


Here is the rough demo so far:
Blind Willie's Bar by efilsitra

*update*
Here is the second version with the drums laying into more of a reggae groove, trying to keep it really simple. The chorus is interesting with the snare being not in a typical backbeat but I feel it still works.

Blind Willie's Bar ver2 by efilsitra

Blind Willie's Bar

This is one of the first songs I started working on with this project a while back. I had my good musician friend Justin Campbell join me when I was first showing these songs to people. I wanted him on drums but he ended up doing some great bass lines, I feel that I was not really ready yet though and things kinda fizzled out. Later when I was doing some rehearsals with Jimmy Castoe and Charlie Scott Justin filled in on drums once and it felt a ton better than those early rehearsals. Over all I know now I am in a much better place and can't wait to get these guys playing these tunes again, once they are more woodshedded out. So annyway, this song has a working title of "Spent My Whole Life" or "Blind Willie's Bar". This is a story song in the point of view of a bar fly, I guess you'd say. Just picture that guy sitting at the bar who's bar stool is shaped to his butt. He has seen it all and this is his story. I kinda based it so far around Ruby Tuesday on Summit in Columbus, Ohio and some things I have seen there and experienced. I am trying to put as many real references as I can in here. I will post the lyrics next and then some audio in a bit.

Won't Talk To Me Version 3

Version three is trying to go a little more straight back to the Bill Withers-esque beat. I also love G. Love and Special Sauce's drummer "Houseman"...he does a lot of beats like this one..that are probably inspired by Bill Withers tunes, ha. Here is a great example of a Houseman groove:

Rhyme for the Summertime (album version)
Won't Talk to Me Version 3 by efilsitra

Won't Talk To Me Version 2

Second attempt at drumming was inspired by the Donny Hathaway tune "Little Ghetto Boy" I posted earlier, I was listening to it today (the cover version on the Roots/John Legend album like the one I posted) there is a really cool bridge (i think it's the bridge) with a beat that I really like. Check minute 2:57 it's right there
Also maybe a little old school Wailers/Bob Marley ala this....oh I love it.
It feels like the traditional reggae beat wasn't quite there yet..and the music felt more soul/r&b than anything..at least to me.

Won't Talk to Me Version 2 by efilsitra

Back from Florida, working on drums..

Back from Florida, admittedly I did not get a lot done. I tend to write by myself and when people hear or watch me write it's just kinda uncomfortable. Unless it's a duo or group session...I like to get my ideas flushed out before people hear 'em. I think that is probably normal. So now that I am back I feel the need to get to work like hard core. The tour was work of course but it felt like a vacation in a way, it was nice to stay in a condo and have a lot of time to do whatever it is we wanted. Right when I got home I started working on tunes again. I will share what I worked on last night but tonight I worked on a tune with the working title "Won't Talk To Me". I was inspired by like a Bill Withers type groove originally but I think it's evolved passed that. So I am trying different drum beats. Here is the first attempt: Won't Talk to Me Ver. 1 by efilsitra