Treasure Tree

 Treasure tree is the place where life is good. A special spot that 2 lovers or friends go 2 chill 2 get away from the world’s everyday problems. It was influenced by the old old school reggae. And maybe someone like Justin Hinds? Treasure Tree helped us “branch out” into another genre we love, Reggae! It also is kind of representative of how things have gone between VT & I through this project. Climbing everyday!

LYRICS:

50/50
Meet you half the way
We can climb the treasure tree
Everyday(In every way)

Out on a limb
Branchin out
Overseein the world
We have no doubts

50/50
Meet you half the way
We can climb the treasure tree
In every way(Everyday)

Stickin it out
Understandin the quest
In search of the light
Were the only 2 left

50/50
I will get you
Anything you need
Hold my hand
Await our destiny

50/50
Meet me half the way
We can climb the treasure tree
Everyday

ON THE RECORDING FRONT:

 This.song was probably the most effortless 2 complete. VT actually recorded his drum tracks by himself, in one shot and then straightened me later on the melody. He layed out the order, the changes, verse/chorus/break etc. and I built around that. It took me a little while 2 settle on the right blend of sounds, but ultimately decided on a steel drum/accordion blend 2 give it that paradise feel and help pump the bass and acoustic guitar rhythm. Those 3 tracks took about an hour 2 put down. VT recorded his vocals and added percussion tracks a week or 2 later and I did my vocals soon after. The last track 2 go down was the guitar intro and outro. I always loved the Wayne Perkins guitar solo in Concrete Jungle, so I kinda pulled from that sound. It all went down so quickly and easily, I kinda forgot about it for a month. When I came back 2 it, I thought there was much 2 be done on it, only 2 find it was done! lol

EQUIPMENT:

 VT used his Sonor kit for the drum tracks & a Roland SPDS for the percussion tracks. Kiyeth used a Godin LGXTsa guitar for the bass, acoustic guitar, and steel drum/accordion parts. All were from the Roland GR-55. I used a tube screamer & wah from the GSP1101 and crushed it with compression for sustain. The amp model was the ’65 Deluxe. That ran through the Tech21 amp with a SM57 mic on it. Vocals were recorded with the CAD Trion 8000 tube mic through the Focusrite Trackmaster.

ONE

Being Human

 Being Human is a reflection of the current state of American society. We are so consumed with arguing and taking sides. Talking heads stoking the flames, keeping us divided with labels. At the end of the day helping other people is all that matters. All human beings! We need 2 get back 2 treating each other the way we want 2 be treated ourselves, with respect and consideration. We need 2 get back 2 talking with one another, looking out for and helping each other. We need 2 get back 2 being human!

LYRICS:

Great divide
Take your sides
Whose team are you on?

We need to get back to being human
Online and offtrack. Download our ruin

Label you
Just one will do,
And that’s all we need to know.

We need to get back to being human
If this day was your last, is it good that your doin?

Spare some. Shine
Feed the line
Lift someone up who is down on their luck

We need to get back to being human
Altruism. In fact, We’ve just got to do it

ON THE RECORDING FRONT:

The music is what started everything. It was a piece I, Kiyeth, started playing on guitar.  Then the vocal melody started laying itself over top of the chorus part and that was the genesis. “We need 2 get back 2 being human” was sticking and the idea formed for blatant synth switching 2 a natural piano sound completed the theme. VT soon put down drum tracks with my scratch guitar outline. Adding 2 the digital 2 natural morphing idea we went with electronic drums in the verses & acoustic drums in the choruses. The chimes make a similar transition. The vocals were challenging. They required a lot more control and soft delivery than most songs we do. There were many takes! lol. The slide guitar was the last 2 go down and was probably the most fun! It definitely helped bring a sense of sorrow to the track.

EQUIPMENT:

VT used a Roland SPDS for the verses and his Sonor kit for the rest. Kit is mic’d with CAD through an 8 channel preamp>8 channel Presonus comp/gate. Overheads run through a dual path Presonus BlueTube. Kiyeth used a Godin LGXTsa & a Roland GR-55 2 track bass, synth pad, and piano. The Godin was also used 2 track the guitar sound. It went through a Digitech GSP1101 using the DIGI bright clean amp with delay & reverb, then direct & through a Tech21 4×10 amp. We sang through a CAD trion 8000 tube mic and that runs in2 a Focusrite Trackmaster. ps. Everything is recorded through a TASCAM US-1641 & HP laptop using Cubase.

 Altruism. In fact, we’ve just got 2 do it! ONE

Just a simple vid.

Another Sunday

Another Sunday is our first “Country” release. I, Kiyeth, was working full force on our new songs pretty much without any days off. There were evenings off, but other wise 7 days a week. Life kept on rollin 2! Chores, errands and other major responsibilities avalanched. I was getting behind and trying 2 keep up. Just like everyone else, friends and family who have the weekends off and spend it hustling. For them, those 2 days off never seem like enough 2 get everything done. Let alone enjoy life a little. Who hasn’t said I need another Sunday?!

LYRICS:

It’s seven A.M. rise and shine
Alarm clock screamin Monday grind
I start my week off already behind
At least I’ve got a 9 to 5
If I didn’t work with a bunch of jerks
It wouldn’t be so bad. Sometimes I wish I had,

Another Sunday
Is that too much to ask
Rewind the weekend hit repeat
It all went by too fast
Another Sunday
A day off from my life
Some time in bed to collect my head
Before I have to work again

I didn’t have time to cut the grass
Been in the grocery getter burnin gas
The final lap, the setting sun
Got the house to clean up before I’m done
Laundry, bills and inspections fail
It’s enough to drive you mad
Sometimes I wish I had

Another Sunday
Is that too much to ask
Rewind the weekend hit repeat
It all went by too fast
Another Sunday
A day off from my life
Some time in bed to collect my head
Before I have to work again

An extra day with my wife and kids
Another chance to do what I missed
I’m gonna throw away this list and live
Another day to watch football
Just one more day to get away from it all

Another Sunday
Is that too much to ask
Rewind the weekend hit repeat
It all went by too fast
Another Sunday
A day off from my life
Some time in bed to collect my head
Before I have to work
Another Sunday
Is that too much to ask
Rewind the weekend hit repeat
It all went by too fast
Another Sunday
A day off from my life
Some time in bed to collect my head
Before I have to work again

It’s seven A.M. rise and shine
Alarm clock screamin Monday grind.
“I’m taking the day off!”

ON THE RECORDING FRONT:

 I kept hearing the bridge section in my head and that’s where it started. The lyrics came next. They are what really helped define the melody and the rest of the song. VT came down one weekend and we put his drum tracks down with scratch guitar tracks. I got the basic tracks down within a week(guitar, bass, pedal steel and vocals). The pedal steel really helped bring it all 2gether. It kind of reminds me of the weepy Jerry Garcia style back in there. VT put his backing vocals down the weekend after that. The guitar solo was the last 2 go down. A few thousand takes later it developed into what is on the final mix. So it took about 2 weeks total 2 record.

EQUIPMENT:

VT used Sonor Drums & Zildjian & Sabian cymbals with CAD mics. The drums go through an 8 channel pre amp into an 8 channel Presonus ACP88. Cymbals go through a Presonus dual path BlueTube. Kiyeth used the Godin LGXTsa & Roland GR-55 for bass and pedal steel sounds. And a Nashville tuning on the pedal steel. The electric guitar(Godin) went in2 a Digitech GSP1101. The amp setting was the 65 Twin with compression and that ran through a Tech21 4×10 cab, mic’d with a SM57. For vocals we use a CAD Trion 8000 into a Focusrite Trackmaster.

It was alot of fun and very comfortable for us steppin in2 the Country arena. We are definitely going 2 be doing more!! ONE

About 1:48 in is a clip of the solo.

Share the Love

 Share the Love was inspired by the old Pittsburgh soul sound. Besides the obvious, Share the Love’s lyrics carry the overall message that “no matter what, the only way 2 get this world right is love!” We are all cut from the same cloth. We all have everyday hurdles. We all go through different situations that test our character and resolve. Remember, we can make it through anything if we are there for each other. Be excellent 2 each other! You never know, that stranger you meet could become a lifelong friend or have a story that might have a profound impact on your life. Share the Love!

LYRICS:

Everybody it’s a brand new day
Share the love in everyway
Don’t fight the feelin
Let the light shine through
No matter what it’s up to you

Share the love
oom oom

Put our problems 2 the side
Let’s just ride
Surfin through the waves of joy
Hit the tide

Share the love
oom oom

Everyday hurdles
Leapin with laughter
Good times is what I’m after
1 2, Put aside the blues
3 4, There’s more in store
We must withstand the fight
Everything will be alright

Share the love
oom oom

ON THE RECORDING FRONT: 

 This was one of the first really new songs we wrote since the completion of our last set and one of the first in this new set 2 be recorded. We recorded VT’s drum tracks with scratch guitar & bass tracks in August. We knew it would probably have guitar, some organ & definitely horns. The following week I, Kiyeth, put down the bass, guitar, organ & horn parts. I basically developed the parts at that point and before I knew it the song was structurally sound. There was still the task of the solo however. After dabbling with guitars and horns and not feelin it, I kept hearing this wailing on an organ like a Jimmy Smith, Cherry Wainer or Melvin Seals, then out it came. VT returned the following week & we tracked his vocal parts. I did mine later and that was that!

EQUIPMENT: 

VT uses Sonor drums. 

Kiyeth used a Roland GR-55 for bass, organ, & horns. The guitar used is a Godin LGXTsa into a Digitech GSP1101. The Amp Model was a ’65 Twin with reverb & that all runs through a mic’d 4×10 Tech21 Power Engine. Vocals were recorded with a CAD Trion 8000 through a Focusrite Trackmaster. In retrospect, I should have used different settings with the vocals initially. Which I did in most of the other recordings.

It is an ongoing evolutionary process this self-producing business. There are mistakes we love, some not so much. But we learn and constantly strive 2 work out the bugs & make it the best we can. Music is our love & we just gotta Share the Love! ONE