Nightwalk – The Southern Lights (2024)

Tracklist

Chosen By God – 5:48
Love Sick – 5:32
I’m Not Afraid With You – 3:02
ImSane – 3:41
Two Lost Souls – 3:53
You Will Be Renewed – 2:49
Drain – 4:00

The Backstory

Since moving from the US to Australia, I’ve been isolated from many of my creative tools (like my bass guitar and my friends). Because of this, and the unfortunate way COVID took a hold of everyone and their lives, I found it really hard to get back on track with creating music.

The Southern Lights was born out of this isolation. It’s an eclectic mix of genres, as all of my projects are. The one unifying factor though, is that all of these songs try something new for me. I tried to push myself to have one new thing in every song, and I think the experimentation paid off.

These are by far my most progressive and complex musical constructions, and it’s the project I’m most proud of.

The Name

The Southern Lights is a phenomenon in the southern hemisphere. Everyone is of course familiar with the northern lights, but we do things a little bit different down under. It’s very similar, though…

This photo (the album artwork) was taken by me at a festival of lights in Australia. And I found the creative process of this EP to be a light of its own in my life. Hence the three reasons behind the name.

It’s also a generally more colorful and vibrant endeavor than my previous efforts. Let’s dig a little bit deeper in the track listing.

1. Chosen By God

Chosen By God is a fast-paced, intricately-woven romp that features a persistent, driving force. I love the way there are so many different sections woven together seamlessly, and I think it captures the essence of the type of music that I love to write.

It’s the kind of song that I can look back on and feel proud of, not just because of the musical complexity, but because it’s so fun to listen to. And, it features my most bombastic section yet in the second half. I can’t wait to hear all of your thoughts on the piece!

The second half features a huge buildup spanning 90 seconds of the song. But I can’t help loving how there are so many unique pieces that I have to puzzle together.

Writing all of the lyrics, performing all of the instruments, and singing and producing all of my projects alone is challenging. It means that I’m the exclusive creative, but it also means I can miss elements that others might not love. Sometimes I feel a group process would be more conducive to a quality project. But the one thing you can’t deny is that my projects are 100% mine.

The lyrics explore multiple themes, particularly a delusional sense of purpose and grandeur. Those nearly theological impulses deep within us can drive us to do both wonderful and terrible things. All in the name of our personalized godly edifice… And, how we can take natural human intervention as a sign to continue with our impulses.

Lyrics

It’s loud
Whispers of the past tempt me
Strangleholding on the future

Take me in
Fill me with every little thing you want
Cause I’ve been chosen by God

Allegory of the shadow
Shattered never the same
Can I resurrect and come back again
Come back again

Feel the waves
Fill my soul
The water
Fading, end my soul
Make another

You made it clear
Know this is every little thing you want
I’ve been chosen by love (God)

Might as well have held my head deep below the swell all yourself
Well no mind, the next page is near

Sinking far below
(I will sing for you)
(Will you cry for me?)
Falling down with me

Who will I wake up as
Wake as I want to be
All that I want is to be free

Feel the waves
Fill my soul
The water
Fading
Slowly
Wading
Home

Home
Save me
(Home)
Break me free
(Home)
I can’t breathe

Is that a hand?
Or is that a god to set me free?
Whispers something new
A fairytale beginning
Fairytale beginning not for me

What a feeling having your skin again
Lost a piece dragged back again
I tried pushing forward, and running away
Every day I hear the
Every day I hear the waves again
(I’ve been chosen, I’ve been chosen by)

Listen on YouTube

2. Love Sick

Love Sick is likely the song I am the most proud of. Of all of my dozens and dozens of created songs, covers, and albums, this is my personal magnum opus.

Not only does it push forward more than any of my other music, and is more experimental, but it combines every genre I love. It combines lovely and beautiful ballads with gritty and disgusting rock. It has big solos and quiet jazzy vibes.

I’ve heard some people describe it as Radiohead + Deftones, and while that wasn’t necessarily the goal, I can see where they’re coming from. And It’s an honor to even be close to that company!

To be honest, it more came from the idea of trying to write a song that my girlfriend would love. Thank god it is her favorite song I’ve ever written too! Women are always the best motivation for Men, I suppose.

And that potential obsession with the opposite sex is the topic of this one. I love the title, as a play on how an extreme amount of love can quite literally make you unwell.

Finally I’ll note the subtle key change in the bridge. Blink and you’ll miss it…

Lyrics

The walk was long
Drifted away into thoughts of a dream
Spilling
Draining

The night air tells a story
A shame filled release
Am I too deep?

Through it all
Rise and the fall
For you, doll
Until we meet again

When I fall from grace
You will, you will catch me the same
If I would peel my eyes out my head

Love sick
Runs through me
My organs failing

Through it all
Rise and the fall
For you, doll

Is anybody here?
I wonder why
I’ve begun to spill
From the cracks in my eyes

Now that I’ve been set free
I am free
Shame filled eyes

Think of how
I’ll defend you
Every day
I’ll pray
For safety
Safety

Love sick
Love sick

Listen on YouTube

3. I’m Not Afraid With You

I’m Not Afraid With You is my most intimate song yet. It seems that its resonated with all of you, as it’s the most viewed song from the EP on YouTube. I love the minimalist sound of this one, as it allows the different elements to all have their moment in the spotlight. With the previous two songs, it was easy to keep adding more and more. This song is quite the opposite.

While this song is quite slow and short, its divided into two distinct halves. The first is the introspective, quiet one, while the second is more layered. Harmonies and strings come in, and there is a tempo change.

I love how this takes me on the journey of traveling across the world to be with my partner. Being stuck in a long distance relationship for years isn’t something I’d wish upon my worst enemy, and this song captures that feeling of finally uniting. It’s magical, filled with sparks, and a tinge of melancholy of the time lost being apart.

Lyrics

I lie awake and think
I think of the last time I spoke to you
And I feel afraid

Watched you walk away
Promised I would be there soon

One more hour with us
I know that we’re in love
Would that make the difference?
The plane it took my reality drifting
Are we ready

We’re ready

I promised only months
But it took many years
We lived and lost, and learned of how to become one

We’re finding who we are
I’m not afraid with you
We lived and lost, and learned of how to become one

Listen on YouTube

4. ImSane

If you’re a fan of riffs, and high energy chaos, this one is for you! This one was inspired by (not saying it sounds like them) Slipknot. Seeing them live was such a transformative experience, and I wanted to capture a drop of that energy in this track.

It would be an absolute dream of mine to play this song live with a crowd going wild! I suppose I’ll continue to dream for now. In the meantime, enjoy the few time signature changes, the massive bridge and fun, fuzzy tones.

My favorite moment is when I get into the expletives. I just love the way the riff dashes around while the fuzzy guitar and crunchy vocals emphasize the power. It’s really fun to learn on guitar, so I’ll challenge one of you to send in your best cover!

Lyrics

Hatred tonight is right
Feel my hands wrap around your necks

Let the fire burn it away
And kill your hunger

Psycho
I am on fire
Hey, you found, you found me low
You found, you found me low
A demon of your dreams

Cities will burn
Burn ’em and squirm
Make it renew
Do you hear me crying pleading

Let the fire burn it away
And kill your hunger

Fuck it we’re alive, we’re alive go insane

All my friends think I’m just oh so plain
But I feel so crazy in my brain

Fuck it we’re alive, we’re alive go insane
Fuck it we’re alive, we’re alive go insane
Fuck it we’re alive, we’re alive go insane
Fuck it we’re alive, we’re alive go insane

Let the fire burn it away
And kill your hunger
Let the fire burn it away
And kill your hunger

Fuck it we’re alive, we’re alive go insane

Listen on YouTube

5. Two Lost Souls

Two Lost Souls is a bit of a simpler track…at first. I was originally going to release the EP as just the first 4 tracks, as I felt they were the most complete, but I couldn’t help myself on these bonus songs. There was just too much to like!

I wanted to make an “easy” listen kind of song, but I couldn’t help myself when it came to the chord progression of the chorus. That’s where this song truly shines. It gives an otherwise straightforward, chill song an extra bite. And I love giving a small twist on a classic sound or genre. It’s how you can carve out your own, unique space in the music world.

Anyways, I think there’s something to be said about trying to make something simply…pretty. This song isn’t trying to be much more than that, and it’s something I’m glad exists.

Lyrics

Why cry darling why?
I’m the first in line
To wipe you clean

I will try
I wiped away the tears
The mascara didn’t care

The distance made us close together
Made you my best friend

Take me home
You’re never alone
Locked inside my eyes
Come home
We’re never alone
Rise feel alive

Us without us
Is like a world without waves
The sound of change

Two lost souls
No parents to their name
Just love uncontained

Distance made us close together
My lover and best friend

Take me home
You’re never alone
Locked inside my eyes
Come home
We’re never alone
Rise phoenix rise

Oh, you’re scared and alone
Oh, come home
Oh, come home
Home, come home

Listen on YouTube

6. You Will Be Renewed

This song is all about the groove in the verses, and the the pretty chords and melody of the chorus. I love how there are subtle additions to the song as it goes along, making every new section feel slightly bigger than the last.

It’s very subtly layered, but makes it into a more interesting listening experience. I suppose I always have this temptation on projects. I always want each track to cover a different style, like I’m patching up leaks on a ship. If I already have a fast-paced heavy song, I’m not going to add another fast-paced heavy song.

It might be interesting on my next project to try something more consistent. But for now, I can’t help myself venturing into all of these different styles. It’s just too fun! Maybe singles are the best way for me moving forward…

I remember writing this one specifically on the guitar. That’s how you know you have a decent song – if it sounds okay just on acoustic with you singing.

Lyrics

Take everything off take it all real real slow
Then you’ll never ever want to let me go

Every little thing that you hide way deep beneath auburn eyes
Give it to me now so you’ll never leave my side

You could be a symphony for the weak
While me? I’ll always just be a dying light

Help me to be renewed again
You’ll be you’ll be renewed again

Take everything off take it all real real slow
You’ll never ever want to let me go

Every little thing that you told me ya have no hidden lies
Gave it to me once and I did not tow the line

You could be a symphony for the weak
While me? I’ll always just be a dying light

Help me to be renewed again
You’ll be you’ll be renewed again

Help me to be renewed again
You’ll be you’ll be renewed again
Help me to be renewed again
You’ll be you’ll be renewed again

Fuck it we’re alive, we’re alive go insane

Listen on YouTube

7. Drain

I love ending my projects on a big dark song. And Drain definitely fits the bill. It’s got a slow, ominous soundscape before exploding into bombast. I just wish I could get a band to play some of these songs live with…

My favorite elements here are the fuzzy, dirty riffs of the chorus, and the piano interlude after the first chorus. It almost is operatic for a simple moment of the song. And then we’re back to rock. The tonal whiplash is a lot of fun to mesh together.

I’ve been a little too addicted to adding these dynamic elements. Or not? You guys let me know if you enjoyed that aspect of the song or if I’m just crazy. And, this one is in drop C, which might be a first for me!