standing still… : demo from 2006 recorded in sister’s house in England. a newer version of this appeared on my album in 2007 which was more organic and not so crystally, heheh…many people say they like this version better. Tomi is our family dog who died when I was 17, and it was horrible, I felt so sad about it
lessons: recorded in a hostel room in Dublin, may 2008 with this girl Rheanna from california I had met earlier that night. the song was written somewhere and somehow but i can’t remember anything more. I think I heard a John Prine song and was influenced by that.
pain & glory: recorded by my good friend Joe in Denver colorado at this party I played at which was next to the hostel we were staying at. they just always walked by our hostel and saw us sitting on the porch drinking and playing so they invited us over. good times.
song for me: written in Vancouver. I was feeling down and the weather was horrible. Everybody said what a great city this is but I wasn’t having a good time. I knew we were going to vegas with Joe and couldn’t wait. at live shows I always like to dedicate this one to myself. this version was recorded in a studio in Dublin. we miked my feet and put a tambourine beside to get that sound that’s why it sounds like there’s drums. all and everything you hear is one take, yes i got it pretty good that time.
only: written in the house I was living in, in Dublin…it was cold and there was usually noise in the background.
codes: also recorded in dublin studio (see above)….a little neil young influence there for sure.
June: messing around with a piano riff in England and I just made this instrumental that made me feel like summer. I didn’t have a name for it until I met this girl through myspace whose name was June… how strange.
Until you’re mine; this is from my album Lions which was done in 2007 (the only album I have done so far). I like the lyrics. the harmonies in the chorus are very “eagles”-y.
doors: me and Jyrki (a great harmonica player) had to practice for a gig and I threw some rough versions of the songs so he can practice by himself. This song is also on the album but more slower and more countryish. I also removed the outro and usually don’t play it.
noises and words: end of 2008. I was in bad shape in every way. hungover, tired, lonely, depressed. my then girlfriend at the time never came home the previous night and I knew where she was and why and I played this to her when she came home although it all ended soon after. The saddest thing is that it wasn’t even about her…
Well, I haven’t really listened to these songs or played them for awhile so it’s kind of nice to do so. Or at least listen to them…as they are not really apart of what I am doing currently. But they are apart of me. Now and always. I think i’m doing this for me as much as anyone. My songs have this way of explaining to me things and often much later than when they are actually written sung and performed.