the MiRaGe

Here's some lyrics I just wrote for a song that will be included on Cry of the Whale: Volume 3.

"Don't Look Down"

verse 1
climbing higher, soul desires
don't look down now, faith has touched the ground
sky it brightens, eyes they widen
you descend and I can hear you say:

pre-chorus 1
"walk into the night, flee your world and leave it behind"

chorus
but i'm further than i've ever been before
found my lost key and unlocked the door
life is quite different than once before
I cannot live that way anymore

verse 2
trekking higher, through the mire
don't look down now, mind rests far below
grip it tightens, nerves i'm fightin'
you descend and I can hear you say:

pre-chorus 2
"fall into the night, drop your rope and meet me inside"

outro chorus
further and further than once before.......

The recording for Cry of the Whale: Volume 2 is complete. All I have to do now is to set up a time in Oak Ridge to mix. My plans for the album have changed AGAIN. Now there will be a Volume 3...just like I originally planned a long time ago. Volume 3 will PROBABLY consist of 4 more songs. Here is the tentative track list for Volume 2

1. Dive Into The Depths
2. The Scene
3. Apprehensive Ocean
4. You Stole My Life Away

Here's a song that I just finished writing the lyrics for. It will be the opening song on Cry of the Whale: Volume 2 due out January. The album is coming along really nicely. It will now have NINE songs on it. That means the full album (Vol 1 and 2) will consist of 14 songs. I just wrote a new instrumental tonight on the keyboard, which will have to be the last new song....because...otherwise I'll never get it all done! I've completed recording the music for 6 of the 9 songs, but I've only put vocals on 2 songs. The music takes the longest...so I'm over halfway there. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

"Dive Into The Depths"

Verse 1
Dive in, follow underneath
I live midst the coral reef

Pre-chorus 1
As the currents sway, take a breath I may
See the surface glow, feel the undertow.........fade.........

Chorus
No light
No dark
No eyes
No heart
Goodbye
My spark
It's time
We part..............and die..........

Verse 2
I swim farther from the beach
Mind seeks something out of reach

Pre-chorus 2
Will I ever know, all that lies below?
This abyss in me, great catastrophe...................fade.............

Volume 2 will consist of:

Dive Into the Depths
The Scene
Apprehensive Ocean
You Stole My Life Away
Time Is Standing Still
and 3 more still untitled tracks

The recording of Cry of the Whale: Volume 2 will begin as soon as the fall semester ends. I plan on it being completed before the spring semester begins.

My next album after Cry of the Whale COULD be titled "Lost: In the Year 2005" or "Memoirs From the Year 2005". It would bring back some of my work from early in the year 2005 that was meant to be on Cry of the Whale, but didn't quite fit what I was going for musically. It would probably be composed of 4-5 songs.

Tomorrow I'll be mixing and completing Cry of the Whale: Volume 1 in Oak Ridge. I'll ATTEMPT to upload the songs onto myspace as soon as possible.

Yes, I just used the F bomb in a song...

"You Stole My Life Away"

Verse 1
I couldn't see, I couldn't recognize
the signs that were placed out before me
you didn't mind, you didn't blink an eye
when life came crashing down upon me

Pre-chorus
So slow, your true intentions showed
and the world saw the lies you sold
I know, it was a long time ago
but the life you stole we'll never see unfold

Chorus
Soul too broke to pay, you stole my life away
forsaken in vain
"right on, right on, right on,"
fight on, fight on

Verse 2
You wouldn't bend, you wouldn't compromise
your cheap hotel love for a friend
my parting shot, fed your empty thoughts
as my love flew far far away

Outro
You stole my fucking life away
You gotta give it away........

-----------------------------------------------


This will be on cry of the whale: volume 2

once again, words really cannot express how i feel. i really hate when i get in these fucking mental ruts. it's really an uncomfortable feeling, and i get super insecure and paranoid about everything, on top of being really on edge. of course, these feelings come and go...and i'm sure they always will.

i'm completely done recording volume 1, and i'm shipping the tapes off to terry (the guy who helps me mix my cds) tomorrow. whenever i get the chance, i'll go down to oak ridge to complete everything, and turn it all into a cd. i'm excited....it should sound really good. i've set a deadline on volume 2, and it is december 31st. volume 2 will be quite difficult to record.

friday i'm cutting my hair...quite a bit. you may be wondering why, and it's not because i don't like the way it looks long. i'm just soooo sick of the upkeep, and the annoyance it causes me on a day to day basis. if it would just fix itself, and stay fixed the rest of the day i'd keep it long. ah well, maybe i'll grow it out again someday. i do look forward to playing tennis without a bandana or hat on. that will be wooooonderful.

i have so many things running through my head right now, yet i really don't know what else to write.....

I finished all of the music today for "pyramid". Honestly, this is the most impressive day of recording I've had...ever. The piano sounds ridiculous. It doesn't sound like it's me playing. The song really has a haunting tone to it. Anyways, hopefully the vocals won't screw the song up...I won't let that happen. As I hinted in my post last night, "Cry of the Whale" is now going to be 2 volumes instead of 3. The first will be desert themed, while the second will pertain to the sea. There will be 6 songs on the first volume, and around 6 on the second. I've also contacted Terry (the guy that mixes my cd's), and he gave me the OK to come down whenever I'm finished. My goal is to have all of the recording for volume 1 done before I go to the beach. Here's the lyrics I finished on thursday-

"pyramid"

verse 1
lost myself in a new world
found more than i had bargained for
great endless blaze hits my face
God save me now i'm too late

chorus
i awaken, i awaken
fell too fast enraptured by the glow
mind is shaken, mind is shaken
how could i withstand the blow?

verse 2
slow desert train rolls away
warm sandy winds ignite the flame
caught in a maze of great faith
dawn ushers in a new day

bridge
i'm sinking now, i feel the weight upon me
mind breaking down, i sense a change inside me
thoughts come unwound, i'm homeward bound

the mirage is in __________________ the desert ____________ i


_____________________the nomad wanders ________________________ the sea ______ ii

Just a small update-

Today I completed vocals for "Gypsy" and "Time is Standing Still".

After giving it several listens, I've concluded that "From a Far and Distant Land" is a special song. It's very possible it will be the best song on the entire record. (Which is kinda disappointing in a way since I just began recording!)

I'll begin recording "The Drought" soon...

Soooo...I've continued recording. I've really become obsessed with it as of late. All day long I think of something pertaining to this album, whether it be lyrics, a melody, a song I have yet to record, or a certain piano part...whatever. This ALWAYS happens. It's like my body has an inner clock that tells me when it's "time" to record/write/do something creative. Meanwhile, pretty much eveything else is put on the back burner while I'm in this state. I guess it's because the most fulfilling feeling in the world is hearing a song you've been working on for a year (many times just in your head) come to life, and become something even greater than you had planned. Anyways, I guess I'm just trying to express my anticipation and excitement with this upcoming record. Here's my usual update-

"From a Far and Distant Land"- Totally completed within the past 48 hours. So far, it's the best thing I've recorded for the album. I'll go ahead and say that this song is right up there with some of my best stuff ever. I'm really digging the piano and synth on this song. Also, the message behind this song is really personal. It deals with a variety of issues, but has a strong focus on my struggles at Florida State. (Tracks- 3 Piano tracks, 1 synth, 1 guitar, 2 vocals)

"Gypsy"- Is complete except for vocals, and probably a synth/strings part. The guitar rhythm and lead parts are really strong on this one. This song deals with my past tendencies to do erratic things to escape my unhappiness.

"Untitled prelude to Time is Standing Still"- Is an orchestrated prelude to Time Is Standing Still. I'll eventually give this one a name, and might add one more part. I might end up making several songs similar to this one on the record. The idea is to recreate another song on the record, and present it in a different format. I'll use similar melodies and riffs, but they'll be very different at the same time. Does that make sense? hehe

"Time Is Standing Still"- Only lacks vocals. This is an all keyboard song (as stated before). However, I've used a ton of different sounding instruments from the keyboard to make it sound really interesting. (Bass, Harp, Strings etc.) This song is about being stuck in a rut, and wondering if you'll ever get out of it.

Sooo...what's left? For Volume 1, all I lack is to record "The Drought", and to finish all of the other songs (vocals etc). If I had to predict, I'd say volume 1 will be done within a month. (Not including going to Oak Ridge to mix, which only takes one day). Anyways, more updates soon......

Recording update-

"Time is Standing Still" is all but complete. I will prob go back and record a few more vocal takes, and I will def add a female vocal over the chorus.

I began recording "Gypsy" tonight, and it sounds AMAZING. Right now I would say it is my most impressive song in regards to guitar playing I have ever recorded. There's a lead guitar part, and a dueling guitars part in the bridge. I almost hate to sing over it! Vocals, as always, are the biggest pain in the butt to complete. Hopefully I'll have some solid days vocally soon.

Recording for Cry of the Whale began on sunday. I have completed the music (for now) on "Time Is Standing Still". There are 6 music tracks- 3 pianos, a bass, harp, and strings. Vocals will be next. There will be at least 2 vocal tracks, maybe 3 if I use a female backup vocal track. I will utilize Myspace, Facebook, and this site to give updates in regards to my progress. I plan to release Cry of the Whale in 3 volumes with at least 4 tracks on each. Stay tuned...

I just went back and edited out alot of embarrassing stuff from old journal entries. I think I can live with myself now.

I've been so alone for so long
Forgotten by the world
Forgotten to myself
Your effervescent eyes have awakened me
And brushed the dust away
But I knew you'd never stay

So I memorized the color of your eyes as I lost myself inside you
And I memorized the way our legs entwined as I drifted off beside you

I miss
God I miss
Waking up beside you

At night I cling to you, I'm so afraid
Afraid the day will come
And I'll wake and find you gone
But you promised that you'd not abandon me
And kissed my fears away
But I woke up to that day

But I had memorized the way our eyes would meet reflected in the bathroom mirror
And I memorized your naked silhouette as you slowly brushed your hair

I miss
God I miss
Waking up beside you

I've been so alone for so long
I forgot how much it hurts
To wake up so alone

But I memorized how warm your body felt as you lay half asleep beside me
And I memorized the way the sunlight filled the room and played upon your body

I miss
God I miss
Waking up beside you

Ahh so what's new? I went to see NIN in Atlanta last Thursday, and needless to say it was amazing. I think I'm still trying to recover from it....it was insane. School is the same ole same ole...I finally got over that certain someone that I was so into earlier this semester; she's a waste of my time. Why the hell do I always go for the girls I have 0% chance of getting? O well.. So what have I been doing? Hmm...playing tennis, and staying reasonably active. I drove up to UVA to visit John a few weeks back. FSU lost, but I didn't care too too much. There was free alcohol in the box I was sitting in, so I decided to ease the pain of losing by drinking. Good idea huh? Well, it worked. I got pretty messed up that night, and had a nasty hangover the next day, in which I had to drive 4 hours home. I apologize to John and the others that had to deal with me...blah. ~~~ I've been a musical hiatus as of late, and taking some time to clear my mind for fresh ideas. The battle of the bands thing really took alot out of me. I've since then realized I'm not meant to be a performer. It just isn't meant to be I guess. I don't have the tools nor the bandmates to make it happen. It will never happen. I realize that. However, I will continue to do what I LOVE...which is writing and creating music. I still have so much inside... I've also realized I will never achieve the sound on any of my records that I hear in my head. I just don't have the resources. Nevertheless...I will keep on going. I do have a ton of fragments of songs that will eventually become my next album, which is very far away. ~~~ OK hmm..what else? It's been so long since my last update. Well I guess I'll close with a nice concise statement- i feel like shit right now. :) Till next time........................

my first week of my junior year is officially over. yippie. I'm taking 18 hours, so I'll stay pretty busy. So far it's been alright, I'm not really that concerned about things academically. I really wanna stay active, and meet some new ppl. That's not quite as easy as it sounds. BTW, I have a VERY huge opportunity coming up next saturday. There is a battle of the bands in Virginia that is being sponsored by a record company, and I'm one of the 12 artists in it. Supposedly the top 3 will move on to the next round, which will be the following week opening for Jars of Clay. If I win that round, I would get an automatic record deal! How cool is that??? I'm pumped for it...I'm gonna let it all go, and play a great show. I'll have Jenny backing me up on the piano/keyboard, which will sound great. If anyone can come help support me, please do! Tomorrow I'm gonna go see Duncan Sheik again in Asheville which should be fun. No one wanted to come though...siiigh..whatever.

i cannot write how i feel... and if i could, would anyone understand? nah, probably not.

Hey everybody....check out my music site on Myspace! ~ www.myspace.com/themirage

On the new site I recently wrote an album update; here it is-
"Summer Sessions" new CD coming very soon!

On August 20th I'll be mixing/completing my newest album "Summer Sessions" in Oak Ridge TN. This week I'm gonna try to take some cool pics to make some sorta album booklet that I can print out. The album is a short album, I guess you could call it an EP/LP. The 4 songs that are included are "Hopelessly True", "Vaguely I Remember", "Beyond Regognition", and "Do You Feel the Same?". I'll put them on this site for everyone to listen to once they are complete. (How convenient they allow me to upload a max of 4 songs) . After I finish with this album I'm gonna get serious about 1. Rehearsing and playing some live shows 2. Creating a demo and trying to pitch it to record companies. I just bought a new guitar off ebay yesterday, so I will be able to have enough guitars to play a live show. As some of you know, all of my songs are in strange tunings, so I'm required to have at LEAST 4 guitars on stage. What a hassle huh?? Welp...more news to come ...lots of great stuff comin' up in the future. ~luke