RISE

Rise Release Date: May 16, 2021

This my new single Rise, It has many different themes and underlying meanings held within. I wrote this song after the loss of my parents. I wanted Rise to convey the feeling of overcoming the seemingly insurmountable. I hope that Rise will give those that need it an added boost of strength to carry on with their lives after experiencing a huge loss. Rise is my reminder to you that eventually, things will hurt less and do get better.

Rise is dedicated to my parents and the love they gave me. Unfortunately, they both suffered from dementia in their later years. It was a long and painful road watching their decline. Eventually, they both passed and only a month apart. I miss them both every day.

Rise Inner Meanings:

The opening toy piano melody is me or you as a kid starting life as we all do and beginning to move forward crawling, then momentum builds. In part one of the verse, I introduce the second melody. This is my Mom reminding me to look on the brighter side, convincing me to get up and out of bed to start my day by turning on the radio and dancing in my room. Now we are off to a good positive start (Life is good). The strings that come in halfway through the verse sections represent "life's events" unfolding. You might notice a breath-like percussion sound throughout the track. That is actually my breath. It's meant to symbolize the deep breaths one needs to take when presented with a life challenge or bad news. The congas that come in with the "life event" strings and eventually take us to the chorus represent me or you dusting ourselves off after hardship and regaining our strength. In the chorus sections, I reintroduce the intro melody representing a stronger us. The "Oh Yeahs" in the chorus are inner strength realized while overcoming a major life event. The Oh Yeas are also meant to represent the feeling my mom (who was very religious) must have had when she made it to her final resting place in heaven. It was my hope that she would "Rise" and find her place in the clouds as she had prayed for throughout her life.

The Cover Photo:

The cover photo I took after scattering my mom's ashes at sea.

Rise was recorded, mixed, and mastered in my home studio in Northern California. Digital to analog conversion was done by good friend Chris Manning at Salamander Sound.

MAUI

Maui is one of my favorite places to spend time with friends and family. This track was born during COVID miles away from Maui back in California. I was in my studio dreaming of Maui when a melody began floating through my head. I grabbed a mic and sang the first part, then the harmony. I continued layering in more vocals and instruments in hopes of manifesting a return trip to the place I love. I wanted the track to lift your spirits, relax you and bring you peace as Maui has done for me. So please take a listen and share with your friends and family.

ANEW

This track represents the feeling of starting anything anew. The promise of hope in a new day or when gaining momentum on a new project. I took the cover from underneath a staircase while exploring Hong Kong.