obscure by design productions - the Music of Griffin

Current In-work Project(s)

These are songs that I am currently working on.

My Long Lost Rhapsody - Katie This is a fresh recording made 8/14/2022. My good friend Katie is singing. She was nervous as it was her first time recording, but it turned out great. This is only a rough mix, but it will be refined a little more in the near future. The music is sad again My memory's getting bad again I don't want to cry again tonight Each day brings so much more new challenges new pain and woe but I will not cry again tonight I know what's haunting me is just a long lost melody If I could only sing the perfect harmony And then it's gone again that perfect tune from who knows when I know that I'll try again tonight I hear it haunting me that long lost melody I almost hum the strain but then it fades... ...there it goes The notes once so close to my soul now won't come to mind I dived into a rabbit hole and yet I could not find the melody that used to lift my spirits and set me free and still that tune I cannot find before so dear to me... My long lost rhapsody
My Long Lost Rhapsody - Karaoke Just started this. Had a part of it written, but needed to finish. For once, I had words and needed music. It all came together quite quickly once I decided to work on it. As it is now recorded, it is only three days old, and it sounds very good if I say so myself. The music is sad again My memory's getting bad again I don't want to cry again tonight Each day brings so much more new challenges new pain and woe but I will not cry again tonight I know what's haunting me is just a long lost melody If I could only sing the perfect harmony And then it's gone again that perfect tune from who knows when I know that I'll try again tonight I hear it haunting me that long lost melody I almost hum the strain but then it fades... ...there it goes The notes once so close to my soul now won't come to mind I dived into a rabbit hole and yet I could not find the melody that used to lift my spirits and set me free and still that tune I cannot find before so dear to me... My long lost rhapsody
Butterfly Recent project. Not finished, but captures the idea. Still needs piano and other production embellishments. Some organ and sound effects at the very least. And the guitar solos are merely placeholders for something much better. A foggy figure on a misty morning A shadowed herald bears bares a warning Reminds me of the times you cried The pain you bore before you died My shoulders know the weight of your demise Even though I tried to ease your cries I relented to bring surcease And deliver you your final peace I never wanted to say goodbye To my lovely butterfly But you hurt so much I thought I’d die So I’ll let you fly up to the sky That morning when you asked me to Lives forever in my mind Because, you said, if you were true That sometimes death is kind But the promise made haunts me still How could I pledge to ever kill The only light in my life That mem’ry cuts me like a knife I never wanted to say goodbye To my lovely butterfly But you hurt so much I thought I’d die So I’ll let you fly up to the sky A foggy figure on a misty morning A shadowed herald bears a warning The time is now to venture forth My life alone has run its course I’ve squared my debts, I’ve done my time I’ve paid my penance for my crime My time alone has come and gone I’ll see you again before too long I never wanted to say goodbye To my lovely butterfly But now's the time for us to reunify So I’m gonna fly up into the sky
Reach the Stars Latest project. Recorded most of it in an afternoon but have now been working on improving the recording for a few more days. A broken family, a broken home you didn't stand half a chance No barbecues or birthdays You didn't get to go to the high school dance While others played with toys and dolls, the pipe was your only friend You thought the only way to get out was to face the bitter end You've come so far now and it 's a long way down You've got your memories and your scars Keep climbing and don't stop and don't look down You've got the power to reach the stars A chance encounter, sheer happenstance, you met a few someones new A different perspective, a different way to be, they helped you find a better point of view Growing up with pimps and thieves, the pushers, and the fiends Now you've found a new way to fly, without the drugs, without getting high You've come so far now and it 's a long way down You've got your memories and your scars Keep climbing and don't stop and don't look down You've got the power to reach the stars
Bluesy sketch Wrote words the other day. Needs refinement. Recorded it anyway, just to capture the idea. You said, you said you'd be true I believed you, I played the fool then you wandered, our love was squandered then you played around with my heart Here I am greiving that we're done though I know that you were the wrong one How could you be untrue? How can I still miss you? When will you get your due? Tell me now how you broke your vow and tell me how I can still love you?
Pilot (On Silken Wings) Finally getting back to work on this. Pilot w/vocal guide This one has a sax playing the vocal melody. Here's the PDF of the lead sheet Clouds adrift, floating high, cotton white, against blue sky Drifting past, on the breeze, hanging high, above the trees Rising up on ridgelift, turning into head winds falling fast then climbing back again Time goes by, troubles fade. The humming breeze, a seranade Thrumming strings, caress the wind, the song I sing, on silken wings Rising up on ridgelift, turning into head winds falling fast then climbing back again How can I resist the pull? Gravity, inevitable My spirit's light in ecstacy. Beneath my kite, my soul is free Beneath my kite, my soul is free
At Christmas Time It's time to write a Christmas Classic. Seeking talented vocalists to record the demo to shop around. The lyrics below need refining. I'm open to ideas. Please make suggestions. The melody is somewhat flexible (but not too much) and the scansion is horrible in the begining but get's better over time because I wrote the words for the middle eight(teen) and the ending before I wrote the first and second verses. It's not the way I usually write, but that's the way it works sometimes. You gotta go with what works. Times are tough, sometimes life is rough, and still we care We persevere despite the fears and tears that we all share And even though troubles seem to grow, we won't be scared Because this is christmas time I had a dream set in a christmas theme and you were there No quarantine, it was crystalline, and you were there And in this dream we had loads of laughs and love to spare It’s what you share with who you care for at Christmas time So wrap your woes in strings & bows and ship them off till spring ‘Cause we all know we have time to go until the new year brings an end to all the joy and our merry Christmas Back to feeling stressed, to feeling listless and alone So let the holiday bells ring When you sing see the joy it brings at Christmas time And when you dance give goodwill a chance at Christmas time Then the world smiles along with you and all you do It’s what you share with who you care for at Christmas time So share more with who you care for at christmas time
Don't Give Up On Me (Original) This is the newest project I've taken on. This will contain versions as the song progresses. Don't Give Up On Me (New Drums starting at beginning) Don't Give Up On Me (New Drums starting at prechorus)
Tell Me - Backing Tracks (karaoke mix) Hot off the presses. There are no vocals on this mix but they will be coming soon. This has been on hold for a few years and I am finally getting back into production. Too Bad This is one of the songs off of David Guilbault's upcoming EP. In case you were wondering... yes, there is a karaoke version. Too Bad Karaoke Mix
Away This song is part of the musical I am writing. In the scene, the female lead has vanished and the male lead believes that it is his fault. He sings this song about his guilt.
Why with Sax This song is part of the musical I am writing. In the scene, the female lead sings this to the male lead because he seems to be leaving her behind. This version features Amy Denio on sax. Editing has begun but there is much more to do. Still, it sounds good enough already that I wanted to share. Update: Editing has progressed and the cut is nearing completion. I want to re-record a small section of the vocals, increase the reverb on the sax in the outro, and possibly modify the drums during the sax solo.

Recent Songs

These are songs that I have written and recorded in the last few years. If you want to hear some of my older music, look lower on the page.

Blessed
I Saw the Sunrise Yesterday
Why
The Perils of Stardom
Midlife Crisis I'm getting older and I'm beginning to feel the pain I see the grey looking back from the mirror I never thought how I would feel about how life would be at this age Most of my friends got married, most of my friends had kids I've been feeling just a little bit lonely because I never did Then I met you, you're my midlife crisis walking on a frozen pond don't know how thick the ice is bought a brand new car and I don't care what the price is 'cause you... you're my midlife crisis My joints are getting achy from the beating they've taken my heart's getting old but it's not breaking I don't hop out of bed as spry as I used to but at least I haven't lost that voodoo that I do in bed I've been looking for a little adventure, I've been searching for something new I'd been thinking 'bout changing careers again or getting my first tattoo Then I met you, you're my midlife crisis walking on a frozen pond don't know how thick the ice is bought a brand new car and I don't care what the price is cause you... you're my midlife crisis ...and if you weren't just twenty-three I might ask you to marry me but I know it won't last that long, I'll wake one day and find you are gone ...but for now I've got you, you're my midlife crisis walking on a frozen pond don't know how thick the ice is bought a brand new car and I don't care what the price is 'cause you... you're my midlife crisis Recorded by Jordan Borders in his basement, this was the first and only song I recorded in somebody else's studio. It was so fun to be able to just play and not worry about controlling the machines. I look forward to having somebody else produce my music again. Kate Reinert worked with me filming extensive footage for the video for this song. I've been extremely remiss in not getting it edited into a publishable video. Sorry Kate.
Till the End of Time I know you're out there somewhere in the night lost in the darkness and searching for the light I know you'll find me eventually 'cause we both know that this is destiny In a perfect world we'd always be together In a perfect world we'd be together now Life dictates that we must wait until our stars align and when they do, I know it's true, that you will be all mine We'll be together till the end of time I know you're hoping that the truth will come to light I know you think that you can find your mister right What do you think a friendship grows into? He may be standing right in front of you In a perfect world we'd always be together In a perfect world we'd be together now It's up to fate how long we must wait until we see the signs Our separate paths through life must cross before they intertwine 'Cause when you're sick, I'll be the cure Without you I could not endure Because I'm yours and that's for sure Till the end of time In a perfect world we'd be together now I wrote this for a friend of mine who cannot see the forest for the trees. Maybe one day she'll see what I see. Maybe not... I wrote it and recorded all of the instruments myself. However, the synth trumpets will soon be replaced by live trumpets played by my friend Jose. I also intend to re-record the electric guitars. I'm not quite happy with the mushy tone; I want more crunch.
Loneliness of the Night I see you crying and I wish that I could help but I don't know what to say You run and hide but really wish that I would follow, but you know that's not my way Take my hand; I understand how it feels to be alone Come with me and you will see how to face the great unknown We both feel pain and anger We both feel like we're strangers but we're just so much alike ...in the loneliness of the night Can you smell the pretty flowers? ...Feel the warm breeze in your hair? See the sun is rising, and the moon just doesn't care... Turn away from darkness; raise your heart up, taste the light... Hear me trying to save you from the loneliness of the night Make a wish and close your eyes; you know it might just come true look inside and find yourself in me, and I'll find the me in you We both feel pain and anger We both feel like we're strangers but we're just so much alike ...in the loneliness of the night Seeing a friend of mine crying one day outside of her place of business, I made a clumsy effort to help. I hoped she would not be embarrassed, and possibly let me in. She tried, but really couldn't. I wanted to help but didn't know what to do. So I wrote this song. A new version performed by Sloe Gin & Honey can be expected this summer.
The Morning After My hands are stiff from the cold They ache like hell but I can be tough The rising sun warms my bones, but not enough My cerebellum thumps and throbs I feel the memory of your sweet caress and the taste of liquid courage from the night before whispers on my breath I squint into the brightness of the rising sun I can taste you on my lips as I ride away Your fragrance clings to me like a needy child in lingerie Reality is surreal; the peace of the road beckons me The chill of the wind's caress, contrasting with the warmth of my reverie The morning after you pay the piper; your ticket's punched and it's time to go The morning after is part of life; the price you pay for being part of the show The morning after follows the night, but don't let it make you sad because the morning after is when you find how good it feels to be the best of the bad I'm always running from point A to B The next horizon something new to see But I get tired of being on the road, always in between I'd like to stop and stay awhile But there's no time to spare; always another mile I'll finish the day I die with no one by my side The morning after you pay the piper; your ticket's punched and it's time to go The morning after is part of life; the price you pay for being part of the show The morning after follows the night, but don't let it make you sad because the morning after is when you pay the price it takes to be the best of the bad Always leaving someone behind; this lifestyle's wearing thin but it won't be all that long until I'm back again The morning after you pay the piper; your ticket's punched and it's time to go The morning after is part of life; the price you pay for being part of the show The morning after follows the night, but don't let it make you sad because the morning after is when you know how right it is to be the best of the bad The lyrics to this song were written on the road, cruising from place to place on my bad motor scooter. As with most of my songs, I wrote it all, played it all. Video has been shot for the film but not yet edited.

Recent Productions

These are songs that I have produced for friends in the last few years. It is typical on these projects to have very little influence over the song lyrics and chords, but profound influence over the instrumentation. In fact, in almost every instance, I play all of the instruments except for the artist's main axe. This means that I not only record the music, but write the parts, perform or program them, and finally mix the end result into a cohesive whole.

Coal to Diamonds This is a song written by Philmore. He had lyrics and a melody and distinct ideas about what he wanted to hear. I discovered the chords that would support his melody, made the arrangement, and played & recorded all of the instruments.
Mia Day Back at the Start Written and performed by Mia, I love the groove and the way she uses the same chords repeatedly but alters the rhythm and melody to keep them from getting stale. She played rhythm guitar and sang. The choir/crowd consists of Steve White, David Johnson, Hailee Stewart, Kate Reinert, and myself. I did the rest. I'm especially proud of the live bass and the guitar harmonics in the bridge.
Steven Charles White Spiritual I convinced a reluctant Steve to record this song with me. I produced it, convincing him to change some things and sneaking other changes in as needed. The end result is pretty damned good. I could hear the gem in the rought the very first time Steve played it for me, and I think I have coaxed that gem into being bright and shiny. Steve has made modifications to the song since this was recorded, but it doesn't make this version any less valid. Steve wrote the lyrics and piano, and performed the same as well as the whistle. I built a choir using recorded voices of Kate Reinert and Mama Jay. I played or programmed everything else (live bass, drum programming, etc.) For what it is worth, before this song was even finished mixing, a rough cut was played on Coast to Coast, the syndicated night-time radio show, on more than 300 stations around North America.
Gary Milici Up I heard Gary perform this at several open mics and loved it every time. I begged him to let me record it. When he finally agreed, we set to. After much negotiation and reconciliation of our differing visions, this is what we ended up with. As with most of these songs, Gary wrote and played the guitar and vocals. I did all the rest. However, Gary did play a large part in the production. This was by far the most 'co-produced' song I have ever created. Lonely Christmas Gary recorded a scratch version of this song with several starts and stops, just so I would have a rough recording to work from in establishing a foundation track for the recording of this piece. I edited those pieces together into a cohesive whole. Then I added bass, drums, and vocal harmonies. Each & Every Highway While I was gathering songs to present to a collaborative video production group, Gary sent me this song with only guitar and vocals. I added a little bit to it to make it more attractive to the group. One of the ladies at the presentation fairly swooned when she heard it. In the end, though, the video group decided to make a (c)rap video. Too many young people involved...
Kate Reinert Break Kate wrote this song after her first Songwriters in Seattle meeting. All she had were lyrics and a melody. I helped discover chords that worked with the melody and then massaged them into the sound that you hear. As usual, I played and recorded everything, except the vocals.

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Play Selected Favorites

Current In-work Project(s)

My Long Lost Rhapsody - Katie

My Long Lost Rhapsody - Karaoke

Butterfly

Reach the Stars

Bluesy sketch

Pilot (On Silken Wings)

Pilot w/vocal guide

At Christmas Time

Don't Give Up On Me (Original)

Don't Give Up On Me (New Drums starting at beginning)

Don't Give Up On Me (New Drums starting at prechorus)

Tell Me - Backing Tracks (karaoke mix)

Too Bad

Too Bad Karaoke Mix

Away

Why with Sax

Recent Songs

Blessed

I Saw the Sunrise Yesterday

Why

The Perils of Stardom

Midlife Crisis

Till the End of Time

Loneliness of the Night

The Morning After

Recent Productions

Coal to Diamonds

Mia Day

Back at the Start

Steven Charles White

Spiritual

Gary Milici

Up

Lonely Christmas

Each & Every Highway

Kate Reinert

Break

Old Songs

I've Fallen in Love (and I can't get up)

The Ghost of Dreams to Come

Something Wicked... (this way comes)

Older Productions

Leif Garcia

This Lonesome Cowboy

Tamara Wimer / Tamara Gee

Ev'ry Emotion

Now That You're Gone

Michael Kerr

Santa Santa

It Takes Two