SUPERMAN
"I recorded a cover of John Ondrasik's 'Five for Fighting' hit in 2003. My vocal teacher Michael Smith is playing piano, my dear friend Gina is singing vocal harmonies, and my close friend Cameron is playing flute. It was the first time I had ever been in a recording studio. I learned a lot and we had a lot of fun." – 2007
This is such a great song. If you haven't seen it, watch footage from the movie Man of Steel, with John Ondrasik's original version playing over it: http://youtu.be/qx_-Nn3bmdY. – 2015 Words and music: John Ondrasik Recorded: 2007 Vocal harmonies: Gina Chick Piano: Michael Smith Flute: Cameron Kelly |
HIMALAYA/SUDDEN AWAKENING
"This song tells of two significant epiphanies I have experienced in my life. The first occurred while trekking in the Himalayas in 1984 and was my first moment of feeling fully connected to God and the Universe. The second occurred on a beautiful tropical island called Haggerstone Island in 2001." – 2007
The lyric should be, "Perfect place to stop thinking." Read the story behind this song here: Himalaya. – 2015 Written: 2003 Recorded: 2007 Vocal harmonies: Gina Chick |
TRUTH
"As I started to be interested in, and read about, the Perennial Philosophy contained at the core of every religious tradition, my mind furiously tried to make sense of that which is beyond understanding. In 2003 my mind came up with this rather jaunty account of the Truth which now makes me smile. It was written during a period when I was trying to teaching myself Jazz." – 2007
Nothing more to say, except: Daggy!! – 2015 Written: 2003 Recorded: 2007 |
HIGHER & HIGHER (DANCE MIX)
"As I sat at my piano one day I looked at a statue of Buddha that I had looked at a thousand times before, but for the first time I felt the truth of his awakening in my heart and this song fell out. The dance mix is compliments of Robin Gist, the talented and beautiful man who recorded and produced this album for me. We were joking one day about turning one of my songs into a dance track and lo and behold he did it for me. It is reminiscent of the Pet Shop Boys circa 1988. Thanks Robin—I LOVE it." –2007
HILARIOUS! I originally put this at the end of the album so as not to scare people away!! – 2015 Written: 2003 Recorded: 2007 |
FREE & EASY
"I attended a workshop called 'Journey to the Heart' at the annual Burning Man Festival in 2004. In an incredibly violent sand storm on a dry lake bed in the middle of the Nevada desert, two beautiful souls, whose 'playa' names for that week were 'Free' and 'Easy', opened my heart to its innate Beauty, and to unconditional Love. I will be eternally grateful to them for those precious two hours of my life. Thank you." – 2007
Sorry about the momentary mother-fucker of a glitch in the recording near the end (2:46). Don't ask! Damn you, C#7!!! – 2015 Written: 2004 Recorded: 2007 Vocal harmonies: Gina Chick |
GENTLE LOVER
"This is a short energetic tune written one evening when my lover was overseas. I was learning about blues at the time, and the basic structure of this song is a 12-bar blues progression." –2007
It utilises only dominant 7th chords. This was a total revolution for me at the time. When I listen to this song today, it feels like it was the moment I proposed to Andy. – 2015 Written: 2006 Recorded: 2007 |
BELOVED WALTZ
"In 2006 I had a near-death experience in a house fire that enabled me to fully face the inevitability of death. This event had a profound effect on my view of the world and of the point of existence. Even as my material world was incinerating I felt more alive, at peace, and connected to everything than ever before." – 2007
I'm trying to find words to express what I am going through here, but it does't quite hit the mark. I seem to like writing waltzes though!! Read the story of the house FIRE!!! here. – 2015 Written: 2006 Recorded: 2007 |
BELOW SHAME
"10 days of meditating in silence at my first Vipassana course in 2006 was an amazing and extremely painful experience where intense memories from my life arose spontaneously. On one particularly emotional day I was transported back to my childhood to an event pivotal to my first sexual awakening. After vividly reliving this moment, and forgiving myself completely, I felt more space inside me - like a heavy burden had been let go." – 2007
I put a few 'blue' notes in this one too. I'm still trying my best to learn jazz here, but really it's just not my style. The picture is from a kayaking trip on Lake Manipuri, NZ, with my dear friend Gina. Mirror one day, whitecaps the next!! We survived . . . just. – 2015 Written: 2006 Recorded: 2007 |
SHANGRI-LA
"I happened to find myself alone in Bangkok on New Years Eve 2006 after traveling through the north of Thailand. I wrote this poem whilst watching fireworks over the Chao Phraya River. It refers to the different states of consciousness I was experiencing at this emotional time and the movement between the heavy time-bound state, and the intermittent realisation of open spaciousness." – 2007
You may have noticed some clarinet backing on a few of the songs. Clarinet was my instrument at Perth Modern School; I played Mozart's Clarinet Concerto for my final high school exam. At the time this song was written I was still seeking spiritual awakening on the outside. As a result I was still suffering considerably; getting better though!! – 2015 Written: 2007 Recorded: 2007 Vocal harmonies: Gina Chick |
I SENT A MESSAGE
"I went for a walk in a snow-covered pine forest one night while attending a silent retreat with Gangaji at Yosemite National Park in California in 2007. The moon was full and spectacular in the cold night air. Suddenly I was intimately aware that in a few hours the same moon would be visible to my lover at home in Sydney so I sent my love to him via this ethereal messenger." – 2007
I love you with all my heart, Andy Quan. Now, and forever. – 2015 Written: 2007 Recorded: 2007 |
BONUS TRACKS:
BE MINE FOR ALWAYS
This song was omitted from THEN... after recording a rough cut. I was never entirely happy with the final couplet of the chorus where I rhymed 'love' with 'above' – so predictable. When I listen to the song now, however, I quite like it. – 2015
Written: 2003
Recorded: 2007
Written: 2003
Recorded: 2007
HERE IN YOUR ARMS
This song was also omitted from the album as I deemed it to be too twee at the time. It was one of the first songs I ever wrote, and certainly is the earliest one that has been recorded. Another waltz, but it does have some nice sentiment in the lyrics. – 2015
Written: 2002
Recorded: 2007
Written: 2002
Recorded: 2007