In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

Really Something

Enough sentimentality, let's rock.

I should probably explain myself before you get too far into the lyrics... this is not real. I have had this really sinister odd time riff for a long time (probably about seven years-- I remember messing around with it in a MIDI class in college) and I didn't finally finish it until last year when I was putting some songs together with my friend Shea.

The reasons why it took me so long to finish were two-fold:

1. I couldn't find a good chorus to go with the main riff.

2. Nothing I came up with lyrically was evil enough for the riff.

So, last year I solved both of those problems with a sweet love song from the perspective of a sick kidnapper. Weird? Yes. But I thought it fit the music. And I thought the chorus was pretty dang catchy. How interesting is it that I might be able to get some people to sing along with such an idea?

Did I get you?

I really wanted to rock today after a pretty sappy run, so I thought now would be a good time to bust this one out. It's a blast to play.

So, maybe I'm twisted, but the good news is that the instrumental section towards the end is sort of supposed to sound like the girls escaping and then the guy is singing all sad at the end. At least they get away, right?

This one is also for sale at my Bandcamp page to benefit the Nashville Red Cross flood recovery efforts. I came back last night from a brief trip up to Ohio to see my family and there is still a lot to be done here. Every little bit helps!

Really Something

Spending her life living in my basement
I wonder where that pretty little face went

You're wasting your breath, no one can hear you
You're wasting your tears, I'm only here to help you

You're really something
You're the only thing I'll ever need
You're really something
You are all I need

Something is missing, I can't hardly place it
So I found you a friend and I put her through the paces

You're wasting your breath, no one can hear you
You're wasting your tears, I'm only here to help you

You're really something
You're the only thing I'll ever need
You're really something
You are all I need

You're really something
You're the only thing I'll ever need
You're really something
You are all I need

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

Mama Dear

Well, it's Mother's Day. So, this is a song for my awesome Mom. It's about how she's been there for me over the years as a child and as an adult. But it's also a little bit about the realization as you grow older that your parents are real flesh and blood human beings and you have to be there for them too. So.... yeah.

Purchase it at my Bandcamp page and give it to your mom as a gift. Tell her you wrote it. I can keep a secret. The money will go to the Nashville Red Cross flood recovery efforts. Your mom will give you a bleary-eyed thank you and so will Nashville.

Finger-picking is not my forte, so this was actually the most difficult song I've done yet guitar-wise. Pretty sad really.

Mama Dear

Long ago when my sisters would make fun
And my only defense was sticking out my tongue

My mama said
“I’ve got your back, baby, Mama is here
I’ve got your back, Donny dear”

And last year when I thought it was my time
And the last thing I’d hear was my mama on the line

Saying
“I’ve got your back, baby, Mama is here
I’ve got your back, Donny dear
I’ve got your back, baby, Mama is here
I’ve got your back, Donny dear”

She said if I could handle this
I could handle anything
If I could handle this
I could handle anything

Now loan sharks are nipping at her in the pool
And I know it’s hard when they’re making all the rules

But
I’ve got your back, Mama, I am here
I’ve got your back, Mama dear
I’ve got your back, Mama, I am here
I’ve got your back, Mama dear

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

This Is Not Where It Ends

For this song, I wanted to challenge myself in a couple of different areas. Now that I know I can add a bunch of instruments and make songs with sort of lyrical twists, I wanted to see if I could... not.

So, this is a straight up love song with just vocals and guitar. No double tracking, no overdubbing (other than the vocals themselves) just a little bit of reverb and compression for effects and that's it. I wanted to see if I could make an interesting song without some of the things I would normally reach for in my bag of tricks (trying to look at things from a different angle lyrically, guitar solos, weird chord progressions, multiple instruments, etc.). Did it work? I don't know. I kinda like it.

Lyrically, I have never been good at or comfortable with analogies-- like a fat girl waving her trophy from the smell contest-- so I wanted to give some of those a shot. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out.

Honestly, I'm not sure I'd normally like a song this direct in its cheesy earnestness, but given my goals/challenges with the writing of it, I think I did what I set out to do.

You can also buy this one at my Bandcamp page to benefit the Nashville Red Cross flood recovery efforts. Download now to help the Music City! I will have the whole lot of them up for purchase very soon. Thanks for listening!

This is Now Where It Ends

This isn't just one day down off the calendar
I'm gonna be around to be with her

This isn't just a fleeting thought or a last attempt
Whether she believes or not, I'm gonna make it fit

'cause I know this is not where it ends
Yes I know this is not the story of a trampled rose
Yes I know this is not where it ends
'cause we've still got time to grow

This isn't just say your piece and let her leave
This is more than sweet release for a careless sieve

This is more than sleight of hand and parlor tricks
This is time to be a man and make it stick

'cause I know this is not where it ends
Yes I know this is not the story of a dead-end road
Yes I know this is not where it ends
'cause we've still got miles to go

Don't let it drown in the water
Don't let it out in the ether
We'll sort it out together
Because this is me and you

And I know this is not where it ends
Yes I know this is not the story of a trampled rose
Yes I know this is not where it ends
'cause we've still got

Yes I know this is not where it ends
Yes I know this is not the story of a dead-end road
Yes I know this is not where it ends
'cause we've still got
Yes we've still got
Yes we've still got miles to go

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

All in Her Eyes

I wanted to do a really classic sounding swing song, so this is my best shot. It was a lot of fun to do. Unfortunately, there's not a lot to tell about the process. I put down the jazz brush drum loop using MIDI drums and then played "upright bass" with keyboards, taking many stops to correct my mistakes. After that just vocals, background vocals and guitars over top. Pretty smooth this time around... maybe I'm actually getting the hang of this 23 days in?

This one is also available for sale at my Bandcamp page with all the money going towards the Nashville Red Cross recovery efforts. My adopted city is doing a great job of pitching in and taking care of each other but there is still a long, long road ahead.

All in Her Eyes

She says she wants to be free
Says she don't care about me
Well, she can tell me anything she wants
But it's all in her eyes

She says it's in her M.O.
If she just goes with the flow
Well, she can tell me anything she wants
But it's all in her eyes

I could swim in that deep blue sea of those eyes
Oh baby can't you see this is love in disguise

I don't mean to gloat
But her love keeps me afloat
Yeah, she can tell me anything she wants
But it's all in her eyes

Yeah, I could swim in the deep blue sea of those eyes
Oh baby can't you see this is love in disguise

Now I certainly don't mean to gloat (no way)
But her love keeps me afloat
Yeah, she can tell me anything she wants
But it's all in her eyes

That's right she can tell me anything she wants
But it's all in her eyes

Now one more time- she can tell me anything she wants
But it's all in her eyes

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

You Take

I was talking with a friend last night about a specific marriage in which one person was extremely selfish and every issue ended up being about that person. The thought of being in that kind of situation really struck me, so I put this little ditty together about it.

As with a lot of these demos, I've had the idea for a while but I didn't really know what it was going to be about until I got some context. It's pretty cool when something you're thinking now about falls into place with a little idea from months ago.

I realized after I had already written the song that you could totally think about the words in a sexual manner too. That's not how I intended it at all, but hey, a little double entendre never hurt anyone, right?

On a completely unrelated note, I should mention that I drove to Ohio last night and I'm here now visiting my family. Gotta be with Mama for Mama's Day. I had a big electric guitar solo planned for the middle section, but I realized that I forgot to pack my guitar cable. Yeesh. I'll pick one up tomorrow, but for now, we go electric guitarless. I actually don't mind how it turned out with all the other instruments padding through that middle section instead. Hopefully you don't either!

As with the last tracks, this one will be available for sale at Bandcamp with all proceeds going to the Nashville Red Cross. You can also text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to have $10 added to your phone bill to go directly to the relief effort.

I am working on getting the other 19 or so tracks re-formatted for uploading to Bandcamp so that you can purchase those as well if you'd like and help those in need!

You Take

I don't believe that you don't care
But I don't really think that this is fair

'cause you take and I give
Is this the way we want to live
You take and I give
But that's the way it's always been with us

I don't really think that you mean harm
But I don't think you know it goes too far

'cause you take and I give
Is this the way you want to live
You take and I give
But that's the way it's always been with us
With your take and my give
But is this any way to live
Yeah you take and I give
'cause that's the way it's always been with us

I don't really know what to do now
'cause I don't really think I wanted out

'cause you take and I give
And that's the way I want to live
You take and I give
And that's the way it's always been
With your take and my give
And that's the way I want to live
Yeah you take and I give
And that's the way it's always been with us

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

Smart Enough to Know

This may well be the weirdest song I've ever written. I wanted to try to write and record something without touching a guitar at all and this is what came out. I also didn't have time to refine lyrics and hooks and parts so whatever was off the top of my head came to fruition.

I created all the parts loops except for the big drum loop that comes in on the second verse which was just imported in as a regular drum loop.

Lyrically, I'm not really even sure what I'm talking about. I was volunteering yesterday and this newscaster (who shall remain nameless) was filming a segment while we tried to help flood victims figure out what to do, where to go, where they could stay, etc. The guy just kept trying to film himself walking through the crowd and talking about the flood but people kept walking in front of him while he was talking. It was hilarious. When I popped off some lyrics I was just thinking of that self-important blowhard mentality and how we just have to shut it out.

Does it make sense? Not really. But I'm thinking of this one more as a "process" song. These less appealing in-between songs will be important in the long run of exercising my writing and recording muscles, I'm hoping.

Mostly this song was a breeze to record but when I went to "bounce" the song- meaning export it to listen to as a single track (as opposed to the multiple tracks within the recording file-- drums, bass, etc.) it kept starting about 30 seconds into the song. I couldn't figure out why. Especially infuriating when I'm late for other things and not especially into the song!

I'll still post this one for sale at Bandcamp if anybody wants to buy a weird song to help Nashville!

Smart Enough to Know

Just a little bit to wash it down
Just a little bit to keep it down
Just a little bit to wash it down

Just a little bit to wash it down
Just a little bit to keep it down
Just a little bit to wash it down

Hey, you're smart enough to know
When they are far enough to gloat

Just a little bit to flush it down
Just a little bit to keep it down
Just a little bit to flush it down

Just a little bit to flush it down
Just a little bit to keep it down
Just a little bit to flush it down

Hey, you're old enough to know
When they are far enough to gloat

Hey, you're smart enough to know
When they are old enough to go

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

Today is a Good Day

I thought I would go for a more directly uplifting song today. This one was originally a birthday song I wrote for a good friend ("today is your birthday") but I ended up really liking the idea and wanted to keep it. It's just a short little ditty and I hope you like it.

Like the last song, I'll be selling this one on Bandcamp and giving all the proceeds to the Nashville Red Cross for a little extra help for the flood victims. I have decided that I will put up all of these demos for sale for that same purpose. It will take me a while to get all of the songs uploaded in the proper format (turns out I have written a crapload of songs!) but when they're all up I'll let you know. You can have yourself a big album of little ideas and help out the cause at the same time.

Of course, you can also give directly to the Nashville Red Cross by going to their website or give $10 quickly and easily by texting "REDCROSS" to 90999. I was out about today and believe me, there are people here that could really use the help.

Nashville is responding in a big way and people across the country are pitching in as well now that the issue has reached the national stage. It's quite a sight to behold. It's easy for me to say in my situation, but maybe despite the circumstances... today is a good day?

Today is a Good Day

It's rough out there in this life we lead
This big world will beat you down and knock you off your feet
But there is hope with each new breath you take
It's a new day and there's new mistakes to make

Today is a good day
And I know that it is
And you'll be satisfied to know that it's coming

Today is a good day
And you know that it is
And you'll be glad you stopped to notice when the day ends

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

Too Much

This has been a crazy weekend for Nashville. Water levels continued to rise all day despite the rain letting up after sometime yesterday. As a result, many in the city have lost power, their cars, potable water, their homes and in a few tragic cases, their lives.

I have been extremely lucky. The police asked that we evacuate our home last night due to a nearby gas main break. I get the impression that it was just a precaution because my roommate and I were allowed to return this morning. A slightly inconvenient night and damp portions of the basement seems so silly compared to some of the scary things people are having to deal with across the city.

I have had the idea for "Too Much" for a while but it made a lot more sense when I wrote it in context of the flood. It's just about how the damage is devastating and it feels like it's too much but, as a community, we are too good to keep down! Cheesy, yes. But hopefully effective.

If you like the song and you'd like to own it, I've created a Bandcamp page where you can purchase a download of the song for a dollar (or more if you'd like) and I will donate all of the sales to the Nashville Red Cross to benefit flood recovery. It's not much, but it's another little way that you and I can help those in need.

If you guys like this idea, I can work on uploading some of the other songs to Bandcamp and we can work out the same kinda deal for the downloads to raise some cash. I hadn't intended to sell these demos, but since they are out in the world anyway, maybe we can do a little good with them?

As for the recording process, I tried some new things I had yet to attempt. You'll notice the fade out. (Thank you, thank you.) That was a new adventure. I think I did it the hard way, but I got it figured out anyway. And the organ sounding parts in the background are actually background vocals through a cool Leslie effect.

I originally came up with this chord/ melodic idea when I was experimenting with open tunings. I tuned the guitar to an "open" D major 7 chord, which for the non-musicians out there just means that when I strum the strings without holding anything down it is tuned to a chord. Open D major is very common but changing it to an open D major 7 gives it a nice little twist, I think.

Thanks for listening guys and let's send some good vibes (and maybe even some mulah) towards those in need!

Too Much

Lack of imagination keeps us all uninspired
It's time for restoration after all that's transpired
It just keeps coming down on us

It's just, it's too much
It's just, it's too much

They're drowning in it all but there's no one here to blame
The city starts to fall all from just a little rain
But we just say that it's too much

It's just, it's too much
It's just, it's too much

We're too good to keep down
We're too good to keep down

We're just, we're too much
We're just, we're too much

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

The Way She Looked at Me

It's been a weird, somber day with all of the crazy flooding happening all around Nashville. So a somber song to fit the mood, I guess.

I had a little leaking in the basement, but otherwise I've been extremely lucky and relatively dry. The amp and pedalboard had to come live upstairs for a while. It feels a little stupid to talk about what I was thinking when I wrote this or that when people are having their homes destroyed, but here goes.

"The Way She Looked At Me" is just about having an intense draw towards someone even though everything and everyone is telling you it's wrong or not going to work. Sometimes even both the parties involved even know that it's not going to work, but you just go headfirst into it anyway.

It's a relatively subtle song so I wanted some subtle production to the recording. I just did a couple of guitar parts, background vocals, some strings and a weird warped keyboard part. I think it turned out pretty decently.

There were no big snafus or discoveries this time around, but I am pretty happy with the guitar tone this time around-- another plug-in guitar amplifier simulator. Hope you like it. And be safe out there!

The Way She Looked at Me

If you said we were wrong
To ever think this would work
I'd probably tell you you're right

You say don't let this go on
It'll just hurt you more
And I'd probably tell you you're right

I just miss the way she looked at me
I just miss the way she looked at me

If you said it's all done
We should just pack it up
I'd probably tell you you're right

If you say the time has now come
We should just give it up
I'd probably tell you you're right

I just miss the way she looked at me
I just miss the way she looked at me

If it's all just the same to you
I'll keep playing the fool

I just miss the way she looked at me
I just miss the way she looked at me

In an effort to celebrate the official launch of djphillips.com, challenge my songwriting/ recording abilities and to take my own swipe at a 30 Day Project I will now post a new song idea every day for the next 30 days. These are not necessarily finished products. They are not necessarily fantastic pop nuggets. But they will be new ideas (written at least within the last few weeks). They will be (pretty much) on time. And they will be original.

I’m putting these out there-- warts and all-- so let me know what you think! The songs that get a good response will be the most likely to be included on a future release.

Be Somebody Who Has Somebody

April showers bring May... um... flooding, I guess. The sky is going crazygonuts out there, people. It's a good excuse to stay inside and make some music!

A couple of months ago, my dear friend Emily DeLoach and I decided to go check out a local writers' night here in Nashville.

It was god-awful.

Despite the excruciating experience, we had a blast. And it turns out terrible things can be just as inspiring (if not even more so) than good things. After Emily and I talked for a bit about how uncomfortable the situation had made us, I went home and wrote two songs. This was one of those songs.

I had been playing a little in open C tuning and I thought it sounded very regal and would go well with a military/marching beat. So I took that and ran with it. The chord progression itself is very simple, but gets a little more interesting with the marching beat and the triplet rhythms. Being in the key of C also made playing the organ parts a lot easier!

Trying to get a good marching beat with the keyboard and MIDI drums proved to be pretty difficult, so I once again enlisted the help of my pal Vince Romanelli. I sent him a quick rough cut demo of the song and he played MIDI drums to the correct corresponding tempo and then emailed them back. Technology is sweet. I then chopped up and sequenced the drum track he sent to my liking then recorded guitars, vocals, bass and organ over top.

Lyrically "Be Somebody" is your typical sappy pining-for-love song. I was looking at one of those dating websites (IT DOESN'T MATTER WHY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT). I noticed all the pictures of the happy couples that ostensibly met on the site and I started thinking about what the designers and CEOs of these sites want people to think when they look at it. So, the song is written from that perspective.

Be Somebody Who Has Somebody

I don't know why this is so hard
When all that I want is to give all my heart

It's not like I haven't tried but it's a shot in the dark
I'm all for having fun but I just want to

Be somebody who has somebody
Somebody who's here in the daylight
Somebody who has somebody
That's just right, just right, just right, just right for me

I'm not one for tears, so don't expect much
But ever sense she was here, I just imagine her touch

It's not like I haven't tried but it's a shot in the dark
I'm all for having fun but I just want to

Be somebody who has somebody
Somebody who's here in the daylight
Somebody who has somebody
That's just right, just right, just right, just right for me

I want to be somebody who has somebody
Somebody who's here in the daylight
Somebody who has somebody
That's just right, just right, just right, just right for me

Just right, just right, just right, just right for me