Welcome Back! This week I'll be going back to the first song that was ever recorded for the album!
Moved Too Slow.
In the beginning it started off as a sort of a vision I had as I was enjoying a local show at the great Velour live music gallery. There was a girl that passed me as I stood, admiring the group who was playing. My gaze was captured as she walked past. I knew, based on the caliber of her beauty, that she had already been taken, and that her man was either somewhere in the crowd of hunks, OR at home waiting for her to get done being "artsy" The mere thought of the latter bothered me, and if you haven't registered yet, from the content of the album, things that bother me fuel the most interesting songs. In that moment, I couldn't help but think of all the girls that I'd wanted to pursue, or "tried" to pursue but never REALLY did. That moment inspired, and drew out, a lot of deep feelings I had concerning the matter.
I wrote the guitar part on one of Don Liechty's Taylor's! Couldn't tell you which Taylor. Either his less expensive one, or his more expensive one, or his son. One things for sure though, I know it wasn't his baby taylor, that one was broken at the time if I remember right. I remember clear as day, sitting in the office area upstairs in the Liechty Family home, and being so excited about the guitar part that was coming out! It was so cool to me! Easily the best part I had written! I developed the idea and continued pulling out of the darkest corners of my heart the lyrics that are now, "Moved Too Slow" It was so helpful, and I feel that it is one of those songs that, although extremely sad and descriptive, inspires change. Often times as we recognize the devastation of someone else, we are able to see our flaws more clearly, and hopefully are inspired to use that moment of clarity to change and become better. This song is definitely that way for me now. I look back and realize a lot that I needed to change. To this day, it still inspires me to remain stalwart in pursuing love. And to never let an opportunity pass me by. Again although it's terribly sad, it inspires me to be better, and I hope it does the same for you.
Fun Fact!!!
The original recording of the main vocal track had a portion in it that was extremely sharp! Sharp in the musical sense, not dynamically. It remained that way through the majority of the mixing process until almost the very end when it was digitally affected to be the correct note. The lyric "I've BID my heart away" Can YOU hear the correction??
*********************************************************************************
I just wrote out a tab for this song in case there are any of you out there that want to learn to play it!
Enjoy : )
"Moved Too Slow"
Capo 4th Fret
Chords I use:
F5 C C/B Am Am7 D7 Em F G G# A#
e -x----------x---------x--------0-----------0----------x----------0--------1--------3---------4----------6
B-x----------x---------1--------1-----------1----------1----------0--------1--------3---------4----------6
G-0----------0---------0--------2-----------2----------2----------0--------2--------0---------5----------7
D-0----------2---------0--------2-----------2----------0----------2--------3--------0---------6----------8
A-3----------3---------2--------0-----------0----------x----------2--------3--------2---------6----------8
E-1----------3---------x--------x-----------3----------2----------0--------1--------3---------4----------6
Intro/Verse:
C F5
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-0---------------0---------4p0---------------0-------------0----------------0----------------------------0------
D-----------2------------2-------------2-----------------2------------0h2--------------0-----2p0----------------
A------3-------------3-------------3----------------3-------------3----------------3----------------------------3-
E-3------------3------------3--------------3-----------------1---------------------------------1-------1----------
C G
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-0---------------0---------4p0---------------0--------------0-----------------0------------0-------------0-----
D-----------2------------2-------------2-----------------2--------------0----------------0------------0----------0
A------3-------------3-------------3----------------3--------------2----------------2-------------2-----------2---
E-3------------3------------3--------------3------------------3--------------3---------------3-----------3--------
Pre Chorus:
Am Em
I could've been that man.
but I...
Chorus:
C, C/B, Am, Am7, F
Moved too slow back then.
C C/B Am Am7 D7
I moved too slow back then.
F G C
Oh Oo mm hmm (straight into intro plucking part)
Bridge:
F5 F5 C
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-2---------------4---------5-----------------4-------------2---------0h2------------0---------------------------
D-----------x------------x-------------2-----------------x--------------------0------------------------------------
A------3-------------3-------------3----------------3---------------------------------------------------------------
E-1------------1------------1--------------1-----------------1----1---------------1--------------------------------
F5 F5 C G F G
e----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G-2---------------4---------5-----------------4-------------2---------0h2------------0---------------------------
D-----------x------------x-------------2-----------------x--------------------0------------------------------------
A------3-------------3-------------3----------------3---------------------------------------------------------------
E-1------------1------------1--------------1-----------------1----1---------------1--------------------------------
Repeat Last Verse/Chorus
At the tail end of both phrases in the last chorus, replace (F, G) with
G# A# C....
Ooo Ooo
End on C!
*********************************************************************************
Well thanks again for clicking in and reading and remembering these fond memories with me! Next week I will be putting up a new song. It's the song that evolved from:
"you and me" written by Willy Eklof and Parker Edwards. Next Friday Folks!! Electro Chill. You are going to want to hear it. You'll love it. Thanks for reading and we'll see ya back here next week!
Friday, January 30, 2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
Secret Tunnels "Time to Reflect"
*Below is a song that I would suggest listening to as you read this weeks post*
This one has a really deep story with lots of nooks and cranny's, or I suppose you could say it has a lot of "Secret Tunnels" that would be a fitting thing to say :) So first let me just point out, this is the only song on the album that has a happy ending. Maybe that is why it is still one of my favorites that I've written. I'll focus on the background, the recording process, and performance review.
First, the background.
I was living in Logan, UT at the time, and was visiting home in Alpine, UT. I laid down to take a nap and had the most interesting dream.. I dreamt I was in Logan, looking through the windows of a certain home, endearingly entitled, "The Gnome Home". I spent much of my time in Logan, there with some of the finest company imaginable. From that point in the dream, after looking through the windows (not sure for what) I found myself in a new setting... The Jackson Hole Playhouse. Jackson Hole, WY (I spent much of my time as a child in that play house, and have many fond memories of that place. I think the thing that stood out most to me back then, was the hidden stairway that went behind the wall with the buffalo taxidermy puppet. All of this has been remodeled and changed at present, but these memories were apparently swimming through my mind during this dream. Back to the dream). I started crawling through this tunnel in the playhouse and found this room, and in the room was a guitar! It was a Norman guitar, and I wanna say it was Mike Liechty's, though the guitar in the dream was different. It had a short neck and was not playable... Then we take a trip to Elk Ridge, UT where the family was together in the former home of my dear Aunt B. We were in the big main room all gathered around the piano singing. Toward the end of that scene, it got really emotional... And lastly, I went on to the last scene of the dream. The details on this part are a bit hazy, but I know that there were a lot of us, (friends mostly this time) and we were all swinging on this big swing on the front porch of whichever house it was, and we were all laughing and having a good time.
I awoke.. my phone was ringing. It was Adam (Liechty). I answered and then told him the whole crazy dream I had just had, and he said, "you should make a song out of that!" So I did. Yes, Adam, you're the reason that this song exists.
Next, the Recording Process.
All the recording for this album took place in the "Bordeaux Basement" former home of the wonderful Coppins family. We had done maybe one other track, and if I remember right, this was to be the second that we'd do. I remember singing the main vocals laying on my back in the food storage room, and I believe that I also played the main rhythm guitar part in the same fashion. Between the sound quality of the room, and the way your lungs are opened up from laying down, came what you hear on the record. On to the next room for back up vocals. The Bathroom. On the occasion that we were to record back up vocals, my dear friend Ben Gentry was there with us. I offered for him to sing some back ups for the track, but he didn't feel he was good enough. (From what I remember) Now you can hear him at the front of Steel Born Buffalo as one of Provo's most prominent vocalists!
Finally, the Performance Review :)
Having moved on from performing as a solo artist, I felt the need to recreate the full band vibe from the album. This proved a success with "Willy and the Wolves". Those shows were so fun and full of energy and love. But I do distinctly remember playing a show in the "Bordeaux Basement" before having the band, but after having released the album. This particular performance of "Secret Tunnels" turned into more of a rock rhythm. Whether it was nerves that people were singing along, or just by chance, it inspired something inside me, and turned it into an awesome rock song for "Willy and the Wolves". We went on to play several shows, and perform this song regularly. It had a shorter format, than the original and we'd end it on "to cherish what we've still got" before the last verse. Though every time we performed it with great energy and expression.
In conclusion, I see this song as an anthem to loving life. To being with the people your with, and not letting things stay hidden and locked up, broken, and unusable. We all have so much in our lives that is broken, but it can all be fixed. We need only face it with a happy attitude and the strength and support and love of those around us. Those relationships we build is what this life is for. These "good times are what good friends are for"
Until next week, may your week be filled with good times with good friends and family. And may we always do our best each day to fix what's broken in our lives.
Love, Willy Sunshine
This one has a really deep story with lots of nooks and cranny's, or I suppose you could say it has a lot of "Secret Tunnels" that would be a fitting thing to say :) So first let me just point out, this is the only song on the album that has a happy ending. Maybe that is why it is still one of my favorites that I've written. I'll focus on the background, the recording process, and performance review.
First, the background.
I was living in Logan, UT at the time, and was visiting home in Alpine, UT. I laid down to take a nap and had the most interesting dream.. I dreamt I was in Logan, looking through the windows of a certain home, endearingly entitled, "The Gnome Home". I spent much of my time in Logan, there with some of the finest company imaginable. From that point in the dream, after looking through the windows (not sure for what) I found myself in a new setting... The Jackson Hole Playhouse. Jackson Hole, WY (I spent much of my time as a child in that play house, and have many fond memories of that place. I think the thing that stood out most to me back then, was the hidden stairway that went behind the wall with the buffalo taxidermy puppet. All of this has been remodeled and changed at present, but these memories were apparently swimming through my mind during this dream. Back to the dream). I started crawling through this tunnel in the playhouse and found this room, and in the room was a guitar! It was a Norman guitar, and I wanna say it was Mike Liechty's, though the guitar in the dream was different. It had a short neck and was not playable... Then we take a trip to Elk Ridge, UT where the family was together in the former home of my dear Aunt B. We were in the big main room all gathered around the piano singing. Toward the end of that scene, it got really emotional... And lastly, I went on to the last scene of the dream. The details on this part are a bit hazy, but I know that there were a lot of us, (friends mostly this time) and we were all swinging on this big swing on the front porch of whichever house it was, and we were all laughing and having a good time.
I awoke.. my phone was ringing. It was Adam (Liechty). I answered and then told him the whole crazy dream I had just had, and he said, "you should make a song out of that!" So I did. Yes, Adam, you're the reason that this song exists.
Next, the Recording Process.
All the recording for this album took place in the "Bordeaux Basement" former home of the wonderful Coppins family. We had done maybe one other track, and if I remember right, this was to be the second that we'd do. I remember singing the main vocals laying on my back in the food storage room, and I believe that I also played the main rhythm guitar part in the same fashion. Between the sound quality of the room, and the way your lungs are opened up from laying down, came what you hear on the record. On to the next room for back up vocals. The Bathroom. On the occasion that we were to record back up vocals, my dear friend Ben Gentry was there with us. I offered for him to sing some back ups for the track, but he didn't feel he was good enough. (From what I remember) Now you can hear him at the front of Steel Born Buffalo as one of Provo's most prominent vocalists!
Finally, the Performance Review :)
Having moved on from performing as a solo artist, I felt the need to recreate the full band vibe from the album. This proved a success with "Willy and the Wolves". Those shows were so fun and full of energy and love. But I do distinctly remember playing a show in the "Bordeaux Basement" before having the band, but after having released the album. This particular performance of "Secret Tunnels" turned into more of a rock rhythm. Whether it was nerves that people were singing along, or just by chance, it inspired something inside me, and turned it into an awesome rock song for "Willy and the Wolves". We went on to play several shows, and perform this song regularly. It had a shorter format, than the original and we'd end it on "to cherish what we've still got" before the last verse. Though every time we performed it with great energy and expression.
In conclusion, I see this song as an anthem to loving life. To being with the people your with, and not letting things stay hidden and locked up, broken, and unusable. We all have so much in our lives that is broken, but it can all be fixed. We need only face it with a happy attitude and the strength and support and love of those around us. Those relationships we build is what this life is for. These "good times are what good friends are for"
Until next week, may your week be filled with good times with good friends and family. And may we always do our best each day to fix what's broken in our lives.
Love, Willy Sunshine
Friday, January 16, 2015
I Am an Artist
*Below is a song that I would suggest listening to as you read this weeks post*
I am baffled by the things I have learned and gone through this week. They have been SUCH good things. Oh and by the way, I am waiting until next week to do the next installment of "Time to Reflect" in order to share with you a little bit about what I have been learning THIS week. I learned that MacBooks, when left in the cold car, are FREEZING when you rest them on your lap. (just learned that a few seconds ago :) No but honestly, big shout out to Parker Edwards for suggesting this book that I've been listening to. "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.
(http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listing/2671277047265?r=1&kpid=2671277047265&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-Book_15To24-_-Q000000633-_-2671277047265)
It is teaching me crazy things about myself, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a creative mind. Or even the desire to have a more creative mind and get through the blocks that may be preventing you from finding it. Just know, Art is not constrained to canvas. It is not bound to books. It is however, muddled by misunderstanding. Persecuted by people. Scavenged by scoundrels...
But our creative minds should be bound by nothing.
If we open our minds, we have a bottomless bank account of creativity. It all comes from the great creator. God. When we are truly able to open our minds and free our spirits of evil and filth, our true congruency with God shines through. We become something amazing, because we emulate what God would create. It is a beautiful concept that I am excited to learn more about :)
I realize that all the effort and love I have always put into music, and anything creative I've really ever done, is because I am an artist. I am a creator. I live to become the best creator. Like the great creator. Again, just so you know, that's God. I love pouring my soul into something that makes others happy, or gives others a way to cope with the hells of this life. I live to make light...
I am Willy Sunshine
Please feel free to share any insight you have been having lately concerning art and what it really means to be an artist, or to have a creative mind. I would be very interested to hear your insights and views on the matter. Thanks for reading, and hopefully listening :) Until next week.
I am baffled by the things I have learned and gone through this week. They have been SUCH good things. Oh and by the way, I am waiting until next week to do the next installment of "Time to Reflect" in order to share with you a little bit about what I have been learning THIS week. I learned that MacBooks, when left in the cold car, are FREEZING when you rest them on your lap. (just learned that a few seconds ago :) No but honestly, big shout out to Parker Edwards for suggesting this book that I've been listening to. "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron.
(http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listing/2671277047265?r=1&kpid=2671277047265&cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-Book_15To24-_-Q000000633-_-2671277047265)
It is teaching me crazy things about myself, and I highly recommend it to anyone with a creative mind. Or even the desire to have a more creative mind and get through the blocks that may be preventing you from finding it. Just know, Art is not constrained to canvas. It is not bound to books. It is however, muddled by misunderstanding. Persecuted by people. Scavenged by scoundrels...
But our creative minds should be bound by nothing.
If we open our minds, we have a bottomless bank account of creativity. It all comes from the great creator. God. When we are truly able to open our minds and free our spirits of evil and filth, our true congruency with God shines through. We become something amazing, because we emulate what God would create. It is a beautiful concept that I am excited to learn more about :)
I realize that all the effort and love I have always put into music, and anything creative I've really ever done, is because I am an artist. I am a creator. I live to become the best creator. Like the great creator. Again, just so you know, that's God. I love pouring my soul into something that makes others happy, or gives others a way to cope with the hells of this life. I live to make light...
I am Willy Sunshine
Please feel free to share any insight you have been having lately concerning art and what it really means to be an artist, or to have a creative mind. I would be very interested to hear your insights and views on the matter. Thanks for reading, and hopefully listening :) Until next week.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Painful Sight "Time to Reflect"
A look inside the story of "Painful Sight"
Hello and welcome back for another story time session with me, your host, Willy. Some wonderful people call me Willy Sunshine, and you know who you are :) This week I'm going to share some more inside stories of the songs from "High Noon" my first full length music album. I'll start by explaining my beginnings in songwriting. I started playing guitar by myself, learning Jack Johnson and John Mayer songs. As you can probably imagine, it made for some pretty interesting songwriting styles. Being a beginner at guitar, and discovering an intense passion to write and record music myself, I started writing like a maniac. I had written upwards of 50 songs within the first couple years of starting guitar. You may be asking yourself, "How many have you written since then?" well I couldn't tell you exactly, but I know its at least 300. Anyways, around the 50 song marker is when I really started wanting to write "folk" music. I hadn't written anything remotely close to being able to define with a genre, and now I knew which one I truly wanted to try to write. "Painful Sight" was the first of these. I was listening to a lot of Iron and Wine, Joshua James, Rocky Votolato, and M. Ward. If I were to trace my inspiration back to a specific song, I would say "Resurrection Fern" from Iron and Wine's "Shepherds Dog" album. I was moved by the simplicity and the wonderful visual story that it created in my mind every time I would listen. I took that concept and made it my own, and I'm grateful I did. "Painful Sight" is one of my favorite songs of my own work. It paints a picture and uses literal situations to convey emotional unrest. Then in the third verse the literal and the figurative slam together. Often times we want to do what's right, we want to see the light in every situation, but ultimately we fail. It's a cry for help to overcome pessimism, and be optimistic no matter what may happen. I'll let you decide for yourself what it means to see through God's eyes, but to me it means seeing the good in everything, and looking forward with continuos hope for a brighter future.
Funny fact!
Often times I would listen to the track and the part where I say "prayin for release" I hear myself saying "prayin for Elise" haha I don't know any Elise, but she sure has gotten a lot of prayers from me whoever she is. Maybe it's an Elise that you know. Will you let her know that I've been praying for her? Thanks in advance.
Please feel free to email me any questions or memories on facebook or at willyeklof@gmail.com
and share this with anyone you think might enjoy it :)
To summarize, this is one of my favorites from the album, and definitely will continue to be one that I play forever. Until next week. Thanks for reading and sharing this "Time to Reflect"
Hello and welcome back for another story time session with me, your host, Willy. Some wonderful people call me Willy Sunshine, and you know who you are :) This week I'm going to share some more inside stories of the songs from "High Noon" my first full length music album. I'll start by explaining my beginnings in songwriting. I started playing guitar by myself, learning Jack Johnson and John Mayer songs. As you can probably imagine, it made for some pretty interesting songwriting styles. Being a beginner at guitar, and discovering an intense passion to write and record music myself, I started writing like a maniac. I had written upwards of 50 songs within the first couple years of starting guitar. You may be asking yourself, "How many have you written since then?" well I couldn't tell you exactly, but I know its at least 300. Anyways, around the 50 song marker is when I really started wanting to write "folk" music. I hadn't written anything remotely close to being able to define with a genre, and now I knew which one I truly wanted to try to write. "Painful Sight" was the first of these. I was listening to a lot of Iron and Wine, Joshua James, Rocky Votolato, and M. Ward. If I were to trace my inspiration back to a specific song, I would say "Resurrection Fern" from Iron and Wine's "Shepherds Dog" album. I was moved by the simplicity and the wonderful visual story that it created in my mind every time I would listen. I took that concept and made it my own, and I'm grateful I did. "Painful Sight" is one of my favorite songs of my own work. It paints a picture and uses literal situations to convey emotional unrest. Then in the third verse the literal and the figurative slam together. Often times we want to do what's right, we want to see the light in every situation, but ultimately we fail. It's a cry for help to overcome pessimism, and be optimistic no matter what may happen. I'll let you decide for yourself what it means to see through God's eyes, but to me it means seeing the good in everything, and looking forward with continuos hope for a brighter future.
Funny fact!
Often times I would listen to the track and the part where I say "prayin for release" I hear myself saying "prayin for Elise" haha I don't know any Elise, but she sure has gotten a lot of prayers from me whoever she is. Maybe it's an Elise that you know. Will you let her know that I've been praying for her? Thanks in advance.
Please feel free to email me any questions or memories on facebook or at willyeklof@gmail.com
and share this with anyone you think might enjoy it :)
To summarize, this is one of my favorites from the album, and definitely will continue to be one that I play forever. Until next week. Thanks for reading and sharing this "Time to Reflect"
Monday, January 5, 2015
Airplane "Time to Reflect"
So... I recently listened back to "High Noon" (my album) and realized, there are a lot of fun stories and memories that came flooding back when I listened to it. I decided I would share some of them with you here, assuming that your interested enough to "like" my page, hopefully this will be interesting to you. And please feel free to post any memories or questions you may have as I leave these posts.
I will do it one song at a time, starting with the first "Airplane"
I wrote this song originally in 2006 I believe. I was pretty much obsessed with Johnny Cash at the time, and I wanted to write/sing like he did. There may be some of you that remember or even still have the original recording. There have been officially 3 versions of this song done. The original, a version I "released" on a precursor album entitled "Mid-Fi", and the actual album version. The original was done on the family iMac with the pinhole mic. After completing most of it, I had decided to bring in some back up vocalists to help make it what it is. My little brothers Richard and Robert. Upon adding the backups, it became something so much more interesting. It gave it such a fun feeling. The second version just kind of came out of no where and was a lot faster. When approaching the recording of the song for the album, I wanted it to retain the feeling of the original one we had done and also pump it up a little bit; thus the breakdown at the end with the saloon-like vocals and unkempt melodies from the banjo and harmonica. On the album version, I actually originally had recorded drums for it! (I'm not a drummer) I did so using brushes instead of sticks, but blessed be, Creed Haymmond jumped in with his radical drum style and made it even more fun. Joey Brown laid the bass tracks and gratefully so. This was one of the more prominent tracks on the album and needed to be tight and crisp, nether of the which had I acquired on the bass at that point. So, gratefully it turned into what it is, and still to this day, puts a smile on my face every time I hear it.
I will do it one song at a time, starting with the first "Airplane"
I wrote this song originally in 2006 I believe. I was pretty much obsessed with Johnny Cash at the time, and I wanted to write/sing like he did. There may be some of you that remember or even still have the original recording. There have been officially 3 versions of this song done. The original, a version I "released" on a precursor album entitled "Mid-Fi", and the actual album version. The original was done on the family iMac with the pinhole mic. After completing most of it, I had decided to bring in some back up vocalists to help make it what it is. My little brothers Richard and Robert. Upon adding the backups, it became something so much more interesting. It gave it such a fun feeling. The second version just kind of came out of no where and was a lot faster. When approaching the recording of the song for the album, I wanted it to retain the feeling of the original one we had done and also pump it up a little bit; thus the breakdown at the end with the saloon-like vocals and unkempt melodies from the banjo and harmonica. On the album version, I actually originally had recorded drums for it! (I'm not a drummer) I did so using brushes instead of sticks, but blessed be, Creed Haymmond jumped in with his radical drum style and made it even more fun. Joey Brown laid the bass tracks and gratefully so. This was one of the more prominent tracks on the album and needed to be tight and crisp, nether of the which had I acquired on the bass at that point. So, gratefully it turned into what it is, and still to this day, puts a smile on my face every time I hear it.
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