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