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Inktober '23 (DEMOS)

by TheJayJay

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  • Streaming + Download

    Includes high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. Paying supporters also get unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app.

    Also includes:

    -Full Demo of 'The Weight of Expectations', rather than it being played in parts from CHAINS to RUSH.
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1.
DREAM 01:01
lyrics
-Instrumental-
2.
SPIDERS 01:54
lyrics
Spiders! Spiders! Spiders, Mother and Johnny Boy Their web, barely holding up! Torn by all of the human scum Where will they rest now? "Johnny?" "Mother, what is wrong?" "You must follow the winding path! Rumours, fortune lies ahead. Down there, you must go" And so, Johnny starts his journey Danger, does it even lie ahead? He is only a young spider Will he be safe from the...
3.
PATH 00:41
lyrics
...path?
4.
DODGE 01:32
lyrics
-Instrumental-
5.
MAP 03:12
lyrics
"Pathways Many Beyond I cannot see" "I need A way Outside Of this unknown" He found a sign! Many routes are shown! One marked with blood! Others marked no more He takes it And sets on his way Johnny's coming through No more dismay (repeat once more)
6.
GOLDEN 01:01
lyrics
-Instrumental-
7.
DRIP 01:31
lyrics
(spoken) Through the Golden Leaves, back down the Winding Path Johnny hears a noise up ahead. Running water? No, sounds like droplets. A lake nearby? In THIS part of the woods? Surely not! Johnny must've travelled further than he thought. Was he walking around in circles this whole time? Did The Sign betray him? Was he meant to take a different Path? Why did he go through the Golden Leaves anyway? How's his Mother doing back at home? Forgetting The Sign, but still making sure to not lose it, Johnny cautiously creeps ahead. The drops of water becoming louder And what he sees, may be the beginning of the end for his journey, Only time will tell...
8.
TOAD 01:46
lyrics
Johnny takes a peak And sees a glorious Toad He should turn and run But he's spotted And the Toad asks his way "I'm not sure where I am But I have a route to Fortune" "Fortune?" asks the Toad "Yes! Let me show you!" Toad and Johnny On their way Fortune ahead Naive Spider Don't go there Not with the Toad, it's too late! They're going...
9.
BOUNCE 01:17
lyrics
Toad hops along, Johnny crawls too. Both bouncing with glee, bouncing with joy. Not far to go now. What will Fortune Be like after all? Only time will tell! They bounce along.
10.
FORTUNE 02:52
lyrics
Johnny and Toad arrive at Fortune Sunlight, beaming all around! And gold, piled high as mountains They'll be rich forever! "Mother - she'll be so proud of me!" Exclaims the young, tired Spider. "Will you help me carry some gold back home to my Mother's web?" But Toad gets up and goes to Johnny Licked lips, he snaps up the Spider He now has The Sign for Fortune He got what he wanted. And so ends The Spider's Journey Swallowed by a greedy Toad Johnny, so young, so naive Rest in peace, from your pilgrimage.
11.
WANDER 03:21
lyrics
Aimless wandering Day by day Through browsers and tabs To keep myself sad Distractions are made Through the websites we save    And apps we forget With GIFs we collect Pull me away from my chair! Pull me out of my lair! Show me something I'll recognise, Or I'll forget how, won't realise! Pull me away from my chair! Pull me out of my lair! Show me something that you've made, Or I'll forget you one day! Aimless wandering Through many sites I type and I click To keep myself sick I thought I'd break free But I still cannot leave A lack of control But few believe Wandering aimlessly I see what's nice But algorithms say It won't suffice The fakest and loudest Is what gets the shares It's mass appeal Yet very few care Pull me away from my chair! Pull me out of my lair! Show me something I'll recognise, Or I'll forget how, won't realise! Pull me away from my chair! Pull me out of my lair! Show me something that you've made, Or I'll forget you one day! (repeat chorus once more)
12.
SPICEY 01:04
lyrics
-Instrumental-
13.
RISE 02:52
lyrics
Let me see... Let me flee... So I can be... A man who's free... So Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up! Here I'll leave... I think you'll grieve... It's okay dear... I'll rest well here... Just Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up! So Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up! Let Me Rise Up!
14.
CASTLE 04:10
lyrics
Confined between walls in the dark Yet to give the world my mark There's changes around me, I don't see In these walls, maybe it's me? But you tell me that I need to know What's troubling you, is it so? I cannot help you and I'm not sure This feeling is jarring and you're not the cure! Sunshine's there But beware We don't leave Your castle! I'll sit here Try to steer My life out of Your castle! Keep me caged (It's not fair) Keep me caged (In your castle!) Trapped inside In your mind Let me go from Your castle! Adjustments started being made In your castle, it's your way Now it feels like there's less than before But you insist on changing more Soon there will be nothing left And it will cause others much distress Nerving times for those inside The castle you've built in these times. Spot of paint It is quaint New to old in Your castle! Up the stairs Walk with care! Fragile things in Your castle! Keep me caged (It's not fair) Keep me caged (In your castle!) Big space, glee But no need It's too much in Your castle! And so I'll stay stuck in these walls I've taken one too many falls With your burdens, with your face We'll both stay put, I'll give you space I have no retreat, but neither do you This castle of yours is all you do A punishment that fits your kind? If only we could go back in time! In this square I don't care How you treat Your castle! I'll make plans In my hands Life away from Your castle! Keep me caged (You can try) Keep me caged (In your castle) But I long For a prolonged Break from you and Your castle! Money's made So I'll fade Away and build My castle! Freedom's mine Will feel fine To have new walls My castle! Keep me here (Don't hold me there) Keep me here (In my castle) You hate me But you see I'd rather be in My castle!
15.
DAGGER 00:40
lyrics
-Instrumental-
16.
ANGEL 02:35
lyrics
I've seen through your eyes The child inside I've seen this before Evermore It's okay to cry I wish I could try I'll hold you here No fear I've lived your life before From up here I've lived your life, you're okay To feel this way I've lived your life, even now As I appear I've lived your life, today I'm your angel
17.
DEMON 03:08
lyrics
I've come tell you That was a lie No angels here Only me The demon inside With the pain in your mind Was there good before? Nevermore I've lived your life before It's not good I've lived your life, what a waste To feel this grace I've lived your life, not okay To be this way I've lived your life, today I'm your demon
18.
SADDLE 00:48
lyrics
I'm stuck on this saddle There's 13 days left I'm tired and bored And I wish I could rest But I'm proud of the work That I've done so far And giving up now would Just be bizarre Today's been tough And the hardest one yet It's easier from here So no need to fret. I encourage you all To go make some things Even if you think it's "shit" There's a power it brings Make a drawing a day Or an album a week Doesn't matter what it is Just hone your technique
19.
PLUMP 01:03
lyrics
-Instrumental-
20.
FROST 02:29
lyrics
I have traveled through these mines But all I've found here is this ice Could extract it, but it'll melt... Away, so what's the point? You still have a chance to fight Take this pick and dig to the light I will ponder these strange caves This frostbite will hurt, but it's my way...
21.
CHAINS 03:20
lyrics
So help me. Why can't I Just let me be? These chains are heavy! Stuck by this fence! With this iron, intense! Cannot think straight! Nothing equates! Down in the dirt, chained like a dog With my malleable mind that can't see through the fog I beg for a time where I could see my desires Come to fruition, but they're hard to acquire Observing others, some have what they want The rest do not, they feel left in the dumps Am I in the middle? Or is there a side? These questions kill me! So just let me hide! Behind this fence! With this iron, intense! No, I cannot think straight! And nothing equates! So you think that 'cause you can't see the chains That they do not exist? Is that really your way? It's not just me, you're locked up too But you have some pleasure. You know that you do. A colleague to talk to, a pet that you walk These are just two things I have yet to unlock But I first need a key for this burden It does not exist, I am certain. So be by this fence! With this iron, intense! No, I cannot think straight! Nothing equates!
22.
SCRATCHY 01:07
lyrics
Confusion is fed, As I'm scratching my head! Why is my way... Just a constant delay?
23.
CELESTIAL 01:42
lyrics
A new light, it blows my mind! A new purpose, it's been outlined! I'm unstuck and I feel great! This inspiration, it dominates! No longer down and no longer chained No longer feeling the scatterbrain No longer down and no longer chained This drive is awesome, I'm unrestrained! Celestial light Please do not hide! I do need your shine So I can redefine! Oh, Celestial light! You do make me blind! I'll hyper-fixate On the things I will make!
24.
SHALLOW 01:55
lyrics
No, the light... It's fading Oh, but why? I'm jaded. It was too good to be true And now I look like a weird fool. This endevour of mine was shallow, It's something I should have forshadowed. No more work, no more fun, No more sharing my pride to anyone.. A shallow hole for which to bury my brain, I cannot put up with this disdain!
25.
DANGEROUS 01:04
lyrics
I realise that this is fine My thoughts have finally realigned. I should consume, but not create The failure tells me it is my fate. Oh but self-doubt is a nasty thing A dangerous substance that leaves a sting In my heart and in my head I should lie down in the dirt again This dangerous game just can't be won And this dangerous feeling is not what I want I told others I would succeed Fulfilled expectations is what I need!
26.
REMOVE 00:52
lyrics
Let me cut these thoughts out of my life Let me get myself out of this strife I'll return to my chains, it's the only way I'll be certain of things, when desires are slayed
27.
BEAST 01:18
lyrics
No more expectations No more temptations Self-doubt has spoken The beast has awoken I'm stuck in these chains so rip me apart I've taken this burden to my heart So come forth, beast, end my suffering Let me leave the world with others wondering
28.
SPARKLE 02:33
lyrics
A part of me just died Yet I feel alive? Something's not right Is there another light? Comfortable in this void? But I want out to enjoy? There's a sparkle this way Let's go home and unchain
29.
MASSIVE 01:18
lyrics
A massive fight! Let's me see the light! And changes are made! When I'm feeling okay! So be by this fence! With this weight, intense! But can I think straight? Or is it my fate? I'm not in the dark, not anymore But I'm also not free, there's a feeling before I've been inspired, but there's something I've missed A horrible feeling that still persists. Not in a slump, not feeling glad Creations often come with something bad I have to show a vulnerable side So for the love of my soul, please let me hide! Behind this fence! With this weight, intense! And can I think straight? Or is it my fate?
30.
RUSH 01:12
lyrics
This weight on my back, it's something I've had For many years and it's made me sad I just want to put out something okay I do not care if it's shunned away So why am I nervous? Why do I hide? Everything is going to be fine I'm still not sure, but I know what to do I'll keep on creating just for you! So rush past this fence! But is this weight intense? Am I thinking straight? Will I be okay? Let me rush past this fence! No more weight, intense! Am I thinking straight? I think I'm okay!
31.
FIRE 01:53
lyrics
(spoken) Hey there, come sit by me I have the fireplace going tonight It's winter, have a blanket. I can make you a hot chocolate as well You deserve a rest, you've been working hard this month Drawing something every day Making music every day Whatever your passion No more Dreams, no more Spiders No more Toads, Castles, Daggers, Angels or Demons Certainly no more Chains, you're free now. Let's just rest by the Fire tonight And drift off beside each other. You look exhausted, and I'm tired too We can just be here, there's nothing more to worry about. Say goodnight to Inktober

about

Every year in October, artists are given 31 prompts, one for each day of the month, to give inspiration to draw something. I'm no artist (in the sense that I can't draw or paint or whatever) but I can make music!

Taking all 31 prompts for this year's Inktober, I wrote a song every day inspired by each prompt.

This project was exhausting but incredibly rewarding to do. I've not been able to make as much music this year as I wanted due to the fact that I was listening to a lot of music for the Prog Lists on my website, as well as going through personal issues on top of that. To have this as an excuse to just make stuff was exactly what I needed.

With that being said, completely by accident I made a quite a lot of this music seem quite depressing. In fairness the EP I had planned to make this year that ended up being indefinitely delayed was going to be kinda sad anyway, but with this project I let out more emotion in (most of) the lyrics than I thought I would.

Speaking of lyrics, this is the first time (Something Familiar not included) that I've recorded vocals! After the first few days of feeling a bit awkward about it I started to enjoy it more and more. My microphone is definitely not suitable for the task as it's more of a podcasting mic, but it did the job well enough. My actual performance has a few errors, but that's mostly because I was rushing.

Because I'm considering these songs as 'Demos', I plan on remaking all of them over the next couple of months. That way I can expand on some of the ideas, I can add better instruments and most importantly I can spend more time perfecting the vocals (and hopefully I can get a suitable microphone for the task!)

There's so much more I could say about this project, but for now I'll just let you sit back and take the music in.

Tracklist:

1. The Spider's Journey (Parts I - V)
2. The Spider's Journey (Parts VI - X)
3. Aimless Wandering
4. Hot Sauce Station
5. Rise in Peace
6. Your Castle
7. Cutthroat
8. Two Visitors (i. Angel, ii. Demon)
9. I'm Stuck on this Saddle
10. Star-Shaped Pillows
11. Ice Caves
12. The Weight of Expectations (Sections I - X)
13. Goodnight, Inktober

credits

released November 1, 2023

Music by TheJayJay
Lyrics written and performed by TheJayJay
Album Art drawn in Krita by TheJayJay

Track 5 was partially inspired by the song 'By Myself' from UMÆ's album 'Lost in the View'
umaeband.bandcamp.com/track/by-myself

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TheJayJay UK

learning FL studio by making short albums. i'm also in the process of ranking every prog rock album from 2024, check my website below for more information.

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