Maniac - Sad Songs - Full Ep Stream

TRACKS:
Melodica 0:00
Cigarette Blues 1:07
Red Bird 5:28
Little Reaper 7:57 (note: something went wrong w/ upload here, so last 2 seconds of Little Reaper got cut off in this vid specifically. RIP)

Thanks for checking out my first release! Since you came here to watch this, I'd better make it worth your while with virtual liner notes. Sad Songs was a project that I started in Sept. 2020 for fun. I didn't think any of these songs would ever get released, but as I finished writing, I knew I wanted to release them. Originally, I wanted to wait and do these songs with a full band, but as I kept working, certain pieces, namely "Cigarette Blues" and "Little Reaper" Sounded better with just guitar (and 2 bass blips in LR). On top of that I continued to struggle in finding a drummer, so I just said screw it and recorded them as they are. I would ask you to please keep in mind that this is not a studio work. I know about the imperfection. But honestly I think the vocal goofs only add to the basic vibe and fall - y depressive atmosphere of this EP, one man and his guitar with multi tack software. I would have liked to change a few tracks some more (notably " Red Bird", which I was really considering adding some synth to and re - recording, but decided against to keep the vibe consistent.), but overall this is the most proud of any of my musical work I've been so far. I hope you enjoy this!
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Now, track details!
Melodica
"Melodica" came together in one afternoon. I started with the 2 note rhythm at the beginning of the track, then came up with a secondary thing, which you hear later in the track. I recorded that, then recorded another part where I play some major chords. I then started noodling, which resulted in me coming up with the melody you hear in the track. I then went back and recorded that. from there I added some claps to keep rhythm, mixed and mastered, and it was done by that night. The track has to be one of the best sounding things on the album. It all feels concise, like one line of thought. Its very melancholy, and a perfect opener.
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Cigarette Blues
"Cigarette Blues" was the first thing I wrote for this Ep. The version on the record is the last of many. It's the song I've tweaked the most. The original riff started on electric guitar while I was noodling, the hook of the melody coming shortly after. From there it sat and sat in my demos until I unearthed it while practicing on my acoustic guitar. I had a huge wave of inspiration that day after listening to delta blues. The intro to the song is in the style of an old delta blues intro in the music of Robert Johnson. The main bulk of the song is more grunge esque acoustic chords, but despite the juxtaposition, the styles seemed to blend well here. once the instrumentation was finished, I recorded two more demos with improv lyrics about what I was thinking of at the time. from there I recorded two more tweaking them. The final song's lyrics are from the point of view of an acquaintance of mine I saw slowly sink into more and more cigarette use over the course of a year after he broke up with his girlfriend (hence the line "she doesn't matter to me anymore", something he would say when asked about her.) Overall it's another I am proud of.
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Red Bird
The lyrics to "Red Bird" came to me in my sleep. I wrote them down the next morning and wrote a basic thing to accompany it, and then recorded the final version about two weeks later. Quite simply, the Red Bird represents depression and anxiety, the repetition of the bird in the dream symbolizing the inability to escape these things. Our protagonist in this song spirals down, frustrated and puzzled at the bird, eventually leading to him "joining him" in a "strange and distant land" (metaphor for death and whatever lies beyond it, speaking of which, if you relate to the protag in the song, please do seek help. This world isn't better off without you). Finally, the track concludes with our protagonist still seeing the bird "beyond the end", him sarcastically remaking "hello my oldest friend", which is a complex metaphor, but basically saying that death won't help you escape your problems.
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Little Reaper
The "Little Reaper" is a personification of death. This song is basic musically, but complex in concept. Its 2 notes, 2 verses, and 2 lines of improvised chants. The simplicity of the song is meant to represent the simpleness in death, It's inevitably. Our protagonist is someone who has been laying in a deathbed for a long time, someone who no longer fears death, but anticipates it. So much so that he personifies death in his mind as a woman coming to take him to an "Ether" where he will "be alone". (once again, if you feel this way please do seek help. if no one else cares, I do.)

The front end of this Ep is musically more complex, but thematically simpler, while the second half is less musically complex but more thematically difficult. Once again, Thanks for listening, I'll share more soon!