This is one of my oldest songs, and also kind of one of my newest. It is based on a song I wrote when I was in high school, and had updated to try to sell as a commercial a few years ago. Neither the original 'romantic' lyrics nor the obvious 'commercial' lyrics were ultimately doing anything for me anymore, but I didn't want to give up on it because I love the music so much.
People who know me for any decent amount of time will almost certainly discover that I love Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. The harmonies and production techniques he uses inform almost every decision I make in music. Even the idea of making a symphonically structured 'pop' album is directly informed by Brian's work on SMiLE, his ill-fated album that took decades to finish and release. But this song, in particular, was informed by something I rarely think of borrowing from Brian: his lyrics. Specifically, I have always liked the fact that after releasing "Love & Mercy" on his first solo album, he began using that as his 'sign off' when writing to his fans. It became his closing song in most of his concerts. Basically, it became his personal greeting and a sort of musical and lyrical bond between him and his fans.
Last year, I sent out holiday cards to everyone for the first time in years, simply because I was feeling a need for a more physical connection with people after having drifted apart from most of them. I signed them "Love & Music" because that is life to me. After sending them out, I realized that I want that to be my "Love & Mercy". I want my friends, family, and fans to associate those two words with me, because that is what I'm all about at the end of the day.
So back to this song: Once I realized that this was the music that belonged with those words, it fell together so fast that.... ha ha, just kidding. Honestly, this might have been the hardest song on the album to write. I knew that I wanted to talk about love and music, but I didn't really know what I wanted to say about them, so I kept writing and rewriting. I also was really pushing the limits of what Luka pronounces well in English, so ultimately turning the lead vocal over to Avanna was crucial to finishing the song. I'm really pleased with this final version, and I think agonizing over every word and phrase really paid off in the end. The core of what I love musically, which is those harmonies on the chorus, has been the anchor the whole time, but now the verses really 'say what I'm feeling', and describe the process of getting there (and why music is so important to me) perfectly!
lyrics
I guess I have a hard time believing
Something just to believe it
I like to think that it’s really true
And as I test assumptions around me
They don’t usually fit well
Although I know I believe in two
Ooo love and music
Ooo life in harmony
Sometimes I know some people will
Let me down and I should be angry
Though truth be told it just hurts my pride
But I can’t help but feel a connection
To the people who seem like
They know the person I am inside
Ooo love and music
Ooo life in harmony
I like how some words feel
But I don’t know how to say what I’m feeling
The words I need are so far away
But I can always manage to
Write a tune that shares my emotions
And words just seem to get in the way
Ooo love and music
Ooo life in harmony
Ooo love and music
Ooo life in harmony
credits
released July 23, 2018
Composed, arranged & produced by Daphne Sprinkle
Mixed & Mastered by The Human @ Human Studios in Portland, OR
Artwork by Spacerobinhood
"Majesty" is a synthwave masterpiece with a strong emotional core and brilliant electronica to back it up. Brian's vocals soar along some great new harmonies that weren't present on the singles. Sprinklesong
A collection of various artists employing Vocaloid software to “sing” songs ranging from pop to ambient to hard rock. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 14, 2017
