Waking Won't Save You
Feb 25, 2024
nick
Dream Weaver
This song is about an eerily calm nightmare I had as child that has walked beside me since. My improvisational element was with the main ukulele part. I had written a few little lines but hadn’t put them together or created a larger outline of the song, so I just turned on the mic and improvised the arrangement, then worked off that. There are a few improvised lyrics, as well. Had fun weaving the mellotron lines (flute sounding stuff) through the ukulele part.
Waking won’t save you from my love
The dream is over, nightmare begun
Mine now, mine now, always mine
Waking won’t save you from your mind
Family’s gone now, just me and you
Sweet surrender coming awfully soon
Mine now, mine now, always mine
Waking won’t save you from your mind
Looking for feedback on
Are you scared?
Discussion
Rmal March 4, 2024 8:14pm
The breath at the beginning and the flute(?) sound is a great pairing. Defiantly picking up the improv vibe. Lot’s of unexpected turns. Liking the stripped down uke sounds paired with the mellotron. Spot on vocals as usual. Over all – unsettling – that’s a complement.
alechutson March 2, 2024 6:30pm
Eerie and beautiful from the first note. Such a unique sound and approach. I’m always a fan of the flute mellotron. The raspy quality in your voice really did it for me. Great scary job 🫣
juliapiker March 2, 2024 2:58pm
I am definitely scared- feeling uneasy as your voice creeps in. I really like how loose this is. No grid baby we love that. It kind of reminds me a little bit of the quality in Cat Power Sea of Love.
My favorite part of this is the way you stay on certain notes for a little bit longer than you “should”. I think it adds to the eerieness. 1:46-1:54- that lengthier note ringing out vocally is so so good yeesh. I really love the chord progression- and the different variations it takes starting at 1:04 with the flute creeping back in.
Great one Nicky.
Ryan March 2, 2024 12:41pm
Man, this is an amazing vocal performance. Those little chromatic slides? Sheesh. And the tone from 1:47 to 1:54? You’ve achieved a Kid A sound without all the tech. You could’ve saved them thousands of dollars in studio time.
1:04 — arrangement award
I’m just in awe of your ability to find truly unique musical gestures. The off-kilter timing, the tone of the uke plus tone of your voice, the pale yellow ethereal stuff in the background. I agree with the call-out to tweak the mellotron sound, but only because you’d probably make something even cooler, not because it’s so trite. Great stuff here, mate.
juliapiker March 2, 2024 2:58pm
omg Ryan i didnt even read your comment before writing mine- similar thoughts. hell yeah
EliasSZ February 29, 2024 7:19pm
I don’t know if I’m scared, but I’m definitely unsettled. I never quite knew where this was headed or going – very dream-like and freaky.
nick March 2, 2024 9:39am
🙏 was definitely aiming to make it feel like you were in the dream.
Ben February 26, 2024 12:43pm
Very cool—the off-kilter time signature keeps you uneasy the entire time. Perhaps due to the improvisation, but it feels like you’re exploring the song as you’re writing/recording it, as if the writer is getting lost at the same time as the listener. Gives me early Grizzly Bear vibes. If I have a critique, it might be that the mellotron is a little too on-the-nose and familiar—it’s almost become the de facto 70’s creepy garden party sound.
EliasSZ February 29, 2024 7:17pm
Early Grizzly Bear is such an accurate reference point. There’s something Yellow House-y about this for sure.
nick March 2, 2024 9:36am
Thanks! And you’re totally right, i was building this plane midflight. Gosh, i just can’t help myself when it comes to the mellotron, but I will definitely take that critique into account and consider making that sound more my own next time.
Carseat February 26, 2024 11:24am
Woahhh… this is such a cool lil guy. Huge fan of the chord schemes. You’re makin me want to experience something creepy enough to play this in the background…
nick March 2, 2024 9:38am
lol, i’ll be sure to invite you to my next nightmare.
Ben February 25, 2024 9:26pm
Yes I am
stonewindow February 26, 2024 8:41am
Nice spooky vibe. Definitely “dreamy”. I like your vocal quality.
nick March 2, 2024 9:34am
👻