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WeeklyBeats.com / Music / orangedrink's music / Sleepwalker's Letter

Sleepwalker's Letter

By orangedrink on December 27, 2020 11:59 pm

SECRET SURPRISE!



This song, like last week's tune, was also written in 2005.  I have also performed this at many shows over the years, with band members, and even at a wedding, which was a strange choice because the song is probably about committing suicide.  I am very proud of finishing these two songs, and I want you to know that the WB community is the reason I was able to finish them.  (I'm buying myself a Street Fighter Pocket Operator as my reward for completing the year!)


The backing instruments were all done in Reason, and luckily I was able to find the original source file from ’05.  There are two competing drum beats, a shuffle break beat, and a heavy beat with an insistent ride cymbal bell.  The introductory synth line is in a pattern of 5, and it actually remains constant during the entire piece.  Maybe it's the motif of an repetitive thought.  I am really happy with the dual combination of reverb on one voice, delay on the other.  I used my recorder box to record my “samples” - When I performed this live, I used to have samples from zombie movies play.  The line “I’ve just been informed that we’re going off the air” is my re-reading of a line from the Dawn Of The Dead remake.  The secondary, pitched down “and you can find me” was done by recording the vocals on the recorder box and playing it back!  End harmonies also from the box.  Love that thing!


The story is kind of a continuation from “Send Them Out Through The Night” - I never knew what to call this song, but now I understand that the previous song’s opening lyric: “No need to write a letter” is foreshadowing this.  There is a zombie apocalypse, and we’ve accidentally killed a loved one (in Send Them Out) and now we’ve been infected ourselves and are leaving everyone behind, saying “Don’t bother coming after me.”


Zombie interpretation of lyrics:
“You can find me when I’m asleep” because as a zombie, I won’t be moving quickly.
but you’ll never find “me” because the real me is gone.  And if I do turn into a zombie, you will become one when I bite you, and if I bite you, everyone will eventually turn.


If somehow I am cured from my perpetual sleepwalking, it will be a beautiful moment when we are rejoined and I “wake up” with enlightenment, but that’s never going to happen.


Suicide interpretation of lyrics:
You’ll find the real me, at peace and not hating everything when I’m resting.  But you’ll never find that, because I never allow myself to rest.  Once I kill myself, I’ll finally rest, and you’ll have to let go of our relationship.  And once I’ve let go, we’re all going to have to let go.


If I find my faith and am somehow able to stop experiencing life as a prisoner and a victim - never mind that will never happen.


But if I found a reason to live, you could find a reason, and if we had a reason, all of us could have a reason - but we won’t.


LYRICS:
"We're almost out of tape.  Do you have any last words?"


And you can find me,
When I'm asleep.
But you'll never find me,
'Cause I never sleep.


And if I do,
You will too.
And if I do,
We all will.


"I've just been informed that we're going off the air."


And if I wake up,
Not standing still,
And if I wake up,
But I never will.


And if I do,
You will too.
And if I do,
We all will.


See you next time. heart


Audio works licensed by author under:
CC Attribution Noncommercial Share Alike (BY-NC-SA)

What a beautiful, catchy, powerful sendoff for the year.
Awesome work, both this week and all throughout the ones before! smile

Totally badass track to end the year with! Great vocal harmonies and the guitars and synth combo are a powerhouse! Cool chill bass synth and rhythm programming. Week 52... we did it!  I'll check back later for notes and secret surprise smile Happy new year!

Ugh great as always. You're too good. I will miss your WBs in 2021. Best closer to a shit year.

ahh so good! heart

Oh wow that guitar sound is awesome. Powerful vocals as well! Tasty bass lines. Will be missing your tracks in 2021, your mustang and the cool new tracks you're cooking!

(I meant jazzmaster, not mustang - I keep confusing the two)

This was a nice joyride. Best wishes for your future, orange.

Congrats! we did it. Very nice sounding track. There is a brit pop touch there. I really liked many of your tracks thru the year.

Reilly Farrell wrote:


NWSPR wrote:


license wrote:


royb0t wrote:


Kedbreak136 wrote:


Q-Rosh wrote:


djippy wrote:

SECRET SURPRISE UPDATED

hahaha PERFECT love it!!! heart heart heart

Ha ha!  That video is amazing.  Way to go above and beyond.  I recognize most of those names, although like you I didn't realize how some of them were pronounced, so it was cool to hear them out loud.  And while I've never had the pleasure of meeting miraclemiles in person, I've had many great interactions with him here so I'll happily be part of his crew.  But I don't want to neglect the song... this is definitely a strong one and I'm glad you were finally able to give it the attention it deserves and let it see the light of day.  I think it might be one of my favorites of yours for the whole year, although it's hard to say.  There's some stiff competition.  The sheer range and diversity of what you do continues to be amazing and inspiring.  I definitely would like to follow what you do in 2021 and hopefully see you back here in 2022.

Wow, what a year, lots of ups and downs, but so glad you were always here on this community sharing and always bringing positive vibes, I always look forward to what you will bring us each week.  I like the two interpretations of the lyrics, always the beauty of lyrics, each person will have there own interpretation.  This is an amazing finish to the year, vocals sound great and that crunchy beat sits so nice in the background, love the guitar that shines at about 4:15.  Thanks for posting the video, it was a good laugh, also have wondered about the pronunciation of many of the names, maybe one year I’ll come up with a cool name, rather then you know just my name.  Happy New Year!

heart heart heart

Can't even tell you how much that shoutout meant to me. Thanks so much for the kind words! big_smile
That video was such an awesome tribute to WeeklyBeats 2020. Crazy how many cool artists there are on this site each week. Now I can't wait for 2022!

Great tribute video, love 2:05.

Awesome! See you in '22!

Wow beautiful video, perfect way to end the year!

Thanks a lot for the shoutout and for that nice closing track!

Excellent song to close out the year with, another one to add to my favorites smile. I'd love to be able to collaborate with you in the future if you're up for it, maybe I can do some guitar or back up vocals to a track of yours or visa versa. Thanks so much for the shout out, that was really nice heart

WOOHOO! That video was so great. Much respect to you and this awesome community. Awesome, fun way to show the love this amazing crew! Thanks for the shout out!

Now the song ... WOW, great one, one my faves you've done I think. Those guitars sound great, nice production. The synth line (and everything) mesmerizes, I love this hypnotic quality you can get. Bassline makes me do a little shimmy, it's smooth. This suicide/zombie thing again is fascinating. Deep stuff, awesome lyrics.

ALL THE BEST to you in 2021. It's been so fun hearing your work and chatting with you here on WB. All the way back to 2016 when I started, always enjoyed your work and comments. So yeah, here's to a better 2021, see you on the internets, and back in 2022 for sure!

CosmicCairns wrote:

...  And while I've never had the pleasure of meeting miraclemiles in person, I've had many great interactions with him here so I'll happily be part of his crew.

YES, I think now that Orange Drink has called this out, we have to get in touch. Maybe collaborate on something and call it Cosmic Miracles smile smile -

Pretty heavy stuff. Can you honestly look me into the eyes and say this isn't Grunge?

Great composition, you really murdered 2020 the right way with this. Happy New Year.

Love that left side intro beat but especially more when the main beat with the ride kicks in.  Your vocals again stand out so nicely from the mix.  Between the guitars and the chopped up drums it's mixed so well.  Got me drumming along on my desk to this excellent groove.  The chorus is super soothing even with the subject matter that is def relatable. The outro a very fitting way to end this wild ride of a year. 
The shoutout video was awesome.  It's kinda funny to hear all the different pseudonyms pronounced because I had my own personal way of pronouncing them in my head.  I lol'ed a bunch of times when you thanked everyone and yay "let's go!!!"
I hope you'll be active on IG or somewhere cuz I def look forward to hearing more of your music.  I hope 2021 is much better for you.  Happy New Year Brah! smile

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