ART OF THE SOUND TEMPLE

My Limerence

Time of Tears

La Skies

29th October 2023

IONIAN BLUE

NEW YORK STATE OF PLAY

ALONE IN THE CITY
Following a recent trip to NYC I wrote and recorded this song which inspired the video.

DAYBREAK
This song is a reflection of how we feel some days and of our Mental Health. Sometimes we just don't want to get up!

Ugly War
Ugly War (Refugee) was written and recorded in February 2022 in response to the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis and can now be downloaded on all preferred platforms. All proceeds raised from this song will be donated to the Disasters Emergency Committee in support of the Ukrainian Refugee Crisis.
Donations can also be made via justgiving at www.https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ugly-war-refugee-rob-carey.

Jane
Everybody knows a girl called Jane.

Boom de Boom
Boom de Boom is a Dancey pop song with a message to remind us all of our consumption and how it is affecting the planet.

11 Skies
11 Skies was written during a wet and soggy camping trip to North Norfolk UK where it rained everyday. We were living under 11 skies, constantly changing weather. And this was summer time!

Addicted
Addicted’ is a song about how we can be drawn into the trivialities of life, to drama, gossip and to people who are ‘toxic’ in their personality. Maybe, this is why TV soaps like Eastenders and Coronation Street are so popular as we can become addicted to watching them. It is a warning really, something to be aware of.

Lockdown
Lawyers in the UK report a 40% increase in divorce inquiries since the COVID-19 lockdowns. Domestic abuse has also surged worldwide, affecting women more but men are vulnerable too. However, Things will be better, Things will be brighter, Tomorrow.

The Great Divine
It is a fact that, arguably, most people won't partake in a relentless pursuit of the truth when it comes to the Divine.  They simply 'Believe' or not 'Believe' but can't actually tell you why.  Maybe, some people would still refuse to believe even if it was proven beyond any doubt the Divine was true.  It could be, they may have to give something up, or change a part of their life style in someway and that would be too much to ask

On Me Lord
Human Beings are members of a whole
In Creation of one essence and soul
If one member is afflicted with pain
Other members uneasy remain
If you have no sympathy for human pain
The name of human you cannot remain.
- Saadi Shirazi

I Know, it Shows
"I Know, it Shows" is a song about lived experiences and how we portray ourselves in relation to these experiences. How we are acting can be different to how we are feeling. The face can however, at times, give the true emotion away.

Arise, Columbine
Arise, Columbine. This song is about the 20th April, 1999 and the Columbine High School massacre. In musical terms the song creates conflict and tension as the main vocal and the harmony vocal are singing two completely separate lyrics. This is resolved at the end of the song by the word ‘Arise’. 

Recoleta
The title for this track was taken from a 1970’s type font and as the song is about the 1970’s it seemed to fit. It could also be a place, recalling a memory or even a girls name. The song is about being free, cruising far away from routine, breaking chains and being totally free. Something we all crave from time to time.

Art of the Sound Temple promo video

You are strong and it shows
This song was written very recently in response to the Covid-19 outbreak and how it is taking a toll on people from all walks of life. It is a song of encouragement asking people to reflect on where they have been in life and how they had the strength to get through, stating ‘You are Strong and it Shows’.

Smile Assassin
Not every person we meet in life is ‘stable’ in their personality. They can be very nice and smile to your face while talking about you behind your back. They can be changeable like the weather or like a writer who has writers block one day then the words flow freely the next day. We are not obliged to deal with this insecurity or insincerity.

Temple Elephant
The lyrics to this song were written ‘word for word’ from a dream my wife, Clare had. I didn't add or take away any lyric. It was how she recalled the dream the next day. Because it was about an elephant I wanted a slow, plodding type tune and as it was a temple elephant I gave the music an Indian / mystical flavour.

Grey Inertia
This song is the opening track from the Grey Suburbia album 2017. The song only has three words in it 'Grey Suburbia, Inertia'. I felt that this said it all. We experience a lot of Grey weather in Britain (and some nice weather too) which can make people feel low in mood. Low mood leads to inertia which is a tendency to do nothing or remain unchanged. The video itself was shot on a basic Panasonic camera with small aperture, hence the large black surround. I felt this gave the video a more closed in or intimate feel.

Little Light Out
This is a video of a practice session. The song is about a friend who left town and decided to cut all ties. Little light out, Little ride out town. Little shut out, Little not around. Some reasons remain unbeknown.

Feet on the ground, Look straight
Another song which was a practice session. Sometimes a person or a situation can cross your path in life and have the potential to turn your world upside down. You could gain a lot but lose everything you have. Its better therefore to keep ‘Feet on the ground and look straight’.

Glastofunk
This was written in 2017 after watching the band The 1975 perform at the Glastonbury Festival. It was the time of Brexit and The 1975 lead singer, Matt Healy spoke between two songs stating that there is an air of ‘anti compassion’ and a lack of empathy going around being fueled by Brexit. I agreed so wrote this song and it was featured on BBC Introducing.

Grey Sub
This song is from the Grey Suburbia album 2017 and was featured on BBC introducing. It is a ‘rave’ version of the same theme in the albums title song ‘Grey Suburbia’ where we all live, usually in a boring 9 -5 routine.

Josephine Baker
This is simply a tribute to the late, great Josephine baker. The video is directly taken from one of her films, ZouZou, 1934. I first learned of Josephine Baker after seeing a poster of her in an Art Gallery in Amsterdam. A picture of this is at the beginning of the video.

Time / Some People
The very song title ‘Time’ gives a hint about the song. I wish I could turn back time or at least stop the clock. As it is about time I synced the music to some old film footage. There are two songs here ‘Time’ talks of wanting to halt the progression of time the other ‘Some People’ demonstrates how some people can make our time very liveable, lovable, enjoyable and worth spending with.