February Album Writing Month - FAWM.ORG

ellen liss (@ellenpliss)

progress: 15

winner!
joined: February 1 2010
location: Georgia, USA

Bio

Hi FAWMers! I have missed you!

This is my 3rd FAWM. 1st was exciting, 2nd was a bit tentative, this time I am aiming for relaxed.

I write lyrics and would greatly appreciate anyone who would like to collab with me to turn them into songs.

Update: Thank you to all of my amazing collab partners -- this is so much fun and I am honored you have elevated my words beyond what I could ever imagine -- I am in awe of your many talents.

2012 Songs

1	Nonchalant	6 comments // 3 months ago
2	Crush them all (with devin)	16 comments // 3 months ago
3	Power Wash (with billysea)	7 comments // 3 months ago
4	Masterpiece	8 comments // 3 months ago
5	We Drive Me Crazy (with nicksypniewski)	12 comments // 3 months ago
6	Systematic Meltdown	4 comments // 3 months ago
7	Crepe Paper Heart (with chipwithrow)	11 comments // 3 months ago
8	Someone Still Cares (with codex)	15 comments // 3 months ago
9	The Things We Never Say (with downburst)	7 comments // 3 months ago
10	Save Yourself	3 comments // 3 months ago
11	Waiting on Devin	1 comment // 2 months ago
12	Forever Contagious (with seemanski)	8 comments // 2 months ago
13	Ode to the E.L.F.	3 comments // 2 months ago
14	Nonchalant (with fuzzy)	3 comments // 2 months ago
15	Dear John	2 comments // 2 months ago

Soundboard

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duaneclancy 2 months ago

Hey Ellen ... I have an older lyric I thought you'd get a kick out of ... it's about being a chicken in the processing system ... called "Chicken Plant Blues": https://docs.google.com/document/d/17x_EEzz7YnxpGxjAeGJdnXIMzt-zhT5BAezK4ZuWAJ8/edit#

Another one I wrote is a graphic poem about where some of the store-bought eggs come from ... "The Killing Fields": https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gAmy4VnqZ_QUx02XPOKAZxQfy3TQbqB35QbgUhQgo8s/edit#
williedesacra 2 months ago

A belated thank you for your encouraging comments! And a warm shout out to you and fuzzy for that terrific ukelele downer ballad! (Any reference to Robert Wyatt immediately gets my respect.) Wm
iocanepower 2 months ago

Thanks for keeping an ear on us this month, Ellen! Happy we entertained you.
billysea 2 months ago

LOL, your comment made me smile. You write great lyrics and already have plenty of talent so don't need what little I have (which is mostly a result of practice and living many years)
codex 2 months ago

You've got a really good voice BTW, and next year I would like to do a track where you sing (no arguments.)
fuzzy 2 months ago

Glad you like it!
billysea 2 months ago

Ok it is up. Thanks so much : )
billysea 2 months ago

Hi Ellen, finished Power Wash. If you'll send me your email I will send you a copy to make sure you like it
sapient 2 months ago

Kitten World = not a ballad

But it is about kittens
seemanski 2 months ago

I'm glad you liked you, I had fun with it. I couldn't help myself and put a load of coughing and spluttering inbetween the verses. Congrats the win btw.
downburst 2 months ago

Oh my gosh. Well, now I'm all indignant.
downburst 2 months ago

Win! You are winner! Congratulations.
codex 2 months ago

Hey Ellen, I would love some feed back on a song I'm working on *28947, if you have a few mins.
billysea 2 months ago

I'm not sure that I have any more magic but it will be fun trying. I'll let you know when I have something recorded : D
billysea 2 months ago

Hello Ellen, if you don't already have something/someone in mind for Power Wash, might I give it a try? : )
sandman313 2 months ago

Ellen - Sorry I didn't get back to you. Work has been killing me! You bet I'm gonna get 14.5 out there! I've got a "Feast" coming up this Saturday and Sunday! I'm going to be posting some lyrics to cause I don't think I'll have time to record everything!

I'll check out your other lyrics and see if I can record something!
kristi 2 months ago

Hi Ellen. Thanks so much for your very nice comments on my lyric, "Take a Deep Breath." I see what you're saying with the word "shrug." I'll have to give that some thought! Thanks for your input!
fuzzy 2 months ago

So I worked on "Nonchalant". See what you think... *29073

P.S. - This one pushed you over the edge; you're a WINNER!!
seemanski 2 months ago

They we go all fixed, it was because of the name of the file
seemanski 2 months ago

OK, it is recorded, you can add it with the following link http://dl.dropbox.com/u/16026146/FAWM%202012/ellenpliss%2Bsee-man-ski_ForeverContagious.mp3 I hope you like it
nightengale 2 months ago

Thanks Ellen, I really appreciate your comment!
codex 2 months ago

I'm sorry, not doing it on purpose. Just waiting for a few more people to get back to me. I promise if they don't by end of tomorrow I will put it up.
duaneclancy 2 months ago

I'm glad you liked the "rat" lyric. I live out on a farm ... and I do eat meat ... we have a saying here that if it walks, creeps, crawls, flys, slithers, or swims, then we'll eat it. I really love creatures of all kinds though and I even pet them and love them right up till it's time to turn their lights out. Then I try to use every bit of the animal that I can. I even tan out the hides and make stuff with both the fur and the leather, and I have been known to carve little do-dads out of the hooves, horns, and bone. I respect all life though and try to never cause an animal unnecessary pain (even in the process of turning it into meat for the table).
fuzzy 2 months ago

You E.L.F. lyrics inspired me to write this song...

*28693
arthurrossi 2 months ago

Thank you very, very much for your wonderful comment!! I really feel very honored as it comes from a wonderfully talented "colleague"! you are so kind...
fuzzy 2 months ago

Wow, thanx for the great comments!! Yeah, I was a strict vegetarian for 16 years but have recently started eating fish and chicken (shame on me, I know). I was once a member of PETA, as well. I have fought the township over the fate of an old-growth maple tree (I actually spiked the tree; boy, were they mad at me!). So I know where you're coming from with your ELF lyrics. Keep up the fight!
downburst 2 months ago

Well, gosh. What @debs said.
debs 2 months ago

You are a fantastic lyricist, my dear I'm only sorry I didn't get around to commenting sooner.
blueone 2 months ago

Yes, absolutely. Sorry, I've been meaning to but I've been at University for the last 10 days or so, miles away from all my gear.

Do you have a particular song in mind that you'd like me to take a stab at?
seemanski 2 months ago

Probably best to wait until I have the music to put up, I will have a crack at it later on this week
seemanski 2 months ago

Go on then, you had at pearl jam, I'll give it a go. I have never written music over lyrics so it will be interesting to see how it turns out
seemanski 2 months ago

Thank you so much for your kind words that has really made my day
codex 2 months ago

Sound Goooood! I want to play with it a bit more, but almost done !
oneslowtyper 2 months ago

Hi Ellen, that you for commenting on my songs. I replied to one of your comments, not realizing that when I write @ellinpliss that you have no way of knowing that I replied to you - unless you went back to that song again. I didn't know the @ symbol thing only works in the forums.
Thanks again for your kind words.

Cheers,
John
chipwithrow 2 months ago

I'm going to record tomorrow morning - it's sort of a smoky,jazzy piano ballad. Email me at chipwithrow@yahoo.com and I'll send you the mp3. I added a couple of lines, made a couple of minor (really minor) changes to your lyric.
codex 2 months ago

My email is david_hilton@hotmail.co.uk
codex 2 months ago

In the chorus I want to lair up vocal lines at the end, so would still like that and it would be nice to get you on, wether its as the woman or a few news reader parts.
chipwithrow 2 months ago

I would love to do some music for "Crepe Paper Heart"! I have a chord progression I've been doing on piano that might work for this.
argenstock 2 months ago

Thanks for the comment! I might record my universe song, but that's a huge "might". lol
downburst 2 months ago

You are so nice... thank you for letting me work with your stuff.
nicksypniewski 2 months ago

What did I do?? Tell me, so I can do it again Thanks.

Stupid double post...
nicksypniewski 2 months ago

What did I do?? Tell me, so I can do it again Thanks.
standup 3 months ago

Thanks Ellen -- glad you saw a bit of empathy for the girl in "So Good..." I really wanted it to be there. Just a bit.
mikeskliar 3 months ago

thanks for listening!
roelvanveldt 3 months ago

Hi Ellen, just wanted to let you know I uploaded the song "To Be Happy" on lyrics of Timepatty here: http://fawm.org/songs/25745/. Thank you for listening!

§ Roel
devin 3 months ago
codex 3 months ago

Fantastic! When i have some idea of tempo and style, I be able to get a better idea for how long the voice over samples have to be, I will get back to you with a beat in the next few days
codex 3 months ago

I'm not sure brave is the word, over confident and foolhardy perhaps. I was thinking about trying to get some sort of spoken word bit going over the verse and making the chorus a big sound and try to make it quite catchy. I wanted to ask if you had a mic, as you never get on to any of your tracks, and I would love to stick you in as a voice over.
devin 3 months ago

Is it OK if I do cookie monster vocals on "Crush"?

I had an idea tonight for that I REALLY like (it's quite cuddly), but by the time the guitar part was birth-ed it's outta my vocal range

No way I can move it around to suit, because of the tuning I worked in.

If you're set on some Vedder etc, then I can try again for more music.
devin 3 months ago

Hey songwriter! Thanks for your encouragement on the IocanePower project!
I'm definetly thinking metal, or hard rock, for your stellar lyric...I'm searching for the right approach as you read this...I don't want to waste your fine work with a sub par start.
hammersmith 3 months ago

re: "The Things We Never Say". I think it needs work, but this isn't the place for that discussion. You can email me at theforgestudio at gmail dot com.
blueone 3 months ago

May be coming to you for a collab soon!
nicksypniewski 3 months ago

Ellen, glad you liked it. I think it came out very well. (Now if someone other than us would listen to it... ) And yes, extended guitar solo just cause I know you like 'em. Thanks for the collab. Enjoyable and easy as always.
hammersmith 3 months ago

Ok, how about: "The Things We Never Say"? I've got others if that's not inspiring enough.
nicksypniewski 3 months ago

Hey Ellen!!! It's done!!! Let me know what you think. Thanks for this year's collab.
hammersmith 3 months ago

Thanks for the comment and high praise for "I Don't Wanna Know" -- much appreciated.
stuartbenbow 3 months ago

Thanks for the feedback on my first fawm song. Flattered at the comparison.
wyatt 3 months ago

We'll see what we can do on making a song--Aw heck , it's bound to work on this lyric or another. 'll look at this one again to start
You come up with good titles
shay 3 months ago

Hi Ellen. Thanks kindly for your comment on "How much More". The breaking point is a delicate thing...was an emotional piece for me; and I'm always unsure of those. *cheers*
rickamorphis 3 months ago

Good to see you back again, Ellen! Thanks for dropping by and listening. I like that line you mentioned also.
ericdistad 3 months ago

Hi Ellen - Thanks for your comment on The Ice!

The book was Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing.

I'll have to go check that other book out.
downburst 3 months ago

Yeah, I feel like I have a 25 year old inside me who has a 14 year old inside him who has an eight year old inside him who has a screaming toddler inside him (and probably a newborn way down in there somewhere). We never grow up, we just add layers. Like jawbreakers.
plainspoke 3 months ago

Thank you for your listen and comment.
nicksypniewski 3 months ago

Thanks for the comments on Crows and Whatever. Much appreciated. Maybe I will lengthen that solo. I'll keep it in mind for after FAWM. I'll start on ours tomorrow. Should be a day or two at most. Know what I wanna do. Just have to figure out how.
wyatt 3 months ago

Thanks Ellen
I'll look at the impressions lyric to see if I can see anything.
Probably not today though
shannonbeck 3 months ago

Thanks so much for your kind comments --looking forward to more from you
candle 3 months ago

Thank you for your wonderful comment for The Empty Sleepers Of Image. I often am told that my music would work well in films or video games. This works well for me as I am trying to make the listener react emotionally to the music - and if they are able to visualize something, then I have achieved my goal.

See You In The Shadows…
seemanski 3 months ago

Thanks for your comment on "A Song About Snow" I have been struggling with lyrics and your comments really helped to restore faith and convince me to keep going.
dreamscuba 3 months ago

Thanks for the comments on "Something's gotta give". Very much appreciated. I will look at faster tempo stuff. I have often shied away from it worried I am not a good enough player for it...Despite listening to lots of classic rock and playing classic rock like riffs a lot, I am in unfamiliar territory trying to sing to classic rock stuff.
kristi 3 months ago

Hi Ellen, thanks for your very nice comments. I did tag it with "Weather Challenge" and recall seeing that described somewhere, which I can't seem to find now....lol. I will check out the Challenge forum!
tiedyehero 3 months ago

that's a good suggestion thanks! I wrote some more stanzas for it, like a lot more. enough to have like 9 minute song. but i don't think i want that unless i can do some cool stuff with it other than just guitar
wyatt 3 months ago

Thanks for the comment on Rockin'
I never thought of it as swingy but yeah, I can see that possibility after you mention it
On your comment on my comment on nonchalant, yep, that often happens when we just put down whatever comes out before we start t"thinking" about it ::)
roelvanveldt 3 months ago

Hi Ellen, I've been looking forward to FAWM, and I'm happy to find you here too.
I'm awaiting your songs with eager tension!

§ Roel
nicksypniewski 3 months ago

Hey Ellen,

Looked for you the other day, but you weren't back yet. Welcome and Good Fawming to you.
tiedyehero 3 months ago

love the picture haha
also excited to see what you come up with this year!
alamous 3 months ago

You too! I'm looking forward to seeing what're you up to this year.

BTW.A song that we collabed on last FAWm almost made it's way to my bands album, but in the end it turned out that we could'nt properly play any of them in a way that would've fit the whole picture...
devin 3 months ago

Songwriter! Pick up that pen and give us 14...this whole outfit is counting on your fine self!

*ready?!? I'm ready!*
mojo 3 months ago

Mrrrraw!
dreamscuba 3 months ago

Thank you very much Ellen for your kind words and thoughts.
codex 3 months ago

Glad to hear it! Fawm wouldn't be the same without you.
downburst 3 months ago

Great to see you!
downburst 3 months ago

Hey, Ellen... hope you show up here this year.
codex 3 months ago

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with this year, give me a shout if you have any song's you want music for (and what sort of style you're going for.)