Artist Bio
Influences: P J Harvey, Elvis Costello, Tom Waits, Father John Misty, Bjรถrk, Mica Levi, Leonard Cohen, Motรถrhead, The Cardigans, Bee Gees, The Beatles, MC Chris, assorted silliness, well-placed fury... and my sole guilty pleasure, Kiss (love the music, but there's SO MUCH misogyny)
He or they
2021 (my 4th time fawming)
I'm always cool with other songwriters making parallel songs from great lyrics, I plan to post original lyrics separate from my accompanying music, in order to encourage the cross-pollination of ideas. If you need to change anything, feel free to run it by me, or just run with it. Since I'm a very heavy-handed editor of others' lyrics, it's only fair.
Arm-twisted ๐ into making a FAWM2021 album cover by my friends @ductapeguy and @crutherford
ยฏ_(ใ)_/ยฏ
= = = = =
2020
- 46 attempted songs, minus 4 failures = 42 posts
- Of 42 posts, 41 are completed; 1 remains as-yet in-process (my fault) (EDIT: it has since been demoed).
- The 42 break down as 32 collabs, 10 all-originals.
- Of the collabs:
1 was a collaborative challenge (Tan Van),
1 was the contribution of a guitar part (Empathetic Interferences),
1 was music written for a public domain poem (The Fishermen Three), and
1 was a translation (Ums Haus, the in-process song).
- Of the originals:
3 were based on nursery rhymes (they're tagged),
1 was lyrics-only (a troll of a most-likely-fake account)
3 were challenges (a 10x10, a Morph, and an Anti-Syn).
- Of the 4 failures:
2 would have been collabs,
1 would have been a straight-up original, and
1 would have been an original for the Sign Challenge.
- My gratitude goes to my songwriting partners this year: @kahlo2013 (7 collabs), @cindyrella (4), @ductapeguy (4), @stephenwordsmith (4), @arthurrossi (3), @crisp1 (2), @jorh (2), @acousticmaddie (1), @hummingbear (1), @metalfoot (1), @momentegalerie (1), @visiblydistorted (1), @wacha (1).
<3 I think we did some good work.<3
= = = = =
2019
- I fawmed 34 songs, officially. Technically only 31; one was an unsatisfactory collaboration (Hope Beyond Hope) that I repurposed with original lyrics; one was a 10x10 with nonsense cut-up method lyrics that were partly rewritten into reasonable vignettes; and one would've been a Feb 28th offering that I was still fooling with when sleep overtook me.
- Of those, 18 were solo works (includes the Easy Shed non-collab collab; excludes the supplied lyrics of the Fake It Challenge).
- 9 were challenges (counting the Easy Shed trolling)
= = = = =
2018
- I fawmed 23 songs, officially. Technically only 21; two were posted as instrumentals, then posted again with lyrics+vocals.
- Of those, 3 were solo works.
= = = = =
ABOUT ME:
Spent my wee years with AM radio, and my teens with thrash metal and glam rock.
Served time in an industrial metal band in the early aughts, with whom I played 2004 Canadian Music Week.
Worked labour till I retired relatively young due to mental health issues, then I cartooned and wrote short stories for a decade.
Now it's just me and a handful of instruments and a borrowed Blue Yeti. Like last FAWM, I'll strum for whatever lyrics capture my imagination (with permission, of course), with an amazing partner (Jan 2020 was they last time we shared a physical space), one annoyingly cuddling cat, a remarkable absence of sugar (probably), and much nostalgia for the musically aggressive days.
Songs (39)
| #1 | Salmonlike @aneil |
8 Feb 2 |
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| #2 | Smallest of Things (FAWM-01) @cindyrella |
14 Feb 9 |
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| #3 | Yeah Yeah Yeah I Remember (Fake It Challenge - FAWM-02) |
10 Feb 11 |
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| #4 | Maladjustment (lyrics) |
1 Feb 11 |
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| #5 | Maladjustment (song - FAWM-03) |
4 Feb 12 |
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| #6 | The Local IGA (lyrics) |
7 Feb 12 |
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| #7 | Ignored Charlotte (lyrics) |
2 Feb 13 |
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| #8 | Ignored Charlotte (song - FAWM-04) |
9 Feb 13 |
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| #9 | Weekends (lyrics)  |
7 Feb 14 |
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| #10 | Hedged (They Can Go Friar Tuck Themselves) (lyrics) |
3 Feb 14 |
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| #11 | Auburn (FAWM-05) @stephenwordsmith |
9 Feb 14 |
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| #12 | The Local IGA (song - FAWM-06) |
7 Feb 14 |
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| #13 | Weekends (song - FAWM-07) |
4 Feb 16 |
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| #14 |  Hedged (They Can Go Friar Tuck Themselves) (song - FAWM-08) |
7 Feb 16 |
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| #15 | Allies Fall Easiest (lyrics) |
5 Feb 17 |
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| #16 | May Their Fire Be Small and the Wolves Near (lyrics) |
2 Feb 18 |
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| #17 | Iโm in a Rush (lyrics) |
4 Feb 18 |
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| #18 | Allies Fall Easiest (song - FAWM-09) |
8 Feb 19 |
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| #19 | Shadows, Icicles (morph - FAWM-10) @kahlo2013
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5 Feb 20 |
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| #20 | Slothcore Bandit (FAWM-11) |
5 Feb 20 |
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| #21 | Staring Out My Window (FAWM-12) @stephenwordsmith |
9 8 weeks |
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| #22 | May Their Fire Be Small and the Wolves Near (song FAWM-13) |
3 8 weeks |
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| #23 | Driftwood (now with music - FAWM-14) @hummingbear |
7 8 weeks |
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| #24 | The Elephant Spoke to the Snake (lyrics) |
2 8 weeks |
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| #25 | Hey Soldier (FAWM-15) @acousticmaddie |
6 8 weeks |
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| #26 | Rest in Piss (FAWM-16) @cindyrella
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10 7 weeks |
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| #27 | 'Twas in the Back of My Head (morph - FAWM-17) @coolparadiso |
7 7 weeks |
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| #28 | I'm in a Rush I'm in a Rush (song - FAWM-18) |
1 7 weeks |
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| #29 | On a Downward Slide (FAWM-19) @cindyrella |
6 7 weeks |
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| #30 | For the Love (a PSA) (lyrics) |
2 7 weeks |
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| #31 | The Elephant Spoke to the Snake (song - FAWM-21) |
3 7 weeks |
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| #32 | For the Love (a PSA) (song - FAWM-20) |
3 7 weeks |
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| #33 | Break the Ice (morph - FAWM-22) @kahlo2013
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6 7 weeks |
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| #34 | Salmonlike (morph - FAWM-23) @aneil |
3 7 weeks |
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| #35 | Michael Row (morph - FAWM-24) @kenmattsson |
5 7 weeks |
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| #36 | A Song About Nonsense (FAWM-25) @cindyrella
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5 7 weeks |
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| #37 | UPDATED Polar Bear Waltz (FAWM-26) @zecoop |
3 7 weeks |
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| #38 | placeholder for Playin' Along |
ZONG 7 weeks |
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| #39 | placeholder for Starfish @stephenwordsmith |
ZONG 7 weeks |
Soundboard
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@daveyboy103 6 weeks
I am just an unreconstructed 80s funky soul boy, Guilty as charged ๐
Thanks for your kind comments and @kahlo2013 words are great to work with. I think even she was surprised with how I used them and that is great. It should be about surprising people.
I love your version too. Let's have multiple genres for more lyrics ๐ -
@berni1954 6 weeks
Glad you liked the lyrics to Cassandra. I have worked out a rough melody and will be recording it ASAP. Will let you know.
PS Just saw you liked my "Tripping with my Cat". I enjoyed writing that one. The tiger line was probably inspired by Calvin and Hobbes ๐ -
@nahlej381 6 weeks
Thanks for listening to 1=0.9999999 I appreciate it! Look forward to listening to your songs this month!
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@berni1954 6 weeks
Glad you liked my take on Michael Row. Got to hear yours now.
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@matthew62 6 weeks
Thanks for the listen and comments regarding they'll never get their Hanes on me. I'm glad you enjoyed it. That's the first one I've written like that in a long time,
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@kenmattsson 6 weeks
@moonraccoon Thanks so much for taking a shot at my Michael Row lyrics. It's an honor to have three different FAWMers take a stab at setting them to music. I'm honored.
Nice job, in yet another very different style. Your additional words are in the spirit of the lyrics, so I'm fine with that. You've basically written a new song. -
@aneil 7 weeks
@moonraccoon thx for your input I have made an edit thx for your constructive feedback! Thx for busting the zong too !
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@zecoop 7 weeks
Yeah, I certainly didnโt plan it that way or pick them. It started in F because F is easy!
๐๐คฃ๐๐คฃ -
@zecoop 7 weeks
There's just two sections and they all use just the major chords, as far as I know (I play by ear, so I'm doing the best I can) ๐
Section A
F Eb Db
F Eb Db Db Eb
F Eb (Eb F G) Ab Gb
F Eb Db Db C
Section B
Bb C Db Ab
Bb C C
Bb C Db Ab
Bb C Db Eb
(back to A and so forth).
It seems like my PSS-470 was acting a bit wonky when I recorded that song, because it is a few cents off tune from what it is right now, haha. -
@zecoop 7 weeks
Do you still need the chords for polar bear? Now I have time, lol
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@rangermike 7 weeks
A sidebar? I have to wonder if your Grump is in someway related to my Ent.
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@lnh 7 weeks
Thank you so much for your kind comments on the collab song. The songwriting has certainly been a healing process into more of the voicefull!
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@rangermike 7 weeks
Thank you for your kind words about my Dad Collab. Til now I didn't know the word "absurdist". That was My Dad for sure. I HAVE been following you, I'm just a lousy communicater.
And thank you for the un-zong. Mike. -
@cleanshoes 7 weeks
Hello! I tried to listen to your song Hedged, but it looks like the link may be broken. Just thought I'd let you know!
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@gordon 7 weeks
Hello again, just saw your comments on His name was Joe (thanks very much btw.) In answer to your question, no one has ever asked me to do lyrics for them, and it might be a bit late for this FAWM, but if you want to have a go at any of my lyrics, feel free. Just put me down as the co-writer, I guess, and see if anything pops out at you. you are most welcome to have a go.
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@kenmattsson 7 weeks
@moonraccoon You can certainly take a shot at setting Michael Row to your own music. It's already been done twice; why not a third time?
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@cindyrella 7 weeks
Thanks so much for doing my Rush song!
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@mandolinda 8 weeks
I like how everyone interprets to their own background. I never would think of a C chord that way....ever. Glad you liked my little tune.
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@freddie13 8 weeks
If you listen to my mother earth song..
It might be the mood you ate looking for with the elephant and snake song???
Great chatting last night. -
@crisp1 8 weeks
Moonraccoon! Thanks for the comment on The Sapling. Will come back for a listen to your music. Glad to see you've been so busy!
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@aneil 8 weeks
@moonraccoon Iโm open for a collaboration on salmon like if you keen go for it
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@aneil 8 weeks
@moonraccoon Iโm open for a collaboration on salmon like if you keen go for it
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@hummingbear 8 weeks
It's OK with us both if you do a version of Driftwood. So I'll set up one collab box for the Metalfoot version and another for the MoonRaccoon version.
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@kahlo2013 8 weeks
Of course, if you make changes please post as you did the other one! Thanks so much!
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@billwhite51 8 weeks
thank you for your comments on northern pride, southern shame. the chords are just C, F, and G,
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@acousticmaddie Feb 19
Thank you! I would Love it IF you put music to Hey soldier ๐
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@billwhite51 Feb 18
are you using firefox? people using firefox have had problems accessing bandcamp.
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@gordon Feb 17
Hello again, re Stranded at Sea, unfortunately it is based on a true story https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/feb/17/crew-of-oil-tan...
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@stephenwordsmith Feb 17
Go for it (caveat psy-t)!
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@gordon Feb 17
Hello again, I just saw your comment re Downward slide. Just to be clear, the lyrics are Cindy's. I just did some noodling about with the music and singing part. I would personally be very interested to hear your take on it though. For me that's what FAWM is all about. None of us should be too precious about our creations, lyrically or musically. We should just try to have fun and be respectful of each other.
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@thedutchwidows Feb 17
Hi there - thanks for the comment on Whats An Amoeba To Do? I watched the beat numbers in Logic and clicked/tapped along with mouth and foot. Your question suggests it was either reasonably successful or wildly unsuccessful..!
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@metalfoot Feb 16
Yeah, there's like 5 grocery chains in Canada when it comes down to it. LOL. Sobeys/Safeway, Metro, Loblaws, CoOp and Save-on-Foods.
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@gordon Feb 16
Hello again, just saw your comments on "Downward slide". As long as Cindy doesn't mind, I think it would be great to hear a different take on the same lyrics. That's the fun of FAWM! I look forward to hearing what you do with them (probably something a lot more sophisticated, I should think). Good luck and good songwriting to you
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@gordon Feb 16
Hi there, and thanks for taking the time to listen. It was a story I read this morning about a Russian journalist who had been jailed. You can see it here
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/15/russia-refuses-to-tel...
It's pretty chilling stuff really. -
@cindyrella Feb 16
it's fine with me
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@metalfoot Feb 16
Yes. It's the lyric I was given for random collab. Will be adding music this evening.
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@metalfoot Feb 16
Same mic, just was singing a little differently I guess? ๐ Thanks for the kind comments!
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@zecoop Feb 16
Hey there! Glad you liked the polar bear waltz. Sure, see what happens with a guitar version. I will need to figure out what I played, lol. I play by ear but can probably figure out what chords they are.
๐คฃ๐๐คช -
@siebass Feb 16
@moonraccoon Thanks for the kind words on I'm gonna sweep up the cheerios. Feel free to cover it whenever/wherever, ha ha! Definitely has that 90's cartoon vibe, but I didn't realize until you pointed it out.
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@moonraccoon Feb 15
@kahlo2013 Excellent idea. I will tag it as a morph, and mention its morphness in the liner notes. Thank you so much!
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@kahlo2013 Feb 15
Thanks for the offer! Iโm still thinking about the lyrics on Shadows and Icicles and may do more tweaking to get the song exactly where I want. I know you often like to adjust and morph lyrics for your style, if you want to create a new/different song with my lyrics you may but please note that in your liner notes that you created a new song - a morph- using some of my lyrics Shadows and Icicles. Thanks!
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@stephenwordsmith Feb 14
I was intrigued by the comparison you drew on 'Happy Little Accident' - I'm only familiar with one Luscious Jackson song, Ladyfingers, which charted well enough to make it onto a popular compilation album we had. I couldn't see the parallels there, but I went to Youtube and checked out the video for 'Naked Eye', and I can absolutely see it.
I also like that song much better than Ladyfingers; has more energy, takes risks, and embraces its unique personality to a greater extent. -
@stephenwordsmith Feb 12
Knock yourself out, sir.
Thank you for thinking of me! -
@acousticmaddie Feb 11
Thanks for your kind comment on my Lullaby
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@lcad Feb 10
Thanks a lot for your thoughtful comment on Charon. I agree with the point, I'll consider if I can rewrite that verse to cohere better
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@prsongsmith Feb 10
Thanks for listening to "Frog Sex Party!!" -- so glad you enjoyed it!
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@lanasolyluna Feb 10
I talk too much too! Good thing Tomo is a good listener.
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@coolparadiso Feb 10
Nope not all Fawmers probably half sometimes as much 2/3. Audience is very mixed. Certainly only half fawmers at the most. 1/4 maybe just listeners. Had over 400 for one episode!
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@coolparadiso Feb 10
Thats rather Ironic i saw that soundcloud link tiday as well. I moved to save money to alonetone, which is free
This is the latest
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1149539/episodes/7637278
This is the one you were on
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1149539/episodes/7151038
Your song is at about 1hr13 and is called Unreliable.
Not sure on contact but i think i would have used the link on your profike here!
I was sure you wouldn't mind as you marked it downloadable. -
@coolparadiso Feb 10
hey man i tried to contact you a couple of months back I played a song of yours on my podcast!
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@cindyrella Feb 9
Thanks so much for our song!
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@arthurrossi Feb 6
Hey! Thanks so much for your message! So nice to hear from you... Have a great FAWM, too!
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@crutherford Feb 5
Thank you! I used to talk to my goat Heidi with the same voice. ๐
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@emkaydeebee Feb 4
Hey, thanks for listening to my daft 14x14 thing!
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@srcoops Feb 4
Thanks for your kind words on Pants
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@cindyrella Feb 3
Thanks and yes, hope ahead
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@crutherford Feb 2
This is a great album cover. You've inspired me to share mine on here now! Can't wait to hear the magic you're going to cast this year my friend!
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@dephph Jan 31
Hi Brian! I admire your work. Happy fawm Garn
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@mrgee1952 Jan 25
Truly love Tom Waits - favourite song is Chocolate Jesus.
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@jorh Jan 24
Have a great FAWM! Always great to see you supporting the lyricist and hearing your interpretation of their words
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@cleansupafterburn Jan 19
Get creating challenges about intersecting tangents please, and make it as radical and political as kind, generously necessary, and whatever else is a gate to it.