Mixed Seeds EP, by Kate Romain

Mixed Seeds EP

by Kate Romain

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margaretatkinson joyful, uplifting tunes! just what we need in this world.

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1.	Life Goes On 02:01	lyrics	buy track
Lyrics: Life goes on (little darlin’) Life goes on (even when you’re dead & gone) Life goes on (little darlin’) Life goes on Don’t forget that, while it may seem gloomy, There’s another way to think about it you take a moment to reflect with reason, but— Then the floodgates open wide: Thoughts begin to spiral Madly downward, going viral Oh won’t you just shut your pie-hole And let me be at peace? Tendency to fail Can’t stop biting off your nails Should reply to all that mail Oh now please think calmly You should get a real job Start working like a real dog And get your head out of the fog You’re moving the pace of a slug Oh, damn it all— Let’s get on with it— Life goes on (little darlin’) Life goes on (even when you’re dead and gone) Life goes on (little darlin’) Life goes on Don’t forget that, while it may be doomsday, There’s another way to think about it you take a moment to reflect with reason, but— Then the floodgates open wide: All the things that bother You forgot to call your father And you’re not that perfect daughter That you once were believed All your friends are distant Used to be there in an instant And it’s all against your instinct To spend time so lonely Your self-esteem is shaking Maybe they all think you’re faking And your beating heart is aching And you’re thinking about baking A huge chocolate cake Just a couple bites— Life goes on (little darlin’) Life goes (even when you’re dead and gone) Life goes on (little darlin’) Life goes on
2.	Crispy Leaves 03:52	lyrics	buy track
Lyrics: In the fall-time I can never walk in a straight line Crispy leaves do beckon my feet: “Step upon me” say the crispy fallen leaves Lalalalalaa la laah… In the winter I can never walk in a straight line, either Crunchy snow banks beckon my boots: “Step into me” say the crunchy snowbanks Lalalalalaa la laah… In the springtime I can never walk in a straight line Splashy puddles beckon rain-boots: “Jump into me” say the splashy puddles Lalalalalaa la laah… In the summer I can never walk in a straight line, either Sweltering heat-waves slow me right down “You’re getting sleepy” say the sweaty heat-waves Lalalalalaa la laah…
3.	The Wake-Up Callers 04:11	lyrics	buy track
Lyrics: Sometimes I find myself caught in an unhelpful Spiral The thing that consistently pulls me from being lost in my thoughts Is a bird, calling Or taking flight Appearing in my line of sight It’s a pure dose Of feathered joy Resulting in big, silly smiles Nature’s medicine Provided by the birdies All you have to do: Just perk your ears and listen Don’t ignore the birds They’re here for a good reason Doesn’t take a lot Just perk your ears and listen Reminding me of the existence of that which is greater Than the insignificant thoughts That weigh so heavy on my mind For this truly Enlightening delight Eternally grateful, I am Treatment’s always free: Be medicated by birds! Try it out: just takes a moment of attention Listen to the birds And don’t try to ignore them All those tender feelings Growing with awareness It feels somehow meaningful To be acknowledged by Wild eyes Like proof that we Sapiens Came from the same point of Origin As these sweet creatures (who're) wiser than the wise More worthy of earth's offerings than we They inspire us, These tiny dinosaurs (who) Preceded the whole human race Listen to the birds Providing us with wisdom Take a look inside And see your likeness in them Heart is growing full More joyful by the minute And all you had to do: Just perk your ears and listen!
4.	Meadow Makers' Anthem 01:58	lyrics	buy track
Lyrics: We’re Meadow Makers and that’s who we’re made to be Making things better for the birds and the bumblebees Whether there’s sunshine or shade from a willow tree We’ll turn our lawns into a beautiful sight to see We’ll turn our lawns back into what they were meant to be A place to nurture all the biodiversity We’re down on hands and knees, we’re planting in harmony We’re down on hands and knees, we’re planting a memory

about

About the EP:

🎹 Before I played accordion, I played the larger, stationary version that uses strings and hammers instead of reeds and air: the humble piano. Tinkering around on my family’s old upright grand Schiller was how I learned to compose and stitch together melodies to make songs. It has always been a therapeutic and joyous experience for me.

🐣 I started to re-nuture my love of piano playing and composing in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. I had been gradually changing my lifestyle to be more restful and less adrenaline-fueled, which was partly catalyzed by several health conditions I was learning to manage. Wielding a heavy squeeze-box on my chest suddenly became less appealing than simply plunking myself down on a piano bench.

💌 Here I present a sampling of original music from the menu of a dozen or more new songs that I have yet to release publicly. It’s an attempt to break my procrastination cycle, and to show a bit of “what I’ve been up to” musically since my last album in 2018. Stay tuned for more!

✏️ Songs in this mixed-bag EP were written as early as 2004 and as late as this past spring (2023), but all were home-recorded within the last few years using a single condenser mic.

🌲 Most of the songs I’ve written have been conceived while walking in nature—something I only recently realized, but makes a lot of sense! 🌱 + 🐦 =💡= 🎶. Common threads seem to be ecology, birds and/or mental health.

📈 As we all are, these songs too are works in progress; I have many ambitions and ideas of how I would like to build them up, add drums and other instrumentation, field recordings and extra parts. So, consider these the first versions of themselves :) 

🎧 I highly recommend listening through headphones (if you have the means) so that you can fully appreciate the mixing job that Curtis did!

credits

released September 1, 2023

Credits:

All songs written, composed, performed and recorded by Kate Romain

Mixed and mastered by Curtis Fye (www.curtisfye.com)

Cover art & bird sculptures made by Kate

☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼ ✧ ☼

Many thanks to my partner Seán and my family for supporting and inspiring me, and encouraging me to get some of my new sounds out into the wider world.
Bonus points to Seán for coming up with the perfect name for this EP!

Thanks also to:

✧ Diane Cluck for being a wise & insightful music mentor, telling me just what I needed to hear to carry me forward, and for introducing me to Curtis, who did such great work mixing my tracks;
✧ Ryan Zak for letting me babysit and later adopt his lovely upright Yamaha piano;
✧ My patrons over on Patreon for joining me throughout the process of making these songs
𓅿 Every bird, for the eternal inspiration and pure joy they provide!

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about

Kate Romain Victoria, British Columbia

kateromain.com

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