not an arsonist

posts tagged "discography"

april recorded almost entirely in one day in april 2011 the idea for this one came first - i had 6 pictures, all very tight crops of flowers taken from postcards, and i wanted to write a song for each image. a very personal collection of songs recorded during a very severe april thunderstorm; i started recording in the early afternoon and finished sometime around two a.m., going back a few days later to finish the final track. songs inspired by birthdays, ghosts, and being alone in a house during a thunderstorm, predictably. a very personal collection again, and not one i really advertised, opting again to just share it more with friends and the bloggers i thought would really appreciate it. entirely composed of soft acoustic guitar and a slightly out of tune piano - the same piano i taught myself to play when i was about five years old. download at bandcamp //// mediafire //// tumblr

april

recorded almost entirely in one day in april 2011

the idea for this one came first - i had 6 pictures, all very tight crops of flowers taken from postcards, and i wanted to write a song for each image.

a very personal collection of songs recorded during a very severe april thunderstorm; i started recording in the early afternoon and finished sometime around two a.m., going back a few days later to finish the final track.

songs inspired by birthdays, ghosts, and being alone in a house during a thunderstorm, predictably. a very personal collection again, and not one i really advertised, opting again to just share it more with friends and the bloggers i thought would really appreciate it.

entirely composed of soft acoustic guitar and a slightly out of tune piano - the same piano i taught myself to play when i was about five years old.

download at

bandcamp //// mediafire //// tumblr

like i was floating started recording in november 2010, set it aside until january 2011 when i finally went back to finish it. the instrumentals for these songs were originally slated for my other project at the time - a somewhat popular witch house “group” - but i liked them enough (particularly after working with rachel levy and her amazing voice) to release it as a “ricky eat acid” ep. the response to it was very good, which made me happy certainly. it was definitely a new direction at the time; a lot darker than my previous stuff, and a lot more textured/lo fi leaning. it’s a group of songs i’m still very happy with, even though the actual sound of it is rather dated to me now, as i’ve moved farther and farther away from this “lofi” sound. in any case, it might live on, as i’ve talked some with wigflip about it being featured as a free download on their site. hopefully it will work out, because wigflip has always been one of my favorite labels ever since i started exploring “underground” music of all sorts. download at bandcamp //// mediafire

like i was floating

started recording in november 2010, set it aside until january 2011 when i finally went back to finish it.

the instrumentals for these songs were originally slated for my other project at the time - a somewhat popular witch house “group” - but i liked them enough (particularly after working with rachel levy and her amazing voice) to release it as a “ricky eat acid” ep. the response to it was very good, which made me happy certainly. it was definitely a new direction at the time; a lot darker than my previous stuff, and a lot more textured/lo fi leaning.

it’s a group of songs i’m still very happy with, even though the actual sound of it is rather dated to me now, as i’ve moved farther and farther away from this “lofi” sound.

in any case, it might live on, as i’ve talked some with wigflip about it being featured as a free download on their site. hopefully it will work out, because wigflip has always been one of my favorite labels ever since i started exploring “underground” music of all sorts.

download at

bandcamp //// mediafire

Sometimes we’re blue recorded in november 2010 first - colleen made the incredible cover art. this was a return to the really “mellow” electronic-tinged music i’d been making a long time ago, and i remember a lot of people talking about that when it was posted places. this little ep ended up getting me in touch with a lot of really cool people, and that was pretty rad. as far as the songs - i could put this ep on and by the time the last song finished, i’d be asleep. every night. and that served a great purpose during one of the most terrifyingly kafkian times in my life. i don’t know if the music reflects how worried i was, or if it’s a reaction to it, but i’m glad it was able to help. the only song that still stands out to me though, is the song “kyle” and for good reason. it’s very different from the others, and still a song i’m proud of, though i wish it “sounded” better. download at bandcamp //// mediafire

Sometimes we’re blue

recorded in november 2010

first - colleen made the incredible cover art.

this was a return to the really “mellow” electronic-tinged music i’d been making a long time ago, and i remember a lot of people talking about that when it was posted places. this little ep ended up getting me in touch with a lot of really cool people, and that was pretty rad.

as far as the songs - i could put this ep on and by the time the last song finished, i’d be asleep. every night. and that served a great purpose during one of the most terrifyingly kafkian times in my life. i don’t know if the music reflects how worried i was, or if it’s a reaction to it, but i’m glad it was able to help.

the only song that still stands out to me though, is the song “kyle” and for good reason. it’s very different from the others, and still a song i’m proud of, though i wish it “sounded” better.

download at

bandcamp //// mediafire

Dance with u recorded between September and October 2010 this was simply a follow up to haunt u forever, as i tried to explore more beat-oriented stuff. i think it’s a total failure as far as beats go, but for really weird pop-experimentation it’s pretty good. a lot of my friends love it. just the other day i still heard some of them rapping over one of the songs on it. which doesn’t make sense to me. but i’m glad people were into it, and i don’t regret putting it up. but i can’t imagine making anything like it again. the song “get married” is one i’m still really proud of though. download at bandcamp //// mediafire

Dance with u

recorded between September and October 2010

this was simply a follow up to haunt u forever, as i tried to explore more beat-oriented stuff.

i think it’s a total failure as far as beats go, but for really weird pop-experimentation it’s pretty good. a lot of my friends love it. just the other day i still heard some of them rapping over one of the songs on it. which doesn’t make sense to me.

but i’m glad people were into it, and i don’t regret putting it up.

but i can’t imagine making anything like it again.

the song “get married” is one i’m still really proud of though.

download at

bandcamp //// mediafire

ian’s absolutely amazing artwork for the cmc release of haunt u forever.

ian’s absolutely amazing artwork for the cmc release of haunt u forever.

Haunt u forever recorded in 5 days in september 2010 this album was really, honestly just made to blow off steam so to speak after making such a serious, somewhat pretentious album before it (you get sick). though it was something i was really proud of, it was very personal and not something i really made for anyone but myself. this ep was only made for myself and friends too. initially, this ep was a joke that i was going to release under the name “barack obama’s black wife” and circulate it with my friends. i wanted to write a lot of songs that would make me want to get out of bed in the morning. i played with tons of samples, made short pop vignettes, weird, dark, soundscapes full of crushing drums and glitchy synths, saxophone samples, chopped up guitars, etc. i remember finishing “ur my destiny~” and saying to myself, that’s it. so i stopped. i didn’t try to make anything else, and i’ve never really revisited this style, though it showed up in some of my other songs. originally i released this album with the original cover art above, but it was quickly pulled offline in lieu of a possible cassette/digital release with a fairly well known label. this fell through eventually, but everyone involved was very gracious and understanding, as i chose to release it through my good friends, ian and tripp’s cassette label, chillmegachill instead. and i’m very glad i did. i’m very proud of these songs, though they’re odd and don’t quite make any sense. recently the really rad dudes at birp.fm have picked up on this stuff for their playlists, giving it much more exposure, and i couldn’t be happier. also, the chillmegachill cassettes sold out, which was wonderful. huge thanks to everyone for their help and support with this release. download at bandcamp //// chillmegachill //// mediafire

Haunt u forever

recorded in 5 days in september 2010

this album was really, honestly just made to blow off steam so to speak after making such a serious, somewhat pretentious album before it (you get sick). though it was something i was really proud of, it was very personal and not something i really made for anyone but myself. this ep was only made for myself and friends too.

initially, this ep was a joke that i was going to release under the name “barack obama’s black wife” and circulate it with my friends. i wanted to write a lot of songs that would make me want to get out of bed in the morning. i played with tons of samples, made short pop vignettes, weird, dark, soundscapes full of crushing drums and glitchy synths, saxophone samples, chopped up guitars, etc.

i remember finishing “ur my destiny~” and saying to myself, that’s it. so i stopped. i didn’t try to make anything else, and i’ve never really revisited this style, though it showed up in some of my other songs.

originally i released this album with the original cover art above, but it was quickly pulled offline in lieu of a possible cassette/digital release with a fairly well known label. this fell through eventually, but everyone involved was very gracious and understanding, as i chose to release it through my good friends, ian and tripp’s cassette label, chillmegachill instead.

and i’m very glad i did. i’m very proud of these songs, though they’re odd and don’t quite make any sense.

recently the really rad dudes at birp.fm have picked up on this stuff for their playlists, giving it much more exposure, and i couldn’t be happier. also, the chillmegachill cassettes sold out, which was wonderful. huge thanks to everyone for their help and support with this release.

download at

bandcamp //// chillmegachill //// mediafire

You get sick; you regret things recorded between july and september 2010, but with some songs that appear on it dating as far back as 2007 this was by far the most personal thing i’ve ever recorded. i wasn’t even planning to release it originally, but i figured it would be pointless not to, since i’d worked so hard. it’s certainly not a collection of songs for everyone - the initial idea came after recording a few of the tracks on it - songs like “crawl space kid”, “sickboy” and “watching sad films” which was actually a rework of “sickboy”. from this rework, i got the idea to write very short, pretty ambient songs and then take them apart - making new songs by chopping up the samples and in the process of panning things very strangely, creating weird glitchy rhythms and clicks. sometimes i’d reverse whole songs i’d written, slow them down, change the pitch, and then chop them up even more. some songs are simply reworks of others, some songs are variations on others with different instruments, etc. other songs, though, like “ambience”, “one small request”, “ryan” and “stay in bed for days” were songs i’d recorded between 2007 - 2009 that i really loved but had never had anything to do, having released them previously on cdrs i’d made for friends. i’ve always really loved those songs as they’re very personal to me, and i thought it’d be a shame not to release them. this album was very much inspired by dreams, sleeping, being unable to sleep, sickness, having a fever, memories, and all that good stuff. i wholeheartedly thank anyone who listened/listens to it, and i genuinely hope you like it. even if it shows its age, i don’t think i’ve ever had more fun making an album as I did during that month/those months. download at bandcamp //// mediafire

You get sick; you regret things

recorded between july and september 2010, but with some songs that appear on it dating as far back as 2007

this was by far the most personal thing i’ve ever recorded. i wasn’t even planning to release it originally, but i figured it would be pointless not to, since i’d worked so hard.

it’s certainly not a collection of songs for everyone - the initial idea came after recording a few of the tracks on it - songs like “crawl space kid”, “sickboy” and “watching sad films” which was actually a rework of “sickboy”. from this rework, i got the idea to write very short, pretty ambient songs and then take them apart - making new songs by chopping up the samples and in the process of panning things very strangely, creating weird glitchy rhythms and clicks. sometimes i’d reverse whole songs i’d written, slow them down, change the pitch, and then chop them up even more. some songs are simply reworks of others, some songs are variations on others with different instruments, etc.

other songs, though, like “ambience”, “one small request”, “ryan” and “stay in bed for days” were songs i’d recorded between 2007 - 2009 that i really loved but had never had anything to do, having released them previously on cdrs i’d made for friends. i’ve always really loved those songs as they’re very personal to me, and i thought it’d be a shame not to release them.

this album was very much inspired by dreams, sleeping, being unable to sleep, sickness, having a fever, memories, and all that good stuff.

i wholeheartedly thank anyone who listened/listens to it, and i genuinely hope you like it. even if it shows its age, i don’t think i’ve ever had more fun making an album as I did during that month/those months.

download at

bandcamp //// mediafire

HUGS recorded between… well, june and july 2010. this was my summer album. i wasn’t trying to consciously jump on the glo-fi/chillwave train, but that’s totally where i ended up, probably because i was listening to a lot of that stuff. tons of summer jams last summer. it was a really great summer, and this album is definitely the happiest, most upbeat and just kind of… chill, happy stuff i’ve ever done. not something i really do a lot, or not something i’ve done a lot since. still, i was playing around a lot back then and trying to push myself forward. I’d record little snippets of songs - 10 seconds maybe, and then loop them as samples while playing with effects - phasers, filters, whatever. i’d even warp the tempo so the drums would all apart and then come back together (this is very evident on “what will we do”) i was also trying to play with lots of little “found” samples here and there, but they didn’t play a big part in the music like they would later do on haunt u forever. fun facts - i recorded probably 10 or so songs that could easily have fit in with this ep, and i like all of them (some more than the songs i did include). i was planning a follow up but it got derailed sort of when my computer broke for a few months. also, this was the first time i really got caught up in the “blogosphere” with lots of really amazing people posting about or otherwise emailing me/talking to me about my music. blogs like deadasdigital, cactus-mouth, stadiums and shrines, the road goes ever on, and nomodestbear were all incredibly supportive (as well as many others) and i’ve tried to maintain a positive relationship with them all since. i hope i’ve done a good job. download at bandcamp //// mediafire

HUGS

recorded between… well, june and july 2010.

this was my summer album. i wasn’t trying to consciously jump on the glo-fi/chillwave train, but that’s totally where i ended up, probably because i was listening to a lot of that stuff. tons of summer jams last summer. it was a really great summer, and this album is definitely the happiest, most upbeat and just kind of… chill, happy stuff i’ve ever done. not something i really do a lot, or not something i’ve done a lot since.

still, i was playing around a lot back then and trying to push myself forward. I’d record little snippets of songs - 10 seconds maybe, and then loop them as samples while playing with effects - phasers, filters, whatever. i’d even warp the tempo so the drums would all apart and then come back together (this is very evident on “what will we do”)

i was also trying to play with lots of little “found” samples here and there, but they didn’t play a big part in the music like they would later do on haunt u forever.

fun facts - i recorded probably 10 or so songs that could easily have fit in with this ep, and i like all of them (some more than the songs i did include). i was planning a follow up but it got derailed sort of when my computer broke for a few months.

also, this was the first time i really got caught up in the “blogosphere” with lots of really amazing people posting about or otherwise emailing me/talking to me about my music. blogs like deadasdigital, cactus-mouth, stadiums and shrines, the road goes ever on, and nomodestbear were all incredibly supportive (as well as many others) and i’ve tried to maintain a positive relationship with them all since. i hope i’ve done a good job.

download at

bandcamp //// mediafire

Sometimes you make people sad (recorded sometime between december 2009 and may 2010) this was the first real collection of songs for me - the first posted online and not just shared with friends on cdrs. it’s still a very personal album that i could probably talk about for a long time, but i will spare you that. i will say that it was the first time my music did find any kind of audience outside of friends and family thanks to the support of some wonderful blogs who passed it around a bit. the songs “care-oh-line” and “my favorite dress” are both songs i’m still very proud of. they were incredibly experimental (for me), even if they don’t sound quite that experimental. for example, among the backwards pianos and droning violin samples in “care-oh-line” there’s a drum part that was actually recorded by calling my cell phone from my house phone, putting it on speaker, going into another room in my house and throwing things around, cutting and eq-ing the resulting noise into a very simplistic drum part. “my favorite dress” on the other hand, is sort of in “3/3” as it’s a waltz with a bar missing. it’s all very odd, with forward and backward pianos, glitchy vocal samples, strange drum samples, and then eventually a classical guitar melody arranged into 4-5 different parts. very strange. it was chaotic - and it sounds chaotic - but it was the first time i really tried to push myself to make music that was different from anything else i’d been making before, and really from anything i was hearing (and i realize this is a lofty goal that i will arguably never reach, but it’s the dream.) other weird little parts are the fuzzy, muddled words on “sun not low on my cheek, she’s eating my bones” which also adorned my now-deleted myspace page’s info section. and “you were a swimmer” was the first real stab at a more “ambient” style and it’s a mess. there were actually three different songs i was going to include originally all in this sort of style, but i was trying to make the album as concise as i could, so i chose this one. i don’t regret including it, but i do regret not also including what turned out of be one of the best songs i’ve written - which will probably never see the light of day now. download at bandcamp //// mediafire

Sometimes you make people sad

(recorded sometime between december 2009 and may 2010)

this was the first real collection of songs for me - the first posted online and not just shared with friends on cdrs. it’s still a very personal album that i could probably talk about for a long time, but i will spare you that. i will say that it was the first time my music did find any kind of audience outside of friends and family thanks to the support of some wonderful blogs who passed it around a bit.

the songs “care-oh-line” and “my favorite dress” are both songs i’m still very proud of. they were incredibly experimental (for me), even if they don’t sound quite that experimental. for example, among the backwards pianos and droning violin samples in “care-oh-line” there’s a drum part that was actually recorded by calling my cell phone from my house phone, putting it on speaker, going into another room in my house and throwing things around, cutting and eq-ing the resulting noise into a very simplistic drum part.

“my favorite dress” on the other hand, is sort of in “3/3” as it’s a waltz with a bar missing. it’s all very odd, with forward and backward pianos, glitchy vocal samples, strange drum samples, and then eventually a classical guitar melody arranged into 4-5 different parts. very strange. it was chaotic - and it sounds chaotic - but it was the first time i really tried to push myself to make music that was different from anything else i’d been making before, and really from anything i was hearing (and i realize this is a lofty goal that i will arguably never reach, but it’s the dream.)

other weird little parts are the fuzzy, muddled words on “sun not low on my cheek, she’s eating my bones” which also adorned my now-deleted myspace page’s info section.

and “you were a swimmer” was the first real stab at a more “ambient” style and it’s a mess. there were actually three different songs i was going to include originally all in this sort of style, but i was trying to make the album as concise as i could, so i chose this one. i don’t regret including it, but i do regret not also including what turned out of be one of the best songs i’ve written - which will probably never see the light of day now.

download at

bandcamp //// mediafire