Day 30 - Go Outside

I wanted to experiment today, the final song of this project. It's a mix of fast and slow, rock and pretty, and I like the way it turned out a lot.

That's that. 30 songs in 30 days. It's surreal to be finished. I spent more hours than I care to admit on this project. Thank you so much for listening, any and all feedback is so hugely appreciated. I'll be performing in the Flagstaff, Arizona area as much as possible in the months ahead.

Rock on!!

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 29 - The Music Man

This song is deep. It's about how I know my best music comes from a broken heart, and how I know I already gave up this dream once when I was in a long-term relationship. I have to be alone, give up on other dreams of love and family, to pursue this music career.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 28 - I Loved Alone

Most of these lyrics are not my own, but that of my friend Ian Henson, who sent me a poem some time ago and asked me if I could try and make it into a song. The poem he sent was an interpretation of "Alone" by Edgar Allen Poe, and you'll see a few references within (including the titular one).

It was a very interesting challenge, both writing someone else's lyrics and having lyrics first altogether (I have always, always written music first). But it was a challenge that I absolutely, thoroughly enjoyed undertaking. I cut up and added to his work quite a bit (with his permission), and I think the end result is something of which we are both very proud. I know I am.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 27 - Songwriter's Seduction of a Fair Mountain Town Princess

I had a lot of fun with this one, been chipping away at it for weeks. A tongue-in-cheek look at dating.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 26 - Game for Two

Super-poppy love song, Day 26

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 25 - Bleed

I almost left this song as an instrumental. But it's not nearly complicated enough to justify that, I'm sensitive, and I didn't want the Internet to call me a sh***y guitar player. Day 25!

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 24 - Make Yourself

"Life is not about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself." -- George Bernard Shaw

Lyrics after the jump...

Day 23 - Halo

This song is about fake people.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 22 - Beauty and Aftermath

You know when you look into some girls' eyes, you're going to be leveled. You're going to be at their mercy. It just happens. Sometimes it's beautiful... sometimes it's torture. Sometimes it's both. That, along with hardening one's heart to such phenomena, is what this song is about.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 21 - Can't Define

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 20 - The Rife Machine

This song is about a friend of mine who's been bedridden with a crazy illness for weeks. I tried to imagine that happening to me, which might have been a bad idea.... I'd be losing it by now. Hence the angry grunge riff.

[Insert insane guitar solo for the bridge]

Day 20... hope you enjoy.

Lyrics after the jump.

*30 Songs in 32 Days

I discovered something about myself when I was in the wilderness this weekend.

Yes, that was intended to be dramatic and imply something existential. Really it hardly qualifies. Apologies to the great men who have said that before me and meant it. My finding was hardly transcendental.

Simply, I cannot write songs in front of people.

So while I was camping for two nights this weekend, I had a few opportunities to write in front of friends. They even chimed in and helped with a few lyrics and song ideas and such. I had a lot of fun playing guitar, just couldn't find the focus necessary to write a song.

So... I didn't. I was around people too much. And rather than abandoning my good friends from out of town, whom I hadn't seen in months, finding a quiet spot in the woods and spending 3 hours writing a song (roughly how long it takes), I spent time with them.

As a result, I took two days off songwriting....

Oops? ... I honestly don't feel too bad about it. The project will continue. I took two days off. 30 Songs in 32 Days, if you want to call it that, but it's still a Song a Day as far as I'm concerned. I just took a break.

This project will wrap up July 2!

Day 19 - Gone Away

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 18 - Shelf

Back from camping, had a great time and a nice two days off. I didn't end up writing songs at the campground so this little project will extend to July 2.

Here's Day 18.

Lyrics after the jump.

Gone Camping

I'm gone camping for two nights and will be away from Internetty type technological devices until Monday. That being said, the project continues... I'll write (and probably record, there at the campsite) a song on Saturday, a song on Sunday, and post them all Monday (along with Monday's song).

Yup, bringing the guitar camping. I'm about to be that guy.

See ya in 48!

Day 17 - Let It Be

Here's kind of a love ballad. Day 17 --

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 16 - Shallow

I started writing this song 10 years ago. This one is personal. Hope you enjoy.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 15 - Seven Miles Away

Here's a rocker. 30 days -- halfway there!

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 14 - Land of Broken Hearts

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 13 - Let Me In

Had a long, busy day today and barely got this one done. But once I settled on a topic, the words just spilled right out.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 12 - Tomorrow Night

Unfortunately a recording for this song will have to wait. It really can't be helped. I need to memorize the lyrics in order to play it. I've given it a shot for a few days now (around 20-30 takes) and just haven't gotten it yet. Hopefully soon. Really, hopefully soon.

It's a poppy number, and it isn't overly complicated. Just a long couple of slides for the main guitar hook that require my eyes to be locked on the fretboard. No glancing at my lyrics sheet for this one.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 11 - Seize the Day

A punk/pop hippie song for this gorgeous Saturday. I'm off to take my own advice: Seize the day!

Lyrics after the jump.

Recordings are coming

Audio recordings of each of these songs are coming... look for (at least) the first 10 to drop tonight or tomorrow in the next few days. They're done, recorded, just need to upload them.

They'll be streaming for free and also downloadable for free. Demo quality. Thanks so much for listening everybody!

Day 10 - I Die Tonight

This song wouldn't exist if my brother Tanner didn't share the main guitar hook with me and allow me to run with it. This is as much his song as mine (if he likes it... if not, he can just say it's mine). :-)

10 down 20 to go!

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 9 - Worth the Wait

This is a simple song, but the vocal hook has been in my head since I started it a few days ago. Also, this is my first attempt at serious falsetto singing-ness. Yikes. Hope you enjoy!

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 8 - Break These Chains

Lyrics after the jump.

Extra Song - Control

Here's a bonus video demoing a song I wrote awhile back. I'll post these from time to time.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 7 - Alone

I saved this song for Day 7, because I've loved this hook since I came across it close to six months ago, and 7 is my favorite number. It feels really good to finish this as an actual song and share. Hope you enjoy!

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 6 - Give It All To You

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 5 - Can't Take This Away From Me

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 4 - Silver Spoon

This song is dark, and personal. Honestly I kind of don't want to share it. This is about a tragedy that hit my hometown this week.

What drives a man to commit such a horrible crime? The father of a very good friend of mine in high school was shot and killed. Four others were also targeted and killed, and then the shooter, as if his actions weren't full of sheer cowardice enough, shot and killed himself too. It's been constantly on my mind ever since I heard the news a few days ago.

I don't pretend to feel an ounce of pain compared to those of the families affected. As I say in the song, this pain isn't mine, just speaking my mind. I just can't fathom it.

The title "Silver Spoon" refers to the sick sense of entitlement the shooter must have had, thinking he had the right to take these lives and deprive so much from their surviving loved ones.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 3 - Oh Well, Farewell

Interesting day in songwriting. I finished this song and nearly completed two others in one day. In fact, I wasn't sure which one I would finish and share. When it rains, it pours, I suppose. Look for the other songs in the near future.

This song is called "Oh Well, Farewell," and it's the shortest song I've ever written. But that's deliberate. Like the subject itself - a relationship that was just getting started but ends abruptly - so does the song. Hope you enjoy.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 2 - Way You Move

I've kinda always wanted to take a stab at a song like this -- just a straight up alternative sexy dance/pop record. Imagine some funky electric sounds instead of the acoustic guitar, a loud steady drum beat, and a lot of layering, and you'll get the idea.

As always, please pardon the mess-ups. Performing a song live an hour after writing it isn't easy, and I'm constantly looking at my notepad for lyrics help. Usually I'd hope to practice and memorize a song before playing it in front of a crowd, but with this project, that's just not an option. Hope it comes through.

Lyrics after the jump.

Day 1 - Something to Believe

Lyrics after the jump.

Hi.

My name is Kyle. I write songs. (Alternative rock songs on an acoustic guitar).

What is this?

This is my 30 Songs in 30 Days challenge. I have made a goal to write, record, and publish a new song every day for 30 days (the month of June).

I invite you to check out the About page for more information on this challenge, and also welcome you to check out (and even download) some of my previous songs at http://soundcloud.com/kmonty.

This is going to be fun. I'm very excited to share this. Check for the first song momentarily!

Thanks for stopping by and hope you enjoy!