Zelena Hull – Singer-Songwriter-Musician

Zelena Hull

Thank you for coming

I hope you have a wonderful day!
I'm super excited to share with you that I'm working on the world record for the most consecutively released songs with 60 entries. :)

My work ranges from Country Rock all the way to synth and classical. One of the major goals of this project was to raise awareness for Autism and the struggle all Indie artists face. Art matters. Please tune in to see what I have cooking.

Single of the week playlist

OG playlist for my older releases

The best place right now is to buy my music is Bandcamp because I get directly paid when someone orders my music. I also have very special Bandcamp only content.

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She’s A Taker
 
An intense mix of electronic and rock that creates a dark and ominous atmosphere. Thick buzzy synths contrast with clear and crisp vocals. Whispers layered on top of rock vocals intertwined with mood setting drums and over the top synths.
			
Lyrics... She’s a taker you don’t want to admit But she will take all of you and it Oh you feel so worthless, but that’s because she doesn’t want you to know your price Really do you think she cares at all, but you know it’s wrong There’s a feeling that you’ve always had in the back of your mind But you could never act on it Don’t want, don’t want, don’t want, You don’t want to admit But she will take all of you and everything you have She’s a taker and you don’t want to admit She’s a taker
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You Only Like Her Cause She’s Pretty
			
A satirical song about how looks can be very deceptive. This is a light fluffy experience with fun word play. Light drums and accordion turns the tables on romantic musical cues.
			
Lyrics... Picking at your food, cause there ain’t nothing else to do Stare at her eyes cause their baby blue Don’t really wanna talk about what you’ve been through Bend over pretend to tie your shoe Momma says you only like her cause she’s pretty A stupid girl from a big ol’ city You really though she’d be great, But now your stuck with her on a date You figured she’d open up as time moved on But the look on your face says you were wrong Maybe you need more to a girl A little spice makes everything nice? Don’t you agree Momma says you only like her cause she’s pretty A stupid girl from a big ol’ city You really though she’d be great, But now your stuck with her on a date Blond hair, blue eyes, but nothing between her ears Not that that’d be a surprise She has a vacant stare She might not even care Momma says you only like her cause she’s pretty A stupid girl from a big ol’ city You really though she’d be great, But now your stuck with her on a date Momma says you only like her cause she’s pretty A stupid girl from a big ol’ city You really though she’d be great, But now your stuck with her on a date
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Every Day I Lie Awake
			
A melancholy rock song with new age and early 2000's vibes. It is about the anxieties and insecurities of trying to balance responsibility in the modern world. The regrets left of a live that was never truly lived.

	
Lyrics... never seems to end Always adding more, more again Keeps grinding me down all that it's shown No matter what you do there's going to be more asked of you no matter how great it is It can somehow be better Everyday I lie awake thinking what's at stake is there something I missed all my dreams It'll take whisper's in my head again I do all I can I am afterall human stress and being run in I try to give myself something to hold on to That even though it ain't worth it now it'll be worth it soon Everyday I lie awake thinking what's at stake is there something I missed all my dreams It'll take A dead end job Never got what I needed or wanted Always dreamed of more but everything else came before There were always things I never got the time to do There were always things that shouldn't of came before you Everyday I lie awake thinking what's at stake is there something I missed all my dreams It'll take
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Is She The Love For You
 
Don't assume you like someone, and always assess whether they truly have your best interests at heart. "Is She The Love For You" is a deep track about a troubled relationship with 70's to 80's beach vibes. There is a "light Beach atmosphere" to the track that juxtaposes the internal struggle of our protagonist. The instruments are soft piano, synth horns, and beach waves.
			
Lyrics... Does she make your heart stop feeling blue? Is she the love for you? Is she the love for you? You nod and agree, but are you really? I see a second glance a long lost chance You may touch her skin, hold emotions within, Try to but can’t, she may want but does she care? You felt alone, you’ll go to a place you don’t know. She’ll say “their friends of mine.” That she’ll never tell you about. Every time she says she likes you all you can feel is doubt. Does she make your heart stop feeling blue? Is she the love for you? Is she the love for you? You know she’s not sincere but you still dance and hold her dear. Has she ever cared about what you say will she insult you or do it any other way? You can’t stay here and wish to be happy. When your too scared to even leave One day you need to walk away, cause she will eventually, and you’d wasted your time. Does she make your heart stop feeling blue? Is she the love for you? Is she the love for you? Does she make your heart stop feeling blue? Is she the love for you? Is she the love for you?
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I Don’t Think I can Take This Anymore
			
Never bet what you aren't willing to lose and don't cry about it if you do.
This song is about a break up turned into sweet revenge. His actions led to his own destruction. I Don't Think I Can Take This Anymore is inspired by 80's synth. It is a poppy upbeat track that sounds like something you would skate to. :)
			
Lyrics... I don’t think I can take this anymore. He shut the door. He says he doing fine, but he knows he crossed the line. Too good for me now! Says he didn’t need me. And now all he’s worked for is nothing he’s become. Made money on a bet, he says anything to justify it. Says losing me, made him gain in the long run. But the truth has returned, all his money’s been burned. All he earned he wasted just like my trust. I don’t think I can take this anymore. He shut the door. He says he doing fine, but he knows he crossed the line. Too good for me now! Says he didn’t need me. And now all he’s worked for is nothing he’s become. Took everything he could, pawned it all away. Though he’d make it back, some day. He thought he won, but the damage had been done. But one thing for sure a gambler’s wins never endure. I don’t think I can take this anymore. He shut the door. He says he doing fine, but he knows he crossed the line. Too good for me now! Says he didn’t need me. And now all he’s worked for is nothing he’s become. Bought a house, a girl friend, they married on the weekend, but one things for sure, that girl wanted more. Had issues he made worse. When it came time she won it all, Can’t say I blame her. I don’t think I can take this anymore. He shut the door. He says he doing fine, but he knows he crossed the line. Too good for me now! Says he didn’t need me. And now all he’s worked for is nothing he’s become.
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Unravel
			
No matter how difficult things get you can always pull through. Even if all seems lost your life will go on. This pop-rock song is downtempo and incorporates lofi elements to build a sincere message of making it through struggle. Whether that struggle be external, internal, or a mixture of both there's always a way to overcome it.

	
Lyrics... It's hard to believe you can unravel everything by one little pull of a string life is like a song, that slowly fades away the pages turn day by day You can say it's too hard, you can say it's too tough you can throw in the towel, saying it's not enough you can say it till your blue, that your all but through But there's always something you can do You can say your lost, but the beauty of that is you can always be found No matter how bad everything gets you can turn it around Sometimes it takes work and sometimes it takes pain We all feel that low, like it's all in vain You can say it's too hard, you can say it's too tough you can throw in the towel, saying it's not enough you can say it till your blue, that your all but through But there's always something you can do You can say it's too hard, you can say it's too tough you can throw in the towel, saying it's not enough you can say it till your blue, that your all but through But there's always something you can do
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City Lights
 
I wrote this when I was 13 to 14 years old and I almost put it on my album 6ft under a long time ago. This song has a beautiful soft piano as the introduction and bedding of the song. City Lights is about nostalgia and how things will change over time. If you loved the hometown you grew up in and finally return after years it will change. Time is inevitable impermanence.
			
Lyrics... It's been a long while since I've seen you here The town's lost many like you I remember long ago when the streets were a glow But you don't know do ya City stops and city lights Oh so many lonely nights That times passed you by But you packed your dreams too late Left a while ago and packed your dreams with it But times passed you by Left the good behind, and returned when it was gone It seems like it was lost in the dust But you always said you did what you must There's only thing I can tell you now City stops and city lights Oh so many lonely nights That times passed you by But you packed your dreams too late
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The Game We All Play
			
What are we without a purpose, do we have to find a cause? After years of fighting for something you finally get it and then what? What happens when your expectations haven't been meant and the facade cracks apart? Is the most dangerous game an endless one which in the end has no winners or losers? All of our conflicts and constructed identities are momentary flashes in the pan.
			
Lyrics... Where do we go now? We've gone through snow and the fire and ice We need each other more than ever Where do we go when everything's been perfect Something comes along to end it This is the game we all play This is the game without a name Forever unsure that's what's it's always been This is the game we all play This is the game without a name Forever unsure that's what's it's always been A game, A game Taken a throne a king disowned A wolf on a bone we've taken it all When all has been won Where is the fun in bending the crown and breaking the throne This is the game we all play This is the game without a name Forever unsure that's what's it's always been This is the game we all play This is the game without a name Forever unsure that's what's it's always been A game, A game Game we all play This is the game we all play
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Parasite
			
Some people want to suck you dry and use your own thoughts against you. People can be terminally vindictive to the affect of destroying most of what they wanted in the first place. You don’t get anywhere by burning bridges.

Alternative Driving Hard Rock song that uses a dominant phrygian scale in g. 	
Lyrics... Your nothing more than a parasite Something evil crawling in the night Always ready for a fight Pain is your delight parasite Entomology isn’t my specialty You put me in the corner honey After what you said love ain’t coming Back from the dead I could never be right, even if I was You controlled everything to benefit your self You take it all, but you never give I’m tired of all of it, I want to live Your nothing more than a parasite Something evil crawling in the night Always ready for a fight Pain is your delight parasite You’re a fly the wall, who thinks he’s knows it all Cause ya say you see everything before it even happens Oh like I don’t see, I don’t hear I only thing I was blind to was you Your nothing more than a parasite Something evil crawling in the night Always ready for a fight Pain is your delight parasite Your nothing more than a parasite Something evil crawling in the night Always ready for a fight Pain is your delight parasite
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Who’s Lying Here
 
This is a sad-pop song about a breakup caused by infidelity. I wanted the lyrics to be fragile and emotionally loaded. This song was based on a composition I created when I was around 13. I had always loved it so decided to tweak it. Who’s Lying Here was to be originally titled Eyes Can See and Ears Can Here after the chorus. 

			
Lyrics... Eyes can see and ears can hear how can you tell who's lying here There's no way to redeem a man that won't redeem himself you can say I was foolish that's just blaming a victim. It's out of my control, he's not my puppet we all have souls Eyes can see and ears can hear how can you tell who's lying here A Lier always lies and a cheater always cheats I shouldn't have look around for the truth You said you were working I guess it wasn't at your job I would never of known, not a single hint was shown Eyes can see and ears can hear how can you tell who's lying here telling me nothing's wrong tonight
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Whispers In The Dark
 
This is one of the first all electronic backgrounds I made when preparing for the single of the week project (although it isn’t one of the first released). I had originally created the track for bedding on live streams, but realized it might be better to officially release it first. Whispers In The Dark is a comically dark song about the social decline of a mostly unlikable person. It’s a diss-track without someone to diss specifically. I do a lot of experimental vocal work in this piece. This was really fun to create and I hope you enjoy. The drum loop used was provided by the Ableton Live Library if you would like to use that for your own productions. :) The whole song was created ab-lib/ free-style without any prewritten lyrics. 

			
Lyrics... Nothing is what it ever seems reality peaking through my dreams Oh it's just an illusion of the mind if it's really true why would I want you? say what whatever comes across your mind can manipulate if you want to Say your prayers before you go to bed next day you tear your promises to shred There's no way I could trust you Ran all of us away back against the wall all your allies are gone...gone...gone... more questions than answers Whispers in the dark unraveling all of the illusions now... always were a momma's boy, cat with a toy all you ever did for me , was make me bleed secrets you buried oh so easily doesn’t it haunt you at night? your inner demon hiding from the light? Do you really feel? or are you hiding it? lying to yourself like you did me? more questions than answers Whispers in the dark unraveling all of the illusions now... more questions than answers Whispers in the dark unraveling all of the illusions now...
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7 Deadly Sins
			
Hypocrisy and blind rage go hand in hand. It’s easier to blame someone else for their shortfalls or what is perceived as such than to look inward. 7 Deadly Sins is a song that pokes fun at hypocrisy and those who chose to be non-empathetic to others. It is constructed and performed in a Broadway-esque styling with an infusion of small band light jazz.
			
Lyrics... We all sin in word thought and deed, always gonna take way more than we need oh you can chalk it up to greed or gluttony oh don't worry come sit in my lap honey OH It's the 7 deadly sins Oh it's it great! Oh I'll sit here and vegetate! Oh but I do put a lot of work into making myself Always gonna want what you can't get, but there's no reason to get mad about it! OH It's the 7 deadly sins Anything can be positive if you spin it in the right direction! oh isn't it great to be human! Feel my skin it feels so soft! There's no reason why you should be a snob! You say your holier than thou No one's gonna be high enough in heaven to stop smelling your bull shit honey! The 7 deadly sins! You can say it's were evil begins! But I would say there's evil in being a hypocrite! You always tear me up about the littlest things chop it all up and try to feed me broken strings You take from here and there We all sin in word thought and deed, always gonna take way more than we need Always gonna want what you can't get, but there's no reason to get mad about it! OH It's the 7 deadly sins
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Neath The Glow Of A Buzzing Lamp
 
Slow Southern rock song with dynamic rhythmic patterns. There’s an innate sense of justice we all feel as humans. When someone we love is in trouble it is the natural thing to defend them. Most of us would go to great lengths to protect our loved ones. A man vows to defend his baby girl from a vengeful ex-lover.
			
Lyrics... Neath the glow of a buzzing lamp, on a wood porch in the damp. Laying with his gun ready to never see the sun. Boy like a girl he shouldn’t touch, let’s say her daddy didn’t like it too much. His baby girl loved him He thought he’d give the lad a chance, his baby girl went to the dance. She came home crying and told her father she’d been lying. Neath the glow of a buzzing lamp, on a wood porch in the damp. Laying with his gun ready to never see the sun. She said that never really cared, she felt like a little doll, couldn’t move an inch without him noticing at all. He was a weight on her chest and she felt he wouldn’t rest. But her father said don’t worry about that. Neath the glow of a buzzing lamp, on a wood porch in the damp. Laying with his gun ready to never see the sun. Neath the glow of a buzzing lamp, on a wood porch in the damp. Laying with his gun ready to never see the sun.
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Lying S​.​O​.​B.
			
Sometimes people really don’t care in the worst way possible. This song pokes fun at people that are jerks. It’s upbeat and more charismatic then your friend-enemy’s friend-enemy.
			
Lyrics... A lying knifing S.O.B. doesn’t care about you or me I could be dying in the street, he’d walk all over me with his feet No respect for anything less than perfect A lying knifing S.O.B. doesn’t care about you or me The men he’s burned for far less Is no lesser than treacherous Go to church ain’t nothing he’ll ever confess He’d keep a secret from God if he could A lying knifing S.O.B. doesn’t care about you or me I could be dying in the street, he’d walk all over me with his feet No respect for anything less than perfect A lying knifing S.O.B. doesn’t care about you or me Keeps a tight lip and a keen eye Ain’t no way in hell you could spot his lie When he’s gone and his work done All is left is ruin Nobody knows why he’s like this His mama’s in the ground, and his daddy hasn’t been found The cops have been looking around. A lying knifing S.O.B. doesn’t care about you or me I could be dying in the street, he’d walk all over me with his feet No respect for anything less than perfect A lying knifing S.O.B. doesn’t care about you or me A lying knifing S.O.B. doesn’t care about you or me I could be dying in the street, he’d walk all over me with his feet No respect for anything less than perfect A lying knifing S.O.B. doesn’t care about you or me
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Whispers And Lies
			
This song is a soft pop rock song with a dark undertone. It’s about lies and half-truths overtaking a relationship. The line “Drown me in the water, or I’ll float” is a reference to one of the inhumane ways people used a long time ago to determine whether innocent women were witches. During these horrid trials if the accused floated up (which almost always happened because of buoyancy) they were a witch and if they drowned they were deemed innocent. I wanted to get a point across about how people think of others they don’t understand. Finally after years of heartache and struggle you get above water, no one wants you to float up top.
			
Lyrics... Every time you spoke, like a knife on my throat Drown me in the water, or I’ll float Whispers and lies, the truth the blind denies What we see through others eyes I prayed for years against my fears, But I could never seem to overcome them My hand close to the wick, on the spindle I might prick, Don’t look for the cure from the sick As the credits roll, and the last bells toll, what is left of my soul? A personal hell, lost in my shell, All I can say is fair the well. Every time you spoke, like a knife on my throat Drown me in the water, or I’ll float Whispers and lies, the truth the blind denies What we see through others eyes No one understands, the key isn’t in their hands, shadows under my eyes, to my surprise I saw your face, It cast a shadow of doubt, your all I can think about The sun has set, and the moon has risen, more or less, a half true lesson And why do you tell little lies, through your crooked smile Every time you spoke, like a knife on my throat Drown me in the water, or I’ll float Whispers and lies, the truth the blind denies What we see through others eyes Every time you spoke, like a knife on my throat Drown me in the water, or I’ll float Whispers and lies, the truth the blind denies What we see through others eyes
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Idiot
 
This song is a fun classic rock song about being tired of a warn out relationship where your partner doesn’t put in their part. It is very much in the same line of “Serious” (my first release ever when I was around 15). Idiot is the anthem of the frustrated to put it mildly.
			
Lyrics... There's a little bit more to this than the eye can see I've always wanted more than you call me baby Complex relationship between you and I I know you don't have the strength to say goodbye I walk on over, my eyes start rolling Cause who do you think your talking too. On our date only talking to her Look her in the eye, I caught your lie Your an idiot you don't do anything your an idiot I've had enough of it I've had enough of you idiot idiot idiot There's a thousand reasons why I don't want you in my life Every time I talk, you make me wanna walk Sometimes I hate you, You drive me nuts Don't you every say I'm the one outta touch I don't wanna throw a fit, Your an idiot you don't do anything your an idiot I've had enough of it I've had enough of you idiot idiot idiot Your so stupid, your gonna regret it your gonna face the music Don't support me, don't do your share honey You say I'm talking funny, Get off your games and make some money Your an idiot you don't do anything your an idiot I've had enough of it I've had enough of you idiot idiot idiot Your an idiot you don't do anything your an idiot I've had enough of it I've had enough of you idiot
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Waiting For You
			
Sometimes you have to take the chance in a relationship and make a move. Feelings can fade with time if you aren't careful. There's a saying "It's Now or Never". There was a chance at something more, but since the move was never made there was never a chance to explore that side of your relationship.
			
Lyrics... I knew it wasn't worth it, you had never even called So I just stopped Cause I knew I could get over you I've been waiting for you oh way to long By now I could comprehend, that you are only my friend I've been waiting for you, by now you never knew That I'm tired of waiting, waiting for you. It seems like you did love me, but you got wrapped up in life's little chores you did the best years long ago, that's waiting for you I've been waiting for you oh way to long By now I could comprehend, that you are only my friend I've been waiting for you, by now you never knew That I'm tired of waiting, waiting for you. Waiting so long, so I stopped along the way But I only realized it today, It happened again and I'm saying this as your friend, Waiting for you, I'm no longer waiting for you I've been waiting for you oh way to long By now I could comprehend, that you are only my friend I've been waiting for you, by now you never knew That I'm tired of waiting, waiting for you. Way to long, Way to long.
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I Would Take The Chance
			
A love song about a love that will never be. If things were a little different she would have the chance to tell how she really feels. Sometimes people can’t see that they aren’t treated right and that there is truly something brighter around the corner. When your life is falling apart it’s hard to fix someone else’s.
			
Lyrics... I would take the chance to love you. I would take the chance to hold you. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. I would take a moment for you cherish all the things they never did. All they ever did was nothing and ask you why. If I could have the chance, I would show you more than romance. Little more emotion than people give it credit for. I would take the chance to love you. I would take the chance to hold you. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. Shelter you behind painted glass. Rush of wind came through what do you do? When you feel so blue, there’s one thing I can promise you. Hurt you I one thing I would never do. World keeps coming for you. Love can only be what you want it to. Can’t create what there more and more you always have to share. I would take the chance to love you. I would take the chance to hold you. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. Like a dog the way they treat you, tell you lay down, lay down but you feel like your hanging upside down. Crashed into the ground you can feel them coming all they want from you is what you can do for them. I would take the chance to love you. I would take the chance to hold you. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. I would take the chance to love you. I would take the chance to hold you. If the world weren’t fallin’ down. If the world weren’t fallin’ down.
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Keep On Keepin’ On
 
Struggles of power mark everyday life. Some people are comfortable in the status quo while their neighbors suffer. Most are struggling to keep their head above water. Things will always go wrong, but the one thing you can control is how you act towards it.

This track is a mix between pop, synth, and country. It is very much in line of “Doomed Duck” criticizing those in power while understanding not everything can be determined in advance. 
			
Lyrics... Oh everyday it's blending together cause nothing ever gets better everything they want, takes a piece of me away I just keep on keepin' on Just trying to keep the lights on Trying not to dwell on it feelin so powerless keep on keepin on Is there a point to this madness a race to the edge no one's winning is there a place I could stay awake without feeling like a nightmare Is it only me who feels so afraid I just keep on keepin' on Just trying to keep the lights on Trying not to dwell on it feelin so powerless keep on keepin on No one questions power enough, everyone is so jaded everyone wants a savior, but they want it on their terms I just keep on keepin' on Just trying to keep the lights on Trying not to dwell on it feelin so powerless keep on keepin on
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Grandfather Clock
			
A stripped down acoustic song with a haunting melody. Grandfather Clock takes place in the dead of winter. A void overcomes the listener. The stripped back nature of this track emphasizes the meaning of the lyrics. Throughout the song there’s a yearning for someone to finally notice, but no body ever does. It's a whole that cannot ever be filled. 
			
Lyrics... Grandfather clock is ticking quite a lot, the slow chiming tick and tocking Summer is gone, winter is long long long, I close the door like so many times before I’m here alone looking at the snowfall I’m with myself on a bench looking at the grey sky I’m here Touch my skin, make feel human, a game I’ve playing again and again Looking for something, that can’t win. Trying to make to make it happen But it seems, that he never notices me at all, all my friends have come and gone Now it’s just me singing my lonesome song I’m here alone looking at the snowfall I’m with myself on a bench looking at the grey sky I’m here Everyone looks right through me, I can’t say why exactly I ask myself, is it me? On my own, waiting for anything to take my mind of it To wonder away, to fall in love again I’m done with searching I’m here alone looking at the snowfall I’m with myself on a bench looking at the grey sky I’m here I’m here alone looking at the snowfall I’m with myself on a bench looking at the grey sky I’m here
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Love Is a Fickle Thing
			
A contemporary love song in the style of pop, country, and influenced by 80's synth. This song is about a love story slowly blossoming into a greater relationship. Both lovers shed their immaturity and can finally see the greater picture of their relationship. It has a dreamy surreal feeling to the track.
			
Lyrics... Lying here alone with you, every moment every day, I wish it could stay this way. He had our fights, our tender nights, are moments of shame and doubt. As young kids took us a long time to figure out, I never gave up and we never gave in. Love is a fragile thing, can be cut like a thread or string. Can patch things up with needle and thread. We’re not always right, but not always wrong. Love is fragile, easy or hard to get. Love is crazy and all of it. Young fools, who just made you our own rules. We knew what we needed, what could and wasn’t fulfilled. Sometimes you gotta forgive, other times you pour your heart don’t really have the words figured out. Love is a fragile thing, can be cut like a thread or string. Can patch things up with needle and thread. We’re not always right, but not always wrong. Love is fragile, easy or hard to get. Love is crazy and all of it. It took a little while, but when we held each other tight. Couldn’t sleep alone, with out you a sleepless night. Making mistakes learning one step at a time learning not to turn on a dime, tempering our youth. Love is a fragile thing, can be cut like a thread or string. Can patch things up with needle and thread. We’re not always right, but not always wrong. Love is fragile, easy or hard to get. Love is crazy and all of it.
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All It Ever Was
	

This song is a song about a relationship slowly falling apart. Sometimes people won't listen to what you have to say until your gone. Errors in communication and different ideas of what it should be, can lead to devastating consequences. It also addresses the fact that people do grow out from each-other as time moves on. Nothing stays the same.
            
Lyrics... I might be wrong, but you’re not always right The bond we shared is no longer tight I’m tired of thinking of what we could be What fools we were for thinking it was destiny It might be selfish to say, but there’s no time in the day I once bended to your will, but you never listened till I was gone, and I no longer have the will for this to go on Tired of being the only one who was strong I might be wrong, but you’re not always right The bond we shared is no longer tight I’m tired of thinking of what we could be What fools we were for thinking it was destiny All it ever was, was hollow pleasantries All I need now is just to end it please This is the last time, no begging on my knees I’ll ask you once isn’t it obvious? I might be wrong, but you’re not always right The bond we shared is no longer tight I’m tired of thinking of what we could be What fools we were for thinking it was destiny Wicked thoughts keep on haunting me Echoes of a past painted rose Only you and I know the truth All it ever was, was nativity of youth I might be wrong, but you’re not always right The bond we shared is no longer tight I’m tired of thinking of what we could be What fools we were for thinking it was destiny I might be wrong, but you’re not always right The bond we shared is no longer tight I’m tired of thinking of what we could be What fools we were for thinking it was destiny
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Just Like A Song
	

This song is about the cliche's in different genres and the slow erosion of certain aspects of music. It's meant to be at a fun poke at the modern music industry through the lens of different genre stereotypes. It also makes fun of songwriting conventions that most artists use as a fun little nod.
            
Lyrics... It's either so n' so's drunk again Or so n' so's been dumped or died It's the same old story we hear over and over again Only so many words you can write Only so many notes you can sing It's the same old thing again Just Like A Song Just Like A Song Dancing on tables making words up People in slits making a living off gulits singing this singing that but for a matter of fact we've had enough of that, enought of that Only so many words you can write Only so many notes you can sing It's the same old thing again Just Like A Song Just Like A Song So n' So's drunk, so n' so's died so n' so's clubbing, some are trying to get by some songs about a girl and a bottle of beer It's the words we hear in every song country's meaning your drunk or loving rock is meaning your cutting and running rap and pop all about that clubbing this and that, but for a matter of fact the words might be rearranged but the words are all the same Only so many words you can write Only so many notes you can sing It's the same old thing again Just Like A Song Just Like A Song Only so many words you can write Only so many notes you can sing It's the same old thing again Just Like A Song Just Like A Song
image of Take Me As I Am Cover Art
Take Me As I Am
	

This song was inspired by a saying I heard when I was growing up: "Take me as I am by God or don't take me at all." It's something that stook with me after all these years. People will not be perfect and they will not live up to your expectations. There are things perfectly fine about a person one needs to accept. This song is a story about a young musician kicked out of his home by his family at 16 and the consequences that spur from that. Sometimes running away and being kicked out mean the same thing.
            
Lyrics... As a young man played at a bar, putting all his hopes in a jar Didn't think anything would go this far, putting all his faith in his guitar Ran away from home at the age of 16, Tried to make a living but he never made it clean. Now he's down at a bar playing his 6 string He's singing Take me as I am by God, or don't take me at all. I've made some mistakes, but so have we all. I remember my brother cursing my name, but am I the one to blame? Before he had all his dreams on a case on his back, We was in a home that never gave him any slack It drove him mad and decided to fight back Teeth chattered all around in this one horse town Take me as I am by God, or don't take me at all. I've made some mistakes, but so have we all. I remember my brother cursing my name, but am I the one to blame? Kicked out with no one around his clothes on the lawn And only a six string strong, He decided to try and go along Years later he's still singing at a whole in the wall Take me as I am by God, or don't take me at all. I've made some mistakes, but so have we all. I remember my brother cursing my name, but am I the one to blame? Take me as I am by God, or don't take me at all. I've made some mistakes, but so have we all. I remember my brother cursing my name, but am I the one to blame?
image of Last Rope cover art
Last Rope
	

An intense New-age rock song with bombastic synths, drums, and sample manipulation. This song is about how society has created distrust among it’s own members and that often people are afraid to go out of their comfort zone. There’s problems we want addressed but we refused to do it our selves.
            
Lyrics... I’ve been blind sighted by the light again There’s only so many people you can call friend You can argue that we were conditioned to this end Toxicity embraced that should offend. We are all on our last rope, don’t you dare to hope All of this vanity has led to humanity’s insanity It’s been crystal clear, every thought trained to fear You want to hold them dear, but push you away so no one is near We are all on our last rope, don’t you dare to hope All of this vanity has led to humanity’s insanity If only we could have changed all of this, not every action is subject to risk All we ever really needed was to hold close those who need it most We are all on our last rope, don’t you dare to hope All of this vanity has led to humanity’s insanity We are all on our last rope, don’t you dare to hope All of this vanity has led to humanity’s insanity
image of amnesia cover art
Amnesia
	

It's hard to say no to someone you love, and it's even worse if they are taking advantage of you. This song is about being taken advantage of time and again, and finally breaking the cycle. Being a door mat is never good for you.
            
Lyrics... Loving you is like waking up with amnesia, forget about every bad thing you've done I wipe the slate clean even if you've been mean, oh yeah Your my friend love you to the end, but hold you too dear, let the lies on in and out the other ear. let me explain time for you to refrain, from your actions here.. I'm tired of waking up with amnesia I'll cut it off right here and right for ya read it and weep before I lay my head to sleep rest and weep 2x I get pulled and I'm tired of being in the middle, I feel like my heart is played like a fiddle, let me save you the trouble, let me now. I tired of it all any how... I'm tired of waking up with amnesia I'll cut it off right here and right for ya read it and weep before I lay my head to sleep rest and weep 2x I'm tired of waking up with amnesia I'll cut it off right here and right for ya read it and weep before I lay my head to sleep rest and weep 2x
image of I Wonder Who's Loving You Now Cover Art
I Wonder Who’s Loving You Now
	

Two ex-lovers went their separate ways because one half's inability to commit. When you let something good go there's a lot of regret. What could I have done differently? Maybe I should of done this
or that... This song is about the feeling of looking back and feeling weighted down by your past. It's much more than a break up song, it's about moving on. There has to be change in live otherwise everything would stay stagnate. A look back of nostalgia here and there is harmless, however wallowing in what could of been is. The main message of this song is to move on. It's alright to visit the past here and there because it is part of you, but you as a person are much more than just that. You are your dreams and aspirations, the here and now, the future and the past, your passion, and your knowledge. You deserve more than just to put yourself in a box, you deserve to grow.
Lyrics... It's not so simple anymore, It's been a long road I don't wanna travel more We had dreams, we had visions, like we were the only ones I wonder who's loving you now, You can only wish to turn back time you can't get me out of your mind I wonder who's loving you now, do you miss me when I'm not around Cause you did this to yourself, I wonder who's loving you now I wonder who's loving you now, do you miss me when I'm not around Cause you did this to yourself, I wonder who's loving you now You weren't ready, I didn't wanna wait It'd be your time, when it was too late when you look in her eyes do you see me? when you touch her skin do you feel me? I think about my own life, you think of what you missed I about my future, You think about your past I wonder who's loving you now, do you miss me when I'm not around Cause you did this to yourself, I wonder who's loving you now I wonder who's loving you now, do you miss me when I'm not around Cause you did this to yourself, I wonder who's loving you now
image of Vampire cover art
Vampire
No one wants to be caught in the middle of something, however when their friend is at stake sometimes drastic measures have to be taken.

This song is about someone watching their best friend slowly go down a spiral of destruction because they can’t let go of their boyfriend. No matter how bad it gets she keeps letting him come back. I think many people can relate to that feeling of helplessness.
            
Lyrics... I feel like you keep running in circles over and over again You keep repeating the cycle that keeps getting your heart broken I deeply care about you I keep trying to help you through No matter what I say, It never helps you anyway You should be done, It's no longer fun No matter how much he will drain you keep actin' in vain Keep on giving in like something will change You keep saying Just keep saying I will, I will Don't worry just chill Just keep saying I will, I will Don't worry just chill But the only thing a Vampire feels is the thrill He's a vampire out for blood, Keeps dragging you through the mud Keeps draining you dry, But you act like you don't know why Every time you talk to him a part of you dies It's about time for you to realize You should be done, It's no longer fun No matter how much he will drain you keep actin' in vain Keep on giving in like something will change You keep saying Just keep saying I will, I will Don't worry just chill Just keep saying I will, I will Don't worry just chill But the only thing a Vampire feels is the thrill You should be done, It's no longer fun No matter how much he will drain you keep actin' in vain Keep on giving in like something will change You keep saying Just keep saying I will, I will Don't worry just chill Just keep saying I will, I will Don't worry just chill But the only thing a Vampire feels is the thrill
image of Living In The Dark cover art
Living In The Dark
This is in the same vein as my song “Serious”. People can be horrid and oblivious to it. It’s a like diss-track against toxic relationships and people. The ex was cold and full of themselves. I wanted to create something really different song. I hope you enjoy.
            
Lyrics... like an animal, be actin' like Hannibal so damn radical a starving cannibal sorry is what you should be, not only for what you've done to me keep on repeating the same old prophecy Thought you had a perfect heart, but you were delusional from the start Born in the dark, you always were a shark living lili living living lili living living in the dark your world so physical, your love is fake mechanical Cold as you've ever been, how could I of seen something love like your's is terminal, it's an illness that spreads lost your principal, your presence everyone dreads Thought you had a perfect heart, but you were delusional from the start Born in the dark, you always were a shark living lili living living lili living living in the dark You always were a shark Thought you had a perfect heart, but you were delusional from the start Born in the dark, you always were a shark living lili living living lili living living in the dark You always were a shark
image of Skeletons Cover Art
Skeletons
An upbeat and bubbly song about people running from the skeletons hiding in their closets. :) It reminds me of the horror for kids genre. This was one of my first songs I ever wrote. I used to read a lot of the Goosebumps series as a kid and loved Halloween. This draws heavily from those experiences. It is neo-classical pop infusion.
            
Lyrics... There's a gun by the door, there's a woman on the floor Who do you think did it, cause I haven't got a clue There's someone at the door, knock knock want some more? Watch out there's something more! Knock Knock, where do you go? How do you hide from your skeletons? There's something here I don't know... Empty halls and promises. Creepin' crawlin' in the walls, evil voices in the halls I think I can get outta here, while your frozen with fear Knock Knock, where do you go? How do you hide from your skeletons? There's something here I don't know... Empty halls and promises. for you it's time to rest, I'm gonna try my best To get outta here, before I feel the fear Knock Knock, where do you go? How do you hide from your skeletons? There's something here I don't know... Empty halls and promises. Run Run Run Run Run Run Run run away the closet's opening Quite a fearful feel How do you hide from your skeletons? Knock Knock, where do you go? How do you hide from your skeletons? There's something here I don't know... Empty halls and promises. Knock Knock, where do you go? How do you hide from your skeletons? There's something here I don't know... Empty halls and promises. Knock Knock Knock Knock
image of Blood on the River Tonight cover art
Blood On The River Tonight
This song was inspired by rumors I heard as a child. I would hear of stories of people finally having enough and snapping. Jenny always loved this young man, but he always just thought of her as a friend. He didn’t know that she was obsessed with him. However when he got a serious girl friend she snapped. She first went after his love and then drove him to the spot were she did the deed. It’s up to you to figure out if he gets out alive.
            
Lyrics... Blood on the river tonight Birds fly on over and outta sight Moonlight sonata in the middle of September Leading into a red October Blood on the river tonight She loved him a little too much, Couldn't tell she was losing touch He didn't know cause she never said much, Oh he loved a girl she didn't care for He didn't know he was the one she adored, he moved on and fell in love Jenny didn't like it one bit, she got a gun and case of bullets Blood on the river tonight Birds fly on over and outta sight Moonlight sonata in the middle of September Leading into a red October Blood on the river tonight Bad intentions he didn't know, blood on her bow, he didn't know where it came from though He thought they were just friends, didn't know she was frayed at the ends She came over to give him a ride, he said yes and she drove him outta town He didn't think much, he was naive and oblivious, and she took him to a shed Blood on the river tonight Birds fly on over and outta sight Moonlight sonata in the middle of September Leading into a red October Blood on the river tonight Blood on the river tonight Birds fly on over and outta sight Moonlight sonata in the middle of September Leading into a red October Blood on the river tonight
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Voodoo
Voodoo is about a woman escaping her abusive husband using magic, however her plan goes off the rails when the cops are called. Find out if she can escape her fate.
            
Lyrics... In the middle of the night, there was screaming and fright Word got around that woman's had enough Cop walked in expecting to find something But what lawman didn't know was behind her back Oh Voodoo She had enough Oh Voodoo treated her too tough If lawman finds out she's as good as dead Oh Voodoo Past love flashed before her eyes She remebered that weapon in disguse Lawman at the door, the cop was looking at the floor She knew what was in store Oh Voodoo She had enough Oh Voodoo treated her too tough If lawman finds out she's as good as dead Oh Voodoo Lawman turned his back and she got worried To her delight their guns tucked tight Her thread ready and her needle tucked Let's say that doll put an end to it all Oh Voodoo She had enough Oh Voodoo treated her too tough If lawman finds out she's as good as dead Oh Voodoo Oh Voodoo She had enough Oh Voodoo treated her too tough If lawman finds out she's as good as dead Oh Voodoo
image of Endless Road Cover Art
Endless Road
No one knows who's really telling the truth. Is it an urban legend? What happened to this man's family? This song is a song about concealment, revenge, and the uncovering of what really happened down that endless road.
This single was inspired by the dark atmosphere of horror and true crime. I wanted to use norms of movie orchestration and turn it on it's head. It's up to you to find out what truly happens at the end.
            
Lyrics... Long time ago on an endless road That went on for miles and miles There used to be a carpenter’s house made of red brick Nobody really thought much of it Nobody knows if it’s a lie or the truth Went down long ago before my youth Some people say he’s still there to this day Below his house the remanence of his sins He’d always go to church on Sundays He would always sit alone The look on his face said he was in another place Where it was, they never found out Nobody knows if it’s a lie or the truth Went down long ago before my youth Some people say he’s still there to this day Below his house the remanence of his sins One day the pastor asked if he could stay The man simply walked out of service that day Later on, they said was a bullet in his head And a letter written in red Nobody knows if it’s a lie or the truth Went down long ago before my youth Some people say he’s still there to this day Below his house the remanence of his sins Nobody knows if it’s a lie or the truth Went down long ago before my youth Some people say he’s still there to this day Below his house the remanence of his sins
Becky
Becky
		
This song is a journey between two teen lovers as they experience "something special" for the very first time. Becky is a teen romance rom-com in song form. Her relationship slowly evolves during the course of the school year, as she is about to graduate high school. Eventually her biggest crush finally asks her out.
	
Lyrics…
Oh my God did you hear the news, Becky’s got something, she’s gonna lose
Can’t exactly confess, but her eyes say more or less, gonna lose something wearing that dress.

Her momma said she lost her mind, but why no doctor could ever find
Ben was the answer they never had
He asked to prom, later that week, he said
Maybe it’s late, but could we call it a date?
She saw him later on their prom night
Baby blue from heel to toe, Ben said you look mighty fine, alright
They went for a ride and she can confide they got a little dirty that night

Oh my God did you hear the news, Becky’s got something, she’s gonna lose
Can’t exactly confess, but her eyes say more or less, gonna lose something wearing that dress.

Went to prom with mud on her heels, Red lipstick all over his face
Oh a little tired, but their hearts still raced, back of her dress a little unlaced
Oh you could see it in their eyes as they slow danced, a blossoming romance
Oh they all night long, even though their mommas said it was wrong

Oh my God did you hear the news, Becky’s got something, she’s gonna lose
Can’t exactly confess, but her eyes say more or less, gonna lose something wearing that dress
Oh my God did you hear the news, Becky’s got something, she’s gonna lose
Can’t exactly confess, but her eyes say more or less, gonna lose something wearing that dress
Black Train
Black Train
This song is inspired by the old west and the common struggles that characterized the frontier. Who we follow in the song is a troubled man marked by pain and suffering. In this formative years his father died, leaving behind a large sum of debt due to his gambling addiction. Sadly are protagonist was left with the responsibility to pay back all the debt collectors. He tries whatever he can, however he eventually settles on being a bounty hunter. Overtime is morality is chipped away over the impending debt leading to him operating outside the law to survive. He soon takes personal bounties and hit jobs as he’s still being haunted by the death of his father, decisions, and lot in life.
	
Lyrics…
Black train coming, coming around the bend, ready for your soul because you’ve already sinned
Black train coming, coming around the bend, ready for your soul because you’ve already sinned

All your daddy left was a debt to be paid, when he laid himself to rest in any early grave
All the money you’d try to save, no matter how much it was never enough
Shackled to a life of misery, no one could save you, you were history
Left with nothing else, but a demon on your back

Black train coming, coming around the bend, ready for your soul because you’ve already sinned
Black train coming, coming around the bend, ready for your soul because you’ve already sinned

You had nothing else, so desperate to get out, you signed deal, to pay a little bit back
A Bounty was laid, you were paid, you weren’t no law man, but you put it in your hands
You didn’t care who it was, just as long as it paid enough
Didn’t care about the cost, hunting the innocent and lost

Black train coming, coming around the bend, ready for your soul because you’ve already sinned
Black train coming, coming around the bend, ready for your soul because you’ve already sinned
Oh La La
Oh La La
This song is about the everyday struggles everyone goes through, of course with a comedic twist. There’s never enough time to do what you want to do. Oh La La touches on the disappointment of going nowhere in live. At this point the narrator has gotten older and has realized that their dreams might be behind them, but that’s no excuse to weep. It's a minimalist country-rock song driven by the beat.
	
Lyrics…
This ain't an under dog story
I ain't looking for glory
The times long past when I should of gotten more
When I should of gotten more!!!
Oh la la
Do you think I got time for dreams
La la
Do you think I got time for me
La la
Do you think I got time for dreams?
For dreams?

Rodeo's in town next week
I gotta pick up the paper down the street
My mortgage is due, the payment's almost through
A cup of Coffee and I'm off to work
I packed my case I'm ready to go!

This ain't an under dog story
I ain't looking for glory
The times long past when I should of gotten more
When I should of gotten more!!!
Oh la la
Do you think I got time for dreams
La la
Do you think I got time for me
La la
Do you think I got time for dreams?
For dreams?
The best place to support/buy my music is Bandcamp
Photo of Zelena's face Photo of Zelena in a plant Zelena posing with gutiar carousel selfie
image of Bonus content for single of the week one through ten cover art

Bonus-content-collection-set-1

This collection is a set of outtakes, demos, Sheet music, Stems, Alt Versions, and more for the first 10 songs on my single of the week journey. All of these wonderful bonus items and hidden tracks were selected and created with love and care. I wanted to give insight into a part of my process and something that was unique. A few of the bonus materials are not hidden like the other tracks, to just get a sampling of the material. I hope you like it and thank you for supporting me. With love, XOXO Zelena Hull
The list... Sheet music for first 10 songs of single of the week (approximate notes) Movie 1_1_1.mp4 is the flip movie in the begging of Doomed Duck music Video. Waiting for You Demo Version Oh La La isolated Vocals Black Train Gutiar take 1 Black Train Gutiar take 2 Black Train Gutiar take 3 Main Guitar lick of Vampire Vampire Demo Guitar Crazy reverb version of becky inst Becky Drums and piano Blood on the River tonight without guitar instrumental Black train whistle and Drums

Original Releases

These songs are country and rock. They range from love songs to comtemplations of class and morality. Releases started production when I was 14 to 15. This set finally finshed production in 2019.

 
Here's a playlist of my older relases that started it all :)

OG playlist for my older releases

The singles are Serious and I believe. This also includes songs from the EPs 6ftunder, In Love With You, Just a Cinderlla story, and Hello. Plus my song "Oh Corona".
	
Hello EP
Hello EP
		
Doomed Duck~ Highly inspired by the corruption that leads to recessions or depressions, this song has a bleeding edge cutting deep into the hearts of the unaware. People are forced to participate in a system they actively despise. Greed actively works against the communal nature of humanity. This song is a critique of the system that is used to fill the void. We constantly set ourselves up for collapse constantly, to the point were it’s a given. This hard-rock song is dynamic yet consistent, dark and yet hopeful, gritty and yet graceful. I have many references sprinkled in the lyrics I hope you enjoy.


Hey Girls~ This song is about taking revenge and control of the situation. Don’t let yourself be walked on over by other people, you have to take a stand for yourself. Hey Girls addresses sexism and basis. Our protagonist goes from taking it to dishing it out to those who deserve it. It’s a girl power southern rock song to put on after a nasty break up.
	
Lyrics…

Doomed Duck

Doomed Duck sitting on the concrete Sound of a Gun shot going on Wall St Side line picking up going on Friday Limit it all till the sun, till the sun don't come Lady lace tripping on a phone chord water funnels up and down again Double standard everything up and down again, again lucky duck run away come back another day, day Hello it's starring at you, but you don't wanna see it cause it hurts Hello but it'll hurt everyone else if you don't look it up Sound of the Gunshot, duck on the concrete Just another day on wall st Sound of the Gunshot, duck on the concrete Just another day on wall st Innocent, No wait it isn't, law and order renamed. The guilty ones aren't the ones who are blamed. Nothing is true anymore, money gets you the higher score Stop lying it's tearing you up more and more and more Hello it's starring at you, but you don't wanna see it cause it hurts Hello but it'll hurt everyone else if you don't look it up Sound of the Gunshot, duck on the concrete Just another day on wall st Sound of the Gunshot, duck on the concrete Just another day on wall st I tried can't be denied, this fire inside My heart is burning into a ball of fire Judgement on those who don't deserve it The 1% gets all of it! Hello it's starring at you, but you don't wanna see it cause it hurts Hello but it'll hurt everyone else if you don't look it up Sound of the Gunshot, duck on the concrete Just another day on wall st Sound of the Gunshot, duck on the concrete Just another day on wall st

Hey Girls

Hey girls were gonna get them back for running around talking smack you see them grinning they think there winning but the ladies have stopped forgiving you never know if there fake or real or how many hearts they have to steal don't know how much more I can take when they drive in that stake... I've had men lie straight to my face then spit in it and call me a disgrace say no woman should go around hunting that's for men, that's for men... you never know if there fake or real or how many hearts they have to steal don't know how much more I can take when they drive in that stake... I'm gonna prove that a woman can break a heart just like a man can I'll find them anywhere stab them in the back I'll do whatever I have to, to get this broken heart back I'll glue together pieces and make it fit some how... you never know if I'm fake or real or how many hearts I have to steal don't know how much more they can take when I drive in that stake... you never know if I'm fake or real or how many hearts I have to steal don't know how much more They can take when I drive in that stake...
image of Just a cinderlla story EP
Just A Cinderella Story
Just a Cinderella Story~ If your naive you can be easily taken advantage of. This song is about a young woman being fooled into a relationship by a slick boy toy. Looks can fool and going head first into something without taking the time for yourself is a bad idea. Life isn’t a fairly tale ending and your going to set yourself up for failure if that is what you expect. You shouldn’t project your expectations onto others, because that is a recipe for toxicity. Pop country.

Joyride~ Sometimes things don’t go anywhere and that is true for relationships too. It’s easier to drown our sorrows than to confront them head on. Joyride is about a woman not being able to let go her past. She would rather pretend her relationship is going great than to actually address the underlining issues. This is a classic country song with track contributions from Mike Schrimpf, Mr. Steve Hinson, Grammy players, and some house band members for the Grand Ole Opry.
Lyrics…

Just A Cinderella Story

Just another cookie cutter Cinderella barbie, thinking some little magic will happen that beautiful prince charming, will come save me oh baby... She feel in love too young... her innocence was gone... does she not know that the cold will make her heart blue. Just a Cinderella story have the prince come save me... oh well he didn't come. you though it would a fairy book ending were the queen meets her king... well guess what your endings all wrong The pretty pretty prince has no common sense, only picks those he walk over you might be a little naive, but its not that hard to conceive He will cheat, he will lie, that you can't deny there ain't no reason other than his ego He'll off your stock if you get what I mean Just a Cinderella story have the prince come save me... oh well he didn't come. you though it would a fairy book ending were the queen meets her king... well guess what your endings all wrong Just a Cinderella story have the prince come save me... oh well he didn't come. you though it would a fairy book ending were the queen meets her king... well guess what your endings all wrong

Joyride

They say you have eyes that you’ve been battin’ One for one tit for tat, none of the love is coming back Take em’ for a joy ride, promise them a good time every Saturday night But the feeling ain’t right, feeling alone tonight Take a lot of care, wait somewhere, Thinking he might come, when he’s gone, you don’t belong, but you don’t love him Take em’ for a joy ride, promise them a good time every Saturday night But the feeling ain’t right, feeling alone tonight You hope one day, your sadness will go away By drowning in false hopes and piecing together broken dreams Take em’ for a joy ride, promise them a good time every Saturday night But the feeling ain’t right, feeling alone tonight Take em’ for a joy ride, promise them a good time every Saturday night But the feeling ain’t right, Still feeling alone tonight Take em’ for a joy ride, promise them a good time every Saturday night
image of in love with you EP
In Love With You
These are both fun country love songs. In Love With You talks about how the simple pleasures make live amazing. If it’s the love poem then Country Boy is the meet cute/flirt that started it all. It makes puns about American culture and norms in a fun a light heart-ed way.
Lyrics…

In Love With You

Nothing else has gone my way until you came here to stay I love life and don't be surprised to hear me say. The sweet smell of hickory, your hand oh touching my knee I can do this all the time, it's all up to you baby Only live one life, so don't think too hard All I wanna do is be in love with you In love with you Only live one life, so don't think too hard All I wanna do is be in love with you In love with you Give me some of that and I could pretend I hadn't had it yet and we could do it again At the lake nothing else to do, all I wanna do is have some fun with you All you wanna do is stay here with me We'll watch the fire flys, in the back of your truck Don't be surprised to hear me say Only live one life, so don't think too hard All I wanna do is be in love with you In love with you Only live one life, so don't think too hard All I wanna do is be in love with you In love with you

Country Boy

Hey I see them boots you got on, I see they from China I see that they are plether, I wanna man with real leather pick me up and toss me around, slap them boots on the ground I wanna country boy, someone I can enjoy Don't wanna chillized boy toy, I wanna real man I wanna country boy, someone I can enjoy No No chillized boy toy, I wanna real man I wanna strong back, not wearing a straw hat I'm not into that, into that I wanna man who can pick me up and rock me in a country world Cause I'm a read hot USDA American Girl I wanna country boy, someone I can enjoy Don't wanna chillized boy toy, I wanna real man I wanna country boy, someone I can enjoy No No chillized boy toy, I wanna real man
image of album Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under EP
		
My parent’s and I call this the sin album. I talk about many issues including unfair treatment, the inability to live up to expectations, and the inner nature of people. The best stories have a moral lesson to them and I wanted to incorporate that lesson here.	
	
ReadMore…

EP Six Feet Under song breakdown

6ftunder~ People unfairly judge others. 6Ft under is about trying to claw your way out of a bad situation. This song addresses the fact that people will find a reason to dislike you and no matter what you do there’s some people you will never please. “Run like hell it ain’t a spell Warlock’s thumb, oh don’t be dumb” This line references the Salem witch trails. Often when someone was born with two thumbs they were considered a witch. You have to embrace the fact that there’s no way to be universally liked by everyone. There’s no way to control someone else’s thoughts or words, but you can control your own. 6Ftunder also points out the hypocrisy that unpins the morality of judgmental people. True for me, but not for thee.

Born and Raised~ This song is about struggle between the darkest and lightest part of ourselves. The inner demons we wrestle with at night, the dark thoughts that creep into the back of our minds, and the inability to live up to other people’s expectations. No matter how much you try sometimes things don’t work out. This song also addresses the larger societal issue of the lack of care others take. Most people stay in their own little world and don’t care about yours. Something might seem huge to you, but other people wouldn’t even notice it.

Fire~ If you judge solely on looks, you’ll be solely disappointed. Deceit, loneliness, innocence, and desperation can lead anyone into making a bad choice. In Fire a young man is enamored by a beauty, while his best friend is trying to talk him out of it. Even if she looks nice, it can be too good to be true. In this case it is. She is known to hurt you in any possible way, however it does not deter him. He falls deeply in love and she starts to take advantage of him, because he is unable to see the true monster underneath. This song represents his friend’s last attempt to reason with him. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.

Time~ Timing something can be hard. It never know if your late or it’s too soon. This song is about how often people can have remorse to things they say yes to in the moment. When there’s a big decision to be made you need to contemplate it. Don’t rush and don’t be emotional when making your mind up. There needs to be objectivity when planing the future. It’s a hard thing to do but you need to keep your heart out of decisions and learn to take rejection. This song also tackles the subject of not knowing whether someone likes you, or if you’ve made them uncomfortable.

Walk On By~ This song is about feeling left behind by other people. Live moves on whether you want it to or not. You have to understand how to live for you in a compassionate way. Even if everyone else does not care, that does not mean you shouldn’t either. Sometimes you got to cut off your darker emotions and look at yourself objectively. Walk On By means to understand that if someone isn’t with you, don’t dwell on it or take it as a personal attack. You need to live for you, help others, and if someone else doesn’t like you, so be it.
Lyrics…

6ft under

I was born six feet under Now I’m running for cover I’ve been digging forever Before I’m a goner Tow down into the ground They say missy you’ve been messing around But I’m not doing anything Boy words can sting Run like hell it ain’t a spell Warlock’s thumb, oh don’t be dumb Messing some place, I haven’t been When you’re the one who’s sinned I was born six feet under Now I’m running for cover I’ve been digging forever Before I’m a goner They call me bad news But all I’ve doing is singing the blues And boy I ain’t gonna lose There ain’t no point in going back There ain’t no return There’s no redemption here I’m not going down I was born six feet under Now I’m running for cover I’ve been digging forever Before I’m a goner I was born six feet under Now I’m running for cover I’ve been digging forever Before I’m a goner

Born and Raised

I was born and I was raised to be good always But where oh where did I go so wrong Save my brother, love my mother That’s what it’s always been But it’s hard to do good When everyone else surrenders to their sins I was born and I was raised to be good always But where oh where did I go so wrong Oh life my sympathies for I’ve made many enemies I’ve tried to do better, even though most will never care It’s worth it’s weight in gold I was born and I was raised to be good always But where oh where did I go so wrong Crumbling at the seams, my darkest sins deep in my dreams It’s hard to be good even though you know you should Save my brother, love my mother That’s what it’s always been But it’s hard to do good When everyone else surrenders to their sins I was born and I was raised to be good always But where oh where did I go so wrong

Fire

Face like an angel, Tricks like a demon Gonna leave you dreaming Gonna start screaming and aching, thinking about her Boy playing with fire Fire fire fire She’ll sweep off your feet, but she ain’t an angel Everyone has bad and good but she ain’t doing what she should Boy she’ll sweep you off your feet, but your bound to hit the ground. Don’t matter how much you love her, boy your playing with fire. Face like an angel, Tricks like a demon Gonna leave you dreaming Gonna start screaming and aching, thinking about her Boy playing with fire She’ll make you feel special, then break you in two You have no idea what she has in store for you You don’t know her, the best I can tell you now Is don’t love her she’s playing with fire! Face like an angel, Tricks like a demon Gonna leave you dreaming Gonna start screaming and aching, thinking about her Face like an angel, Tricks like a demon Gonna leave you dreaming Gonna start screaming and aching, thinking about her Boy playing with fire Fire fire fire fire Burn Burn

Time

Take it easy, one step at a time he says to me Bad intentions accidental romance I can see it now, won’t leave me alone Could I be wrong time’s funny that way Confused or spinning on the top of my head Gonna say he’s gonna regret it Time will take it’s course And we will all have remorse There’s a time for love and a time for hate But you never know when it’s too late Or when you passed the line It gets harder every time. Going oh… not another…oh No no no… not another one Don’t blow it, control it Keep saying that Bad relations Same thing over and over There’s a time for love and a time for hate But you never know when it’s too late Or when you passed the line It gets harder every time. I can see it now Won’t let me go Hard to get Maybe time will regret it There’s a time for love and a time for hate But you never know when it’s too late Or when you passed the line It gets harder every time. There’s a time for love and a time for hate But you never know when it’s too late Or when you passed the line It gets harder every time. Hummm…. Oh….. No…

Walk On By

For a long while I was stranger Then I stumbled again and now your my friend But now I’ve fallen flat on my face again I hope this failure will end I’m tired of every waking moment destroying my life. I’m tired of every heart break got to go through, cuts me like a knife Then forget me again, how could this be Maybe this is my destiny to walk on by Good things bad things what’s the difference Cause I’m always the bad one Even if I’m not the one who shot the gun I’m falling flat on my face I’m tired of every waking moment destroying my life. I’m tired of every heart break got to go through, cuts me like a knife Then forget me again, how could this be Maybe this is my destiny to walk on by Friends enemies can you give me room please Hurt bleeding nobody cares Unless they’ve fallen flat on their face No matter what I do, there’s always people that’ll hate you Oh I’m tired of every waking moment destroying my life. I’m tired of every heart break got to go through, cuts me like a knife Then forget me again, how could this be Maybe this is my destiny to walk on by walk on by walk on by walk on by
image of I Believe single cover
I Believe
Inspired by history, I Believe is about the world war 1 soccer game between the British and Germans. It is somber, dark, and yet hopeful. Even with all the suffering both sides went through they could lay down their weapons in the spirit of giving. In any bad situation there is always a sliver lining. Imagine how beautiful this world could be if the powers that be could allow us to embrace our humanity. This song has a haunting atmosphere and pumps it into high gear with the addition of a clear and crisp acoustic guitar. Silent night can be distantly heard in the background. This song carries a sense of strength and fragility.

ReadMore…

“I Believe” and the story that inspired it

This song is about the Christmas Truce of 1914. In 1914 during World War 1 the Pope sought a truce on Christmas day but the waring nations refused to give in. Soldiers were trained that fraternization with the enemy was an act of treason. On Christmas Eve the British and Germans over heard one another singing “Silent Night.” They started singing louder and louder which lead to a cease fire. The song is based on this true story of the German and British troops on the front lines in Europe. Afterward they began giving each other small gifts, sharing supplies, food, medical supplies, and even had a good will soccer game.
The backdrop is a beautiful haunting melody that sets the stage. As the song starts it describes the wars horrific conditions. Then it transforms into a mesmerizing song of hope as it describes “two arcs drawn in Deadman’s land” symbolizing each solider telling the opposing forces I am a Christian, Merry Christmas. An early secret code of Christianity, the fish symbol was used as two people would greet each in ancient Rome by drawing the arc of the one side of the fish to be finished by the other so both would know they were Christian. They did this as Christians were heavily persecuted. This is symbolic of each other’s faith that became the Christmas Truce of 1914 and ends in restored faith in humanity.

Cick here for lyric video

Click here for live performance at VA benefit

Many of my family members served in the Armed forces including my father. I’m super interested in historical events because I have many relatives deeply entrenched in them.

My Great grandfather Edward Wicks was a luthier who restored the infamous violin belonging to Joshua Bell.

My 3 times Great Grandfather William Wicks served on President Roosevelt’s wartime production board and was a major part of the production of arms in WW2 for the Americans.

His sister in law was related to Robert the Bosh who helped Jews escape Germany during WW2. I actually have Jewish ancestry, because my twice Great grandfather on my father’s father side was actually adopted out of Germany before WW2. He was full blooded Ashkenazi and interestingly enough was adopted into the home of a German couple who at the time recently moved to the U.S. It’s amazing how worlds collide.

Check out Platinum Z Records if you would like to know more about the amazing history that inspires my work.

More about the production of I believe:

“On November 12th we finished mastering the song in Nashville”, said Edward Hull, president of Platinum Z Records. “ We had just finished up our finalizing for Zelena’s new EP titled ‘6 Feet Under’ when we decided we also needed to push for the release of her new Christmas song ‘I Believe’. Once we heard the preliminary drafts we knew we had to move quickly. We called Kenny Lee, who is a good friend of ours in Nashville and I asked if he could immediately fit us in for a recording session” said Hull.

Zelena wrote the song because she remembered her father telling her of the Christmas story when she was young and it made an impression on her. One day when she wanted to start working on a new song and the memories of the Christmas Truce story was on her mind. Zelena said “why don’t I write something about it and come back again later, if I get stuck.” Two days later it was finished.
Edward said “When soldiers who are facing chemical weapons attacks, frostbite, starvation, and unimaginable horrors can stop fighting and respect each other it makes you wonder how different the world would be if we could follow their example.

Christmas music, Historical, Indie rock, singer-songwriter, Story driven, synth 

Lyrics…

I Believe

Ice and fire and acid rain Guns fire and bombs burst Young men die of hunger and thirst Innocence is now waning Oh could it be a silent night Angels weep in heaven's light Praying for all on either side Waiting to see if the tide will subside Unlike a fool you know I believe Hope’s not lost so I cannot leave Oh I can hear a silent night. Unlike a fool you know I believe Oh two arcs drawn on dead man’s land Brother’s keeper take my hand Maybe we can call each other friend Maybe one day this war will end You can only learn from past mistakes There’s no way you can change the past Unlike a fool you know I believe Hope’s not lost so I cannot leave Oh I can hear a silent night. Unlike a fool you know I believe
image of Serious Single Cover
Serious
Relationships can be tendentious at best. Sometimes you gotta leave some people behind if they bring you down. No wonder most marriages end in divorce. 🙂 Serious is Serious, evidently not everyone is about relationships. It takes two to make it work, not just one. This is a shredding rock song, in the vain of classic rock. It continually pumps you up, (I guess it makes you ready for that break up you’ve been dreading).

Lyrics…
Hard to the core don’t care anymore
Then what are you coming here for?
Call me and apologize
Why can’t you realize
I try to reel it in
Try to fit in so n’ so’s skin
Even though you try to win
I’m gonna to do it again

I’m serious Like a heart attack
Yes, I’m serious Like a heart attack

There’s a long wait in the line, 
But you sadly out of time
Waiting on the road for you
Makes me wish a I never knew you
There’s a beating and it’s hurting
You’ve been flirting with fear
You think me mad well it’s so sad
I’m serious Like a heart attack
Yes, I’m serious Like a heart attack

I’m serious Like a heart attack
Yes, I’m serious 
I’m not turning back

Overview of AI’s effects on music

I think there's going to be a lot of consolation in the recording industry in a similar vein of what happened to the film industry of America. Many of these record/publishing companies will look to expand their catalog of old and new material. AI will be licensed out to these companies and they will put the music they have the rights to as the AI's data set.
Readmore... We are probably going to see AI sub departments in major labels dedicated to updating, maintaining, and monitoring these systems. This process over the long term would be cheaper than scouting for artists and building up their reputation. A machine you can control 100% doesn't have to age, can keep a perfect image, can keep a consistent quality, and has less competition (the average person can't create an AI artist of their own). An average human cannot compare to a machine, nor a team a multiple individuals behind the perfectly curated facade. Other companies will probably pattern their AI (such as music streaming services) based off commissioned and public domain works. The mainstream music industry will take a little longer to fully automate because there are more safe guards in place for music protection, but I do think unethical AI's will populate the internet soon, with music that is protected as part of their data set (just like art is facing now). People are more emotional when it comes to their music choices than their visual interests. I think there will be more support for music artists than visual artists had in the AI debate, but I do believe the mainstream will heavily adopt AI music.

Overview of Film and music’s now and future(what we can do to prepare for AI)

There are many changes in the industry. For example YouTube reviewers have been able to get the word out for smaller indie productions and social media has enabled web only series. I think there's going to be more movies created on shoe string budgets with just talent and a camera. In my opinion the blockbuster will lose popularity, because studios can no longer bank on stars. This is evident by the major failings of many large scale movie productions lately.
Disney lost 1.5 billion on streaming and many other players aren't fairing that well either. I think that with what we are seeing, streaming isn't really profitable.
Readmore... Companies might return or put more emphasis on movie theaters, but seeing that people really aren't turning out in droves like they used to -- something's got to change. I believe companies will begin tightening their budgets. Businesses like Discovery-Warner are already showing signs that they are switching from an emphasis on prestige TV to cheaper reality shows. I think many other services will look for cheaper shows/movies to create. Look for more product placements in your media. Many streaming services such as Disney Plus and Netflix are looking at an ad supported tier model. The future: I think AI will pick up use in the industry at first as a tool to cut down on time. Eventually computer generated movies will be cheaper to make than ever before. However I think there's a general trend towards smaller projects because of the increased competition between platforms. There's always a thirst in Hollywood for more storytellers, but AI might be used to fill the void. It will take some time for AI to be excepted into the industry in mass but in the mean time: There will be an emphasis on indie projects and cheaper production YouTube like series. Lower the cost, lower the potential loss. Studios have shown little appetite for risk in the box office, however they are still losing money. I think there will be far more smaller budget projects in the future and eventually movie studios might realize that innovative small films that have a shoe string budget, might be the way to go. Long term it remains to be seen on whether in order to work in the Film industry you might need coding experience. However I do think it'll slowly encroach on jobs in the industry. Already visual artists are now competing against AI that 2 years couldn't create anything worth it's hype. Special effects and anything really technical will have a large sum of the staff eventually replaced. For musicians: The budgets will be slashed for music, on projects that normally would have full stop creative freedom in that department. We are probably looking at a long term domination of royalty free - or low royalty music libraries. What we can do: Increase our repertoire, get awareness on social media, don't be afraid to experiment, Story tellers can use rewrites on YouTube as a way to gain awareness for their screen writing abilities (Same logic as singers covering other artist's songs), and be willing to work on smaller indie projects. It's probably a good idea to make a network of small indie filmmakers and production staff as your contacts.

Note from the artist 2022

“Every week until around October 2023 expect to see a new single from me. My intent is to break the world record for the most consecutively released singles. I wanted to break the boundaries between different genres. The songs will consist of many different genres and mixing techniques. I wanted to be dynamic and create distinctive works. Expect country, rock, punk, electronic, hip-hop, classical, pop, and more influences in my work to come. All of the single of the week tracks I wrote, recorded, mixed, composed, and produced myself at home. This is a departure from my previous singles and Eps : Hello, Just a Cinderella Story, In Love With You, Six Feet Under, I Believe, and Serious. The backgrounds on those were created with the help of studio musicians all at the direction of my composition. I experimented with form, panning, effects, mood, and other aspects. A large chunk of the material was created in 2 months. Some weeks I had to create two compositions for classes I had in college. Having to create a lot in so little time inspired me to challenge myself. These releases are a culmination of my education and my want to explore new possibilities. Some of these compositions are also a part of my capstone for school. This journey will be awesome and I would love you to be a part of it. Thank you for reading this. I would appreciate it if you could share this. All this material will/is available on My YouTube.”

			

Old Bio

Old bio that was originally on my site:

This is a very talented artist that will soon find herself in the company of some of the best artists in the land

— Music Arts Monthly

Zelena’s love of music started at an early age when her mom (after watching an episode of the MTV series “The Osbournes”) told her to go onto the families back porch and scream as much as she wanted.  Zelena’s mother, Valerie was blown away with his volume and vocal techniques and figured the first step was the ability to sing with power.  Zelena did this often for fun.  Zelena as an infant and young child would cry if she heard people singing until she was almost 10, at the time Zelena had not been diagnosed with autism.  But she did not cry when her mother sang and they would make up songs in the car, house, every where, every day.  And they still do this.
Readmore... Zelena’s love for music grew into a desire to play a musical instrument. Valerie found a local instructor named Dan Caston who for starters was asked to teach her piano.  After working with him for a few sessions he noticed her desire to sing. He would play with her and then they started making up fun songs together. Dan had his band (named Blind Vision) booked at a local event and invited Zelena to come see them play.   As Dan got up on stage he said work hard on your music and one day I’ll have you play with me up on stage when your older perhaps getting ready for college. Zelena was so excited and worked so hard at music that summer that Dan gave her that opportunity in Landrum, S.C. when she was 11. Zelena was hooked. Zelena told her mother that Dan was like sunshine, and made her so happy. Soon after she was diagnosed with high functioning autism. She has learned to overcome the challenges with time and this adds to the sincere sweet nature she has.  When Zelena was 12 she was taking flute lessons at school and was honored as firstchair and remained undefeated for the remainder of the school year. Zelena’s grandmother, and good friend, Helen Sterling insisted on finding a professional vocal coach and convinced the family to start working with Pitch Doctors LLC who’s President Robert Hoefer had worked with Motown Records. Since then Dan has still remained the sole instrumental instructor.  Zelena began in late 2012 learning the Kodály Method of study.  Robert Hoefer has been very helpful in guiding and mentoring Zelena. This gave Zelena a chance to perform in a competitive setting. She has won first place in the silver, gold, and Platinum TVPA awards competing against peers of every age. At the age of 12 she was one of the youngest performers to compete in the Nashville Connection.  Her Career almost ended before it began on one morning when her grandmother drove her to school and they were involved in a head on collision. The car her grandmother was driving was going 55 miles per hour and the other driver crossed the lane in front of her destroying her car as it was slammed afterward into another car. Three days later she participated in the Nashville Connection which was held at the Handlebar in Greenville, S.C. She had later went on to win 2 years straight best singer in the district and moved on to best singer in the state. She was pictured in USA today for a freedom weekend performance in 2013.  In 2016 she was selected to be a judge for the Best Singer in the State performances. She is the youngest judge to ever serve on the panel. Zelena got her Taylor Guitar for Christmas in 2014 and within 2 months she wrote her first produced song named Serious.   She performed at some small events and she was able to sing her first song she wrote at the Nashville Palace in Nashville, T.N. It was on pay per view in over 80 countries with Nashville singer, writer, producer, actor Kenny Lee and mulit charting singer and song writer Razzy Bailey and other singers. After doing a show with a local country radio station with Nascar Driver Red Bordner she was asked to sing the National Anthem for Governor Jeb Bush on his arrival to S.C. at the Beacon Restaurant in Spartanburg. A performance the staff of the Beacon still talk about. In 2016 Zelena released her first single Serious with two more releases. One was an EP album named “Six Feet Under” and a single named “I Believe”. In 2019 she released her second EP “In Love With You”. In 2020 she released her third EP “Just a Cinderella Story”, which was recorded and produced in Nashville. 2022 marked the release of her new EP “Hello”.  Since 2014 Zelena has written a total of 650+ songs. music info bio, press, update

Is a college degree in music worth it? The case for flexibility in music education.

Creating and playing music is an important part of life for many people. Often music is taught in universities and the instructors usually teach the way they were taught. This has created an academic culture around music and has slowly sapped the life out of university education. Music education is valuable but reaches its true potential when it is more flexible.
Readmore... We have done the opposite of democratizing music education and as a result, many outside observers feel uncomfortable participating. Instead of music being something entertaining and fun we have limited off to a smaller group of people competing for an ever-shrinking pool of resources. This is a major cause of the stagnation in music education. “I worry that today’s university music major is more preoccupied with adaptation than adventure. Rather than understanding the pursuit of excellence as self-forming, I worry that the motivation to do something well arises out of a competition for scarce resources.” (Allsup 2014, 72) No one ever seems to be good or correct enough. “This divide is often nurtured in our music classrooms, especially in higher education, causing practitioners to feel the undue the pressure of perfection and spectators to feel unwilling or unworthy to make their own music.” (Pierce 2015, 2) Instead of our music appreciation courses being about creating and experiencing music they are just about the history of it. The way professors teach is how they were taught. Stagnation of teaching has caused compliance among professors. This has caused an academic culture around music that is used to gatekeep. Pierre Hadot said it best “One of the characteristics of the university is that it is made up of professors who train professors, or professionals training professionals.” (Hadot 1981, 270) Many musicians are pressed to follow a rigid model set before them. Instead of classes being experience and discussion-based, students often read out of a textbook. Instead of following their dreams students are encouraged to follow the crowd. This has caused music not to be considered an important endeavor. It is rendered useless or merely a hobby. What good is music if it is only practiced by a few? Music is an important part of culture; it needs to be treated as such. This stagnation in music education hurts all musicians, but it does negatively impact some more than others. Students with learning disabilities are disadvantaged the most. “Students struggle to memorize isolated facts, remember details, and pay attention and they might have trouble processing written or verbal information…poor spelling and handwriting, and difficulties with expressive language.” (Abramo 2015, 63) These students have a unique take on processing information because they see the world differently and make connections that their peers don’t. Not only should we accommodate them on a base level, but we should also engage with them. “Twice-exceptional students often have strong task commitment for projects and ideas that are meaningful to them.” (Abramo 2015, 63) We should understand where their interests lie and help them learn more. We need to understand our students for this to change, “Caring relationships in classrooms that include empathy can increase students’ desire to learn.” (Laird 2015, 57) This will ensure their success and help them gain skills for the future. One way to fix our current predicament is to encourage change and challenge the status quo. Professors should be ever striving to create and experiment. The joy of creation should be something that inspires students to create without limits. Instead of a class being taught through a textbook students should actively apply ideas and experiment with them. Students should be encouraged to ponder the meaning of music and its purpose. The goal should be making their own work not just performing the works of others. There shouldn’t be such rigid paths in degrees. Students that take music classes for beginners such as music appreciation should not be taught the history of music but the purpose of it. The course could experiment with different sounds and instruments. It could explore basic music theory, tone color, diverse music of other cultures, and other interests. Students should discuss the meaning of each work they look at and ponder its purpose. What can they create? What elements make them inspired? “Our schools and universities need teachers and researchers who are comfortable with incompleteness, artists who possess the courage to work among and across competing boundaries, and skilled practitioners who refuse the theory and practice divide.” (Allsup 2014, 75) The same methods that we need to use to help students with disabilities are the same we need to use to shake up the music university industry. Music education is valuable but reaches its true potential when it is more flexible. There doesn’t need to be a divide between different specialties within music. Helping those who need it most will help those who need it the least. Music is an important element of culture we need to take action to get people more involved in it. Creating and enjoying music should not be limited to the few, it is a fundamental part of humanity. Bibliography Abramo, Joseph Michael. “Gifted Students with Disabilities: ‘Twice Exceptionality’ in the Music Classroom.” Music Educators Journal 101, no. 4 (2015): 62–69. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24755602. Allsup, Randall Everett. “A Place for Music Education in the Humanities.” Music Educators Journal 100, no. 4 (2014): 71–75. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43288877. Hadot, Pierre. Philosophy as a Way of Life (Maiden, MA: Blackwell Publishing,1995) Laird, Lynda. “Empathy in the Classroom: Can Music Bring Us More in Tune with One Another?” Music Educators Journal 101, no. 4 (2015): 56–61. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24755601. Pierce, Deborah L. “Redefining Music Appreciation: Exploring the Power of Music.” College Music Symposium 55 (2015). https://www.jstor.org/stable/26574401.

American Roots music by Zelena Hull

The first music that I started listening to when I was eight was rock & roll. A lot of the stuff I listened to where British invasion bands such as the Rolling Stones. I did listen to a lot of American and German bands as well. Most of the music I listened to from rock & roll is from 3rd wave musicians. This blog is going to be about some things in American rock & roll and it’s roots. I’ve taken American Popular music so I know some of the starting off material off the top of my head. I will be covering the 1st wave of artists and start of rock & roll.  
Readmore... Rock & roll came from rhythm and blues. R&R actually used to be a euphemism (for something I will not discuss here). Disk jockey Alan Freed was the first one to use the term Rock and Roll for this new music.  American Rock & roll had a myriad of influences ranging from western music to the Boogie Woogie. This style emerged from the 1950’s because of all the political changes brought because of WW2. America during this time had became a superpower. During this time teens had more disposable income because the economy was doing well. Teens also had a lot of free time because of suburban life and child labor laws. Teens had become a more powerful market and were a vastly different one from their parents. Since teens purchased a lot of music, music started to be tailored to their tastes because of demand. Rock & roll used new electric guitars, drums, piano (sometimes), bass, and amplification. The distorted sound of the guitar added to the rebellious nature of the music. The vocal style is dependent upon the artists influences. I’ve seen a bluesy style or country style added in. The songs usually had belting and tended to have very little melisma. The songs tended to be easy for people to sing along to, that’s what made them so popular in the first place. Teens contributed a lot of rock & roll’s rise, but not all of it. During WW2 a lot of the jazz bands had to break up and rhythm and blues arrived as a speed up version of the blues. Radio was a big contributor to how Rock & roll got widespread. They say that Chuck Berry was a blues singer that tried to write a country song, but it became something else entirely and that’s how rock was invented. It’s a lot more complicated than that. Chuck Berry discovered what made the rock and roll market tick for young teens. His songs often covered topics that teens were concerned and identified with. He was part of the first wave of American Artists on the rock & roll scene along with Little Richard. Little Richard arrived on the scene around the same time as Chuck Berry. Fitting that both of its prime architects were into other genres of music previously. Little Richard was into Gospel and ironically he called himself the true architect of rock and roll, but later on down the line returned to gospel. We can’t talk about rock and roll without Elvis Presley. He and Billy Haley were the two white front runners of rock & roll. Elvis covered blues songs and did his share of rockabilly outside of rock & roll. In the early years there was a lot of bleed over from the two on the white artist’s side. Elvis eventually would become considered the King of rock and roll. During the time rock & roll came into being there was a deep racial barrier within the united states. This barrier made it hard for artists of different races to collaborate. There was some leeway for musicians because of the art form however. There were quite a few mixed bands. Although there was a fair bit of representation for African Americans and whites in rock & roll you can see the racial barrier by what they were inspired by. The whites took from what they knew and artists like Chuck Berry and little Richard took from their musical backgrounds. This is what makes rock & roll so interesting. There is so much variety in the influences because of the racial barrier and the newness of the art form. It’s interesting to see that rock & roll was influenced by so much and later went on to influence other genres itself. It served as a touch point between different genres. The subject matter was certainty rock & roll. Cars, girls, and whatever teens were into at the time. There is some debate on whether “Rocket 88” by Jackie Brenston was actually the first Rock & roll song. It’s usally said that that’s the first song and Chuck Berry is the first artist. There were other artists such as Buddy Holly and the Crickets who started to blow up in popularity slightly after them. His music in particular was influenced by Elvis. Sadly, Buddy Holly died in a plane crash during his rise to fame. Around the same time of the plan crash Elvis was drafted, Chuck Berry was arrested on violation of the Mann act, Little Richard returned to gospel, and the Payola scandal took place. This all marked the end of the first wave of rock & roll. The Payola scandal shaped the industry for years to come. This scandal tried to demonize rock & roll by saying no deejay would every play this barbarous music unless they were paid to do so. This practice was not illegal, but they were still investigated for antitrust charges. A philistine government, unable to understand what rock & roll offered the youth decided to investigate on distaste alone. Rock & roll has always been the music of rebellion.  In summary, rock & roll has always been a melting pot of different genres and crossovers many times. The artists that composed the first era had different backgrounds and influences. Because of this these artists often did other genres outside of rock & roll. Elvis and Billy did rockabilly which is a mash between rock & roll and country/western. Little Richard did gospel and Chuck Berry did blues. Rock & roll came from the culmination of all American music coming together to make something new that appealed to the younger generation. This music was created because of the increased participation in the market by teens and young adults in buying music. Rock & Roll is the culmination of all American music that came before it’s time and continues to influence genres it once was influenced by.  Lambert, Louise. “How Did Rock & Roll Music Begin?” Our Pastimes, 15 Sept. 2017, Retrieved January 24, 2021, from ourpastimes.com/how-did-rock-roll-music-begin-12336913.html.  Ch. 3: Rock is Born! (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://ampopmusic.com/topic/ch-3-rockis-born  Ch. 9: Payola – Rock ‘n’ Roll’s First Scandal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 24, 2021, from https://ampopmusic.com/topic/ch-9-payola-rock-n-rolls-first-scandal

Father and Son: How Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was Shaped by His Father.

Hey guys I had to do a major project in college. I decided to write about how Leopold Mozart shaped his son. The prospectus will be attached at the end so you guys could see what I did. 🙂 I hope you guys enjoy!

Most people only know about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and not his father Leopold. Wolfgang was born in 1756 and he was the seventh child of Leopold Mozart. That is only a small part of the saga of his life. Often his father gets glazed over. When people talk about Mozart, we most certainly are only speaking of Wolfgang. He is thought of as the great one, or the miracle child composer. It is often alluded to that his talent came into being miraculously. Even the great Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart had to be taught how to play and write music. It is a gift, but not one that developed in a vacuum. We do not often ask who was the parent of this amazing composer. But people fail to realize that Leopold laid the foundation for his son’s greatness. Leopold had a gift for the arts just like his famous son. It was passed down not only through blood, but work and dedication. Leopold on his own was a gifted musican and a perfect teacher for Wolfgang. He wanted the best for his children and tried to help them along on their musical journey. No doubt that his life influenced him to be this way. Understanding Leopold is critical for understanding how Wolfgang developed. Without his father Wolfgang’s abilities, he would not have shined through at such a young age. “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart came of a family belonging originally to the artisan class.”[1] The fact that he had time and resources dedicated to him allowed him to learn and play from an early age. He actually started to play the harpsichord at age three. “The boy’s early talent for music was remarkable. At three he was picking out chords on the harpsichord, at four playing short pieces, at five composing.”[2] That would not have been possible without his father. Soon after Mozart started composing and sharing his gift with the world. How did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s father impact his son? 
Readmore... Why is understanding Leopold and his parenting so important for understanding Wolfgang? Leopold had great aspirations for his son and he gave Wolfgang the tools he needed to succeed. Leopold’s life convinced him to help his children towards a musical career. He was born 1719 as the son of a book binder and he had no famous composers in his family. Leopold got an education in philosophy and law while still pursuing his music. He evidently loved music most of all because soon after graduating he fully embraced his music and started to make a living with it. Leopold’s prowess should not be taken lightly. His gift for music was remarkable and he was a genius in his own right. “Leopold Mozart, the father of Wolfgang Amadeus, was not a member of a renowned family of musicians. He can, however, by no means be placed on the same modest level as Johann Beethoven or Jakob Brahms.” [3] A major difference between Leopold and his son is that he naturally kept aiming for a higher and higher positions in life. Leopold worked well under authority because of his drive and the fact that his potential employers were all in authoritative positions in life, he adjusted early. He was impulsive, but in a different way than his son. If there was an opportunity, he would take it. Leopold had a vibrant career before he had children. He wrote Opus 1, which were six Trio Sonatas for two violins and a bass. His works are in the league of their own when comparing them to other composers from famous musican/composer families. After Leopold had published this music, he got accepted as a musician for Count Thun at Salzburg. He was the fourth violinist in the church and eventually worked his way up to second violinist. He also worked as a teacher of violin to the choirboys and eventually became vice-conductor. He got adept to teaching children because of his career and this helped him teach his own offspring. Leopold Mozart was not born into a family of privilege but created it for his son. Leopold through the years gained connections and built his own reputation. This furthers the point that his son’s fame did come to the detriment of his own. He wanted the best for his children and because his aspirations for them he was able to get them far beyond than they would have been able to on their own. Not to mention that he taught them because he loved them. He gave up his own career for them. His journey is not too different to musicians’ parents who try to help their children make it in the music industry. Leopold was a great composer and had he not had children or given so much time to them he would be the Mozart that we would remember. Some believe that his son’s fame took away from his own. “Leopold Mozart’s genius-son, far from helping his father towards fame, deprived him of it. Leopold Mozart’s achievements, remarkable though they were in themselves, could not but fade completely beside the brilliant figure of his son.”[4] But Wolfgang did not just take away from Leopold’s fame, Wolfgang took away his father’s career. It was evident that Leopold would have gone to great places had he chosen a different path than putting his all into his children. In the end it was his choice and his life. I do not believe that he would have had it any other way.  Besides his drive for his children to succeed, he still had a passion for music. Leopold wanted his children to succeed and since he had experience in music, he helped them through that avenue. He felt like it was his personal duty to his children to teach them and help them. It is a very natural thing for a parent to do whatever they can for their children. Even though he gave up his own personal aspirations, he projected them on to his children. He wanted them to get great positions as court musicians or/and composers. Back then that was really the steadiest and best paying job that a musican could have. Leopold wanted to help his children create a stable life and income. Leopold taught his children everything he could and was the sole provider of their education. Leopold started his children’s education early. This is evident by the fact that Wolfgang started to play the harpsicord at age three. Soon after he started playing the harpsicord Wolfgang Mozart would play songs that his father wrote for him. They were kept in this little journal/ book. Leopold also taught his children how to play the violin. He had a preference for the violin because he was primarily a violinist. Once Leopold taught his children everything that he could, he focused on their careers. He took his children across Europe to perform. The family wrote many letters during this time. They performed for many possible future employers. The Mozart’s went to Germany, Brussels, Paris, London, Holland, and returned to Salzburg. All of this was possible because Leopold had connections from his work. Later in life Wolfgang felt like his father shaped every creative decision that he ever made. He felt stifled under Leopold. When he was younger this was not a problem to him. We truly will never know the extent of how much of Wolfgang’s work up to that point was really his father’s. If Wolfgang truly was smothered to the extent that he said he was, then it would prove the prowess of his father even more. Wolfgang felt controlled, but Leopold’s composing influence significantly helped Wolfgang. His father’s tutelage created a backbone for other works he would create. He is very much his father’s creation. He is an extension of Leopold, although he would never admit that.  Leopold’ efforts shaped more of Mozart than just his musical prowess. Leopold’s parenting shaped his son’s personality and image. “His parents were to be congratulated for knowing “so well how to unite and nurture in you the moral and the natural man. “His father, Leopold Mozart, was regarded as God’s surrogate in this matter, guiding the development of his son.”[5] Wolfgang was a child prodigy, and his reputation is due to his father’s efforts to showcase his son’s talent. Wolfgang was seen as a genius and an anomaly. He was a soft and sensitive child who listened to his father. Since He was exposed to so much music as a child, he synthesized many different elements and styles into one. “Austrian composer, son of Leopold Mozart. His style essentially represents a synthesis of many different elements, which coalesced in his Viennese years, from 1781 on, into an idiom now regarded as a peak of Viennese Classicism.”[6] A lot of Wolfgang’s style came from his father directly or indirectly. Traveling across Europe helped develop him. Wolfgang was not nearly as successful in his adult life; many people could only see Wolfgang the child prodigy not the composer. Possibly fame at such a young age might have taken a toll on young Wolfgang. His father tried to help his son, but Wolfgang had become prideful as he grew older. Like his father Wolfgang had his own aspirations. He was impulsive and followed his heart. But the fundamental difference between them was that Leopold was never born privileged and Wolfgang was. This difference in how their lives played out led to stark contrast between them. Wolfgang respected his father, but he disagreed with him early into his adult life. Wolfgang worked for the Prince-Archbishop of Salzburg. Wolfgang felt confined by his position, although in his father’s eyes it would have been the end goal or at least an amazing job to have. Even though this was an amazing opportunity, Wolfgang sought independence and wanted to forge his own path. He could not resist his own desires, to his peril. Wolfgang due to pride felt like he was a servant under the Prince. He felt like his father was breathing down his neck and the church would not get off his back. Wolfgang felt like his music was confined and he could not express himself. Wolfgang left going to Vienna. He left his father in Salzburg and their relationship was never the same. “Leopold understood that this once devotedly obedient son had realized his independence and sought maturation in Vienna.”[7] Wolfgang felt like none of those over him could see his personal “enlightenment. His father, instead of a teacher, was an overseer in Wolfgang’s eyes. He could never truly escape his father’s influence no matter how much he wanted to. After he left, his life was not nearly as successful as it could have been. The absolute worst thing that could be taken from Wolfgang’s observations is that his father was overbearing and even then, Wolfgang’s grievances where with the church and the prince mostly. His father approving and tweaking his creative decisions where minor compared to the major stresses of authority he endured. His father did have to raise seven other children. It is amazing that he was able to do what he did for Wolfgang. There is something to be said about the differences between how son and father handled the stress of being under authority. Leopold strived believing he was creating a stable life for him and his family. His son did not. Wolfgang could only see that his creative decisions were made by people other than him. Wolfgang was very close to being a spoiled brat. His father got him the post so he could have a stable income. Leopold did possibly force his son into a box that he did not feel comfortable in, but I believe that Wolfgang should have talked it out with his father. Him leaving without telling his father and sending a letter afterwards was a bit crass. Wolfgang was most likely babied as a child, especially since he was so sensitive and sweet. After being praised as a child genius he probably developed an ego. It is evident in his wording of how the prince and church could not see his personal enlightenment.  Leopold shaped his son in many ways. He taught his son how to play and compose music. Leopold shaped his son’s early personality. He gave his son the opportunity for an amazing career. Wolfgang as he got older no longer saw eye to eye with his father. His childhood fragility gave way to pride. Wolfgang felt like his father was not a guiding hand, but his father was a hinderance to his creative freedom. Without Leopold there would be no Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Leopold’s choices helped Wolfgang get into the public consciousness. Wolfgang himself couldn’t stay there. Leopold was the fundamental driving force in Wolfgang’s career and he truly wanted Wolfgang to succeed. Leopold was willing to do anything and everything to help his son succeed. Wolfgang destroyed the life that Leopold created for him.  [1] Otto Jahn, Life of Mozart (London: Novello, Ewer, 1882), 3.  [2] Encyclopedia Britannica, “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,” accessed August 20, 2020,https://www.britannica.com/biography/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart#ref15610.  [3] Geiringer, Karl, “Leopold Mozart,” The Musical Times 78, no. 1131 (1937): 401.  [4] Geiringer, Karl, “Leopold Mozart,” The Musical Times 78, no. 1131 (1937): 401.  [5] Solomon, Maynard, “Mozart: The Myth of the Eternal Child,” 19th-Century Music 15, no. 2 (1991): 96  [6] Grove Music Online, “Mozart, (Johann Chrysostom) Wolfgang Amadeus,” accessed August 20, 2020, https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-6002278233.  [7] Thomas McPharlin Ford, “Between Aufklärung and Sturm und Drang: Leopold and Wolfgang Mozart’s View of theWord.” (PhD diss, University of Adelaide, 2010.), 2.
Annotated Bibliography/Prospectus

Leopold’s influence on his son Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in 1756. He was the seventh child born in his family and his father happened to a composer, Leopold Mozart. Because of Leopold’s background in music it inspired him to teach his children and have others do so as well. Leopold would give his children pieces of music to play at a very young age. Mozart started to play the harpsichord at age three. Soon after he started composing and sharing his gift with the world. Mozart as a child loved and admired his father. Leopold had great aspirations for his son and gave his son the tools and knowledge to follow through. How did Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s father affect his son musically in the early years?  Anderson, Emily. The Letters of Mozart and His Family. 4th ed. London, England: Macmillan Reference Limited, 1997.  This source is a catalog of Mozart’s and his family’s letters to each other. The letters are arranged by date and managed in sections. The first letter is actually Mozart’s father writing someone called Lorenz. He immediately brought up his son and how he played for the bishop. The book is basically a catalog for the letters of the Mozart family. There are footnotes for the reader to understand context and what certain words mean.  Eisen, Cliff, and Stanley Sadie. “Mozart, (Johann Chrysostom) Wolfgang Amadeus.” Grove Music Online. 2001; Accessed 20 Aug. 2020. https://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/grovemusic/view/10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.001.0001/omo-9781561592630-e-6002278233. This source goes offers broad strokes and some detail about Mozart’s entire life. The work talks some about Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s family. I will primarily use section one of the article “Ancestry and early childhood”. The section starts with the baptism of Mozart and then ends with the family going back to Salzburg.  Ford, Thomas McPharlin. “Between Aufklärung and Sturm und Drang: Leopold and Wolfgang Mozart’s View of the Word.” PhD diss, University of Adelaide, 2010.  This source goes over the entirety of Leopold’s and Wolfgang’s relationship and world views. I will use information from chapters 1 and 3 mostly. Chapter 1 goes over Leopold Mozart and how he was shaped. It starts off with his early life and ends with the birth of Wolfgang. Chapter 3 starts off with Mozart’s birth and ends with Mozart’s 1777 trip to Paris. I will mostly use the later parts of chapter 1 and the earlier parts of chapter 3. The entire thesis is about the world views of both the Leopold and Wolfgang Mozart. This thesis also talks about the progression and regression of their relationship.  Geiringer, Karl. “Leopold Mozart.” The Musical Times 78, no. 1131 (1937): 401-04.  This article starts off with saying that Mozart’s fame took away from his father’s. It goes into a basic introduction into his life. The article says during his last twenty years he stagnated. It talks about how when he wrote “Violin School” the he reached his zenith. The article goes into a basic overview about Leopold’s church compositions. It continues on with some of Leopold’s impact on his son and how their relationship got strained and cold over time.  Jahn, Otto. Life of Mozart. 3 vols. London: Novello, Ewer, 1882.  This source covers a large portion of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s life starting with his childhood. I will primarily use Chapter 1 for the paper. It covers Mozart’s childhood in detail. It also bit of his father’s childhood and gives some inkling about both of their characters.  Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus. The Letters of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1769-1791). Translated by Grace Wallace. 2 vol. New York: Hurd and Houghton, 1866.  This source has a catalog of Mozart’s letters. The letters are arranged by date. This source also has an author that gives more information about Mozart, his upbringing and father in pages three through six. The author then continues on with the letters. Between the letters the author explains relationships and events to the reader to understand the context of the letters. I will search for different pieces in the book that talk about Leopold and his son’s relationship.  Sadie, Stanley. “Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – The Central Viennese Period.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, inc., 23 2020, www.britannica.com/biography/Wolfgang-Amadeus-Mozart/The-central-Viennese-period. Accessed 20 Aug. 2020.  This covers some of the basics about Mozart’s and his father’s life. I will use information from the “Introduction and Quick Facts” and the “Early Life and Works” section. The article describes aspects about Mozart’s personality and how musically gifted he was. At three years old he started playing the harpsichord. It then starts to go into some of his compositions.  Solomon, Maynard. “Mozart: The Myth of the Eternal Child.” 19th-Century Music 15, no. 2 (1991): 95-106.  This article goes over the perception’s others had of Mozart as a child. It has flowery descriptions of Mozart’s abilities. It says that Mozart was talented, but he also was a bit of a trickster. When sight reading a piece, he would make up certain parts if what was written was too hard for him. His father went on in the article about how much he loved Mozart and how perfect Mozart was. Leopold suspected that his child might not even make it to adulthood. Apparently, Mozart was very ill looking. The article goes on about how as Mozart aged; they only immortalized the younger childhood version of himself. Mozart’s gifts also benefited his father’s reputation.

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