Resonance Project: Song Storylines.
Donna G talks about her lyrics.
Introduction:
Oftentimes in the music industry, people might ask what it was that prompted a songwriter’s lyrics. If the lyric is too esoteric or too ‘clever’ the average person won’t necessarily know what it is supposed to mean, so you are advised to write in a ‘language’ that everyone can understand to make your music a more saleable commodity. You want people to relate to it straight away. Good advice… more so if you’re only speaking to the average person.
For me, my lyrics come from a combination of personal experiences and opinions about some of the times I’ve had in my life, overviews of others’ experiences and how they reflect on myself, another or the world as a whole, and most of it stems back to a time when I was a street kid (15 – 17) and the world I discovered on the way through to finding my way to a better place. I write to those who might understand what it is to go through life’s darker trials and who eventually find their way into the light. There’s a crossover point where you start to see things as a survivor of life’s larger and darker challenges, and in that space is an understanding. This is where I draw the inspiration for my lyrics.
Pink Floyd have had a huge impact in my life (being the ‘peace and understanding’ band that helped me through my teenage years) and this is predominantly ‘the place’ that relates best to me, and perhaps helps to explain to some degree the internal place from where I source my writing.
That’s not to say that every lyric is necessarily purely peaceable. At times, there is also a note of sarcasm and even opinionating. In some (probably most) cases, a spade is a spade, and with that there are also the questions ‘why, where, how & what for?’… ‘Does anybody stop to think?’… ‘Is there ‘up’ from here?’ Also along with that come a few answers. Why would I give the answers when it’s up to the listener to interpret the lyrics for themselves and perhaps find something of benefit for themselves by finding their own answers through the music? Well, basically because if you come from the same place I do, you’ll know when they ring true.
Therein lays the theory behind the name, “Resonance Project”. I hope that my lyrics speak to you and resonate within you to the point that it makes some kind of a difference – like Pink Floyd did for me. Graham’s arrangements bring the dynamics of these songs to life.
Being a ‘Rock’ female with a ‘Floyd’ heart who has seen as much as any person probably can (which awakens the mettle of a person and partially the Metal), I hope that you can relate to the tracks, the sound of my voice and the feel of our music.
We were once of a Pink Floyd era… and then I had to rock with that to survive. Led Zeppelin came along for the next stages of life, along with bands like Deep Purple, Heart, Van Halen, AC/DC, Rush, Whitesnake, Ozzy, Dio and all the offshoots to follow. There have been some great rock and metal bands to line the road, and although I haven’t taken ‘all’ of their advice, I’ve listened and been inspired by them all for one thing or another.
I find it interesting that even today with the evolution (supposed) of man, the record companies can still ‘bunch’ the rock, metal & esoteric progress of music into the ‘violent’ category, thinking that this is what it will envoke in people. If you’re reading this, Mr. and Mrs. Exec., we’re not all bouncing or moving in unity for aggression’s sake, except for possible frustrations’ sake; we’re screaming for peace and balance in a completely insane world. To the leaders and nay-sayers; this expression is more about saying ‘you’ve got it wrong and we’re not going with you’. I’d call that a human strength, not a detraction from the beauty that can be found in the human spirit when it strives for peace and humanity, that which you continue to try to dominate and destroy with your war games (on ‘any’ level).
If we’re all crazy, maybe it’s because you just don’t want to listen and abide the common man. Ironic really… perhaps my lyrics aren’t written for ‘your’ version of the common man.
I don’t want to control the common man or his/her opinion, as you might, I’d rather share with those who see and are prepared to believe in ‘there is better than this’.
As Andrew Denton is wont to say, “Society is to blame…”.
Songs Storylines:
Some of the backgrounds behind the songs of Resonance Project.
“Although people have their own interpretations and feelings about what some of the songs mean for them, this is where my lyrics began.” DG.
Fire in Your Liberty
People have said that this track is one of our most commercial tracks. It was coincidentally written just preceding and through 9/11. The lyric itself is one that refers to the exact moment that you are hit by an explicable wave of pain and sadness – at the moment of impact when you realize the only way up from this point is to leave the past behind and move forward. Total realization that it’s going to hurt no matter what you do, so you choose to start again with a clean slate. Change is paramount. Before you make that decision, you need to choose to have faith in the move you make. The clarity is that once you choose to have faith in yourself and your choice, you find the serenity within to know that you can’t change the moment past, but you can find the courage to face whatever lies ahead. Live life and learn from it all. What doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.
Resonance (Spirit of Man)
There are many people who already know how this song came about, but for those who don’t, here is its background. There is a humanitarian campaign, Stop Child Executions, which is in existence due to the efforts of an incredible human by the name of Nazanin Afshin-Jam. To become aware of all that this campaign entails (which is based on saving children from death row in Iran), please go to the website @ www.stopchildexecutions.com and become informed.
This song was written as a sign of support and friendship for the campaign members and for all of the minors who are currently on death row in Iran. Watch our video for Resonance (Sprit of Man) for insight into the general view we hold about this atrocity still happening today due to the misguided views of some MIB’s versions of what their Holy Koran (Quran) means – IN MY OPINION.
The lyric covers my disbelief at the way these MIB think and what must go through their minds, and irrespective of what they think is ‘right’, the rest of humanity wouldn’t necessarily agree. If those minors on death row could hear me, I ask them to keep the faith in their fellow humans and that one day there will be an end to the punishments that these Mullahs hand out so freely without fair, honest and reasonable trials. Some views are best expressed with music. This is Resonance (Spirit of Man).
Kings and Queens
This lyric relates to the acknowledgment and acceptance of change. Being at the crossroads where recognition of truth and understanding that nothing can change the past, but you can move forward into a better place, becomes a little more real and surreal and you have to take that step into your future, even if you can’t see around the corner to know what waits. All of those people who claimed to be a great leader, whether a teacher, a parent, a partner, a so called friend, a political or religious leader or any bully who has done their best to crush your strengths, finally have absolutely no power over you or what you choose to be your future. Stand on your own two feet and be proud as you accept the light of life and the shifting energies into your world, for only there will the truth resound so purely. You are strong enough to encourage change for yourself. You just have to choose it… and believe it… no matter what “a controller” has to say about it. Play a part in your own destiny.
Behind the Dreamer’s Veil
Behind the Dreamer’s Veil is a mild poke at the sub-conscious. We all have the answers within, even when we’d prefer to wallow in our own self pity. As they say, ‘you can only be where you’re at’ at any given point in your life. This song suggests that you are in tune with things as they should be, and you can’t get to the other side of an experience to gain the wisdom until you go through the process. While you’re going through that process, don’t forget that you will come through to the other side of it, even though it feels like a struggle at the time. Don’t kid yourself that you know everything. The power of the mind can be an incredible resource.
Rise & Fall
The emotions we face during some of the hardest moments of our lives for yet a second or third time. It’s tough going through something traumatic even the once, and you wonder how you’ll ever get through it, but to be faced with it again brings forward a well of emotions that really make you check yourself for that reliable piece of strength that you hope still resides in you. Getting up and on with it, sometimes, is the hardest thing to do. This track relates to facing the traumas that street life can bring, up to an including trying to keep friends off drugs, and watching a close friend die as the conclusion to heavy drug addiction – to have them tell you on their last night on earth to be stronger than them and to go on. You in turn have to convince yourself with everything you have to ‘get on with it and don’t look back’… and somehow you do… by surrendering to the fact that sometimes there is nothing you can do but to help yourself.
Eternity
Eternity is simply about the moment you discover your own spirituality. Although you may not be able to see in the material world for all of its blinding aspects, there is an inner knowing and third eye vision that guides every step you take from this moment forward, and an inner peace and complete joy you feel when you recognize and accept it instead of denying its existence. Completeness exists and we are happy to continue learning.
Home (The 7 minute epic)
Depicts a time of a Universal Awakening and draws it’s foundations from Spiritual Teachings, Amerindian wisdom and synchronistic patterns that were manifesting in the world at the time of its writing. (1997).
Walk On Water
A song of personal empowerment. If you have the courage to face everything head on and with relentless intent for the betterment of everything and everyone in your world, and if everybody followed the same belief, the analogy is that we could indeed walk on water.
Monastery Stone
Currently being recorded.
Run
Currently being recorded.