Urban Zombie

Experiment in Techno Soul....

2011-01-26T20:35:00.000-08:00

I've called this "Independent Soul"

Here's the download link (here)

I should write some more verses, but it's late and I'm tired...

Lyrics:

Woah woah woah..

Say it once, say it loud, say it clear
If you don't want me I don't need a souvenir
I'm movin' on
Oh babe I'm movin' on

After midnight, I'm still out here on the floor
Haven't seen you, I'm not hoping anymore
I'm movin' on
Oh babe I'm movin' on

And I don't always want to be
The one who breaks it off
But I don't think you're strong enough

Woah
Woah woah woah..

Say it once, say it loud, say it clear
If you don't want me I don't need a souvenir
I'm movin' on
Oh babe I'm movin' on

Oh babe I'm movin' on

Download Link

2010-03-25T11:07:00.000-07:00

Just in case the little mp3 player doesn't work - or you want to download it.

http://web.mit.edu/tesswise/Public/New%20Tess%20Music/Coleslaw%20on%20the%20side.mp3

Coleslaw on the side

2010-03-25T10:54:00.000-07:00

More Spring Break goodness....I should probably study now

When I feel like I'm losing my mind

I wanna know that you'll still be mine

When I get crazy

When I scream

I know you know what I really mean

I didn't mean to scare you, you know I didn't mean anything

So please, please come on home

Sweet sweet baby come on home

We both know that you're hiding out at the deli down the street

And oh, I apologize

I'm sure our wounds will heal with time

And if they don't, well, I'll find some way to make it up to you

And while you're at the deli could you grab me a sandwich?

You know they make an excellent pastrami sandwich

With coleslaw on the side

Now how can we fight with coleslaw on the side ?

Because we both love coleslaw, just not in our sandwiches

So please, please come on home

Sweet sweet baby come on home

I know you're mad, but we'll figure it out

And I'll make it up to you

And oh, I apologize

I'm sure these wounds will heal with time

Let's put the past behind us now

And eat pastrami sandwiches

Download Link

2010-03-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

Apparently the little mp3 player thing doesn't work on everyone's computer... here's a link - you can click to listen in your web-browser or you can 'save target as' to download.

http://web.mit.edu/tesswise/Public/New%20Tess%20Music/Love,%20don't%20let%20her%20get%20away-1.mp3

Love, don't let her get away

2010-03-22T12:04:00.001-07:00

New Song! Thank goodness for Spring Break.

V1:

Got a whole cupboard full of jars and cups

And if I run out of space

Gonna get me another one

Hey

Gonna bottle this love

Gonna store it all up

Gonna keep it for when it's all used up

And then

Hey

Coz I know I'll be lonely

And I know I'll be afraid

So gonna keep on bottling, bottling love

Gonna bottle it til it's all saved up

And then

Hey

C1:

I said love, don't let her get away

V2:

Got a whole cupboard full of jars of love

But now that you're gone

They don't mean so much to me

Hey

Well I bottled your love

And I saved it up

And now I'm ready to give it up

Coz I'm okay with being lonely

And I'm gonna let myself be afraid

Still I'll keep on bottling, bottling love

Gonna bottle it up so it's all saved up

Just in case

Hey

C2:

I said love, don't let her get away

Alibis

2009-12-21T19:28:00.000-08:00

Well..I don't really have one. Sorry for not updating this in forever. Here is a new song! I'm excited because it's been awhile since I've had the energy to see a project through. Turns out "alibis" is pretty hard to say...sorry about the weird vowels...

Here's the link - click, or you can just download.

Here!

Just Another Monday

2009-07-20T05:47:00.001-07:00

Hey guys! Sorry for the long hiatus. More stuff coming soon, promise! For now I'll leave you with this lovely tid bit. Jeremy Star, one of my best friends and a very talented rap artist, asked me to collaborate on this project. Lyrics and music by clicking the link.

http://www.yournamehere.co.nz/jeremy/

Red-eye to Boston

2009-06-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

This is song from 2008 (also not a stellar recording) but I'm posting it because a special someone is taking a red-eye and will be in Boston tomorrow! Yay!

V1:

You don't believe in riding coach or stopping 'long the way,
but I can't count the number of times I've been stalled down in LA.
I just can't bring myself to spend the extra buck or two,
so I'm always on the red-eye when I'm coming back to you.

Chorus 1:

Red-eye to Boston
Quiet at 6am
But I know you, and you'll never be up to see me before 10
So I pack my bags and call a cab
And when the night is blue
I'll be flying through the starry sky, coming back to you.

V2:

You don't believe in telling lies
It's admirable, it's true
So I won't pretend that I can keep my backs as green as you
Gotta play some gigs and bum a ride
and fly under the moon
Yes, I'm always on the red-eye
but at least I'll see you soon [out of tune EWWW]

Chorus 2:

Red-eye to Boston
Quiet at 6am
And all I can think's how good it will be to see your face again
I'm on the red-eye to Boston
and when the night is blue
I'll be flying through the starry sky coming back to you

Bad bridge:

Coz it's tough to be a mistress to this devil we call life
and I'll drive 'round in his beemer, but I'm not going to be the wife
And I guess that means the sometimes
Gotta fly under the moon
Yes, I'm always on the red-eye
but at least I'll see you soon

Chorus 3 :

Red-eye to Boston
Quiet at 6am
And all I can think's how good it will be to see your face again
I'm on the red-eye to Boston
and when the night is blue
I'll be flying through the starry sky coming back to you

Sha la la do be do

2009-06-04T21:24:00.000-07:00

Yup that's the name of the song

Hold my hand don't break my heart
I can see that from the start
We weren't meant to be apart
Sha la la la la

I could write some poetry
and hope you fall in love with me
Or maybe a soliloquy
Sha la la la la

Sha la la do be do

Hold me hand don't break my heart
And let's be happy from the start
Perfect just like apple tart
Sha la la la la

One day when we're old and gray
I'll look at you and then I'll say
I'm happy things worked out this way
Sha la la la la

Sha la la do be do

Hold my hand don't break my heart
I can see that from the start
We weren't meant to be apart
Sha la la la la

One day when we're old and gray
I'll look at you and then I'll say
I'm happy things worked out this way
Sha la la la la

Sha la la do be do

Oh là là

2009-05-29T23:25:00.000-07:00

I wrote this song when I lived in Belgium (in 2005/6), but I never recorded it because I thought it would take too long. Well, it did take most of the day, but here's a rough draft.

Again..it's all Garage Band, so only the built in mic...sorry! I also wish I sounded more like Gwen Stefani...le sigh

also..really sorry I put autoplay=false...but it seems to be having a bad day...

Yeah....that's dumb...here's a link

http://web.mit.edu/tesswise/Public/New%20Tess%20Music/Oh%20l%E0%20l%E0.mp3

So you're back
With a smile upon your face
You're still searching
For the spoils from the race
And you're looking
Half-way decent now-a-days
It's a shame
I only knew your darker phase

There's a smile
On the corners of your lips
And you think
You'll charm my hands right off my hips
So come in
And we can open up some wine
And let's talk
About the passages of time

And oh là là
Let's go sit 'round the table
And I'll try not to say
That I just don't think you're able
To love and be loved
And to drink from the chalice
Without choking on the lye
Without shifting the balast

You should know
From the fire in my eyes
That's it's over
No use waiting til sunrise
It was good
But every good thing has it's end
Drain your glass
And I'll toast to you my friend

And oh là là
Let's go sit 'round the table
And I'll try not to say
That I just don't think you're able
To love and be loved
And to drink from the chalice
Without choking on the lye
Without shifting the balast

And oh là là
Let's go sit 'round the table
And I'll try not to say
That I just don't think you're able
To love and be loved
And to drink from the chalice
Without choking on the lye
Without shifting the balast

Stardust

2009-05-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Since I'm home I had a piano and wrote a new song. I didn't have my good microphones so I did it all in Garage Band. Sorry!

Look as the city lights fade away and leave black space
I wished on an airplane as it hurried to some place
And I wonder where these dreams go when we're dead and when we're gone?
Winners and losers we'll all be singing the same song.

She's waiting on inspiration.
She's waiting on faith.
She wants to close her eyes and be blown into outer space.
Shimmering softly she can light up the human race.
Turn into stardust in her place of eternal grace.

Look as the city lights fade away and leave black space
I wished on an airplane as it hurried to some place
And where do these dreams go when we're dead and when we're gone?
Winners and losers we'll all be singing the same song.

Monday ughhh

2009-05-11T16:16:00.000-07:00

Nothing like trying to make up for the end of term craziness by wearing happy clothes...

Solo!

2009-05-10T17:24:00.000-07:00

So this is a video from the Chorallaries' Spring Concert 2009! It was my first real solo - I didn't quite nail it, but I did okay =). I also arranged the song. =)

Friday

2009-05-08T13:31:00.000-07:00

Viva le weekend (and the sunshine)!!!

DIY Necklace

2009-05-07T14:10:00.001-07:00

I've been looking for the perfect necklace for a few months now with little success. This isn't it, but at least it didn't cost me anything. Not to be too cheesy...but I like how the pieces sorta correspond to some of the main parts of my life.

Thursday

2009-05-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

Guess what?! I got a job for the summer! Now I can make some money and buy a real camera...maybe a tripod too.

(oh...and I've already started the shoe wish list...)

Grace

2009-04-26T21:24:00.000-07:00

Lookie!!! A new song!

I got a new mp3 player!!! Isn't it cute?!

This song is about growing up.

She was only 17
She had her life left to lead
Well I don't know her any more
She left and she slammed the back door
And now everything has turned to gray
And I don't have any words left to say
And where did she go?
I think I lost her somewhere in the show

Now well, I've fallen out of grace
Far from your sweet wide-eyed face
Well I ain't see the worst of this place
And I've got no excuses again

So turn your collar up against the wind
Hold your breath until the lights grow dim
And wait until the picture's drawn
Coz maybe she's in there and maybe she's gone

Oooh well I've fallen out of grace
Oooh well I've fallen out of grace
Oooh well I've fallen out of grace

Coz she was only 17
She had her life left to lead
And where did she go?
I think I lost her somewhere in the show.
I think I lost her somewhere in the show.
I think I lost her somewhere in the show.

Sunday

2009-04-26T14:03:00.001-07:00

I found this skirt at a store called "Valley Girl" in Wellington, New Zealand. It has little hearts all over it. Also, you can't see it, but the shoes are pretty worn to death...I just love them too much to retire them...

Saturday

2009-04-26T14:02:00.001-07:00

Sorry not to post until today. I got distracted by the Ben Folds/Sara Bareilles concert (yes, it was awesome!).

Color-spiration

2009-04-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

What are your favourite colour palettes?

Friday

2009-04-24T17:22:00.000-07:00

You're going to see these shoes a lot. I *LOVE* these shoes.

I promise I'll wear some new colours tomorrow. But I do love this pallet...

Also, some day I will get a new camera and stop using PhotoBooth.

Thursday

2009-04-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Okay. I know it seems pretty self-absorbed, so I won't pretend that it's not. I just realized that a lot of my inspiration for outfits comes from various people's "fashion diaries" and I thought I'd give back. Also, maybe I'll finally figure out what looks good on me. Don't worry I'll still use this blog for music. Actually I was thinking that might be a nice way to "diary myself'" - music and clothes! Okay...Here it goes!

Oh high school....

2009-04-22T19:52:00.000-07:00

I was 15 when I wrote this.

Invisible Girl

Viewin' the world from behind a shaggy hairdo
He looks like Cleopatra's Anthony.
He doesn't care much 'bout school or doin' homework
Takes life in stride, say's that's the way it's supposed to be.

CHORUS:
Do do do
Doesn't notice me
do do do
doesn't really see
do do do
way too cool for me
Coz I'm invisible girl

Riding his bike up and down the street
he looks so cool with those skater shoes
Smiles at me, but I can see he doesn't know me
I'm just another face to confuse

Chorus X2

BRIDGE:
And when walks
He walks right past me
And when he smiles
He smiles right through me
If only I could catch his eye, he'd see

but

Chorus X2 as before...

I saw him, three years later on
Stopped to talk, said he'd known me all along
but when he asked me what my name was
I knew that things would be the same coz:

Chorus X2 as before

I know...it's been a while

2009-04-21T17:58:00.000-07:00

This is from 2007. I promise I'll write some new stuff once the semester's over..

Sideways

I've been searching
The whole world over
Callin' sideways
Will you hear me out, hear me out?
I've been racing
Down your byways
Callin' sideways
Will you hear me out, hear me out?
Coz I can hardly breathe without you
And I'll do whatever you want to

I've been searching
Readin' my lines
Callin' sideways
Will you hear me out, hear me out.
February's just the name we call that time when we let it out let it out.
Coz I can hardly breathe without you
And I'll do whatever you want to

Can't move up and
Can't move down and
Callin' sideways
Will you hear me out, hear me out?

Can't move up and
Can't move down and
Callin' sideways
Will you hear me out, hear me out?
Coz I can hardly breathe without you
And I'll do whatever you want to

Do do do

Can't move up and
Can't move down and
Callin' sideways
Will you hear me out, hear me out?

Can't move up and
Can't move down and
Callin' sideways
Will you hear me out, hear me out?
Coz I can hardly breathe without you
And I'll do whatever you want to

La la la

2009-02-05T13:07:00.000-08:00

My computer's getting fixed so I thought I'd post another vintage song. Originally written in 2003(I think..) I rewrote the words and added some new parts in 2008.

La la la

la la la

la la la

la la la

I've seen you before
At the bar just down the street
You always smile when I walk past
And what would it take
to make you buy me a drink
or maybe talk to me at last?

I'll wear those shoes
I'll wear that dress
I'll even try to do my hair
But sometimes I think
that no matter what I do
You'd continue not to care

So I won't go writing love songs for you baby
Make a dramatic tragedy
No I won't go writing love songs for you honey
but I might just sing

la la la

la la la

Well let me say
that my heart still skips a beat
every time I catch your eye
but I'm too scared to just tell you how I feel
Any time you walk by

So I won't go writing love songs for you baby
Make a dramatic tragedy
No I won't go writing love songs for you darling
but i might just sing sing sing sing

la la la

la la la

I'll keep dreaming of the day when you stop and look my way, and I can finally something, but I don't know what to say to you...

la la la

I've seen you before
at the bar just down the street
you always smile when I walk past
And what would it take
to make you buy a drink
and maybe talk to me at last?

la la la

la la la

la la la

New mp3 player

2009-01-29T15:03:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! I'm trying a new mp3 player - it should help the page load faster. Let me know if you have any problems =)

-tess

Blurry

2009-01-27T11:19:00.000-08:00

This time I even managed to make it stereo !

Blurry

You
Lying on the bed
Listenin' to the music playing in your head
And you
Always seem so sad
And I can never
Never understand
How
Did we get this far?
When we're always cryin' at night
Well, I wouldn't change where we are
So I guess we're doing something right

Coz in this blurry world
Somehow you're always so clear
And I can't help but thinkin'
It's all just a game my dear, my dear

And I'm staring at the pictures
Relivin' it all in my mind
Putting together the pieces
Make this feel less like we're flying blind

Coz in this blurry world
Somehow you're always so clear
And I can't help but thinkin'
It's all just a game my dear, my dear
And I'm tryin' to love you
Yeah I'm tryin' to love you
Oo I'm tryin' to love you
Yeah I'm tryin' to love you
Love you

You
Lying on the bed
Listenin' to the music playing in your head
And you
Always seem so sad
And I can never
Never understand

Coz in this blurry world
Somehow you're always so clear
And I can't help but thinkin'
It's all just a game my dear, my dear
And I'm tryin' to love you
Yeah I'm tryin' to love you
Oo I'm tryin' to love you
Yeah I'm tryin' to love you
And I'm tryin' to love you
Yeah I'm tryin' to love you
Oo I'm tryin' to love you
Yeah I'm tryin' to love you
Love you

Ghosts

2009-01-21T20:15:00.000-08:00

I used the Mbox and a real mic! Also...2 sentences might not be enough lyrics...heh.

Ghosts

And I would walk the world to be with you. Da na na na.

Sometimes I feel as if I'm looking at our ghosts, and I might wake and find our lives were this ("games" 2nd time) at most.

Vintage Tess : Nightmares (2006)

2009-01-15T15:44:00.000-08:00

I wrote this in 2006. It's not the best quality recording (sorry!) but it's on the top of my list of songs to "redo" with better background/vocals/percussion/instruments etc... What do you think?

Nightmares

It's stormy this September and I'm sitting on my balcony
Watching the flames of streetlights flicker 'cross a black sea
and there's a song on the radio
some sweet old melody
that reminds me that I'm all alone
but I don't know where I'd like to be
do do do

it's a long way to California
To bury my toes in the sad
And all the dreams of dreamtown
Won't turn it into the promised land
So let's keep on building mansions
buy up the land of the free
I'll be turning the pages of my paperback to escape from this reality
do do do

CHORUS:
And the man on the street
Says it's time to go back to 1959
Well, I've never been there, and I'm stuck around here
Wonderin' what to make of my own time
They'll keep fighting their wars
They'll keep paying their whores
and we'll all sleep tight at night
And when all of our worst nightmares come true
Maybe we'll just give up the fight.
do do do

Some people turn to Jesus
Some turn on their computer screen
Some hide behind their poety
with only their music for company.
And my song plays on the radio
That sweet old melody
Makes me think of candlelight and street lamps on a black sea

CHORUS X2

And when all of my worst nightmares come true, maybe I'll just give up the fight.

Angry Song

2009-01-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

Chris said to write a punk song

I'm not actually angry...it's just hard to write happy punk songs....

Angry Song

It was simple at the start
I never thought that you would break my heart
But here I am, burning letters
And writing angry songs

Push the pins into this voodoo doll
I hope that you fall off a wall
While I wait I'll delete your emails
And write some angry songs

It's okay
I'm okay
It's okay
It's all okay

Well here it goes
It's simple and it's plain
I hoped that you would share the blame
But here I am, removing you from photos
And writing angry songs

They say it's okay
You're okay
They say it's okay
It's all okay

I'm writing angry songs
I'm writing angry songs
I'm writing angry songs
It's all okay

It's all okay
I'm writing angry songs
It's all okay
I'm writing angry songs
It's all okay
I'm writing angry songs

Passing Cars

2009-01-06T18:48:00.000-08:00

I decided to try something different

Passing Cars

We're
Passing
Cars
Watching
Lights
Fade
Away

And We're
So
Afraid
So
Alone
So
Confused

Ooo
All I want is you
Ooo
All I want is you

We're
Stealing
Looks
Turning
Heads
Other
Ways

And who
Will be
First
To
Give in
Say it's
Okay

Ooo
All I want is you
Ooo
All I want is you

Love Song for Someone

2009-01-05T16:46:00.001-08:00

Originally this song was called "Love Song for No One"

I actually wrote this last year, but only recorded it this year.

Love Song for Someone

Baby I don't want to say
The way you make me feel
Like no one else is in the room
Like no one else is real
And when we kiss
It's like fireworks
On the fourth of July
So I'm thanking
All my lucky stars
You're mine

'Coz any fool can fall in love
They say it happens all the time
Then you find you're on your own
No one there to ease your mind
But when we kiss
Oh I feel like I could fly
So I'm thanking
All my lucky stars
You're mine

'Coz I've been around
And I know how it feels
Holdin' out for dreams
That you don't believe are real
And I've rolled my dice
And I've taken a chance or two
So I think this time
I might take a chance
On you

But when we kiss
Oh I feel like I could fly
So I'm thanking
All my lucky stars
You're mine

Haircut!

2009-01-03T19:10:00.000-08:00

So if you're interested in my music...you're probably interested in me as well.

I just got a haircut today. Nothing drastic there, just tidied things up. The drastic part, for those who know me, is that my hair is the longest it's been since I was....8? I'm also trying out a slightly different colour (or a very different colour depending on when you last saw me). Sorry that the picture is mirrored - I used photobooth.

Coffee

2009-01-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

This song needs a better title. Any ideas?

Just a short jazz sketch

Coffee

I couldn't sleep
So went out walking
The dogs were quiet
And the streets were calm
I rested my head for a minute
and I heard a voice asking
Who
Who could have done you wrong?

I couldn't sleep
So I started making coffee
I pour the milk
Like a tornado in a cup
I raised the cup to my lips
and I heard a voice asking
Who
Who could have set you up?

I couldn't sleep
So went out walking
The dogs were quiet
And the streets were calm
I rested my head for a minute
and I heard a voice asking
Who
Who could have done you wrong?

Postcard

2009-01-02T20:02:00.001-08:00

First song of 2009

Think film noir - or the end credits from a thriller

Postcard

Oh my love
Do you remember
That summer day
Aux Tuilieries
We watched the ducks
Then you said
Let's run away
Let's run away

So here I am
Somewhere North of L.A.
Feeding the ducks
And watching the people
Like a bad B-grade movie
But isn't this life?
Isn't this life?

Oh my love
I wrote you a postcard
There wasn't much space
To put down my thoughts
To put down my dreams
So I drew a chair
And left it at that
Left it at that

So here I am
Somewhere North of L.A.
Feeding the ducks
And watching the people
Like a bad B-grade movie
But isn't this life?
Isn't this life?

Ironic In the Aftermath

2009-01-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

Last song of 2008

Ironic In the Aftermath

And here we go
And here we go
We're counting our dreams,
Counting our dreams again
It seems
It seems
And I don't know
How long they go
Those unraveling seams
The pieces are falling apart

And oh
I'll sit and contemplate our fate
Maybe buy
A needle and thread
So it will be
Even more ironic in the aftermath
They'll you had it all
Why didn't you just sew it back?

They'll tie our hands
With golden bands
That once were a part
A piece or some art
Or maybe not
mmm
So here we are
We'll show our scars
At art galleries
With sewing machines and thread

And oh
We'll sit and contemplate our fate
Maybe buy
A needle and thread
So it will be
Even more ironic in the aftermath
They'll say you had it all
Why didn't you just sew it back?