Newsletter #6: Monks at a Tea Party

Today, I'm spotlighting a beautiful and peaceful meditation i composed with Blake Zolfo last year called "Monks at a Tea Party."

Going against the current pop trend for shorter and shorter songs, this four-part 17-minute piece begins with "Letting Go" and moves through four phases of relaxation and meditation, but also inspiration and energizing with an end piece called "Safe and Sound."

And no, there are no monks chanting at a tea party. I named it that humorously to describe a moment of stillness in a world of random silliness, avoidance and chaos.

If you're looking for music to relax and de-stress, I highly recommend carving out these few minutes, lying back in a quiet place with a cup of tea or other refreshment and giving "Monks at a Tea Party" a listen.

I created a hypnotic short film featuring the music, which you can find on YouTube.
https://youtu.be/p4DPaT51TIo?si=vvnT5tRcs5tJLQhD

Spotify link:
https://open.spotify.com/track/0dAmYiUOwxIgBz9KooKktm?si=15c9b58d548447da

Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/monks-at-a-tea-party-feat-steve-schalchlin-blake-zolfo-ep/1701510138

Amazon Music:
https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0CDZ2LT2L?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_7C9KX6HbwhYPq3XYKlbl19mat&trackAsin=B0CDZGVJ7M

As always, you are free to stream the piece, but if you purchase it at Apple or Amazon, it's the best way to support independent artists. It's only 99-cents.

Newsletter #5: Steve Goes Punk?

I told you in previous newsletters about singing Beatles songs in Central Park with Gavin Gold, my South African punk rocker friend from the band Rebel Nerds. We met at a songwriter group and became fast friends.

The Rebel Nerds have a comical, tuneful twist to their music that is totally accessible. Naturally I had to horn in on the act by writing lyrics for them.

So the spotlight single this week is "Sooner or Later," which may be the most mainstream song of the bunch -- and even got a good run on a Bruce Ravid's popular alt-rock playlist, up against a lot of mainstream, big label artists.

Give it a spin and tell me what you think! (And listen to that killer bass line!) I love this YouTube video version with the lyrics: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dknUvJL90Ac Sooner or Later: Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/track/5TbFH1N5FH7lVkPn7ctCzl?si=71c8d0d559dd4533

Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/sooner-or-later/1571781221?i=1571781226

Amazon Music:

https://amazon.com/music/player/albums/B0BBPFJ62P?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_DJPKHRPrI3xHQdeAACeQevgog

Here's the whole playlist of Rebel Nerd/Steve Schalchlln collaborations:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UwIQFVhykonJlfKtweKzw?si=4ca7084c13a34a9a

As always, purchasing music from these stores helps support indie artists like myself, but feel free to stream for free or share the links. My gift is my song and this one's for you!

Newsletter #4: Someone to Get Groceries With

Last year, I was feeling so old and tired, I literally told myself I was never going to write another song. That I was out of ideas. Exhausted.

Suddenly this year, I'm writing the best songs of my life. There's a lesson here, that if you stop trying so hard and just let the stress and expectations go, the light of inspiration will pop up and shine everywhere you're not looking. That's how this song happened.

It came from a personal ad brought to me by Blake Zoflo, from my Bonus Round Band. It was such an honest statement, "someone to get groceries with," I immediately wrote it down.

Maybe that wish was a reflection of how I was feeling, that instead of looking for THE GREAT AMERICAN SONG with high expectations or unrealistic goals, maybe what we really need in life is a simple song on a small scale, something clear and honest and real.

Blake helped me shape it and I recorded him singing it. If this doesn't melt your heart, you ain't got no heart! :)

Someone to Get Groceries With

Spotify link

https://open.spotify.com/track/5Pr3k6QuduSf0WzL4L3jgq?si=11df76d37a104641

YouTube link

https://youtu.be/vKeihne7JiQ?si=IfEwjwLqtxWbUtv4

Apple Music link

https://music.apple.com/us/album/someone-to-get-groceries-with-feat-bonus-round-band/1748334462?i=1748334463

Amazon Music link

https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0D4XCVRGL?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_lj1hJH2sw2ZxcAwkXTsrBQZ0t

If you purchase the track from Apple Music or Amazon, more money comes to the artists (that's me and Leo the cat!) but you are welcome to stream it for free.

If you wish to support my work more directly using PayPal or Venmo, use my email address steveshack@gmail.com.

[This is the hand crafted no-bot Steve Schalchlin Newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, just hit reply and send me a note. If you got this indirectly and you wish me to be on it, write me directly at steveshack@gmail.com! I send it out every Tuesday.]

-- Steve Schalchlin

Living in the Bonus Round

Spotify Links

Love Songs by Steve Schalchlin Spotify Playlist https://tinyurl.com/stevelovesongs

Personal Songs by Steve Schalchlin Spotify Playlist https://tinyurl.com/stevepersonal

Comic/Humor Songs by Steve Schalchlin Spotify Playlist https://tinyurl.com/stevehumor

Inspirational Songs by Steve Schalchlin Spotify Playlist https://tinyurl.com/steveinspire

Meditation Music by Steve Schalchlin Spotify Playlist https://tinyurl.com/stevemeditate

Political Songs by Steve Schalchlin Spotify Playlist https://tinyurl.com/stevepolitics

Newsletter #3: Oh You Devil

 Thank you for the wonderful notes I got last week after I talked about the loss of two of my best friends. It really warmed my heart to know I'm not alone. Many shared their own experiences of loss and how they coped.

Gavin Gold and I have been playing Beatles songs in Central Park at Strawberry Fields. I've been taping many of the tourists singing along. If you haven't seen them, they are adorable!

Here is "April" singing "Norwegian Wood" with me: 

https://youtu.be/wsq7fgb4k6Y?si=Gw4KYH2-9HjdGxZR

Here are a bunch of tourists singing "Imagine" with us:

https://youtu.be/rLn2t6rwosA?si=iArQjr6el11lcK1_

I'll think you'll get a kick out of them. 

Today's new release is not a love song, but something a bit humorous and a bit edgy because it's my rumination on fame and religion featuring the devil, Jesus and Elvis Presley. Though it takes a slightly caustic eye, a friend of mine who is very religious says it's his favorite song of mine. Another, who is not religious at all, says it's his favorite. So there you go.  

And for my friends who are hard of hearing, the lyrics are included below the links. (Forgive the ALL CAPS).

Official Oh You Devil YouTube link: 

https://youtu.be/HCeMNLEdlWw?si=9ixjdfOK7jjNarIl

Spotify Oh You Devil link: 

https://open.spotify.com/track/6zRq3KO8MSVC4nKrFa6aJE?si=6e02af33ff134078

OH YOU DEVIL

©2024 by Steve Schalchlin

I ONCE WROTE A SONG FOR THE DEVIL

THE DEVIL NEVER WROTE A SONG FOR ME

HE SAID, GET OVER IT MAN I’M THE DEVIL

A SONG FOR YOU

WOULD BE A REDUNDANCY

AND I SAID OH OH OH YOU DEVIL

ARE YOU SAYING I’M MY OWN WORST ENEMY?

YOU ARE STILL THE DEVIL I KNOW

BUT YOU WERE BORN AN ANGEL

IS A DEVIL WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO BE?

I ONCE WROTE A SONG TO JESUS

JESUS NEVER WROTE A SONG FOR ME

I SAID JESUS WON’T YOU HELP ME 

WITH MY BURDENS

HE SAID, LOOK AROUND, SON, COME ON, YOU’RE ALREADY FREE

AND I SAID OH OH OH YOU DEVIL

ARE YOU TRYING TO SAY I’M MY OWN WORST ENEMY?

WELL, IT’S STILL THE DEVIL I KNOW

HE SAID, YOU WERE BORN AN ANGEL

AND AN ANGEL IS WHAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE

I ONCE WROTE A SONG TO ELVIS PRESLEY

I SAID ELVIS, GUESS WHAT, YOU’RE A DEITY

HE SAID ALL YOU GOTTA DO IS DIE WHEN THEY STILL LOVE YOU

AND YOU WILL STAY THE AGE THEY THEY WANTED YOU TO BE

AND I SAID OH OH OH YOU DEVIL

ARE YOU SAYING I CAN’T LIVE UNTIL I DIE

I’M STILL THE DEVIL I KNOW

THO I WAS BORN AN ANGEL

I KEEP A BIT OF DEVIL IN MY EYE

Newsletter #2: Past Life

 The full studio version of PAST LIFE, my new single this week, is available for preview, with links to the streaming services on this page.

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/steveschalchlin/past-life-feat-bonus-round-band

Or there's a YouTube link. https://youtu.be/rm6vp_b0-P0?si=nNnJc3zUirjJbKAb

I'm dedicating this to two people who I lost last month under tragic circumstances, Chris Parks and Ronda Espy. 

Ronda was the music publisher and producer of The Last Session, believing in me (along with her husband, Kim) when I was at my most weak. When death was literally around the corner until the new drug arrived, which I received as a result of a nationwide lottery. She suffered an accident that cascaded tragically. I will never be able to repay her or her family for what they did for me in the worst of circumstances.

Chris was an Internet friend and vet who I met in person and who suffered from PTSD in ways I can't begin to describe. I'm still unsure of what happened because I don't know his family. 

I hope you listen and enjoy. And if you purchase it on Apple Music or Amazon Music, that'll help feed Leo the Cat. 

Newsletter #1: I Only See You Young

 I'm proud to announce I've released "I Only See You Young" as a new single. 

This link will take you to where you can listen to it, whether you're on a streaming service or not.

https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/steveschalchlin/i-only-see-you-young-feat-bonus-round-band-2

Enjoy!