Don't Turn The Lights Out...

Dear Demons,

See what I did there with the blog title? Hehe, I’ve had my Wheatabix today.

Yes indeed - you have some shiny new songs ready for your ears only. Don’t / Lights Out is a split single from The Qwarks feat. Mishkin Fitzgerald.

I really enjoyed the process of writing and recording with Phil Johnstone, the songs came easily and quickly, as we both had a similar vision and similar musical tastes. The bass and drums were played by fellow Qwarks Sit-Down-Simon and Nick Flowers. We recorded the drums with James Gasson from Third Circle Recordings, on the back of a Chemical Perils sessions, and then laid down the rest remotely at our home studios. It was mixed by the mysterious OO_Man In The Shack who shall remain mysterious as well as talented.

We hope you enjoyed the livestream last week? If you missed it you can catch up here, to see us playing the songs live.

Conceptually, Don’t is a wonky-rock rebel-song pointing the finger back at accusatory religious stereotypes, and Lights Out is a conversation between a crazed stalker and a disinterested drug addict whose apartments share the same adjoining wall. Yep. Enjoy all that! My favourite part was Phil doing some rather excellent screaming, maniacal laughter.

Without further ado, here are the mastered tracks:

DOWNLOAD SONGS 

Don't

Don't need your whiskey

Don't need your pills

Don't need your medicine

To tell me that I'm ill

Don't need a handler

Don't need restraints

Don't need to be locked up

To show you I'm in chains

The road that leads to paradise

Is paved with good intent

But it only takes you further

From the reasons you repent

Don’t need your scorn,

Your burning gaze,

Don’t need more warnings signs,

To point me on my way

Don’t need no preaching,

Don’t need your prayers

Don’t need your scripture

To save me from despair

The road that leads to paradise

Is fragile and deranged

You stutter and you stumble

Till you fall into your cage

If you could see yourself

The chains that you have weaved

And if the door was opened

Would you have the guts to leave?

Has it become so heavy that

the lie is the relief

is the relief

Don't need to tell ya'

Cos you already know

Don't need to help you

Cos you got your own show

Because your shadow

Is growing old

I don't need to stand here

as vanity unfolds

—

Lights Out

You trampled through my dreams

You picked my bones clean

You think you’re untouchable

That they won’t hear your screams

I’m stuck inside pacing my room

Searching cracks

A shadow looms

Under attack

From a violent moon

Lights out all alone

Lie still curtains drawn

Then the words

Drift through

Growing loud

Just for you

I don’t love you

Never will

Lie back take that pill

Let me unravel you

You’re going to know me soon

I’ll be all that you consume

I’m going to make you sick of me

Cos I’m sick to death of you

As I’m waiting for the dark

And the scratches at the door

And I see you once again

As I crawl along the floor

—

Thank you so much for being here! Without your support we really wouldn’t have the funding to make music like this. Next month will be a BIG one as I travel to Wales to work with Catherine Elms on our own collaboration project. There will be music… live-streaming… photos... craft... and probably some very silly questions from Cath. Don’t go anywhere! See you next month for more awesome sauce.

Here’s the full August Photobox for downloading… see you in September.

Love & Feathers & Maniacal Laughs,

X Mishkin X