This is Happening!
I chose this as the first track not only because it's a really cool title that conveys my feelings perfectly about making this record, but because it has a hectic, thumping groove that makes me want to get up and dance!
This song is about trying to capture that feeling you get right in the moment when you realize something exhilarating is about to happen to you and, even though you know it's pretty dangerous, you're going to let it happen anyway.
The rhythm came from Phil, who was noodling away on his guitar one evening when he started sliding octaves and putting a little trill sounding thing on the ends, hitting the off-beats just for fun and we both thought it sounded really cool.
We gave it some half time vocals over an uptempo chorus that drops to half time in the verses, where the vocal does the opposite by catching the uptempo again.
Every time we wrote with it, we made sure to keep that forward groove that lays back in the verse..
I wrangled with the vocals for a while, until coming up with the pseudo rap/singing style that fit right in with the tone we were looking for.
We finessed the lyrics together with me, as usual, changing lyrics and forgetting to tell him, causing some friendly, sometimes heated, debate.
In the studio, I made sure to retain as much of that original groove as I could while expanding the sound and letting the song, and the musicians working with me, figure out where we needed to go next.
The session part of this one went pretty smoothly, everyone involved seeming to know what we were aiming for and elevating each part to a level I hadn't even considered possible yet.
The thumping drums, the screeching guitar, the driving bass, and a little Tibetan bell sound peppered in for some flavour all support my strangely fun to sing vocal and harmony.
I feel that it's grown up into a driving, chaotic tune with kind of an odd bridge that slips in and breaks the insanity for a moment, while still managing to keep that original groove at the core.
This is it.
Song one, on my first album.
Oh my god, I can't believe!
This is Happening
lyrics
I knew I was in trouble when I looked into your eyes.
Addictive personalities yearning to collide.
And the more you felt the music, the more you fanned a fire,
stoking white hot flames of a burning desire.
Your tight red dress with a zip up the side and those high heel boots reaching right up your thighs.
You grabbed hold of my wrist and consumed my existence,
I said to myself something like this;
I said "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening."
Drive out to the breaking point and pass it on the right.
Put your foot down hard, let's scream into the night.
When bells start to ring and a siren is singing,
Pump the brakes on reality and tuck it out of sight.
A mental picture nicely framed up on a shelf.
With every ounce of memory, I'll keep it for myself.
You granted a wish that I'm sure going to miss.
My inner insanity sounds like this;
It goes "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening."
It goes "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening."
Why do the best things hurt the most?
And why was I too numb to look too close?
And why does it have to be this way?
'Cause I am going absolutely crazy.
Climb out of the wreckage with a smile across my face.
Happiness grows bold in the strangest of places.
With my hands on your hips and your teeth on your lips,
Passion took hold with a vice like grip.
But I never made a promise with intent to follow through,
So, listen very close and you might just hear the truth.
I'm a man with consistent conflicting conditions, constantly conning confidence.
And you'll say "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening."
You'll say "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening."
You'll say "Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening."
credits
from Let Me Go,
released March 19, 2024
Written by Jean-Pierre Larda & Phil Short
Vocals/Percussion - Jean-Pierre K. Larda
Drums - Aaron Spink
Guitar - Sean Roberts
Bass - Alex Paris
Produced by Jean-Pierre K. Larda
Recorded at Artist Development Studio, Courtice
Engineered and mixed by Alex Paris
Mastered by John MacLeod at Sweet Daddy Sound, Ajax
Rising Philadelphia band balance oversized pop punk hooks with vivid, intimate lyrics, presenting a raw, honest vision of guitar music. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 30, 2022
