Continuing with the mostly instrumental portion of the Legacy Music Project, which some of us/you may know as Electric Ned & The Danger Babies, here’s “For This Reason.” This expansive song was written with a creative question – could I compose an instrumental with a ton of space in it – both “out there” and empty connotations – that would still be musically interesting enough to keep a listener’s attention? Have I been successful? You’ll have to let me know!
I’m particularly pleased with the lead section – I continue to try to stretch myself, after a hundred years of playing, and thinking I could only play, acoustic rhythm guitar. It’s been a post-diagnosis evolution and revelation. The process: I painstakingly work out a lead, phrase by phrase, gluing them on as they surface from the guitar, and then practice it until I am confident it’s emblazoned in my brain. (I also record it on my phone or Tascam 4-track, cuz I cannot entirely trust that brain anymore.) Anywho, my two goals for any lead are for it to be melodically accessible, and as sophisticated as I can possibly make it at the time of its creation. (So far, I’ve only gone back and added a lead to one song that was written and recorded long ago – “The List Keeps Getting Longer” – which I hope to release at some point in the near future. (That one has certified lyrics!)
The title came to me one day when I was thinking about the often difficult, and sometimes derisive question: “Why are you doing this?” or “Why did you do this?” And I thought that this could be the answer: “for this reason,” whatever that reason might be. It could be a very consequential reason – i.e. “for this person,” “for my family,” “for this marriage,” “for the sake of peoplekind,” or just “so I could survive.” It could be why the job is a perfect fit for you, or the town you’ve moved to, as in “ah, THIS is the reason this happened this way, so I could… (fill in the blank.)” Or, you know what? It could be like, “for this reason! That’s the sum total. I don’t owe you an explanation. I don’t even have to have a reason! Cuz I said so!
(Sorry, got a little triggered there. Still working out some mom issues, as only a 67-year-old orphan could do.)
Somewhere amidst the long hours of practicing this song, the sound “ooh” and the words “this is my song” entered the picture. I can’t tell you why I was called to sing these vocals over what was basically an instrumental – but I would if I could! It must’ve been for that reason.
Feel free to sing, tap, strum, get high to, or just follow along. More to come, God willing.
Thanks for listening.
Ned Andrew
For This Reason
©2024 Ned Andrew Solomon
Recorded at Azalea Studios, Nashville, TN
Recording, Engineering, & Production: Fett
Acoustic & Electric Guitars & Vocals: Ned Andrew Solomon
Bass: Fett
Percussion: R. P. Chester
Videography: Bernie Lynette
Executive & Video Production: Gina Lynette
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