This is simply a song about seduction by way of the eyes of another lover as its spirit lures those who are willing inside for the taking. - RJM

This is the first track off my new album, PHOENIX and it sets the tone for the rest of the album giving it more of a medieval feel.

"As I began my journey with a little tune known as "Pretty" there was little to be known that this little tune would plant seeds inside my head of what I could accomplish. As I started really learning how to figure out how to really use the GarageBand App on my phone, I started recording music and releasing it individually while collectively naming it the 2018 Demo Series. Now with this final release of the year and 8th song overall, I find it incredibly fitting that i end this journey by re-recording the very song that started it all for me. This time I filled it with words that came to me as a mantra of sorts dealing with the art of meditation and spirituality. This contains almost every element I've added over the months with percussion, harmonies, dreamy guitar leads, as well as the return of the Koto and Erhu instruments that dominated my Koto instrumental. I use all these elements and I take it to another level, especially to where I am now experimenting with 3 part harmonies. I take this journey to its end, and in its end I have created a new beginning. 2019 will be something else..." - RJM LYRICS: I was speaking of times Of a restless time where I might be inclined to offer sympathy I was speaking of times Of a restless time where I might be inclined to find a remedy I was speaking of times Of a restless time where I might be inclined to live a memory I was speaking of times Of a restless time where I might be reminded of your beautiful eye Of mine You are my remedy…aye-aye Oh mine I keep singing in time Of a mind that I am implied to be kind of my morality I keep singing in time Of a mind that I may find the design of my own destiny I keep singing in time Of a mind that I wouldn’t mind that in time within a melody That in singing in time I may find the design of my mind within sight of my own memory Even if I could Even if I should Decide with my own fate That I may one day say That I was never That I was never enough in my eyes To decide on my own fate Then I may find no mind I was speaking of times Of a restless time where I might be inclined to offer sympathy I was speaking of times Of a restless time where I might be inclined to find a remedy I keep singing in time Of a mind that I wouldn’t mind that in time within a melody That in singing in time I may find the design of my mind within sight of my own beautiful…

"Another love song. This one goes back to basics a bit. No percussion and just guitar, bass, and vocals. I'm channeling my inner Rush fan here a bit if i don't say do myself. I have a tendency to write in quite the poetic fashion and the lyrics to this song are no different. I suppose that makes me somewhat of a hopeless romantic...sigh..." - RJM LYRICS: DARLING What do I owe this pleasure of your visit my darling? Is it not for the sake of your own grace, my darling? Might I ask you to step inside my heart, my darling? Is it not for the sake of my own craving, my darling? I am wishing for what I may just find I admit my defeat To your love…To your love Show me the grace of love divine Hang me upon your sculpture of heaven’s gate Free me of my desire to repent That I may see my intentions Feel me for I am shaking to my core That I may feel the warmth of your love ….my intentions known. Hold me, hold me. Please believe me when I say that I will love you, my darling. And I shall never drift away from your arms, my darling. Bring me close for night shall bring the cold, my darling. In my home you’re the sun to my own moon, my darling. I am wishing for what I may just find I admit my defeat Free me of my desire to repent That I may see my intentions Feel me for I am shaking to my core That I may feel the warmth of your love Break me upon society and prayer That it may be my cross to bear. Should I become a victim at the stake Then may I wish you from my pain. …i embrace my own …my intentions known. Hold me, hold me.

"A love song with a hint of goth and folk influences. It has somewhat of a raw feel vocally and I felt that it was more human and less "robotic" and "polished." This song was originally a hard rock song that came to me in a dream. There still may yet be a time when i re-record this in its original form." - RJM ` ` ` ` ` The sun may shine upon your face In all its radiance I feel you within me Heaven help me For every day I’ve seen your face The time in all the world still stops for you Heaven sent you to me The way you look I can’t believe myself How did I come across your way And how did you come to love me? How do I love you more? After all I have to give How do I love you more? After all I’ve had to say How do I love you more? In spite of all I do I still have yet to feel that I deserve you I must not fail… A summer’s touch and a winter’s heart I felt that I would never reach a lover’s soul Until I saw you A life where I had only seen The darkness of the world erased from my memories Look at what you’ve done to me The way you feel I can’t believe myself How did I come across your way And how did I come to hold you? How do I love you more, after all I’ve yet to do…

"This song is an instrumental and it's interesting as I pretty much started from scratch. I had just downloaded the Japanese package for my Garage Band App on my phone and started playing with presets and chords. I pretty much let it be and then just started adding guitars and other instruments to it. It's all centered around the Japanese instrument known as the Koto and I figured it would be appropriate to title the song as such. There's no deep thoughts with this tune as most of my other material is. It's just a fun tune and I hope you get some enjoyment out of it." - RJM (November 4, 2018)

This song is a declaration of my spirituality towards a higher power while not essentially being linked to any one particular religious organization. It can be argued that it is a declaration of devotion to love and the ever lifelong quest to be embraced by its majesty. It also consists of many firsts for me in that this song is sung entirely in falsetto as well as experimentation with harmonies in my vocal ability. LYRICS: A loving temple within my heart A simple kind of love inflamed in me A loving temple within my heart aflame. My intention My emission Desperation Cure me of loneliness Craving you holiness Separation I sacrifice my only heart and Aggregation Failed emotions Salutation Separate me inside Fill me with all thy might When in doubt I may Shine as the light from the sun Humbled by your Touch within me Speaking to me Invigorate me inside Giving all thy might Inflame, inflame, inflame A loving temple within my heart A simple kind of love inflamed in me A loving temple within my heart aflame. Revelation Within emotion Meditation Tearing my soul in two Leaving just me and you When did my heart Become such a lonely place Elevation Liberation Levitation Lifting me higher in mine Holding my soul to shine Feeling for a time as one with the Light of the sun Humbled by your Touch within me Speaking to me Invigorate me inside Giving all thy might Inflame, inflame, inflame A loving temple within my heart A simple kind of love inflamed in me A loving temple within my heart aflame.

LYRICS AND LINER NOTES CAN BE READ BELOW! ` ` A WISTFUL OFFERING Make me a wistful offer wandering Fill me with sweetness lusting after A melody I crave upon your canvas Inside a frame of golden embers Bring me a sight of your decor I caress thy offering within my soul Burn me a candle of our scent With flames upon our sacred temple Upon a sight of holiness within me A match made in my own heaven Bring me a sight of your decor I caress my offering within my soul Bring me a sight of your decor I caress my offering within my soul. ` ` "The religious upbringing that I had in my childhood has always stayed with me for the tales and lessons that have managed to show themselves in mysterious ways even though I, myself, have changed dramatically from what I was 20 years ago. It is fate then that would have itself reveal its presence in my current endeavors to this day. It is a poetic way of me offering all that I am with a yearning to be loved amidst a wave of melancholy that I have come to embrace as my own. For better or worse... A Wistful Offering indeed." - RJM

I am in preparation for my second full length record and am creating demos as they come to me. I invite you to view my progress. "Pretty" was created as an experiment using the Garageband App on my phone. Little did i know this would be the start of something special known as the 2018 Demo Series. I present the first track in this series to you. I hope you enjoy it! - RJM

The final track of the album has a reoccurring theme of evolution and the phases that are contained therein. Speaking of personal experiences and the frame of mind I was in during such times I have come to learn of my most keen desires and what I must do in order to obtain such things. I once learned a very important phrase throughout my studies in music as life: An individual is like a tree in the sense that should the individual cease to grow, the individual ceases to live. To cease from growth is to regress from life and the journey to death is imminent! In essence, I must GROW in order achieve such heights. But it is always important to know where your roots lie for if you lose your roots, you lose your direction and, ultimately, your zest for life. - RJM Lyrics are as follows: When I was a child, golden eyed with wonder I could wish upon a shining star And I wonder how I would get my wish To be whatever I could dream with my little mind How else could I still be? In every moment, I still am! I am the heart and the soul shining through this body I am the will and the way shining through this body I am the sun and the moon... shining I am the whole of the world... spinning Around and around we go We live for all for all is one! In adolescent youth, bloodshot eyed Filled with hate within my stars And I wonder how I could feel so alone No matter the love I take, there was none left inside How else could I still be? In every moment, I still breathe For I am the heart and the soul shining through this body I am the will and the way shining through this body I am the sun and the moon... shining I am the whole of the world... spinning Around and around we go And I am lost Come rescue me! From me! Look deep into my eyes Look deep into my soul Understand that for all that I want All that I want is to be found Look deep into my eyes Look deep into my soul Understand that for all that I want All that I want is to be loved!

This instrumental entails all that I've wanted to say musically speaking. Within this piece there are doorways to many embers within my heart from many years of life and experiences. All of which has led to this point! This piece originated around 3-4 years ago in El Paso right before I moved to Austin and over time it really started to take shape. There was always one thing missing towards the end and about a week before I took this piece in to put to tape, the final part of the puzzle found its way to me. All throughout those years struggling trying to find the right part and then suddenly it comes to me effortlessly. I learned right then to never tell the music what to do. The music will appear when it is ready to be revealed. All I need is to be receptive and open. This nearly 10 minute piece was the first to be written and, indeed, the last to be finished. A fitting end for a beginning that shall be the foundation for all that I intend to achieve until the end of my days. - RJM

As the album continues on there is a tiny instrumental break that sets the tone for the fourth song and has thus been grouped into a two-part song which is the most intense and energetic track of the album. Lyrically this deals with imaginary inner voices fighting over your willingness to bend to either will. Again, it is a struggle many seem to go through on a daily basis. Should I or shouldn't I? What are the rewards and consequences of such a deed? I've since read that within every action and reaction there is a space between. It may only be a few seconds or even a millisecond but you do still have that space to choose whether to react or respond. To react is to allow the outside circumstances to dictate your actions whereas to respond is to take action from within. The choice, as always, is yours! - RJM

As the album continues on there is a tiny instrumental break that sets the tone for the fourth song and has thus been grouped into a two-part song which is the most intense and energetic track of the album. Lyrically this deals with imaginary inner voices fighting over your willingness to bend to either will. Again, it is a struggle many seem to go through on a daily basis. Should I or shouldn't I? What are the rewards and consequences of such a deed? I've since read that within every action and reaction there is a space between. It may only be a few seconds or even a millisecond but you do still have that space to choose whether to react or respond. To react is to allow the outside circumstances to dictate your actions whereas to respond is to take action from within. The choice, as always, is yours! - RJM

This second track off of Ídryma is a straight forward acoustic rocker. Lyrically it can be deciphered as a tormented man speaking of a woman but it is also a metaphor for dealing with an inner demon. It details an inner struggle one deals with in letting go of the past but not yet knowing how to do so. This is common in life as is in love. There is a solution involved but to think and to take action are entirely different entities altogether. In love as in life there is a choice...always... - RJM

This is the opener and is an instrumental at that. I really loved how Ottmar Liebert would open his album "The Hours Between Night and Day" and I had decided to take a similar approach. It's quite a short opener but I really wanted to set the tone for the journey that was to ensue. It builds up but not to a point where it is directly in your face but rather a more subtle approach to assure a state of existence. It is a smoothing track and "Calm" is certainly an appropriate title for such a mood. - RJM