It is important to understand another person’s perspective, and today more than ever this is true. My work has helped me do this with a considerable amount of empathy. But what is it like to be a mass shooter, a person living with dementia? What plea might a person deeply addicted to opioids make?
My name is Scott Garred. I’ve been a board certified music therapist working in mental health for over 15 years. I have served in state psychiatric facilities, private hospitals, memory care, and prison. Through music therapy sessions I have worked with a variety of criminals and people with severe mental health issues.
It was no longer enough to sing about a thought or feeling related to my work or personal life; something I’ve done for nearly 30 years and for as many albums as leader of Super XX Man (1995-2015) and Silver Scooter (1995-2001). I flipped the script completely for this new album.
The first song I came up with was “Now Do You Believe.” I was commuting by bike one day and found myself singing “Up, up, up I climb with a sack full of bullets and a head full of blood.” I found a way to place this lyric over finger-picked guitar, climbing bass, and glockenspiel. I sat with it for a while. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea to be writing from this perspective.
So I tried another song, this one from a priest’s perspective. The song is a letter, maybe to the Archbishop, saying “I don’t want to be ordained anymore.” I tried to capture the troubled thoughts a priest might have after discovering a colleague’s sins.
My first recording of this particular song, “Spying On Your Lies,” sounded almost note for note like Willie Nelson’s version of “Always On My Mind.” So I still wasn’t sure but I kept writing more songs; some were about artificial intelligence, climate change, and dementia. I needed more perspective. That’s when I shared the song demos with Kelly.
Kelly Atkins is a multi-talented singer with Kitka and 20 Minute Loop. She makes her voice sound theremin-like, insect-like, and just plain gorgeous-like. She also produces and directs video content for all her projects, including for my song “Dementia/Blue.”
Kelly and I spoke by phone and she said, “This creative deep dive into empathy is especially touching to me right now.” And just like that, I had the confidence to continue writing and recording.
As I completed mixes and sent them to Kelly, she layered vocals on top and offered ideas. It was her suggestion to musically create what a mass shooter might be thinking. So I added layers of messy distorted guitars that swarm the listener’s head as I sing “Now do you believe?” just in time for the final downbeat of the song. It was as if I was asking people in my life, “Now do you believe what I can do?”
If you would like to learn more about this album, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to me. I would love to tell you more about it.
supported by 4 fans who also own “Scott Songs Vol. II”
been listening to Scott's stuff since seeing Silver Scooter for the first time at a coffee house in Austin, TX..outstanding artist...looking forward to more he records...like having connects with him on facebook, and now Bandcamp! Oliver Vanderlip
supported by 4 fans who also own “Scott Songs Vol. II”
the way tmg continually evolve their sound and find fresh ways of making music is inspiring. masters of the concept album! all bangers here, as one might expect. rudy
The hushed new EP from Skullcrusher sets soft, plaintive vocals against warm, minimal arrangements of guitar, piano, banjo, and more. Bandcamp New & Notable Jul 20, 2020