Blue Surround

Welcome to the new Blue Surround website!

2011-05-30T21:18:00.000-07:00

MAY 30, 2011

It's been much too long since our last update, and for that we deeply apologize. You have our sincerest thanks for hanging in there and sticking with us!

Since In The High Place was released back in 2009 (where does the time go?), the members of Blue Surround have seen our fair share of tough times--from serious health issues to deaths in the family, but we're moving forward and ready to prove your patience hasn't been in vain. We really do have new music on the way!

Lately, we've been busy continuing work on our upcoming album, Saturday Morning. The last 2 years may have slipped away from us, but it was still enough time for the album and the band to evolve.

And what does that mean exactly?

When we reunited in 2008, our goal was to focus on the pop-oriented aspects of our songwriting. The intent was to create an upbeat sound that could be enjoyed by a general audience--with our main inspirations being the Beach Boys, Coldplay, and Smash Mouth. Using the two former as the mark for songwriting quality and the latter as a template for production style, we set out to make a "pop record". While there's nothing wrong with that, and we're very proud of In The High Place, we've had some time to get comfortable in our own skin again.

So, how does this affect Saturday Morning? There's no doubt if it would've been released in 2009 as originally planned, it would've differed from the direction we're taking things now. But we've been able to create a more well-rounded, slightly grittier, and overall better sounding album. We have a wide variety of musical tastes, but our influences have turned back to our roots: the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, ELO, the Rolling Stones, and Crosby, Stills & Nash to name a few.

We've finalized the songs to be included (check out the Music section above for more details), and are currently recording vocals and percussion. We're going to get this album out in 2011 without fail!

As for the new site layout, we hope you like it! If you see things we could improve, please let us know. We'd appreciate any feedback you have.

You can use the music player on the right to listen to our latest songs, or click the Music tab above for discography info - including lyrics, upcoming releases, and more!

First time visiting Blue Surround? You can learn more about us by clicking the About tab.

Thanks for stopping by!

New single "In The High Place" featuring DPrince OUT NOW!

2009-12-15T22:49:00.000-08:00

DECEMBER 15, 2009

Our new single In The High Place featuring DPrince is out now!

CLICK HERE to get it via iTunes, or email us for details on how to get the CD version!

DPrince and John Dearing join Blue Surround for live shows!

2009-08-24T23:05:00.000-07:00

AUGUST 24, 2009

DPrince and John Dearing will be joining us for our upcoming live shows! DPrince is a rap artist from Sacramento. He's featured on our song In The High Place and will also lend his vocal talents to our upcoming singles She Feels Like Home and Until You Take Flight. You can check out his music on MySpace HERE!

John is a longtime friend of the band and will be our drummer for live performances. He's also helping to co-write some of the percussion tracks for our forthcoming songs.

Escape

2008-05-29T11:10:00.000-07:00

Escape the dark
And slip into the sky
Knowing that we apart
How can you say goodbye?

Enchanted streams of tears
Never dare to purify
No thought of drinking today
No time to say goodbye

Sip the streetlights
And gulp the moonshine
Living for the night
Not for the gold in my eye

Sit back and fantasize
About celestial beings and heavenly things
How can you say goodbye?

Kiss the brow and sing a song and dance amongst the angels
Sweet as it may seem, sweet as it may seem
You have yet to be deceived

You have yet to believe

Music & Lyrics by D. Martinez.
Produced by Derek Martinez.
Published by LeapFrog Music.
© 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Heartfelt Times In A Curious World

2008-05-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

Heartfelt times in a curious world
I'll be fine but my mind's in a whirl
I wanted a dream and I wanted it now:
To relive the past but I didn't know how

We are now but I want to be then
I'm just me but I want to be him
You say we've loved and I know that we have
But it's so hard when you've become what I am

Close my eyes, seal my fate
I'd go blind but it's too late
Hear my cries; supplicate
Cry, "my God," and then I wake

Close my eyes, seal my fate
I've gone blind so it's too late
Hear my cries; suffocate
Cry to God before I wake

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Calypso Magic Show

2008-05-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

We've built up our modern lights and we look to the sky
We've built up our satellites and they spin; "Just watch how they fly!"
We're spelling our doom out loud and nobody hears
We'll break all the stars about and then pray we don't disappear

Calypso magic show
Star crash around Jupiter
I would say I told you so
But I've been erased

And into your gods believe—where are your gods now?
You'll pray to them when in need; Is that all that they are about?
The Outerspace calls to us, "Just what have you done?
You've dusted away my trust and destroyed my beautiful one."

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/B. Carpineta.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

One Time

2008-05-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

Screaming lake, waterfall
Broken glass under my feet
Underground Indian trail
Sitting here under a tree
Waiting here, waiting there
What is next to be free?
Civil rights, linear flight
What is next to be me?

One time

Burning land, other hand
Why is it so far away?
Burning flag; no one stares
Happens here everyday
In the sky, fallen rock
Little boy staring at me
How he runs; so I walk
Waiting for my feet to bleed

One time

Broken heart; all alone
Looking out, screaming aloud
This is all, this is all
Mother Earth born to be proud
Little boy, little boy
Why do you scream to yourself?
Living here, sleeping here
Voice of a bird on a shelf

One time

Music by J. Conway/B. Chancellor/B. Carpineta/J. Campbell.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1994, 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Centre Of The Arts

2008-05-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

After we've left from our table set to dine just you and me
We'll take a walk down to our scheduled date at the old art gallery
We planned so long ago to spend this time at the Centre of the Arts
We'll take all evening to gaze our eyes on what man has made so far

We'll stare at all the pictures on the wall
Some of them don't seem like art at all

"Have you seen this painting? It reminds me of the day that we first met.
Our painting of today is beautiful but isn't done just yet."

We'll stare at all the pictures on the wall
Some of them don't seem like art at all
Have you seen this version of St. Paul?
I wonder if he looked like that at all

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/B. Carpineta.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Man Vs. The Motorcar

2008-05-29T10:58:00.000-07:00

We've driven too far
Free under the stars
And we never go away because here we are
And we always fall away; fallen like the stars

We've founded a way
King—I rule for a day
And we're building our machines, building everyday
And we're making up machines in every which way

And I know I've seen it all when a man versus the motorcar

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/B. Carpineta.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Mercury-maker

2008-05-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Close my eyes to sleep
Dream and whisper me
Walk into the Club
All eyes watching me

We're hip to the Scene
Night goes on and on
We are lounge lizards
We play groovy songs

Mercury-maker in the stars and the moon
Dreamfall in motion on a crash course to my room

We are lounge lizards
We play groovy songs
Blues and jazzy mood
Cool cats grooving on

Mercury-maker in the stars in my room
Dreamflow emotion on a crash course to the moon

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/B. Carpineta.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Dream End

2008-05-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Wherever your apathy belies
Whenever your sympathy denies
The things you hope for won't come true
You sleep with flowers in your hair
Your path to heaven goes nowhere
When you want me I'll need for you

Whatever you wanted, dream end
Whatever you hoped for, dream end

So take me to happiness unknown
So take me to bed when you're alone
There'll be no light with your eyes closed

Whatever you wanted, dream end
Whatever you hoped for, dream end
Whenever you've wanted, dream end
Whatever you've wished for, dream end

This is a dream end...

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/B. Carpineta.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

My Way

2008-05-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

Bring back laughter, bring back song
The way is chosen before long
Is she the one or am I wrong?
With closing eyes she whispers on

Everything is going my way
But things keep changing everyday
When it comes and come what may
Will I still see clear the way?

Say goodbye to lonely heart
(But is it coming back?)
No more black nights torn apart
(But are they coming back?)
The time has come to look ahead
(But is it coming back?)
It’s been a long time since I’ve bled
(But will it come again?)

I can’t see because I’ve closed my eyes
I can’t laugh because I cannot cry
I can’t smile because I’ve grown too shy
I’ve been so lost but I can’t tell her why
...As clouds go by

Everything is going my way
But we keep changing everyday
When it comes and come what may
Will we still see clear the way?

Everything is going my way

Music by J. Conway/B. Chancellor/B. Carpineta/J. Campbell.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1994, 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Terrible Mr. Cloud & His Terrible Mood

2008-05-29T10:46:00.000-07:00

Kiss dark and winding through the sky
Sick as a dead flower
Flip on and off cloud rain like flies
He's smiling at the new crowd
He's smiling at the new crowd...
He's smiling right at you!

Terrible Mr. Cloud and his terrible mood
They blissed his fallen rain and he did what he could
Terrible Mr. Cloud had a terrible day
He saw them falling in love so he blew them away

Switch black and rainbow without end
I'm coloured empty
Freak out in winter, coldest friend
He's listening for the new sound
He's listening for the new sound...
He's listening out for you!

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/B. Carpineta.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Spinning

2008-05-29T10:37:00.000-07:00

Wait, I can show you why
Stay, I can show you sky
Dream, I can meet you there
Stream, we are anywhere

When I was spinning into a coil and all the ground was blue
I’ve been waiting and complaining; inside and outside drew
Wash the red floor, climb the deep well; sleeping the field’s floor
In the distance, breathing the sand in; swimming into the shore

I can see and enter all around me
Will you be and will you fall inside me?

How I was spinning, feeling the thunder; I could taste the light
I’ve been dreaming and been streaming colours around so tight
Touch the red gate, look between ages; rescue the maiden fair
Cut the tree vines, run over mountains; enter the monster’s lair

You can be but you can’t touch the spinning ball / checkered floor
It’s up to you to settle for less or race to surround more
I can see and enter all around me
Will you be and will you fall inside me?

Feel the spinning, merry-go-round you; enter the music theme
Ride the white horse or maybe the red one; nothing is what it seems

Spinning, spinning into a coil
Spinning; mother, you are so royal

Music by J. Conway/B. Chancellor/B. Carpineta/J. Campbell.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 1994, 1997 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Terrible Mr. Cloud & His Terrible Mood [Versions 2 & 3]

2008-05-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Kiss dark and winding through the sky
Sick as a dead flower
Flip on and off cloud rain like flies
He's smiling at the new crowd
He's smiling at the new crowd...
He's smiling right at you!

Terrible Mr. Cloud and his terrible mood
They blissed his fallen rain so he did what he could
Terrible Mr. Cloud had a terrible day
He saw them falling in love so he blew them away

Switch black and rainbow without end
I'm coloured empty
Freak out in winter, coldest friend
He's listening for the new sound
He's listening for the new sound...
He's listening out for you!

Terrible Mr. Cloud and his terrible mood
They kissed his fallen rain so he did what he could
Terrible Mr. Cloud had a terrible day
He saw them falling in love so he blew them away

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/B. Carpineta.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Produced by Daren Strange & Derek Martinez.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2009, 2011 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Until You Take Flight

2008-05-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

[DPrince:
She sees familiar faces
In all familiar places
But something 'bout her situation
Has been changing
The places that she's been
The things that she's seen
She loves dearly but
It definitely affects her state of being
She slowly starts to see it
She finally realizes
That if she's gonna make her own path
Then the time is now
To move forward
It ain't gonna be easy
But very necessary
This decision's kinda scary

So she keeps it quiet
But secretly she's planning
To pack up and leave—she knows her folks
Will probably panic
'Cause they won't understand it
The choices that she's making
Only she can make the path
'Cause she knows the destination
Unconventional
Breaking rules and regulations
And she can see the sad expression
On her mother's face when
She finally has to tell her
"Your daughter's gotta cut"
It's time to get outShe usually stays grounded but...]

[Jen Cordero:
Sometimes a bird needs to fly]
[DPrince:
Gotta spread your wings, you've gotta soar
The bird's nest is nice but sometimes you want some more]
[Jen Cordero:
Somewhere out there you'll find a place you can't be roped in by the sky]
[DPrince:
Somewhere beyond the clouds a better life
But you're never gonna find it if you never take flight]

[DPrince:
She tries to start over
She's finally trying to live
She's searching for something
But doesn't know just what it is
She takes it serious
'Cause her life is not a game
But the harder she tries
She finds more of the same
She starts to get discouraged
Her search is never ending
And until she finds it
She won't feel like she's winning
She lacks definition
She feels undefined
Trying to find something real is
The only thing on her mind

She starts to lose hope
All the places that she's been
Were all nice but they just
Couldn't quite reel her in
So she packs up again
Still searching for a place
She's not sure even exists
But her spirit won't break
And her heart won't take
Nothing less than the truth
She won't settle for less
Like the rest of us do
So take it for what it's worth
You've gotta strive for better things
But that can never happen
If you never flap your wings]

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway/D. Henderson.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Perfect Electric Yeah

2008-05-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

We're burning brightly like the stars
Been a long time gone now here we are
And I ask you why should we pretend
Things left undead must have an end?

And I can't count the times that I've fallen for this:
This murder novel that I write
And I won't turn the page or walk down from the stage
I find I'm falling every night

We are just perfect electric yeah
Is that a surprise?
We are just perfect electric yeah
So turn out the lights

You'll never try to understand
Don't take the time just take my hand
Are we just spinning in amaze
Wanting one time for wild blaze?

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Armageddon Party Hat

2008-05-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Hey, something's wrong
Just play along
If you won't believe
Hey, what's that sound?
It's all around
I know it's not just me...

Stars falling fast
"Each day's our last"
This time it's true, love
We watch the skies;
Build satellites
As they laugh at us

You can say it's not the end of the world
As the sky explodes and the heavens are unfurled
You can close your eyes and never believe that
But I'll be wearing my Armageddon party hat

Look at what I got
In the mail
Invitations fail...?

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Distant Letter To A Close Friend

2008-05-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

I can tell inhibitions are slipping away
It's real to me but I already know what you're going to say:

I could never break free of all of my chains
If you'd give me the space I could react from benefits of my pain

But I don't think you would relax long enough to realize
I'm not quite as solitary as you visualize

I know you don't understand, but one day you'll see
When you tell me I'm down that's the very thing that irritates me

I can hit the town and have a good time
But you can't take away all the moments I'm trying to keep as mine

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

A Reason

2008-05-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

Give me a reason
Show me a way to understand
Where you might be coming from
Or are you just pretending?
There isn't a way out
And even if I would take your hand
It would just be a lead on
To an unhappy ending

Words come crashing from your lips like a waterfall
And I won't see you smile till I drown from them all

Is there an answer
When I don't know what I should say?
But I just want to move on
And you tell me you won't call
So how does this play out
Whenever you call me anyway
To put one of your shows on?
I can't talk to a brick wall

You say I've always made things much too theatrical
Well, maybe you're just being too irrational
You say you can't keep this as something devotional
Well, maybe you're just being far too emotional

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

My April Song

2008-05-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

So the weekend's finally here
It's Friday night and you're glancing my way
Walk up to me and your lips part to say:
"Would you like to hold me near?
'Cause though I realize we've just met
It's long enough to go play and regret"

And somehow you think I'm supposed to ignore
When you show up willing at my front door
At least it keeps the rhythm moving along
As I write the next verse to my April song

I think I know what you mean
Some things happen without warning
And then you wake up Saturday morning
I'm not sure where we're going
But I can tell there are things worth believing
It all depends on what you're seeking

But somehow you think I'm supposed to ignore
When you show up willing at my front door
At least it keeps the rhythm grooving on
As I write a new verse to my April song

And somehow you think I can still ignore
When you stand there willing at my bedroom door
At least it keeps the rhythm turning on
As we add more verbs to our April song

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

She Feels Like Home

2008-05-29T09:11:00.000-07:00

I can walk on down the road any day
And see a beautiful woman come my way
I can be driving in my car anytime
And get a smile or a wink at a stop sign

And it's always a blonde, a brunette, or a red
But you're the only girl I can't get out of my head

You are the only one I want anymore
All the others can leave out my front door
I never thought this could happen to me, but it's true
When I close my eyes all I see is you

You take my breath away without a single kiss
Flash me a smile that I can never resist
And no one does it but you...

I know there can be nobody but her
'Cause she feels like home
She feels like home
I don't need to go searching all over the world
'Cause she feels like home
She feels like home

[DPrince:
First I see her in the streets
Then I see her in my dreams
I can see her in my life
And I can see her on my team
If you've seen this girl in motion
You would see just what I mean
Nothing short of a queen
She makes the Prince feel like a King

No one does it like you does it
And I must admit I love it
Yeah I need it, gotta have it
You for me is a bad habit
But it feels like home
Something comfortable I know
Once I get you in my grasp
I think I'll never let you go, no]

We can fantasize
Dine by candlelight
Nothing matters tonight
'Cause it feels like home
This feels like home

We can dim the lights
And just talk all night
Fall asleep by the fire
'Cause it feels like home
This feels like home

She feels like home

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway/D. Henderson.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Alexandra

2008-05-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

The evening falls and she will find herself
Walking back with no one else
But glad to be alone
She paces quietly up to her door
Her steps touch lightly on the porch
And she smiles to be home

She turns the key to open up her world:
The sanctuary of a girl
Who's started anew
She takes her time to saunter down the hall
She doesn't even check her calls
Like most people do

She slips her clothes off then slips into bed
Thinks of TV, but reads instead
She's on chapter nine
Here in the dim warmth of her bedside light
Where all is calm and feels just right
She's going to be fine

She left her old friends back in her old town
And now no one can bring her down
Because those days are gone
Sometimes they call but she just hits "Ignore"
It makes her heart sink to the floor
But she's got to move on

She's got her new life now; she's on her own
And everyday she sets the tone:
She's rising above
She's on her way to know what life can give
All she has to do is live
And she's always in love

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

In The High Place

2008-05-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

I think I'm going nowhere fast
Nothing ever seems to last
At least nothing I would want
And every morning I get caught
By the sun and all its rays
Pointing me right in the face
Telling me to get to work!
Ah, here we go again...

You can look for me on the weekend
I'm nowhere to be found
I just know I'm in the high place now
You could always see me tomorrow
Face flat on the ground
I just know I'm in the high place now

And every single thing's the same
Nothing seems to want a change
Think I'm living the same day
Does anyone else feel this way?
But I know when Friday comes
I won't be the only one
Trying out a new escape!
So, here we go again...

And I just really hate the thought
Of the evening coming to an end
As soon as I get into bed
Gotta wake up and do it all again

[DPrince:
I'm stressed no less than seven days a week
I just need to get a break or release—a little peace
'Cause it seems like each day's worse than the previous
The work week is hectic, monotonous and tedious

So, needless to say, I'm needin' a way to escape
I was lost but with Blue Surround leading the way
I could maybe find a safe haven and quit all this mean-muggin'
And this ice grillin'—that ugly face making

And once I find it gotta maintain it
And claim it for my own—nobody can touch me in this place, baby
Say what you may but this place is sacred
I cherish it; no other place can compare to it

It's rare to get peace of mind in this cold world
So I'm-a take it any way I can get it—that's how I live it
Eventually I'll have to come down
But I just know I'm the high place now]

I'm so glad I'm in the high place now

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez.
Lyrics by J. Conway/D. Henderson.
Produced by Daren Strange & Derek Martinez.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2008, 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Can't Wait

2008-05-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

Time spent in the afternoon
Will you tell me where we're going soon?
Been wrecked-up in the moment, love
Are we going down or rising above?

'Cause I can't wait anymore
When I know what's left in store if we lose it all
Yeah, I've seen where this can go
But we might have more to show for it after all

Time spent under evening light
But somehow we got by alright
So now where do we take this to?
Will we ruin it if we think it through?

Music by J. Conway/D. Martinez/J. Dearing.
Lyrics by J. Conway.
Published by Black Halo Publishing Co. (ASCAP)
© 2012 Winding Room Records. All Rights Reserved.

Search Results

2008-01-01T20:51:00.000-08:00