Music: Avalkis – Tree of Love (2016)

Published on December 18, 2016June 6, 2017 by Avalkis

This is an interesting song in that it utilizes my whole vocal range – from bass to highest note.

Sometimes it can take a long time from a melody and a sketch of a song to a finished version. This is the song that started a new age in my composing in 2011. I had written ballads before but with this song I started to make (without knowing it at the time) a full album of romantic vocal ballads. I hope to release the full album next year, 2017.

The album Tree of Love – and Other Ballads from the Darkened Sun and this song have been many years in the making. I am glad to share this with You, finally. Hope you enjoy.

[download or play the mp3, if the player above doesn’t show up] (7:48)

Personally my favorite part is “the last dance” with the piano at the very end of the song. It feels like “after all said and done”… And it is meant to sound “clumsy”. And honest. And real.

Heartfully warm special thanks to Joonas, Hanne, Matti, Liis, Kriku, Sini (and little boys), to my loving parents and to all others who have supported my music this year and in the past years – it has given me strength and inspiration to work day and night on this and other upcoming albums! Also thanks to Liis for suggesting the harmony multi-vocals :).

Update 23rd December 2016: As a Christmas bonus here is the original acoustic 2011 live recording of “Tree of Love” – Merry Christmas!

[download or play the mp3, if the player above doesn’t show up] (5:28)

The wintery scene of trees on the single/album CD cover is from the upcoming post-apocalyptic Sci-Fi film Soulweaver: Requiem for Earth.
This is an island in Tammisaari. There is a beautiful V-shaped old tree in the center. It is the same island I talked about in the recent music post Summer Island. A few years ago I decided to swim there in the summer. I like extreme sports but the distance was longer than I had estimated. With the energy I had left in me I made it to the rocky shore of the island and had an experience of “an evolutionary flashback” — I felt how a fish came to the solid ground for the first time ever and its fins growing to legs. Read the whole story here…

Here are the lyrics:

1. I, I chose the light, over the dark
In my mind I realize
it is not you, it is not me
It’s everything between

In this life… life, life life
I’ve seen so many, many times…
You slip away

2. You, you made me cry
What I tried to hide,
wasn’t my tears

We, we plant a tree,
there inside it’s free
to show your thoughts

In this life… life, life life
I’ve had so many, many times…
You slip away

3. Please, let me embrace the tree
for it gives me life to go on

Once, the seed was sown,
yet never known,
how long must it take

To have you here, in my arms
And never letting go
after the tides that kept us apart

You’ll see, when we rise from the sea
it’s the tree of love
it will grow eternally

Daa-da-da-daa, daa-da-da-daa…

4. In this world of tomorrow
I have to let go of all the sorrow
Please follow me in the night…
night, night night

Where the only light is in your eyes

You’ll see, when we rise from the sea
It’s the tree of love,
it will grow eternally

Daa-da-da-daa, daa-da-da-daa…

If I were to die,
I’ll remember you
and have you in my heart – in my heart – in my heart – I will have you… have you… I have you…

Until we meet again

“- May I have this last dance with you?
– Can I take you to the dance floor?
– You’re beautiful this evening. Would you like to make love with me?”

Lyriikat suomeksi:

1. Näin, näin valon ja pimeän
   mielessäin, mä ymmärrän   Valon valitsen, se kenties vie
   meidät lähemmäs toisiamme   Kunnes taas… taas, taas, taas
   Sen kaiken jälleen, joudun kokemaan…
   Pois luotain karkasit 2. Vain, vain sinä vain, sait mut itkemään
   ei kukaan kyyneliään, voi kätkeä   Me istutamme puun
   ja varjoissa kuun
   voimme vain odottaa

   Joudun taas… taas, taas, taas
   Sen kaiken jälleen, jälleen kokemaan…
   Pois luotain karkasit

3. Anna, anna mun syleillä
puuta ikuista, se mua lohduttaa

   Kerran, siemen alkoi itää
   mutta en voinut tietää
   turhaanko odotan

   Sua vielä kerran, syliini
   En koskaan päästäis’,
   luotain pois, milloinkaan

   Näetkö sen, jälkeen vuorovesien
   puun rakkauden
   joka vain kasvaa ainiaan

Daa-da-da-daa, daa-da-da-daa…

4. Tässä maailmassa huomisessa
Täytyy mun päästää kaikesta surusta

Seuraathan mua, pimeimmäs’ yös’
yös’, yös’, yös’

Jossa ainoa, valo silmissäis’ on

   Näetkö sen, jälkeen vuorovesien
   puun rakkauden
   joka vain kasvaa ainiaan

Daa-da-da-daa, daa-da-da-daa…

Jos mä kuolisin, kaiken jättäisin
mut sua en milloinkaan – en milloinkaan – en milloinkaan
En sua jättäisi kokonaan, kätken sut… kätken sut sydämeeni…

Kunnes tapaamme taas

Music: Avalkis – The Lynx at My Home (2016)

Published on November 12, 2016February 26, 2017 by Avalkis

Here’s my newest song – an electric guitar ballad: “The Lynx at My Home” (2016).

This song is dedicated to my cat and all the cats I have loved in my life.

The track will be in the upcoming album Tree of Love – and Other Ballads from the Darkened Sun. Featuring f.ex. acoustic/electric guitar and piano ballads, celt and medieval inspired songs.

[download or play the mp3, if the player above doesn’t show up] (8:00)

PS. Points and glory to the person who gathers what the beginning and end of the song “means” (the ambient sound waves from 0:00-0:36 and 7:43–8:00)… Hint: listen to the lyrics… You can write a comment on your thoughts. (I’ll reveal my intentions later.)

Answer: The ambient soundscape in the beginning and in the end refers to the 2nd verse about sinking to the bottom of the sea… That’s how I imagine it to sound like. It also represents the inner world of cat – that we can only dream about of ever understanding (no more than ourselves)…

Of course the whole song itself also tells about life, women and broken relationships.

EDIT February 25th, 2017: Song version updated – some tuning issues were fixed.

Here are the lyrics:

0. I drink away, sorrows of yesteryear
Show me the way, to life again

Like a rose we blossom, still my friend, it’s time to let go, and leave our home…

1. I know… how much it hurts, to be left, outside in the dirt
Follow your dreams, whatever they are
Please, do not let them, tear you apart…

My love, my darling, can’t you see…

2. If I see you fall in the waves, I’ll dive in, and sink with you
to the bottom, of the sea, we’ll be happy there, eternally…

3. When the silence, hits over me
They’re the waves, of eternity

Please remember us, in your silent keep
And not the words, of violent dreams

I do not, want them to, haunt us no more…

4. I do not believe in them… anymore
Can you restore me, the way I was before

For the mirror, breaks it all
The sharp fractions tear my soul…

5.
A new world, we shall build
it’s not too late

We will build, a better world
Starting today, to end all days

There’s a lynx at the end of the corridor, it stands and stares at my soul

The world is vast and at your arms

You… killed me, now I’m born again

” I do not believe in violent dreams anymore
Can you restore me, the way I was before

A new world, we shall build
it’s not too late

We will build, a better world
Starting today, to end all days “

6. Lying next to me, I must check,
whether you still breath, then I fall asleep

and finally, the lynx walks in,
I’ll let her stay at home, with me… forever…

Lyriikat suomeksi:

Juon mä pois, surut vuoden, eilisen
Näytä mulle tie, takaisin elämään

Kuin ruusu, kukkaan puhkeamme, on aika päästää sut lähtemään…

1. Tiedän… kuinka paljon se sattuu, kun yksin pimeään sä jäät
Unelmiisi kurota, mitä tahansa ne ovatkaan
Älä anna niiden sua rikkoa…

Oi rakkain, oi armain, etkö nää…

2. Kun sut näen aaltoihin uppoavan, mukaasi mä, sinne sukellan,
pohjaan meren syvään syleilyyn, oomme onnelliset siel’, aina vain…

3. Kun on tyyni, se iskee yllemme
iäisyyden aallot, ovat ne

Muistathan meitä, hiljaisuuden linnassas’
Etkä unia, haavoittavia…

En enää, tahdo niiden, satuttavan…

4. En enää usko, niihin laisinkaan
Voitko parantaa, minut kokonaan

Sillä peili, särkee kaiken sen
Säröt terävät, sieluuni repeytyen…

5.
Maailman uuden, me rakennamme taas
Se myöhäistä ei oo

Rakennamme, maailman paremman
Tästä päivästä, lähtien

On siellä ilves käytävän päässä, se nousee ja katsoo sieluuni

On maailma avara, ja kätes ulottuvilla

Tapoit minut, synnyin uudestaan

” En enää usko uniin haavoittaviin
Voitko parantaa, minut kokonaan

Uuden maailman rakennamme
Se ei ole liian myöhäistä

Rakennamme, maailman paremman
Tästä päivästä alkaen, ja kaikkina tulevina päivinä “

6. Olet sylissäin, täytyy mun tarkistaa, vieläkö hengität
sit’ nukahdan, ja unohdan,
ilves kävelee, sisään ja nukahtaa, vierellein… ainiaan…

Music: Avalkis – Scorpion (2016)

Published on November 4, 2016February 3, 2017 by Avalkis

Here’s my newest song – a guitar ballad, called “Scorpion” (2016). Hope you like it!

This is the first released song with my new artist name Avalkis. The track will be in the upcoming album Tree of Love – and Other Ballads from the Darkened Sun. Featuring f.ex. acoustic/electric guitar and piano ballads, celt and medieval inspired songs.

[download or play the mp3, if the player above doesn’t show up] (4:42)

Thanks to Matti, Hanne and Onni for our recent live band sessions and jammings that inspired me to finish this song faster than I would have otherwise! (There might be a rock version with our band at some point when we have time with our busy schedules.)

UPDATE: Due to request from my good friend and artist Joonas here is the whole “Scorpion” song with the ambient intro that originally belonged with it :).

[download or play the mp3, if the player above doesn’t show up] (5:15)

Here are the lyrics:

1. If I find you, will you be my true…
in this life, or the next

Will you be my, guiding angel
that I’ve yearned, for so many years

2. A light that always shines, please come back to my loving arms
I have come for… your love

That is true… pure and beyond
Will you know me… There’s so much to feel

3. I have a scorpion, crawling down my neck
it’s trying to sting, but it cannot hurt

’cause there’s an antidote, running in my veins
It is your love, that I can always trust

4. I don’t know where… else to turn to
When I am home sick, far away

A distant stranger, becoming a friend
I have become, someone I once knew

5. Will you follow, will you see me
Do you know us, there’s so much to learn

I am here to stay, not giving any lessons
still you’re the treasure, I almost gave away

” Can I give you, all that I have
for what I am, and what’s left of me

Can I give you, all that I have
for what I am, and what’s left of me ”

PS. The original working title for this song was “A Seed of Hope” which referred to “Acid of Hope”. Because it’s interesting to note that the base for this song is originally an acid trance song I composed in 1998. That might explain some of the sounds and melodies appearing in the final build-up :). Also a certain 1980s/1990s nostalgia is present. I will release the trance version too later.

EDIT 6.1.2017:

Lyriikat suomeksi:

1. Jos mä löydän, sinut vielä
tässä elämässä, tai seuraavassa

haluatko olla, valo elämäni
jota kaivannut oon, kaikki vuodet nää

2. Valo joka, aina loistaa
olen tullut, sitä hakemaan

rakkauttasi vain, joka kestää
haluatko tuntea minut, olen vielä elävä

3. Skorpioni, kulkee niskassain
se aikoo pistää, mut’ satuttaa ei voi

sillä vastalääke, on sydämessäin’
se on rakkautesi vain, oi armain

4. En voi tietää, minne mennä
kun eksynyt mä, kaukomailla oon

Vieras astuu, ovesta sisään
itseni mä tapaan, vuosien jälkeen taas

5. Seuraatko mua, haluatko nähdä
meidät vielä, on paljon opittavaa

Aion pysyä, luonas’ aina
Olet aarre, jonka kerran, melkein kadotin

“Voinko antaa, kaiken sen
rakkauden, mitä jäljellä mus’ on

Voinko antaa, kaiken sen
rakkauden, mitä jäljellä mussa on”