Passages

"Passages" is my 9th EP since 2006. It is, I feel, a more personal EP than the previous ones with songs composed about particular thoughts and feelings. This is also the first one which includes songs with vocals. From this point, it was harder to create "Passages" compared to the previous 8 EPs since it included a more serious process of songwriting.

I tried to make the songs as simple as possible but I don't think I could be that succesful. When I listen to the EP, I think some of the parts could be much more simpler.

I wrote most of the tunes in the acoustic guitar or piano and put lyrics after. Most of them were composed by late 2010 and early 2011 and I recorded the tracks in February 2011. After finishing the recording and mixing, I, for the first time, took some time to forget about everything I did for the EP. Then I re-visited what I've done in July and after being convinced that I'm happy with the whole thing, I uploaded the EP to my Bandcamp website.

I wrote all of the music and lyrics by myself. I also recorded vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, piano and Hammond parts with drum programming.

To have a quick word about the tracks:

Crimson Skies was the song that pushed me to record again and make a new EP after a long time. It just started as a demo piece for me to try and record my new Gibson acoustic guitar. After hearing the complete track, I persuaded myself to put it as a track in a new EP.

I was playing the riff for What We Fought For since long time. During the composition process, I made it a song. The track is mainly about the deception of a man about his life today when compared to his expectations from the life.

Passages has a style similar to Muse. It is not actually my style but I just wanted to visit that particular sound. The song is about the old habits visiting again and again which you can't run away.

Judgement Day Blues is mainly destinated to be a rough blues song consisted of acoustic slide guitar, kick drum and hand clapping with Hammond joining from the middle. I tried to make it sound like a very old blues song from the early 20s and 30s sang by black workers from Mississipi. The song, as I don't work there anymore, was written about my desire to take revenge from an old manager of mine which made me suffer a lot at the time. The main idea is the need for this revenge before the judgement day which is death itself. A dark sounding song reflecting a personal anger towards another person.

Dead End Roads tells about the difficulties that I face during my life. I always had this feeling that I have to crave and work very hard for anything in life contrary to some people who land everything they want more easily. The song mostly focuses on that particular subject. I tried to create a Spaghetti Western guitar sound but since I recorded it with a Telecaster (I didn't have a Strat at that time. I believe Strats are the best for that particular sound.), I don't think I captured that sound quite succesfully.

The EP is released by July 26th, 2011. The cover photo was taken by my friend Derya Çebi. It is the neck of my Telecaster which I think looks like a bridge, a "passage".

You can listen to each track via my blog or you can visit my Bandcamp website. You can also purchase the album from the same website.

Hope you enjoy the effort.

Passages (2011)

1. Crimson Skies - 01:48 
2. What We Fought For - 03:35
3. Passages - 04:45 
4. Judgement Day Blues - 04:18 
5. Dead End Roads - 06:05

All music and lyrics by Süheyl Ünver (2010-2011)
All instruments recorded by Süheyl Ünver except the drum programming in all tracks.
Released July 26, 2011