keith birthday is not in russia

Norwegian Arms - Secret Town Alone

This is the first in an ongoing series of songs (to eventually become some sort of complete album/composition) about my life in Tomsk, Russia. For those who don’t know, Tomsk is located in the Siberian section of Russia. I have been sent here on a government grant in order to teach English at a local university, but naturally the trip appealed to my creative side. As I compose and record songs, I will post them here in the hopes that someone will connect with them.

This first song (actually somewhat of a demo) is about a town near Tomsk, named Seversk, where a very important nuclear power plant is located. Up until about ten years ago, this town was not even marked on maps. Now, in order to enter the town, one is required to have a special license, which is checked inside of reportedly very strict conditions (gates close in front of and behind the buses) and it is nearly impossible for someone who doesn’t live there to get inside.

I reflected upon this notion of not being able to connect with people from outside of your town. Or if you do, the impossibility of your friends and loved ones outside of the city to ever visit your home, meet your parents, see the house where you grew up, etc. I find this notion sad and compelling, and it prompted me to compose this song. Like this and other songs I will be working on, versions will be posted as I complete them, the goal being an entire album named ‘тетрадь’, or ‘notebook’.

Norwegian Arms - Quite the Contrary to a Rainy Day

Today was my friend Yana’s birthday and I decided that instead of doing the usual gift certificate thing, I decided to write a song inspired by her/my experiences so far here.

This method proved not only cheaper and more personal, but it put me in the position where I needed to write a song, instead of dilly-dallying like I so often do with other material. This may become a project I try to continue at least during my time here, because of the forced-output it requires.

As usual, I decided to create the case myself, and found a nifty little guide on instructables as to how to accomplish this.

To be entirely honest, I wish I had worked on this a little longer and could have fleshed

it out more, but Yana called me this evening to let me know that she very much likes her present, and that really was the goal. So I guess I’m satisfied.

So if you have a birthday and you’re a person I like, don’t be surprised if you become a part of the Keith Birthday Birthday Song Project.

‘Louise’ - Norwegian Arms

So I finally finished what I guess could be called my first release. There are four other songs on it besides this one. They cost whatever amount of money or goods you feel is fair to give me in exchange.

I guess you could call this song the ‘title track’ considering it is also called Louise. Either way, it’s about a cat that lives in my house. She looks like the cover.

I hope to put out newer/more relevant material in the near future (aka before I leave for Russia). I just have to get my butt in gear.

Norwegian Arms - Jitterbug

Recorded this new song on a whim, mostly because I’m really really excited to play it on Saturday. If you like it at all tell me or tell someone else. It’ll eventually be available for stealing. It was called litterbug until Jose made me realize that Jitterbug is a million times more appropriate through his misinterpretation of the lyric in the first place.

By the way, you should all come to that.

And if you care, this is what the lyrics look like:

Shut all the blinds, the city’s still burning all diamonds and fire
like a bush in a mine
While the serious boys take the girls to a party
where the business men dance with their wives

There on the floor are twenty young warriors
who speak seven tongues and fix their own bikes
while the businessmen’s wives are tickling their fancies
with fantasies brimming with ghoulish desire

gonna catch you jitterbug

Shuffle in line the gates may be closing
don’t know where they’re going but they’ll certainly try
while the whimsical girls are twisting their curls
for the sleek city boys they’re trying to find

gonna catch you jitterbug