I'm the Moon is Trey Alexander's debut EP, consisting of 5 his first self-produced songs. On this EP, there are three tracks with vocals (Celeste's Song, A Star, Two Doves) that delve into a past long distance relationship. These songs elicit a wide spectrum of emotion, from the joy of Celeste's Song to the deep longing for some kind of way out on A Star. The two instrumental tracks (Groove Interlude and Sequel) show Trey's range as an instrumentalist. Groove Interlude is a short, yet sweet guitar solo layered with bluesy melodies and a tight four on the floor drum beat. On the other hand, Sequel envelopes the listener in an ambient world of fluttering synth and soft piano chords soaked in echo and reverb.
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Slow Down
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Slow Down came soon after the release of Trey Alexander's debut EP. This song departs from Trey's moodier sound to create a more Sinatra influenced tune reminiscent of the swing era. Heavy with saxophone and a swirling lead synth, Slow Down encourages the listener to appreciate the present and refrain from wishing away one's youth. In writing this song, Trey also wishes for a way to slow things down as to remedy the rapid hastening of his sense of time as he grows older and faces the challenges of becoming an adult.
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Hold You Another Night
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Hold You Another Night came after a rather long hiatus from Trey Alexander's first releases in 2021. Showing a softer acoustic side of Trey's repertoire, this track was originally written as a love letter from a former relationship. The lyrics pair effectively with the music, blending together to create an exposed and vulnerable atmosphere. Hold You Another Night takes inspiration musically from the lush guitar sounds of Justice Der and Slowdive.
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Fall, Fire, Fall
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This song, written about a fictional village burning to the ground, brings a previously unseen energy to Trey Alexander's discography. Fall, Fire, Fall intrigues the listener with a cinematic hook of acoustic guitar and sawtooth synth chords, yet quickly delivers a sharp transition into a powerful first verse. A fiery organ solo finds itself between verses before the song concludes with one last haunting utter of the phrase, "Light up the stars and rain down."
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Rhyme and Reason
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The first of Trey Alexander's new singles in 2023, Rhyme and Reason represents new beginnings for both his songwriting and his personal life. This song stresses a drastic yet welcoming departure from the sound of his first releases. Written with the musical stylings of The Backseat Lovers as inspiration, Rhyme and Reason was constructed only using electric and acoustic guitar (apart from a rhythm section comprised of drums, bass, and a shaker). Beginning with soft acoustic arpeggios, the song quickly builds into an exciting guitar solo, trading off turns with the other layers in stop time. The rest of this tune can be characterized by a plethora of dynamic shifts, gliding guitar chords, and lyrics detailing the frustrations felt while being reluctant to give up on someone that should have been left in the past.
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Spend My Life
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Spend My Life marks a huge step in Trey Alexander's recording and production journey. Seeming almost like two different songs, Spend My Life takes inspiration from numerous musical sources, including the likes of Tears for Fears, Flipturn, and even Pink Floyd. The introduction chimes in with a brief guitar solo on top of subdued arpeggios, leading into a strong verse and chorus with lyrics lamenting a painful breakup. Once the second chorus concludes, a soft guitar riff introduces an electrifying solo section backed by pounding, almost tribal drums. All parts grow louder with the culmination of the second solo, which ends with a triumphant finish.
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Coming to an End Single - 2023 |
Coming to an End is the most recent release of Trey Alexander's discography. Reaching streaming platforms in early November, this track shows off a newer sound of Trey Alexander's. The introductory guitar riff echoes with a tinge of the chicken-scratch picking style characteristic of funk music. As the rhythm section fills in, Trey delivers the first lines: "It's cold and I'm freezing, stuck in a damn hurricane." The word hurricane is used both a reference to his alma mater's mascot and a symbol for the storm of emotions raging through his head. Coming to an End represents a difficult time in Trey's life when the only thing that felt right was holding on to something that was long gone. The lyrics reflect this sentiment through and through. After two choruses, an instrumental section breaks out with two rocking guitar solos before one last repeat of the chorus.
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