✵ Under This Roof

3 weeks ago by @max

Liner Notes

https://studio273.bandcamp.com/track/under-this-roof

Over 20 years of participating in February Album Writing Month (FAWM), I’ve developed a workflow that allows me to quickly create a decent recording of a freshly written song. My process always starts with guitar chords and humming a melody. Once a few words come to mind the songcrafting starts.
Despite all the digital possibilities out there, I prefer to keep things pure by using real instruments. I print the lyrics in large text, hang them above a camera, and play the song several times in a row. Usually, the fourth or fifth take is good enough. Thanks to FAWM, I’ve learned not to dwell too long on whether something is "perfect."

Next, I separate the one-take audio track from the video and load it into a mixing program. Most of the effects I use are already preset. Then I record additional vocal tracks and layer in more instruments like guitar, banjo, piano, and keyboard. Once the mix sounds decent, I sync it back with the video footage. Each year, I choose a different color theme for my two-tone videos.

If a song is recorded this way during FAWM, it’s done. After FAWM, I usually end up with three or four keepers, which I test live on stage. Songs often grow and evolve during live performances, but I never rerecord them. Around 90% of the songs I’ve written over the past 20 years were created during FAWM—simple and effective.

These days, I use ChatGPT to check my lyrics for grammar and spelling mistakes and to give suggestions. In the past, I relied on native-speaking FAWMers for this.
The audio mix I upload to Bandcamp is the same as the one in the videos. My style is defined by one-take, single-mic recordings with additional vocals and instruments.
#acoustic #guitar #singersongwriter

Lyrics

Everything I want
Is under this roof
All I could ever ask for
Right here, under this roof
Everything I need
Is under this roof
Every little thing I’m longing for
Right here, under this roof

There's music playing in every single room
Sunshine pouring through the trees outside
Feeling creative, my guitar is tuned
I'll stay at home, won’t go out tonight.

We dance in the kitchen, kick off our shoes
Every corner is filled with love and light
No weather forecast, no need to watch the news
Under this roof, everything’s just right.

Everything I want
Is under this roof
All I could ever ask for
Right here, under this roof
Everything I need
Is under this roof
Every little thing I’m longing for
Right here, under this roof

There’s coffee brewing, the smell fills the air
The speakers play the songs I just wrote
Comfy sofa, we’ve got no worries, no cares
We’ll stay at home, we like to take it slow.

The rain's tapping softly, a sweet melody
Stories 'round the table tonight
Happy to stay inside, warm as we can be
Under this roof, everything feels right.

Just sing along, leave your worries behind
Under this roof, it’s all sunshine
We don’t need much, just love and time
It’s all right here, and that’s just fine.

Everything I want
Is under this roof
All I could ever ask for
Right here, under this roof
Everything I need
Is under this roof
Every little thing I’m longing for
Right here, under this roof

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© Max Vanremmerden / vanremmerdenmusic 2025.
fawm.org/@max

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