Thrown Off My Game

8 hours ago by @max

Liner Notes

https://studio273.bandcamp.com/track/thrown-off-my-game
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.
#guywithguitar #acoustic #singersongwriter

Lyrics

Thrown off my game
When you are looking at me
I’m not the same
When you are talking to me

I’m blown away
When you tell me you like me
Don’t know what to say
When you are kind to me

Caught in the thrill
nervous inside
why am I dying
feeling alive

Half of me is anxious
a little undone
don’t want to wake up
from this dream that’s begun

Thrown off my game
When you’re looking at me
I’m not the same
When you’re talking to me

I’m blown away
When you tell me you like me
Don’t know what to say
when you’re kind to me

I can’t look away
just gotta man up
my heartbeat’s a drum
the fear’s got to stop

I want to feel easy
comfortable and fine
and tell you I like you
without crossing the line

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

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