SINGLES

John Eric Klemesrud wrote all the music and lyrics, and performed on all the instruments except where stated otherwise.

PRODUCER: John Eric Klemesrud
BEWARE OF THE MASK RELEASE: 10/01/2025
THANK YOU, MY FRIEND RELEASE: 11/21/2025

  • Years ago an earlier version of the song was on a Mira Costa College CD called Watering the Wasteland. The new version has a bridge, more vocal parts in the chorus, an a capella chorus, a lot more spooky sound effects, reversed talking, and revised lyrics. The intro uses the whole tone scale to make it sound more scary, and it comes back for the ominous ending. Among the other chord choices that make it spooky, my favorite is in the bridge where a #5 in the E chord is the same note as the sus2 in the following Bb chord. In addition, the E to Bb interval is traditionally called the tri-tone or “Diabolus in musica” (devil in music) and used to create a foreboding or scary atmosphere. Another example of this is in Purple Haze by Jimi Hendrix which starts with a Bb even though the song is in the key of E. I like how the word “web” in the bridge can have a double meaning. The third verse sums up the primary message of the song: “The masquerades creep up from deep inside. They’ll cloak your greatest fears behind your eyes.” The old version of the song has drums by Mark Kinsey and much of that was kept intact for the new version. Background vocals are by Thomas Hoffmann of Brazil and Mailen Blanco Arriola of Argentina. Chilling screams are by Kyleen Ellingsen of Washington state. Lead vocals are by Nick Russ of the UK.

  • I was inspired by late 60s-style songs and considered how a song like Put a Little Love in Your Heart has become associated with Christmas because of use in the movie Scrooged (1988) with Bill Murray. I thought why not do something like that but make it a blues-rock Thanksgiving song. Loved adding the horn section especially at the beginning and end. The verse segment worked as an ending and I like how that part feels different being in 6/4 time. This makes the 4/4 chorus feel like it has changed gears. The chorus has a minor 4 chord but with the B bass on the Dm it technically would be a B half-diminished chord. The second and fourth lines of the bridge have that too except with a walking bass. Love that part and it reminds me of She Came in Through the Bathroom Window (Beatles). This song is meant for Thanksgiving but doesn’t have to be limited to that. If you have good friends, there’s always reason to be thankful and good to express that. Dima Faustov of the Ukraine provided the horns, Greg Van Kerkhof of South Africa is on bass, and Francesca Pratt of Italy is on drums. Vocals are performed by Katie Burke of Los Angeles and Christopher Galen of Colorado.