My latest song, "The Way You Make Me Pay" arrived suddenly and spontaneously one day as I was trying out my wife’s guitar and toggling between two familiar chords, C and G.

As I was strumming I forgot what I was doing and a melody wanted to come out and play. What surprised me was that I could immediately hear a lyrical journey expressing the complexities of relationships and the lack of a map or any rules.

I went with the download and the result is this song.

After the first two lines, I quickly shifted from guitar to sit at my piano bench to make sure I could chart the chords that were in my ear and the lyrics emerging from god knows where.

As I fleshed out the basic structure, the theme of reflect the often tumultuous and confusing nature of love and how we are in relationships. I felt like a distorted Rhodes piano and a jazzier approach to the drums which is second nature to me.

Despite the music’s somber start, "The Way You Make Me Pay" is (to me at least) more of an anthem of autonomy and a subtle rebellion against societal norms when it comes to relationships. This song explores why we stay, how we navigate the balance between space and togetherness, and when to let go. It's about working through the kinks and recognizing that sometimes, staying isn't just about enduring pain, but about embracing the complexities of partnership.

I hope this song brings comfort, understanding, and reflection on why we stay.

Lyrics Highlights:

"It’s not what you say, It’s not what you do,
There’s something else that brings me to you and it’s true.
...
I guess we’ll work it out, Like every fool in love,
we stop making sense, but we know we’re bundled up
"

I decided this song felt different than the tunes I’ve been writing for my band, so I again asked my old friend Scott Masoner to play a bass (he also played on Song I’m Afraid to Write). I played with Scotty and Gordon Doucette in a band called The Senders when I was 19 and had to hide behind the curtain at the clubs because I was underaged. Scotty was a mentor to me in the wild Seattle 90s scene. He taught me how to rock and to mean every note. He was kind enough to blog about it here too.

Dave Hill Jr. Recording at London Bridge Studio

Also on the production team is my old high-school friend Jonathan Plum, who played some beautiful acoustic guitar, coached me on background vocals, and engineered the whole project. Jonathan has been helping me record vocals on 7 songs already this winter at his legendary Seattle studio called London Bridge. Can’t recommend him enough. Jonathan also recorded The Senders and even my old rap group in high school. Then he worked with some band called Alice in Chains and a thousand others to train for his experience helping me!

And finally, Mastering on this track was provided my prolific and multi-talented friend TW Walsh. He really dialed the sound in right.

I hope you enjoy the emotional ride of "The Way You Make Me Pay," and perhaps find a piece of your truth.

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NOTE: This song is my official release for April 2024. I’m releasing one song per month until I say otherwise.

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