I've been messed up
I blame my luck
And I guess that's why I can't decide on a state of mind and if fate is truly by design
I've been messed
I blame my luck
Without it, I'm fine
But I get by with time to write and the letters appear before my eyes
I'll survive to my surprise through the lowest lows and the highest highs
I realize I'll get by through the lowest lows and the highest highs
I've been messed up
I blame my luck
And I guess that's why I feel tired and under fire
I haven't had a good laugh in a while
I'll survive to my surprise through the lowest lows and the highest highs
I realize I'll get by through the lowest lows and the highest highs
I'll survive to my surprise through the lowest lows and the highest highs
I realize I'll get by through the lowest lows
You have been bruised
You have been trained to abuse
You've been used
You have been drained
You use your faith to explain why you've been used
I've been, too
I've been too, just like you
These days it all seems fake
It all seems fake
It all seems fake
You know it's hard to take
It's hard to take
It's hard to take when you've been used
You have been shamed
You have been trained to derange
You've been used
I've been too
I've been too, just like you
These days it all seems fake
It all seems fake
It all seems fake
You know it's hard to take
It's hard to take
It's hard to take when you've been used
I've been, too
I've been, too
Living a lie is something I've been getting good at
I understood that you know I won't deny it
It's the way you end our conversation
It's the motivation that I have to try
Living a lie is something I've been getting used to
The schemes I pull too, while I look you in the eye
It's the way you end our conversation
It's the motivation that I have to hide
My, My
My, My
Living a lie is something I've been getting used to
These schemes I pull to keep me occupied
It's the way you end our conversation
It's the motivation that I have to hide
I'm living on faith these days now
It's not a simple world
My, My
My, My
My, My
My, My
Living a lie
I know nothing about you lately
I know nothing about your life
I know if I want to be honest, I know nothing about your drive
It's a heavy scene
I'm just trying to stay clean
I know nothing about your conscience
I know nothing about your crimes
I know if I want to be open, I know nothing of your designs
It's a heavy scene
I'm just trying to stay clean
I know nothing
I know nothing about you lately
I know nothing about your kind
I know if I want to be honest, I'm really just tense all the time
It's a heavy scene
I'm just trying to stay clean
I know nothing
I know nothing
I know nothing
Learning takes time
Even with hope, even with spine I get lost all the time
I know nothing about you, lady
I know nothing about your life
I know if I want to be honest, I know nothing about drive
It's a heavy scene
I'm just trying to stay clean
I know nothing
Into tomorrow our lives will be thrown
Memories fading I thought would have grown
It's the way things have gone
Into tomorrow where nothing is solved
Telling myself it's not right or wrong
It's the way things have gone
It's just the way things have gone
It's the way things have gone
It's just the way things have gone
It's on and on and on
On and on and on
On and on and on
And the waiting is long
And there's this feeling that something belonged
It's on and on and on
It's on and on and on
It's on and on and on
It's on and on and on
about
Inspired by MTV’s “Unplugged” series, Motta handpicked talented musicians, engineers and filmmakers to create and capture the magic of a live performance in high fidelity. What transpired was a free, intimate show that doubled as a recording session and concert film both slated for official release in February of 2020.
Converting a raw space in Washington, D.C., for one night, the eight-piece band formed an impressive symphonic sound to showcase some of the eclectic songwriter's well-received material. Vibrantly reimagining songs like “Into Tomorrow (On and On),” a string-filled homage to Puerto Rican family being played on Sirius XM's “The Loft” and NPR affiliates around the country to breakout song “(My My) Living A Lie” featured on Netflix’s “Flaked,” the recording was lovingly mixed and mastered in Baltimore at Wright Way Studios (Future Islands, Mars Volta).
In February 2019, he released "Soul Loss Symphony, " a 10-song album spawning songs like "Without Me" and “Overloaded (Dreamer),” both tracks featured on Sirius XM's "In Spite of all The Danger." In 2017, Motta released “Living A Lie,” whose title track was featured on the soundtrack of “Flaked” by tastemakers Chris Douridas (KCRW) and Chris Muckley (Sirius XM). Motta's eponymous debut in 2015 introduced him to the national stage with the single "Up and Away" listed on NPR's Public Radio's #1 Songs of 2015 alongside Father John Misty, The Alabama Shakes and D'Angelo.
credits
released February 25, 2020
Tomás Pagán Motta: Acoustic Gtr, Vox, Lyrics, Arrangements
Aaron Agre: Electric Gtrs
Marcus Akins: Keys
Joseph Martone: Bass
Stanley Banks: Drums, Percussion
John Twiford: BVs, Percussion
String Arrangements: Ahren Buchheister
Dorotea Racz: Cello
Sandy Choi: Violin
Videos Directed By: Joel Flora (www.joelflora.net)
Set Design: Joel Flora, Steve Celano
Cinematographers : Joel Flora, Steve Celano, Daniel Regner, Justin Ashlye, Ben Palmer
Venue Owner/Coordinator: Stuart Davenport
Sound Engineered By:
Michael Franklin
Nate Lanzino
Motta has fashioned his own eclectic folk for a decade incorporating world music, groove, orchestral, blues, rock and pop.
Moving to Baltimore in the mid-2000s, he released three albums as The Petticoat Tearoom. National recognition came in 2015 when his song "Up and Away" was included on NPR. In 2017, his song "(My My) Living A Lie" was picked for Netflix’s “Flaked"soundtrack....more
Unpredictable and beautifully unique and inventive electric guitar work framed by a tight band. Agre is a special player and composer. Tomás Pagán Motta
So hypnotic and creative. He's a truly unique turntable musician. You won't believe what he's doing. He cuts his own vinyl, records a lot of his own samples and does magic with tables. Tomás Pagán Motta
Four indie-pop reflections on growth and loss from the Australian singer-songwriter, sustained by robust pianos and fervent vocals. Bandcamp New & Notable Feb 29, 2024
