Alter My Direction

ABOUT ALTER MY DIRECTION

Alter My Direction is the third song on a 3-song EP called Branches. It concludes the story arc of moving on from the ending of a relationship. With every relationship that ends, while I retain scars, I also come away with new strengths and new insights on where I need to improve. Lessons learned about myself and others are what help me grow. Once the dust settles, I can move forward in life — toward personal goals and new relationships — and sometimes it requires altering my direction in life.

“The cuts run deep under my skin,

and my callused fingertips

keeping me afloat out here.”

I may have new scars and calluses from a previous relationship, but upon a closer look at them, they are key to who I am today, and can help me grow into who I want to be.

“Like a wild horse on the run,

I’ve got a destination, but I’m lost.

Now the plain ahead is all there is to see.”

Sometimes it’s hard to know where you’re headed even though you know where you want to go. And sometimes, for me, even if I feel lost, it’s the movement, the taking action, that changes things for the better. This lyric influenced the song artwork.

“See what I mean to me, an honest look at my reflection.

Not as over as it seems, chase it now, alter my direction.”

Taking an honest look in the mirror at myself — the good, the bad, and the ugly — and learning from it is how I can move forward in life. I try to do this regularly, but sometimes the ending of a relationship forces me to do this at a higher level.

OTHER INTERESTING NOTES

Alter My Direction (as well as whole EP) was co-produced by me (Mike Bass), Alara, and Steven LaFashia. This was my first time working with other producers, and enjoyed the process very much!

The Branches EP was recorded at Retro City Studios in Philadelphia, PA.

Alter My Direction blends more into the indie pop genre, which is new for me. The same goes for the EP as a whole, which has dream pop, indie folk, and indie pop elements.

LYRICS

Alter My Direction

Music and Lyrics by Mike Bass

Copyright ©2022 Mike Bass. All Rights Reserved.

The cuts run deep under my skin,

and my callused fingertips

keeping me afloat out here.

Like a wild horse on the run,

I’ve got a destination, but I’m lost.

Now the plain ahead is all there is to see.

See what I mean to me, an honest look at my reflection.

Not as over as it seems, chase it now, alter my direction.

Is this a road I’ve crossed before?

Gotta make it to the place I’m running toward,

even if it’s on my hands and knees.

See what I mean to me, an honest look at my reflection.

Not as over as it seems, chase it now, alter my direction.

Lace up these shoes,

let the sunbeam tell me where to move.

And when it feels like there’s too many paths to choose from

and there’s nothing left to lose,

all I can do

to break through

is alter my direction

[INTERLUDE]

See what I mean to me, an honest look at my reflection.

Not as over as it seems, chase it now, alter this

discontented scene, one foot in front of the other.

Take control of me, face it now, alter my direction.