Essay Tiger

10/30/2025

I absolutely hope that these people are taken off the board. Period.

10/19/2025

52 Frequencies – Week 10 – “Let’s Just Love”
https://essaytiger.fanlink.tv/lets-just-love

Genre: J-House, J-Pop, Electronic Dance

Week 10 rolls in and I am tired. I decided to watch an anime and an inspired thought came to me...

"I would love to write a song for an anime!".

So the next day I sat down and starting thinking of one. At first I called the song "Shibuya Nights", but as I started to write out the lyrics, it turned into “Let’s Just Love”.

Writing in Japanese can be challenging. So I used words that I already knew and did my best to keep it simple, while at the same time expressing the true meaning of the song---which is about someone encouraging their friend and lover to let go of fear, smile through the struggle, and simply love. The Japanese verse translates to “I know that life can be hard sometimes, but let’s smile and play—just the two of us.”

Musically, it’s high-energy J-House — glowing synths, big drops, and that signature Shibuya pulse. The blend of English and Japanese lyrics mirrors the song’s heartbeat: hopeful, universal, and full of light.

About the Cover Art:
I wanted the artwork to feel like a moment suspended in time — a girl lost in the music under the bright lights of Tokyo. You can feel the freedom in her expression. And as always, hidden somewhere in the design is my wife’s name — my quiet little signature across the 52 Frequencies series.

Let me know what you think!
https://open.spotify.com/album/1pWvPCr9Bb2LIdNSviCOni?si=f1gZ95lUR0aUZnlHoaDmyw

Essay Tiger · single · 2025 · 1 songs

09/13/2025

WARNING: Cats have taken over the block party!

Cats are throwing the wildest block party ever!
What happens when they're in charge?
https://youtu.be/7ekWcBEA70k?si=N8CX4WFot8Pv17Zn

09/08/2025

The Bills!!!!!

08/29/2025

52 Frequencies - Week 7 - "Summer Groove"

https://essaytiger.fanlink.tv/summer-groove

Genre: Soul, Funk, Downtempo

So, in my seventh week in (yes, I know I haven’t written about weeks 5 and 6—more on that later), I was chilling on vacation in Mexico and, as always, I started humming a melody. This time, it was a bassline. The bassline reminded me of those classic R&B/funk songs from the ’80s and ’90s that I used to hear playing in the summertime.

"Summer Groove" is a funky soul jam built to keep the good vibes rolling. This song is an homage to my Brooklyn block party days growing up in Bed-Stuy. We’d head out during the summers and play until the streetlights came on—which was the universal signal for everyone to get their butts back home. Driven by a deep, melodic bassline, classic horns, and tight, funky guitar riffs, it’s a track that feels timeless and fresh all at once. Whether you’re skating under the sun, chilling at a party, or cruising down the highway on a road trip, Summer Groove sets the perfect soundtrack for carefree days and smooth nights.

About the Cover Art:
I wanted a cover that mimicked the relaxing, winding-down feeling of a summer day. I also thought it would be cool to feature my wife on the album cover (by the way, her name is actually hidden on all my covers). So, I started sketching something up, and I felt this shot was perfect to incorporate into the artwork.

Let me know what you think!
https://open.spotify.com/track/7jX7BxTQDNnE1Q0BgZcRHc?si=5b35c527f66b428f

by Essay Tiger

08/01/2025

07/15/2025

A mini-music video for In the Shadow of God.

This song is for anyone who’s ever needed a reminder that you’re never truly alone. His love surrounds you, even when you can’t see it.💬 How does this track...

05/08/2025

52 Frequencies - Week 4 - "Pink Skates"
https://essaytiger.fanlink.tv/pink-skates

Genre: Nu-Disco, Soul Disco

So in my fourth week in, I was working on a track and stumbled upon a sound in one of my Pro Tools instruments — a Rhodes patch with a vintage feel. I started messing around with some chords, and suddenly a lightbulb went off.

As I began building the melody and shaping the overall feel of the song, it started turning into something people could actually dance to. I don’t usually make dance tracks, so this was uncharted territory for me. I thought, Who in the world am I even making this for? Who would be dancing to this?

As luck (or favor) would have it, the very next day I jumped on social media and saw a video of my cousin Sean — an avid skater — at his favorite skating rink. Another lightbulb moment. Why not create a track as an homage to the skate community?

That’s when the momentum picked up. From Monday to Wednesday, the music began to take shape. By Thursday, I was humming a melody. And by Friday, the full idea had arrived.

I wanted to make a song that invites people not just to come out and skate, but to come out and be social — no matter who they are or what their skin tone is. I wanted it to feel like an audible throwback to those old Soul Train clips, where Black, white, and Asian folks were all wearing their grooviest outfits, dancing, vibing, and simply enjoying each other’s company.

About the Cover Art:
I wanted the artwork to reflect the “skin tones” mentioned in the chorus: Pink Skates & Brown Skin, Pink Skates & Light Skin, Pink Skates & Olive Skin. The three women on the cover represent those ideas. I designed the image with them facing away to suggest forward motion — they’re moving ahead, progressing. They’re also in the same skating pose to symbolize unity and harmony as they move together.

Let me know what you think.

04/30/2025

Me: AI, create an image of me playing the piano:

AI: (see image below)

Me: 🤣😏 Fail! (And who is this? This look like if Joe and Teddy Riley had a baby. And why am in in the piano?)

04/16/2025

52 Frequencies - Week 3 - "Indigo Blue"
https://essaytiger.fanlink.tv/indigo-blue

Genre: Jazz Chill, Chill Music, Chillhop, Lounge

So on my third week in, I was walking down the street, heading home from the gym. I was exhausted—just wanted to eat and relax. As I walked, I started humming a melody. Just something random that popped into my head. (This happens often.)

I didn’t think much of it at first. I figured it was probably a tune I’d heard before. But when I got home, I realized I was still humming the same thing—over and over in my head. I quickly grabbed my phone and recorded it.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to stop what I’m doing when a song or melody drops into my head. It’s exciting, but honestly, a little scary too. Sometimes I can hear the full song in my mind—every part, every movement—but when I sit down to translate it, it just doesn’t come out the same.

That can be disappointing. Every musical idea feels like growing a baby made of notes, rhythms, and melodies. You nurture it in the womb of your mind, hoping one day you can give birth to it. But sometimes that birth is stunted.

Thankfully, this wasn’t one of those times.

The song I was hearing felt like a flashback to the first time I ever stepped into a jazz club. The intricate timing of the melodies. Four-part harmonies. A simple beat that keeps time and makes your head bop without even trying.

This track is an homage to the “cool cat” era. Brassy. Big. Blue.

About the Cover Art:
I knew I wanted to incorporate the title visually. I decided one side of the artwork would be painted indigo and the other blue. As for the imagery, I created a composite of the actual instruments used in the song. I wanted them to be the centerpiece.

Let me know what you think.

04/16/2025

So the last couple of weeks have been tough. It's been sapping my creative energy. But without music, I would have broken.