RED [Full Album], by Ksatriya

RED [Full Album]

by Ksatriya

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KSATRIYA My first album and a statement against fear. I had to make some hard decisions to get this message out. But I'm glad that I did. Favorite track: Salam.

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Discover a story in eight songs

1. Eight haunting, honest and powerful tracks
2. Bonus wallpaper and cover art

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$7 USD or more

1.	Salam 04:25	lyrics	buy track
The sun goes dark No stars tonight The streets are fires of man-made plight The wind wears wings Of ill-borne will that flutter still on window sills The pen that wrought these pearls of thought has long since ceased its tortured course And wrapped in shrouds of fever dreams, a poet hears the angels sing Salam His feet now fall on a soot-stained floor and his knees go weak at the sight that’s wreaked A blasted field of fire and steel And all humanity seemed to burn within a violent, writhing, man-made sea of blood and bullets and RPGs Heaven cries out with heavy tears But the hate’s so loud man can’t hear Salam In flames well-fed by fossil fuels, the scythe of Death deals its due- his heart goes cold, soot stains his face but his voice still fills that dismal place: Is this fate's final blow Then let my final verse now flow – Elude us all those pearly gates, till hearts of peace undo the hate.
2.	Student of Life 02:55	lyrics	buy track
Cigarette butts on an ash filled floor a poem forgotten and I'm writing some more Fallen forsaken bound and broken enlightened empowered raging in silence illuminate eradicate start over again a poet and a teacher a princely pied-pauper a treasure for your leisure a note out at sea leader and follower neither is me neither is me, neither is me a killer who's a winner a wild wall street wrangler watches from the window for a fresh faced harvest a sad serenade singing one man brigade makes homemade lemonade from welfare aid a hunted homosexual and consenting bisexual heal a frenetic dumpster diving dyslexic a dreamer and a schemer with dead distant demeanor dumps a dubstep drummer for a drunk dame who's dimmer neither is me, neither is me I'm a 99-percenter and a person of colour a previous homeowner with no present buyer A peripheral savvy lipstick heavy long lash luscious booty stick thin skank a sometimes sexy and super-scent heavy green-card crazy gold-digging little brat damaged goods and destitute livin on a playa paying for the living by playin on his flute neither is me? Tales for the telling and songs for the asking food for the wanting and drink for the dying Hell for the pious and heaven for the devil Hope for the lost and a Harlot at the saddle A wish come true is a curse you choose Pain so bad it turns to pleasure again I'm not anyone special I cannot be considered wise but some things I've learned as a student of life Some things I've learned as a Student of Life
3.	I Need a Drink 03:39	lyrics	buy track
Another long day another long night sold my soul to the man still paying the price Crammed into these tin cans squeezed like sardines I hear the other inmates whisper to me I feel so old I feel so cold Drown the pain and start again just fill the glass I'll be ok Seems like everybody wants a piece of fame they don't know that's the way The Man co-opts their game he'll make you go sale searching, cam-whoring attention seeking insane while he floods your neighborhood with crime and cocaine Now a rich man can buy a nice house and sip fine wine but a poor man's only mansion is his mind but even that's on loan and when it's foreclosed you'll find the bottom of a bottle to be your only home I feel so old I feel so cold Drown the pain and start again just fill the glass I'll be ok I need a drink
4.	Anak Merdeka 03:04	lyrics	buy track
Kita kan semua, Anak Merdeka Atau biri-biri menunggu gembala? (Are we not the children of Freedom? or are we sheep waiting for a shepherd?) Kita kan semua, Anak Merdeka Atau biri-biri menunggu gembala? Jika disuruh diam lantanglah bersuara kita kan semua Anak Merdeka (If you are told to be silent, speak up instead are we not all the children of Freedom?) Kita kan semua, Anak Merdeka Atau biri-biri menunggu gembala? Jika diarah jangan berarak Jika disuruh diam sahaja Jika diarah jangan bertanya Jawablah kita Anak Merdeka (If you're told not to march If you're told to stay silent If you are ordered not to question Give them an answer: We are the children of Freedom! ) Jika laungan disahut baton dan air kimia Jangan kita takut dan jangan kita gentar Anak Malaysia kita di jalan yang benar Penjajah dan pencuri akan jatuh jua (If your cries are answered by batons and chemical-laced water Do not be afraid, do not be swayed children of Malaysia we are on the path of truth the thieves and oppressors will meet their fate) Dibaham semarak Anak Merdeka Dibaham semarak Anak Merdeka Dibaham semarak Anak Merdeka Dibaham semarak Anak Merdeka (Engulfed in the flames of the free people) Kita kan semua, Anak Merdeka Atau biri-biri menunggu gembala? Kita kan semua, Anak Merdeka Atau biri-biri menunggu gembala? Copyright, 2012 Ksatriya All Rights Reserved
5.	Hantu Balu 03:11	lyrics	buy track
Tadi aku jumpa hantu hantu itu nama Balu Tadi aku jumpa hantu hantu itu nama Balu Jadi aku pun tanya hantu Apa story jadi begini Dalam diam bak dinihari hantu Balu jawab begini Mana tidak ku sakit hati polis pukul ku sampai mati Mana tidak ku sakit hati polis pukul ku sampai mati hey Tadi aku jumpa hantu hantu itu nama Balu Tadi aku jumpa hantu terus lari, tulis lagu
6.	Bogeyman 03:29	lyrics	buy track
Bolt your doors keep your kids close make sure to check and lock the windows grill 'em up good throw away the keys the bogeyman comin' man we dead meat no one knows what he looks like but they huff and puff to give you quite a fright some say he's black and some say he's white some say he wears a turban or rides a bike but there is one thing repeated on tv the bogeyman comin' to steal your honey he steal your pie he steal your money then you be left with nothing baby You and me don't choose to be but all they see is Bogeyman Everybody's somebody's Bogeyman You look at me and see a Bogeyman I look at you and see another Bogeyman Bogeyman, when will it end? Best beware now that man over there, son he colored all wrong with a beady eyed stare for all you know he be the bogeyman, son go get the hatchet best be prepared see it unfold a cruel prank the rich get richer laughing all the way to the bank the poor and the middle class man shudder shiver in fear bogeyman in the mirror, mirror on the wall now who's the biggest fiend of all? the fear my dear that's put in your mind fear of the other to keep you in line You and me don't choose to be but all they see is Taller tales for bullet sales 'til they find a better way put their lies in TV tapes then replay it everyday tired of this hating trend no matter what your color man shake em hands shake em hands shake em with the bogeyman Bogeyman Everybody's somebody's Bogeyman You look at me and see a Bogeyman I look at you and see another Bogeyman Bogeyman, when will it end?
7.	Occupy a Fairytale 03:03	lyrics	buy track
Graduation, ivy league churned honor-roll hope for the nation fresh face, big hopes, hope the world just ain't too small to cope her rolled up future clutched in trembling hands smiling ear to ear now she's making big plans a white wedding dress blue skies, green fields bird-songs for the bride white horse for her prince no mean streets or downbeats or politics impede and trip her feet no rains and no gales, never fail let the city implode She'll occupy a fairytale And her life will be a testament to happy ever after she's got a good job, Euro-trips twice a year The sex is always hot and the weather's always cool cuddles in the morning then drinks by the pool and the palace where they live is close to a good school and that'll come in handy coz she's gonna have his babies with eyes the sky blue and they'll never sing the blues no Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae her life she'll never lose and hell will never run loose hell will never run loose when She occupies a fairytale And in her perfect world no one ever gets the flu in the event of emergency no matter what your policy everyone saved equally nobody needs a loan with the money that you're paid you can afford a home no debt and no taxes you get second chances no violence or riots or tyrants life on autopilot and if not for the pirates could this all come true maybe not, maybe so what's a girl to do and hell will never run loose hell will never run loose when She occupies a fairytale
8.	Red 01:39	lyrics	buy track
I am a singer of tales a painter of pictures alone, in a colourless world I sing and I paint my hues and my shade in royal, relentless Red Against those who would make the world grey in their wake and banish all colour from the mind With the boot and the stick and stinging smoke thick the tyranny of black and white When they come without charm long claws and long arms to make me sing their monochrome song This window will break with my body's own weight a husk shall fall to the ground As I sail through the heavens let it rain glass and defiance I will paint even my final picture in Red

about

This album will challenge you.
It will look you in the eyes and howl discordant notes.
Steal away into the night and pine for the new moon.
Slither in past barred doors to curl at your feet.

In a place where the artist cannot speak freely, it is a voice in the shadows.
A low growl in the dark.
A Pandora's box of open secrets and a cauldron of suppressed stories, threatening to boil over.

Perhaps it is a desperate animal.
Trying to claw its way out of a well built of silence, cemented in by the willingness of my people to strangle their own voices with a string of false idols and empty promises.

This is the last match in a squandered box, as the cold closes in.
One lonely, precious, delicate flame to guide lost ships home.

It is a poltergeist that will whisper in your dreams. Dark, grand, terrible, lovely things.
And in the morning, as you sip your coffee and the sun warms your bones and skin and sinew,
you'll realize that maybe
you've fallen in love with this strange, feral, noble beast.

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"Reminiscent of Gil-Scott Heron with the theatrical affectation of Peter Murphy and world-weariness of Tom Waits, Ksatriya’s music and lyrics pack a heady wallop."

- Tashny Sukumaran, The Star goo.gl/1rA55w

***

"Profound lyrics and melancholic melodies, RED is not for the easy listener. It makes you think, and that is what music should do."

- Julia Tan Jo-Mei, Penang Monthly goo.gl/9qHACi

credits

released October 1, 2013

Salam featuring the vocal talent of Regina Ibrahim and Eric Beng on guitars
Original composition by Ksatriya, Eric Beng, Damon Lee, Adie and Samwise Wee Khee

Bogeyman featuring the vocal talent of Vivian Adram

I Need a Drink original composition by Ksatriya and Tom 'Loki Lovelight' LaGrange

Hantu Balu additional guitar composition by Eric Beng

All songs written and performed by Ksatriya
Additional composition and arrangement by Samwise Wee Khee

Special thanks to all those who contributed portraits for the Anak Merdeka lyric video

All Rights Reserved.

Unauthorized copying, reproduction, public performance, broadcasting, hiring or rental prohibited

Arranged, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at
SAMWISEMUSIC Recording Studio
www.samwisemusic.com

Design and Artwork by
Vividsgn
www.vividsgn.com