Tasman Axeman - MyVideos

The bad old days...

Studio Today...

- My STudio -

I’ve spent most of my life getting distracted from doing exactly this—making music in a home studio that actually works!

First, there were the bands: musicians tugging in every direction, endless rehearsals, lugging amps up staircases, cramming onto broom-closet-sized stages, and playing our hearts out to audiences that were mostly drunk and barely listening.

Then came the “golden age” of home studios. Picture enough cables and blinking lights to make NASA green with envy, and me spending entire weekends trying to figure out why the synth refused to listen to a single MIDI command.

And of course, a lifetime in I.T.—a perfectly respectable career that managed to drain my soul and gently sauté my brain.

But hey, I made it through! And now, at last, I’m doing what I love most—the music you’ll find right here.

- New Releases -

Don't Wait

We all probably know someone close that has reached retirement without a plan. For this song, I wanted to get people thinking about what is really important in their lives. Family, friends, relaxing doing the things you enjoy, having interests and hobbies.

Work does not make the list😁

Don't wait til the end of your life, before you get a life!

Don't Wait

(Music and Lyrics by George Cook)
Step back from the heat. Feel your own heartbeat.You have come so far, but forgotten who you areDon’t wait too long… you are soon gone.
Working all your life, what have you to show?Money comes your way , but you can never grow Don’t wait too long… you are soon gone.Make that change.
Step back from the heat. Feel your own heartbeat.You have come so far, but forgotten who you areDon’t wait too long… you are soon gone.Make that change.

On Your Own

It sometimes feels like everyone around you is letting you down, holding you back, not on your page. But is it really them?

Don't wait for, or expect, help. . you have the power to do it "On Your Own!"

On Your Own

(Music and Lyrics by George Cook)
I once had a notion that life was a balance, of give and takeit came from within, the natural order of thingsThen the world grew colder. Confusion. Blind-sidedI was always welcome, but never invited.
WAKE UP! Open your eyes! WISE UP! It’s time to realiseYou’re on your own, Be Strong. You’re on your own, Be Strong
Waiting, for that reply. No point, in asking whyHoping, someone comes by… you’re choking.So hear me...
You’re on your own, Be Strong. You’re on your own, Be Strong
(Instrumental - Lead Break)
You’re on your own, Be Strong. You’re on your own, Be Strong

Play From The Heart

Dance music has been around for so long now, it has become ubiquitous for most young and not-so-young music fans.

That doesn’t make it a good thing.

Lets get away from samples, loops, 808 drum beats and maxed out bass and back to learning to play real musical instruments, writing songs, and creating original music.

Where has it gone? art of the songLost in the noise of beats and drum toys...here we go!
Now in a time… creative declineIf this is a keeper, please call the grim reaper!One two three four...
So play from your heart and give it meaningJust make a start. Something new. Something you.
So play from your heart, get back to the startKnow what it means, to be free from machinesPlay from your heart. Play from your heart. Play from your heart
Make a start, from your heart. Play from your heartMake a stand. Raise your hand. Play from your heart

- Instrumentals -

Escape

Take a slow walk through the trees with me.

This new Tasman Axeman track drifts away from my recent symphonic metal leanings and into something softer — an acoustic guitar instrumental wrapped in gentle synth textures.

Dreaming Of Flying

A swing... on a beach? Where's my drone!

It was a delight to walk onto a remote New Zealand beach and find this swing. A clear blue-sky day, so I took some footage with my Mavic Mini 3 drone with my partner trying her skills as a model.

Kapiti

The Kapiti Coast, NZ, one of my favourite endless walking beaches. This was the first attempt at flying my new drone.

Into Orbit

My first single "Into Orbit". I had designs on creating a kind of space adventure album. An adventurous project. It started, and stopped, here!

Tauhara

After playing with the time-lapse feature on my phone one afternoon, I laid down a heavy beat to it and played with some video effects.

Virus

My noisy over-the-top "Virus" project during lock-down. Everything is turned up louder than everything else. A mastering engineer would be horrified 😄