Greetings -- This is the website for Dave Shiflett's music and writing.
There are lots of my Wall Street Journal reviews on the News page, including recent reviews of Valerie Fridland's ‘Like, Literally, Dude’ and Rick Rubin's ‘The Creative Act.’
NEW MUSIC: ‘The Girl in the Meadow’ just finished. A remake of an earlier guitar piece, featuring violin and contrabass. Inspired by a friend who buried her mother the old fashioned way: she dug the grave with a shovel. Don't think this happens much any more. Starts dark but brightens considerably.
Two new compilations of my songs are out (see below). You can listen to all the songs for free and download the collection for a small charge (single songs can also be downloaded). Directly under those links are a few ‘classical’ compositions that are around 7-8 minutes each. I will be posting lots more orchestral music soon.
You can also find “Songs from Life (Part One)” and “Siren Songs” at Bandcamp:
https://daveshiflett.bandcamp.com/album/songs-from-life-part-one
https://daveshiflett.bandcamp.com/album/siren-songs-part-one
It would be great if you'd hit the follow button. That will result in being notified when I put out a new recording. I am in the process of compiling all my music – pop, folk, country, and orchestral – in a dozen or so collections, which I'll be releasing over the course of the next year. Each recording will be $5 – the cost of a happy hour pint (in many places).
Attention literary rainmakers: I have a novel – ‘Three Clicks Past the Paraclete’ – looking for representation. It's about love and generational warfare in Richmond, Va. as the confederate monuments bite the dust. Funnier than it sounds.
Also, two highly unique screenplays. Daveshiflett1@gmail.com for more information.
Also below are two video/photomontages for songs included on ‘Siren Songs Part One’:
‘Smile While You Can’ and ’My Beautiful Friend.' The video version of ‘My Beautiful Friend' is sung by Jeanine Guidry, who was the first vocalist to record the song. Buttafly Vazquez sings it on ‘Siren Songs.’
Thanks for stopping by. I am always available at Daveshiflett1@gmail.com
A piece for violin and contrabass. Starts sorta grim but brightens considerably.
This is the first compilation of my songs written for female vocalists. Seven of the songs, starting with 'A Simple Thing,' are sung by Buttafly Vazquez. Buttafly attended the professional performing arts high school in New York where she was classmates with Alicia Keys. I met her at the Cary Street Cafe in Richmond, Virginia. She had heard 'My
This is the first compilation of my songs written for female vocalists. Seven of the songs, starting with 'A Simple Thing,' are sung by Buttafly Vazquez. Buttafly attended the professional performing arts high school in New York where she was classmates with Alicia Keys. I met her at the Cary Street Cafe in Richmond, Virginia. She had heard 'My Beautiful Friend,' which was the first of my songs she learned. I wrote four others for her and we recorded all five at Jim Mohr's studio outside Richmond. That collection is called 'A Simple Thing' and was released in 2013, We later did 'Distant Star' and 'Smile While You Can' with producer Morgan Terry Hyde, who played (via keyboard) all the instruments except guitar (Dave Shiflett). Lyrics are included for all songs.
Jeanine Guidry sings 'All The Good Men,' 'Fly,' and 'Perfect Sky.' I met Jeanine during the recording of 'Songs for Aging Cynics.' She had been a missionary, including a stint near the Killing Fields in Cambodia. Jeanine, who sang harmony and three leads on 'Cynics,' is Dutch; English is her second language. She has an incredibly clear and beautiful voice. -- Dave Shiflett
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Smile While You Can 4:300:00/4:30
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A Simple Thing 4:560:00/4:56
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Perfect Sky 4:350:00/4:35
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Distant Star 3:330:00/3:33
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Somehow 4:230:00/4:23
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Fly 4:520:00/4:52
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Autumn Love 2:560:00/2:56
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Darlin' 2:580:00/2:58
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All The Good Men 4:270:00/4:27
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My Beautiful Friend 3:530:00/3:53
For A Friend Who Died Alone
Dave Shiflett
In memory of Jo Ellen Davis. She suffered an unspeakable crime in her early teens, struggled to make a good life for herself, and never forgot how to laugh. She died alone during the holidays. RIP
Waiting for the Ice
Dave Shiflett
Along Came Saturday
Dave Shiflett
A celebration of the seventh day of the week. Some hear some Copland in this one.