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Review: Tommy Marz – Chasing Light

Tommy Marz Is Set To Release A New EP To Finish Off Summer!

Tommy Marz will be releasing his first solo album (EP) ‘Chasing Light’  in nearly 6 years this September 23, 2020. Marz is a talented musician that has been writing, playing and producing music for well over 20 years and has made a name for himself over the years. ‘Chasing Light’, due out in September, is an album born out of a combination of quarantine and a love of summer.

The album opens with a cover of ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’ written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan. Marz brings new meaning to this classic with his interpretation of the song from his experiences in COVID-19 quarantine.

“It was at a time when I was spending much more time on social media and I was disappointed and in some cases appalled at the way people were treating each other. Many people are passionate about the issues they believe in and they absolutely should be. But to wish death upon others or people’s loved ones crosses the line and some point, checking our morality may need to become a priority before it’s too late to turn back. So I observed from afar and truly felt stuck in the middle of what was occurring online, seeing both sides of the political spectrum attempt to destroy one another. I’ve always been a fan of the song but it seemed to speak to me in a different way this time around and I decided to put my own passion into this wonderful song.” -Tommy Marz

Marzs’ version of ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’ is fun, upbeat and when paired with the release of the video accompanying the song’s release, you will have a great idea of what quarantine has done with Tommy.  The video features him playing each and every single instrument in the song, clapping as well as covering the vocals.  That is not far fetched since Marz did in fact play every piece recorded on the EP!  It is highly impressive to think of one musician covering each necessary piece so expertly!

Tommy Marz - Stuck In The Middle With You

The 5 songs following ‘Stuck In The Middle With You’ are easily the best collection of Marzs’ songs so far in his career. The lyrics, vocals, instrumentation and production of this album are on point and show how far Marz went into each of these songs. In his own words on the EP, ‘Chasing Light’, Tommy says, “I didn’t want to worry about a standard verse, chorus, verse, chorus type of flow – I just wanted to write what was on my mind and maybe try to push out of my comfort zone a bit both lyrically and vocally.”

The next song, ‘Lullaby to Summer (Intro)’ leads us into the rest of the album with a quick 1:31 acoustic and intimate melody that seems to teleport us into a dreamland hence, I am guessing the meaning behind the title. The song progresses and before you know it, the listener is pushed into a surge of energy building to an abrupt end keeping the listener ready and primed for the next track.

‘Summer Bummer’ is a love song about how loneliness can lead to bad relationships.  In this particular song, the end of summer led to the realization that the feelings were not real. With lyrics like, “Summer is over, with it took the sweetness out of the air” brings this sad song to life. The song opens with piano and drums that is nostalgic and comforting. Marz is flexing his vocals in this song adding in some falsetto.

Chasing Light, the EP’s title track takes a hard turn and leaves the previous melodic rich songs in it’s dust. This song starts with a whisper leading into a deep bass guitar that explodes into a lively rock song telling the story of a red eye flight and a trip to Vegas and watching the sun fading away.  This song rocks and shows how Marz can blow it up too!  With lyrics such as,
“Walked to my seat 1A. Bought the other one just in case.  Don’t need no one all up in my personal space.”  we can relate more than ever in the current times!

Tommy Marz

At first listen, I thought “Stray” was a love song examining the loss of love but, I have learned Tommy wrote this song after the passing of his father about the search for his own happiness. When Marz sings, “I fall down reaching for you”, you can really feel the sadness surrounding his search. Even though it is a sad song, it is still a rock song. It’s almost  acoustic and electric guitar is almost at competition with one another until each are given their fair shake and placed within the song highlighting the abilities of Marz as an all around musician.

The EP closes with “Lady Magic” beginning with a strong piano intro and warm lyrics. This song is perfectly placed on the EP as the last you hear until you revisit the music next time.  “Lady Magic” is the rock pop song that you listen to on a long warm summer day when you are driving with the windows down. The use of drums and varying percussion with the smooth vocals creates a song you will want to groove to.

The EP, ‘Chasing Light’ is a surrender to the talent he possesses allowing himself to fully show what he can do and where the future of Tommy Marz is heading.  I’m going to take another listen and I hope you enjoy the EP as much as I did!

-Jessica Frey

For more on Tommy Marz, visit:

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Chasing Light 

Lyrics

All songs written by Tommy Marz except Stuck In The Middle With You – Gerry Rafferty, Joe Egan

Stuck In The Middle With You

Well I don’t know why I came here tonight,
I got the feeling that something ain’t right,
I’m so scared in case I fall off my chair,
And I’m wondering how I’ll get down the stairs,
Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you

Yes I’m stuck in the middle with you,
And I’m wondering what it is I should do,
It’s so hard to keep this smile from my face,
Losing control, yeah, I’m all over the place,
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you

Well you started out with nothing,
And you’re proud that you’re a self made man,
And your friends, they all come crawlin,
Slap you on the back and say,
Please, please

Trying to make some sense of it all,
But I can see that it makes no sense at all,
Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor,
‘Cause I don’t think that I can take anymore
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you

Well you started out with nothing,
And you’re proud that you’re a self made man,
And your friends, they all come crawlin,
Slap you on the back and say,
Please, please

Well I don’t know why I came here tonight,
I got the feeling that something ain’t right,
I’m so scared in case I fall off my chair,
And I’m wondering how I’ll get down the stairs,
Clowns to the left of me,
Jokers to the right, here I am,
Stuck in the middle with you,
Yes I’m stuck in the middle with you,
Stuck in the middle with you, here I am stuck in the middle with you

 

Lullaby To Summer

Yeah, yeah look at that

Here’s your chance to belong

Better learn how to fake it

It’s the only way 

You’re gonna fill that hole in your heart

But you know 

It’s not the only thing missing

You’d better learn how listen

You act so in love

You don’t know what the meaning of the word is

The meaning of

You just use it for

You use it for

You use it for yourself

 

Summer Bummer

You sit by the fire

Knees to your chest when no one’s home

Another swipe at your phone

No messages you feel all alone

You’re so tired

You can’t sleep

You made your bed so climb in and fall deep

Drift away

I know what you’re looking for

Baby it ain’t that

Sometimes the love we seek

Ain’t the giving back kind

At all

Can’t tell you what you want

Can’t tell you what you need

To point you in the right direction

Tell me what you feel

Tell me who you see

Tell me what your heart believes

What it believes

The summer is over

With it took the sweetness out of the air

 

Chasing Light

Running with my red shoes on

Listen to my favorite song

The terminal is packed with people tonight

Feeling like a rat in a cage

Navigate through a concrete maze

Scans my ticket she says have a good flight

I’m looking through the window

There is a sliver of light

Walked to my seat 1A

Bought the other one just in case

Don’t need no one all up in my personal space

Later on I’m sitting third base

Pit boss is on my case

Sometimes cards just seem to fall that way

Chips spin at a rapid pace

Put a smile on the dealers face

Slide her blacks chips and head to the cage

I look past all the people

I only see artificial light

She asked if I want them big

Gave a wink ’cause you know I did

Just give me paper and I’ll be on my way

Not bad for a summer night

Went to Vegas chasing light

Coming home flush I’m only sleep deprived

Eyelids nearing closed on the jet way

I’m sleeping on the red eye home

 

Stray

In and out you leave like the day does the night

And I’m left here all alone

Insufficient dreams that make it seem alright

But I can’t make it on my own

I fall down reaching out for you

You turn and you run away

The more I chase you 

The further you stray

Looks like the southern sky’s about to open up

Think I’ll go outside

Warm breeze with the summer rain supposed to cheer me up

But I can’t get you off my mind

Seems like I should resolve myself

Oh you might think

I fall down reaching out for you

You turn and you run away

The more I chase you 

The further you stray

Seems like I’m almost wondering why

But what’s the use of harboring things I can’t control so why even try

Looks like they’re moving and stored away with the others before

I fall down reaching out for you

 

Lady Magic

Never fear

The summer is upon us

Another chance to come out from the cold

Think I’ll plant a little garden

And sit outside to watch the new life grow

We grow

We go for a midnight drive with no one around

The moon lights our path cicada the only sound

The sound

Take me away my lady magic

I’ve been waiting for you I’m under your spell

Surrender the day to your love fantastic

My body heals inside your warm embrace

I’m in no hurry to lose what we’re on

We’re here and we’re steady when I’m playing along

Now I know it’s certain to watch colors fade

Just remember this moment when the light starts to fade

Take me away my lady magic

I’ve been waiting for you I’m under your spell

Surrender the day to your love fantastic

My body heals inside your warm embrace