Get all 11 Zhao releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Present Tense, Hear My Mind (Zhao Remix), Hope, Kenny's Room, reCOLLECTION, Feeling Today, Car, Meltaway, and 3 more.
1. |
The Plan Will Fail
01:54
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2. |
3min
03:04
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you’ve got three minutes to make sense
three minutes for context
three minutes to make it right
as we run out the time
you’ve got three minutes to open up
three minutes to say enough
three minutes to make a change
or just make it the same
you’ve got three minutes to ask a question
three minutes to make suggestions
three minutes
and as the pieces fall into place
I don’t know what I was trying to say
at all
still -
I’ve got three minutes to make sense
to justify the time spent
to put words in a sequence
til we run out of time
I’ve got three minutes to pull you in
three minutes to take a chance
hoping I’ll make a difference
but in what way, I don’t know
following all the signals
I can make my own choice for me
wouldn’t it be so cruel to take you away
from all your precious things
so make a choice, if you’d like
following all the signals
you may find yourself here, with me
why don’t we spend three minutes here together
it could be worse, it could be better
It could be worse
It could be better...
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3. |
Can You Feel This?
03:53
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Can you feel this? Can you?
Could you feel this? Could you?
sensing seeking reaching grasping
holding onto something lasting
chasing ever after in the past
no complaints when we're together
only wish it'd be forever
make another memory make it last
sensitive minds would like to know
what turns you on?
reaching new heights with every goal
or making love?
what's the smallest thing that gives you a rush
You couldn’t have said it before
but you feel it now
Can you feel this? can you?
Could you feel this? could you?
all that falls between the cracks
eventually comes floating backwards
underneath the current of events
what was once a passing matter
passes on in clouds that gather
pouring down like teardrops in the end
curious eyes meet furrowed brows,
to take a shot-
where is the switch and where's the keyhole
to unlock?
What’s the smallest thing that gives you a rush
it’s not always easy to find
can you feel it…
…now?
what do you intend, when you bend towards me
from a wayward breeze,
or the weigh-ed down bough of a tree
do you try to deify things outside
that would make you a king
or at least
the keeper of your own
destiny
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4. |
Presto
02:56
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presto, change, concentrate on the bulb
light, animal, wake up, sit still, rousing
thunder, anchor, say the word, wave
***
presto, change, concentrate on the bulb
light, wake up, sit still, animal, rousing
thunder, say the word, wave
presto, wake up, animal, concentrate on the bulb, sit still
light
thunder
anchor
say the word
***
presto, change, concentrate on the bulb
light-
wake up
sit still
thunder
say the word
presto, change, concentrate on the bulb
light-
animal
wake up
sit still
presto
thunder, anchor, say the word, presto
thunder, anchor, say the word, presto
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5. |
Time is Plastic!
06:07
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We're all familiar with the concept of time warps. One moment, everything seems perfectly normal. The next- a surprise. You glance at the clock and are shocked to find that the time has moved either faster or slower than expected. How in the world did this happen? How could it be that I feel - behind - the present?
So before we all go checking our watches again, I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge the nature of these timelines today.
How they stretch, and shrink, and grow
how they overlap, and bend, and break.
how they can vanish in some instances
and reappear elsewhere.
How the ones you thought you could outrun, in reality
await.
in the time that it takes
to hear these words, one could say
echoes of the past get in the way
for as I try, to be clear
simple sounds, drawing near
your attention starts to slip away
not for long
do we have one another
where lines are drawn
we will meet between them
time marches on
but with your powers and mine
we can escape their draw
every now and then - and then - and then
Time is passing
time is plastic
time is passing
time is plastic
the time is passing
Time is passing
time is plastic
time is passing
time is plastic
the time is passing
(Are we synchronized?)
(Are we synchronized?)
(Are we synchronized?)
in these words, you may find
my attempts, to comply
keeping time takes all the time you've got
vain attempts, to control
still we know, in our soul
living things do not obey the clock
though the past, is behind
still it haunts in the mind
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6. |
In Other News
04:21
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7. |
Collapse
03:24
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say- have you heard
we're living in a living nightmare
chase- all you want
you can't catch up
you're not going anywhere
heaven knows
we could do so much more
if we ever had a chance
but heaven knows
these are the times
we’ve got to get with the program
I can't deny
I'm struggling to find
an answer that fits
within this life
I could try to make a statement
lift it up high
as it all comes down
or we could just collapse
we could just collapse
change happens all the time,
just not the kind we're looking for
I can't keep up with the so-called normal life
they're asking for
I'd rather stay at home
speak my mind to no one in particular
choose my words with care
make them stare
when I speak truth to power
ask yourself-
beyond your own life
do you really know what's wrong or right?
you could try to make a statement
fist to the sky
as it all comes down...
or we could just collapse
we could just collapse
we could just collapse
we could just collapse
we could just…
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8. |
Birdsong
08:45
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9. |
Waking Life
03:09
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when do I
get to wake up once again
opening my eyes to each living moment
holding on
to a strand of yesterday
if I had my way, I’d be there still
but the present keeps marching on
and no sacrifice will do
yes-
each moment demands a decision
hesitate and one will be made for you
it’s a part of the deal in this waking life
so let’s go together…
passing by
blurs of color from the train
who could blame you not looking in my direction?
wandering eyes-
wander over for a while
perhaps just a moment, I could sit here with you
as the present keeps marching on
it’s enough to make you want to close the door
but-
each moment demands a decision
hesitate and one will be made for you
make a choice here and now, in this waking life
let these words ripple out from my waking life
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Zhao Los Angeles, California
Kenny Zhao is a composer, artist, and digital tinkerer who is exploring the relationship between compost and creative practice.
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