Red Disguise

If My Violin Had Words - Songs from the melodies I never sang If My Violin Had Words is a collection of songs born from violin melodies that once existed without lyrics. These were pieces I played knowing exactly what they meant to me, but often harder to interpret as instrumental pieces, so these new song combine sampled fragments with lyrics close to my heart — fragments of memory, longing, survival, love, escape, and home. This project imagines what those melodies would become if they finally had a voice. Each track turns a sample from my violin tunes into a song: sometimes cinematic, sometimes intimate, sometimes painful, sometimes hopeful. Together, they move through old streets, locked rooms, seaside sunsets, Duino memories, beautiful disguises, and nights I almost didn’t make it through. At its heart, this album is about giving words to feelings that lived first in sound. Lyrics: [Verse 1 ] I used to love the ritual The low light on my face Dressed up like a gentleman Disappearing with grace A little red illusion A little velvet lie Made me feel electric Made me look alive I knew how to sparkle I knew how to play Turn a lonely evening Into cabaret But every pretty secret Leaves a mark somewhere I was smiling in the spotlight But I wasn’t really there [Pre-Chorus] I used to call it magic I used to call it mine But I was only borrowing A body for the night [Chorus] I don’t need the red disguise I don’t need the golden lie I don’t need a borrowed crown To keep my head up high I can face the midnight I can meet my eyes I don’t need the red disguise To know that I’m alive [Post-Chorus] No more, no more Running from the morning No more, no more Dancing with the warning No more, no more Pretty little lies I don’t need The red disguise [Verse 2] There was always a reason Always somewhere to be A table full of strangers All laughing like they knew me I became the performance The charming little storm Saying everything is fine While I’m breaking out of form And oh, I made it beautiful I made it look clean Like a movie in the evening Like a magazine dream But the mirror in the daylight Has a very honest face It said boy, you’re not broken You’re just tired of the chase [Pre-Chorus] I used to call it freedom I used to call it flight But I was only falling In slow motion every night [Chorus] I don’t need the red disguise I don’t need the golden lie I don’t need a borrowed crown To keep my head up high I can face the midnight I can meet my eyes I don’t need the red disguise To know that I’m alive [Post-Chorus] No more, no more Running from the morning No more, no more Dancing with the warning No more, no more Pretty little lies I don’t need The red disguise [Bridge] And I won’t pretend I don’t miss the glow The way it made me softer When the room felt cold The way it made me fearless The way it made me loud The way it gave me wings Then left me on the ground But I am not the costume I am not the night I am not the shadow Standing in my light I am not the craving I am not the fall I am still becoming After all, after all [Final Chorus] I don’t need the red disguise I don’t need the golden lie I don’t need a borrowed crown To keep my head up high I can face the midnight I can meet my eyes I don’t need the red disguise To know that I’m alive [Final Post-Chorus] No more, no more Running from the morning No more, no more Dancing with the warning No more, no more Pretty little lies I don’t need The red disguise [Outro] I leave it on the table That old beautiful mask Walk into the daylight And I don’t look back