Alicia Waller & The Excursion

Some Hidden Treasure

Innova 362

726708636227

1. Some Hidden Treasure

2. Clouds

3. Soul

4. Just Step Back

Thank you to my Mom and Dad for reminding me to believe in myself and follow my heart. Thank you for your love. Your belief and confidence are my secret sauce. Thank you to Marcos Varela for standing with me through every step of this record, encouraging my musicianship, and taking the time out to help me see my vision through. Thank you to Philip Blackburn and the entire Innova Recordings team for supporting the release of my very first collection of original songs. Thank you to all of the players on this record—The Excursion. You all are truly gifted: Seth, Jeff, Taka, Adam, Kenny, Drew, Justin, Marilu, Leah, Shani, Scott… and Marcos! Extra special thanks to Jason Moss, who finessed these songs into even more than I could have ever hoped for. May your ears continue to be blessed, my friend. Thank you also to my countless collaborators, especially “Bassy” Bob Brockman and Jon Vergara who held my hands throughout the postproduction process. Thank you to Monina Velarde for her skilled eyes, Ilyas Kassam for the beautiful artwork, and Shay Paresh for the phenomenal photos. To my astonishing voice teacher—soprano extraordinaire Mary Dunleavy—thank you for helping me balance this juggling act. Much love to Figure 8 Studios, Mission Sound and The Glass Wall. A final thank you to the countless girlfriends who let me open my heart to them in the process of making this record; and then drank wine with me, laughed with me, and cried with me along the way—Laura Elbahtimy, Shay, Blair Ecton, Carol Ann Cheung, Marielle Murphy and many, many more. I love you. And to you who I could not name, or neglected to out of sheer oversight, thank you.

[Picture]

Adam Jackson, Takahiro Izumikawa, Seth Johnson, Marcos Varela at Figure 8 Studios in Brooklyn, NY.

Some Hidden Treasure

Written by Alicia Waller, Vincent Henry, Marcos Varela

Produced by Marcos Varela and Alicia Waller

Lead Vocals: Alicia Waller

Background Vocals: Shani Philpotts Baker, Leah Heater, Alicia Waller

Guitar: Seth Johnson

Piano/Keys: Takahiro Izumikawa

Bass: Marcos Varela

Drums/Percussion: Adam Jackson

Engineered by Michael Coleman and Oliver Strauss

Mixed by Jason Moss

Mastered by Christopher Gehringer

Recorded at Figure 8 Studios and Mission Sound Studios, Brooklyn, NY

Stories told about it

There's been so many songs about it

Done read so many poems about it

I never want to be without it,

I never want to be without it

Stories told about it

Searched high and low to be around ya

I thank my God I finally found you

I never want to be without you

Said I was trying to find

what I was trying to find

My friendly friend said to me

‘Take my hand and you can see’

I don't want to go,

I don't want to follow that lead

Still left me a hand, out for the free

But I still wondered if he’s worth believing

‘want to go?’

I don't want to go

If you go’n turn around and leave

Said I was trying to find

what I was trying to find

Ooh love, love, love...

Stories told about it

There's been so many songs about it

Done read so many poems about it

I never want to be without it,

I never want to be without it

Stories told about it

Searched high and low to be around ya

I thank my God I finally found you

I never want to be without you

I knew I was trying to find

what I was trying to find

Some kind of love that would last for all time

and there he was, he looked me right in the eye

Ooh love, love, love...

My friendly friend came to me

While I was heavied by deceiving

[He] was so bright—

so special, so kind

turned out it was exactly what I needed

Still left me a hand, out for the free

Reached down and carried me to believing

‘til I know

now, what I know

a friend can bloom so preciously

Clouds

[Picture]

Written by Alicia Waller and Marcos Varela

Produced by Marcos Varela and Alicia Waller

Lead Vocals: Alicia Waller

Background Vocals: Shani Philpotts Baker, Leah Heater, Alicia Waller

Guitar: Seth Johnson

Keys: Justin Carroll

Harp: Marilu Donovan

Viola: Andrew Griffin

Cello: Scott McCreary

Bass: Marcos Varela

Percussion: Kenny Grohowski

String Arrangement: Andrew Griffin

Engineered by Lily Wen and Oliver Strauss

Mixed by Jason Moss

Mastered by Christopher Gehringer

Recorded at Figure 8 Studios and Mission Sound Studios, Brooklyn, NY

No cloud upon me

Got a

braid in my hair

He said I was so pretty, so pretty

So pretty

Daybreak above me

Not a

hint of despair,

and there is a

light for me, finally

shining

Been dreaming of a sunny day,

you know how they say

chasing all the clouds away

He'll love me

it'll be lovely,

with family

Maybe dreams for me not you

you know how we do

just want a mile in new shoes

of loving, loving

and family

Hurry up, hurry up, hurry

Time around me

spinning past all day long

It says to me patiently,

building its tapestry

Nights come upon you

but, lights break at dawn

so just take it easily

faith that it will be

Been dreaming of a sunny day

Big hearts and laughs, I pray

you know—just how they say

He'll love me

it'll be lovely,

with family

Maybe dreams for me not you

you know how we do

just want a mile in new shoes

of loving, loving

and family

Hurry up, hurry up, hurry

Soul

[Picture]

Written by Alicia Waller and Marcos Varela

Produced by Marcos Varela and Alicia Waller

Lead Vocals: Alicia Waller

Background Vocals: Shani Philpotts Baker, Leah Heater, Alicia Waller

Lead Guitar: Jeff McLaughlin

Guitar: Seth Johnson

Bass: Marcos Varela

Drums/Percussion: Kenny Grohowski

Engineered by Lily Wen and Oliver Strauss

Mixed by Jason Moss

Mastered by Christopher Gehringer

Recorded at Figure 8 Studios and Mission Sound Studios, Brooklyn, NY

Lay it down,

lay it down in front of me

I can see it

I can feel it

I'm a tell you how it’s gonna be

you want a soul

You the man,

you're the only man that I see in front of me

right beside you

force behind you

got you covered here for 'round the world to see

you want a soul

Oh, but when I need some air around me

Slow down a little bit

A step back, a place for hiding

Cool down a little bit

You know to give her space for breathing

Take time, a little bit

Just go.

Turn around,

turn around so we agree?

I can hear it

I can bear it

know exactly who you tryn’a be

you want a soul

You the man,

you're the only man that I see in front of me

right beside you

force behind you

got you covered here for 'round the world to see

you want a soul

My brother, brother—

man, I got the key

we’ll make it over so deliciously

True it was never built for you, or me

but I’m a tell you how it’s gonna to be

so come along with me.

My brother, only

milk and honey

a reconstruction,

built especially

atop a mountain crest for you, and me

so come—

let’s show ‘em how it’s gonna be

why don’t you sing it with me?

Just Step Back

Written by Alicia Waller

Produced by Marcos Varela and Alicia Waller

Lead Vocals: Alicia Waller

Background Vocals: Shani Philpotts Baker, Leah Heater, Alicia Waller

Guitar: Seth Johnson

Bass: Marcos Varela

Drums: Cody Rahn

Engineered by Joshua Valleau

Mixed by Jason Moss

Mastered by Christopher Gehringer

Recorded at The Glass Wall and Mission Sound Studios, Brooklyn, NY

I tried it.

Mister, Mister—

how could you do me this way?

I thought it was good

I thought it was real

so I put down my walls,

and I did everything

I thought you might like—

acted so nice

it wasn’t me

but I put up a fight

because I wanted your attention

but you didn’t listen

so the story goes

now I’m in the same position,

of..

Just step back

learn him first

try to figure out

and

don’t get hurt

Just step back

learn him first

try to figure out

and I really wish,

I wish I was right this time

Well, I’m giving it up

Giving it up

Innova Director: Philip Blackburn
Operations Director: Chris Campbell
Publicist: Tim Igel

Innova is supported by an endowment from the McKnight Foundation.