“Real“Real Me”Me” Liner Notes Notes Guide Guide
Thank Yous 2
Album Credits . 3
Song Stories .. 4-5
About Erica 6
Lyrics 7-16
The Good Mood Song 7 O O n R le . 8 Rece Ro al . 9 He e in Be een 10 In S nc . . 11 The Same S a . . 12 S mme Fo e e 13 Home 14 Real Me . 15 Glo 16
Thank you Th ank Yous
R a M a a ab I a a b I a a a I have a lot of gratitude!
T a b b b P a a Ma McG a A Kraft who approached me with a vision to create music for tweens and older kids that meets them where they are. Thank you for eagerly listening and sharing your encouragement and support each step of the way.
Big thanks to my perfectionist production and co-writing partner, Chris Camilleri. From our pop listening parties, to hours spent tweaking a single lyric, writing and rewriting and patiently recording and rerecording until we hit the right tone. Thank you for questioning me and pushing us to get the best out of every song, melody, and lyric.
Mark Santangelo at The Mastering Palace for providing cookies and tea at my first mastering a bac a a
Beth Blenz-Clucas at Sugar Mountain PR for helping me navigate the kindie world and providing insight and thoughtful feedback.
P a a a Sa a E a B W a a a b world and Ash Beecher for being supportive, awesome, and positive.
Kaitlin McGaw and Tommy Soulati Shepherd aka Alphabet Rockers for letting Chris and I peer into your thoughtful songwriting process while crafting the bridge for Glory. I could not conceive of better partners to collaborate with on such an important message.
Tim Kubart for being a ca a a c c ca I S c
E H P c c c a a a a c H B
Michelle Thaller and my HATCH community for planting the seed of inspiration that grew into Same Stars years ago.
Brian Blake for being an incredible partner and collaborating with me on other projects while I was writing this album and teaching me so much about songwriting along the way. Song Inspo
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“Real“Real Me”Me” Album Credits Credits
Performed by Erica Rabner
Written by Chris Camilleri and Erica Rabner
Produced, Arranged, and Mixed by Chris Camilleri
Mastered by Mark Santangelo, The Mastering Palace
Executive Produced by Amy Kraft and Maggie McGuire
Published by Pinna
Artwork by Leslie Osmont
Addi i al C edi f Gl
Bridge Written and Performed by Alphabet Rockers
Additional Engineering by: Kevin McCann
Addi i al C edi f I S c
Performed by: Tim Kubart
Addi i al C edi f Same S a
Additional Vocals by: Mylie Fulwider Alina Kujawinski Nooria Retzer
Addi i al C edi f He e i Be ee
Featured Cellist: Emily Hope Price 3
Song StoriesSong Stories 1. The Good Mood Song - We wanted to write a song that gets you bopping and in a good mood. Since I hate my alarm, I wanted a song to get me up and out of bed with a smile.
2. Our Own Rules - This song questions traditional and assigned gender roles. Who made me x and you y literally refers to chromosomes. Who decided girls should dress a certain way? Why do people confine us to certain roles and behaviors? I wanted to push back on that.
3. Recess Royalty - Growing up I loved recess... ho didn t? Writing this song took me back and made me want to do the same for others whether they last had recess five years ago or five decades ago.
4. Here In Between - Being in bet een is a theme I m er familiar ith. Professionally I straddle multiple worlds as a singer/songwriter and kids media researcher. Within music, I write music for kids and families, and have a separate solo project writing and performing soul/pop/R&B. Being in between can be tricky. Some people don t see o f ll in either orld hen o sit bet een man .
I so vividly remember the transition from elementary school to middle school. All of the sudden, I stayed the same but everything around me changed. My best friend found a new group to spend time with, I was in a new building with new rules and a new dress code. I was still a tomboy but I enjoyed getting dressed up. It was uncomfortable. Knowing now that discomfort often precedes growth, I wanted this song to be a love story for that in between time, removing pressure and expectation and finding a way to enjoy and find comfort in the in between time.
5. In Sync - I rote In S nc abo t m relationship ith m mom and sister. I had a moment where I pulled out my phone to text my mom something and saw that she just texted me the exact same thing. The chorus immediately fell out of me.
We are lucky to feature my friend and GRAMMY award winner Tim Kubart on the track. Since this song is about a relationship between two people, I wanted another oice singing. In the bridge, the t o singers finish each other s sentences hich happens all the time with my sister and mom.
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6. Same Stars - I heard NASA astrophysicist Michelle Thaller give a beautiful and inspiring talk that connected s all in the ni erse. She said, We are dead stars. Everything we are the iron in o r blood, e er element e e e er heard of is made from a star. I felt the room pa se in a e. It ga e the e are b t stard st poetry a new meaning. The sentiment of connectedness has become even more poignant thro gh a global pandemic. While e re not in the same boat, e re all weathering the same storm during the day and staring at the same stars each night.
7. Summer Forever - To me one of the beautiful things about being a kid/tween was freely enjoying summer. Stress free, eas , in the moment, simple s mmer. There s so m ch to lo e abo t s mmer so this is m lo e letter celebrating s mores, fireflies, and everything in between.
8. Home - When I rote home I certainl didn t anticipate li ing in m childhood bedroom hen e released the alb m. M dad likes to joke, residenc is a state of mind. Nat rall , I e al a s considered m parents ho se to be m home -- because of the people. An time e re together, I feel that sense of home. This song takes me back home when I need a piece of that.
9. Real Me - The title track of the album is an anthem to being who you are and embracing e er piece of o . There s no good or bad, just me. Personally, I struggle ith perfection. I describe m self as a er imperfect perfectionist. I m hard on myself but working on loving and embracing my imperfections. An early version of this song was recognized as a finalist in the international John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Consider this Real Me 2.0 (or more likely: Real Me 18.0)
10. Glory - Glory was an emotional song to write. The first week I started writing, I fell into a f nk. The original first line of the song as hen did bulletproof backpacks become a thing? metal detectors get more se than s ings. Was it age appropriate? Unfortunately...yes. I kept thinking about the day to day small talk we ha e abo t the eather hen o r planet s battling a storm (climate change) and we hear about new shootings so often we become numb. I was on the NYC subway watching everyone around me look at the ground to avoid a man begging for help. I wrote a tortured song and needed to step back so I took a week off. A week later I decided to flip the narrative. My goal for the song changed from dumping my frustration to seeking a solution.
I realized I needed to bring in new voices and perspectives. Alphabet Rockers were the perfect people to help me do that. They wrote and performed a beautiful bridge. On a planning video call, they asked me and Chris to describe role models and people who embody the kind of strength we were promoting in our song. We discussed the message of paving your own story. Then they made their own magic.
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About Erica About Erica
Erica Rabner entered the world of music through kids media research. While Erica sang the theme to the Little Mermaid before she could speak, she started songwriting much a A E a a a a a a a a a a -- testing educational TV shows with preschoolers.
Erica studied psychology and music theater at Brandeis University, and received a a Technology, Innovation, and Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, while working at the MIT Media Lab.
Immediately after school, Erica conducted research on Daniel Tige Neighbo hood and Sesame Street. While working at Sesame Workshop, they launched Sesame Studios and invited employees to pitch ideas. In that moment everything clicked into place. Erica returned to her desk and began writing her first two songs. They led to her debut album, "PB & JAMS a a Pa C R A a S a S a E a T T a S a a
In 2016, Erica left Sesame to focus on music full time and joined Rhumba, a music studio in NYC to gain hands-on studio experience. At Rhumba, Erica originated the singing role of Barbie for the preschool series, Barbie Dreamtopia and sang demo vocals for Nickelodeon.
After Rhumba, Erica discovered her love of jingle writing through K le Wild Wo ld and exploring new genres writing 27 songs spanning rock to country, jazz, blues, and beyond for a a a a Q a A ABC A S a a R a M a a a them where they are.
Erica boasts a four-octave range and versatile repertoire. She has performed in the US, Australia, Asia, and Europe with full big bands and intimate acoustic duets. She grew up listening to Motown legends Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin and belting Broadway. Erica studied classical voice and went from convincing her college jazz ensemble to allow her to sing the trumpet part to studying jazz vocal performance at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
I a Erica performs soul/pop/R&B at venue NYC a a used to pre- a S a a a a stand.
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THEThe GoodGOOD MoodMOOD SONGSong
Hook: Feeling go-oo-oo-oo-od Verse 2: In a goo-oo-oo-ood mood I m all inside m head Feeling go-oo-oo-oo-od bo ha hing I said I m in good mood and I m feeling so on edge But then the track fills in Verse: And I m good again. Alarm screams at six I don anna ge o I e go a groo e ea I know just the fix I m on he mo e ea Turn it up, turn it loud Ready to sing Ready for anything.
The beat trickles in Changing my vibe Whenever I feel down Can help b grin I turn it up, Start to feel fine Turn it loud.
Pre Chorus: Chorus So go on now Swing to the melody Get up now The day is yours
Chorus Hit play to reset Tap tap my feet nodding my head
With a beat in my chest Bop bop along to this song
Feeling go-oo-oo-oo-od In a goo-oo-oo-ood mood Feeling go-oo-oo-oo-od I m in good mood
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OOURur OWNOwn RULES Rules
Verse: Why do we Pre Chorus Wear our hearts On our sleeves? Bridge: Predisposed to emotion I s p o s Wait...what does that even mean? to change There s al a s ano her Why do they Way to be discovered. Ans er no hing When I ask ha he re hinking Tomorrow, and the next day... Do they really not care? Or are they scared We ll start again
Pre Chorus: Chorus Who made me X And you Y Created this box The sa e can def
Well here s an idea
Chorus: Lets make our own ru-u-u-u-ules Lets make our own ru-u-u-u-ules Wear what we like Do what feels right
Mhm We ll make o r o n r -u-u-u-ules Le s make o r o n
Verse: Gonna paint the town purple Dye my hair blue Paint my nails black If i s ha I anna do
Tear down these walls If he re read or no No e on li e inside heir bo
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RECESSRecess RoyaltyROYALTY
Verse: Sit in class Pre Chorus Stare at the board Need a break Chorus Get me out the door I e go one Bridge: thing on my mind Sit in class Gotta run... Stare at the board Back in time Need a break Get me out the door Pre Chorus: Hear the clock And close my eyes Red rover, Red rover, Disappear - and I m Please send me back over right - back - there Send me back Send me back Chorus
And over and over Yeah send me back over Take me back Take me back
Chorus: I m he q een of do ble d ch Yo re he king of monke bars Recess royalty The playground is ours The playground is ours
Verse: With a crown Upon our heads I s he a We e al a s been Take the flag Have a ball Till we run
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HERE IN BETWEEN (feat. Emily Hope Price)
Verse: Used to know Chorus & Refrain Where to go, Follow the road ahead Bridge: But somewhere Life s a jo rne I got lost not a race And forgot where it led I ll go a m o n pace Look for roads unpaved Pre Chorus: Find my own way... Things don change o ernigh Here in the in between
Life is not black and white Verse: Chorus: Used to know Give me space Where to go, Give me time Follow the road ahead Be patient
While I try Chorus & Refrain To figure out who I am
I on ask o Where I should go I m no in a r sh To know No, no, no
Refrain: I m here in be een in be een in be een I m here in be een in be een in be een
Verse: It can feel like I can Do anything right at all I e made m mis akes And here s more ha I ll make Get back up Get right back up, When I fall
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InIN Sync SYNC (feat. Tim Kubart)
Intro In sync, in sync Verse: In sync, in sync Always wanna know In sync, in sync Wha e er s on o r mind On your best days, Verse: Or your worst. E er bod s alking do n a crowded street I start to fall behind Tell me anything you want to. Feeling small in this big city Tell you everything, Then I see o I trust you I m fine Ca se e re on he same page
Pre Chorus: Riding a wavelength. And any time, That you need me, Chorus & Post Chorus I ll ai for o If you want me to. Bridge: If o re a ligh Yeah, hen I m a mo h e ll make o r o n pace The missing piece Ca se e re on he same page A perfect song You turn the key Chorus: And I unlock We re in s nc Cut from the same cloth Together Forever linked We are never lost Together we are never lost Chorus
We re in s nc Cast in the same mold
Forever linked Two halves of one whole
Post Chorus: In sync, in sync ohh In sync, in sync ohh In sync, in sync ohh
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THEThe SameSAME STARSStars (for Michelle Thaller)
Verse: 100,000 light years end to end Bridge: 6 trillion miles make your head spin And the world keeps spinning around, Billions of lights burn again and again Whatever you do And if you believe it we are made of them Yo can s op i no Here we are, you and me right here on the We are all part of something great ground Dust seals our fate Wherever we go The d s re eals e re This is where we are Connected by time and space All our dreams, all our fears And everything there ever was Hand in hand Pre-Chorus: Yeah e ll fig re i o Ooooo I s a m s er Different hearts, different scars Ooooo We re all he same s ars We re righ here e re s pposed o be Chorus Chorus: The same stars Outro: Help us find our way We are the stars we are the stars Point to where we are Same stars Tell s ho e re made We are the stars
The same stars We are the galaxy, The same stars We are the stars
Verse: Sca ered ro nd he globe no o s ree s are the same But one north star guides us all home At any given time, any given place Look p and kno o re no alone
Pre-Chorus
Chorus
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SUMMERSummer FOREVER Forever
Verse: Ride with the windows down Pre Chorus Count the flower crowns Ice cream truck on my street Chorus Tastes so sweet Bridge: Swimming at the beach Take me back to the beginning Sand in my feet, Wish I could Surfing like a big shot Stop the world from spinning So hot so hot Chorus
Pre Chorus:
Ohh June and July Ohh August September too Ohh Can it be summer forever
Chorus: Summer forever What could be better Than summer forever Can it be summer forever Can it be summer forever
Verse: Smores round the campfire Sing like e re a choir Catching fireflies Under starry skies
Swimsuit still on Water fight till dawn Sleep in and do it all over again... and do it all over again
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HOMEHome
Verse 1: I may be moving across the coast B I on lea e behind Stills in my mind Our memories, frozen in time
Tree that taught me how to climb We watched it blossom in the springtime Parking lot where we learned how to ride Tiny scar from a few failed tries
Chorus You are my home. No matter where I go, Forever and a day, Everywhere, every way
You are my home. You are my Home My home
Verse 2: Swingset where we used to jump Our names carved in that old stump Pencil marks scuffed up our wall Year after year as we grew tall
Toge her e ll keep mo ing B e ll al a s be home We ll al a s be home ca se
Chorus
Bridge: Click my heels, Yo re al a s on m mind
Close my eyes Don ha e o see to find
Chorus
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REALReal MEMe.
Verse: Mirror mirror on the wall Am I perfect? Not at all But I was never meant to be, Yeah I m j s r ing r ing o be me
I am bold I am brave I am fierce Unafraid
Wear my scars like beauty marks, Yo can keep o r keep o r golden s ars
Chorus: Hey Don care ha o hers see No I see the real me, real me
Hey They try to confuse me, but No, I see the real me, real me
Verse: I s oka o feel he do b Rushing in, Just let it go, Yeah let it out.
You are stronger, than you know, So believe it, and o ll sho ha o re reall all abo
Instrumental
Chorus
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GloryGLORY (feat. Alphabet Rockers)
Verse: All the whispers, all around me Bridge They make me want to scream Hey You! Ignoring their surroundings What you think about this? And he onder h e re li ing in a bad We gotta kno ha o re hinking ca se dream o re impor an Your ideas your pain is the heart of this So today moment I ll p one-foot on the ground, If e ne er hear o r ords We ll ne er Take a leap know them. Find my voice in the crowd Just be an open book you shine like no other
And today Nobody will know it if you hide behind your I ll ear-down these busted walls cover Mend the breaks Nobody will know what you have been Build a better world, a better world through You have a voice so share your point of view Chorus: Open up your eyes Get loud! ---- And hold your head up high Yea sho hem ha o re made of You gotta write your own story If he don nders and don blame em Yo re on he road o glor change em Glory Save them. Glory You have the power - I s o r glor You gotta write your own story You have the truth - I s o r s or Tell em. Verse: Chorus x2 And they talk about good weather But the storm is all I see The re holding o for morning While we can barely breathe
So today I ll p one foo on he gro nd Take a leap Build a better world, a better world
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