WHAT I TELL MYSELF · Unmarked Records · UR-105

WHAT I TELL MYSELF — Unmarked Records UR-105 A Latin jazz rock dark intimate groove — congas and timbales syncopated Latin pattern opening alone before anything else, nylon-string guitar warm melodic figure entering at bar three, sustained singing electric guitar with warm Mesa Boogie tone entering at the chorus only, single muted trumpet threading between vocal phrases, round bass guitar sitting on the fundamental, live band recorded together with late-90s analog warmth. Dramatic full-band stops — complete silence then re-entry as signature moments. Raspy male tenor from earnest conversational to raw urgency with doubled vocal at the chorus. About obsessive desire disguised as cool surrender — a man who claims he's made his peace but still knows her number by heart, the sound of her car, which window stays lit. The system he built around not having to say I just miss you. Real disciplined. Mostly. Listen on all streaming platforms: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/unm... — Genre: Latin Jazz Rock / Dark Intimate Groove Mood: Cool, obsessive, self-deceptive, dark, honest Era influence: Late-1990s Latin jazz rock, analog warmth Sits alongside: Latin jazz rock, dark intimate groove, trumpet-led Latin, conversational soul, obsessive ballads — Lyrics: (Verse 1) I don't think about it much I've made my peace with how things went I'm good with where I landed I'm good with what it meant I took the long way home last Tuesday Just to clear my head a little Nothing to do with anything Just needed air That's all That's what I tell myself (Pre-Chorus) I got a system now I keep the memories in order I visit them real controlled-like Never cross the border I'm real disciplined about it Most of the time (Chorus) But I still know your number by heart I still know the sound of your car I still know which window stays lit And how late and how long and where you are I still know And that ain't peace That ain't surrender That's a man who knows every detail of a thing He claims he doesn't remember That's what I tell myself (Verse 2) I ran into somebody who knew you I kept my face real still I said yeah we lost touch a while back Like it was nothing Like it wasn't still And then I went home and sat in the kitchen For about an hour Just sitting Not doing anything particular That's what I said though Real disciplined (Pre-Chorus) I got it handled I don't reach out I don't go looking I just know things Without looking Without meaning to There's a difference (Chorus) But I still know your number by heart I still know the sound of your car I still know which window stays lit And how late and how long and where you are I still know And that ain't peace That ain't surrender That's a man who knows every detail of a thing He claims he doesn't remember That's what I tell myself (Bridge) I drove past your street on a Sunday Seven forty-something in the morning Nobody does that Nobody drives that way that early For no reason I'm real disciplined I just miss you That's the thing I don't say I just miss you and I built this whole system Around not having to say that And the system works Mostly (Final Chorus) But I still know your number by heart I still know the sound of your car I still know which window stays lit And how late and how long and where you are I still know And that ain't peace That ain't surrender That's a man who knows every detail of a thing He claims he doesn't remember That's what I tell myself (Outro) Real disciplined Real good with it — Unmarked Records is an independent music label. New releases regularly across all genres. All music made with AI. https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/unm...