(rock music) - Ocean state sessions features performances by local musicians and brings you the stories behind the songs.

Coming up tonight.

♪ Like I've always done ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm treading water ♪ ♪ Everybody lives inside oh, a kingdom ♪ ♪ Who's in charge, don't know, ♪ ♪ but don't dare to question the reasons ♪ ♪ Let me out ♪ ♪ No not all of us can live this way ♪ ♪ I've spent my time with drunks and thieves ♪ ♪ They seem more my kind ♪ ♪ I like their honesty ♪ ♪ They say I'm doing fine ♪ (guitar music) ♪ Talked to the preacher man ♪ ♪ And he said he don't believe no more ♪ ♪ So he's on his knees and he's begging please ♪ ♪ Crying this ain't what I asked for ♪ ♪ Talked to a girl I know ♪ ♪ She tells me that she's so afraid ♪ ♪ Of her loving man, 'cause he ain't no loving man.

♪ ♪ Won't let her move away ♪ ♪ But you gotta remember ♪ ♪ You gotta remember ♪ ♪ Just make it through the night ♪ ♪ Oh, you gotta remember ♪ ♪ You gotta remember ♪ ♪ That everything will be alright ♪ ♪ You know it's gonna be alright ♪ ♪ You know it's gonna be alright ♪ - My name is Nolan Leite.

I am from Foster, Rhode Island and I am a singer/songwriter.

(guitar music) I wish I could say when I write music it's the most natural thing.

I had a vision, I had a dream and then I woke up and I wrote it down like I'm Paul McCartney.

But for me, up to this point at least, it's something that I definitely work at.

I like to, alright today, I'm gonna go to the studio and I'm gonna try to write something.

Whether that's for better or for worse it's worked out for me.

And I know everybody writes songs differently but that's how I wrote my first record.

That's how I'm currently writing music still.

I just find it a lot more efficient where I just set time aside, I'm gonna go into the studio, come up with, I usually come up with the guitar, the melodies, the core progressions first.

And I lay lyrics on top of that.

And that's the formula that's worked for me so far.

(guitar music) ♪ Waking up for just another day ♪ ♪ Tell myself it's gonna be okay ♪ ♪ Wishful thinking only goes so far ♪ ♪ 'Til you realize who you truly are ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm treading water ♪ ♪ Like I've always done ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm treading water ♪ ♪ Feeling overrun ♪ ♪ Mama tells me, boy, you'll make it through ♪ ♪ But as of now I ain't sure what to do ♪ ♪ So I just keep a smile right on my face ♪ ♪ And hope this feeling's gonna fade away ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm treading water ♪ ♪ Like I've always done ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm treading water ♪ ♪ I'm feeling overrun ♪ ♪ Treading water ♪ ♪ I'm treading water ♪ (piano music, singing notes) ♪ Everybody lives inside oh, a kingdom ♪ ♪ Who's in charge, don't know, ♪ ♪ But don't dare to question the reasons ♪ ♪ Let me out ♪ ♪ No, not all of us can live this way ♪ ♪ I plead guilty for my treason ♪ ♪ On top of the mountains of gold ♪ ♪ But it's nice with a breeze ♪ ♪ And the marvelous sun that comes in the east ♪ ♪ My mama ♪ ♪ Told me long ago ♪ ♪ That it's lonely to be ♪ ♪ At the top of your game, no apology ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ No, no ♪ ♪ Everyone says that ♪ ♪ Life is all about changes ♪ ♪ Oh, but honestly so much ♪ ♪ Just stays the damn same ♪ ♪ And the problem comes ♪ ♪ When you change, but he don't come along ♪ ♪ On top of the mountains of gold ♪ ♪ But it's nice with a breeze ♪ ♪ And the marvelous sun that comes in the east ♪ ♪ My mama ♪ ♪ Told me long ago ♪ ♪ That it's lonely to be ♪ ♪ At the top of your game, no apology ♪ ♪ Oh, whoa ♪ ♪ No, whoa.

♪ ♪ Also, people might have ♪ ♪ Said some words ♪ ♪ That just set goals coming back ♪ ♪ Oh, someone may have oh, come up with you ♪ ♪ But now their footsteps ain't aground ♪ ♪ On top of the mountains of gold ♪ ♪ But it's nice with a breeze ♪ ♪ And the marvelous sun that comes in the east ♪ ♪ My mama ♪ ♪ Told me long ago ♪ ♪ That it's lonely to be ♪ ♪ At the top of your game, no apology ♪ ♪ Oh, oh ♪ ♪ Whoa, no, no ♪ ♪ No, no ♪ - Hi, my name is Maddie McGill.

I'm a singer/songwriter from Providence, Rhode Island.

I found my passion probably around 15 or 16 years old.

That's when I began writing my own songs and, like, putting stories together and to tell stories in my songs.

When I wrote Mountain in 2018 it was, came from like a nugget of being different or being outstanding in a certain way.

And I kind of ran with it in terms of metaphors going along with that and musically the chorus and where I'm talking about the mountain.

And I did climb Mount Fuji once which was a very daunting climb and how we saw the sunrise actually coming over the clouds.

And that actually inspired seeing like the marvelous sun coming from the east.

Even though it's like a difficult trek.

It's also a rewarding and beautiful one.

(piano music) ♪ Watching the birds go south for winter ♪ ♪ Flying on at dawn ♪ ♪ With no destination in mind ♪ ♪ I used to live as one just surfing tides ♪ ♪ Keeping all in dawn ♪ ♪ And that takes its toll in time ♪ ♪ I guess I'm getting old ♪ ♪ But at least I have something to count on ♪ ♪ I'm out of luck, sweet honey ♪ ♪ Won't you come in, give me a top-up ♪ ♪ You're finer than a whiskey on a rainy day ♪ ♪ Walking the path of life alone ♪ ♪ I'd like to say I'm so bold ♪ ♪ But there's no one like you ♪ ♪ You're one of a kind in this world ♪ ♪ I am a tree and the branches are empty ♪ ♪ But the spaces in between ♪ ♪ You filled them up with dreams ♪ ♪ Sail away, the world is night and day ♪ ♪ But to risk missing spring blossoms on a summer's day ♪ ♪ Everything I wanna know lies so far from home ♪ ♪ But I finally found the key to my soul ♪ ♪ Right under my nose ♪ ♪ I'm out of luck, sweet honey ♪ ♪ Would you come in, give me a top-up ♪ ♪ You're finer than a whiskey on a rainy day ♪ ♪ Walking the path of life alone ♪ ♪ I'd like to say I'm so bold ♪ ♪ But there's no one like you ♪ ♪ You're one of a kind in this world ♪ ♪ I am a tree and the branches are empty ♪ ♪ But the spaces in between ♪ ♪ You filled them up with dreams ♪ ♪ Guess I'm losing hope ♪ ♪ But at least I have something to count on ♪ ♪ I'm out of luck, sweet honey ♪ ♪ Won't you come in, give me a top-up ♪ ♪ You're finer than a whiskey on a rainy day ♪ ♪ Walking the path of life alone ♪ ♪ I'd like to say I'm so bold ♪ ♪ But there's no one like you ♪ ♪ You're one of a kind in this world ♪ ♪ I am a tree and the branches are empty ♪ ♪ But the spaces in between ♪ ♪ You filled them up with dreams ♪ (guitar music) ♪ Hush my baby, don't make a sound ♪ ♪ Tomorrow it will all be fine ♪ ♪ I'm not mad, I was trying to tell you ♪ ♪ I just need to quiet my mind ♪ ♪ Well, so damn good looking, I'm sorry I'm sad ♪ ♪ Give me a minute or two ♪ ♪ I just get tired sometimes ♪ ♪ Sorry when I blame it on you ♪ ♪ Well, hold me ♪ ♪ Closely ♪ ♪ Kiss my cheek ♪ ♪ When we get weary ♪ ♪ Then it's time to get some sleep ♪ ♪ Let's just get some sleep ♪ ♪ Well, I'll drink the wine, I'll scream about ♪ ♪ Sorry for when I do ♪ ♪ I got some anger, I got some scars ♪ ♪ Those demons seem to sneak right through ♪ ♪ You got them too, I heard you scream ♪ ♪ They paid a visit to your dreams ♪ ♪ I forget I'm not alone ♪ ♪ The demons don't just follow me ♪ ♪ Well, hold me ♪ ♪ Closely ♪ ♪ Kiss my cheek ♪ ♪ When we get weary ♪ ♪ Well, it's time to get some sleep ♪ ♪ Let's just get some sleep ♪ ♪ Hush my baby, don't make a sound ♪ ♪ Tomorrow it will all be fine ♪ ♪ I'm not mad, I was trying to tell you ♪ ♪ I just need to quiet my mind ♪ ♪ You can go quiet your mind ♪ ♪ Let's just quiet ♪ ♪ Our minds ♪ - My name is Beth Barron and I'm a singer/songwriter from the east bay.

And I've been putting my music and performing my song writings for about five years now.

(guitar music) I never really sang a lot of like female songs because I always thought I had a grittier voice like for male songs.

That's why I did a lot of Bob Dylan.

And that rambling of words and actually realizing there are no rules.

That was the biggest thing with my songwriting, no rules.

The nitty gritty of like folk and bluegrass and where Things were off-beat a little bit.

And, but there's something that's so symbolic about allowing other people to have that safe place with you.

You know, I know of a river where all men can cry, just a safe place.

And I wanted to create a safe place for music.

'Cause I want to be what I needed.

You know, it's not liking everything.

It's just to have a place to share.

(guitar music) ♪ I know of a river ♪ ♪ Where all men can cry ♪ ♪ I walk to the water ♪ ♪ I'll never share what I find ♪ ♪ No, never share what I find ♪ ♪ Your soul is weary ♪ ♪ A sinner to the bone ♪ ♪ They say that means you're ready ♪ ♪ To hold his hand and his alone ♪ ♪ To hold his hand and his alone ♪ ♪ I spend my time with drunks and thieves ♪ ♪ They seem more my kind ♪ ♪ I like their honesty ♪ ♪ They say I'm doing fine ♪ ♪ They say I'm doing fine ♪ ♪ I know of a river ♪ ♪ Where all men can cry ♪ ♪ I'll walk you to the water ♪ ♪ I'll never share what I find ♪ ♪ No, never share what I find ♪ ♪ (guitar music continues) ♪ ♪ Lord, he was a beauty ♪ ♪ A lone man, strong and tall ♪ ♪ He fed me that apple ♪ ♪ And I knew that love was wrong ♪ ♪ And that love was so, so wrong ♪ ♪ Take me Lord, as I come ♪ ♪ I don't have much else ♪ ♪ Wash me in the water ♪ ♪ Help me forgive myself ♪ ♪ And help him forgive himself ♪ ♪ I know of a river ♪ ♪ Where all men can cry ♪ ♪ I'll walk you to the water ♪ ♪ I'll never share what I find ♪ ♪ No, never share what I find ♪ ♪ I know of a river ♪ ♪ Where all men can cry ♪ ♪ And I'll walk you to the water ♪ ♪ I'll never share what I find ♪ ♪ No, never share what I find ♪ - Go online to hear more music, meet the artists, and more.

Visit ripbs.org.

(rock music)