Shannon Dooks and Max have been longtime family friends. An avid singer-songwriter, Shannon has managed to make a name for herself in her own indie-folk genre, while also appearing on songs alongside major artists like Daniel Caesar and Snoop Dogg. Max and Shannon have sung and recorded together on and off for years, and in the midst of the pandemic in 2020, Max sang on an Instagram livestream series (Quarantunes Festival) hosted by Shannon and some of her other friends in the Toronto music scene. During those livestreams, Max suggested that he and Shannon should do some kind of duet. This rendition of Undercurrent is the result of that suggestion.
There is also a new instrument making its first recorded appearance on a Kozen record. Just after the first chorus of this song, Max plays a solo on the Sanshin - a 3-stringed (literally the meaning of the name) instrument from Max's Okinawan heritage. Max has been slowly learning the Sanshin since first visiting Okinawa with his father a few years ago. It is possible that the instrument will begin to appear more and more on future KOZEN recordings.
lyrics
Today I watched a day go sailing by
A look of longing in tomorrow’s eyes
For yesterday
I chased it desperately at anchor speed
And let my rudder tangle in the weeds
Then night fell on the sea
And my ship sank
The stars are swept out of their place
While I just watch them flee
It’s like the heavens rushing over me
I’m gone, I’m gone
I’m gonna find my way from this
Undercurrent
Time like a torrent starts to pour
Faster than I can see
I feel my shadows catching up to me
I’m gone, I’m gone
I’m gonna find my way from this
Undercurrent
Do you feel time pull like the undertow?
The dread of everything that dwells below?
It’s bottomless
I see the lights from where I want to be
I feel the gravity that still impedes
But just you wait and see
I’ll cut through it
The stars are swept out of their place
While I just watch them flee
It’s like the heavens rushing over me
I’m gone, I’m gone
I’m gonna find my way from this
Undercurrent
Time like a torrent starts to pour
Faster than I can see
I feel my shadows catching up to me
I’m gone, I’m gone
I’m gonna find my way from this
Undercurrent
(Guitar solo - Maxwell Kozen)
You took the anchor’s bait
Clinging on to doubt’s dead weight
You could have walked on waves
The stars are swept out of their place
While I just watch them flee
It’s like the heavens rushing over me
I’m gone, I’m gone
I’m gonna find my way from this
Undercurrent
Time like a torrent starts to pour
Faster than I can see
I feel my shadows catching up to me
I’m gone, I’m gone
I’m gonna find my way from this
Undercurrent
credits
from Undercurrent,
released July 26, 2022
Maxwell Kozen - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Keys, Sanshin
Jericho Leal - Electric Guitar
Jared Leal - Cajon, Triangle, Shaker, Tambourine
Jonathan Aristide - Bass
Zeneeka Brown - Backing Vocals
Shannon Dooks - Guest Vocals
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