p. 6 — Pre-Pro
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Core Concept
"You're not broken. You're complex."
People have always told Kris they can't keep up with her. She craves novelty but needs routine. Her head pulls one way, her heart another. What felt like inconsistency her whole life turned out to have a name: AuDHD (ADHD and autism spectrum). This song was born from that discovery, and instead of shame, she chose humor. Owning the contradiction, not apologizing for it.
Emotional Arc
Lazy, playful, and self-aware from the jump. This song doesn't angst over the contradiction, it celebrates it. The verses lay out the tug of war with a wink. The chorus leans into the identity with pride. The bridge goes a little deeper, Jekyll and Hyde, two sides of the same coin, before landing back in the groove. It ends feeling like a shrug and a grin, which is exactly right.
Thematic Language
Head vs. heart pulling in opposite directions
Craving novelty and routine at the same time
AuDHD as a pre-diagnosis condition, not a flaw
Owning the contradiction instead of fixing it
I'm every color, not black or white or grey
Humor as the frame, not shame
Sonic Palette
Overall Vibe
Lazy, fun, backyard jam. Acoustically driven from top to bottom. Feels like it found itself, not like it was produced.
Bass
Walking upright bass. This is the heartbeat of the song. It should feel like it's strolling.
Guitars
Acoustic, slidey, dominant 7 chords. Loose and characterful. Not tight. Not clean.
Drums
Minimal. Kick and snare with sticks, or even a cajon / box. The percussion instruments carry more weight than the kit. Keep it out of the way.
Percussion
This is where the personality lives. Washboard, shaker, triangle, cowbell, guiro. These should feel more present than the drums. Acoustic, tactile, human.
Demo Status
Demo is on point. Direction is locked. Don't overthink it.
Percussion Detail
Washboard
Shaker
Triangle
Cowbell
Guiro
Walking Upright Bass
Cajon / Box (opt.)
Percussion elements should feel more heard than the drums. This is a backyard jam, not a studio production. Tactile, acoustic, alive.
References
Sheryl Crow — All I Wanna Do
Stealers Wheel — Stuck In The Middle
Where they meet: that effortless, slightly offbeat groove. Fun without trying. Personality over polish.
Easter Egg
Verse 1 — "My heart is like an anchor" → North Star — "Anchor my heart"
In Walking Contradiction the anchor is a burden — the heart dragging her down, keeping her from the freedom she craves. In North Star the anchor is a gift — the thing her husband gives her that keeps her from getting lost. Same image, opposite emotional meaning. The journey from one to the other is the whole album.
Music Video / Visualizer
Full Music Video Concept
Verses: Kris walking down the street cutting between completely contradicting outfits — each one totally authentic to a version of her. LA casual (side braid, black tank, jeans), power boss (business suit), librarian chic (glasses, messy bun, white collared shirt, black pencil skirt), evening gown, leopard print Adidas, cowboy boots. Each outfit switches every few seconds — shot separately, edited together. Intercut with 1 to 3 performance locations of Kris playing guitar and singing.
Choruses: The table flip. Kris dressed in a proper Susie Homemaker dress — elegant, composed, perfect. Sets the table meticulously, candles lit, plates placed. Smirks at the camera. Stands up and flips the table. When the table hits the floor she's standing in her rock-country self — edgy, grounded, the real her. The chorus repeats so the table flip can appear multiple times with variations.
Production note: Shoot each outfit in one session — walk the same street or block in each look. Efficient shoot day, maximum visual impact in edit. The Spotify canvas version is just the table flip sequence on its own.
Open Questions
Confirm drum approach in session: minimal kit vs. full cajon / box replacement
Music video or visualizer direction TBD