Author's personal notes
So, over a decade ago I used to work as a session studio musician, and I'd always had a bunch of ideas in my head of music I'd like to make. But there were limitations. First, it is hard to find a people with the same taste and same ideas to join in and make music with me. And that left me with a problem of not being able to play everything by myself. So I'd play drums and keyboards, did some MIDI programming and other electronica stuff, but guitars and traditional instruments were out of my depth. Also, because of work and aspirations to finish college, it is not like I really had time for those.
Second reason is financial. Even if I were to make a band, there were going to be financial costs, so making music for primary income would be problematic if that music isn't commercially viable. So once I got serious in college, my music journey was abandoned. But now the tingling is back.
So, there is this guy Bear who writes this novel "" and he'd been posting on Royal Road discord some of the tracks. And we've started chatting a bit and then he mentioned he was using Suno. And well to be honest the idea of prompting AI to create songs it didn't feel inciting to me. There is not much of creative input in just writing words in the box and get whatever AI thinks it is the best. And some of the stuff sounds really good, I'll give it that, but still 100% of creativity is AI. Or so I thought...
Bear mentioned in our chats that Suno supports being fed samples and that he'll try to deduce how to structure the song from audio samples and prompt. And you know I tried to test it just out of curiosity. The first song I generated was "" and all I've done was adding few samples of my post-punk band's work. It was some synth demo, and I was blown away by potential I saw.
And so this album was born from that idea. I used samples of some folk melodies I made, some stuff that comes from Balkan folk sounds, and Suno did the rest. It is of course still far from I'd do if I had full control, but I'm still very satisfied with final results. I'll follow the tool and in future do another one of these albums. I don't want to spend that much time on Suno, it is tempting but this is a web novel so focus should be on writing, not generating music. But I wanted to provide materials for those who want bigger immersion in world of Rohana, by giving glimpses through music and images.
I hope you enjoy the music provided. There is also download link for the songs. Feel free to share it.
Best regards,
Choco
TRACKLIST
1. Introspection
2. Behind the crosses we are all the same
3. Beyond the cobblestones
4. Hectical Oro
5. Rohana, my mother
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6. Sky is calling
7. Merchant's fiddle
8. Bury my bones under the oak tree
9. Darbuka passion
10. Sky is calling (Alternate version)
LYRICS
Behind the crosses we are all the same
[Verse 1]
We plant the grain that fills your plates,
We tend the earth from dawn till dark,
While crystal towers shine so bright,
And leave us dwelling in the park.
The barrier hums its golden song,
We wonder if we still belong.
[Chorus]
Behind the crosses, under sky,
We're all the same when children cry.
The Creators made us from one dust,
So why divide the broke from just?
Behind the crosses, hearts still beat,
In village mud and city street.
[Verse 2]
You fear the magic in your hands,
We fear the hunger in our own,
The clergy speaks of harmony,
But seeds we plant are rarely sown.
The fire burns on both our sides,
When demons come, where do we hide?
Rohana, my mother
[Verse 1]
Many cycles passed since I saw the crosses beaming
Children gathered, their eyes with hope gleaming
I'll see them again, through all my sad dreams
Glory O, Glory O, to the heavens of creation.
[Chorus]
Gloria!
Ro!
Ha!
Na!
Rohana, gloria, mother, familia!
[Verse 2]
Now the Raven, never flitting,
still is sitting, still is sitting
Watchful eyes, he is gleaning
Children dancing, crosses beaming
Sky is calling
[Verse 1]
At dawn he rose among the gears,
The valley bathed in silver tears.
He forged his wings with hands of flame,
And whispered skyward his own name.
The pipes sang low, the brass light gleamed,
He chased the sun his father dreamed.
[Chorus]
Up he flew where the wild winds blow,
Past the clouds and mountain snow.
Steam and thunder filled the air —
The sky was calling, waiting there.
[Verse 2]
Through rivers made of morning light,
He steered his craft in fearless flight.
A shadow soared — the dragon’s hue,
Its eyes like dawn, its breath like dew.
No sword was drawn, no hatred burned,
Just fire and song, as worlds returned.
[Verse 3]
They circled high where silence sings,
The dragon bowed its mighty wings.
It left behind a scale of gold,
A tale to keep when days grow old.
He turned for home through clouds of steam,
A hero born from heart and dream.
[Bridge]
Gears kept turning, hearts kept yearning,
Smoke trails fade but stars keep burning.
Through storm or spark, his name shall fly —
A legend written in the sky.
[Chorus]
Up he flew where the wild winds blow,
Past the clouds and mountain snow.
Steam and thunder filled the air —
The sky was calling, waiting there.
The sky was calling… waiting there.
Bury my bones beyond the oak tree
[Verse 1]
I walked the field where the wild winds roam,
Your pack lay still, your spirit gone home.
The sword you carried, rusted and worn,
Now sleeps in peace beside the thorn.
[Verse 2]
I called to Vesna, bringer of rain,
To wash away his weary pain.
I called to Nadia, warm and kind,
To cradle his soul beyond the bind.
[Verse 3]
Beneath the oak where first we met,
The roots remember, they never forget.
The grass bows low, the earth is deep,
And there my love shall softly sleep.
[Verse 4]
Helmond, shade him in golden leaves,
Sing to his rest in autumn’s eaves.
When Vihor’s snows in silence fall,
I’ll light the lantern and heed his call.
[Verse 5]
Dust to dust, and bone to loam,
The plains of creation call him home.
And when my heart beats its final plea,
Bury my bones under the same oak tree.
[Verse 6]
No stone to mark, no name to say,
The roots will know the lovers’ way.
Two souls entwined where winds are free—
Beneath the oak, let us always be.
