(woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by The Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.

[synthesizer intro] ♪ [drums, guitar & bass join the synth] ♪ ♪ No mistake ♪ ♪ I have to get out of this place ♪ ♪ ♪ There's no doubt ♪ ♪ Everything is going my way ♪ ♪ ♪ A happy little demon ♪ ♪ Is trying to get into my brain ♪ ♪ Am I the only one who thinks ♪ ♪ The happy little demon should stay?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ A voice inside ♪ ♪ Telling me to accept the trade ♪ ♪ ♪ A happy little demon ♪ ♪ Always laughing in my face ♪ ♪ ♪ Gonna hold onto this life ♪ ♪ Never let the darkness ♪ ♪ Fade ♪ ♪ Get out of my playground ♪ ♪ This is not my fate ♪ ♪ ♪ And we know ♪ ♪ There's absolutely nowhere to go ♪ ♪ I'm used to doing things on my own ♪ ♪ But this time I won't go ♪ ♪ No I won't lose control ♪ ♪ There's absolutely nowhere to go ♪ ♪ I'm used to doing things on my own ♪ ♪ But this time I won't go ♪ ♪ No I won't lose control ♪ ♪ Whoa oh ♪ ♪ Whoa oh oo oo ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [bass plays along with recorded distant voices] ♪ ♪ ♪ There's definitely nowhere to go ♪ ♪ I'm used to doing things on my own ♪ ♪ This time I won't go ♪ ♪ No I won't lose control ♪ ♪ There's absolutely nowhere to go ♪ ♪ I'm used to doing things on my own ♪ ♪ This time I won't go ♪ ♪ No I won't lose con No I won't lose con ♪ ♪ No I won't lose control ♪ [prerecorded track of synthesized sounds fades out] [prerecorded track of synthesized sounds fades out] [prerecorded track of synthesized sounds fades out] Hi!

From The Winter Sloths in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, I'm Tom Biederman.

the lead singer and the lead guitarist.

Our other guitarist is Matthew Danielson.

Then we have Nicholas Ganoe on bass guitar and vocals.

And we have Braden Ashworth on the drums-- singing and playing the drums at the same time!

When we write our music, our message is that we really want to convey a lot of the time what we're feeling or what we've lived as far as mental illness to the love that got away to the love of our lives now.

Also writing about music and how it's changed our lives for the better, we really portray our emotions through our music, and that's really the message that you'll hear in our songs.

I feel like writing songs about mental illness, it helps you view your mental illness as a strength rather than some kind of detrimental thing that's happening into your life.

And doing it as a song really helps you kind of see that, you know?

As a strength.

[finger-picking melodically] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The sun ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The one ♪ ♪ ♪ That makes ♪ ♪ You live ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The sun ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Feel the warmth on your skin ♪ ♪ Feel the warmth on your skin ♪ ♪ And bow down ♪ ♪ ♪ Feel the warmth on your skin ♪ ♪ Feel the warmth on your skin ♪ ♪ And cry out ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The sun ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The One ♪ ♪ ♪ That makes ♪ ♪ You live ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The sun ♪ ♪ ♪ Photosynthesize ♪ ♪ Synthesize and grow tall ♪ ♪ ♪ Photosynthesize ♪ ♪ Synthesize for us all ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The sun ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The One ♪ ♪ ♪ That makes you live ♪ ♪ That makes you live and bow down ♪ ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ Face ♪ ♪ The sun ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Photosynthesize ♪ ♪ Photosynthesize and grow tall ♪ ♪ ♪ Photosynthesize ♪ ♪ Photosynthesize for us all ♪ ♪ ♪ Hi, my name is Nick Ganoe.

I play bass and sing some back-up vocals for The Winter Sloths.

I think ultimately what connects all of the guys in The Winter Sloths together is just that we have the combined goal of being forces for good.

I think we want to communicate in our music feelings of joy, of goodness and positivity.

We want to the best for ourselves and our families and our friends, and we bring that to the music that we make and to our live shows.

And hopefully that's communicated in our performance.

"Static" is the next song that you will hear.

It is a rock 'n' roll tale as old as time-- I don't want to go to work, I want to play music with my friends.

[prerecorded sound of water gurgling] [synthesizer playing arpeggios] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Clock ticking on another nine to five ♪ ♪ I'm punched in but I'm barely alive ♪ ♪ Dreaming in my head it's loud and clear ♪ ♪ I'm stuck in the same life year after year ♪ ♪ Writing on my pad the melody ♪ ♪ Late night visions only I can see ♪ ♪ I can remember the crowd I can remember the stage ♪ ♪ Can't quite seem to get myself to turn the page ♪ ♪ Voices screaming ♪ ♪ "Let me out" ♪ ♪ I can't find ♪ ♪ The way ♪ ♪ I'm running through the static ♪ ♪ Drivin' through the noise I'm chasing my echo ♪ ♪ I'm ready to go now ♪ ♪ Now now ♪ ♪ I'm running through the static ♪ ♪ Drivin' through the noise ♪ ♪ Chasin' my echo I'm ready to go now ♪ ♪ Now now now ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Clock's ticking on another nine to five ♪ ♪ I'm punched in but I'm barely alive ♪ ♪ Dreaming in my head it's loud and clear ♪ ♪ I'm stuck in the same life year after year ♪ ♪ Writing on my pad the melody ♪ ♪ Late night visions only I can see ♪ ♪ I can remember the crowd I can remember the stage ♪ ♪ Can't quite seem to get myself to turn the page ♪ ♪ Voices screaming ♪ ♪ "Let me out" ♪ ♪ But I can't find the way ♪ ♪ I'm running through the static ♪ ♪ Drivin' through the noise I'm chasing my echo ♪ ♪ I'm ready to go now ♪ ♪ Down down down ♪ ♪ Yeah I'm running through the static drivin' through the noise ♪ ♪ Chasing my echo I'm ready to go now ♪ ♪ Down down down ♪ ♪ Down ♪ [bass solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm running through the static ♪ ♪ Drivin' through the noise I'm chasin' my echo ♪ ♪ I'm ready to go now ♪ ♪ Down down down ♪ ♪ I'm running through the static ♪ ♪ I'm running through the static ♪ ♪ I'm running through the static ♪ ♪ I'm running through the static ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [establishing the beat] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I've been thinking about you ♪ ♪ At night ♪ ♪ Even when I'm passed out ♪ ♪ I've been dreaming about you ♪ ♪ But I've been trying to shut that down ♪ ♪ Keep on getting closer and closer but then I'm blinded ♪ ♪ By the beauty of your face ♪ ♪ Always thinking about you ♪ ♪ But just leave me alone tonight ♪ ♪ I've been getting higher ♪ ♪ Try to get you out of my sight ♪ ♪ Make my memory sour ♪ ♪ Try to get you out of my mind ♪ ♪ Keep on getting closer and closer but then ♪ ♪ I'm blinded by the beauty of your face ♪ ♪ Always thinking about you ♪ ♪ But you treat it like a race ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and closer and ♪ ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and ♪ ♪ You can take me if you want to ♪ ♪ I won't put up a fight ♪ ♪ I'll only give you nothing ♪ ♪ Until you don't show up one night ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer but there you are ♪ ♪ Just a-knockin' on my door ♪ ♪ I guess a life without you ♪ ♪ Would be one without me in yours ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ Closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and closer and closer and closer and closer and ♪ ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ I keep on getting closer and closer and closer and closer and closer ♪ ♪ And then I break ♪ Hi, I'm Matthew Danielson, I play guitar in The Winter Sloths.

My favorite part in playing with the Winter Sloths is that each member has a lot of experience in writing songs and having an ear for what as song needs.

So it feels like we all come together and are able to craft a song without relying on one member.

The next song is "Fake It."

It is really just about being genuine and showing who you are as a person as opposed to going along faking it like it feels like everybody else is all the time.

[guitar intro] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When you walk out the door ♪ ♪ Let it all just hit the floor ♪ ♪ ♪ Your big blue eyes and all the lies ♪ ♪ Leavin' me just hypnotized ♪ ♪ ♪ I don't want to ♪ ♪ Fake it no more ♪ ♪ I don't want to ♪ ♪ Fake it no more ♪ ♪ Everybody ♪ ♪ Fakin' it ♪ ♪ Somehow ♪ ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ Stop the this pain somehow ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ Stop the this pain right now ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ Break me free from this dream ♪ ♪ That you're givin' me tonight ♪ ♪ ♪ Real cries with tears in your eyes ♪ ♪ It's all a big disguise ♪ ♪ ♪ I don't want to ♪ ♪ Fake it no more ♪ ♪ I don't want to ♪ ♪ Fake it no more ♪ ♪ Everybody ♪ ♪ Is fakin' it ♪ ♪ Somehow ♪ ♪ Somehow ♪ ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ Stop the this pain somehow ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ Stop the this pain right now ♪ [guitar solo] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ Stop the this pain somehow ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ ♪ Stop the this pain right now ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo ♪ ♪ Woo ooo ooo oo-oo-oo ♪ Hi, my name is Braden Ashworth, and I am drummer and a singer in The Winter Sloths.

I hope that when people experience The Winter Sloths they forget about anything that might be negative or weighing down on them.

I hope that we help their shoulders become lighter, and I hope that they can just find peace within our message.

The song "All Along" was one that I wrote lyrically, and then we brought together as a band.

It was always my favorite.

The song really dives into the fact that we get beat down a lot, we have hardships, we have tough days.

and then slightly better days, but in the end, music is all we needed all along.

So I think that's a universal statement that we find peace and find happiness in the music that helps us calm down and bring us back to reality.

[prerecorded organ intro] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's 6 am and I'm ♪ ♪ Dead to the world I'm ♪ ♪ Sore to the bone I'm ♪ ♪ Merely existing ♪ ♪ Scrape off all my windows ♪ ♪ Get into my cold car ♪ ♪ Drive some place that's too far ♪ ♪ To attempt a good living ♪ ♪ ♪ This can't be everything ♪ ♪ If it is ♪ ♪ I don't want anything so ♪ ♪ Give me ears so I can listen ♪ ♪ To my trashy songs ♪ ♪ Give me eyes so I can watch ♪ ♪ All my friends sing along ♪ ♪ Give me words so I can scream them ♪ ♪ Till my voice is gone ♪ ♪ Give me music cuz it's all I've needed ♪ ♪ All along ♪ ♪ It's 1 am and I'm ♪ ♪ Watching some rerun ♪ ♪ Of a show that I don't love ♪ ♪ Why can't I be more fun ♪ ♪ Stuck inside my own head ♪ ♪ As I lay in this cold bed ♪ ♪ This can't be forever ♪ ♪ Got to keep it together ♪ ♪ ♪ This can't be everything ♪ ♪ If it is ♪ ♪ I don't want anything so ♪ ♪ Give me ears so I can listen ♪ ♪ To my trashy songs ♪ ♪ Give me eyes so I can watch ♪ ♪ All my friends sing along ♪ ♪ Give me words so I can scream them ♪ ♪ Till my voice is gone ♪ ♪ Give me music cuz it's all I've needed ♪ ♪ All along ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Give me ears so I can listen ♪ ♪ To my trashy songs ♪ ♪ Give me eyes so I can watch ♪ ♪ All my friends sing along ♪ ♪ Give me words so I can scream them ♪ ♪ Till my voice is gone ♪ ♪ Give me music cuz it's all I've needed ♪ ♪ All along ♪ ♪ Give me ears so I can listen ♪ ♪ To my trashy songs ♪ ♪ Give me eyes so I can watch ♪ ♪ All my friends sing along ♪ ♪ Give me words so I can scream them ♪ ♪ Till my voice is gone ♪ ♪ Give me music cuz it's all I've needed ♪ ♪ All along ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (woman) Prairie Musicians is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.