Fritz Gearhart (a.k.a Mod Robert)

Portfolio Samples for MFA application 

Degree in Recording Arts and Technologies,

Middle Tennessee State University

Click on YouTube links to open audio.

Audio Sample No. 1

Waiting for the Elsewhere

(from my 2020 EP Swords and Ghosts)

Music/Lyrics and arrangement are all by me. I produced this song, performed all vocal parts, acoustic guitar, all violins/violas, keyboards. All tracks recorded in my home studio except percussion.

Additional musicians used for bass, and percussion parts.

I include this sample because of the string arrangement, especially the climax of the song, showcasing my arranging.

This was not mixed by me and was not mastered.

Waiting for the Elsewhere

Waiting for the day

When wounds a canyon wide, melt like snow in the rain

Waiting for the day

An Everest cleaved, when all grieving oceans drain

Waiting for the day 

For the elsewhere and the answered prayer

Waiting on the rain

Drown in the sand and let the waves wear us free

Waiting on the rain

When arms surround the sadness that drives us to our knees

Waiting on the rain

Flood the dark, feed this desert heart

Looking for a way

To love the swords and ghosts right back to their graves

Looking for a way

To unfurl the fist and drop down the blade

Looking for a way

Audio Sample No. 2

The Ballad of Mr. Black

(from my 2020 EP Swords and Ghosts)

Music/Lyrics and arrangement are all by me. I produced this song, performed all vocal parts, keyboards, arranged all the sampled percussion. All tracks recorded in my home studio except live percussion (non-sampled).

Additional  musicians used for bass, live percussion parts, electric guitar and violin solo.

I include this sample because of the unusual style of this song.

This was not mixed by me and was not mastered.

The Ballad of Mr. Black

He steps from the void and into your room

He draws the shades of this your self-selected womb

He places the gun on the table by the bed

And then he leans on in, to gently kiss your forehead

He packed his grey-black suit, his sword, and his charm for the trip

But he might not need it

He leaves you with your daydream, and the door open wide

He warns you of the danger and to not go outside

A shadow drifts along the table by the gun

Can you face the endless night, or do what must be done?

And face his long cold blade, and his best persuasive script

But he might not need it

He's back again impatient, alone beside your bed

He said "you have all the reasons, far behind and up ahead"

Standing tall, he raises the blade

Cold blue steel in your hand (the single shot) and Mr. Black betrayed

With a shrug he disappears, his card on the table it sits

Well, I might not need it

Audio Sample No. 3

Behind the Fourth Wall

(from my 2020 EP Swords and Ghosts)

Music/Lyrics and arrangement are all by me. I produced this song, performed all vocal parts (pitch-shifted and normal), acoustic guitar, some keyboards — organ and some small piano licks, sound effects. All tracks recorded in my home studio except drum set.

Additional  musicians used for bass, piano, live percussion parts and violin solo, and electric guitar.

I chose this to highlight the range of styles of my work. I worked closely with the drum player to come up with the changing grooves of this song.

This was not mixed by me and was not mastered.

Behind the Fourth Wall 

I woke up with my head pounding

Sipped my coffee and felt depressed

I looked out on an awesome beauty 

And felt, well, quite unimpressed

Educating myself through YouTube

On the artist’s plight

As if I could figure out life’s Rubik’s Cube

And set my feelings right

You might say it sounds chaotic
Here behind the fourth wall

Some see it as exotic

But this I can tell you,

The fun never stops at all

But this is a blues after all

And not a happy tune

There’s no slide guitar drawl

Just a punchline from some dark cartoon

So I break the fourth wall

And my first rule in songwriting protocol

‘Cause I start the first line with “I"

And proceed the rhyme scheme to modify

You see there’s this committee in my head

They follow Robert’s Rules for One

I call the question but I’m misled

With no point of order, I’m overrun

Whenever I bring a motion to the floor 

There always a lively discussion

There’s many a gifted orator

And always a repercussion

You might say it sounds chaotic
Here behind the fourth wall

Some see it as exotic

But this I can tell you,

The fun never stops at all

Audio Sample No. 4

Fast Train

(Unreleased song, recorded and finished in  2024 

Working title of album: And Then She Said)

Music/Lyrics and arrangement are all by me. I produced this song, performed vocal and keyboard parts. All tracks recorded in my home studio except drum set, and electric guitar.

Additional  musicians used for bass, drums, and electric guitar.

I chose this to highlight another style my work which depends upon great subtlety of the arrangement. 

This was not mixed by me and was not mastered.

Fast Train

I can’t say I was surprised

But it hit me just the same

Like it or not

We all have to play that game 

Sons and friends and lovers

They take that ride

They ride those rails

To the other side 

Refrain: 

Some will go out fighting

Some won’t wear their coats in the rain

Some are so much more than careful

Some have to take that fast train, take that fast train

Some want to be surrounded

Others off and alone

Some will leave their baggage

Some will take it home 

We all have our dreams

We have our time

We have our love

And our place in line

Refrain 

Refrain ext:

Walk with me today

Stay with me tonight

Hold my hand through the darkness

Until the morning light

Some will count their mistakes

And some will count their gold

Some will live their dreams

Some will just get old 

Was there someone watching

Or someone keeping score

Did we get all we needed

Or was there something more

Refrain and Extension

Audio Sample No. 5

The Pale Horse Rides

Song in Progress. 

Music/Lyrics and arrangement are all by me. I produced this song, performed all vocals, keyboard parts, arranged all sampled percussion and sampled vocal tracks. All tracks recorded in my home studio except electric guitar.

Additional musician used for electric guitar.

This song is in progress, but I wanted to show one that I have mixed, albeit, a rough and not final mix.

Pale Horse Rides

Sleeps the Canyon

While the eagle flies

The Pale Horse Rides

Of glass and steel

And airless skies

The Pale Horse Rides

Four side by side

Black and white

Red behind

The pale horse rides

Video Sample No. 1

Just Keep Passing the Open Window

Released 2016 on Deep in the Curve

I include this to show that I have dabbled a little in video for some of my songs. I am familiar and fairly comfortable with Final Cut Pro. This is another “spoken word” song, in which I pitch-shifted my voice.

Below you can sample ANY of the tracks that I have currently available on Spotify. There is a YouTube link for each song listed.