Raphael and his son, Oliver team up to bring you:
Leo & the Goat
"Shine, the conceptually innovative, socially conscious, sonically adventurous and continuously dazzling debut album by Leo & The Goat, is a fascinating, ever-grooving reminder that universal love and good musical vibin’ are often best expressed through the power of funk. Beyond the project’s dynamic jazz/old school soul foundations, at its emotional core, it’s about the inspiring magic that can result when a father and son committed to their vision and endless melodic, harmonic, arrangement and production possibilities join forces to create a sound that’s altogether fresh, resonant and almost defiant in its hipness and genre-transcendence."
- Jonathan Widran, The JW Vibe
A product capturing two patient years of intricate production and some tracks with origins over a decade old, Shine marks the flourishing of the musical relationship between veteran multi-instrumentalist and renowned artist Raphael Groten and his 26-year-old son Oliver, an accomplished composer, keyboardist and programmer who began learning music from his dad at age 10. As Raphael says, “We shared the compositions, arrangements and the engineer’s seat. Working and playing with him is a true joy!”
“The story of Shine is one of awakening to deeper truth, peace and joy, not just within ourselves, but as a society and a culture,” Raphael shares. “The words I chose to write and the messages conveyed are heartfelt calls for humanity to awaken to greater health and well-being. Of course, as the majority of the songs are instrumental, mostly, this message is sent to your hips for shakin! Enjoy life, enjoy the music and be present.”
Shine tracklist:
- The Regulator
- Shine
- Ride
- Diggin' in the Garden
- Silver Linings
- Cornerstone
- Riff Raph
- Puddin'
- Play
- Eastslide
Lyrics
sometimes I can put it all together but
most times it won’t make it any better 'cause
I know change comes
when the wind blows
tick-tock we’ve been looking at the clock and
flip flop now we’re gonna make it stop cus’
we glow in flow
everybody knows
listen to me real close
listen to the sound of my voice
listen to my choice in my words
listen to the songs of the birds
listen to the thump of your heart
listen to your part
let me help remind you of another place and another time
with another reason for your rhyme
with an invitation to unwind
where we remember how to shine shine shine
drip drop we’ve been saving all our time but
clip clop now the horse is on the block and
we know time goes where the power grows
and the river flows
slow down at the starting of the race and
ease back to a natural pace 'cause
we shine in line
with the earth time
when the wind blows
you don’t know
which way
you’re gonna go
we’re diggin in the garden
diggin for the truth
a weedin and sowin
and a waterin too
sun and rain and wind and storm
we carry on
bless the morning dew and shade that keeps us cool
dig on dig on
dig on dig on
everybody’s diggin in the garden
everybody’s diggin in the garden
and we’re plantin in the sunshine
and we’re dancin in the moonshine
come and join the good time
and were walking in a straight line
and we’re letting our soul shine
even in the dark times
and we’re plantin in the sunshine
and we’re dancing in the moonshine
and were walking in a straight line
and we’re letting our soul shine
we’re diggin in the garden
diggin for the truth
weedin and sowin
and a waterin too
sun and rain and wind and storm
we carry on
bless the morning dew and shade that keeps us cool
dig on dig on
dig on dig on
everybody’s diggin in the garden
everybody’s diggin in the garden
sometimes, it’s gonna rain on you
when you’re diggin in the garden
while you’re tryin to be true
just know that when the rain comes pouring down
there ain’t nothin you can do
but you can let it wash away your troubles and your heartache and your blues
you keep diggin in the garden
diggin for the truth
every day I feel the magic
I’m walking through worlds I never knew
on my way I have seen times of change
and witnessed stars born a new
in the light of the heart of the sun
I was torn apart
and the song of my creation
came back to me
with the crown in the heart of the sea
that she gave to me
I was home
what the shadow shows
my life it grows
I bow unto the sacred path
and make a pact to make a path
to keep all of my love in tact
and take all of my power back
to resurrect the truth and facts
of love and life to counteract
the bleeding hearts and crooked minds
who try to cause a great divide
but we survive and recognize
the soul's the same in all our eyes
we see that we are not alone
but one, the one big cornerstone
and we create the worlds we see
and test the bounds that need to be
to clarify and amplify
the best of who we need to be
to realize the cornerstone of unity is you and me
the cornerstone is you and me
the cornerstone of unity
I’m walkin my talk and know
my truth will be my sword and shield
I’m livin the way I know
my light will guide me on
I’m comin on strong
but leave my burdens on the other side
I’m preachin that love
will heal the great divide
my brother told me yesterday
that peace is here and it’s here to stay
I’ve been gettin heavy with the real stuff
talkin bout the real stuff
everybody’s lookin for the real stuff
watchin their waistline
lookin at the watch time
foolin theirselves
that they’re walkin in a straight line
everybody knows that the junk at the corner store
isn’t worth buyin any more
always on the intake
never want a mis take
workin and sweatin for the castle on the big lake
everybody’s lookin for the truth
but the puddin is the proof
everybody’s lookin for the truth
but the puddin is the proof
I’m listening to
the melody within my heart and soul
envisioning worlds
where we can live as one
I’m hearing the voices
of the ancestors who come to me
they’re teaching that prophecies
will come to heal the world
standin with the soap box
gettin on my high horse
lettin go the reigns
and I’m runnin off the race course
master of the light force
skippin the dessert course
stayin on course
while I’m pairin with the true source
I’m talkin bot
the AI
intellectual cyanide
trails in the clear sky
toxic pesticides
no sir, I will not comply
I run on
official intelligence
fresh like breath mints
I stopped payin dues to the gentlemen’s establishment
I’m lookin at the drastic
I’m keepin off the plastic
seeing our kids brainwashed and spastic
everybody’s lookin for the truth
but the puddin is the proof
everybody’s lookin for the truth
but the puddin is the proof
my brother told me yesterday
that peace is here and it’s here to stay
question social media
to censor ain't America
eatin up our minds
eatin up our time
it's time to wipe the sleep from the third eye
clear the distractions
clean the screen
and take action
everybody’s lookin for the truth
but the puddin is the proof
everybody’s lookin for the truth
but the puddin is the proof
goin' to walk the railroad tracks
gonna sit right down and have myself a day
goin' to walk the railroad tracks
my guitar in hand
then I'll sit right down and play
and leave behind
the worried mind
and take my time
to hear the beauty
goin' to walk the railroad tracks
my guitar in hand
and I'll sit right down and play
goin' to walk the railroad tracks
then I'll sit right down and I'll have myself a day
Song credits and instrumentation
1. The Regulator
Raphael Groten - composition, guitars, bass, tenor sax, percussion
Oliver Reckord-Groten - keyboards, programmed drums
Rebecca Kodis - violin
2. Shine
Oliver Reckord-Groten - composition, keyboards, guiro, programmed drums
Raphael Groten - lyrics and vocals, guitars, cavaqhuino, bass, flute, rattle, medicine drum
3. Ride
Raphael Groten - composition, guitars, keyboards, programmed drums and percussion, tenor saxophone, mouth horn
4. Diggin’ in the Garden
Oliver Reckord-Groten - composition, keyboards, programmed bass, horns and drums
Raphael Groten - lyrics and vocals, guitars, tenor saxophone
5. Silver Linings
Raphael Groten - composition, guitars, tenor saxophone, programmed drums
Oliver Reckord-Groten - bass, programmed drums
6. Cornerstone
Oliver Reckord-Groten - composition, keyboards, programmed bass and drums, guitars in rap
Raphael Groten - lyrics and vocals, guitars, tenor saxophone
7. Riff Raph
Raphael Groten - composition, guitars, bass, tenor saxophone, programmed congas and drums
Oliver Reckord-Groten - programmed drums
8. Puddin’
Raphael Groten - composition, lyrics, vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, programmed bass and drums
Rebecca Kodis - vocals, violin
9. Play
Raphael Groten - composition, guitars, tenor saxophone, percussion
Oliver Reckord-Groten - keyboards, bass, programmed drums
10. Eastslide
Raphael Groten - composition, guitars, keyboards, tenor saxophone, percussion, programmed bass and drums