What inspired it
Written from the experience of living simultaneously inside two Americas — serving in the US Air Force Reserve while studying at UC Berkeley. Conservative and liberal America, side by side, with the same exhaustion underneath both. The opening lyric 'Oh say, can you see' directly invokes The Star-Spangled Banner — holding America accountable to what it claims to stand for. The idea started in summer 2023 and the final lyrics came from the most frustrating moments of 2025.
Production story
The album's theme song, written in G minor at 94 BPM. Three elements drove the arrangement: the national anthem callback in the opening lyric, a melody simple enough for any working person to sing after a long day, and a recurring theme hum that appears every time 'we shall rise again' lands. The hum represents peace. The electric guitar represents the scream. Both coexist throughout. Vocal direction by Angel Clare, with harmony vocals by Ally Rozario and Hyunju Lee. Mixed by Yago Marques and mastered in Dolby Atmos by Luciano Vassão as an Apple Digital Master.
Album Credits
ALLY ROZARIO Background, Harmony Vocals
ANGEL CLARE Vocal Director, Background, Harmony Vocals
ANDRÉ VASCONCELLOS Bass Guitar
Alexandre Lunardelli Music Copyist
DAMIAN BOLOTIN Violin
DOROTHY TAKEV (Fucking Dance) Background Vocals
DANIEL CHOUINARD (Falling Through The Fire) Cello
ERIC MCLELLAN Marketing Advisor
FEDERICO HENCKER (Falling Through The Fire) Mastering Engineer
Gonzalo Eyzaguirre Mentor/Consultant
HAN JUN RYU Acoustic, Electric Guitar
HYUNJU LEE Background, Harmony Vocals
JONAS HOCHERMAN Trombone
JOSUE GONZALEZ Pianist, Keys
KEIRA MCKENNA (Freaking Dance, Slash The Ghost) Beat Maker
LUCIANO VASSÃO (All Tracks) Lead Mastering Engineer, Apple Digital Master
MINSOO SUNG Beat Maker
MAXWELL MAYNARD (Live Beyond) Producer, Composer
MARK WANG Photographer
MARCO PESCOSOLIDO Cello
MUSIVERSAL Recording Studio
NADAV SKLOOT (Slash The Ghost) Violin
PEDRO PARDAL Drums
PSZ RECORDS Production Company
PRIDHVI SUNAIN ZORO Lyricist, Composer, Director, Producer, Executive Producer
RHYS ZACHER (Live Beyond Instrumental) Mixing, Mastering Engineer
YAGO MARQUES (All Tracks) Lead Mixing Engineer