Ritual

(Verse 1)

(Almost spoken-sung, breath close to the mic)

Black velvet on my skin

Heartbeats echo like sin

I’ve been holding my breath for too long

Praying silence would keep me strong

Every scar tells me who I am

Every tear turns to holy land

I don’t need saving anymore

I’m knocking down my own damn door

(Pre-chorus)

(Lift into mixed voice- A3-C4)

(Build - filtered vocal, tension rises)

Hands in the fire, I don’t pull away

Pain tastes sweeter when you say my name

If this is wrong, let it take me whole

I’m not afraid to lose control

(Chorus)

(Belt - Bb3-C5)

(Drop hits - heavy kick, pulsing bass, vocal chants underneath)

This is my ritual

I break to feel invincible

On my knees but unashamed

I rise every time I bleed your name

This is my ritual

Love me dark, love me spiritual

In the smoke, in the sound, in the fall

I find God when I lose it all

(Post chorus/hook)

(Breathy chant - A3)

Ah-

I fall, I rise

Ah-

I’m baptised in the night

(Verse 2)

(Return to low register - G3)

(Minimal melody, hypnotic)

Mirror talks but I don’t look in

Truth cute deep, I let it sink in

You tried to cage me in your doubt

But I was born to burn out

I dance with ghosts I used to be

They don’t haunt me, they set me free

Every wounds a doorway now

Watch me walk through, watch me bow

(Pre-chorus 2)

(Melodic variation- B3-C4)

If I shake, it’s the earth below

If I break, I let the light show

Touch the dark, let it mark my skin

I was never built to fit it

(Chorus)

(Same range, heavier production)

This is my ri-tu-al

I break to feel invincible

On my knees but unashamed

I rise every time I bleed your name

This is my ri-tu-al

Love me dark, love me spiritual

In the smoke, in the sound, in the fall

I find God when I lose it all

(Bridge)

(Stripped, floating head mix- A3-B4)

(Emotion center, no belt, beat rapidly builds)

Take my fear

Take my crown

Strip me bare

Lay me down

If I’m empty

I can hear

Every truth

I used to fear

Say my name

Say it slow

Let it hurt

Let me go

(Final chorus)

(Lifted but NOT higher - controlled intensity)

(More power not more pitch)

This is my ri-tu-al

I’m alive, I’m unbreakable

From the ashes of who I was

I become what they never touched

This is my ri-tu-al

Body shaking, beautiful

In the dark, I learn to see

I don’t need you-

I believe

(Outro)

(Fade to breath- G3)

Ah- I fall, I rise

Ah- holy in the night