NEW BLUE ORBIT
𝓑𝙪𝙗𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝓖𝙪𝙢 𝓞𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖 🌎 🪐🇪🇸
Expected release: June 21, 2026
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s NEW BLUE ORBIT album artwork revealed plus in depth insights about the writing process of this long awaited 20 song Earth eclipsing adventure. 🪐💫🚀
~Bubble Gum Orchestra, the visionary studio project of Michael Laine Hildebrandt, has long been a hidden gem in the indie pop-rock world—blending catchy melodies, orchestral flourishes, classic ’60s/’70s influences, and a cosmic, spacey vibe. Hildebrandt is the one-man (mostly) creative force: songwriter, singer, multi-instrumentalist, engineer, and producer. Originally from Muscatine, Iowa~ Lewisville, Texas, he relocated permanently to the stunning coastal village of Oia in Galicia, Spain, where the North Atlantic crashes against dramatic cliffs. This move marked a fresh chapter, and it deeply shapes his latest work.
The new album, New Blue Orbit (his 16th overall, a 20-song double album structured in four acts), is the long-awaited thematic follow-up to BGO’s 2011 debut Out of This World. It’s set for release in Summer 2026 and continues the interstellar narrative with a “supercharged blue violin spaceship” blasting through a vibrant nebula on the artwork—pure cosmic rock ‘n’ roll “Rockestra” energy. The 15-month writing and recording process in his Oia studio was, by Michael’s own account, an “amazing life experience” and “very rewarding in so many ways.” Each track became “a song piece of the puzzle of the entire 20 song vibe and story behind NBO,” with no preconceived plan except one spark: the song title When Love Meets Love, which came to him with a melody while walking along the North Atlantic shore in his hometown.
A Bold Shift in Writing Process
Michael approached New Blue Orbit with a completely refreshed mindset after the Texas-to-Spain move. On the first 15 albums, BGO consistently down-tuned a half step to 430 Hz. For this one, everything was written and recorded in straight-up standard tuning at 440 Hz. As Michael put it: “Partly because it was something new and exciting and that [he] couldn’t remember how to adjust his midi keyboard down a half a step. 😆 Yes, the truth of magic.” It was a small technical “forgetfulness” that opened the door to reinvention.
Even more striking: 90% of the 20 songs started as pure instrumentals. Lyrics came only after the music was fully fleshed out—something “totally foreign but yet exciting” for him. He deliberately wrote in keys that were unfamiliar from past work. While composing on piano or synthesizer, he’d “literally just play a chord without looking and then change keys to something totally unorthodox and foreign to past albums.” This kept everything “very exciting and fresh,” turning the process into a playful challenge rather than routine.
The result? Songs that feel alive with discovery. Michael crafted them with visuals of the album’s blue violin spaceship in mind, staying true to the cosmic theme while weaving in echoes of his real-life journey across the ocean. The listener will catch subtle threads of that life-changing relocation from Texas to permanent life in Spain.
Recording Techniques: Energy First, Authenticity Always
Michael’s recording philosophy for New Blue Orbit prioritized raw feeling over perfection. He keeps vocal takes to a maximum of three or four—“the initial energy is what he goes for even if there are a few little bits floating around here and there.” Singing in those new, uncharted keys was “challenging and fun,” but it preserved the spark.
On certain piano-driven tracks, he ditched the click track entirely for a more authentic, human feel: “He didn’t play to a click track to keep it more authentic sounding. Just get it close was his motto.” Some parts are so organic that “you couldn’t even put a click track to it afterwards.” He leans heavily on outboard analog gear rather than digital plug-ins (“he tries not to use many plug-ins in the studio unless he has to”). His motto? “He’s doing the best with what he has to work with and what he likes to work with is analog ”—a humble, resourceful approach that gives the album its warm, lived-in character.
State of Mind: Excitement, Gratitude, and Creative Freedom
Michael’s headspace during this project was one of joyful reinvention and gratitude. The move to Galicia’s breathtaking landscapes provided the perfect backdrop—ocean walks, rainy studio nights, and a sense of starting over. With “nothing in mind or any expectations” at the outset, the album unfolded naturally as a 20-song conceptual journey. It was challenging at times (new keys, new tuning, instrumental-first writing), but that very challenge kept the energy high and the process “fun.” The result is an album that feels like a vibrant, hyper-spaced-out evolution: still recognizably BGO, but propelled into a thrilling new orbit.
In short, New Blue Orbit isn’t just another Bubble Gum Orchestra record—it’s a love letter to fresh starts, analog soul, and the magic that happens when you let go of old habits and embrace the unknown. If the debut Out of This World was the launch, this one is full throttle through the stars. Fans (and newcomers) are in for a dynamic, immersive ride when it drops. Keep an eye on bubblegumorchestra.com for updates—Michael’
Exciting news for fans of the Bubble Gum Orchestra! After years of anticipation, the band is finally dropping their highly awaited 20-song double album, and we’re thrilled to reveal its title: New Blue Orbit.
This epic release serves as the long-awaited follow-up to BGO’s groundbreaking 2011 debut album, Out of This World. Fast-forward 15 years into the future, and here we are in 2026, with the band evolving their signature sound while staying true to those cosmic roots that first launched them into the stratosphere. If Out of This World was the ignition, New Blue Orbit is the full-throttle warp drive, blending nostalgia with fresh innovation for a journey that’s both reflective and forward-looking.
The album artwork is a visual stunner, featuring a brand-new BGO supercharged blue violin spaceship hurtling through a vibrant nebula. It’s a nod to the band’s interstellar theme, but amped up with glowing energy trails and intricate details that capture the essence of their musical evolution—think sleek, futuristic design meets rock ‘n’ roll flair.
Structurally, New Blue Orbit is a double album masterpiece, divided into four acts for an immersive listening experience: Act One kicks off with five tracks building the foundation, Act Two dives deeper with another five, Act Three ramps up the intensity across five more, and Act Four brings it home with the final five songs, wrapping up the narrative arc. This format allows for a progressive build, like chapters in a space opera.
The total running time clocks in at an epic one hour, 14 minutes, and 55 seconds—plenty of room for the band to stretch out their ideas, deliver extended instrumental passages, and keep the momentum soaring from start to finish.
As for the music itself, these new songs are bursting with energy and musicality—think pulsating rhythms, soaring melodies, and layers of instrumentation that make every track feel alive and dynamic. From upbeat anthems that get your heart racing to intricate compositions showcasing the band’s technical prowess, New Blue Orbit is set to redefine what a comeback album can be.
Mark your calendars: the album will be released in the summer of 2026, launching into orbit when the season is at its peak! Stay tuned for more updates, singles, and exact dates—this one’s going to be worth the wait. 🚀🪐
BGO’s 16th album, New Blue Orbit, a 20-song double album in the writing stages at Hildebrandt’s Oia, Spain studio, continues the narrative from Out of This World. It features Steve Howard’s 2013 trumpet recordings on “I Touched the Hand of a Beatle,” inspired by Hildebrandt’s spiritual handshake with Paul McCartney. Unlike Thruster’s minimalist bass-drums-vocals approach, New Blue Orbit leans toward a broader, conceptual pop rockestra sound, building on BGO’s orchestral roots.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 1: Afouteza
What a beautiful way to open the album.
An instrumental born on a rainy afternoon in Oia, staring out at those misty Galician mountains… I can already feel it. There’s something sacred about that kind of moment — when the rain softens the world, the mountains look like they’re breathing, and the music just pours out without needing words. Keeping it wordless was the right call. Some pieces are too intimate for language; they speak straight from the soul to the heart, bypassing the brain entirely. “Afouteza” sounds like it carries that exact magic.
As the opener for New Blue Orbit, it sets a perfect tone: mysterious, cinematic, emotional, and full of atmosphere. It feels like stepping through a portal — leaving the ordinary behind and entering the world you’ve created. The title itself has a strong, almost ancient resonance (I believe “afouteza” relates to courage or boldness in Galician?). That adds another beautiful layer: a brave, heartfelt instrumental leading us into the rest of the journey.
I love that this is how the album begins. It already has a very personal, almost spiritual signature.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 2: Introduction to Orbit
Song two is another instrumental, and it felt really crucial to the beginning story of the album. It starts with a whimsical lead slide guitar, then slides into a reversed vocal track panned hard right and hard left. It keeps building and building with this lovely piano in the background, until it finally crescendos into a short prologue voiced by Keith James Sinclair saying, “Welcome to the New Blue Orbit.”
It’s the perfect little bridge that pulls you deeper into the world we’re creating. I love how it feels playful but also a bit mysterious at the same time.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 3: New Blue Orbit
“New Blue Orbit” is the third song in Act One and it really gets the party started. Michael sings:
“We’re here. The time is right to launch the spaceship back into flight, we’re gonna sing, we’re gonna dance. We’re gonna make you forget your past.”
This is the first song on the album with vocals, and I wrote it as a story of hope and new beginnings. It feels like a joyful reset — like we’re all climbing aboard and leaving the old stuff behind. Upbeat, optimistic, and full of energy. Exactly what the album needed at this point.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 4: When Love Meets Love
Song four is titled “When Love Meets Love.” This one is actually a prequel to our song “Night in Shangri-La,” which was the very first single ever released by Bubble Gum Orchestra, back on our debut album Out of This World in 2011.
I came up with the title while walking along the North Atlantic Ocean. About six months later, when I was deeper into the recording process, I finally sat down and started writing the lyrics. I wasn’t thinking about anything specific or anyone in particular at the time. But once I finished the song and listened to it with the lyrics in place, it became clear that it had magically become the prequel to “Night in Shangri-La.” It just happened that way on its own.
I love when songs reveal their own story like that.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 5: Little Soul
Song five is titled “Little Soul.” It’s layered with acoustic guitars and has this really prominent bass guitar line running through it. I wrote it for a very special person in my life named Sofi. It has a slower, beautiful melody that just sits perfectly with the lyrics. Every time I listen to it, it brings a tear of joy to my eyes. The lyrics are completely self-explanatory and come straight from the heart.
The music came first, and then the lyrics arrived very fast. It’s a beautiful song for a beautiful person.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 6: Stealing Stars
Act Two starts off with “Stealing Stars.” Continuing with the whole New Blue Orbit theme, this song really came out exactly the way I envisioned it from the very beginning.
It’s cosmic, romantic, and full of wonder. The lyrics paint this picture of galaxies colliding and reversing gravity, but when I’m holding you in my arms, time itself just travels differently — like reality bends around us. There’s a sonic boom that explodes without a sound and keeps us up all night, while the debris from our past actually makes us laugh now. The constellations are still burning bright.
Chorus: Stealing stars in the night, feeling love burn so bright,
Let these days last forever. May these rhymes make things better.
Stealing stars in the night, green-eyed girl makes things right,
Let these days last forever. May these times be the best for me and you.
I love how it turns love into this interstellar adventure — playful, passionate, and hopeful all at once. It feels like the perfect way to open Act Two.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 7: Rev Up the Flight
The seventh song on the album and the second in Act Two is titled “Rev Up the Flight.”
This one really captures that feeling of finally living the dream you’ve been chasing for so long. The lyrics say it all:
“Lights, camera, action — I’m living out the dream that I had been asking. No more distractions, taking the world by storm was my reaction.”
The bridge brings in that sense of shared joy:
“I’m living a dream with you. Love’s here to stay.
I’m living in a dream with you — Smile laugh, smile laugh, smile laugh and play.”
Then the chorus kicks in strong:
“Rev up the flight, oh, we can be everything that we can see,
Far beyond the road that we are driving.
Rev up the flight, oh, I can be everything that I have dreamed,
Even if the world starts burning.”
And the refrain:
“Clouds disappear and the sun shines near us today.”
In verse two it goes:
“Sea sided mansion — I’m sitting on top of the world as the main attraction.
Jealousy is all that they’re giving. ‘Don’t bring me down’ is the world that I’m living.”
I love how this song feels like a pure celebration of momentum, love, and refusing to let anything hold you back. It’s uplifting, defiant, and full of that forward-thrust energy that fits perfectly right here in Act Two.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 8: Life in a New World
Song eight is titled “Life in a New World,” and it’s pretty self-explanatory. This one really reflects my own spectacular adventure — moving from Texas all the way to Spain and everything that came with it.
It opens with:
“Welcome to a new day, a new way to things that I have never ever known.
I am so thankful, so happy, to the new life that I have been shown.”
I talk about traveling across the ocean to a love spell, what a potion… leaving it all behind to live for today and sing for today. No looking back, no justifying the passage of my sacred rite. There’s the tunnel of love and the weight that was on my shoulders — you’ll never know.
The bridge hits hard:
“No one can stop me, no one could save me, no one can blame me for the life that I choose.”
Working hard daily, dealing with maybes, knocking down walls, building up the falls, trying so hard to follow where the wind goes… climbing high as my new world is rising.
Then the chorus comes back around with that same grateful feeling, and the refrain:
“Life in a New World… My life in a new world.”
I sing about very few goodbyes, not even crying when I said hello and goodbye in the same breath. Now I’m here with you, there’s nothing they can do. Love conquers all — I found my light, she found her knight.
This song feels like a big, honest exhale. It’s thankful, triumphant, and full of that fresh-start energy. It captures exactly what this chapter of my life has been.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 9: Gravity Pulls Me
Song nine is called “Gravity Pulls Me.” This one dives deep into that cosmic love feeling that runs through the whole album.
It starts with this dreamy image:
“I saw you pass the stars in a blue violin, streaks of shooting stars from far within. Zero gravity, we’re dancing free, only cosmic walls just you and me.”
And you just smile as you pass on by, with cosmic rings in an endless sky. Asteroids hum to our rhythm beat, galaxies spread beneath our feet.
I love that line “Gravity Pulls Me” because it flips the whole idea — instead of gravity pulling us down, it’s pulling me closer to her. The chorus really says it all:
“Gravity pulls me close to you babe…
In this universe emotions true, may this guiding light forever glow.
In this spaceship girl our hearts will know.”
Then in the verse it gets even more magical: Wonderwalls falling down on us, reversing time, floating high without a net, stardust feels like heaven to me. “Climb aboard and strap our hearts in for a journey like you’ve never seen. Rockets hot, oh what a red glow… my love for you more than you will ever know.”
To me, this song is pure floating romance in space. It’s about that feeling when someone becomes your whole universe — where physics stops making sense and the only force that matters is the one drawing you to her. It’s weightless, passionate, and full of wonder. The kind of song that makes you want to drift forever with the person you love.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 10: Light Up the Sky (Touch the Fire)
Song ten is “Light Up the Sky (Touch the Fire).” This one feels like a big, fiery anthem about pushing forward, remembering where you came from, and burning bright no matter what.
It kicks off with:
“Heat shields up, thrusters all gone. Gravity pulls another song. From deep within, will the stars align? Time will tell what the cosmos finds.”
Then the chorus hits hard:
“Light up the sky, touch the fire. Never forget our once desires. Light up the sky, touch the fire. Search for our flight through the static wires.”
In verse two it gets really vivid:
“Blue violins in outer space churning and burning. Don’t forget the taste of summer’s past and raise a glass to our legacy, both future and past.”
Verse three brings it back down to earth in a way:
“Searching and trying to figure it out, what brought us here and what it’s all about. Left is right and right is sometimes wrong… I found the place that I belong.”
The song keeps soaring with that chorus and ends in a big, repeating outro: “Light up the sky and touch the fire…” over and over. It feels like a victory lap and a love letter to the journey at the same time — celebrating desire, legacy, and that unstoppable drive to keep flying.
I’m really proud of how this one turned out. It captures so much of the energy of the whole album.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 11: String Evolution
Song eleven on the album — and the first song of Act III — is titled “String Evolution.” It’s an instrumental.
I originally composed it back in 2022 while I was writing songs for BGO’s Sugar Notes. It didn’t really fit the vibe of that album, so I set it aside, finished composing and recording it for New Blue Orbit. I’m glad I waited — it feels like it finally found its perfect home here.
The title “String Evolution” really captures the whole spirit of the track. It’s built around evolving string arrangements that grow, shift, and transform throughout the piece. There’s this beautiful sense of progression — like the music itself is alive, developing from something simple into something much bigger and more emotional. It has a cinematic, almost orchestral quality, but still feels very personal and intimate. The strings weave in and out, layering on top of each other, creating this feeling of constant forward movement and transformation.
It’s the perfect way to open Act III — a musical evolution that mirrors the journey the whole album is on.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 12: Shoot Me Like a Rocket
Song twelve is titled “Shoot Me Like a Rocket.” I started writing it with no real agenda, but it quickly turned into a deep, introspective look at my own life journey.
The song feels like one big, fearless launch into the unknown. It opens with that raw energy:
“Shoot me like a rocket into outer space. Live or die, full throttle, oh what a taste.”
In verse one I’m facing my destiny head-on:
“Nowhere to go, nowhere to hide. Gonna face my destiny through the great divide. All systems go, but who am I to know just what I’ll find when I finally free my mind.”
The bridge brings in this sense of peace and eternity:
“Angels sing far away, distant melodies that I once played. Forever young is what I see, look up high, that’s where I’ll be.”
Then the chorus really hits:
“Shoot me like a rocket into outer space, live or die, full throttle, oh what a taste. For what I am, for what I did see… Life was good, you better believe.”
Verse two gets more emotional — looking down from above, asking loved ones not to cry, remembering how things used to be, and celebrating “the love of my blue ship floating free.” It’s like saying goodbye and thank you at the same time.
I love how the song ends with that big, defiant “yeehaw!” It’s part celebration, part acceptance. This track ended up being my reflection on living without regret — embracing every risk, every memory, every beautiful and painful moment, and still being able to say life was good.
It’s become one of the most personal songs on the album for me.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 13: Blue Violin Spaceship
Song thirteen is “Blue Violin Spaceship.” This one was a big undertaking for me. The blue violin spaceship has been part of every BGO album — it’s our mothership, it’s where we live, it’s where we write and record our music. It’s our fantasy and our dream all rolled into one. It’s a very special place. It feels real… yet it’s pure fantasy at the same time.
The song captures everything that idea means to me:
“In a midnight sky, where the starlights spill, I’m soaring high through a world that feels like a melody woven in shades of blue. With every note I play I’m dreaming of you.” The engines run softly like whispers in tune as we dance with the cosmos beneath the silver moon. Galaxy spinning, lost in our flight… on this blue violin spaceship, love is our light.
The chorus is basically my wish for the whole world:
“Take me to a planet where hearts can soar free, a planet of passion where hate doesn’t breed. With colors of kindness painting the air… in this blue violin spaceship, we’re going somewhere.”
I talk about meteor showers and nebulous dreams, chasing the shadows that tore at our seams. Each star is a promise, each star is a chance to build a new world where we all share our dance. The bridge says if you listen to the song in your heart, it echoes through galaxies and sets us apart. We’ll write our own story on stardust and dreams, creating our universe and setting us free.
And then that beautiful refrain:
“Each note that we play leaves no one behind. Drifting forever on waves made of grace. In this blue violin spaceship there’s always a place for love without limits, for love without fear.”
It ends with that soaring, almost spiritual break — “Blue violin soaring high… Blue violin love me now… Blue violin we’ll make it somehow” — before lifting off one last time.
This song is the heart and soul of the entire album. It’s our home base, our escape pod, and our love letter to music itself. I poured everything I feel about this journey into it.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 14: God versus Science / Time is Just a Number
Song fourteen is a two-part track. It starts with an instrumental called “God versus Science” and flows straight into the second part, “Time is Just a Number.”
I came up with the title “God versus Science” because I thought it sounded really cool and dramatic, but I didn’t want to make it too controversial. In the end, it’s not about picking a side in some big debate — it’s more of a state of mind put to music. The instrumental feels like that tension and wonder between faith, mystery, and the laws of the universe all swirling together. It builds this atmospheric bridge that leads perfectly into the rest of the song.
Then we move into “Time is Just a Number,” which is really the heart of the piece. The lyrics capture exactly how I feel about living life without being ruled by the clock:
“The clock ticks on baby I don’t care, seconds slipping through the air. Chasing dreams, not hands that spin, life’s a game and I’m all in.”
I love the lines:
“Usually last but hearts stay young, every note’s a song unsung. No regrets, no counting days, love and light will guide my way.”
The chorus is the main message for me:
“Time is just a number don’t you see, it can’t hold you, it can’t hold me…
Live for now, let the moment hum. Time is just a number, let it come.”
The bridge gets playful and urgent: “Come on, come on, come on… make time with me.” And the refrain brings it home:
“So dance, so sing, let the hours fade. Time’s a shadow, we’re the flame. Time is just a number, nothing more… live forever, open the door.”
This whole two-part song feels like a deep breath and a smile at the same time. It’s about letting go of all the pressure we put on ourselves with time, age, and overthinking… and just choosing to live fully in the moment. The instrumental sets up that cosmic, philosophical mood, and the sung part brings it down to something personal and freeing.
I’m really happy with how these two halves work together.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 15: Touched the Hand of a Beatle
Song fifteen is titled “Touched the Hand of a Beatle.” This one is very personal to me.
I wrote it about the day I actually met Paul McCartney outside the Ritz hotel in Madrid, Spain, in December 2025. He was heading to a sound check, got into a limousine, and as the car pulled away I thought, “This might be my only chance ever.” When the stoplight turned red just ahead, I ran down the street and caught up to the car. His window was halfway down. All I could say was “Paul… we love you!” He reached out, smiled, and shook my hand. Then the light turned green and he was gone.
I couldn’t believe what had just happened. I walked back up the street, met Angie, and we went through the big park near the Ritz. The sun was shining through the trees and suddenly it hit me like a time machine — all my life, from the 60s Beatles records, through Wings, through everything I’ve ever loved about Paul’s music. I just broke down crying uncontrollably, tears of pure joy. I had touched the hand of Paul McCartney. It was earth-shattering for me.
I wrote the song two weeks later. Here’s how it came out:
It starts with the vocal intro:
“I touched the hand of a Beatle who inspired me to be the musician that I am and all the love that I see… When I looked your way, I couldn’t find the words to say except, Paul we love you… You smiled and touched my hand.”
The verse says:
“It’s two weeks later and now I’m not the same. From the moment I met you seems just like yesterday. I always dreamed there would be a way that the stars would align and we could say hello…”
There’s a solo, then the bridge:
“The sun was going down, but the sky was still blue when I met you, when I touched you… faded like the Beatles on Hey Jude, in my golden slumbers, never forget you.”
And the outro brings back the main line, weaving in little Beatles references: “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “All You Need Is Love.”
This song isn’t just about a fan moment. It’s about how one small, magical second can connect your whole life — from a kid listening to Beatles records to standing there as a grown man living his own musical dream. I still get emotional every time I hear it.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 16: Space Pad
Song sixteen is called “Space Pad.”
It starts with this really moving piano and string ensemble that sets the whole mood right from the beginning — it feels warm, inviting, and like you’re floating up into the stars.
“Space Pad” is about that special place way up in the cosmos where all your friends can come over and hang out at your pad. It’s a spot where it’s always happy and there’s simply no room for sad. A safe, joyful haven floating in the stars.
The lyrics paint exactly that picture:
Chorus:
“Space Pad we’re glad you came here to hang out with us tonight
Space Pad no sad, we’re gonna help you make it through the night.”
Verse 1 invites everyone:
“You’re invited to a party tonight, one you’ll never regret so hold on tight. You’re here to forget about the things that brought you down, that broke your crown, that made you frown. So get back up, we’ll dance all night, we’ll make it through to the satellite.”
Verse 2 brings in that electric, hopeful energy:
“We’re here tonight and we feel so alive. Electric dreams and static cries. Distant warnings from those who don’t believe the truth of love or what we perceive. Never forget the powers that be will give you hope — just you wait and see.”
This song feels like the ultimate cosmic house party. It’s uplifting, welcoming, and full of love. It’s my way of saying: no matter what’s weighing you down on Earth, there’s always a place up here where the music is playing, the vibes are good, and we’ve got your back. Come as you are — we’re gonna dance until the sadness disappears.
I smile every time I hear it.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 17: Past Debris
Song seventeen is another instrumental called “Past Debris.”
This one is pure drive. It’s a bass guitar driven track featuring heavy guitars, Wurlitzer piano, and my signature Warwick thumb bass guitar sound. From the moment it kicks in, it grabs you and doesn’t let go.
I see “Past Debris” as a musical ride — the kind you turn up loud and just go for it. It’s about cleaning up any debris from your past, blasting through the leftover stuff that’s still floating around, and coming out the other side lighter and freer. The bass line leads the charge, the guitars add weight and fire, and the Wurlitzer gives it that beautiful, haunting layer on top. It feels powerful, cathartic, and forward-moving all at once.
No words needed on this one — the music says everything. Crank it up, let it shake the old weight loose, and enjoy the ride.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 18: Star Showers, Cosmic Powers
Song eighteen is titled “Star Showers, Cosmic Powers.” This one clocks in at around seven minutes and feels like a full cosmic journey. It has two big instrumental breaks called Intermission One and Intermission Two that give the song room to breathe and really take you somewhere.
I had so much fun writing this one. It’s playful, full of puns, and just floats in that happy, whimsical space-head place. Here’s how it goes:
Chorus:
“Star Showers, Cosmic Powers
The atmosphere puts a smile on my space
Star Showers, Cosmic Powers
Gravity keeps me grounded… come sky with me.”
Verse 1
“You’re really up in the ozone today, all suited up with no space to go. The atmosphere puts a smile on my taste… I’m tired of doing Orion’s share of the work.”
Verse 2
“It’s OK to sky little sun. The Earth’s rotation really makes my day. I checked out a book on anti-gravity… now I can’t put it down.”
Then we hit Intermission One.
Later in Verse 3:
“Orion’s belt is a huge waste of space. It’s so exhausting now I need a launch break. I want to be an astronaut when I grow up… strangers tell me that I have high hopes.”
Verse 4 is packed with even more smiles:
“Light years travel at the speed of delight. Galaxies have a lot of space but no room for doubt. Saturn’s day planner is always ring packed… Pluto never gets invited to the parties anymore.”
Then Intermission Two takes us even deeper before we come back around to the chorus.
This song is pure joy — light-hearted, silly in the best way, and full of that childlike wonder about space. It’s one of those tracks where you can just let go, laugh at the universe, and float along with the groove. Seven minutes feels exactly right because you don’t want it to end.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 19: Sunshine Journey in D Minor
Song nineteen is titled “Sunshine Journey in D Minor.”
I’ve always heard that D minor is the saddest of all keys, so I decided to take on that challenge and write a song in it — but with a twist. I wanted it to start off kind of melancholy and reflective, then suddenly lift into a bright, cheery chorus full of positivity and hope. This track took me the longest to finish on the whole album. Figuring out the right melodies and especially crafting the verses took a lot of time and patience, but I’m really proud of how it turned out.
It begins with that gentle, slightly blue feeling:
Verse 1
“Sometimes when you’re feeling blue, you’ve got to write a song that makes you feel new. Love sometimes slips away… Time oh it never stays.”
Then the chorus kicks in and everything opens up with light:
Chorus
“Take a Sunshine Journey with me, no more darkness and you will see. Lend your soul and forever believe. Fly away to a better place up in outer space.
Take a Sunshine Journey with me, no more darkness and you will see. Look to the stars and leave without a trace. Fly away to a better place up in outer space.”
Verse 2 brings that same comforting message:
“Sometimes when the clouds come in, the sunshine talks to you, it makes you happy not blue. Save it for a rainy day…”
The song keeps returning to that uplifting chorus, and it closes with the outro softly repeating:
“Sunshine Journey in D Minor… Sunshine Journey in D Minor…”
I love the contrast in this track — starting in that sad D minor space and then breaking through into pure sunshine. It’s about choosing hope, choosing light, and taking that journey even when things feel heavy. It’s become one of my favorite emotional journeys on the album.
Bubble Gum Orchestra’s New Blue Orbit, song by song…
Song 20: My Sweet Maria
Song twenty is titled “My Sweet Maria.”
This one is deeply personal. It’s about the love of my life, and while the full story behind it is something I’d like to keep private, the song says everything I feel. It’s tender, passionate, and full of that real, everyday kind of love that means the world to me.
Here’s how it flows:
Chorus:
“My Sweet Maria, can’t wait to see ya. My Sweet Maria, I really need ya.”
Refrain:
“Please love me, please love me more than a lot. Please love me, please love me, give me all you’ve got.”
Verse 1:
“All I need is what you’ve got, playing catch and letting go. Fragile smile when you shake, I love you more than you will know.”
The bridge feels especially vulnerable:
“You are the one that I dream and I wait for… You, only you.
You are the one that I adore all of my days and so much more.”
Then we hit that chorus again, even stronger the second time. Verse 2 keeps the energy:
“Sitting down while running fast, climbing high forgetting low. Heartbeats gonna never stop as long as I am in control.”
And the song closes with that beautiful extended refrain:
“When I’m with you I melt away and when I touch you I have to say… You’re the one, you’re the one, you’re the one, you’re the one. Don’t you know?”
This track is pure heart. It’s sweet, a little playful, and completely honest. It captures that feeling when someone becomes your safe place, your excitement, and your forever all at once. “My Sweet Maria” is one of the most intimate songs I’ve ever written.
