collaboration spotlight — Trying Too Hard by Thomas Sanders
Everyone has aspects of themselves that they hide from others, particularly when they first meet. We fear being rejected for things that people might find strange or off-putting. But revealing those precise parts can allow us to fully be ourselves, and connect to kindred spirits. Thomas took the message of self-acceptance in this beautifully earnest song and applied it to his own existing Sides to create something uniquely his.
Details:
title: Trying Too Hard
performer: Thomas Sanders
original performers: Emmy Raver-Lampman as Molly Tillerman & Michael James Scott as Monster in Central Park (2020), s.2, ep.3 "Fista-Puffs Mets Out Justice"
written by: Kate Anderson & Elyssa Samsel
arranged by: Thomas Sanders & Anastasiya Naplekova
video by: PattyCake Productions
release date: 11 March 2022
My favorite bits:
starting simply in his living room wearing street clothes
how quiet his voice is on the first ♫ "small" ♫
the smooth transition to the studio with the Sides splintered into their colorful confines as they sing ♫ "Breaking into little pieces" ♫
Janus's dismissive glance during ♫ "I'm only half in" ♫
the sweetness of Patton's plea to ♫ "Like me" ♫
the robotic stutter on Logan's ♫ "like me, li–like me" ♫
the stacatto unison of ♫ "I know there's nobody like me." ♫
panning down the line of Sides all performing the same choreography 🕺🕺🕺
the soft harmonies during the split screen in the bridge
Virgil getting a close-up on his solo ♫ "I'm already strong and tough" ♫
his gorgeous execution of the last round of polyphony
that floaty, open move from all seven interations on the final ♫ "and be free" ♫
ending on unified Thomas back at home, simply breathing with the music and being more at peace
Trivia:
○ Each version of Thomas is one of his "Sides", distinct characters he uses to express aspects of his personality:
red = Roman (Romaticism) – creativity, passion, aspirations
yellow = Janus (Deceit) – lying, contradiction, self-preservation
green = Remus (Intrusive Thoughts) – impulsiveness, manipulation, brutal honesty
light blue = Patton (Morality) – emotionality, courtesy, compassion
dark blue = Logan (Logic) – knowledge, reason, insight
purple = Virgil (Anxiety) – insecurities, caution, pessimism
○ The choreography and dance coaching were provided by his friend Calypso May Haddad. She was a busy gal that winter, being in rehearsals for both her MFA recital and a new musical called Behind the Table. More recently, she's directed Thomas in productions of Cabaret and Sweeny Todd at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre.
○ Co-arranger Anastasiya Naplekova also recorded the piano accompaniment for the audio track.
○ The violin was recorded by Amelyse Arroyo, who is both a musician and a luthier. She had also played on his "Landslide" cover a few months earlier.
○ Thomas had last worked with PattyCake on his melodramatic video game obsession project two years before.