Mark Trueack – Save Us (Feb 1st Release Date)

PRESS RELEASE
Save US the song
Mark Truey Trueack co-founder of Unitopia and founder of United Progressive Fraternity will be releasing his first ever solo project titled Save US will be Limited Edition pressing only 300EPs along with CDs
In October 2023 Mark was playing at the Progstock festival USA with Unitopia and it was there he met with Keyboardist Patrick Moraz and discussed the flood as an asked Patrick if he wanted to contribute
The song arrangement idea was written with Patrick Moraz (piano) Mark Truey Trueack (vocals and harmony) and Chris Lebled (Orchestral arrangement)
Guests include: Dave Kerzner (keys) John Greenwood (guitars), Don Schiff, (bass) Chester Thompson (Drums, Percussion) Jameson Smeltz (Sax) Steve Unruh (flute violin guitar) Joanna St Claire (backing vocals) Maew Pao Café Choir Including, Supattra Anontri, Nippon Sanboon, WuKam, Suphalak Jaib, Aoi Chanchayapop, Kris Sookhnoom and Bualai Sriburin

SAVE US the songs
The EP will also include 5 new songs written by Mark and collaborations with Dave Buchholz, Steve Layton and Chris Lebled
Special added arrangement on “So Fragile” Dave Kerzner
All Lyrics by Mark Trueack except “What we’ve done”
Engineered by Steve Unruh
Produced by Mark Truey Trueack
1. Show Me How (soul version)
2. What we’ve done (new song written by Dave Buchholz)
3. So Fragile (new song)
4. Reality (new song) (soul version)
5. Save Us (new song)
All proceeds go to help repair and buy new equipment for the cafe

Artwork by Ed Unitsky
Available? Presales start now

Save US Raising Funds
The song was inspired by the events of last year’s flooding of Mark’s new enterprise Meaw Pao Café Restaurant in Udon Thani Thailand this is where Mark lives now. This disaster happened while Mark was touring with Unitopia in Europe and USA at the time of the flood. When Mark returned home, he was devastated with what had happened and the hardship that he was about to face.
Many of Mark’s Friends rallied to help with ideas to try and raise money for many expensive items that were damaged. A GOFUND ME campaign was launched in November 2023 and is still active due to an even bigger flood in 2024 Mark is trying to raise funds for the equipment needed to survive and help keep the restaurant going.
The campaign, striving for a $48,000 goal, has accumulated over $8,000 with 60 donations. Trueack, facing structural damage and financial strain, offers gratitude to supporters through a cafe 'Hall of Fame' and other rewards. The fundraiser reflects a heartfelt plea for aid in resurrecting a community cornerstone and a dream built on love and partnership.

Save US Raising Funds cont

The GoFundMe campaign Phase 2 titled "Melodies of Hope: was introduced after the first launch to help continue to Aid Mark Trueack's Cafe Recovery," The campaign seeks financial support to aid in the recovery of the Meaw Pao Cafe in Udon Thani, Thailand
The fundraiser aims to restore the cafe to its status as a premier dining and entertainment center in the region. As of the latest update, $8,102 AUD has been raised towards the $48,000 goal, with contributions from 60 donors.
So please if you support my music and want to help, please purchase this EP or just donate to the GO Fund Me campaign
https://gofund.me/4dc34775

Album produced by Mark Trueack
Audio mixed and mastered by Steve Unruh
Artwork and graphic layout by Ed Unitsky

Show Me How Is based on my experiences that I have here Thailand, learning about the way of Thai people, my understanding of how poor the country is yet it has so much richness. The words in the song reflect on my broken marriage and a new beginning here in Thailand and becoming a part of a new family.
The arrangement was given to me 4 years ago from my good friend Chris Lebled but I shelved until last year when I started to work an idea that would fit the arrangement.

1. Show Me How (6min 24)
(Christophe Lebled / Mark Trueack)

Christophe Lebled - Keyboards, melodic and percussive sequences
Mark Trueack - Vocals
Steve Unruh - Violin, backing vox
Michelle Young- Lead Backing vocals
Maew Pao Café Choir, including, Supattra Anontri, Nippon Sanboon, WuKam, Suphalak Jaib, Aoi Chanchayapop, Kris Sookhnoom and Bualai Sriburin

And I find myself lost in a maze of trouble
And I can't find a way out
At this time of my life have I stopped
Am I at a crossroad of doubt
Show me now
Show me how
I need to know where I went wrong
Am I blind for knowing why
As I seek the truth in everything I do
Then I find out, I begin to cry
And it's hard to face this world
But it feels good when I'm sharing
I have changed my way of life
Being a little more caring
Maybe a little older
But you never stop learning
Even though I live in fear

And the journey of life takes you everywhere
But to me it's not so clear

Those memories remain in my heart
It was fun - fun at the time
I'm travelling so far for a brand-new start
Love matures like a fine wine

Show me how
Show me how
(All those memories)
Show me how

There's a lot to know, so much to give
We learn to be kind - To be kind
There are dreams to share
And stories we leave behind

The world teaches all in the ways of right and wrong
In everything we do
We get one life, our love, let's enjoy it
An adventure we will pursue
Show me how to love again
Show me now
Show me how to love again
Show me how

What We've Done This arrangement was sent to me by Dave Buchholz, he asked me if I wanted to sing on it for his upcoming album, once I listened to words and arrangement, I knew I wanted to make this a very special song. The Lyrics are strong and thought this would be perfect to put on the project. I felt the song needed some special help from my friends Chester Thompson, Don Shift, Nate Miller, Marc Papeghin, Steve Unruh and John Greenwood. Dave’s piano and keyboard arrangements are very emotional which is why this song was added to the EP

2. What We've Done (9min 8)
(Dave Buchholz)

Dave Buchholz - Piano, orchestral arrangement
John Greenwood - Electric and classical guitars
Nate Miller - Erhu
Marc Papeghin - French Horn
Don Schiff - NS/Stick
Chester Thompson - Drumkit
Mark Trueack - Vocals
Steve Unruh - Violins

As I look around our world
And I see how we've wasted what we had
It is all so very sad
Look at what we've done

When the green has turned to grey
And our oceans are no longer blue
The wages of our sins will then come due
Look at what we've done

We were warned, well-informed
But we scorned those who tried to share an inconvenient truth
Now it's clear we should fear
That this sphere suffers for the selfish folly of our misspent youth

We were given all we need
But we just couldn't keep from wanting more
Now our fate, we can't ignore
Look at what we've done

We have built a house of cards
But nature holds the greater power
We're well beyond our eleventh hour
Look at what we've done

So unwise, we closed our eyes
No surprise that our planet is paying such an awful cost
Signs were there, said "beware"
But no prayer can restore the beauty and the bounty that we've lost

When our time has met its end
And new life emerges on this Earth
It will then assess our worth
By seeing what we've done
By living with what we've done
Just look at what we've done
Just look at what we did
To know what we've done

So Fragile was originally arranged by my good friend Steve Layton, we were working the first edition of HOPE. It was abandoned and over the last 10 years I selected various songs from this project and added them to the UPF project.
In October last year I met Dave Kerzner and ask him if would like to get involve with this arrangement, he suggested getting Fernando Perdomo to help arrange something a little different around the original song. I was thrilled to hear how song became more defining. It has many references to early Phil Collins era of genesis.
So Fragile tells how precious the earth and its beings are. How we all strive to be better, and asking our leaders to be more active in earths problems

3. So Fragile (4min 21)
(Steve Layton / Mark Trueack, arr. by Dave Kerzner and Fernando Perdomo)

Dave Kerzner - Keyboards
Fernando Perdomo - Nylon-string guitar, bass, harp
Mark Trueack - Vocals
Steve Unruh – Flute
Joanna St Clare-Backing Vocals and harmonies

Our love is not enough for us to survive
We're creatures of habit learning to stay alive
The world is watching on
Helpless, as pressure grows
No one wants to get involved
It's visible, and it shows

So many innocent lives destroyed and displaced
Another dictator playing war
It's beyond disgrace

So fragile
No matter who we are - a shining star
We're human, we're frail
It's what we really are
So fragile
We've been this way since time began
We're human, there's no definites
There's no real plan

Let's find another way and get this message across
To the ones that run our earthly cause
To stop this loss
Wasting our resources on things we don't really need
Too much bloodshed, loss of life
It's the world we need to feed

So fragile
No matter who we are - a guiding star
We're human, we're frail
It's what we really are
So fragile
We've been this way since time began
We're human, there's no definites
Frail, our plan

Reality is another song Steve Layton arranged this song sat on my computer for 10 years, then my marriage ended after 40 years and on top of that I had serious medical issues, to me I had to face the many realities that I have never endured, I wanted to try and make it work but my family was broken up and then a few months later I meet someone. So this song like others is very personal and reflects on relationships and how one has to face reality and try to move on.

4. Reality (7min 5)
(Steve Layton / Mark Trueack)

Steve Layton - Guitar, Keyboards
Don Schiff - NS/Stick
Jamison Smeltz - Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bari saxes
Mark Trueack - Vocals
Steve Unruh - Percussion, flute, violins, backing vox

When you think you have everything, you have it all
One day you wake up but no one hears your call
The pain burns inside me, what more can I do
It's what we say, it's where it starts
I think of you

Then you realize, it hits you in the face
What am I doing to you? I'm guilty, it's my disgrace
Reality breaks through
It's you I really need
It was you that made our love and planted our seed

We've gotta make a choice, we've gotta work it out
It's what we are made of, it's what live's all about
I forget sometimes, you're my flesh and blood
As the light dims low, my sadness, my tears, start to flow

I want to make it right - I've gotta make it right
There's no need to fight
There's no need to fight
This friction between us, I don't really need
Where there is a problem I won't concede

The tension between us, it grows inside me
My broken heart like a hemorrhage I cannot see
There's a journey ahead for all that's been said
Love is life, life is love, but I'm all mixed up in my head

It tears us all apart
Let's make a new start
What am I doing to you
Is there something I can do

It's you I really need
It was you that planted the seed
Reality is you, reality is me

I love you so much, I just want you to see
Understanding how we're supposed to be
I love you so much, I want you to see
Reality is you, reality is me

Reality is truth
Making decisions
Reality is now
Reality

Save US The song was inspired by the events of last 2 years of flooding of Mark’s new enterprise Meaw Pao Café Restaurant in Udon Thani Thailand this is where Mark lives now. This disaster happened while Mark was touring with Unitopia in Europe and USA at the time of the flood. When Mark returned home, he was devastated with what had happened and the hardship that he was about to face. This year’s flood is twice as bad and now the Thailand government is trying to understand why? China is processing an undeclared water across Southeast Asia. Wiping out many rivers’ villages along the way including our own San Pharo’

5. Save Us (7min 12)
(Patrick Moraz / Christophe Lebled / Mark Trueack)

Christophe Lebled - Keyboards, melodic and percussive sequences
Patrick Moraz - Keyboards
Don Schiff - Fretless NS/Stick
Chester Thompson - Drumkit
Mark Trueack – Lead Vocals, harmonies
Steve Unruh - Guitar, violin
Joanna St Clare- Lead backing vocals
Maew Pao Café Choir, including, Supattra Anontri, Nippon Sanboon, WuKam, Suphalak Jaib, Aoi Chanchayapop, Kris Sookhnoom and Bualai Sriburin

The rain come down, it's such a playful sound
I look through the window - no ground to be found

We're in a race to save what we own
To save what we've grown

The water, it rises. It flows to an unknown place
There's no early warning - there's so much to face

We're in a race to save what we own
To save what we've grown

I came from the outside, something I could not ignore
I can't hide from anything; anyone Just you hear my call

Save us from the rain
Save us from the strain
Save us from the pain

Come on, people, we need to survive this tragedy
Come on, people, we're all a part of this insanity

We're working hard, a struggle to make ends meet
We are strong, this team. We cannot afford defeat

And the time we are here will depend on what you do
It's all we have, help us find a way to think it through

It started with a block that caused the water to rise
And now I'm drowning in the sea of our hidden disguise
But no one knew and no one seemed to understand
It was my decision to live in this promised land

Save us from the rain
Save us from the strain
Save us from the pain
Save us, for we are grateful in what you do
Save us