♪ Oh darling ♪ ♪ Darling come with me ♪ ♪ There's a whole big world for us to see ♪ ♪ Just take my hand and soon we can be ♪ ♪ A rolling stone family ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.

[guitar, finger-picking in folk-rock rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You may have your master plan ♪ ♪ You may try to do everything you can ♪ ♪ I hope that you understand ♪ ♪ Life ain't always what it ought to be ♪ ♪ ♪ It's a crooked road ahead ♪ ♪ And if you stop you won't see around the bend ♪ ♪ It's no easy thing my friend ♪ ♪ Life ain't always what it ought to be ♪ ♪ ♪ It's a hug from a mother ♪ ♪ A kiss from a lover ♪ ♪ An evening all alone with the sunset ♪ ♪ It's a hand-written letter ♪ ♪ A friendly get-together ♪ ♪ An exciting thing that hasn't happened yet ♪ ♪ Oo oo-oo-oo that's where it's at ♪ ♪ It doesn't get much better than that ♪ ♪ ♪ When your money has run dry ♪ ♪ And the stressful part of life is drawing nigh ♪ ♪ Do what you can to get by ♪ ♪ 'Cause life ain't always what it ought to be ♪ ♪ ♪ Though the times might seem unfair ♪ ♪ You're never really tied down to your chair ♪ ♪ As long as you stay self-aware ♪ ♪ 'Cause life ain't always what it ought to be ♪ ♪ ♪ It's a hug from a mother ♪ ♪ A kiss from a lover ♪ ♪ An evening all alone with the sunset ♪ ♪ It's a hand-written letter ♪ ♪ A friendly get-together ♪ ♪ An exciting thing that hasn't happened yet ♪ ♪ Oo oo-oo-oo that's where it's at ♪ ♪ It doesn't get much better than that ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ If you've fallen down to your knees ♪ ♪ And you need a friend desperately ♪ ♪ I hope you'll call upon me ♪ ♪ I know life ain't always what is ought to be ♪ ♪ It's a hug from a mother ♪ ♪ A kiss from a lover ♪ ♪ An evening all alone with the sunset ♪ ♪ It's a hand-written letter ♪ ♪ A friendly get-together ♪ ♪ An exciting thing that hasn't happened yet ♪ ♪ Oo oo-oo-oo that's where it's at ♪ ♪ It doesn't get much better than that ♪ ♪ Ooo now that's where it's at ♪ ♪ It doesn't get much better than that ♪ ♪ Hi, I'm Alek, and I'm in the band Beyond the Trees with my wife Arja.

We are based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We play a good mix of kind of folk, pop, rock stuff.

I like to describe ourselves as Americana, folk, indie almost, but that's a little all over the place [laughs] mostly folk-rock.

I got into music by accident actually.

I started playing Guitar Hero 3, and my dad noticed that I had a pretty good natural curl to my fingers and bought me guitar lessons.

I didn't want to start taking lessons, but I immediately fell in love with it, and I've been playing since I was 13 years old.

[strumming in folk-rock rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm dead and tired ♪ ♪ Trying not to lose the fire ♪ ♪ I keep swimming and swimming with nothing to show ♪ ♪ ♪ But there's an end in sight ♪ ♪ A brief glimmer of light ♪ ♪ So up this raging river I row ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm lost and alone ♪ ♪ I'm broken on my throne ♪ ♪ I keep fighting and falling ♪ ♪ I watch the wind blow ♪ ♪ But I'm clinging on ♪ ♪ I see the dawn ♪ ♪ So up this raging river I row ♪ ♪ So up this raging river I row ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm slowly coming alive ♪ ♪ Trying hard to thrive ♪ ♪ I keep swimming and swimming ♪ ♪ But surely I grow ♪ ♪ But it's coming near ♪ ♪ No longer do I fear ♪ ♪ So up this raging river ♪ ♪ I flow ♪ ♪ So up this raging river ♪ ♪ I flow ♪ ♪ So up this raging river ♪ ♪ I flow ♪ ♪ So up ♪ ♪ This raging river ♪ ♪ I flow ♪ ♪ Playing in a band with my wife is the best thing ever.

I love my bandmate.

It's easy to tour with her and travel.

We have a very similar mindset, so it's pretty incredible.

I have a lot of people coming up to me saying that they're jealous that I get to perform with my wife on a regular basis out in the world.

It's just been super awesome because we can set these goals, and we almost always achieve them, whether it be touring or playing certain places or writing a song that means something to us, and maybe it will mean something to somebody else as well.

I would never trade anything for it to be honest.

The song "Shoreline" has a very special place in my heart.

Lake Superior has a very special place in my heart.

That's where Arja and I took one of our first big vacations together, it's where we got engaged, it's where we spent our honeymoon.

Anytime I want to get away from the daily grind, Lake Superior is kind of that first spot I want to go to.

It's a comfort spot for me.

[playing in bright folk rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ Just another gloomy Monday ♪ ♪ You know I don't want to clock in ♪ ♪ I'd rather be making my way up to the shore ♪ ♪ I always do my best and make them checks ♪ ♪ While working for the man ♪ ♪ But it doesn't make me happy like the north ♪ ♪ With this tree so tall ♪ ♪ At the base of it I lie ♪ ♪ You know it's hard to remember what you forget ♪ ♪ Calming waves come crashing on the shoreline ♪ ♪ Can't help but wonder why ♪ ♪ I ever left the place where I'm the happiest ♪ ♪ Oh I could spend all of my days up there ♪ ♪ And I could live a life so simple and fair ♪ ♪ And I could be so free ♪ ♪ Yes I could ♪ ♪ Whoa oh oh oh oh-oh ♪ ♪ Why do we wish for wish for happiness ♪ ♪ Whoa oh oh oh oh-oh ♪ ♪ Instead of diving in ♪ ♪ Diving in the bliss ♪ ♪ Whoa oh oh oh oh-oh ♪ ♪ I don't want no struggles no more ♪ ♪ I don't want no struggles no more ♪ ♪ ♪ Oo oo oo oo-oo oo-oo ♪ ♪ Oo oo oo oo-oo oo-oo ♪ ♪ Throw away all of my worries ♪ ♪ With every rock I skip ♪ ♪ Across the lake that looks just like the sea ♪ ♪ And like the Edmund Fitzgerald ♪ ♪ Oh that brave little ship ♪ ♪ All my worries could be but a memory ♪ ♪ Lessons learned as I go ♪ ♪ Through this life of mine ♪ ♪ You know I just tell it exactly like I see ♪ ♪ Like an age old story just give me my time ♪ ♪ I'll earn my worth and then I'll be set free ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh I could spend all of my days up there ♪ ♪ I could live a life so simple and fair ♪ ♪ And I could be so free ♪ ♪ Yes I could ♪ ♪ Whoa oh oh oh oh-oh ♪ ♪ Why do we wish for wish for happiness ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh oh-oh ♪ ♪ Instead of diving in diving in your bliss ♪ ♪ Oh oh oh oh oh-oh ♪ ♪ I don't want no struggles no more ♪ ♪ I don't want no struggles no more ♪ ♪ Oo oo oo oo-oo oo-oo ♪ ♪ ♪ Oo oo oo oo-oo oo-oo ♪ ♪ ♪ Oo oo oo oo-oo oo-oo ♪ ♪ ♪ Oo oo oo oo-oo oo ♪ ♪ Oo oo oo oo-oo oo ♪ ♪ Hi, my name is Arja, and I am part of the band Beyond the Trees.

We've been playing music for about 6 years now together.

My whole family is a bunch of musicians.

My parents are both music teachers, my godfather is a percussionist, my grandmother dabbled a little bit in music, she instructed some musicals herself so it's in my DNA, it's always been a part of me.

Touring around and playing at different venues, I love enjoying all these different rooms that we get to be in, all the different types of people that show up.

It's fun hearing from the audience of different places, the songs that they enjoyed the most, whether it was a cover or one of our songs, 'cause it's always different, different tastes from different places.

It's never the same experience each time, it's been really fun and, of course, getting to travel around with Alek is really easy.

If we can't figure out a place to stay, as a couple we just get to sleep in our van, and it's [laughs] just really fun!

[playing in bright country rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ Every time I look at you ♪ ♪ I lose myself inside your eyes ♪ ♪ And I'm as happy as can be ♪ ♪ Your eyes are like the ocean blue ♪ ♪ With you I want to spend my life ♪ ♪ And I'm so glad that you agree ♪ ♪ Oh darling darling come with me ♪ ♪ There's a whole big world for us to see ♪ ♪ Just take my hand and soon we can be ♪ ♪ A rolling stone family ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ It's you and I along the road ♪ ♪ Flowing like the ocean tide ♪ ♪ And we're living young wild and free ♪ ♪ There ain't no telling where we'll go ♪ ♪ The valley or the mountain high ♪ ♪ Oh let's indulge in our new journey ♪ ♪ Oh darling darling come with me ♪ ♪ There's a whole big world for us to see ♪ ♪ Just take my hand and soon we can be ♪ ♪ A rolling stone family ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh darling darling come with me ♪ ♪ There's a whole big world for us to see ♪ ♪ Just take my hand and soon we can be ♪ ♪ A rolling stone family ♪ ♪ Oh darling darling come with me ♪ ♪ There's a whole big world for us to see ♪ ♪ Just take my hand and soon we can be ♪ ♪ ♪ A rolling stone family ♪ ♪ A rolling stone family ♪ I tend to write cheesy songs, those flow out pretty easily for me, just the cheesy kind of pop punk stuff.

I really prefer to write songs that have some sort of meaning, whether it be for myself or other people, it's maybe an experience that I've been through but I'm writing it in somebody else's point of view because I know there are other people who've been through certain situations or similar situations that I have, I try to write songs that everybody can feel a little something from and try not to be too cheesy with it.

The song "Sentimental" is very special to me.

It is my attempt to try to encapsulate that nostalgic moment or feeling that you have when you think back to any little moment in life.

In the verses I'm trying to encapsulate those moments in my life where I just felt very free.

In the moment I was struggling maybe mentally or emotionally, but later on in life I look back and I realize oh, wow, that was actually a really awesome moment where I could take that time and clear my mind in that fashion.

Then in the chorus it's me now looking back on those moments, just a ghost walking down a memory.

[playing in folk-rock rhythm] ♪ ♪ ♪ There may be times ♪ ♪ I hold on just a little longer ♪ ♪ Than I should sometimes ♪ ♪ Sentimental mood on overdrive ♪ ♪ And I don't know what it is about it ♪ ♪ ♪ I'm trying to find my peace of mind yeah ♪ ♪ ♪ I like to ride ♪ ♪ Cruising down the street things on my mind ♪ ♪ Late at night ♪ ♪ Through the neighborhood just passing time ♪ ♪ And I don't know what it is about it ♪ ♪ I'm trying to find ♪ ♪ My peace of mind ♪ ♪ Can you recall back in the day ♪ ♪ We used to talk along the way ♪ ♪ Nothing to do nowhere to go ♪ ♪ I find myself revisiting ♪ ♪ Like a ghost in a distant memory ♪ ♪ Walking the trails that we call home ♪ ♪ Life carries on ♪ ♪ We live the lyrics to our own song ♪ ♪ Sing out your melody ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Sometimes I find ♪ ♪ The biggest smiles come from all those small moments in life ♪ ♪ There is always a good time just open your eyes ♪ ♪ And now I know what it is about it ♪ ♪ It's there I find ♪ ♪ My peace of mind ♪ ♪ Can you recall back in the day ♪ ♪ We used to talk along the way ♪ ♪ Nothing to do nowhere to go ♪ ♪ I find myself revisiting ♪ ♪ Like a ghost in a distant memory ♪ ♪ Walking the trails that we call home ♪ ♪ Life carries on ♪ ♪ We live the lyrics to our own song ♪ ♪ Sing out your melody ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Can you recall back in the day ♪ ♪ We used to talk along the way ♪ ♪ Nothing to do nowhere to go ♪ ♪ I find myself revisiting ♪ ♪ Like a ghost in a distant memory ♪ ♪ Walking the trails that we call home ♪ ♪ Life carries on ♪ ♪ We live the lyrics to our own song ♪ ♪ Sing out your melody ♪ ♪ Life carries on ♪ ♪ We live the lyrics to our own song ♪ ♪ Sing out your melody ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I wrote "Waiting" and it's a little bit of a silly one.

Alek got to go to Norway for about a month with his dad back in 2018 I think it was, and I just got to sit at home and be jealous of all these pictures I was getting and just the beautiful trip they were going on, and I was just counting down the hours and days till they were back, and that's just about me being bored [laughs] and waiting for them to come home.

[playing in fast country rhythm] ♪ ♪ When the night falls I'll be staring at the walls ♪ ♪ Waiting ♪ ♪ Oh when I'm sipping coffee I'll be losing sanity ♪ ♪ Just waiting ♪ ♪ ♪ Losing my head ♪ ♪ In this big empty bed ♪ ♪ But I'll see you soon even if it's ♪ ♪ It's only in my dreams ♪ ♪ ♪ When I'm playing my Nintendo I'll be losing 'cause I don't know ♪ ♪ Oh waiting ♪ ♪ Hum when there's nothing left I'll be feeling pretty stressed ♪ ♪ Just waiting ♪ ♪ ♪ Losing my head ♪ ♪ In this big empty bed ♪ ♪ But I'll see you soon even if it's ♪ ♪ Only in my dreams ♪ ♪ ♪ Ooo ♪ ♪ Where did you go ♪ ♪ ♪ Ooo ♪ ♪ I need to know ♪ ♪ ♪ Ooo oo-oo ♪ ♪ Hello ♪ ♪ ♪ Where did you go I need you so ♪ ♪ I'm waiting waiting waiting ♪ ♪ There's no time I can afford when I'm really stinking bored ♪ ♪ Just waiting ♪ ♪ Oh grinding my gears feelin' like it's been years ♪ ♪ Simply just waiting ♪ ♪ Losing my head ♪ ♪ In this big empty bed ♪ ♪ But I'll see you soon even if it's ♪ ♪ Only in my dreams ♪ ♪ ♪ Only in my dreams ♪ ♪ Only in my dreams ♪ ♪ (woman) "Prairie Musicians" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota and by the members of Prairie Public.