Patreon Link to Scores and Recordings:
www.patreon.com/anthonylsanchezcomposer/posts/songs-of-lover-163823747
www.patreon.com/anthonylsanchezcomposer/posts/songs-of-lover-163823747
for soprano and piano (female vocals version), or for tenor and piano (male vocals version)
Music by Anthony L. Sanchez (b. 1988)
Copyright © 2026 by ZEKE SPILLED INK MUSIC (ASCAP), Savannah, GA
Text by Ditrie Marie Bowie
I originally composed Songs of the Catfished Lover in 2021 as both a collaboration with poet and author Ditrie Marie Bowie and as a commission from vocalist Denise Bird. The song cycle attempts to represent the varied emotional stages and effects associated with false love and manipulation caused by a suspicious online relationship. I use the slang term “Catfished” in the title, which has been applied in popular culture to refer to the act of being fooled by someone who both looks and sounds too good to be true: someone who never really existed and who actively looks for vulnerabilities to scam others. Online catfishing persists in 2026, aggravated by social media through constant fake profiles, virtual “dating,” and “friends” completely generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
I revised the music to Songs of the Catfished Lover in May 2026 by creating two versions: one for soprano and piano and the other for tenor and piano. My decision to compose different versions of the song cycle for both male and female vocalists respectively stemmed from understanding that online catfishing can happen to anyone. The perpetrators do not discriminate when trying to trick potential victims and often do not care about who they hurt. Regarding the music, it intentionally represents moving through the shock and anger after being tricked online and building the strength to move on from the situation. I also incorporate moments where the vocalist speaks or shouts the text to convey greater emotional depth. The piano part often shifts from tonality to dissonance, with moments involving tone clusters played with the palms of the hands. I additionally provide some experimentation in the final movement by writing it without time signatures to allude to having a sense of freedom after overcoming online catfishing.
More information about literary works by Ditrie Marie Bowie can be found on her website at: ditriesanchez.ca.
Music by Anthony L. Sanchez (b. 1988)
Copyright © 2026 by ZEKE SPILLED INK MUSIC (ASCAP), Savannah, GA
Text by Ditrie Marie Bowie
I originally composed Songs of the Catfished Lover in 2021 as both a collaboration with poet and author Ditrie Marie Bowie and as a commission from vocalist Denise Bird. The song cycle attempts to represent the varied emotional stages and effects associated with false love and manipulation caused by a suspicious online relationship. I use the slang term “Catfished” in the title, which has been applied in popular culture to refer to the act of being fooled by someone who both looks and sounds too good to be true: someone who never really existed and who actively looks for vulnerabilities to scam others. Online catfishing persists in 2026, aggravated by social media through constant fake profiles, virtual “dating,” and “friends” completely generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI).
I revised the music to Songs of the Catfished Lover in May 2026 by creating two versions: one for soprano and piano and the other for tenor and piano. My decision to compose different versions of the song cycle for both male and female vocalists respectively stemmed from understanding that online catfishing can happen to anyone. The perpetrators do not discriminate when trying to trick potential victims and often do not care about who they hurt. Regarding the music, it intentionally represents moving through the shock and anger after being tricked online and building the strength to move on from the situation. I also incorporate moments where the vocalist speaks or shouts the text to convey greater emotional depth. The piano part often shifts from tonality to dissonance, with moments involving tone clusters played with the palms of the hands. I additionally provide some experimentation in the final movement by writing it without time signatures to allude to having a sense of freedom after overcoming online catfishing.
More information about literary works by Ditrie Marie Bowie can be found on her website at: ditriesanchez.ca.
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