Letters of Gratitude: A dive into track 2: no regrets

No Regrets, an upcoming single by artists Michael Anthony Rocks (MAR) and Azure Kai — is  set to release as part of Blue Hawk Records’ Letters of Gratitude Summer EP. A rich fusion  of pop rock energy, the track captures a journey of humility, peace, and introspective  growth. 

The song was first developed through The Songwriter Series, a fast-paced creative  competition hosted by Blue Hawk Records. The series brought together five dynamic  teams, each led by a student leader and challenged to write the best hook possible in just  30 minutes. The theme? “Gratitude.” Azure Kai and MAR’s team included Timothy Pakrad,  recent graduate in English, and Olivia Fazio, an Honors School student pursuing Spanish  Education. 

Azure Kai recalls, “I remember we were all in the second floor, with blank pieces of paper  in our hands. I wasn’t really sure how to go about it, as I had written songs centered around  narrative storytelling of humorous tragedies and unforeseen circumstances. A song about  gratitude was foreign to me. Yet, when MAR got on the piano and started fiddling around  with chord progressions, the melodies just sort of followed along. It was really cool to  witness that all come together within such a short session.” 

After performing their hook for Blue Hawk Records and receiving positive feedback, MAR  began producing the track in full. “I didn't want it to sound generic compared to other  songs. So I tried to really experiment with the song. This would be both in terms of the  instrumentation and the rhythms within the song,” he shared. 

No Regrets was recorded during two June sessions at Dumblit Studios in Eatontown and  marks an important milestone for both artists — Azure Kai’s 8th single and MAR’s 10th. The  production process was heavily collaborative, with Blue Hawk’s Vice President and Head  of Engineering, Jeffrey Mendez, also credited as a producer on the track. 

“I was immediately drawn to its laid-back groove and solid structure. With its pop/rock vibe  already in place, I leaned in—starting with punchy drums, layering piano, and bringing in  Evan Schuett to lay down clean rhythm guitar that blended seamlessly with M.A.R.’s  bassline and my keys,” Mendez explained. 

Mendez continued, “A few sessions later, inspired by M.A.R.’s original lead guitar idea, I  came up with a catchy riff that subtly hints at the chorus melody. I had initially planned for  Evan to record it, but due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts and time constraints, I ended up playing the part myself on my Yamaha MODX8+ synth. This riff opens the track and  returns after the first chorus. I also added some countermelodies using the same guitar  patch in verse 2 and pre-chorus 2 to complement Azure Kai’s vocals. For the breakdown, I  went for a smooth, atmospheric feel—using a lush pad and expressive guitar bends on the  MODX8+, paired with a warm Omnisphere bass patch. Finally, I felt the track needed a  powerful, emotional finish. Drawing from M.A.R.’s vision of a distorted lead, I crafted a  guitar solo on my Yamaha MODX8+ that carried that intensity—channeling all the energy  and emotion built up throughout the song into one final statement, layered alongside  M.A.R.’s vocal stacks and Azure Kai’s ad-libs.” 

Azure Kai describes the final product with introspection and clarity. “No Regrets is a deeply  reflective and emotionally grounded track, setting the tone with humility and honesty,” she  said. She continues: “It transitions from trying your best and owning your limitations to  appreciating those who sincerely want you to grow, whether it be your friends, family, or  even your mentors. Most importantly, the track has an overwhelmingly positive message.  With all these things going on in the world, it can be hard to find peace. Well, the song makes a simple suggestion that I think anyone can follow: You can find peace by staying  grounded. It's a kind reminder that peace can be a nice little Easter Egg you find along the  way, as long as you keep focus and don’t lose your way.” 

Reflecting on the experience, Kylensky Miracle, Vice President of Blue Hawk Records, said,  “Working with two talented and versatile artists allowed for several creative ideas to come to life!”  

Mendez added, “It was a pleasure building this track with the team from the ground up. I’m  very grateful and honored to have been part of the process!” 

No Regrets will be released on all streaming platforms on July 16th. 

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