“I’m with the 99” is a song I wrote in 2012 that was inspired by the Occupy Wall Street movement. The lyrics promote peaceful and proactive resistance to address the economic, political and social inequities worldwide. These songs seem even more relevant today. The drums, keyboards, bass and guitars were recorded in 2014 at my home studio Music Amaze. At the time my house and studio was in foreclosure and I had declared Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which delayed the completion of all the songs that I was recording during that time. After six stressful years of fighting the banks I finally beat them in Court and completed my bankruptcy case. I still had to sell my house and studio to pay off the mortgages, but I kept the equity. I had to move three times in the next four years, but now I have a stable location and have built a new studio. The lead and harmony vocals were recorded in 2021 and I mixed and mastered the song in 2024.

Words and Music by Curt Houle

The musicians:

Curt Houle : synthesizers / Mark Houle : bass / Adam Jones : drums / Justin Smolian : guitars

The gear:

Korg Triton Extreme 76 synthesizer (2005), Yamaha 4 string bass, Gibson Les Paul guitar, Tama Rockstar drums