New Album: Music for Endings - A Reflection on Life, Death, and Hope That Springs Eternal

We create things that reflect our times. This album was made in the summer of 2020.

It's the summer of 2020 and the world is still trying to figure out this virus that is infecting and killing thousands. Where did it come from? What is the mortality rate? How do we protect ourselves? Is there a cure? It is a time of confusion, fear, and loss. And the best thing governments can do is to lock everything down as the names of people we know and care about are mentioned in a list of those who have succumbed to their symptoms. It looks and feels like everything is inching closer to an inevitable end.

Impermanence, that is the biggest takeaway from that transformative year. Everything starts, ends, and starts again. Nothing is permanent. The existence of everything depends on the life and death of everything. Nothing exists on its own.

This life-changing view came about when I started practicing meditation and attempting to learn and live the dharma. I read a lot of literature that year by teachers like Bhante Gunaratana, Thich Nhat Hanh, the Buddha himself, and fellow seekers like Robert Wright, Stephen Bachelor, Richard Mendius, and Rick Hanson. By looking within, I saw glimpses of the true nature of reality and the sustaining power of kindness. I have ways to go, but I sincerely believe that this is the path to take.

Music has been a life-saver as well. Sheryl and I started a new band during this time and it got us through the most difficult times. I kept writing and producing with no end goal in mind. Just being in the moment, living every guitar strum, every tweak of a synthesizer filter, every breath on a condenser mic, and every interaction with nature and machines. Scarlet Gum was born in this spirit as well as the other music I produced that year, including the one I just released: Music for Endings.

Have a listen and thanks as always for the love and kindness.