I was fucking pissed I didn’t get to the train early enough for a window seat. I was fucking thirsty. Too late a night prior. Not enough sleep. Too much beer. Not enough water. Too much traffic. Not enough time to get a damn window seat.

Half-present during the two hour ride from new york to albany, I wasn’t really able to process what I was doing. Five months earlier, I sent an email. A couple video calls later and here I am: on my way to make music with people I’ve deeply admired for more than a decade. And that whole time I was being inspired by their projects (Birdwing, Blue Ranger, Russell the Leaf, Stella Emmett), so I’m about to share space with some of my idols whom I’ve convinced myself I share some sort of spiritual plane with. What the fuck happens if we have zero congruence in how we play and write together? they haven’t even heard my songs yet; what if they hate them? 

normally I may have tried to find a way out, but I must’ve been too out of it to get stressed. too tired. too thirsty. too bummed about not having a window seat. not enough time to change the plan now.

Whatever the reason, I somehow knew - with more certainty than what makes sense when I look back - that we were gonna absolutely exist in a different reality that week. That we were gonna understand each other without much effort. That we were gonna feel joy and sincerity when making music together.

And eight days later, as the train traced the hudson heading south, I was totally fucking correct. 

I was listening to nine new songs. I was listening to stella’s vocal improvisations that moved me to tears cause she understood the grief in “only always.” I was listening to evan, mike, josh and me improvising “another day” packed in a small room on the last night and could hear me wishing time would stop moving so I wouldn’t have to leave. I was listening to songs that were captured as they were experienced for the first time.

Nine songs I got to discover in real time with some of the most beautifully artistic people. Nine songs that changed me more than I remember being changed by anything before. 

thank fucking god I made the train in time, even if I didn’t get a window seat.

Today, through all excitement and fear since that train ride, we get to let it go and give it to you. 

I am beyond proud for anyone to be able to hear the album in its entirety today. I hope you’re able to unlock a dormant feeling.

Thanks to mike, evan, stella, and josh for making the album and teaching me so much. 

And thanks to all my loved ones who have given their talents and work to roll this out right. I love you, Ben, Brian, Cayci, Dane, Dani, Emilee, Gary, Hailey, and Ian.