Hello out there!
Despite these strange and trying times, I have been working hard to see the good in these days. My family is taking daily walks (for as long as our 5 year old will tolerate) and just this week we saw a pod of sea lions and a family of eagles in our neighborhood feasting on the spawning herring in a real life Planet Earth type situation here in the PNW.
It’s not lost on me how blessed we are to live in this part of the world - to step outside our door and have access to nature! Nature that I have never seen playing and moving so freely in my years living here. Is that because our human activities are so minimized? The waters and skies are more clear for the animals to live, breathe, and be in their natural state. I know we aren’t the only corner of the world seeing things like this unfold.
The intensity and uncertainty of our times are why these types of observations are making even more of a difference to my daily life. I’m looking for them and seeing them in a new way, full of gratitude.
As we go into what I hope is the 2nd half of this quarantine, I’m also finding a deeper desire to dig in and make this time count. Everyone has to deal with it in a way that makes sense for them and their loved ones. If that means baking, or reading all the books you have been meaning to read, or playing X-Box...it’s all good. My wife Azurae and I are definitely re-watching Stranger Things, but in addition, I want to make some creative headway.
In that spirit, I’m diving into something I’ve been meaning to explore for a while… A completely pedal-based looping rig that emulates some of the workflow I have enjoyed when using a laptop.
This video is the maiden voyage of this setup, in it’s spaghetti-mess-of-cables first incarnation. The fact that this rig is even possible is thanks to the creativity of my friends at Chase Bliss Audio and Old Blood Noise. Their adventurous and useful designs are totally rocking my world right now.
I hope you enjoy the sight and sound of my groping in the dark, and that this music provides a kind of transportation to a different place. Take the time to listen all the way through - maybe laying down with your eyes closed. (PS - if you want an audio only version, you can find it here). Let it transport you, and share it if you would. My desire is always to add more beauty to the world and inspire your creativity. I hope this brings you peace and inspiration in this season.
Take good care,
Dan
PS - If you have time and a desire to learn, book a one on one lesson! You can write me back here or check out this link.