I'm writing from a tiny cottage in someone's back yard in Oakland. It's been an eventful run of shows, chances to catch up with old friends and make new ones. I had a great first show at Fly Awake Tea Garden in PDX...I feel as though some intentions were set for this run of shows during that performance. I'm exploring some non-tonal sounds in my looping and novel (to me) approaches to rhythmic loops.
Next I drove to Santa Cruz for the Y2K16 Looping Festival, which was a blast. It's wonderful to discover communities of like minded people, like turning over a rock and finding a thriving ecosystem of little creatures you didn't know existed, but feel very much a part of. There were even musicians from Mexico and Pakistan there. I enjoyed everyone's performances, but it was a particular inspiration to see Bill Walker play.
The last few days have been spent in the Bay Area. I attended a workshop by Dutch daredevil and health maverick Wim Hof. It was pretty dang inspiring. The finale of the event was everyone taking turns getting into inflatable pools filled with ice water. Mind over matter!
The Artist, Slightly Bedraggled, the morning after YK16.
In addition to my masochistic ice-pool experience I also spent some time at the Bandcamp offices talking about the future for independent musicians. I can't say enough good things about what they are doing and I'm psyched about some of the things they have coming down the pike. I also met up with Giacomo Fiore, a brilliant San Francisco based guitarist. Check out his album IV: American Electric Guitars.
Next I travel deep into the wilds of Northern California, behind the veil of the Redwood Curtain to record a new record of ambient guitar improvisations. I'm stoked to finally have a proper document of the strange skill I have been focused on developing over the last few years. I'll be updating all the social medias from the recording studio, and probably doing some Facebook Live broadcasts as well. So stay tuned for that!
And the last bit of business...there is definitely going to be a house show in Ashland, OR It's going to be pretty love, methinks. Tickets are available here!
Be well,
Dan
