SINGLE RELEASE: "On the Mojave Wind," and All About How It Came Together

Once again, I have yet another single released today! It’s a solo-sax piece dedicated to the vast, majestic deserts of California to which I owe my gratitude as my landing point in August, 2020. I first stayed in the High Desert with my Dad for three weeks after returning to California from London.

II’ve made immense decisions before. Transferring to an arts-charter high school for my senior year. Working to become a cruise-ship musician, and succeeding so far beyond my imagination that, to this day, I still cannot believe what I’ve seen. Working and succeeding in obtaining a Master of Music degree from a prestigious conservatory in a stupendous foreign city. And then the pandemic swallowed human civilization…. With my Dad’s incredible help, alongside other family members, the desert became the setting for the largest, most significant decision I’ve ever made.

I had a melodic idea come into my head after I moved to Long Beach. It was long and slightly remorseful, but it also had potential to take on a sultry quality to it. Much like the Wind on the first day I had explored the great Mojave…. Once I messed around with the idea, I came up with a full piece of music with which I could compose another solo-sax piece, this time in tribute to the beginning of my new life chapter—the desert: a savior between the old, dark days of uncertainty and the new, bright days of opportunity.

The day I recorded was hectic. Well, it was hectic mainly when I got to the spot in the Mojave I had scouted a month before. Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have taken the long route from the North…. I had had plenty of time, coming from my Dad’s home in the High Desert. Once I arrived at the spot…I changed my mind. This led to time spent looking for new angles which would satisfy the vision of the video in my head. This led to the golden-hour starting sooner than I excepted. And so this led to stress.

Complications also occurred—because what recording session actually goes smoothly?! My old smartphone kept cutting off its video. The angle of my main camera kept being compromised slightly by the incessant wind (which I thought would be far more majestic than tumultuous, but the balance favored tumult, soooooo…meh?). And so the first sound-checks certainly needed to be adjusted for the wind-factor…all of these things added up so that I didn’t start my first take until 4:40pm!

The music, thankfully, did not suffer. I was left with little time left to decompress…but I did so, to my best mindful abilities, during the two takes. In the creative act I summoned the presence and resilience which were seemingly overtaken by the stresses of the day. I calmed myself while playing. I connected myself to the surroundings while playing. I succeeded in channeling where I was, the WInd, and how the music fit into it all. I came out with a fine tribute.

And I mean…I would have done another take, but the sun had set; the wind was growing gradually, and more cold; and I could swear I hear sporadic howling from within the sea of the wind…soooooo yyyyeeeeeahhhh I needed to get out there. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs was turning quickly toward the most basic need. LOL.

Anyway, those close to me know about how stressful it was to consider either staying in London, or coming back home to California. The factors involved in either decision seemed to multiply endlessly…and before I allowed them to crush me, I took the less risky decision, came back to California, and today—I would never have believed my luck at the time—I am able to make music and teach, able to live in colorful, wonderful Long Beach with an awesome roommate, and able to use my time to pursue that which entices me and makes me happy.

My luck and my circumstances allow me to show you the undeniable beauty of this world and how music guides me to express it all. I am able to bring you joy, pandemic and sadness be damned. I hope it helps, and furthermore, I have hope for you anyway.

Here’s to Life, Love, and Music.