Every new year for the past 4 years I’ve set a tone, a theme, a certain idea to pursue, rather than some specific goal. I’ve found this fits my life way more than a concrete goal that I am not enthusiastic about enough to do without settng it as a Resolution.
There is no pressre, just an overall orientation to start th year and to keep in mind throughout the year.
One year was a balance between firm and flexible. Another year was embracing anger without burning anyone. And last year was “Removing self imposed shackles and Remembering the magic of life”.
I think I did pretty well with this theme, I liberated myself from many things, namely I stopped feeling shame about various failures and stopped being afraid of integrating my different worlds into one. I wear play clothes to work now and I am not afraid to show my students my true self.
I even got some wild colorful clothing that at first made me nervous to wear and now makes me happy.
I told you my mid life crisis would be legendary and neverending.
I have a much more positive attitude than I did a year ago and playfulness definitely comes easier to me.
For 2026, the theme is “Stepping Out Into the Spotlight and Building Face to Face Community”.
I’ve alway run from attenion but this year I want to invite it in a way that feels comfortable and natural. Not seeking fame and noteriety but I am going to step out of my comfort zone where more people can see me, the real me, and pursue collaboration with the people I want to collaborate with, regardless of how big or small they are.
The rule of thumb is, if it’s exciting, don’t worry about the spotlight either way.
As for the community building, I’ve been active in communities before but I have never taken a proactive role outside of Hive because they never felt like communities that fully represented me.
But now through my music and events, I have a platform to build my own community and I will stepping out onto the stage into other communities which may overlap. Rather than trying to fit in to another community, I can now stand as a representative of my own.
Thinking of the events I organize as a community taking form may actually make it feel more like one. It will only make sense if I put th majority of my energy into such events and the things that make them work.
That means I will continue to work on new songs and making them the best I can make them.
A full album is slowly taking form now that I finally have a concept that justifies one. 11 songs, 70% already written, 50% already arranged. As I get those numbers to 100% I can start recording and mixing. It’s exciting to have a full tracklist ready in my mind.
If I am not already into recording by the start of summer, I will put together a second EP 4-5 songs that I can release first, perhaps a song or two from the new album, an outtake from my first EP, 2 unreleased old songs and an alternate version or two. I already have a very clear idea for that.
Two of these new songs I’ve started playing live and hopefully I will have another two ready by the end of January.
I will be making all songs I play live easer for friends to bcome familiar with though videos, collaborations and other ideas I will share later.
I already have a schedule of 5 or 6 more short videos and two more longer ones for January and February.
The momentum is slow but it’s getting faster and faster 🔥
I+Everything
Song for a 40 hour train ride. - DIY music short film
I + Everything Live - Water and Air
