Project update

Entering the studio tomorrow!

Thank you to each of you for following along on this journey, sharing your thoughts and responses to me over email, and interacting on this platform. When I’ve heard responses from folks, I’ve been stunned and surprised at the shared, common, universal experience that is being tapped into as I share my own specific, personal experience. It’s not as if my own private/personal experiences is identical to what others have experienced — but often it activates memories, thoughts, stories that have been forgotten or shoved down. The songs have been activating dialogue, conversation, thought and curiosity that has been really humbling to hear about.

For me personally, it means a lot as you choose to share a comment or send a reply. When I get a response, I feel elated to hear how the music or stories connect with you specifically, and it helps me know I’m not alone, and encourages me to keep going. When I hear these stories, it’s such an honour to be able to connect and receive perspectives, as I learn so much from you and the journey you’re on. So, thank you!

Tomorrow, I’ll be spending time in the studio with producer Jonathan Anderson. Jonathan’s studio is in Maple Ridge, so my family and I are driving down to the Lower Mainland later today. I’ll be spending two days with Jonathan, while my partner Kendra and the kids spend time at places like Science World, spending time with a friend.

Jonathan’s studio is called Protection Island. He’s been the producer behind artists like Jordan Klassen, Foxwarren, Aidan Knight, Said the Whale, and others. Our plan is to tackle 2 songs that we will move from my demo version, add new instrumentation, and get it all the way to a mixed and mastered finished recording. We might have time for more than 2, but as a start, I’m thinking of focusing on You Have Heard It Said and You’re Allowed To, as those two songs feel foundational to the project.

An image of Jonathan’s studio, from his website

This is kind of a get-to-know-you experience, too. Jonathan and I haven’t worked together before, so we’ll learn if we’re a fit for each other’s styles and approach. With a couple finished songs, we’ll be able to ask the question of “what’s next” — book more time together, release what gets made, find a new path. I’m holding it rather openly as I experience what it’s like to invite a collaborator into helped evolve my songs!

I hope to share the result of our work together with you as it concludes, so stay tuned for some exciting new developments.

If you’re new to this email list, or haven’t been clicking to read the updates (and no worries if that’s you, there have certainly been a lot of posts, and email inboxes are weird places for existential/musical expression), I’ve been releasing home recordings of songs I wrote during a season of my own healing. I’ve been hoping to reach others who are also healing, as it can be a pretty lonely experience to shift beliefs and communities that have caused harm, on the way towards new health. On the way, I’ve been offering the option of paid subscriptions to fund the production of a full album. So this week’s recording session is the direct result of your participation in this!

The songs and stories I’ve shared so far, in order, are these:

• You Have Heard It Said

• You’re Allowed To

• Hey John!

• Sister

• All My Little Life

• Purity Ring

Where are we going next? Well, here’s a look at the spreadsheet where I’m tracking my songs, lyrics, recordings and progress. The plan is “keep sharing, and keep going.”

Some of the songs I’m most excited about have not yet been shared. And they keep coming! Just this week, I wrote a new song that I shared with a couple friends (Breaking the Cycle), and it feels deeply resonant for myself, and with the first listeners.

So, if you have been finding value in this journey, thank you so much for following along. There’s more to come, and with 2 songs about to be moved into full production, I hope you’ll be able to listen to them soon on your favourite music streaming platforms. And it’s thanks to your support!

If you know anybody in your friend group who appreciates music, storytelling, healing from experiences with unhealthy religion, I’d love it if you could pass this newsletter along to them so they can sign up. I always share full songs and lyrics with even the Free version, and offer the Paid option for folks who are in a space where they can help fund/support the production journey — no pressure to pay, healing is free.

If you’re now seeing for the first time what this project has morphed into, and you didn’t mean to be signed up for this list, absolutely no worries about clicking unsubscribe! I’m committed to not exploring the subscriber stats or looking at who unsubscribes, so it literally won’t hurt my feelings if you unsubscribe. I’d rather you have an uncluttered inbox, a guilt-free mind, so let this go if it ain’t for you.

Stay tuned for sharing the Spotify-ready recordings that will come out of this week’s work with Jonathan, and more recordings and stories in the weeks and months to come.

Thank you again for following along, for listening, for engaging, for asking questions, for reaching out, for supporting, and for investing in your own process of self-inquiry and growth. It’s a really beautiful thing.