i’ve felt so much gratitude for a year of creating that has generously been afforded me. this, with new and old friends. music as the vehicle for fresh experiences and uncharted and unexpected adventures rather than a tool for manufacturing or for means of production.
some friendships have begun from those offering their home as a space to stay the night and practice. James from @yearlingcwv did just that in fall of 2019 as i was traveling to practice drums with Comrades for their upcoming tour. since then, i’d try to stay up to date with what his band was doing and soon we were placed on the same fest flyer the following year (Flood City Fest). we started going back and forth commenting on eachother’s posts and soon late 2020 we were once again going back and forth to plan a split to release together.
we decided on 3 of our own tracks each for this split release. then a surprise challenge surfaced. the boys sent me an instrumental track to see if i might be interested in helping writing some words to have featured on the song. i had never worked on something this way with a band, especially one i have so much respect for with their sound and writing, already. not to mention the factor of it being long distance and there’s a pandemic going on at the same time.
little did i know, the song had already been written...
the song begins with a fearful plea for transparency:

the second part of the song moves by a response then another that follows.

the song is called FOMENT.
meaning: instigate or stir up (an undesirable or violent sentiment or course of action)
this is the name of the song @yearlingcwv assigned to it before i had known and was already working my poem into it.
oddly enough this [violent sentiment] is what i had also written about years prior, 10-29-18 in this journal entry. i’d been holding onto this poem, knowing it’s a special one that’s most dear to my heart. (even made merch reflecting the half mast flag imagery, anticipating it.) i really wanted to make sure the expression of it was honest and most appropriate. i was just waiting on the music to be right. when Yearling sent this audio file, it was like the color i had been searching, for in the gray was realized and it shook me to sing and speak these words over it. this was a true match.

the willingness of my friend Brandon Shattuck (of Parafonic Recording Studio) to help me track the vocal portion of this song in central FL was so kind, after we had completed the first 3 songs for the split. it was just a good, awkward and beautiful experience. since i had never performed it live, i would just close my eyes and imagine what it could be. this made for the later opportunity of performing LIVE and touring with the guys (September of 2021), like walking into a vision...