Taking a look back...

Wow.  June 13.  A birth mark in the life of my music.  One year ago today, June 13th 2008, I was scrambling with all of my abilities to get a few people in the door of The Beat Coffeehouse in Uptown, Minneapolis for the release of my first album Unreal.  It was a honor and a blessing to play for those 50 people.  All of my friends, family, and a few new faces listened to the band play and cheered loudly in support. 

That core group has since grown, and has become the spine, the support, and the inspiration for the continuation of my writing, playing, development, and overall sense of purpose in this world. 

This project has overcome obstacles, learned from mistakes, and grown from it's elementary state into a more refined, and prepared entity.  Yet, when the lens is zoomed out, there is a world of growing, learning, developing, and refining to take place. 

I'm humbled by the artists around me, and by my own observations of the sacrifice that takes place in their music.  I'm ready to take that leap and move into the next level.  There is nothing holding me back but my own reservations... so I'm letting those go. 

Even if I work on this project 24 hours a day, sacrifice everything I can, live, breathe, eat, and die to the music of my soul, it will become nothing but simple songs without you, the Listener.  You have brought me inspiration, energy, and reality to my dreams.  The music I make is from my heart, yes, but you are on my heart. 

I thank God for His blessings, and continued Grace in my life.  And I thank you for your support and words of encouragement. 

So, buckle up with me and let's take this journey of this next year together.  Here we go...