Western Sky Music - New Album☟
Western Sky Music, my second LP for Arrowhawk records, will be released on 5.12.23. You can hear lead single 'Cowboy Grass' wherever you stream music. Vinyl pre-orders are live via Bandcamp and the Arrowhawk webstore. Aquarium Drunkard says the track 'adds a healthy dose of swagger to the familiar brew of JJ Cale-styled boogie and loner-folk ambience.'
Teamed up with James Madison Mitchell for album art design and layout. James also created matchbook + bumper sticker designs (see below) as deluxe bundle items. The next Bandcamp Friday is coming up quick (March 3rd). Would be a wonderful time to grab a record or bundle before I head to the UK for the Cosmic Country Revue tour.
The crew:
recording and mixing - @oxfordryan
mastering - @amy__dragon
drums - @danabuoy
bass - @a_c_guy
pedal steel - @barryalanwalker
Cowboy Grass - Music Video☟
Before relocating to the east coast, my close friend and frequent collaborator Austin Abbott and I met to brainstorm music video ideas for ‘Cowboy Grass’. I trust Austin's vision 100% and was confident he could execute our (rough) plan even from across the country. He assembled the best crew imaginable and I couldn't be happier with the result. Raven Sings the Blues described the video as an 'after hours beer ad, following the exploits of a TV cowboy who feels like he has a Pynchon-esque backstory in him.' We’ll let you be the judge. Watch the video and hire Austin for your next video project.
Keep Earth Around - Guest Mix ☟
To celebrate the announce of Western Sky Music I put together a guest mix for Keep Earth Around - one of favorite design studios. Deciding on an album title can be challenging but having a strong visual (a place, object, etc.) can help guide the process. Western Sky Music came to me while camping along the John Day River at Cottonwood Canyon State Park (the second latest state park in Oregon). A particularly remote region, I was taken back at how I grounded I felt sans the noise and light pollution I am accustomed to in Portland. This mix is an attempt at a sonic representation of that feeling. Listen here.
March DJ Sets ☟
Have a couple of DJ sets in/around Portland before in March. Here's where to find me. Art by Spencer Groshong.
+ Trout Lake Hall. March 10th (7-930pm)
+ Mad Hanna March 19th (4-730pm)
Headcleaner ‘23☟
Listen to the Feburary edition of my Headcleaner (newsletter subscriber only) mix series here.
Reading, Watching, Listening To☟
Reading
Alan Watts - TAO (The Watercourse Way)
Richard Brautigan - Trout Fishing In America
William Hart - Vispassana Mediation
Watching
Marc Maron - From Bleak to Dark (HBO)
This video of a fake sport dudes from Oregon made up in 2008
Listening To
Glyders - Maria’s Hunt
Rick Roberts - Windmills
Jon Flood - No Rest
Dougie Poole - Rainbow Wheel of Death
Otis Williams and the Midnight Cowboys - S/T