GOLDENROD - Part of the mystery
“Why am I here?” This is the question I’ve started asking myself on the regs these past 3 years. There will be many a post about the eras, fortunes and misfortunes that led me to be open to even ask that question.
To frame the question, it’s not from the perspective of: “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, so tell me.” It’s more like, “OK, YOU. My path led me here. YOU know me. YOU know my values. YOU know what drives me. How shall I proceed at this time in this context?” Replace “YOU” with whatever label you use for the SOURCE.
When I moved to Asheville in June of 2023, my perspective began to open. A lot. I was asking this question almost daily. I can say with the clarity of hindsight that I now know for sure why I was there. Again, many a post forthcoming.
Before the move, my existence was 99% Midwest ‘merica. The south was a space that challenged my previous ideas about certain genres of music, folk and bluegrass chief amongst them. Turns out those genres are like all others, in that there are gems and there are stinkers. I’d never been properly introduced to the gems or their creators. And it turns out that, just like every other genre, the real stuff isn’t on the radio. And, like all genres, that is a shame.
Enter Rising Appalachia. Their work is soaked in desire, love, pain, joy, and heartbreak. From there I learned of other acts (too many to list) that evoke all of the things I’m drawn to in other genres. I felt cheated. But, at least I didn’t go to my grave without realizing… like, the banjo, for example, can move me to tears.
Asking the question, “Why am I here?” is the first step. The next is to be open to the answers. By June of ‘24 I was on a trip with my partner, Amy, to a yoga festival to perform live music yoga. I never thought I’d say those words strung together in that order when speaking of my life. Who even am I? Seriously.
It was on that trip that 3 very transformative epiphanies dawned. One of those… switching to Ableton (a software for producing and performing music) after over 20 years using Logic Pro. Game changer.
In July I joined a 12-week online cohort with the Ancient Future Collective, founded by Savej, a producer whose music was another of the epiphanies from that trip. I learned more about music, production, connecting spirit to craft, and about myself than all of my Logic years combined.
The third epiphany is a whole blog series. In short, move somewhere to make resources last longer while you essentially take a sabbatical to dive deep into this new craft. Amy and I were drawn to Boquete, Panama. And it has been amazing in ways we couldn’t have imagined. The timing, late September ‘25, was perfect, except for one thing. I had tickets to see Rising Appalachia on September 30.
I gave said tickets to some very dear friends. Gratifying, to say the least.
By the time we settled, I had a studio set up, Ableton humming, and time. I happened to see this Instagram post from Leah Song, one of the 2 sisters, leaders, power houses that are Rising Appalachia. I instantly captured the video of Leah singing “Goldenrod,” an interpretation of “Fall Down as the Rain” by Joe Crookston. I didn’t exactly know how I was going to “flip” it, or what a flip even is. I just knew her voice and lyrics were a palette to explore.
“As part of the mystery, as part of the mystery,
turn myself around again as part of the mystery.”
Holy shit. Could those words be more prescient? As for me, it’s a solid no. No they could not.
Cover design for ‘Goldenrod', the SAGRADOSE flip
My version of ‘Goldenrod’ is live on SoundCloud. I’d be super honored if you would take a listen, like, and share it!
Be well. Be inspired.
