Here I Go

If life is about taking risks, then I’m taking one.

If life is about adventures, then I’m going on one.

If life is about living in the moment, then I am.

If life is about following your passions and dreams, then…here I go.

I’ll be honest…there were a lot of sleepless nights accompanied by stress and anxiety poured into this decision. My mind didn’t want to shut itself off. It kept coming up with all these details to consider, big and small. The gears kept turning, grinding, pressing, until I was overthinking the whole thing, stripped of my initial excitement. (To say we have the power to be our own worst enemy is an understatement.)

The opportunity placed before me was always something people said would never happen.

It was always just a dream.

Until now.

And the truth is, I already made a decision long before I actually made a decision.

In my heart, I always knew I was going to do it. I always knew it was going to be this way. Although, sometimes, I still can’t believe it’s happening. It feels like a dream…a wonderful dream.

And I can’t stop smiling.

The thing is…we all have dreams and passions in life. We all try to follow the things that make us happy, the things that spark a fire inside us. Sometimes it might feel as if all our hard work, blood, sweat and tears are in vain. I just want to say…don’t give up. Don’t ever give up on your dreams.

Those who know me, know that I’ve always loved photography. Those who know me best know that I work hard every day just to get a fraction of a step closer to where I want to be…and they also know I’ve been patiently waiting, hoping, dreaming, that one day someone would like my photos enough and, finally, believe in me to the point where they’d be willing to take a chance on me. (That’s not to say these people who have known me since birth don’t believe in me. They do. And I’m not saying I don’t believe in myself either. I do. But I met someone several months ago who loves my work and believes in me just as much as the people I’ve known my whole life.)

And to the person who offered me this opportunity, who loves my work and believes in me, you know who you are, I want to say thank you…even though I’ve already said it multiple times. (You’re the best and I’m happy you’re alive.)

After all these years it would appear the road I’ve been traveling has brought me here. It would appear all my hard work, all those late nights, all the blood, sweat, and tears have been worth it. I love what I do beyond words. It’s not always easy, but I love it all the same.

So, I’ve packed my bags. My camera and I are ready to go on this adventure (mostly into the unknown) and experience every moment.

Now, you’re probably wondering what I’m doing. Well…

I’m going to L.A.

That’s right…L.A.

So…here I go.

[PRESETS] – The Debut Album by Future Feats

Some albums stay with you long after the final track ends. Sometimes there are songs that sound a bit haunting, but still beautiful. Other times there are songs that are so beautiful and poetic they make you cry, or feel something deep within yourself. There are also those songs where the beat demands you dance and the words end up stuck in your head for days. Some albums are made up of songs where words, when talked about, won’t do them justice. Some albums simply have the unique ability to crack you open and touch your soul.

[PRESETS], the debut album by Future Feats, was released today.

And it’s one of those albums I just described.

Yes. It’s that good. (In fact, I haven’t been this excited for an album since MuteMath released Play Dead…and that was two years ago.)

[PRESETS] is an autobiographical emotional powerhouse where each song is a different electrical charge. The emotion lives in the music, drips from the words, and is woven throughout the stories each song is telling. But it’s not only these things invoking feelings. It’s the vocals as well. You can hear an added quality, a sense of caring and emotion. These aren’t just lines to a song, words to sing, but, instead, words with a meaning and a personal history. Each song on the album expresses a true story, taken from various points of the past. In listening to this album, I’ve discovered that, on some level, each of these songs are easily relatable.

These songs, at least to my ears, also have multiple layers. There’s the music – that upbeat rhythm you can dance to, or those slower, beautiful melodies you can get lost in – but then there’s the lyrics. At times it’s easy to become lost in the music, almost forgetting about the words. (And I mean that in the best way possible.) But if you peel back the music, you’re left with the stories – the soul of the artist.

Scars and stories are proof we lived, for better or worse. Not all stories are happy, and that’s alright. There’s still a beauty to them. The truth is, there are some moments in life that leave their marks. There are some moments in life that have the power to leave you speechless.

I believe music has the power to do that too.

And I believe it takes something special to reach that level, to move the listener in ways they never imagined.

[PRESETS] does just that – moves me in ways I never imagined.

I could sit here and write about each song individually, since they each spoke to me in a different way. I could sit here and write more about the album too. But I truly believe this is something you should experience on your own. I think you should listen to the album and discover the music, lyrics, emotions, stories wrapped in these songs for yourself.

So, I highly recommend giving [PRESETS] a listen. It’s real and raw. It’s honest and poetic. Overall, I believe it’s a beautiful album.

If this post peaked your interest in [PRESETS] please feel free to listen to the two songs below.

Connected

stand where the ocean meets the shore
where the water rushes up to wash over your feet
and watch the waves
as they churn, dance toward the sand
while the whitewash flies up
like the frill of a woman’s dress as she spins
but close your eyes
and become very aware
of your own heart beating inside your chest
and if you listen closely
you can hear the ocean breathing
with every rushing tide
until
maybe
you notice the rhythmic beating of the waves
against the shore
and you realize the ocean has
a heartbeat of its own
which soon matches yours
and you’re connected
while a light breeze blows inland
to brush your face, embrace you
with that glorious salt laden air
that could belong to no other than the ocean
so you take a deep breath, hold it in your lungs
exhale
to find your mind is empty
except for the rhythm of the ocean
and you’re full of calm
and peace of mind