My song Gathering Light is out now on streaming platforms.
Hello there. How are you? What’s happening? Where are you listening from?
🎵 This month’s piece is in A-flat major.1
I actually started writing this one a couple of years ago. A version of it would ultimately become 2022’s daydream, a track I collaborated on with Kyle Torr-Brown (aka Wowflower) and Kyle McEvoy. I sent a rough version of what you’re hearing today over to The Kyles™ and they put their spin on it, turning it into a wobbly little lo-fi number.
I’d been meaning to revisit the original piece for a while, and now felt like the right time to do it. I spent the month revamping it — adding instrumentation, some of my own vocals, etc. I also brought in some audio clips of the charismatic philosopher Alan Watts,2 including a recitation of the poem Drinking Wine from the early Taoist poet Tao Chien.3
📷 This month’s photos were taken in Dromoland, Co. Clare, Ireland.
Last month we were in England, and this month we’ve hopped over to the inimitable Ireland. These shots are from a walk around the stunning Dromoland Castle.4
I invite you to sit with this month’s song, photos, and poem and make them a small part of your day, whether that’s your morning ritual, afternoon break, or your evening wind-down.
As always, if you feel like it, let me know what you think in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.
Thank you again for being here.
Dreams
by Langston Hughes
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
Listening to
Ibuyile l’Africa / Africa is Back by Abel Selaocoe (Listen)
🎧 I put all the songs shared in the newsletter into this Spotify playlist
Reading
White Noise by Don DeLillo (Fog Chaser Bookshop)5
Sharing
- is writing a letter to his newborn son every week over at , and, as a new father myself, I’ve been finding his work really inspiring. He’s also curating the The Cookout Library, a virtual compilation of Black writers. Check that out here.
This kind piece about my song ‘After A Summer Rain’ from
over at .- / chasing some fog of his own with his most recent hit.
My song from last month, in case you missed it:
Anthemon in A-flat major / Written, performed, and produced by Fog Chaser
For the title, I’m drawing on Watts’s invocation of the chrysanthemum, which is derived from the Ancient Greek chrysos (gold) and anthemon (flower).
Tai Chien, or Tao Yuan Ming, b. 356 AD.
The Fog Chaser Bookshop is hosted on Bookshop.org, where 10% of all sales are distributed to independent bookstores. As an affiliate, I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
Anthemon