Hi!
Here are some new songs, and sounds. This release is uncharacteristic for me: usually I'll write a song or two, then sit on them for months, to years, like a broody hen waiting for her eggs to hatch. And I'm weary of that modus operandi. I'll of these songs (with the exception of track 1) were written between Dec 1 2019 and today ( 1 29 2020).
one of my favorite things about folk LPs from the 60s is that the artist sometimes writes a few paragraphs on the story behind a song, or symbolism (etc) I thought it would be fun to give that a shot.

1. This song was written last fall, and was supposed to be on my previous release, but it wasn't quite fully formed. The name and premise were taken from the title of a novel by Aranka Siegal, which I read when I was 12. It's a reference to the act of animal sacrifice (as seen in the Torah/old testament). transferring "sin" into the body of an animal, then using its death as a release. Music has always acted as a release of pain for me, wherein I attempt to pull the sad-dark from my skull, in the attempt of breathing clearer. The third verse is a reference to The Juniper Tree, a Grimm's Fairy Tale. My mom read it to my siblings when I was very young, and it has stuck with me since then. Also a lotr reference, if ya can spot it.

2. I wrote the words, on a whim, while on lunch break. Silly-little stream of consciousness thing that wasn't supposed to go anywhere. It felt like a microphones song. Later, I was trying to emulate Phil's clunky strumming style. Then I decided to plug this lyrics in. It worked. This is not the original track 2. Though it was supposed to be. I've grown to hate the previous track 2 with a hellish passion. It was a dumb song, more therapy than music, and I regret putting it out.

3. the words "after birth christhead" popped in my head while riding the bus to my last day of class in December. I liked how it sounded. It had the feeling of change and rejuvenation, which was reflective of the state of been in these past few months. There's reference to Cynicism by Nana Grizol in here, and also a nod to Phil Elvrum, who's music has been the soundtrack to my life the past two months (lost widsom pt.2 is a great meditation on heart break, plz listen to it). as the voice in headphone is singing... Moksha means release, specifically to release from the ever-turning wheel of Samsara. Or pain, I think of it. Both physical and mental.

4. I wrote this song in my head on new year's day while walking through Frick Park. It's the same story as Bird Song, just told from a different perspective.

5. A departure. In November I dreamed of two scorpions copulating in the corners of a ceiling. Interpreted it to mean that I was about to enter a period of flux and change. I had the dream during Scorpio season, and it occurred to me later that Scorpio is associated with Death (XIII) of the Major Arcana. And Judging by how strange my life has been since that dream, I really wasn't that far off. The 7 headed swan has been with me for a very very long time, and I'm glad it now has a home outside of me. The boneless sky king slipped into my consciousness while opening a box at work.

Thanks for reading, thanks for listening.
Stay illuminated!

-Rowan. 1/29/2020