Album Notes

Miles from Mariana

Is this a concept record? Not in a narrative form, but specific themes do recur: a journey from skepticism and struggle to belief and optimism, from isolation to connection and rootedness, from resisting the journey to embracing it. These themes make sense to me. They're autobiographical - and universal.

In creating the album, I decided these ideas could be communicated through repeating lyrical and musical themes. Some are obvious, others a bit more hidden. I wanted fully realized soundscapes, pieces that would change the mood and setting, a grand musical statement with multiple layers, a new and different experience with each listen. I wanted dense sound yet I wanted to leave enough open space.

And what is Mariana? Is it a person, place or thing? Yes, it can be any of those. To me, Mariana is a utopian state of faith, open communication, and connectedness. And I would imagine that most of us start off far away from there, and spend most of our lives trying to get there.

Nothing stays the same. The world changes. And we all change relative to each other. What once is regarded disdainfully is later embraced. What once is resisted is later believed. What once is blocked from expression is later communicated openly. We all grow up.