Fleshwound - Concept Cover Art

taking a step in a different direction, Fleshwound is, from start to finish, a completely new and unique recording. i wrote between 2003 and 2008, composing songs that are relevant to each other, flow together and carry a powerful message of change.

Fleshwound is about facing the pain (going within, digging deep), letting go, and healing - individually, culturally, and collectively. it's about waking up, really shattering the illusions and feeling beyond what only the eyes can see.

when i produced Runaway, i was of the mind that it'd be good to blend older songs that had never breathed properly, with relatively new songs. the story woven throughout explores the transition from adolescence into adulthood, delving into romance, chivalry, and a shifting/emerging identity, while the ever-present, underlying spiritual bent sewed it all together.

Wander was the next part of the journey. learning to walk a new walk, at times dancing, at times tripping and falling back into the old shadows. some love and relationship songs were intertwined, as that is part of most everyone's journey, isn't it? however, Wander allowed me to speak strongly to certain socio-political issues and observations. most importantly, the songs started leaning much more into the "don't you know who and what you are?" category, injecting inspired ideas, unifying themes, and realizing who anyone's worst enemy is, is themselves. the intention was more about shaking things up, and uplifting people...

so, the natural third part to this personal, and inter-personal journey, is Fleshwound. as soon as the concept started developing, i knew it'd take much longer than any previous project i'd produced. i'm glad to have had the patience to see this one through in what i feel was the right way. i hope others will feel the same.

all of the songs were written on guitar, then taken in whatever direction the moment inspired. some are left simpy raw and acoustic, while others, like "Awaken" and "Human Waste" are quite openly rock songs, with a twist of Achtung Baby-era U2 here and there. i spent a lot of time developing the unifying "vibe" of this album, and in the end, it plays out somewhat like a movie.

i think the album suits fans of rock, pop, folky-pop, acoustic, world and adult contemporary music. personally, i love the works of Peter Gabriel, U2, Genesis, ABBA, Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Elton John, and others in that general arena. that being said, i listen to a bit of everything, favouring melody, vocal harmony, and "genuine" music, not the stuff generally pushed to the front of mainstream outlets.

i write from my heart; from what i see in my world; from what i want to see in my world, and from my inner workings as a consciously expanding and growing person. as an artist, every project allows me the challenge to improve, raise the bar, and see if i can't find another way to stretch myself, while striving to inspire a few people; to make them think, act, react, or just learn to begin with love in any given circumstance.

i hope the music and melodies will carry the messages, observations, and higher vibrations into your heart.

love your life.

listen to "demos" of the songs of Fleshwound at SoundCloud http://snd.sc/olw7lB

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