Spending time with mixes of new material & sitting with the weight of our times. Tears for the brokenhearted. Tears for the weary. Tears for the angry. Tears for the fearful. Tears & gentleness in a time when empathy & compassion are referred to as weakness. I'll take empathy over brutality any day.
For my readers
Putting in the work today. Holding the energy. Holding the space. Drinking from the well. Tasting the anger. Tasting the heartbreak. Tasting the love. Tasting the joy. Wading through the flow of time and knowing that all things are temporary. All shadows pass.
For my reader friends...
Here's some of the books that challenged me, educated me or illuminated complex issues for me the most over the past year.
What did you read this year that you loved? All ears. No wrong answers.
Entering the 2026 with slowness & intention. We’re all part of something much greater & more beautiful than productivity, labor, capital, political parties, shareholders, etc. We are so powerful, so beautiful, so vast. You are worthy of care and love simply because you exist. Hugs to you all.
Hope everyone is taking care of themselves as the year wraps up. In the 90s, I started a tradition of making cassettes for friends at Christmas, then CDs and now streaming links for anyone who wants to listen to some music that guided me through the year.
www.mixcloud.com/steve-swartz...
Happy Jolabokaflod for those who celebrate!
Grateful for you all. In a world of chaos & division, everything is made up. Money, government, the economy. But we all eat, drink, laugh & cry. If we can do more of those together, the absurdities of the previous list lose their power to divide. You are beautiful, vast, & loved. Happy holidays!
Tonal pillow of noise for drowning out the noise of a world gone mad. Ya’ll take care of yourselves. 🙏 ❤️
Celebrating the last evening of Native American Heritage Month with a traditional Cherokee meal of fried hominy and fry bread.
In honor of Trans Awareness Month,
this is why my family supports and provides safe space for the trans and queer kids in our community. We have directly witnessed the positive impact.
Filling my house with good vibes. So much beauty in the world is easily found in oneness, connection, & community. Separation & othering breeds ugliness. May your day be full of connection, community & light. You are vast, powerful and loved.
#guitarplayer #dronemusic #ambient #experimentalmusic
Thank you!!!!
Always honored when people connect with what I do. It’s every artist’s dream to create work that endures. 🙏
This tree reminded me this morning that the world is inherently beautiful and we get to be part of it. It’s only gets ulgy when we make it that way.
Walking in joy, love & acceptance is the ultimate middle finger. So I choose you & us in the one place in the solar system that we have to exist. You are not politics. You are not left or right. You are vast & complete. You are loved.
#dronemusic #humanity
Potential resources for those who may need it later this week.
A moment of zen in the studio. We have so much power to heal and connect if we just take hold of it and don’t let go of each other. You are not politics. You are sparkly. You are loved. Hugs from me to yall. 🙏❤️
#Ambient #ambientmusic #recordingstudio #guitarplayer #dronemusic #experimentalmusic
In honor of Indigenous Peoples' Day, here's some great reads from some authors from the Indigenous community that are also great autumn reads.
It's Indigenous Peoples' Day. Their history is part of our history. These were some eye-opening reads for me.
It's Hispanic Heritage Month. I always try to use cultural observances as an opportunity to read books from people in those communities. Here's a couple I've enjoyed from some Hispanic authors that also happen to be perfect for Halloween reading.
When your kids know you well and hook you up for your birthday and the ultimate spooky season reading marathon.
Thanks! Felt like I just had one. Time evaporated.
Completed another lap around the sun. Grateful to spend it making noise. I look forward to another feral year of sound, food, nature, and community. You are powerful. You are vast. You are not politics. We are radiant beyond measure if we aren’t conned into believing otherwise. Hugs to you all!
You are sparkly. You’ve been conned into thinking you’re not.
Happy Friday. You are loved.
Self-care with drones and deep bass tones. Be good to yourself. You are the closest relationship you have. You are powerful and loved.
#dronemusic #ambient #experimentalmusic #guitarplayer #recordingstudio
While spending the day in this special place, I was struck by the fact that this doesn’t exist anywhere else in our solar system. This is it. And we get to be part of it. The only home we have in a far-flung corner of a galaxy. A precious and sacred stewardship of vast importance.
Thank you @bipolarexplorer.info for sharing my music! 🙏
