Hi world, everyone out there wherever you are. It’s been a couple months since I ‘went gray’ on instagram. Going gray is where you log off but don’t delete your profile. My phone has become a way less interesting object, now that the only updates it receives are occasional texts. I leave it at home a lot more, sometimes I even forget which has SHOCKED the kids at my school. One of my students asked me if it was DANGEROUS to not bring my phone with me when I go out.
Maybe.
I’m taking baby steps off the elevator.
One thing new I notice lately is my expanded ability to collect continuous hours of presence without my phone a constant punctuation. I feel like I decide to do things and they tumble more freely into multidimensional experiences. It’s like my life is a long rambling poem or maybe it always was and I’m just notice more now.
(Like how I was texting my friend Wilson the other day and he told me to listen to the Nina Rota soundtrack to Juliet and the Spirits and how it inspired me to make chili which inspired Wilson to come over with an armful of records, chili pequins from his yard for the chili, plus a tuft of holy basil to chew contemplatively which I can only say is a very Wilson thing to do. Much talking and listening and laughing, many bowls of chili and cornbread sliced in half with slabs of butter melting on each, followed by brownies and a walk into the rainbow sherbet winter sunset into sleep into full VHS miniserieses of my dreams. You know?)
Hey! You have to watch this:
Eric Adams from Acre Memos (the swoony second voice that comes in on the last verse) is a teacher at Lumberton High School in East Texas and this video to our song ‘Honey Island General Store’ was made by one of his students, Kyia Croft. I absolutely love the art and imagery and the full circle it weaves around the story of the song. Thank you Eric and Kyia. <3
We started a new Little Mazarn album a few weeks ago. I feel excited and hopeful about it even though I feel like it might be my thematically darkest work OF ALL TIME. 2023 has been a year of revelation for me personally about loss and turning towards grief and calling it by its name, forced to open my eyes to the void and finding it again, vast and full of stars.
There is so much to feel.
My personal grief and loss, grief for the borderlands, for the animals and plants suffering through this drought, for the people. Half the population of my state forced to carry the burden of bearing and caring for the next generation without access to the basic human dignity of essential reproductive healthcare. Children in cages still a mere 4 hours drive from my house, children being blown up in their homes a world away from my house.
Gaza.
Texas.
My own heart.
Yet, here I am to make music because it is what I came to do. Luckily, to accompany these dark themes and explorations I have the most hilarious crew and filled with levity and light we proceed!
And more sweetness from life on the ground, it was Jeff’s birthday a few weeks ago and we made him a cake.
Out and about in the next few weeks in Texas
as Little Mazarn and with friends
-January 20th we play as Ethan Azarian’s backing band at the Cactus Cafe in Austin for the release of his incredible new record ‘Hawaii’. I love all his albums and this one ::chefs kiss:: has the Azarian charm into the next generation with Frances on piano, all new great songs, the passion, the yelp and the growl.
-February 1-4 I go on a tiny Texas tour with my friend Will Johnson yes (THE of Centromatic, South San, etc). There are not enough words to even say how humbled I am to be a part of Will’s band for this run and for a third record, No Ordinary Crown. He has been my hero, my mentor, my pal and musical collaborator for life and this is our first full band tour! I think I will be playing cello, banjo, flute, trombone, you name it. I was not given a limit on the number of inputs I am alloted. See yall in the pit!
-February 6 we play a special Little Mazarn set at Ballroom in Austin with the wonderful SquirrelFlower (Chicago) and one of our local favorites, Alexalone. We saw SquirrelFlower last summer in Chicago and her voice is mesmerizing. I cannot wait. Also, no one puts more care and intention into a VIBE than Alexalone. Two. Story. Pedalboards. Y’all. Like their pedalboards seem to have multiple levels. I feel like watching them is like going to some kind of music wizard college. I’m still thinking about the last one.
-February 15 our friends Large Brush Collection release their first album and we open alongside Skateland. More info and a very special surprise about that soon.
Also we will be touring in the southeast soon with our friend Lou Turner if you or anyone you know is in any of these towns please send them our way, I’d love to meet.
That’s all for now. Thanks for being here.
Lindsey
Me planting a seed that you can come to the PNW some day, maybe escape the summer for Pickathon? I love this dark and beautiful transition!
Much love to you in the darkness.