family portrait

I've long wanted to take the time to write and record and album of music.  For years that never really happened.  I would record snippets here and there, but technical shortfalls and other obligations kept it from ever becoming a reality.  Another problem was focus.  Since music is a release for me, I typically sit down and play whatever I feel like, instead of putting together the complimentary and coherent ideas that and album should have.

A couple of things have changed over the last year and a half.  For one, we planned to have a baby and have done much associated with preparing for Lucy's arrival.  This meant it was easier to focus on one theme more often, because it was always on my mind.  Second, my equipment and my proficiency with it has slowly continued to improve, allowing me to take on slightly more ambitious musical projects.

The result is a small five song album (or EP, I guess) called family portrait.  All of the songs but the last one have been posted here before.  The fifth song "for my valentine" was recorded while I was in Arizona for a work trip while Sarah was at home pregnant.  Too shy to sing out in the hotel room, I drove a few miles outside of town and recorded alongside the highway.  You can hear cars passing by every now and again.  To present the song collection, Sarah and I put together album art, as shown below.  In the next week or so I hope to burn disks and print cases to send to family. 

...and the back:

And, of course, the actual music:

family portrait by are.kay.more

The disks sent to family will have the uncompressed and remastered versions of the songs (I've learned a bit more about mastering over the last year :) ).  The ones posted on Soundcloud are mp3's.  Also, the version of Lucy's Lullaby on the disks will have the ukulele solo replaced by a lovely violin solo played by our good friend Treesa Gold. 

Safe and sound

Sarah and Lucy are back home.  Sarah's mother has been an angel helping with everything from grocery shopping, to diapers, to postpartum sisterhood.  It's hard to watch the woman you love go through so much physical and emotional pain without being able to do much to help.  Knowing that this time was coming, I wrote and recorded another song for Sarah and our baby.

And the song is here:

Delivery by are.kay.more

For those expecting goofy text and wild electronic music, don't worry, those days will come again.  Right now I've got mushy feelings to get out.

For Lucy

Tomorrow afternoon, Lucia Day Moore will be born.  This song is for her.  This has been the only pregnancy during which I haven't been in school, so I've had more time to think about how I feel and to try to capture it.  I love my sweet family and am excited to hold a brand new baby again and feel her sleep in my arms.

Lucy, you will have a busy day tomorrow.  But know that you are loved, relax, and sleep.

Lucy's Lullaby by are.kay.more