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I wish there was a way to record the sounds of the cicadas onto this writing page. They sound like midnight crickets in the center of the day. So calming. But soon they will disappear for another thirteen years. What will the world look like then? For that matter how is it changing in their present place of right now?
Thank you for being part of the conversation. This is Play It Forward. Real people.
The
Shapiro documents
Living in a forest has it's challenges while at the same time you're constantly wondering who else is feeling the energy a forest brings. As humans we tend to take a lot from beautiful lays of land. Not just stones and photographs but the energy that a forest brings. When will you begin your journey of giving back?
After racking up countless road miles on tour with his band YYNOT, John Waite and Anna Nalick, producing, writing, and recording for various artists, and having two Billboard charting songs with his band Feel, Billy Alexander is set to deliver his debut solo album Rock & Roll Diary in 2024.
The first taste of what’s to come is the song and video release for “Hammer Of The Gods”.
See the video here: https://youtu.be/NbvD8hr56jc
When asked about the song Alexander explains, “Hammer Of The Gods” is a salute to some of the bands of the 70’s who went big and bold. Re-shaping rock by allowing their imaginations and musical skills to take them to new places. Not afraid to experiment with new sounds, and arrangements or write more intellectual pieces. Critics of the time often calling them “self-indulgent” while I call it adventurous.
His upcoming debut album Rock & Roll Diary is a nine-song-set that covers the full spectrum of rock n’ roll genres. “After writing and producing three albums for my band YYNOT and years of writing for other artists, I started writing a batch of songs with no aim or intention other than just to write for myself. The songs were shaping themselves up to be a kind of reflection of my early influences and inspirational bands and artists from my youth and beyond. Some progressive rock and others more classic rock. Hints of Rush, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Tom Petty, The Beatles, and others were creeping into my creative process more and more,” shares Alexander.
He continues, “When it came time to start putting the songs together in the studio, I felt even more liberated to just make a record in the spirit of the ones that lit my fire as a young teen and helped shape me as a guitarist, songwriter, and musician. Yet, I didn’t just go for an obvious “retro” vibe as I’m still very much into the here and now in terms of current influences and growth in all areas. As much as this record is a celebration of my rock and roll heroes, at its core it’s my story. But hopefully a story many others can relate to. My goal was to make a modern-classic Rock and Roll record similar to the ones I love”.
A planet under attack by too much power and the constant demand for more. Where are we? What lessons do we take from this? How can anyone heal if all they know or knew is a pile of concrete? We set ourselves up for this and don't know how to replenish the soil or build upon the foundation.
From three-time Newbery Honoree Christina Soontornvat and award-winning historian Erika Lee comes a middle grade nonfiction that shines a light on the generations of Asian Americans who have transformed the United States and who continue to shape what it means to be American.
It begins centuries before America even exists as a nation. It is connected to the histories of Western conquest and colonialism. It’s a story of migration; of people and families crossing the Pacific Ocean in search of escape, opportunity, and new beginnings.
It is also the story of race and racism. Of being labeled an immigrant invasion, unfit to become citizens, and being banned, deported, and incarcerated. Of being blamed for bringing diseases into the country.
It is also a story of bravery and hope. It is the story of heroes who fought for equality in the courts, on the streets, and in the schools, and who continue to fight in solidarity with others doing the same.
This book is a stirring account of the ordinary people and extraordinary acts that made Asian America and the young people who are remaking America today.
There's beauty in life. There's peace and calm. Not just a thought, a wish or a wonder. It does have it's daily display but it's we who look away. As if to say, "Peace and calm are so boring." Human's desire conflict. The entire world finds itself in conflict and growing from it. Peace and calm are what takes place in between our angst and wars.
Pod Crashing episode 309 with Simon Sinek from the podcast A
The
Episodes
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-a-bit-of-optimism-63444439/
From the publisher's feed