🎄 A Christmas Moment — and a Look at What’s Coming Next
Hi Reader,
On Christmas Eve as Deanna and I were getting into bed, I felt a wave of nostalgia. This year I wasn't with my family, and I found myself missing a simple tradition — my uncle playing guitar while we all sing Christmas carols together around the tree.
On a whim, I suggested we pull up a Christmas carol karaoke video and sing one before bed.
We did… and then another.
Something in the room softened.
The festive feeling grew, so we moved by the tree, turned on the lights, and kept going.
At a certain point, I felt a quiet nudge in my heart: I want to share this.
So we grabbed the tripod, hit record, and continued singing, just as we were.
No plan. No performance. Just a tender, spontaneous moment of connection and celebration.
That’s what this video is. I’m really happy to share it with you, and I hope your holiday season is filled with joy, connection, rest, and peace.
What’s Feeling Alive Right Now
I also wanted to share a little of what’s currently unfolding on the music side.
🌟 The first is the release of Hero’s Victory, which many of you know was recorded in Vienna while I was attending the Hollywood Music Workshop. What you may not know is that this piece represents a 20+ year journey that began with a composition I wrote in 2001 called Gladiator.
The music itself is now fully finished and mastered. And yet, I’ve felt a strong pull not to release it without also sharing the story behind it — the years, the people, and the inner transformation that carried it from a college student’s composition to a live 60-piece orchestra in Vienna.
I’ve been writing commentary tracks to accompany the album, and I’m happy to say the scripts are complete. Once I record them, I’ll be releasing the album early in the new year as a way of honoring the entire journey.
🎻 The second project is a return to two orchestral pieces — Victory and New Dawn — that were orchestrated early last year but paused while I focused on Vienna. I’ll be resuming production soon with Simon Passmore on orchestral programming, followed by recording live bass, guitar, and drums, and then mixing and mastering. I’m looking forward to sharing both the music and some behind-the-scenes moments as that process unfolds.
🦋 And finally, in January I’ve booked five hours of studio time here in Asheville with my friends Chris Rosser and River Guerguerian. This session feels a little different from anything I’ve done before. I’m intentionally going in with very little plan ... simply creating a space for whatever wants to come through.
Chris will be supporting on keys, bass, and guitar, and River on percussion, handpan, and whatever else wants to join the mix.
I’m excited… and a little nervous. There’s a real surrender in not knowing what will emerge.
But I trust the process and the way sound itself tends to open the door to inspiration and let the music flow.
On Timing, Trust, and Gratitude
I also want to take a moment to say how grateful I am for each of you who are here.
I’ll be honest — during longer stretches when I’m quieter or not sharing much, I sometimes feel a little uncomfortable receiving support. A subtle guilt can creep in. And at the same time, I feel deeply touched knowing there’s a sense of community here; a place that remains present for the moments when I am ready to share, like now, as these projects begin to come back online.
Sharing is a meaningful part of my creative process.
The joy isn’t only in making the music — it’s in letting it be received.
Recently, I heard a metaphor that really landed for me: some artists are like palm trees, producing steadily and consistently. Others are more like orchids — creating in seasons, disappearing for stretches, and then blooming unexpectedly.
I’ve always been an orchid.
Throughout my life — really since I started composing at 14 — I’ve moved in bursts. When the music goes quiet, I’ve often doubted myself, wondered if I’d lost it, or felt like an imposter for not forcing something to happen. Hearing this metaphor felt like a balm; a reminder that it’s okay to trust my timing, to listen for inspiration, and not try to manufacture it.
So thank you for being here with me ... through the quiet seasons and the flowering ones.
It truly means more to me than I can easily put into words.
Discontinuing Newsletter?
Before closing, I want to share a small thing I’ve been sitting with.
I’m currently considering bringing this newsletter to a close in May 2026, and focusing my sharing fully on Patreon. Having one primary space helps me stay closer to the creative flow, and I really appreciate the sense of community and conversation that’s possible there.
If you’d like, I’d love for you to join me on Patreon (free) so we can continue this journey together. It would genuinely mean a lot to have you there.
👉🏼 Join me on Patreon (Free)
Thank you for being here and for your presence along the way.
That's all for now!
Leave a reply to share anything that resonates with you, to ask a question, or just to say hi.
(I'd love to hear from you. 🙂)
All the best,