Earthrise by X of Wands out now. Find a quiet moment to listen to this one and relax. Ideal for sitting on the surface of the moon and watching the universe calmly go by. Earthrise is an exploration of sounds exclusive to the bass guitar – the loop, chords, low end, and melodies are all performed on the bass with varying degrees of modulation.
Composed, performed, and produced by X of Wands
Drums by Nick Brucaliere
Album Art by Marguerite Pintauro
“El Faro” is a screaming plea to prevent fear of failure, ego, and discouragement from taking us underwater. We all put on a show, fearing the risk that someone might see our weaknesses and reject them. Captain’s Errors. Most of us have felt that rejection firsthand, and overcompensate by putting on a steely image, impossibly infallible at work or in relationships.
The risk is not a ghost, and it can be unjust; sometimes the world shortchanges good, hard workers and faithful, honest folk. It’s discouraging. But we see this fact as a way to justify cynicism (“realism” as we see it), and worse, to justify a subscription to The Way Things Are by feeding into this need for a flawless image in all aspects of our lives. Nothing to see here. Nothing on my mind. Even in moments of crisis, we tend to put on a show to keep our images smooth while we fall apart backstage. Standing on a sinking ship thinking, “As long as they don’t see my weakness, I’ll be fine.”
My brother once told me, “Hard work isn’t always rewarded, but it usually is.” It’s a reminder that Doing The Right Things does not make us immune to obstacles, but continually trying to overcome those challenges is our best chance at success. “El Faro” is an expression of the idea that it’s dangerous and unproductive to hide away our weaknesses, especially from ourselves. If instead we acknowledge and learn to be comfortable with our shortcomings, I think it helps us better focus on how to sail forward instead of going down with the ship.
X of Wands was shaped by the experience of being pulled apart. To see the dream sitting on a shelf but never asking the universe for it. Fearing what it might cost to reach out for it. Fearing what it might cost to walk away without it. Growing up, we’re taught to “chase our dreams” but soon we’re fed through a funnel with our heads down, debt up, on a course for no option but normalcy. If It Kills Me is the fight against that tide. It expresses the decision to take the dream off the back burner and live with intention, to spend your life building the one you want, rather than stitching the safety net.