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
2018 was about finding the right path.
At the start of 2018, I felt motivated but unproven. X of Wands hadn’t been built yet. I had just launched an exploration into the world of busking around New York City streets and subways. My “lead bassist” identity began clashing more with convention, with purists criticizing my style and telling me that I was quite simply playing the wrong instrument.
Back in September, I was preparing for a bass solo competition that would prove to be a pivotal moment on this long musical journey. The competition was intense, with players from three different countries and professionals with careers dating back to the 80s.
For my performance, I took a modified approach to “El Faro,” mixing advanced sweeping, tapping, and melody with the whole damn pedalboard. While I did not win, I made some great connections and had more than a few tell me that my solo performance was a personal favorite; something that I was honored to hear given the phenomenal talent pool.
One of those people was the Vice President of La Bella Strings, one of the longest-standing string companies in the industry. I’m very excited to announce that I am now an endorsed artist representing La Bella!
By joining La Bella’s roster as an officially endorsed artist, I’m proudly representing quality, handcrafted strings alongside the bassists for Paul Simon, Alabama Shakes, and Jack White (to name a few). La Bella’s were an essential ingredient in James Jamerson’s Motown sound and continue to be a standard for excellence. You’ll be seeing their strings on my basses and a couple new hashtags on some of my Insta posts.
Earning my first endorsement was a proving moment in 2018. Tripling my follower count on Instagram was a proving moment in 2018. Doing it with my own style despite the critics was all the more gratifying. As 2019 rolls in, I’m more confident than ever that I’m exactly where I should be (and that I’m playing the right instrument).
“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.