Looking at the forecast, it might be a while until we get some authentic Vitamin D. So, in an effort to brighten the mood, here are three things that have always felt like sunshine to me.

1. The Sidekicks

Runners in the Nerved World is one of my favorite albums. No skips. It covers a wide range of emotions, but even the sadder songs remind me of driving around with the windows down in the Ohio summer.

The drums are punchy and driven, the bass lines have a ton of character, the guitar riffs are catchy, and it’s so fun to sing along. This one feels extra appropriate because it was recorded in Seattle, about a 20 minute walk from my apartment. What a small, nerved world.

2. John McAllister

I recently learned about John McAllister in a Blackbird Spyplane newsletter. His art features landscapes that are bright, vibrant, and surreal. Even the grayest day is no match for such beautiful colors. I hope to see some of his work in an exhibition sooner than later.

3. Penelope

Penelope is dependent on cat food, water, and photosynthesis. During the darker months, she seeks warmth on a lap, or under the covers of our bed. No one is more excited for the sun to return. While she hasn’t been able to soak up much sun lately, she continues to be a source of light for me.

Happy New Year! I hope 2026 brings you plenty of sunny days. Until then, I recommend spending some quality time with something or someone that brightens up your life.

When I was in high school, I read A Walk in the Woods twice. It’s a personal account of travel author Bill Bryson’s attempt to hike the Appalachian Trail with hardly any experience. The story is entertaining and inspiring, and I figured someday I might make my way down to Georgia and give the AT a try.

I’m 30 now, and I haven’t hiked the AT. But I did read another book! A popular hiking memoir published in 2012, Wild, in which author Cheryl Strayed recounts her time on the Pacific Crest Trail. Equally unprepared, she covered 1,100 miles of serious terrain, and spent most of her time hiking alone. It’s these types of stories that make me wonder “if they can do it, why can’t I?”

Once I moved to Seattle, I decided it was time to join the club. I had to give backpacking a try—it’s basically a rite of passage for Washingtonians, and I’m not one to mess with tradition. So, I started gathering gear and making grand plans to spend some time in the woods.

As a chronic over-thinker, I was quickly swept away by the “what-ifs” that go into planning even the shortest trips into the backcountry. After all, there is risk and discomfort when you leave home with the bare necessities slung over your shoulder. I had a lot of questions. How should I keep my food safe from the bears? How should I keep myself safe from the bears? Is there actually an alpine hot tub on top of Mt. Rainier?

The answers:
1. A bear-proof food bag
2. A combination of bear spray and prayers
3. Who knows?

The gear is expensive, and a highly debated topic on the internet. Shopping quickly turned into a headache as I combed through too many Reddit posts about the pros and cons of a single piece of equipment. I reached out to my friend Ben, who has many miles under his belt, and he gave me a solid piece of advice: “At a certain point, you’ve just got to buy some stuff,” he explained. “Part of the fun is figuring it out as you go.”

He’s right, of course. The same sentiment is echoed throughout both of those great hiking books, and it’s part of what makes each story so inspiring. There’s no better way to learn about gear, or yourself, than to get out there and figure it out.

This year, I went on three 1-night backpacking trips. It ain’t much, but it’s a start, and I’ve already learned a lot! Next summer, I’ll get out for some longer trips and refine my gear as I go. And maybe, if I’m lucky, I’ll find that mythical alpine hot tub…

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I spent the weekend at Sage Arts Recording, about an hour north of Seattle by car. It’s a stunning facility, situated on a large wooded property with acres of tall trees, a river, and plants in all shades of green. It’s the perfect place to retreat and make a record. I’ve been fortunate to visit the studio a few times this year, and this session was my most productive yet.

My new band, Wishing Well, began recording our first full-length album. We tracked the majority of the parts for eight songs in two days. The record is far from finished, but we made a ton of progress, and I’m already stoked on how it sounds.

The high level of productivity was made possible by studio manager and primary engineer, Jordan Cunningham. His knowledge of the space, and experience with the gear, made everything run smoother—from the echo chamber to the espresso machine.

Speaking of gear, I was blown away by the sound of these beautiful Gretsch kits. I’ve always been drawn to that satin flame wrap (first image).

We’ll return to the studio in the fall to finish tracking and get rolling on the mixes. Can’t wait to share.

The reason for this is obvious — I’m providing a service, so whoever’s paying can, and should, weigh in on the work. And most of the time, the finished product is undeniably better after a few rounds of feedback. It’s a necessary part of the process, and my personal creative goals aren’t an important part of the equation.

Reflecting on this, I’ve realized the importance of taking time to work on creative projects entirely on my own. It provides a sense of ownership, which is a feeling I don’t experience much while working for other people. I believe this is a common problem; a symptom of a society that pushes productivity over everything. We are encouraged to feed our bank accounts and our egos, but never expected to feed our souls. Phew—got a little heavy there!

Washed Out, one of my favorite bands as of late, recorded a live KEXP session while they were in town last year. During the interview portion of the video, the host asked lead singer Ernest Greene about his recent endeavors in creating visual art. Ernest explained that there’s a commercial element to his music that’s really hard to shake at times, and how he has no intention of commercializing his visual art. It’s just for him.

Photography has proven to be a great outlet for me. It’s a hobby that I pursue just for fun. Here are some of my favorite photos that I’ve taken. And they’re not for sale!

Do you have a creative project that you work on just because? Drop a comment.

I played drums on the road with Caamp from the Summer of 2021 through the end of 2022. The opportunity changed my life, and gave me a whole new perspective on what it takes to make a living as a performer. I encountered some tough hurdles along the way. The first, and probably the biggest, was stage fright.

When I got the call to go out on the road, I quit my writing job. I practiced and studied the catalog for two or three hours a day, and I set up a few lessons with some of my favorite drummers. At the time, I wasn’t really interested in picking up new techniques. I was looking for pointers on performing in front of bigger crowds than I ever had.

The second and third gigs of my first proper tour took place at a sold-out Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. Anyone would be nervous, but I put a lot of extra pressure on myself. I wanted to nail it. I wanted to secure the gig, and the shows on the Rocks started to become more of a monster than a beautiful night of music to enjoy with my friends. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on my feelings before and after those shows.

Aside from the drumming, my preparation for the first tour consisted of daily meditation (shoutout to the Waking Up app) and exercise. I needed to ground myself and focus on the current moment. I wanted to stop daydreaming about the upcoming shows — thinking ahead only made the impending dates more daunting. I was doing my best to rein in my emotions and treat those gigs like any other. I’ve done this before. It can’t be all that different!

Our two nights in Colorado were intense, but overall, they were very similar to our next 15-20 shows. The adrenaline rush often left me exhausted and unable to recall most of our time on stage. Thankfully, my bandmates assured me that things were going well.

My experience is best described on a spectrum from “worst show anxiety ever” to “most chill performance of all time.”

It’s been a few years since we played those first shows. Most of the gigs afterward fell near the neutral zone of my Stage Fright Spectrum™ (patent pending). The more comfortable I got, the more I was able to focus on performing to the best of my ability, and the fright-o-meter worked its way ever-closer to “most chill.”

We returned to Red Rocks for two more shows in the summer of ‘22, and my experience was vastly different. I found myself smiling more. I was deliberately looking around and soaking up my surroundings. I played with a confidence that I lacked before, and I’m very proud of that progress.

I attribute that new-found comfort to time spent behind the kit and my continued meditation routine. Before every show, I took 10-15 minutes to myself to reflect, stretch, and breathe.

The goal was to remind myself that…

1. The collective experience we shared for a night of music was about more than one person or one band.

2. After each show, the world would keep spinning and we would go on with our lives (so far, so good).

3. Those shows were bigger than me, and I’m just happy I got to play a part.

The two of us began recording some original songs. We named the project Smizmar, a Futurama reference that proved impossible to pronounce for just about everyone.

Over the years, the Smizmar catalog grew to include three full-length albums and three EPs. Around 50 songs, give or take.

Now, it’s time for something new. Wes is still writing great music, and the sound is different. We’ve retired Smizmar, and begun a new project called Karoo Supergroop.

The name is a play on the Karoo Supergroup, a large stratigraphic unit (basically rocks and other geology stuff) in South Africa, where Wes was born.

Wes recorded most of the instrumentation and handled the mix/master in his Columbus, OH studio. I contributed drums from Seattle.

EP1 is out now on Bandcamp, and it’ll find its way to the other streaming services soon. I’m so proud of how the sound has grown and changed over the years.

Give it a spin. Thank you for supporting our music over the years. More soon!