In June I released All Covered Up, a five-song EP of covers with original arrangements. I worked as a one-man band on those, singing and playing everything (well, except the drum loops). At the time, I said my intention was to record an entire album of covers in the same basic style, and that remains true. While I can’t make promises, I would ideally like to release it in June 2024.

I already have a song list picked out. One or two songs may change from what I have in my head right now, but not more than that – it’s pretty well set.

There were some other songs – very topical – that I had begun recording and really wanted to include on this album, but then I changed my mind. Why, you ask? Read on…

Essentially, people already know about the problems plaguing our world today. Human rights abuses, war, environmental disasters, disunity, authoritarianism, poverty, economic swings…the list goes on. And I do plan to eventually release the songs that cover many of those topics. But look at it this way: 2024 will be an election year. People will be stressed and angry and in a negative mood. If I’m going to remind them of something they already know, I’d rather it be something positive.

So I’m aiming for a cheerful, encouraging vibe. I want to tell my listeners (and readers of this blog, while we’re at it) that they are loved, that they are unique, that they can do great things. Maybe it sounds like something you’d tell a kid, but I am a teacher, after all.

Without giving too much detail, three songs I’ve chosen are good examples of this message. Their names are “Answer the Phone”, “Come On Up to the House”, and “One Of Us”. All three are, in their respective ways, about embracing life, love, friendship, etc., even when they’re in the middle of their problems. Solve those problems, yes – but never lose sight of the fact that life is for living.