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 Back To Ampersand Index PAGE 18 - Closing Remarks -  Occupying the same 4 years that I would have spent at a music college, this album experience serves as a veritable transcript of the growth of my knowledge and experience from the end of high school until I was 22 years old. What I had done up to this point was largely experimental and eclectic, as I didn't know which facets of my wide range of interests would be important enough for me to commit to my identity. The transition of these 4 years was not only about change and growth, but about retaining part of myself throughout that change. Not only was I challenged with picking the path of inception into a new period of my life, or with making that combination work in the first place, but I did not want to abandon the things which were once important to me. My friend, Chris Stiles, used to tell me in high school that "every relationship is a reaction to the last," meaning, you are indefinitely, yet inevitably bound to your past. How you deal with your own history and the circumstances that have been given to you is what defines the way you live your life. Which elements of this record will carry on to the next one? I don't know, but this record will allow me to never forget what was important to me at one point in time. While I never intend on reaching a standstill in my life's creative odyssey, I do feel that the culmination of this specific chapter is more significant than most. The catalyst of that change is due entirely to Paul Wertico himself, who is responsible for providing me with the knowledge and education requisite to facilitate such a mental and spiritual growth. I've noticed in the last year that while we reside in the same neighborhood of the creative universe, we are still two different entitites, comprised of very different thoughts and ideas, which make for a very prolific and harmonious collaboration. Having him actually play on the record that was the result of studying with him was a truly meaningful experience, not to mention getting to have one of the best drummers in history play drums on your record. I cannot thank him enough for sharing his gift of playing on the record, but most importantly, for passing some part of his intangible creative adroitness on to me. The process of making this record was one of entirely positive energy. I can't remember a single moment when I became frustrated or upset with the way things were turning out. I can't remember a single moment when I became sick of hearing something or exhausted while trying to fix something. It's one of the few records I've made that once completed, I can listen to in a completely uninhibited mindset. There's not a single compromise that was made or a thing I can hear now that I would want to change or improve upon. As I mentioned earlier, I've decided to share this documentation of my thoughts in the hope that at least one person will glean something useful in the same way that I've done countless times thanks to the generosity of other musicians/artists/filmmakers. Most DVDs seem to have audio commentaries, and most people who buy DVDs are not filmmakers, so I can only assume that this transitive creativity is not unique to my own experiences. I hope that you find some of my thoughts and ideas to be useful to you, in whatever way you choose. But for the most part, the thought occupying my mind and soul at the conclusion of this record is, "I can't wait to start the next one. After cleaning the basement and playing some videogames."   03.20.07 - The day Ampersand was mailed to get pressed. |