At 10,000 feet, Baldy was winning. Every step was a struggle, and four hours in, Jill and I were seriously reflecting on whether or not we had bitten off more than we could chew with this mountain. We had exhausted all techniques to distract our bodies from shutting down -- singing songs, counting steps to one hundred, dreaming about food, anything to forget that our legs were turning to jelly. “Forget this, I’d rather surf,” was a common quote that afternoon. The struggle was real (I can’t even imagine Everest), but after pushing all morning and afternoon, we made it to the summit. We could have taken the ski lift up halfway and walked the easier route along the ridge, but we chose to start at the bottom and hike 4,000 feet. I’ll just say it was worth it...although we did take the ski lift down.

So we're down to the last few gigs of the year with Rayvon. Thursday was Johnson and Wales in Miami, and next week we head to Harrisburg, PA for our final show.  2014 has been the year of travel, between college tour dates, vacations, camping trips, and a couple of unexpected detours.  All of it has been a blessing, and I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to run around the USA and beyond, but it’s hard to keep up the duties of being an independent musician in the 21st century.
 

get disheartened, but focusing on others is just a waste of energy. I have to tell myself two things: make good music, and just keep doing it. Every solid song, video, and other content I put out is another upward step that gets me where I'm trying to go. If that’s my mentality, every step will be a strong step in the right direction. Also, the journey of hiking the trail with friends is just as amazing as reaching the summit, and I wouldn’t trade the touring with Rayvon, the album-making with John Flanagan and Nashville friends, the photoshoots with Jill, or countless other experiences I’ve had for an easy out to the summit.

On a side note: Rayvon Owen's video finally premiered! I helped produce the record and the video, so check it out here: Sweatshirt - Official Music Video