Chrome-Chartered Motorcoach (the I-17 musings of a musician)
I’m sitting front row on a chrome-chartered motorcoach heading south down the I-17, fresh out of Flagstaff. This weathered road has been carved rugged by many winters of ice, like a sculpture forever unfinished beneath the eternal stroke of one cool hand. I glance around as cold cut sandwiches are cherished by three generations of hungry mouths after a long, triumphant day on the slopes with All On Board, a non-profit that takes less fortunate youths up to the mountain to learn the lay of the lifts. Many of these kids have never seen snow before, let alone felt the divine grace of sliding across fresh powder, like that first-ever taste of an ice cream cone. I witnessed anticipation, discomfort, frustration, perseverance, enlightenment, joy and everything in between as these kids strapped into their skis and boards to embark on a brand new experience…
This trip has me excited to announce some BIG NEWS and as a member of my closest circle, I want you to be the first to know that on Friday, April 21st I will release my debut EP, followed by a release show on Saturday, April 22nd at Valley Bar in downtown Phoenix. This show will be my finest curation to date and I promise that I will do everything in my power to make this an experience that leaves you more connected with life, as beautiful and strange as it is.
The EP contain five songs, four of which have already been released as singles and may be streamed on your preferred platform HERE. The final, unreleased single of the EP is entitled “Sand To Snow,” which is a Psychedelic Indie/Pop Ballad that unfolds a transformative journey across Dali-esque lands.
Photo by Kyle Spratt
Sand To Snow will also be accompanied by a music video directed by Chase Warren, who also directed the music video for my song “Where She At” (day one of the video shoot below). This recent video was one of my favorite projects to date, introducing me to a whole new crew of amazing creators who not only worked on the video, but who were involved with this year’s Indie Film Fest in downtown Phoenix (pink carpet pictured right), in which the video was featured under the music video category. If you haven’t seen the video yet, you can check it out HERE and please be sure to subscribe to the channel while you’re there, which helps us stay connected and lets YouTube know that we are doing a good job of capturing the hearts of our viewers <3
Photo by Harrison Hargrave
Photo by Kyle Spratt
Back to the bus, as I sit here digesting my Turkey/Provolone sandwich with dozens of exhausted teenagers watching Remember The Titans, I’m filled with gratitude for the experiences I’ve been given and for the opportunity to give them back to others. I like the idea of Life as a series of opportunities we either seize or let slip away. They come in many shapes and sizes, from an offer to go snowboarding, to a music video shoot, to the very air that we breathe. I know that this perspective would be difficult to have all the time, especially when life seems to dish out constant obstacles. However, I’m certain it’s a lot easier to recognize these opportunities when we have a song to sing – and I have a few to lend.
I look forward to bringing you the release of this record, a 3 year in-the-making production sculpted by the heart and soul.
Photo by Rob Rigolfi
Thank you for stepping into my world here and I have just one last thing to mention. If you’ve been here with me for a while, you probably know that my music and overall outlook on life is heavily influenced by my experiences in nature. April 22nd also happens to be Earth Day, which is almost 3 years to the day after I released the first single of this EP, “Everything (That I Need)” LISTEN HERE. This song was originally commissioned for a documentary about the Arizona Trail called “Adventure Lives At Home,” created by Dylan Harris. I believe in the healing power of mother nature because I’ve experienced it myself and witnessed it in others time and time again, so I want this show to promote the responsible use, appreciation and conservation of natural land. I need help from individuals and organizations who are interested in being involved with such a celebration because I can’t do it alone and I want to make a difference TOGETHER.
I will have more precise details coming soon, but for the time being, I just wanted to put these I-17 musings out into the universe and I look forward to you joining me on this journey.
With so much Love,
Joey Gutos