Hello everyone! It’s been too long, and there’s a lot of news:

1. Cover art is done, and the new record is officially coming out later this year! Two singles will be released first. I’ll totally be asking you to help get the word out for each release.

2. The patrons who helped fund the work have already heard part of the album and seen the cover images. It’s not too late to get in early. Get lots of freebies (while helping us w/ some of the final costs): brodybond.com/record.

3. SHOWS. I have a handful of shows booked for this year. They’re all on my website, but I wanted to highlight one coming up in Monkton, MD on Saturday 6/11.


» It’s free
» It’s outside
» I’ll be playing w/ a small band
» The hosts are buying all the drinks 

If you want more details, reply to this text and I’ll send you the RSVP email address.

Have you considered hosting a living room show? I’d love to play at your place for your friends. Let’s chat.

I’m super thankful all of you are keeping an eye on this whole thing.

-Brody

Friends! Been a month since the last update. Progress:

»» We are done *recording* The Mo(μ)rning EPs.

Song previews! You can hear short clips of 3 songs at the top of the link below.

I hope you get a sense of why ppl are excited.

Final steps are to mix and master the songs. It’s key to bringing all the parts together brilliantly. We are working with the best.

We could use the help of more patrons to fund this part of the project. Mixing is about $500/song. We are hoping to raise $5,000.

Will you “kickstart” this final phase? You’ll get great perks. (Someone called them “lavish.”) From my own experience, the best part of helping to make art is later having the thing, the song, the record, and feeling like I played a part in its creation.

I’m bullish on this music. I want to invite more of us to have a hand in it. This will be “yours” regardless (on Spotify, etc.) when we’re done. But you helping to finish it is the dream.

Listen to previews of the work here. I‘m still moved by it:

brodybond.com/record

Find out what The Mo(µ)rning EPs project is about: brodybond.com/record

• A community-funded concept album to be released in the public sphere

• Perks for patrons include an all-inclusive release party, original artwork, and more.

Hello, team. THREE THINGS.

ONE — Where we are w/ production for The Mo(µ)rning EPs:

• I recorded vocals last week in Nashville.

• New percussion, guitar, and cello overdubs were recorded in the last few weeks. Guys, it’s so beautiful.

You might get a kick out of learning that it’s the cellist who played on U2’s ‘Songs of Experience.’

This update is admittedly vapid w/o actually *hearing* what I’ve gotten to hear. Patrons have seen some stuff live from the studios, but I’ll be sharing peeks of rough mixes here when I can.

TWO — You can now follow this whole unfolding via email.

If you didn’t get the first email earlier this week and you want in, hit reply here.

Emails likely won’t be as frequent or informal as these texts, but who knows.

THREE — The project’s producer/shepherd, Jeremy Casella, posted a 1-min video update on Marco Polo to patrons a couple days ago. Thought you might want to watch it: brodybond.com/updates

I didn’t think it would be this good when I asked you to follow along…

-brody

Hey peeps. While I was in Nashville 2 weeks ago, I made a video in the hotel room one night for the song “Original Invisible” (link below).

It’s the first track on The Mourning EP—the first half of songs on The Mo(µ)rning EPs project.

There’s a line in this song that’s so helpful for me: “Mystery, fear’s repose and twin.”

It’s not talking about the type of mystery that’s tied to the transcendent and ineffable.

Rather, it’s about relationships where we don’t know how we’ll be received or accepted, despite our best effort of sacrifice, generosity, alignment, and care.

The fear is the *mystery* of how we’ll be treated.

And also then about the sadness of the distance the mystery causes. And the not knowing what to do. And blaming ourself not only for getting it “wrong”, but also blaming ourself for trying so hard to get it impossibly right in the first place.

Anyone been there?

I wonder if *my kids* ever experience this mystery/fear from me. So, this song is a reminder of how I want to act toward those who are trying so hard to love me, especially if I have the power.

Imagine if gravity wasn’t a stable force. Every moment we would have to recalibrate how we move. Mystery is its own type of fear.

Thankfully, love provides both an invitation and a path to a very different way interacting. Love gives freedom.

(The studio work so far on this song renders it absolutely haunting, and I can’t wait for you to hear it next year.)

Have a great Thanksgiving!

That new video for “Original Invisible” is now up on my site at brodybond.com/listen.

Hey hey.

I got back from Nashville a few days ago. Finally stitched together a DAY 3 recap video. It’s the coolest one yet… you’ll actually hear different layers of a song getting built.

We were at Sound Emporium—a beautiful space. You’ll see.

Watch it here: brodybond.com/studio

——

Update. This initial tracking trip was a complete success in laying down the beginning instrumentation of these 10 new songs.

You’ll obviously judge for yourself, but for my taste, the sounds we’re capturing are not only magical, but are also spot on in supporting the essence of each song. In other words, the *songs* are not getting lost in “good production.”

I’m back to Nashville for a short session in December for vocal recording and overdubs. Full 12 song project releases everywhere early 2022.

It’s really, really good.

There will be FUN release party when it’s all done (eventually, cuz Covid). You coming?

More stories and nuances and laughs to share with you as we see each other. Thanks for following along.

-brody ✌️

Friends!

Wanna hear just a peek of what we’re working on in the studio?

There’s a handful of reveals in this 2-minute video from yesterday:

brodybond.com/studio

Recording has started on The Mo(µ)rning EPs!

See the 30-sec Day 1 daily here:

brodybond.com/studio

Today we recorded the first set of instruments for 3 songs. Amazing.

Several hours ago, we had just some songs. Now, we have the shape of some *songs*. The talent of the people working on this is just incredible.

It’s a weird thing: To give the idea of something to a particular group of ppl/musicians/artists and all implicitly say “we’re gonna go make this… whatever it becomes. Let’s go find out.” Trust, intuition, deference, risk.

And of course the greater risk is not taking it.

Shout out to the patrons who are bringing this to life. My hope is that you’ll be so thrilled to say, “No, really. I helped make this.”

I’m sending patrons real-time behind the scenes clips of recording as it happens via the app called Marco Polo. To watch as the music is literally being created. If you want to join in, visit brodybond.com/patrons. There are more perks than just updates ;)

More to come…

-brody

Regardless of any financial participation, your visibility and witness to this work is incredibly important and valuable. Thank you! I’ll continue to give occasional progress updates here on this friends and followers text message service.

I’m so thankful to have these songs that have been so helpful to me. That you or anyone else would hear or enjoy them is astounding.

Check out the song demos! Demo recordings, all the lyrics, an intro video, and more details are all on my website. Link below.

You’re so generous to have read this and to follow along. Cheers. Let’s find out what happens next as we make this project…

❤️❤️

-brody

Peek down the rabbit hole »» click here: brodybond.com/patrons

There’s already a team of patrons who are investing in making The Mo(µ)rning EPs.

We believe the songs might be helpful for others, and we want to be a part of bringing more beauty to the world.

⬇️ ⬇️

I want to ask you to join us.

Become a part of the community of patrons making this.

⬆️ ⬆️

There’s no “minimum.” Anyone can become a patron for any amount.

You get “perks” as thank you gifts. Like the patrons-only Marco Polo group for live updates from the studios. And there are bigger items, like original artwork, free tickets, and more if you can give at certain levels.

Plus, all of us get the joy of saying “I helped make this” when the new music is done. 🙌

(If you want more info, I’m happy to share. Some patrons have enjoyed seeing the details, budget, etc. in the “vision deck.” I’m generally free at 9p ET after the kids go to bed.)

Details about becoming a patron are here: https://brodybond.com/patrons

YOU can be a part of making this new, beautiful work.

Tomorrow: The P.S.

It’s been fun to work slowly on all of this in small pockets of time between my primary foci of serving staff and clients at work, and all the day-to-day family stuff we all do.

I’ve realized a project like this can be so much more than “Brody goes to the studio to record some songs.”

So here’s the deal.

I’ve designed what’s ahead so all of us, not just me, can experience the opportunity of birthing something beautiful into the world.

*WE* are going to make The Mo(µ)rning EPs project as a community-funded work of art that will be available in the public sphere.

We might not be able to fund a new symphony orchestra or other cultural artifact, but perhaps we can make *this* project together.

Tomorrow: Unlikely moment #7 - The unlikely moment that we can create.

In early 2021, I discover a thematic thread running through some of the dozens of new songs I’ve written: Joy comes in the morning and joy comes in the mourning.

So, I create an idea for an album concept. Two 6-song albums, actually:

The Mourning EP, and

The Morning EP

The collected work is called The Mo(µ)rning EPs. I pitch the idea to Jeremy, the producer mentioned earlier.

The NEWS:

We start recording in world-class studios this fall. The aim is to release a fully-produced project in early 2022 that is stunningly beautiful and deeply meaningful.

(You can hear demos of all the songs on the project right now. Details on that coming in tomorrow’s text…)

Pre-production is already complete, and Jeremy has booked musicians to play on this project who have played on Grammy-winning records.

This whole chain of events has created an amazing opportunity to bring standing and life to a beautiful collection of songs.

Tomorrow: Unlikely moment #6 – The right now.

Summer 2020. I eventually send a couple of these demos to Jeremy Casella, a songwriter, singer, producer, and friend who lives in Nashville.

His response to the songs was like Leroy’s: “Dude. Yes. You have to record some of these. I’ll be your producer.”

We decide I would drive to Nashville to record 2 of the songs. I think I’m going to record just a nice little thing for my kids to have some day. We end up creating something special.

A painter makes the “cover art” for these new songs, and we release them as singles.

You can hear these two new fully-produced songs on any music service. Just search for my name.

Tomorrow: Unlikely moment #5 – A thread emerges…

2020. Covid hits. I keep writing all year. The songs keep giving me helpful language as some things (about myself) — or my imagined versions of those things — are breaking.

I occasionally send demos of some of the songs to a handful of friends. Their responses are pretty incredible. Tears. Texts. Conversation points. One song plays as part of a sermon somewhere in Virginia.

Here’s the discovery: These personal songs are somehow not about me. They tap into something more archetypal about our shared experience. Pain. Disorder. Hope. Reorder. Trust. Resurrection.

I wasn’t writing to bring language to other people’s stuff, but here we are.

Tomorrow: Unlikely moment #4 – I texted a music producer…

Summer of 2019 I keep writing. Songs about how to respond with hope to disorientation, fear, and feelings of loss.

That fall, I decide to host a house show to perform all of these new songs. I expect about 25 people to come. Dozens of people show up, and we have this magical night.

Later, my friend Erik invites me to play in Richmond. Packed event. Then my friend Sarah invites me to play at Cunningham’s Cafe here in Towson. Packed event.

Each time, people are singing along to songs they’ve never heard before. It’s all very cool.

Tomorrow: Unlikely moment #3 – A discovery…

In early 2019, I find myself writing new songs. Late nights usually. Laying on the floor usually. Crying occasionally. It’s all very odd.

Songs about the danger of creating arbitrary boundaries and unnecessary exclusion. Songs about the effects of losing and searching for power and identity and love. And songs about my kids.

My friend Leroy, an exceptional musician, comes over one night to play these songs with me. Two things happen.

One, the songs come _alive_. I know I like the new songs. I don’t know they could sound like *that*.

Two, Leroy says to me, “Dude. How do you write songs like this? I love these.”

Leroy’s encouragement nudges a ball to start rolling.

Tomorrow: Unlikely moment #2 – People started singing…

🪃 🪃 🪃

Hello! Brody here. Thanks for being curious enough to track along with this ever-emerging project. I’m hoping you’ll be glad you are.

The number of people on this text updates list has been growing since last year when it started as a way for friends to follow along during a quick jaunt to Nashville to record a couple songs.

👉👉 Got some NEWS to share. So…

Each day this next week (except Halloween), I will send you a text to bring everyone up to speed on the story, to share the news 🍾,, and…

to invite you to something that’s likely different than anything we’ve done before.

Here we go. Text #1 is coming in about 2 minutes…

Hey peeps-

Happy to let you know that VIDEOS from the preview show for The Mo(µ)rning EPs are now online.

It’s actually only some of them. I’ll post the rest as I can. So hit “follow” or whatever on social media to see updates.

*** I would love to play one more proper “album preview show” before leaving for Nashville on Nov. 11th to start recording these songs. If you’re possibly interested in hosting, reply to this text (it only goes to me). This would be FREE for you. And it’s probably easier than you think. Take the risk 💪 ***

This project—The Mo(µ)rning EPs—is happening because some of us really believe in these songs. It’s capturing some version of hope that is only accessible through some version of pain. You’ve been so kind in your feedback about the songs and the risk and the work here.

Here ya go on the new videos:

➡️ Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/pg/brodybond/videos/

➡️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFEdKf-5drlRUgMdDprDNF6tH3NKA55mt

More details on the project coming soon.