Everything is Growing, Am I?

Hi reader,

The days kept passing and I repeatedly told myself that I’d get to my EP Release newsletter “tomorrow!” Here we are a month later, and I’ve yet to write to you all! My deepest apologies for the delay, but I know that if you’re invested in listening to my worlds that you’ve already had time to get familiar with this EP.

Perhaps this wait was worth it, as I’ve had time to reflect on what this project means to me after a month of it being out. Truth be told, with all the preparation for the EP release show and the aftermath of a move, there was too much happening for me to really devote my time to writing to you all. Now the time has passed, and I’m in Montreal celebrating all that I’ve been fortunate to create the last two years and it has hit me like a breathtaking view.

Everything Is Growing, Am I? is a never-ending ode to change, a cycle of songs that are meant to capture feelings I don’t think will ever go away. Each song is strong on its own, but all together they tell a different story. I’m sure you’ve been able to find your own differences in the context of the whole EP. Please feel free to share your findings with me, I love nothing more than talking about music.

Until Death is both a lament and the hopeful glimmer near the end of a depressive episode. The realization of life’s perpetual habits of joy → sadness → joy again helped me realize I could rewrite my reality. I could put myself in new situations that would reinvigorate my joie de vivre. Worship is more of an external realization, where there are outside forces that validate the inner desire to change. This spurs a grandiose reflection on humanity within In The Sun. Supported by a chorus of youth voices, the narrator discusses the ancient song that we sing to ourself, for all of eternity.

With newfound inner confidence, the EP shifts in energy to Me Ti Gi. This song is all about becoming, someone new, someone you love or a higher collective. Masked as a club banger, the song containers a deeper message of human connection. Following this message is Like No Other, where this theme of becoming evolves. We are all things at once, every ancient song, every joy and every pain; and through recognizing this comes the opportunity to be anything our hearts desire. Rounding out the EP is Till Until, an elegy to all this endless becoming. At any moment, we can uproot the garden of our lives, and plant seeds to grow into a greater love. And when this EP ends and the journey concludes, you can start it all over, as this cycle repeats as the earth turns.

I would be remiss not to mention the merchandise for this era. I’ve always dreamed of pressing my music on vinyl and was finally able to make that happen with this EP. Featuring two vinyl-exclusive live recordings, and a bottle clear pressing, it’s a beautiful limited edition to add to your collection. To place an order, please use this form.

I also created a newspaper, used as a prop for a project detailed later in this newsletter. The insert of this newspaper is a lyric booklet for the EP, and features photos from various shoots that expanded on EIGAI’s Mythology. If you’re interested, do let me know!

With all the music reflecting change and natural connection, I wanted to ensure that that the main merch (clothing) was unique and as carbon friendly as possible. Two friends of mine created digital designs, and rather than order in bulk from a large company, I up-cycled clothing, cut stencils and used fabric safe paint to create the merchandise myself.

This process ended up awakening a new side of creativity for me, which allowed for each shirt to be “like no other.” No two pieces of merch ended up being the same color or design, truly creating something unique for each piece. It was so fun getting to craft something that isn’t music, and I’m so happy with how they all turned out. I have plenty left if you’d like your own, and am happy to take size and color requests.

I feel as if I could ramble about all of these songs, the threads that connect them all and how the corresponding visuals bring them to life. As fun as that would be for me, I do not create to mimic a lecture. These songs are now yours and I am happy to let their life be given to you on your own terms.

I’ve made a playlist that features all the music that inspired this record, so you can hear a bit more of the world I dream in. And while I have your attention, please be sure to check out all the music videos that accompany this EP. I just released the video for Me Ti Gi and could not be more proud of what me and the team created.

This video was incredibly ambitious; a 12 hour shoot with multiple choreography rehearsals and a professional stylist on hand. The director had a vintage TV that I was “hooked” up to while reading a newspaper I created, and this quickly led us to the fantasy of hacking into the earth’s matrix. A club dedicated to human connection, where everyone exchanges experiences and reconnects to their inner psyche, and in turn back to nature. Sprinkled in is the Pentozali, a five step Greek Folk dance. Incorporating my culture into my work is always a passion of mine, and it fit very well into this video, especially with the Greek chorus! I hope you enjoy the whole visual.

That is all from me today my muses. As always, thank you for your support, love and kindness. You make this all the more worthwhile.

~tommy