In Bloom

It’s been a while. In fact, it’s been 2 months since I arrived back from Kenya. The format and purpose of this post, if not the blog itself, is an experiment of self. This post will provide others an peek into my life, and will let me look at myself from a broader angle. I do not intend to toot my own horn; this is meant for me to distill and make sense of the roller coaster ride that is my life.

The Editor and The Music Artist are the two modes in which I live. For that reason, I’ll describe my life updates in these two distinct categories. Just a quick refresher to those unfamiliar: I attend a liberal arts college in Michigan called Kalamazoo College, and my band that I mention is called King Median.

Editing:

  • I’m now a writing consultant at my college’s writing center.
  • I will be an editor for the campus newspaper. Probably the A&E section.
  • Editing for a book that will be commemorating the 40th year of our “Land Sea” program, which is an optional first year orientation where you spend a little more than 2 weeks in the wilderness with students you’ve never met before. A life changing experience, really.
  • I will be writing for my school’s alumnus magazine, Lux Esto. Through the internship my friend interviewed Steven Yeun, one of the main characters of the TV series, The Walking Dead. This year I hope to interview the alum, Jordan Klepper, who’s the new correspondent on the Daily Show.
  • I also may be interning with Second Wave Media, a Michigan magazine devoted to documenting the cities of the state’s infrastructure, development, and growth.

Music:

  • The producer of the documentary, Transparent, that is using my band’s music will be on campus this Friday. Watch the trailer via the Huffington Post here! Fun fact: Kristen Bell has listened to our music as extension by the trailer.
  • Through my school’s recording class I’ll be able to record, for free, in a studio outfitted by Narada Michael Walden, the drummer of Mahavishnu Orchestra who replaced Billy Cobham! He also was the drummer for Jeff Beck, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, and so many more.
  • I’m learning the bass clarinet as part of a music course.

The capitol building while we toured through Lansing

 

Well, it turns out that being in a band serves as a damn good excuse to visit different cities, eat good food, and make new friends. In the past month we’ve played in all of Michigan’s major cities: Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Detroit. The next spot on the map is Chicago and Cleveland.

Ideally, I’d like to set up a tour where we hit through the East Coast and end up at my bandmate’s house in Maine where we can take in the scenery.

Good vibrations.

Leave a comment