Penn's sophomore solo record "Experiencing Turbulence" is comprised of songs whose lyrics, inspiration, and musical style are a combination of eclectic variety best described as: the political-mindedness of Bob Dylan & Nahko Bear; the cleverness and thought-evoking hilarity of Todd Snider; the finger-picking and gruffness of Kris Kristofferson; the catchiness and upbeat rhythm of Langhorne Slim; the soul and infectiousness of Allen Stone & Trevor Hall; and the timeless story songs of Arlo Guthrie & Townes Van Zandt. It is an experiment into how music can combine political undertones, spontaneous playing patterns, stories, and satirical lyricism to be memorable, catchy, & entertaining, yet remain authentic to who Penn is as an artist. The lyrical stories (often partially-spoken when performed live) serve as the backbone of this album, depicting the alienating struggle of a new musician searching for inspiration, purpose, and enlightenment. Or something like that. We're all just experiencing a little turbulence...