The contrasts of the rural and urban in the Pacific Northwest can give way to expansive impressions of emotion and sound. It can be bewildering and confusing to even those who have spent their entire lives here. One can go weeks in a slump of murky disparity, socked-in by the overwhelming grey, only to be rejuvenated by a short afternoon clearing. Such is what makes the long and difficult days of toiling at the monotonous pursuit of our commissions tolerable. The tunnels are steep and long, and they take resolute determination to navigate to the other side. The light is dim. But when it’s still understood that the light is on, and when it’s known that the shore is still out there, the only thing to do is to keep moving forward. No one will say it is easy, or that it’s fair, or free. These songs do not whitewash these realities, to be sure. Common struggles throughout, the nature of these reoccurring contrasts offer a perspective of hope firmly grounded in the strife of now. The juxtaposition of the urban and rural sounds color the palate with this shared theme. Whether plowing the field at the old farm in Arlington or construction odds and ends in the endless gentrification of Seattle, there is money to be made. Unfortunately, it’s not getting any easier. Those who adopt a resourceful nature will have the most luck as they lay out their course. Fatigue is a given and failure is a brutal stalemate when there is no clear road to take. Sometimes the comfort of a collective story is refreshing enough; the triumph of simple determination can be uplifting. In other cases, should the need to escape become overwhelming, there is still time to drink and dance. In any case, I hope you find what you’re looking for.