Generation / Harvest by Channelers

Channelers, artist and composer Sean Conrad, is elated to unveil the release of his latest album, “Generation / Harvest”. As with all Channelers albums, this collection was crafted one track at a time, one layer at a time, without a predetermined destination. The music flows organically, capturing the essence of Conrad's creative process and allowing the sounds to take on a life of their own. He says, “For me, the act of creation is like looking into a mirror and whatever version of myself I see there I put into the work. It’s a way of expressing ‘I am here right now.’ And with that there is a layering effect of multiple selves overlapping in time.”

“Generation / Harvest” weaves together various threads of inspiration, including a rediscovery of piano improvisations from early 2018 that evolved into the deep and spacious "Treat Each Other" and the light and pensive "Fleet To Air." Conrad breathed new life into these tracks, adding new layers and connecting them to his present musical expression. Similarly, tracks from the sessions for Time, Space, and Thought in January 2022 were revisited, edited, and layered to create pieces like the acoustic fingerstyle guitar led "Under That White Sky," and the diptych of "Generation" and "Harvest." This ability to transform and find potential in previously discarded compositions is demonstrative of Conrad’s dedication to letting the pieces reveal themselves in their own time.

Drawing on an artist residency in Nevada City, CA, Conrad found inspiration in the (mostly) serene surroundings of a forested farm, overlooking a tranquil pond frequented by geese and ducks (there was one incident where he spilled coffee everywhere after a crow flew into the window a couple feet from his face). The atmospheric cabin, with its skylights allowing the sound of thunderous rain, became a haven for creativity. From this experience, tracks like "Holding The Ember" and "Brushed With Dusk" emerged, capturing the essence of Conrad's time in this setting.

The album also features evocative piano improvisations recorded during a visit to Los Angeles for his grandmother's 101st birthday celebration in April 2023. The resonance of his father's Baldwin grand piano resulted in meditative pieces like "Given Of Ourselves" and "Waves Wash Over." He reflects on the experience of recording these pieces: “Just doing very simple chords and melodies feels incredible, because it’s such a large and resonant instrument. When I play some of those low notes, I can really feel the vibrations through my whole body. It’s just such a joy to goof around with and record with, even if the jams don’t end up really being worth listening to after the fact.”

"Generation / Harvest" is a sonic fusion that defies easy categorization, blending elements of acoustic folk, jazz, 20th-century minimalism, and meditative improvisation centered around drones. Channelers' artistic touchstones, including Popol Vuh, Laraaji, Alice Coltrane, and Joanna Brouk, contribute to the album's aesthetic. This is the kind of music to let gently wash over you, without expectation for twists and turns. Relax and let it unfold at its own pace.

Channelers is the art and music of Sean Conrad (me).

I'm based in Seattle, Washington. I also run the Inner Islands label. There are other things I do too.

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