june 2024: angels in the architecture

hey,

I’ve been thinking about celebration. I’ve never been inclined to celebrate much - birthdays, achievements, milestones… and I never really know how I want to celebrate things. I’m thinking about this because my birthday is coming up in a few weeks and I have no idea how I want to spend it. I think I’ve always feared that celebrating has to be this big thing, like throwing a huge party and inviting everyone I know - and I don’t enjoy drawing attention to myself (ironic in this line of work, I know).

but over the last month I’ve found myself realising that celebrating actually is really important. not for the ego or any sort of self-aggrandising purpose, but for the sake of marking a moment. and it certainly doesn’t have to be a big thing. but something that will make you feel good, and importantly, something you’ll remember. we all work so hard, constantly, towards goals and things we want to achieve — but what is the point of goals if we don’t enjoy it when we achieve them? Is it worth climbing a mountain if you don’t take a moment to enjoy the view from the top? Is it worth going to all that effort to get to the top, only to instantly start making your way back down and onto the next mountain? yes - it’s important to keep moving - but if you don’t mark that achievement by taking in the view, jumping up and down, honestly anything to remember that achievement by - what’s it worth? in 10 years time you’re not going to remember that mountain, and each step you took to get up there — but you might remember that view.

anyway, all this to say there is a lot to celebrate - life is good, and we’re so lucky to be here. it’s a note to myself to celebrate more often. see the angels in the architecture.

june was a good month. I released a new song, Technicolo(u)r, all about infatuation and devotion, almost to an obsessive extent. thank you for listening and showing it so much love. I played in acoustic show last week in Sydney (technically july, I know, but this letter is already late so I’ll include it). the show was perfect. I made mistakes and it was so intimate that I was terrified. a sold-out room full of people sitting in dead silence, watching my every move - I caught myself worrying that it was too intimate and they didn’t want to be there. anxiety can make us think strange things, but I reminded myself they wouldn’t have come if they didn’t want to. I say it was perfect because after the show a few people came and thanked me for the experience they had. that felt special to me. they weren’t complimenting my performance or telling me they had a good time, but thanking me for the opportunity to be there. that made me feel like I’d done my job right. that’s what I’m here for, that’s what I want my music to do - give people an experience they’ll remember, something that will make an impact. mark a moment. make them feel something. so thank you for being part of such a special evening.

speaking of shows - it’s also just been announced that I’ll be joining my friend Blake Rose on his Australian tour in August. Blake has been a true friend and support of mine since the beginning of my solo project, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to tour the country with him - especially excited to get to Adelaide and Perth for the first time in years! I believe the Sydney and Adelaide shows are All Ages too, so I hope you can make it to one of them. tickets are available at Blake’s website.

I’ll see you soon.

much love,

chris