The opening delayed guitar riff always evoked images of watching one of those amazing night-sky time lapse videos from some remote desert location, and the sense of awe and wonder it inspires. Thus, the title Canyon.
After wandering the US Southwest through the web, I learned about the Diné (Navajo) concept of Hózhǫ́ -- it means, “walk in beauty, a place of harmony, blessing, a state of holy being, or a peaceful place." In short, this word seems to encompass beauty, order, harmony, and the idea of striving for a balanced life. I decided it was a great descriptor of the feeling I get when awed by nature and decided to incorporate that word sung as if reflecting off the canyon walls.
To illuminate the majestic facet I believe is also inherent in Hózhǫ́, I asked Joe Deninzon of Stratospheerius to contribute some incredibly emotional electric violin work. Please support him online at
joedeninzon.com and
stratospheerius.bandcamp.com
At the time of this release, the world is in a pretty grave state. Working on this music has provided me with great focus and peace. I hope it can provide the same to you.
Special thanks to Kaitlyn Miller at Mercy Volunteer Corps, whose site I discovered when researching online:
www.mercyvolunteers.org/2016/01/hozho/
released April 10, 2020
Eric Pseja - Drum programming, synthesizers, guitar, bass, and vocals
Joe Deninzon - Electric violin and awesomeness
Lindsay Pseja - Spoken word