// Letters to YVYNYL // 

OM Collective - Icaro Ayamura

 / Today, I opened my mailbox and got a package with some outrageous but amazing goodies. First, a fully-written old school Letter on paper! From Australia! The package was so cool, my kids were trying to claim them as their own. My 3 year old daughter said that the rainbow-man USB stick is now her’s. But luckily, she let me have it back long enough for me to plug it in and listen (and download) the music. Meantime, I scanned the letter for you, lovely readers. Timothy James Ferson goes deep for us, his shamanistic approach to life and music. I share many of his experiences with the magic plants of our globe and understand where he’s coming from. Why don’t you join us for the ride. Listen to this one track of his gorgeous new album, hot off the presses. 

Mark,

I’ve thought about writing this letter for about 5 years. That is, since I was 5 years into writing the album that has dominated my life for the last 10 years. It’s called ‘A Collection of Mr. Kite’s Open Mind’.

I guess I’m sort of Mr. Kite, I guess this 80 minute trip is a sort of collection of my mind, at least in the Japanese sense of the word… [the Japanese & Chinese character (‘shin’) is translated as both heart AND mind.

In a way, that one character is a symbol of the entire album… A quarter of my life documenting the exercises, experiences & obstacles in my journey towards open-heartedness & open-mindedness… - indued into one fancy-ass USB.

To begin with, these songs were experiments dominated by time-signatures & concepts. One day, one of my friends played me the first two tracks while I was tripping on Hawaiian Baby Woodrose seeds. For the first 30 seconds, during the opening crescent, I didn’t recognize what I was hearing. When it hit me, & I sat in silence, for 11 minutes, listening back to the recordings I had been working on for 6 months. 

When it finished, my friend asked, “How do you feel?”

I said, “I feel like I got more out of it than I thought I put into it.”

He said, “What does that mean??”

I said, “I didn’t realize I was feeling anything when I was making it. But meaning it back I could hear all the relics I must have been putting into it.”

He looked at me, again baffled, like ‘Hoe did you just know what you were feeling when you made it?’

I realized then that I had a peculiar ‘some might use the word ‘diagnosable’ inability to feel my own feelings, but that i could use music like a mirror, in which I could see clear reflections of my own emotional state. 

Suddenly, these songs became experiments in understanding my own feelings. I’m trying to refrain from using absolute statements at the moment, but it could be said that that was one of the most significant moments of my life. Top 10. To be safe. 

-

I nonchalantly mention psychedelics there, but as afraid as I am of ACOWKOM being surmised as ‘another one about drugs,’ I also have pride & honour in saying that the entire album is actually a dedication to the first time I experienced psilocybin mushrooms. [ - also one of the most significant moments of my life… Top 5. Significant enough for me to have dedicated a quarter of my life to a work of gratitude for the effects these plants have had on my life; on my relationships; on my wellbeing.]

Despite psilocybin most likely becoming decriminalized for therapeutic use in the US in the next 5-10 years, I recognize that magic mushrooms aren’t for everyone & in a way, this album is more for those who haven’t taken & wouldn’t take mushrooms, than those who have. I spent so many years imbuing the love & learnings that have developed in my life catalyzed by that first trip into these sounds. If a listener opens themselves, it’s been my sincerest intention from the beginning that they will receive the message in this music - audio - mushroom - style - & literally feel their heart, their mind, their life altered. That said, a piece of me - if I’m honest - does hope that people experience ACOWKOM with headphones on, in a supremely safe space, altered by some plant-substance, to experience it in its fullness. But again, if I’m honest, that’s the same piece of me that is scared that I haven’t made something good enough to experience sober. 

-

Anyway, this thing is coming out on the 10th anniversary of when I started writing the first songs for it (May 20, 2019). I worked on the recordings for 7 years (mostly full-time, learning how to play most of the instruments & produces as I went along), & have started writing a new album now, which is probably-but-hopefully-not another 10 years off completion. Don’t let the word out, but I’ve never been a big blog fan. I have followed your journey for a long time though. I feel it is the most genuine & connecting & least superficial piece of musical internet I have come across in my years kissing blog-ass. I sincerely respect what you’ve been doing, & I’ve always loved writing letters.

I hope these sounds move you, & I hope that - if you choose to share - all this work of yours & mine adds true value to any who come across it.

Thank you for your time & ears & heart & mind.

Blessings,

Timothy James Ferson

AKA OM Collective

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