"ANOTHER WORLD"

It feels like the right time to share my latest original: Another World.
The song addresses a person -- young, or young at heart -- who is frustrated and striving for a goal that feels "so distant, so far away... a holy grail that you will never find."  

It brings a message of hope:

You will design – another world,

You will devise – a better world,

You will delight – a brighter world.

I am honored to feature the remarkable Maiya Sykes as my vocal partner on the song.  Maiya studied with Nina Simone and has sung with Black Eyed Peas, Macy Gray, and recently Ben Harper.  Check out her music videos on Youtube, which have millions of views.   Once again, the wickedly talented Dan Mackenzie produced the song and gave it a varied palette of soulful R&B, psychedelic rock, and world music.

You can find Another World on Apple Music, Spotify, and Youtube.  Please listen and let me know what you think.

Rather than a traditional music video, I decided for this song to make a series of short visual vignettes (working again with Stacey Reiss and Julia Kots) tracing the arc of world changers from when they were young through their maturity.  The point is that even our most revered heroes were once just idealistic kids trying to create Another World. 

The first portrait is of John Lewis, the civil rights hero we lost this year.  You can find it on Instagram and Facebook.    If you're inclined, please share, like, and the rest. Thanks and see you on the other side...

As the pandemic actually stopped the world, I couldn’t get those words out of my head.  Suddenly, we had more time than ever to contemplate life and what matters most.    

When Modern English released “I Melt With You” in 1982 – a love song set against the fear of nuclear Armageddon – I was 14 years old and just getting into music.  The song was an MTV staple and over time rightly came to be seen as an '80s classic.  

But it was the apocalyptic theme that made it so resonant again now.   Despite dreadful circumstances, passion endures: "There's nothing you and I won't do...."  Hope remains: “The future’s open wide…”     

I approached my producer/collaborator Dan Mackenzie about recording a cover – but with a twist.  I wanted to turn this New Wave rocker into a soulful ballad for these uncertain times.   

I played the tune many times with my Ultrasound bandmate Mitch Kaneff and other friends to figure out a new arrangement, including a 3/4 time signature, which Dan helped to refine.  On the recording, Mitch plays bass, Ultrasound’s Meg Pollaro sings backup vocals (she also appears in the video), Hope Easton contributes the soaring cello, and Dan plays everything else masterfully, including an irresistible mandolin, and also sings backups.   

For the video, I was again fortunate to collaborate with the talented filmmakers Stacey Reiss (who produced and directed it with me), and Julia Kots (who edited).  The expansive drone shots were filmed by 16-year-old drone whiz Zachary Smith. 

The location is one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen: Munn’s Point, a marsh on public land on the East End of Long Island, with a long, angled boardwalk. I found it early this summer while on my daily bike ride and made it my destination most mornings.    The video is a love letter to the natural beauty of the area – the shimmering water, the regal osprey nests, the astonishing light and sunsets.  I hope it will inspire people to preserve spaces like this and join me in supporting organizations including the Peconic Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy.

In early March 2020, just as the scope of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US was becoming clear, I was on a weekend trip with three close friends from college. As we anxiously contemplated the horrors that could unfold, we also wondered what to say to our kids, who range in age from toddler to young adult.     

Despite it all, we agreed, we'd tell them to appreciate the good things in life: The glory of nature. The loyalty of friends. Art and music that inspire us. Our favorite foods. 

Whether straight out of the freezer or from an ice-cream truck whose clanging bell alerted us to its arrival on our street. That seemed liked just the kind of simple pleasure that would evoke a smile in anyone – and remind us to be grateful.  

Mangos are oddly shaped, sweet, and delicious. They're my favorite fruit.  And the word mango is undeniably fun to say and sing.

Sing it, dance to it, share it with your friends!  And most important, remember that despite these tough times (and others that will come), there’s so much good in the world to discover, embrace, and cherish.

Despite it all, the world we know is incredible

Despite it all, the sunshine rays are unstoppable

Despite it all, we persevere, 

Sip tequila, bite some ear

Despite it all, we still enjoy mango popsicle

Despite it all, the time we have is invaluable

Despite it all, music is so inspirational

Despite it all, we watch our shows,

Embrace a life that no one chose 

Despite it all, the lessons learned are indelible

Not hypothetical or theoretical

You don’t need to give up hope

It’s gonna get better… some fine day

Don’t give up your crazy dreams

Keep singin’ your tune

It’ll come out right

Despite it all, our closest friends are phenomenal

Despite it all, we get to ride on a bicycle

Despite it all, we face our fears

Share our memes and laugh through tears 

Despite it all, the life we lead can be magical,

Supernatural, 

Mango Popsicle 

Despite it all, the life we lead is paradoxical