While I’ve done a lot of work with music before, this was the first time fully writing out songs for ukulele, and one of the few instances where I write words to my music too. I originally just wanted to make one song, Buried in the Sand, but after the positive response I receive when performing it at a Cru meeting (I went with a friend from my summer job at an escape room), I decided to make a full album, and boy am I glad that I did.
The whole album is an exploratory work that uses the metaphor of being stranded on an island to represent my current state of mind, at least at the time of writing these songs. I was optimistic at the start of my voyage into adulthood, but quickly realized I was largely unprepared for what was in store. The latter half of the album goes deep with the emotions I choose to express, all being present at one point or another in my life. As is with most of my other work, the darker parts of my life and conscious are where inspiration strikes the hardest, but I do have a positive upturn at the very end, as I had accepted this new life of mine, holding out hope for my future.
I was able to complete the entire album in just over two months this summer, while staying at my grandparents’ shore house in Ocean City for my work. Between spending so much time with my grandparents, having a blast at my escape room job, and writing this album, I could say it was one of the best summer vacations I’ve had. Since I pieced together everything really quickly though, I realized that there were some issues with some of the recordings, so I hope to re-record them after completing my audio production class, having learned a lot more about taking quality recordings.