javenbear

The Lord’s Day

After church, someone in the circle brought up the age-old question, “So what are we allowed to do on Sunday anyway?” Being a student requires me to read and to listen to lectures for many hours each week. What follows are not my own ideas – but a condensed version of reading from Peter Scazzero’sContinue reading “The Lord’s Day”

all i know

I wrote this song one night while sitting on the floor of the room in the cover photo. Then, it still had bare studs and a plywood floor. It’s about the enneagram, and a girl, and it kind of borrows from a Springsteen song. To record, I put some delay and distortion on my nylonContinue reading “all i know”

good old days

This is my disbelieving smile: to those who say that we’re headed for hell – to those who say we’ve come so much farther than any other people – to those who say the good old days were so much different than today. My friends, these are the good old days. And we too willContinue reading “good old days”

in your arms

This is my favorite song on this album. It’s about having somewhere to run when the world around affords no place to hide, a bridge to walk up under when the road is getting driving rain. It’s a very short, simple song. I wrote it while sitting at my desk – then recorded it theContinue reading “in your arms”

to the sea

I was on a surfing trip in Charleston with some of my best friends when this song came to me. It was late at night, and I was sitting up in a stranger’s living room. Then I went to Corey’s house, and helped me record it. It’s about getting washed clean of everything that isn’tContinue reading “to the sea”

with you

I wrote this song after a basketball game one night. I had played really bad, and gotten really frustrated. It’s the longest song on the album, and took the most work to record. Tristan was staying at my house one weekend, so I made him help me. He played the percussion, some guitar, sang someContinue reading “with you”

Volume 3: “A Wide Open Room”

This is the third “album” of demos I am sending into the world. They are five songs I’ve written and recorded over the last year or so. I’ll post one a day for about a week. The album is called “A Wide Open Room.” It feels like my future is bright and open. There is soContinue reading “Volume 3: “A Wide Open Room””

Donald Trump and Country Music

I like to think that I have logical, well developed reasons for liking and not liking the things around me. Yet when I really examined why I prefer what I do, the answer was not what I expected – it was a little disappointing to be honest. Donald Trump and country music have always heldContinue reading “Donald Trump and Country Music”

What Is “Old Town Road” About Anyway?

I recently became fascinated with “Old Town Road,” which has topped charts and become a sensation. I’d heard it played several times before I looked up the lyrics and was somewhat shocked. But the longer I thought about it, the more curious I became. And I came up with three ideas of what this songContinue reading “What Is “Old Town Road” About Anyway?”

Stranger Things

It is the Fourth of July, and I’m sitting on a brown couch at 1:40 a.m. waiting on season three of Stranger Things. I have an hour to tell you why this show is so good, so true. I’ve heard people say that they’re able to watch it, even though it is scary, because it’sContinue reading “Stranger Things”