Started recording demos for album iv (Patreon)

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quick updates which i will elaborate in another post

we found a new bassist. he's awesome. out-of-town gigs have been frequent, tiring, and fulfilling. the whole team is motivated, including our sound tech, roadies, and ate modi. the ridleys became more than just benny, jan, bryant, and modi - we're a whole team. the way things are going, the ridleys even includes our listeners.

what is the ridleys? to me, it's a happy accident. it's the most unlikely blessing in my life. this was just supposed to be a one-time thing, with a band name that we didn't think too seriously about. it's funny to me that the ridleys still alive after 9 years and still striving with no signs of stopping soon.

last night, we recorded 2 demos. the process brought me back to our early days as a band, jamming with so much joy and passion. lots of good guitar/bass lines and drum patterns were written last night. do i want to let you hear them? i doooo, but i also don't want to ruin the surprise.

this really feels like a new chapter for the ridleys. seeing our growth in the past years makes me want to rename the band and give it a more fitting name. hahaha. i wouldn't do that for business reasons, but in my heart, my band has a new name.

if i could do it all over again, knowing what i know now, i would name the band "nowhere chapel." the band was initially a way for me to run away from God, but he had other plans. unexpectedly, this is where he met me. in the van, on stage, at drinking sessions with the team, backstage talking to the organizers, silent moments at home thinking about the gigs that happen - God meets me in the most unlikely places.

you may have noticed that i haven't been active here. i'm also hesitant to be active on social media. haven't made a post for the ridleys in a few days. but that's okay; i feel no guilt.

im living life aware of God's love, seeing people through his eyes, having the most lovely conversations, and getting to tell people in person that they can experience this love, too.

if we're able to capture this experience of love in album iv - poetically, musically, and sonically - then this album will be something special.

let the work begin.