Ringing Fields by David Bales

I thought I would be dead within a few months, maybe a year. Contemplating my mortality motivated me to challenge myself as a guitarist. There was an urgency to this project, but it was also important not to rush the process. I wanted to let my influences and ancestors flow through me without aiming for a particular style or sound, to find my way organically. Although these songs were created in a period of pain, illness, fear, and anger, there was also always joy, friendship, and love. And humor, much dark humor. I didn't want the songs to become melodramatic, no false drama or obligatory build-ups. I attempted to transcend the pain, fear, and anger without denying its existence, while allowing myself to feel and express joy, beauty and love. Staying centered in uncertainty. As the months went by, I learned more about my condition, and the treatments went well, so it seems that my demise is not imminent. But the urgency to create persists.
These songs are a new beginning, a complete change of style and technique for me. Perhaps a re-centering. These songs were recorded with no overdubs, edits, or "fixes" of any sort. There are 13 different tunings on this album. I concocted these tunings on my own, through trial-and-error, and using partial and full capos. Sometimes my note choices may seem questionable, but that's how I like it. These songs were written and played on standard electric and acoustic guitars, a high-strung guitar, and a 3/4 scale guitar. I hope I worked through the project enough so that the songs reflect the universal themes of joy, fear, pain, perseverance, grief, and love.

Experimental psych/punk/noise guitarist, making up tunings and fingerpicking on electric and acoustic instruments.