Across Water by Jessica Ackerley and Patrick Shiroishi

There is something special about this moment in time. As the world continues to burn and crumble around us, I am in awe of watching people whom I know, old and new, create music and art that speaks of love, loss, giving, and grief. Across Water represents much more than a few compositions split between two of this generation’s greatest thinkers, but four big hugs from members of my own family.

Jessica Ackerley (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Patrick Shiroishi (Los Angeles, California) are household names (at least in my expansive circle) at this point. Both are members of the newly announced super-family-group SSWAN (along with trumpeter Chris Williams, drummer Jason Nazary, and bassist Luke Stewart). Both have prolific outputs and work diligently to push the boundaries of their respective instruments and previous musical ideas.

Jessica contributes to this collection with “I Am Here” and “The Crevices Between My Heart”. Perhaps my bias overrunneth, but their time in HI. has clearly influenced the tones, tender structuring, and pacing of these musical demonstrations. With the influence of the water present, both pieces breathe deeply of someone who has reflected much on their relationship with not only sound, but the environment. In particular, the guitar and synth work on the second composition gives way to visuals of deep-sea life that can only sustain itself away from the hustle and bustle of crowdedness.

Having sat in on a recent recording session with Jessica, I can speak to their dedication to all things seen, and not, in terms of organismic relatability.

Similarly, Patrick is no stranger to straddling the fine lines between subtle and overt emotionality. “Because You Went There” and “Leaving It All Behind” are his lendings to this album, and while Jessica’s pieces, whether intentional or not, represent the watery side of the spirit, Patrick’s contributions look to the sky. The sweet and smoggy California air seems to inspire the multi-instrumentalist to hover above the LA streets and observe what the typically land-grounded mortal cannot.

I’ve written about Patrick Shiroishi several times over the years, and his earnest approach using sound to connect with every single being he encounters constantly leaves me in a state of hopefulness.

Sure, these are my people. But, Across Water is my people making music for all people. And like every project that passes, I’m so glad to have learned more about those people… and ultimately myself in the process.

Gabriel Jermaine Vanlandingham-Dunn
cow: Music/ Astral Spirits Records
(2022, Brooklyn, NY)

Patrick Shiroishi is a Japanese-American multi-instrumentalist & composer based in Los Angeles.

patrickshiroishi.com