Reflections from Reflections by The Anthropophobia Project

Hey everybody.
So, I read something in a book one time (Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon) that was talking about trying to find the thing that you should do for a career. It had this quote in it from Jessica Hische: “The work you do while you procrastinate is probably the work you should be doing for the rest of your life.”
For me, that is absolutely, positively, 100% this. THIS is what I do when I procrastinate (Well, this and a video game called No Man’s Sky, but I’m not counting that one right now). And it has been for years and years and years. I have felt the urge to create my own music since I was a little kid. This is what I do when I need a release and a recharge. It’s what I do when the things in my head seem like they are just noise and there doesn’t seem to be words to describe them properly. This is how I get that noise out. This is what makes me feel… better. I love music with every tiny shred of my heart and my soul. And, for some reason, I just get it. I don’t know how or why, but I am SO happy that I do. Because making things like this is so ridiculously satisfying for me, it’s insane. It is cathartic for me unlike anything else in the world by miles. I make these songs because it is exactly what I need to hear at that exact moment. And I love them.. Oh my goodness.. I LOVE them. I will listen to this over and over and over and I will love every single second of it, or if I don’t, I will fix it until I do. I will listen and critique every single note, every beat, every teeny tiny sound and I will add things and adjust things until I feel in my heart that it is absolutely perfect and I am satisfied. I do this and I love this because this is what my feelings sound like and because I was fully able to express them exactly the way I intended to.
So, now.. I present to you something unlike anything I have ever made before. It is one song. It is 34 minutes and 56 seconds long and if you loop it, the ending will go right into the beginning and you can start it all over.
I got the inspiration for this one by listening to a sort of side project from Devin Townsend called DreamPeace. He has trouble sleeping just as I do, and he makes these ambient music albums under the DreamPeace name simply so he can listen to something that doesn’t require anything from him, the listener, and he can just focus on the soothing, subtle sounds instead ruminating on things and letting his thoughts spiral out of control when he’s trying to sleep. I listen to a DreamPeace album pretty much every night as I am laying in bed (I think Beautiful Day is my favorite). I love these albums, because one of the main reasons why I can’t sleep at night is that my brain doesn’t like to shut off and my thoughts spiral out of control.
Anyway, that gave me the idea of making an entire ambient album. I wanted to try it. So, I started it. But… it quickly evolved and became something so much more. It became a way for me to try to evoke emotion with textures instead of beats and words and melodies (well, some simple melodies). I started calling it “ambient music with a heartbeat.” I didn’t make it to be soothing and relaxing. Not all of it at least. I made it to evoke emotions. Big, heavy emotions. Because those are the ones I feel.
So.. without further ado.. Here is my newest album/track/project/procrastination. It’s called Reflections, and I sincerely hope you enjoy it. And, if you listen really closely, you may be able to spot a couple easter egg surprises hidden in there.
So yes.. Happy listening, and as always, thanks for sticking around. <3
~Mike

Tracklist

1.	Reflections	34:56

Credits

from Reflections, released January 21, 2024

License