dear listener,

it was about 4 years ago when i heard the first instrumental rock album that changed my life. i was completely taken away by its ability to take ideas with brevity and expand them into something larger. up until then, i subconsciously thought that music needed lyrics to have more significance. however, the long droning builds and bottled emotion being released over time struck a chord with me. this evoked an inner change, redefining the emotions i thought sounds could make you feel. musically, there was an entire new dimension opened up in my mind. i would isolate myself, listen to the genre, and just think. it would sort me out. it would save my life on multiple occasions. even if i didn't feel like everything was okay, i could just have a soundtrack to get me through my troubles, without lyrics to color my thoughts in any certain way. sometimes i enjoy the coloring of thoughts through lyrics, but for some reason, i had now found an equal amount of beauty in a blanker canvas.

fast forward to august of 2018, i had the notion in my head for a while to create a post-rock (what some refer to the genre as) world of my own, to dip my feet in the water, to make the story even more personal for me. i finally felt up to this new musical challenge. the process was kickstarted when i spent about two weeks in the midst of nature in acadia national park, maine. i've always loved nature, but always had to stay in touch with it in doses unfortunately. spending entire days climbing mountains and just getting lost in the forest was so cleansing for me in every way. and then, my brain subconsciously got to work on what would be "Verão", with the beginning stages of what would be track 1.

it took me about a year to complete "Verão". i've been through quite a lot over the last year, and i feel humbled as i sit herein august of 2019 reflecting on my journey. my experiences with the various faces of nature (from mother nature to human nature) have left me with a lot to say, but with instruments rather than words. i hope that these emotions are conveyed to you with the depth and gravity i intended, without the influence of words. i just want you to feel something relating to what i was feeling, with no semantics involved.

the important part of this project was for me to work on it in isolation, without influence from friends or family. the few people who even knew i was working on something didn't hear much. i truly wanted to go for something only involving myself, from the first step of writing to the last step of mastering the EP. it was all done in my room alone when i had spare time.

i believe that "Verão" is best heard in isolation, with headphones, quietly amongst nature. if you find yourself hiking, or just taking a walk through your favorite quiet place, put this EP on and let me know if it makes you feel something. or maybe you will enjoy it looking at skyscrapers while walking through a big city street. who knows? it's up to you to decide. creating these songs has been such a cathartic experience, one in which i've felt a sense of purpose through the process. i don't know if i'll ever play a show with this project. hell, i don't know if i'll even make any other tracks. although, I will always hold an affinity for this type of music, so who knows.

so happy listening, & thank you for reading.

- greg almeida