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Alone Together

by Andrew Zender

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1.
Movement 1 03:14
2.
Movement 2 02:02
3.
Movement 3 03:40
4.
Movement 4 02:27
5.
Movement 5 01:29
6.
Movement 6 01:43
7.
Movement 7 01:55
8.
Movement 8 03:00
9.
Movement 9 02:02
10.
Movement 10 02:13
11.
Movement 11 02:33
12.
Movement 12 02:21
13.
Movement 13 02:09
14.
Movement 14 02:09
15.
Movement 15 02:17
16.
Movement 16 02:35
17.
Movement 17 02:34
18.
Movement 18 01:14

about

"Alone Together" was written and recorded over the course of lockdown in 2020 and reopening in 2021 as I grappled with anxiety and uncertainty while searching for ways to remain connected to others and to myself.

Partially improvised and partially composed, this collection of acoustic meditations grew from recordings of my weekly practice regimen. I recorded about 100 pieces in a solo setting, each about 2-3 minutes in length, all in the open D tuning. I re-listened to all 100 pieces, picked out my favorite bits — some entire pieces, some brief passages from others which I stitched together to make a new piece — and re-recorded fresh versions along with a second part, a "duet with myself."

The result was 18 distinct movements separated by a brief repeating motif to give each its own identity rather than one continuous piece of music — though I think these movements are best consumed in sequence in one listening session rather than in segments.

Everything was performed on an early 1970s Alvarez 5014, a Japanese-made small-bodied acoustic modeled after American-made Martin guitars. I recorded all tracks on an Izotope Spire Studio portable 8-track digital recorder. All performances and recordings were completed at home, usually late at night.

My good friend Jerry Miller mixed and co-produced this collection, following my instructions to "clean it up, but leave it alone," only adding touches of reverb or very light effects in a few spots, and otherwise letting the performances stand. The cover photo by my friend Dave Mayes is a dickcissel singing to the fields at sunset at Vulgamore Family Farms in Scott City, Kansas. I thought it was a perfect representation of the sound and spirit of this project.

In a literal and figurative sense, this project was recorded "alone," and then "together." More so, this music is a sonic exploration of the duality of "aloneness" and "togetherness," where the individualism of isolation and a collectively shared experience are one in the same.

It's the sound of me meditating. It's the sound of me trying to slow down and reach out. It's a sound with no other intent than to create something positive and hope it helps others know they're not alone.

credits

released November 8, 2021

Acoustic guitar: Andrew Zender

Recorded at Home in Kansas City
Engineered by Andrew Zender and Jerry Miller
Mixed by Jerry Miller
Mastered by Landr
Produced by Andrew Zender & Jerry Miller
Art by Dave Mayes

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Andrew Zender Kansas City, Missouri

Andrew Zender is an independent songwriter and guitarist based in Kansas City who writes and performs songs and instrumentals inspired by life, death, love, nature and short stories — with an air of hope and redemption.

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