This song started as a riff just playing with some friends when I lived in Kodiak, Alaska. The jam-band-y chromatic descending turnaround in the verse was catchy enough to prop the smart phone up and record the riff for future use. The main verse riff has been a persistent ear worm since 2013, nagging me to make a song with it ever since. Jake Jones recorded the drums in October, 2015. I love his groovy style and snare fills. Jake rehearsed one day, recorded the next, and moved out of the United States three weeks later. I hope to play with him again soon. I recorded the bass, backing horns, and a placeholder guitar part soon thereafter. Through the fall and winter, I plateaued with the lyrics, clav synth, and guitar. Meanwhile, I produced Lunar Twilight, the preceding single to this one, putting Silent Nest on the back-burner. Enter: Patrick Shaw and Mark Campanale. Pat cranked out the lyrics, a scratch vocal take, and final vocals all within a week. It was incredible. (I could listen to his doubling harmonies all day.) He is a fantastic song-writer and guitarist. I’ve also contributed on his music and have had a blast in the process. At the time of this writing, his music is in the queue to be released and man, I can’t wait for people to hear it. Catchy stuff. Mark can shred. Mark is a left-handed guitarist (like myself). Since we are both used to viewing other guitarists’ hands as mirror images, trying to figure out what he’s playing by following his hands is the only bad part about playing together. In Silent Nest, there was no original plan for a guitar solo. During the recording session, he noddled around over the chord changes while I was in the other room getting some water. What he played was so tasty that I ran back yelling, “We need to have you solo on this thing!” So, we laid down TWO solos. His pedalboard is quite impressive, to boot. I really dig the funky clav in this song; thank you, Mike. Mike Feldman and I were in a jazz quintet together in high school. It’s a true pleasure collaborating with long-time friends, especially considering our geographical distance. My earliest recording experience was in Mike’s house two decades ago and now my latest is still in his studio, albeit remotely. Don’t let the simplicity of his part in this song fool you. If you want to be impressed, check out some of his music. He is so good. And is a pretty solid skier too. I was a teenager in the ’90’s. My musical influence from that time is fully displayed in Silent Nest. Horns and heavy music are not for everyone, but Jake, Pat, Mark, and Mike delivered. Please enjoy Silent Nest.