In Canton, Ohio, there exists a very special music scene that for the most part has remained a complete mystery to outsiders. It has always been overshadowed by its siblings of Akron and Cleveland in terms of size and popularity, but as a result is incredibly concentrated and tight-knit. It seems like each member of the community is an adept singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, frontman, sideman, dabbler of recording, and yet above all else, an independently functioning individual. Traditional, separately functioning bands aren't really as common for the most part and so you often see the same group of musicians (whose lineup varies only slightly) backing whoever happens to be singing and putting on the show at that particular moment. Since dedicated bands and band-members aren't really so much of a staple, this allows for quite a lot of freedom both compositionally and in the studio. This creative freedom combined with the common elements of the same players making repeat appearances in multiple contexts has certainly bred a collective taste and aesthetic that while multifaceted and diverse also bears certain consistencies. I'd go as far as to say there is indeed a… (drumroll)… "Canton sound". Of all the albums I've had the pleasure of working on over the past several years, this one in particular may be more representative of the aforementioned "Canton sound" than any other. When creating the sonic concept of the album, Austin and I set out to conjure an ever-shifting, yet cohesive tapestry of sounds and transitions that would serve as the backdrop to his songs of loss, longing, lament, and hope. This was made possible by calling on a large cast of musicians and friends, most of which represent a solid portion of the Canton music scene. I'll close by saying that Austin is the most honest kind of songwriter there could ever be - one that writes out of genuine necessity. His story isn't mine to tell, but I can tell you that he wrote these songs because he had to. You'll have to listen to the album as a whole to get the full picture. -Spencer Martin (Producer)