Reflection / Resolution by Evergreen Refuge

I wrote and recorded Reflection and Resolution during a time of emotional tumult. Change and growth tends to happen during these times. However, it is a difficult process--sometimes even painful. These pieces mark, in many ways, a turning of a new chapter for Evergreen Refuge. I am not actually entirely sure what that means yet for the future of this project. Something just tells me that this is a point of change. For now, I am letting Evergreen Refuge enter somewhat of a hibernation.

I offer these two pieces as a beacon of light in some dark times. Community is everything, the natural world is everything. Hang on to each other. Thank you all for your support over these years... It has meant the world to me. Be well and stay warm.

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Throughout the eight years Evergreen Refuge has been in existence, and across numerous recordings, a central theme at the core has been introspection. Lengthy tracks, instrumental and drawn out melodies, trance inducing arpeggios, and atmospheric distortion have all been with the goal of expressing my personal thoughts and feelings and facilitating introspection for those who desire. There is much to learn from the natural world. There is beauty in the wild, but it also calls us to look within. These are all ideas at the heart of Evergreen Refuge. This double album is the culmination of these ideas, meditating on two different (yet intertwined) things.

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About "Reflection":
The modern world is so disconnected from the wild and we are not as likely to give ourselves the time to look within, to breathe, to live, and to love. It is not as accessible to sit with the wild--to meditate with it--to experience and feel its presence around and within ourselves. These ideas were the central meditation to this piece, "Reflection". I spent time reflecting and giving myself the time and space that I needed. Similarly, in this piece I gave each instrument space. I took a step back from the desire to fill it up with as much sound as I could. There was something to the idea of letting each note ring and breathe that drew me in.

There are parts here that seem drawn out--they seem to go on longer than what we might be comfortable with. But the question I might pose to you is this: why does it feel that way? As I mentioned, I believe much of this desire comes from the "quick fix" culture we live in--a culture that begs for constant stimuli. Is it not just as valuable, if not more, to sit in introspection? To slow ourselves down and give the proper space and attention to each moment?

This track is entirely acoustic, with no electric or electronic anything involved, save the technology it was recorded on.

Written and recorded in the Winter of '18 and '19

About "Resolution":
Similar to "Reflection", with "Resolution" I took a step back from trying to fill all the space I could. It began with a number of hypnotic arpeggios. I am very intrigued by repetition that draws you in, and sounds that feel like they could just go on forever. That is what the backbone of this recording is based in.

The idea behind this recording was somewhat of a closing of a chapter. Evergreen Refuge has existed now for 8 years. Yet throughout its existence, it has gone through many changes. However, the ideas at the core have generally been consistent. But every chapter comes to a close. "Resolution" is about moving on, it is about severing attachment. I do not know what the future of Evergreen Refuge is, but this is some kind of closing chapter.

Written in the Spring of '19 and recorded throughout the Summer and Autumn of '19

Seeking wildness and solitude in a self-destructive world

Evergreen Refuge was a project by Evergreen (she/her)

A Moment of Clarity Recordings
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