Aotearoa (New Zealand) is an amazing place. It truly is. It's changed a little since we saw it last (5 years ago). A little change is good. That place is magical. You can see it in the rough and rugged coastline. You can also see it up in the mountains and down in the rainforests. I'm talking about that magical and mystic side of our Creator. From cobalt blue and turquoise lakes to glacier valleys. To clear rivers with bush fairies flying around (and yes, I'm serious).
4 months.
50 shows.
600 cd's sold.
12,000 miles driven.
We had a pretty good balance between work and play. Although we still had a pretty busy schedule, there was always something breathtaking to go and see.
I have to also give a huge thanks to Olly Knox (my booking agent and PR guru). Well done brother. Well done. We took care of business and made a solid friendship along the way.
50 shows.
600 cd's sold.
12,000 miles driven.
We had a pretty good balance between work and play. Although we still had a pretty busy schedule, there was always something breathtaking to go and see.
I have to also give a huge thanks to Olly Knox (my booking agent and PR guru). Well done brother. Well done. We took care of business and made a solid friendship along the way.
This was our van/home 'Wimpy.' I'll tell you what, after living in a van (for the last 6 months) I'm glad to be back in a bus. But, that being said, I would still trade the comforts of a traditional 'home' for the adventure of boondocking any day of the week (for the most part).
Wimpy was less than 15 feet long. Inside the van we had a mattress (with storage underneath) and a cooking stove and buckets (for washing dishes). Believe it or not, boondocking (aka traveling/living out of your vehicle) is fairly common in NZ. In fact, when you pull up to any gas station (or busy parking lot) most people don't really bat an eye at you.
The great thing about NZ is there are heaps of freedom camping spots all over the country. Freedom as in you have to have self containment (toilets, grey & black water) and a $200 sticker on your car. So, not entirely free. But pretty close. It's sweet to park for the night and wake up to views like this.
Wimpy was less than 15 feet long. Inside the van we had a mattress (with storage underneath) and a cooking stove and buckets (for washing dishes). Believe it or not, boondocking (aka traveling/living out of your vehicle) is fairly common in NZ. In fact, when you pull up to any gas station (or busy parking lot) most people don't really bat an eye at you.
The great thing about NZ is there are heaps of freedom camping spots all over the country. Freedom as in you have to have self containment (toilets, grey & black water) and a $200 sticker on your car. So, not entirely free. But pretty close. It's sweet to park for the night and wake up to views like this.
We would always try to find a good spot just before sunset. Our routine was simple; cook some food (usually kumara) and veggies. Go on a walk, talk about dreams, go to bed, wake up, make (french press) coffee and go on another hike before we have to hit the road.
We saw amazing things and met amazing people. To be honest, Katie and I arrived o NZ kind of exhausted from last summer tour. We really wanted to stay focused (and introverted) so as to try and maintain balance. But, we learned something. We've learned it long ago. "It takes a village." But, more on that later.
Not being connected to the interweb 24/7 was a very nice change. I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I always have to be connected in order to take care of the things I have to take care of. Not being connected allowed Katie and I to take advantage of that sort of 'freedom' that comes with having the time to go out and simple be.
We talked about a lot. (Which I'm grateful and still encouraged that after being literally together 365/24/7 for the last 5 years, Katie and I still have a lot to talk about). We found ourselves full of dreams. Some old and others new. Including a plan to launch another business (or two) completely separate from the music/non profit.
We talked about a lot. (Which I'm grateful and still encouraged that after being literally together 365/24/7 for the last 5 years, Katie and I still have a lot to talk about). We found ourselves full of dreams. Some old and others new. Including a plan to launch another business (or two) completely separate from the music/non profit.
This is a picture from one of of our favorite nights in NZ. We met a younger couple, touring around NZ in a school bus converted to take travelers on tour for up to 3 weeks. All the best and most amazing spots NZ has to offer. It's called the Road2Adventure bus. Check em out!!
During this whole tour Katie and I kept talking about how great it'll be to come back to NZ next year. After all our shows, it actually made sense.
What we didn't expect is what our mind and body and spirit told us when we left. "Trying to go back to Africa and New Zealand is crazy."
We thought about it long and hard.
We prayed that we could find discernment as to what and where we're supposed to do after this fall. The more and more we prayed the more we felt the calling and the clarity.
Africa is calling our name, again.
What we didn't expect is what our mind and body and spirit told us when we left. "Trying to go back to Africa and New Zealand is crazy."
We thought about it long and hard.
We prayed that we could find discernment as to what and where we're supposed to do after this fall. The more and more we prayed the more we felt the calling and the clarity.
Africa is calling our name, again.
Within a month, we flew from New Zealand, through Fiji. Played a weeks worth of shows in Salt Lake City then flew to St. Louis, bought a new school bus, drove it to Cincinnati, converted it to veggie oil and renovated the inside so that it's livable. After that, I left for South Carolina to record my fifth album. It's called Ubuntu.
Somehow, in that blur that was known as March and April of 2015, I managed to get into the studio and work with some amazing people to make what I think is my best record yet.
I don't like to self promote (any more than I already have to) but this record is something else. I brought in three other musicians; Dave King (on bass), David Lessing (on keys) and Matt Pizza (on congas & washboard). These guys, combined with the mastermind of Cinch dB, really brought this record to another level.
I hope that all doesn't sound arrogant or overly confident. But I don't know how else to express in words how excited and proud I am of this next record. I hope you all love it as much as I do.
Somehow, in that blur that was known as March and April of 2015, I managed to get into the studio and work with some amazing people to make what I think is my best record yet.
I don't like to self promote (any more than I already have to) but this record is something else. I brought in three other musicians; Dave King (on bass), David Lessing (on keys) and Matt Pizza (on congas & washboard). These guys, combined with the mastermind of Cinch dB, really brought this record to another level.
I hope that all doesn't sound arrogant or overly confident. But I don't know how else to express in words how excited and proud I am of this next record. I hope you all love it as much as I do.
Ubuntu (/ʊˈbuːntʊ/ uu-BOON-tuu; Zulu pronunciation: [ùɓúntʼú])[1][2] is a Nguni Bantu term roughly translating to "human kindness." It is an idea from the Southern African region which means literally "human-ness," and is often translated as "humanity toward others," but is often used in a more philosophical sense to mean "the belief in a universal bond of sharing that connects all humanity"
Ubuntu can easily be explained as 'I am because we are.' It essentially means that I am because of you. If you're hungry than I am hungry, if you are thirsty than I too am thirsty. You can say that what effects you effects me and that we're all in this together (whether we like it or not). Here are two quick videos of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu speaking about Ubuntu.
Ubuntu can easily be explained as 'I am because we are.' It essentially means that I am because of you. If you're hungry than I am hungry, if you are thirsty than I too am thirsty. You can say that what effects you effects me and that we're all in this together (whether we like it or not). Here are two quick videos of Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu speaking about Ubuntu.
Katie and I have decided that we're not going to go back to New Zealand at the end of this year. We're going to take the Ubuntu spirit (and the record) and bring it around the world. To be clear, this is not a 'world tour.' I don't have the ego (yet) to call it that. Instead, we are embarking on what will be known at the Ubuntu Borderless Tour.
We know that we'll be touring South Africa sometime between November and February. We also know that we will be going back to Kenya to follow up with the Journey4YOUth projects currently on the ground.
After that we're thinking about checking out Uganda again and Ethiopia, but more than anything we're answering another calling to India and Nepal.
Our hearts break seeing the destruction and fury of this planet reign hard upon an area that has already been stricken by poverty, inequality and injustice. We're not ready to put a timetable on things yet, but our intentions have been set and our spirit has given us the green light to continue praying about all of this.
We know that we'll be touring South Africa sometime between November and February. We also know that we will be going back to Kenya to follow up with the Journey4YOUth projects currently on the ground.
After that we're thinking about checking out Uganda again and Ethiopia, but more than anything we're answering another calling to India and Nepal.
Our hearts break seeing the destruction and fury of this planet reign hard upon an area that has already been stricken by poverty, inequality and injustice. We're not ready to put a timetable on things yet, but our intentions have been set and our spirit has given us the green light to continue praying about all of this.
So we're back in the southeast hitting it hard. We have the majority of our USA tour dates posted, so if you haven't checked them out yet, go to the tour part of this website. On April 29th (my 31st birthday) I was asked to sit in and do a guest article for Paul Daughtery's 'The Morning Line' in the Cincinnati Enquirer. You can read it by clicking here. If you didn't know, I am a Cincinnati sports nut.
Katie and I cannot express the amount of gratitude we have in our heart right now. We're trying to accomplish a lot right now. The key word in this is 'we.' I don't mean 'we' as being Katie and me. We as in all of us.
We came back to this country with A LOT on our plates. Buying/converting a school bus, recording an album, touring, booking etc.... We're stretched past our limits right now. The only way we've been able to get as much done right now is because of the dedication, love and service from our close family and friends.
We came back to this country with A LOT on our plates. Buying/converting a school bus, recording an album, touring, booking etc.... We're stretched past our limits right now. The only way we've been able to get as much done right now is because of the dedication, love and service from our close family and friends.
I can't list and name all the people who have helped us with our bus. From our family up in Ohio to our Fernandina family down south. All of you who gave us tools, trouble shoot problems, picked up a paint brush, or even gave us a bed with AC to sleep in. Thank you.
It takes a village. No matter what you do or set out to be. It takes a village to support, encourage, and uplift each other. Although our village is composed of many small villages around the world, we're overwhelmingly grateful and humbled.
Thank you again for really supporting us.
It's much more than we deserve.
Take care everybody.
Love,
Brian & Katie
Thank you again for really supporting us.
It's much more than we deserve.
Take care everybody.
Love,
Brian & Katie
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