Train Dreams
Eternal optimism, writing a press release, and that ever dangling carrot of fame
Happy New Year everyone! Unfortunately for my haters, 2026 will be my best year yet. I hope it’s the same for you. I am a Sagittarius and maybe it’s the eternal optimist in me, but I always feel that the best is yet to come, and that the coming year will bring new and better opportunities, experiences, and more joy. I really believe this, and when I look back on 2025, I can see how although aspects of this year were difficult, it was mostly a time of planting seeds. In 2026, I get to watch them all grow.
I watched an amazing movie the other night. It’s called Train Dreams and it’s based on the Denis Johnson novella of the same name. I have had a copy of this book for years and have never read it. I’ve even brought it along with me on tours, and then just never managed to crack it open, sadly. It really should be a rule that I can’t buy more books until I read all the ones I already own. New Year’s resolution??? Maybe!
Anyway, I won’t give too much away, but the film is about one man’s life. He experiences tragedy, he is mostly alone. He isn’t famous or out changing the world. He lives his life, he works, he builds a house with his own two hands, twice. He doesn’t have many friends or family. And it was one of those movies where I sobbed all through the credits.
I remember years ago, in my early twenties, telling an old friend of mine that my life would have no meaning unless I got famous. Isn’t that sad? It’s embarrassing too. And I really meant it. I had felt from a very young age that in order for my little life to have meaning I needed to be famous, and also very rich. If fame and fortune were my goals, I certainly chose a curious path to getting there, but that’s a story for another time.
I learned from reading Supernatural Stategies for Making a Rock’n’Roll Group by Ian Svenonius (who I just ran into here in Marfa! Always a delight to run into people out here), that you essentially write your own press when you write your press release.
And he’s completely right. I’ve watched this happen over and over again.
Whatever you put in the press release of your album is what gets sent to the writers and it’s the basis of what they ask you questions about.
I always hire someone to write the press release, and ideally it’s a really good writer who is smart and cares about me and my music. For Time Ain’t Accidental, I hired the incredible Erin Osmon to write my press release (and Erin, if you’re reading this, I want to talk to you about the next one). I met Erin back in 2018 when she was hired by Uncut magazine to do a profile on me and my album Cosmic Wink. She came to my house in LA and we spent the day together. I loved her right away, and we became friends after that.
Erin did an amazing job on my press release for TAA, and I got to see how the things that were in the press release became the entire story of my record. It’s a powerful thing!
We are going behind the paywall now because vulnerability here is high. I want to talk a little bit about this new album I’m making, the true story behind it, and trying to decide how to talk about it all.
