Lunal letters
Welcome to ‘Zenrei’s Zone’, my 2023 newsletter! If you’re reading this, then we’ve been in touch by email before, you’ve requested to be added, or we’ve worked together. I’m starting this newsletter as I will be avoiding social media for a few months and focusing on monthly updates via this letter whilst I work on exciting new projects. I envision it as a tool of accountability and intention-setting, and as a way of fostering fuller engagement outside of the short-bandwidth and sometimes shallow nature of social media, which I feel has affected my focus recently.
So, happy new year everyone! To start, I wanted to take a moment to take stock of 2023 to come and 2022, a year of many blessings & difficult moments. If you read my Instagram post, then you may have already read this. If so, skip ahead to ‘Gestures & gifts’, a section where I’ll be including interesting things I’ve found or poems I’ve been working on.
2023
2023 is a significant year for me - it marks a decade since my dad passed away from cancer. The impact of his death at such a formative age is what has driven much of my creative identity and motivation, and I feel its salience now more than ever, especially since I left consistent employment. I feel the passing of time and the weight of his history, one which I am called to tell and which will be my main goal of this year. I have struggled financially since my choice to focus on my art in September, so I’m moving home and spending a few months working on the following projects:
2023 plans
Release a poetry collection (details soon)
Release a book (details soon)
Release a short film (details soon)
Release this monthly newsletter
2022
Achievements:
Release of ‘Truth’ album in March
Release of ‘Anniversary’ EP in July
Release of ‘Approach’ video in December
Release of new merchandise: stickers, tote bags, linographs, vinyls and CDs (still available on Bandcamp)
Two gigs, ‘Truth’ and ‘Intention’ performed in London
Recorded another two EPs and most of my next album
Lots of poetry written
Lots of film photography
Raised money for Macmillan Cancer Support through physical album sales
These achievements were done whilst working a demanding full-time job related to my languages & culture background, which I eventually left in September due to work-life balance/mental health, and going on anti-depressants.
Thanks
I would like to express my deep gratitude to everyone who rocked with me in 2022, from anyone who engaged with my updates & output to those who came to the gigs, bought merchandise or even played an active role in developing this creative world. The above would not have been possible without your support, & a few people in particular:
@test_explosion : Amazing photography and huge amounts of personal support
‘Indigo Blue’ - Myatt’s Field Park, July 2022. By Oliver McKenzie (https://www.olivermckenzie.com/)
@jcookaudio: A real blessing through @ahmedshareefy, best engineer in the business and now a good friend
@leopoldarlowilde : Amazing support and amazing engineer work on ‘Truth’
@tahramok: Collaboration on ‘Indigo Blue’, an upcoming EP, filming/editing ‘Approach’, personal support and love
Mum: my biggest fan and an incredible inspiration
Auntie Viv: a rock in our family and huge source of support
Blessings!
Gestures & gifts
In this section, I will share poems, niche words or thoughts I have come across and the kinds of discoveries which keep me curious.
In March 2022, my auntie Viv’s partner Ron died. I wrote this poem in his memory and felt it would be a good gift to you all to start this dialogue:
Ron
Amongst covert culverts and
Clusters of catkins
Between the fortress in the forest
The converts and the kestrels -
Tell me, do the daisies sing for you
Do the daffodils know your name?
Do pavements tenderly trace your steps
The maps marked on a marbled mission -
The kiss of spring scent, the geography of light
That plays on lovers and learners
On heroes and earners
Or does it lead, like these words
To a place where peace
Is nothing but the soft exhale of breath
Speaking to a truth too final to be known?
That’s it for January. Thank you for reading this first edition of ‘Zenrei’s Zone!’. If you would like to subscribe (free, with option to pay to support my art), comment or share, which would be greatly appreciated, the buttons are below:
In the next edition, I’ll be sharing progress on my book and poetry collection. See you in February!
Love,
Zenrei