Hi all:

I very much hope that all of you are doing well and staying safe during this uneasy time! As usual, a string of unforeseen twists & turns has delayed this update, as well as many of the projects I’d planned to have ready when I posted it… then the pandemic hit, and everything was completely turned on its head (I’m sure for everyone reading this as well). There are a few things to mention, however, and more will follow soon.

First, I’d like to thank all of you who have been supporting the irr. Bandcamp releases! This has been especially helpful during these past several weeks, since making trips to the post office is something I’m supposed to (and very keen to) avoid doing right now. The money that comes in from digital downloads is just about the only thing that is keeping me going during this shutdown.

On the topic of downloads: if you aren’t already aware, I’ve started another monthly digital single series this year. Like the 2018 series, every month’s installment includes two new tracks and two new graphics; also carried over from the previous series, there will be a bonus 13th single available for free to anyone who gets the full series of 12. The new twist added to the 2020 series is that each graphic is a panel in a continuous, illustrated narrative that will conclude in #13. When you download the tracks, you’ll also get image files of the story panels with a text caption underneath. New installments are added on the last day of every month, so the first 3 are already available. Here’s a peek at the first panel with text, plus panels 4 & 5 without:

 

As an aside, you still get the bonus #13 when you’ve purchased all 12 of the 2018 singles. If you get the 12 and are due #13, it might be a good idea to send me an email (irrappext@gmail.com) with a reminder to make sure there isn’t a long delay, or that I accidentally overlook it entirely. I’m not keeping as close an eye on the 2018 MDS sales these days and I might not notice that someone has hit the 12 mark (unless they do something eye-catching like getting all 12 at once).

I’ve got several other projects going to keep me busy (and, hopefully, financially stable) during the upcoming month of quarantine, but I’ll post more about that later. A series of self-isolation-derived recordings that I might be calling ‘Postcards From An Involuntary Holiday’ is already underway, making use of whatever sound & visual sources I can derive from my house & it’s immediate, socially-distant vicinity; I hope to have the first of those ready by next weekend. Meanwhile, here’s a couple of ‘Quarantine Sketches’ I’ve been doing to unwind during my virus-induced house arrest:

 

Much love and best wishes to everyone! I certainly hope to find all of you still thriving out there when we reach the other side of this ordeal.

–msw