21 Jun The Show Must Go On
About a year ago, Jere and I started recording this short story podcast. Eleven episodes later and we’re calling a wrap on season one. It has been one of the greatest journeys of my life. Certain events come to mind, such as recording late into the night with Jere, and laughing at the stupidest things out of a state of pure exhaustion.
Collaborating with another artist such as Jere has been a wonderful experience.
If I fumble down memory lane, I think back to our adolescence when he first started drumming. I remember Jere always sitting at his drum stool. The constant thrash of his symbols would greet you when you walked into our family home. The thump of his base drum would send tremors through the hardwood floor. His sound was part of our environment, and we were lucky to have neighbours that encouraged him rather than told him to keep it down.
Every day I’d hear him practicing. I’d hear him through my headphones, or as I read, sometimes as I dozed off to sleep. And I only recollect a handful of times asking him to play quieter; usually when I had an important phone call.
But sound restrictions didn’t stop him.
In those community-requested minutes of solace from the thrash of his drums, Jere learned guitar, keyboard, and harmonica, among many others. If you asked for an instrument, I’m sure he could have pulled it out of a drawer or chest in his bedroom, no matter what it was.
There was no stopping my brother from playing.
He went on to have a colourful career with several bands.
The one he ended up touring Canada and the US with was called Douse. I saw them perform as much as I could. I wanted to see my brother rise to stardom every step of the way. And he didn’t disappoint. At each show, there’d be at least one moment where he’d melt my face to the bone with his sound.
I don’t talk to my parents. I spend most of my time with my chosen family these days. So, that’s just another piece of evidence that shows how valuable I think he is as an artist. Biological bias had no place in my choice to work with him.
I wanted to work with someone talented.
So, again, it’s safe to say recording with Jere will go down as one of the best times of my life. Where I worked with someone who I consider a star.
However, Jere, in his ever-growing list of artistic pursuits, has decided the podcast is not the rabbit hole he wants to continue stumbling down.
He has my full support, especially since it means he’s going to pour his heart into another project and do something amazing with it.
I will continue with the podcast.
I’m going to learn sound mixing. I’m going to buy a mic. And start recording the podcast on my own for now. It’s you the audience and your reactions that make this all worth it.
And soon enough, the podcast will see other writers and maybe other musicians attached to it.
With Jere leaving, I have big shoes to fill, but us being brothers, we do have similar-sized feet.
Even with Jere gone but the show must go on.
While you wait for the next season of Falling for Stories to be released, please feel free to catch up on any episodes you may have missed here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Josh Ackermann escapes his desk job by writing in his free time. One of his short stories, One Helluva Headache, was published in the English Bay Review. He’s currently revising two of his first novels. And he’s is the creator of the Falling For Stories podcast; among many other titles.