Dear friends,

As I navigate through our beautiful and broken world, I feel blessed by the gifts of music, the transcendent thread that has brought great meaning and purpose to my life. I grew up learning to play on my father’s old Yamaha and that guitar has now taken me across five continents, trading songs and stories with Tuaregs by the fireside in the Sahel Desert, with young Palestinian and Israeli musicians in Jerusalem, Native Americans at Standing Rock, and big stages from Rio to Carnegie Hall. It’s been an incredible journey so far, allowing me to connect the past, present, and future.

Our recent history has brought us face to face with dangers of a political, spiritual, and even existential nature. The Coronavirus reminds us that we are all inextricably connected and we have the power to pass on both life and death, love and hatred. I wrote the song, “Trying to Get Free,” on Jan. 7, 2021, the day after the insurrection on the capitol, deeply disturbed as I watched the violence and division in our country come to a head. I believe our individual freedom and well-being are woven together with all living beings and that none of us are free until we all are free. I see the world seemingly so connected by the internet and technology, yet we’re so far away from the humanity, ecological consciousness, and universal truths that bind us together. The disparity we're facing on a global level has fueled our band’s urgency to create art and music that bring people together. “Trying To Get Free” is our call to action to break down the systems and culture that perpetuate division and build a new legacy together.

To quote one of my favorite Spanish poets, Antonio Machado, “Caminante no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.” Traveler there is no path, we make the road by walking.

Creating this album was an act of liberation. I am forever grateful to our beautiful community of friends and fans and all the people who shared their talents on this record. May these songs lift you up and bring us closer together.

Love,

Avi & the Wylder family

Los Angeles, CA // June 9, 2023

All songs written by Avi Salloway © 2023 Wylder Moonshine Publishing/ASCAP. All Rights Reserved

The Wylder family:

Avi Salloway - vocals, guitars, drum machine Rob Flax - violin, synths, vocals Zamar Odongo - drums, vocals Dana Roth - bass on Farasha, Trying to Get Free, We are the Ones, vocals Krista Speroni - bass and vocals on Whatcha Looking For, Santiago, Sahara, Painter James Riotto - bass on Flower to the Sun and Ones & Zeros, drum machine, vocals Carly Bond - vocals on Flower to the Sun and Trying to Get Free Rob Shelton - clavinet on Ones & Zeros Ben Paulding - drums and congas on Ones & Zeros Sam Kassirer - keyboards, synths, drum machine, marimba

Produced by Avi Salloway and Sam Kassirer Recorded at Great North Sound Society, Alta Mira Sound, and Zumix Engineered by Sam Kassirer and James Riotto Mixed by James Riotto and Sam Kassirer Mastered by Dave Gardner at Infrasonic Sound Album art by Avi Salloway

© 2023 Billy Wylder & Sand & Gold Records