Dear brothers, sisters, friends, and loved ones, 

What an incredibly vibrant year 2024 has been for me and my bandmates from The Long Shadows. Working on our yearly recap video was quite a puzzling affair, as it doesn’t even expose the full spectrum of everything we’ve been able to accomplish amidst the numerous challenges I had to face in my personal life, from a post-heart-surgery slow recovery, the devastating passing of my beloved pup MacKaye, the false start of a new record, having to entirely rebuild my voice after being unable to talk for almost 6 months, and having to relearn my entire song catalogue due to the micro-embolism I suffered from during my heart surgery—amongst other things. It gives everything we have achieved in 2024 a much more purposeful essence, to say the least.

Therefore, I was proud to revisit the fabulous project that is Kimiyo, which I had the privilege to give life to through my collaboration with Japanese artist Momoka Tobari. I could also re-experience my comeback on stage, which I had the utter joy to do as the Orange Blossom Special secret act (which is not only my favorite festival, but a community to me) and the 3 months I spent touring Europe to slowly find my touring marks again. I dove back into the intimacy of the atmospheric and introspective project A Measure of Shape and Sounds. I relived the shivering sensations I had on stage as I watched images and excerpts of my first time playing music in the US under my own name. And those few elements are only the main features of an unbelievably rich year for me, for the band, for you, and for us all as one… It’s quite impressive. 

In many ways, the 2024 video recap is a testimony of our emotional resilience towards internal adversity and our fierce commitment to press on no matter how strong the wind we have to face is. I saw it all as the direct result of the blessing I have to be supported by exceptional friends, by an extraordinary group of managers in the midst of which I found a family, but also by the inspiring support, the benevolent affection, and the healing care you offer me through our unique relationship. This is what resonates so vividly in each sequence constituting this brief summary of a life. After coming so close to losing it, it proves to be one worth living without any limits.

Thank you for being, each in your own way, the magnificent color that defines the singularity of my journey.

Your friend and brother,
Alex