International Exchange Program

In high school, I was the guy that was good at guitar. I practiced my scales every day and would play music with everyone and anyone. But that was a long time ago and in the many years since, all my peers have progressed way beyond me, developing incredible style, determinedly succeeding in many figurative and literal arenas.

The artistic endeavors that my friends regularly demonstrate constantly excite me--by this point I should be accustomed to always hearing something phenomenal from a pal. But I just heard some new pieces that I can't stop talking about.

Sikwaya, an original member of the Jim Yoshii Pile-Up and a direct competitor for my "guy who plays guitar" role in high school, left the USA sometime a bit over a year ago. He's been in China, teaching and living in a large city with a name that I can never remember. Its not one of those cities that the western world hears much about, but its massive. Somehow, I still can't quite figure out how, he's managed to secure himself enough equiptment to put together a four song "demo," mixing analog guitar sounds with the digital backdrop that a Powerbook can provide you with out of necessity. This combination, although not unusual, has a new, unfamiliar and exciting vibe, something that maybe you only start to acquire after a lengthy break from mainstream media and controlled listening. Load up my favorite of his four tracks, The Moms, and see if you can hear it too. Then get the three other songs from his demo page. We miss him here but if he keeps making songs like this then maybe one more year in China won't be so bad...