"HEAT" is the first song from 99 APEX's album 'Inner Exodus'. This song is used to put a time stamp on when he worked at FedEx and almost in a sense of pride, was being resilient and depending on his own strength. This song signifies the blurred lines of how our egos can get in the way God's plans. Is 99 APEX allowing God to shape his testimony, or is he in some way using his pride to believe he is shaping his own story?

HEAT

"Daily Devotion" is an anthem that inspires listeners to stay steadfast in their purpose and honor God in every aspect of their lives. With powerful lyrics and an uplifting message, the song is a testament to unwavering faith and the importance of giving praise where it’s due. This track serves as both a personal reminder and a communal call to action, encouraging everyone to align their daily efforts with a higher purpose.

Daily Devotion

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15 SAND STORM

For a long time, I’ve given preference to the opinions others have shared about what makes music interesting. In the Summer of 2024, I committed to trusting my own experiences more (without negating the thoughts of others. Playing against drones has long been a favorite musical experience of mine, and I wanted to focus on incorporating drones into my music throughout the second year of masters degree. So, I thought I’d use one of my tried and true teaching techniques, juxtaposition, with myself. 

By juxtaposing a familiar skill (drumming) with a skill I want to build (intuitive awareness of the melodic pull of pitches), my brain applies the lessons mastered with the familiar skill to the context of the desired skill. I decided to build a hybrid drum set with my midi keyboard incorporated into the kit. I figured a video would show this better, so I did a time lapse recording of my process making these 3 movements. 

As you can see, life goes on in the background as I work. Laundry dries. My wife awakens and wants to hug me. She leaves to go work and returns. My work spans the length of several hours and anchors me to a physical location in much the same way that the drone note anchors me to its tonal center. Wanting to connect my music with the beauty inherent in everyday life, this multimodal polyphony tickles my artistic aesthetic.

Drums n' Drones 2

Drums n' Drones 3

From the time I was small, I have been keenly aware of death. Since 2 of my grandparents were the youngest of large families, there were many funerals for me to attend throughout my early childhood. I have pondered my own death nearly every day, and I sometimes shock my wife with nonchalant mentions of death in casual conversation.

There is a curious line from Psalm 87 (88) that reads (in the new Grail translation), “Will the shades rise up to praise you?” The psalm is a lament in the face of death. I have, at many times throughout my life, experienced a quasi-death that led me to join my own words to those of the psalmist imploring help from God. This layered improvisation was made in such a moment. 

Death is an intricate part of life. In my Catholic tradition, death is thought of as the door through which all people enter fully into life. Our lives are thought of as pilgrimages, wherein we hope for a completely good future without the suffering we experience on a near-daily basis. We see images of heaven here on earth, sometimes described as heaven piercing through our fleshly vail. While it seems to be most expedient for me to draw my attention back to those reasons for hope, I have also deepened my understanding of life through periodic meditation on death. 

I hope this music will inspire you to artistically engage with the limits between life and death. Please share your creations with me. I’d love to start an artistic dialogue with you!

Will the shades rise up to praise you?

"Becoming the Villain" is the first single from new rap/rock band Saints in Exile. The song features live instruments with a haunting piano melody layered underneath guitars and a heavy drum beat. The track follows a person who is slowly moving from the the light into the dark because they can't shake their inner Demons. The mask they wear deceives those around them as they fight for purpose and escape. In the end, will they give in to it and become the villain?

Becoming the Villain

Rapid Fire Flow With Soul

A hip-hop track with an east coast and jazzy feel to it. The rapping is energetic.

05/02/2025

Hip-Hop Glow with Soul

A melodic, hypnotic song with ghetto tales and ghetto life as the focus as UniverSouLove displays his legendary talent.

Ghetto Life On The Mic Device

A musical masterpiece with spokenword poetry as the foundation, and a hip-hop jazz track by Scarim, taking UniverSouLove's recordings to higher heights. 

15 SAND STORM

MRMUSICM

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