I just wanted to add a note on a track I recorded a couple of years ago called Alien. I wanted to first clarify that the song is not about me directly although it could’ve been. It could’ve been even about you. I wrote it for a close friend who got deported some years ago. I think Alien is simply an observation about an unfortunate experience that was actually lived. I remember seeing my cell phone ring and thought how strange it was for my friend to call me in the morning when we usually talk at night. I thought perhaps he needed some information on something he couldn’t wait for. I picked up my phone and it was his boyfriend who stated that he got arrested by immigration. I was speechless. A couple of weeks later, I get a call from my friend while he is in jail waiting for his deportation to be processed. He tells me everything that happened the day he got arrested and for some reason I listened attentively to every detail. While all this was happening, I was in the middle of recording my CD In Absentia and it was the time when I was ready to record a CD that would truly be a big F U to the rules that we are told that we need to adhere to in music and sometimes even in life. Back then, I was ready to push the sounds and ideas and really let my instincts go no matter how pretentious, crazy and silly the outcome may be. I felt writing a track about my friend would fit perfectly for In Absentia. But first, I needed to get permission from my friend since it was something his personal experience. He granted me permission and right away I went into the studio with Little Pioneer and worked on the track. The aftermath is that the song became the most mentioned from people who listened to In Absentia. My friend told me that at first he felt really uncomfortable listening to it and I certainly could understand that. Alien was the first song I ever performed in front of a crowd and I am proud of that. It was for open mic at Nuclear Poetry. I honestly never wanted to perform my songs on stage and it was by chance that one day I contacted my now friend Aaron and asked if I could participate in Nuclear Poetry’s next event. I was originally thinking of just reading the lyrics from my songs. But since I already had the back up tracks prepared, I decided to try out Alien and actually perform it in some way. What I realized half way through the song was that it was emotionally draining and I think at the end I actually got a little emotional. In his honor, I dedicated the whole album to him. I honestly lost a good friend all because of a mishap that can happen to anybody. I consider all immigrants true survivors and I wish I could have half of their guts to do what they do.

M.