Well HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone! It's kind of hard to believe we are in 2024 now, isn't it? But I'm glad; last year was pretty dreadful. Best to leave all that chaos, war-mongering and death behind. I genuinely hope there is less of all that this year. But hey, I'm supposed to be talking about my MUSIC, right? Well after releasing RIVER OF CHANGE last year, I think I expected a bit more in some circles, but I know most people are not buying CDs anymore. And I haven't yet gotten the album properly distributed online. I'm working on that; bear with me. Hope to do it this month. I've submitted a few songs for various opportunities lately, and I had a brush with a new film shooting here in St. Louis which I would love to get a track into. But that's a long shot, and I can never count on that sort of thing like I lucked out with for UP IN THE AIR.  Meanwhile I am starting to look ahead with my next project. No title yet, but this one is mostly going to be topical and "modern times" related songs. The centerpiece will be a mini musical called "Hoping For an Alien Invasion," for which most of the basic tracks have been recorded. I've also done the scratch track for a piece called "Go and Tell the Others," and just today I got most of the lyrics written for a new song about insane world leaders I'm calling "Silly Empty Bubble Hopes." That phrase comes from a friend of mine in Ukraine, who has been witnessing every level of insanity imaginable in her country. My heart goes out to her and all Ukrainians; the wind is NOT favoring their side of the war right now, and I hope that changes. Since my last newsletter, I've gotten into the music of Taylor Swift big time. Some people who know me and my various eccentricities are surprised that such a commercial pop superstar would "float my boat" so to speak. But Taylor is unmatched as a committed singer/songwriter, and her body of work not only speaks for itself, it has broken every record in the book, as made clear by her recent selection as Time magazine's "Person of the Year." She experiments with genre and creative sonics in a way that has captured my imagination, and there are songs on FOLKLORE and EVERMORE, her two pandemic releases, as good as anything I've ever heard. I think I'm trying to learn a few things from Taylor's artistic choices and work ethic; we'll see how that manifests in my future music. Folks there are still limited CD copies available of my new album; all you have to do is drop me a line here, or via snail mail at PO Box 31785, Des Peres, MO 63131. I really try to reach my listeners, and I care what EVERYONE thinks..People have tons and tons of choices with their listening these days and I am realistic about the kinds of reactions I might get. But thank you to Sonia in Ukraine for sending me this note about my song WALKIN' ALONG on the new record: "It truly captivated my heart and soul. The gentle melody accompanied by your heartfelt lyrics created a serene and soothing atmosphere. The song resonated with me deeply, as it conveyed the universal experience of introspection and contemplation during a solitary walk. The way you effortlessly blend melancholic and uplifting tones reflects the complexity of human emotions. Your music has a remarkable ability to touch the deepest corners of the soul and evoke a range of feelings..." Clearly I can't expect THAT kind of praise all the time, but I sure appreciate it when it happens! Whatever you listen to, my friends, and whatever path you're on, I hope this new year is good to you. Take care of your health, and be good to all your loved ones. And support the hard-working artists in your community and beyond as much as possible. We're all in this together, trying hard to conjure a better world...or at least HOPING for one! And don't forget to check out my redesigned website at www.kevinrenick.com. CHEERS, everyone!