I began making music at an early age. By 12 I was already writing and recording my own stuff. But when I met my friend Patrick, after playing a 7th grade talent show, everything got real. We started a band called the 'golden llamas'. And after visiting a local record store and learning that bands made 'demo' tapes, and could actually play shows (even at 14 years old), we began doing both. We soon became aware of the local punk rock scene here in Richmond, VA. And within a year, became '500$Fine'. It was a very fast moving time, covering 2-3 of our lifes from 14-16. Patrick, unfortunatly, didn't make it past 16, getting killed in a car crash. Ending my first real friendship, and ultimatly, my first real band.

Not content to let the music we had created with Patrick, and his immense talent be released as the 'demo' tape we had planned (we had already released 3 at this point), we held a benefit show, and released a CD. When the pressing plant asked for the name of the record label that would be releasing it, I had to come with one, and OVOLR! Records was born. In putting together that CD, our drummer Matt and I went to the studio to record a couple last songs for the CD. One, of the last song Patrick had written for us, which we never got to record, and two, and acoustic song I had written. This song, and the blend of punk energy with a sound I saw as beautiful, became the basis for what I would do over the next 20 years.

With a new idea of where I wanted to go, I began learning to record. I bought an early digital 8-track, and began recording myself, and any band that would let me. Over the next few years, I grew in my practice and understanding, and equipment, and eventually took an internship at a local studio, and began learning how to actually record.

There, my focus shifted from making music, to recording it, and I began recording bands Within a year, was given the keys to the studio, and I began recording hardcore and punk bands at night. Within a few years, I expanded my knowledge into mastering, and opened a mastering room in the front of the studio I freelanced at. My life was about recording, and thats about it.

But as things got normalized into engineer life, I began pulling up some of those early recordings I had made, and decided to make a full solo album. I recorded rough sketches of songs, and by the time I was done, I had 40-50. I picked 12 songs, and re-recorded them. I released this record to friends as 'Silence Is Suicide'. The rest of the songs, became the basis for what would become 'F-box'.

By the mid 2000s however, It became apparent that something was wrong with me, health wise. I developed health issues that became very difficult to deal with. It became impossibly hard to meet many of my appointments, and eventually , much anything at all. This development, compounded with confronting personal issues in my life, I reached a breaking point and just stopped everything. I got into therapy, and with both therapy, and medical doctors, was able to sort out what was working, and what wasn't. As it became clear that these would be long term issues, I realized I'd have to make my own approach to everything I do in my life.

And so that is what I have done. Over the past 20 something years, I have learned how to make art, make music, run a small record label, publish a podcast, write and publish books, and even be a parent, while maintaining my personal physical and mental health. And its lead me to some meaningful developements. It means though, that I have to work a bit different than may seem the obvious way to, and make some compromises. Where some bands go on tour, I have to stay closer to home. Where some folks can work on things in a dedicated fashion, have dedicated plans, and timelines, I have to put health first, and work on it when I can. And now, also having a kid and being a parent, while putting my kid first. Art is wonderful, and making things is wonderful, but they are the by-products of living a life, not the life itself. Life is the thing itself. And so my life, and how I live it, is a work-in-progress, that evolves and adapts as I evolve and adapt.