Just thinking about the year that’s passing and the new one just around the corner and want to say how grateful I am for all of my musical friends. I love that I can make music and know that a handful of people will give it a genuine listen — and that I can write about music here on this blog, and record a radio show, and know that I’m helping artists get the word out about their projects while I help music lovers find new tunes to fall in love with. So thanks, in particular, to Audio Mirage Studios for giving me a radio show and putting out my music, and also to everyone who listens to both and shares it with like-minded people.

Speaking of my radio show, you may have heard that I’m changing things up in the new year with a new show called Abominations. I’m thinking it will feature interviews with artists, but I’m also open to other possibilities. I’m not sure what they are yet, but the first episode will air on New Year’s Day and will feature an interview with Sam Goodman of Rescue Pets, along with some of her music and a couple of Sam’s indie music recommendations. A couple of weeks after that, I’ll be running an interview with Jaimee Jacobczak of Neither Could Dylan, and somewhere in the middle, I’m planning to do something with Quizboy.

I also have a couple of musical projects in the cooker. They’re still taking shape, but I’m happy with how they’re coming together. Without going into too much detail, I’ll just say that I feel incredibly fortunate to have played with Scoopski over the past year or so. It’s gotten me out of the house and allowed me to meet some incredibly talented people who may or may not factor into my aforementioned plans. That said, I don’t imagine I’d mention them if they didn’t.

As far as resolutions go, I want to be less algorithmic in the new year. Not that I’m a particularly algorithmic guy in the first place, but I often find myself wondering what I can do to get more people to listen to my music or read my blog — which, given the way things work these days, is ultimately the same thing as asking myself how I can appeal to the least common denominator or how to be more formulaic.

Another way of putting it is that I want to care less about stats and more about art. I want to keep making music for the people who like and appreciate it, which I like to imagine is anyone who’s reading this blog. And, of course, to keep spreading the word about other bands and artists I discover. There’s something cool about finding bands that fall outside the mainstream, and something even cooler about finding other people who love those bands as much as I do.

Thanks to all of you for being part of that community with me!

PS: If you’re in the Philadelphia area on December 28, come on out to the Gem in Spring City to see me and my fellow Scoopski-ite (and drummer for Sacred Monsters!) Nick Cervini play a few tunes with Sam Goodman of Rescue Pets!