It is with resounding joy and deep appreciation to tell you that I have been nominated as the first Artist in Residence of Water Valley, Mississippi via their program, Water Valley to the World. I’ll be inhabiting the deeply sound-saturated halls of the historic Dial Back Sound studio this October to write and produce my next work, cultivate new ideas while living in town, and find inspiration in the environment that surrounds and fills the city as autumn falls in Mississippi. In my nascent days of touring, this state was the first I began touring solo in. I became enamored with its cities and folks, playing from Hattiesburg to Biloxi, Clarksdale to Oxford, and from Tupelo to Jackson. We took spiritual note of the verdant Natchez Trace and walked in the crossing of highways 61 and 49 basking in twilight. We stood on the gulf in the waning waters after heavy storms and felt the quiet heavy heat of the southern summer’s valley drone. I uncovered two photos from those days, both from 2013, on Heidi Pitre's porch in Hattiesburg and on stage at the Juke Joint in Ocean Springs with guitarist Kyle Reid. To create in Water Valley is a grand and inspiring gift that connects me to those days.
I would like to fervently thank everyone involved and that believed that I was up to the task, as well at Matt Patton for considering me as a candidate for such a special opportunity.
The City Of Water Valley (and I) would like to thank all of the private donors who made this residency possible on behalf of the town. Thank you to Brandon Presley, Chris Goodwin, and the Water Valley Main Street Association for the discussions and steadfast work that led to the creation of the Water Valley To The World residency program, as well as organizing the donations to make it possible. Thank you to the the Main Street and Water Valley businesses that have taken on important early roles and contributed in manifold ways: Dial Back Sound, The Gordon Gallery, Yalo-Run Textile Supply, Cool Dog Sound, and The Magnolia Coffee Co. If you are interested in donating funding, investing your time or getting your business involved in the residency program, please contact Water Valley Main Street.
With gratitude, John
