Fern Canyon is enchanting.

My whole raison d’être with soundwalks is to bottle up that feeling. Enchantment. Fascination. Magnetism. These are the robust feelings that pictures and sounds alone often can’t quite stir up. I see music as the key.

The great thing about music, I believe, is you don’t have to be an expert. You don’t have to know music theory, and you don’t even have to know how to play an instrument better than, say, an eager first-year student. For me, making music is about opening up, being sensitive, exploring.

Sharing music can be more fraught. A little over a year ago, I decided to make a home here on Substack. At first, it felt like play; an adventure in publishing. It still does. But, there is some tension with the commerce part. Honestly I feel like I’m floundering with that part of being a Substack author. It’s not that I don’t like it. I’m on board with writers and artists monetizing their work. From my point of view, it’s just challenging to sustain that sense of play, while trying to casually sell some part of it.

Today, I’m trying something new, to keep the exploratory vibe alive. Fern Canyon Soundwalk is only available here. Not Spotify, not Bandcamp. Not Qobuz—I like Qobuz by the way. Just here, and in its entirety, just for paid subscribers. It’s a little slice of enchantment, and practically speaking, it’s hidden. It’s if you know, you know. You know? I’m not fancy. Subscriptions start at less than $3/mo.

I don’t know if I’ll get any “conversions” from this post; any new paid subscribers. I decided not to let keep me from trying though. It’s probable that I’m making the wrong decision in terms of “exploiting” my work—It seems to me I’d earn more on streaming platforms over time. That’s okay. I’ve always felt better about my place in the economy when I’m not fretting and optimizing.

Fern Canyon is in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, in Humboldt County California. It was formed by Home Creek.

This modest stream has over the eons carved a 50 to 80 foot deep canyon through the rich sedimentary soils. The canyon walls sprout an amazing variety of luxuriant ferns and other moisture-loving plants. (vistredwoods.com)

Composing and finalizing Fern Canyon Soundwalk had many twists and turns. In the end, I went for soft, supple, simple. It’s a very tender and naive composition, grounded in felted piano, with chimes and sparkly synths punctuating the arrangement, alongside a myriad of water sounds and sparse birdsong.

I usually end with a thank you for your interest. It’s not performative. I really mean it. That’s all I’m after here…to tell stories with sounds, music, images and words. Folks taking an interest keeps me going. Thank you all!

Soundwalk is a reader-supported publication. To be one of a handful of people to hear Fern Canyon Soundwalk in its entirety, consider becoming a subscriber.