A deep converstation...

I realize that I want to ENJOY my life, my career as an artist. I realize I want to keep it real with YOU, and let you see and feel what this life is like. Sharing and expressing is a very productive outlet, one that is healthy and keeps us, me feeling good and helps me move through difficult shit. It's exciting and liberating.

I had a long conversation w/Mr. Jessie Brashear (drummer for DOWN-STARES) last night. It was a good talk. Very good. He and I were able to get deep and real with our feelings and where we are with our lives. The bottom line is that we are both artists and Jessie wants to play drums. I'm an artist and I want/need to express myself, sometimes in strange and unconventional ways. And the bottom line is that there doesn't have to be side bands or side projects or side umbrellas... that we can do whatever we want to do with our art through our brand/our home DOWN-STARES.

Now more than ever, or perhaps as equally as ever; DOWN-STARES is me. Rather, I feel more attached and connected and flowing through the same life source and bleeding from the same blood source and connected to/with DOWN-STARES than ever before.

It's exciting and refreshing to think that if I want/need to express myself in different avenues I have the backing of my mates who are down. Jessie said "Simeon, we can be that band!" That band that you get excited about singing with, that band that does experimental shit, that band that does totally off the beaten path music, that band that nurtures our artistic soul. We can be and do whatever we want to do. WHATEVER we want to do. With out having to destruct, cave, collapse, destroy...

DOWN-STARES has been consistant in our need, desire, and quest for growth over the years. I would say that's the only way we've been able to make it as long as we have. We've been consistant with you in our need to bring heavy and beautiful. So don't be surprised when the next music you hear out of us is another unexpected turn. At this point in our lives we have to continue to do what feels right to our soul, we must do what keeps us alive, what we feel good about. If not, we are lying to ourselves and only causing hurt and pain.

Off to drink some coffee.
--Simeon "The Killer" Hendrix.