The Blessed Madonna Instagram – Story time: Secretariat was the first “song” I wrote. I was very much out of my depth. It’s adapted from a poem I wrote in college and the chord progression was something I found slowly in my basement when I lived in Chicago. That was almost a decade ago and it took that long to get it right. From that beginning, versions were fleshed out with many patient friends, including first my beloved @shaunjwright, @official_christoforo, @jaqattaque, @amydouglassings, @housegospelchoir, @duckalv, @yukikanesaka and most importantly, @kon1200 who helped me make sense of the 150 channels of vocals and drums that were amassed over nearly a decade while I tried to learn what the fuck I was doing.
I still don’t know what I’m doing but what I do know was learned by proximity to genius and the generosity of others’ wisdom. More than special thanks also to Hifi Sean who quite simply acted as a teacher and mentor in the absurd task of trying to learn to track live instruments during lockdown—over WhatsApp.
So, the title: Secretariat? Secretariat, was Triple Crown-winning racehorse, captivated the world with a run that outpaced all others. A horse so fast and famous that he covered Time Magazine.
When Secretariat died, doctors examined him to see what made him different and inside his giant ribcage was a vastly oversized heart. Put simply, his engine, his heart, was bigger than anything anyone had seen.
I was so moved by the life and death of this Kentucky hero who won it all because of his monstrous heart. A big heart will either propel you or it will kill you. I’m shooting for the first option.
Godspeed, my debut album, drops October 18th and can be presaved now!
Special thanks to the legend @arthurhbaker, who let me sample his record with Darryl Pandy, Raise. It’s a tender love note to Diva Pandy having his voice included in the final mix. I’m honored to have so many friends to help bring life to this record, helping me find its great big heart. ♥️ | Posted on 21/Sep/2024 00:23:37
