Hi Friends,

My 2023 fall EP for Friends of Friends is called 'Love, Your Brothers and Sisters'. Generally it’s got a message of love and empathy, and I put a lot of positive energy into it to help deal with the loss and strife of the last couple years while I wrote the songs for this EP and my next album. The music draws on a diversity of influences like Stevie Wonder, The Meters, Red House Painters, Arthur Russell, and Daniel Johnston. Being stuck between political and health events pushed me to become a bit hermetic, escaping into creativity when I could, but also having a lot of trouble getting into any sort of groove. Stevie’s music was especially something I could always turn to in order to put myself in a better mood and help me find that groove again.

The title track “Love Your Brothers and Sisters” is an anagram for the lyrics repeated within. These words became a sort of mantra for me. The empathic lyrics are layered with funky drums by Miles Senzaki, a bouncing bass line, gospel organ by Max Foreman, plenty of percussion and my slinking jazzmaster… “Oh, Magnificent Wolf” came to me in a dream, or was it a nightmare? “...Wolf” and “Lullaby 23” are the kind of simple and dreamy but deteriorating acoustic tape jams I write to fall asleep to. “Brothers and Sisters” features a lyrical sample from the title track, but the feel is reimagined into a completely new groove; slower and funkier and it climaxes into a blissed out guitar solo. “Andy’s Song” is a song about loss and coping, and it features my dad, Joe Roark, on piano and organ. This is the first time we’ve done a “rock” song together (he used to be my piano accompanist for my cello recitals). He’s a big fan of the Allman Brothers and Little Feat, so it was awesome to ask for and receive these soulful key parts.

I like to think of Love, Your Brothers and Sisters as an awakening from an introspective and creative hibernation, to help myself validate the time I took off to breathe and come back with a better vision, positive mindset, and keener ears. I hope listening to this EP makes you feel like you just got a little warm restful hug, and a little motivation too.

Much love,
Martin Tomemitsu Roark