Joseph Akins - Castle Moon (2015)

These piano solos, with the exception of “Game of Thrones,” were written between the summers of 2013 and 2015. Initially I was inspired to write darker-sounding pieces similar to some I’ve written in the past, such as “Dance of my Ancestors” (Spirit Touch), “Night Shadows” (Spirit Touch) and “Winter is Coming” (A Southern Sun). Not only did this inspiration come from fans who mentioned these as favorites, I also wanted to create an album that would be the antithesis of my previous album, A Southern Sun. From this, “Castle Moon,” “The Dorian Zone,” “Moon Shadows” and “Night Runner” materialized. The latter was composed while I imagined a beautiful black horse running across an open field underneath a night sky. Another, “A Starry Night,” came from an improvisation at the piano as I observed artwork depicting nighttime scenery.

Two other pieces, “Gypsy Dreams” and “1,001 Nights,” are based on an exotic scale that I love to improvise and write with. “1,001 Nights” was originally recorded in 2009 with ensemble (percussion, electric bass and strings) and appeared on the album Spirit Touch. Since fans often declare this piece as a favorite during my piano concerts, it appears on this album as a solo performance. Finally, piano pieces such as “Star Dance,” “A Nocturnal Waltz,” “Moonrise Romance” and “Twilight Lullaby” are lyrical, emotive pieces that grew from the roots of my soul.