PREMIERE | Tűz, 'Beyond Straight Lines'

Meditations on the natural orders of things by Ashley Macachor of Tűz; press photo courtesy of the artist.

The paths of life and the world work according to their own logics. Only so much can be predicted and planned for as schedules and itineraries are often foiled by unexpected events, disruptions, distractions and diversions that alter the course of routes and trajectories. The new Tűz EP Beyond Straight Lines pays homage to these mysterious ways of the universe that consistently transforms certainty into inconsistent curiosities. San Jose artist Ashley Macachor shares an assembly of strings, songs and natural found sounds as a tribute to the myriad directions of river and creek tributaries along with all the natural elements and forces that move and morph beyond our control.

"Backtracking" celebrates life in its active state along the way of the winding journey, as the title track observes the intricate and wondrous interplay of bio-earth sciences that operate outside the linear courses of events. As every Tűz release is an experiential adventure into the the spaces where ecology and the arts intertwine, Macachor invites the audience to dig further beyond the surface with the encouraging "Go Further" before leaving the listener with the meditational mantra of "Be Still". Beyond is a lullaby for the soul, the earth, the oceans, the skies and the stars. Tűz delivers a reminder of the natural world at work that functions according to rhythms and rationales that extend beyond our own hectic plans and gratuitously busy schedules.

Ashley Macachor of Tűz provided some privy insights on the inception of Beyond Straight Lines:

Most of life doesn’t seem to fit into a box, have sharp, defined edges or follow a straight, linear path: it can be nebulous, cyclical, layered, messy, gray and nuanced, yet simultaneously simple. In a way, these are love songs to that reality.

Reflections by Ashley Macachor; press photo courtesy of the artist.

We all have our own versions of according to plan, which we often cling to, sometimes to our detriment. These songs reflect my own attempts and experiences in finding a sense of peace in all that.

Beyond Straight Lines by Tűz is available now.