While swimming into the sunset, a Turtle took notice of a Cardinal, apparently way off course and impervious to cardinal directions, as the bird was far out to sea.

The Tortoise moved towards the Cardinal, and surfaced to expose her shell fully to the Cardinal. The tired Cardinal then flew to the Tortoise, landed on her shell, and the Tortoise

While swimming into the sunset, a Turtle took notice of a Cardinal, apparently way off course and impervious to cardinal directions, as the bird was far out to sea.

The Tortoise moved towards the Cardinal, and surfaced to expose her shell fully to the Cardinal. The tired Cardinal then flew to the Tortoise, landed on her shell, and the Tortoise brought her safely to shore.

A nearby Falcon watched it all, and changed course to the shoreline. The Falcon was also curious why the bird was so far out to sea.

Landing in a nearby lodgepole, the Falcon felt a magnetic pulse in the sky. The Tortoise also felt the change in the air.

Suddenly, the sky became dark, then lit up in green colors, with images of animals and angels and planets and shapes.

The Tortoise extended her neck as far and high as she could, attempting to understand what she was seeing.

The sky then transformed to an image of her, as she gazed into the largest mirror image she had ever seen of her self, and she became frightened.

The Cardinal became more alert and the Falcon watched carefully as animals everywhere became restless and the waves crashed like no tide had risen.

The Tortoise in the sky was soon joined by images of animals coming closer to her.

The image of the Tortoise then began to transform, as a woman rose from the Shell, leaving her protective exoskeleton behind on the shore.

The woman came to her feet, naked and green, with auburn and cardinal and monk robe red hair, the sky now turning from green to purple.

She looked at her Shell, then the sea, and made her way towards the forest as nearby animals awaited her presence.

Falcon Sees Tortoise

Become Emerald Lady

Leaves Her Shell On The Shoreline

To Dance Sing

With The Animals

The Emerald Lady and the animals would dance and play and sing in the forest through many bright days and dark moons.

Until one day, when she danced, the rains came, the animals came down from the trees, and the ground cracked.

The earth opened.

The Emerald Lady and the animals would dig through many dark moons far below where fish would go, until she one day heard the Cardinal’s songs.

As if she knew all along, she followed their mirth, which soon led her and the animals to the sun, rising above earth.

The Emerald Lady then returned to her Shell and followed the sun into the sea in the fall of night, until one day she would again return to shore, leave her Shell behind, to dance again with the animals.

The Forest & The Falcon…

The Emergence of Emerald Lady…

And so the story begins …there are many animals and people that need the Emerald Lady, her presence, her patience, her persistence, her ability to hear and see when she is needed, her spirit, her magnetic moves with them in stride.

This is a story of hope, of courage, of following your path, respect for Mother Nature, and connections.

Freelance Philosophers

FEEL FREE

Freelance Philosophers Release FEEL FREE Album December 1, 2022

Alpena, Michigan natives Brian Silver, Forrest Maher, and Chicago-based drummer, Jason Hollembeak, reunite with James Kananen at his Bad Racket Recording Studios in Cleveland, Ohio to record Freelance Philosopher’s 2022 album Feel Free. The new album

Freelance Philosophers

FEEL FREE

Freelance Philosophers Release FEEL FREE Album December 1, 2022

Alpena, Michigan natives Brian Silver, Forrest Maher, and Chicago-based drummer, Jason Hollembeak, reunite with James Kananen at his Bad Racket Recording Studios in Cleveland, Ohio to record Freelance Philosopher’s 2022 album Feel Free. The new album released December 1, 2022. 

“Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react.” That’s a favorite quote of songwriter Silver’s.

And if Silver’s riffs and tones on his guitars, bass, and keyboards get signature Silver heavy and eerie to match the mystique of life, so might it also be said of Maher’s introspective lyrical approach. Maher also did the artwork for the album.

Drummer Hollembeak holds the ship steady no matter the weather. Kananen provides a boost with additional keys and sound prowess.

Lyricist, Maher, explores the human condition on this latest endeavor: from adventure to near death to loss, to starting to love again. 

Self-care and awareness, self regulation, trusting your gut, knowing when to say when, encountering adversity, being open to love are a few of the throughlines contemplated and rendered.

On the driving “Faith Stay,” the speaker isn’t sure if he’ll see light again, but he keeps reaching.

On “Love All” the speaker questions the capacity to love. “If I should stand so tall, can I stand to love all? You should stand so tall...There’s still time. You can make it right. Set the time to love all.” Set the time, indeed.

The ballad “Welcome” brings us to small village where the the hungry and poor are outside an invite only shelter where the guests are being served a meal with more courses and utensils than the entire village has rice. “We don’t need an enemy...Respect is given, trust is earned, no matter color, size, or creed.” 

On the track “Feel Free” the speaker actualizes how it’s up to the self to start anew. A heady proposition, but one that’s appropriate for the tone of this tune.

Songwriters Silver and Maher were raised in Alpena, Michigan and began their musical projects together in 1996.

Drummer Hollembeak and Maher go back to 1991 when they met and released their first album together in 1993. 

Maher met Kananen in 2018 while scouting locations for their Dare to Dream Again recording.

The new Freelance Philosophers album Feel Free can be heard online on December 1, 2022 on Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, YouTube, Amazon Music, Bandcamp and more, as well as https://freelancephilosophers.com and For more information, contact info@freelancephilosophers.com

2022 Freelance Philosophers

Contact info@freelancephilosophers.com