For over a decade, I’ve lived on the road. Many know about my Wall Street past and the “Chase Your Dreams” mantra that pushed me to leave behind a promising career for the uncertain life of a musician. But there was another, lesser-known motivation: rebellion. In rediscovering an old journal from 2013, written just before I quit my job and bought a one-way ticket, I’m reminded of my mindset at the time—a revolutionary spirit rejecting a system I saw as flawed. The 2008 financial crisis still loomed large, and my writings carried a nihilistic tone. The road represented freedom, an escape from societal constraints.
Those early years were electrifying. I chopped up my credit cards and vowed to truly live as a musician, finding inspiration in every crowded street and every encounter. What I didn’t realize, though, was that my pursuit of dreams was also a form of escape.
As success found us—viral videos, sold-out shows, and recognition from platforms like Billboard—our addiction to the road only deepened. The road became home, but it came at a cost. My New York roots withered, family and friends grew without me, and I missed countless milestones. I’ve built meaningful connections across Europe and North America, and yet, those relationships often feel shallow, limited by the fleeting nature of our visits.
Then the pandemic hit, forcing a sudden stop. At first, the pause felt refreshing after years of relentless movement. But as time stretched on, the absence of touring and connection sent us into a spiral. In hindsight, we were already lost—wandering aimlessly long before the world shut down.
When the pandemic ended, we tried to pick up where we left off in 2019, but we were building on a weak foundation. By 2022, cracks began to show. Our team shifted, and we fought to hold on, blind to what we needed most: stability and purpose.
They say life has a handful of transformative moments. Eleven years ago, I hit the road to chase a dream and prove I could live outside the system. It wasn’t about fame; it was about creating something meaningful, something that could change the world. Reading my old words, I feel the pull of that dream again. But this time, I know I can’t keep running. The transient life is no longer enough.
Does that mean I’ll stop traveling? No. I still plan to tour, explore, and connect for part of the year. But I’m ready to plant roots—in both the material and digital realms. This is the start of a new chapter. The winds have carried me to the shores of an unknown land after years lost at sea. Now, with a decade of experience and the connections I’ve built along the way, I feel a renewed sense of confidence. I’m no longer the naïve boy thirsting for adventure, foolish enough to believe I was ready to change the world. Instead, I carry with me the lessons, growth, and perspective needed to remain true to the vision I set out to accomplish all those years ago. It’s time to begin again—with intention, wisdom, and a deeper sense of purpose.
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That was a bold leap into the unknown and it seems to have worked out pretty well. I'm not sure I could handle life on the road. I've done my share of travelling, but I quite like being at home. I may retire from the daily grind in a few years and fully intend to make more music then. I'm having fun with it now anyway.
Rock on!
Definitely been a journey the past 11 years, and one I'm thankful for. I am hoping that this is the year that we build a new foundation that has the ability to grow into something that accomplishes our goals while also developing a better sense of community and belonging. We felt that we were starting to do that 5 years ago and then the world seemed to have drastically changed. More than anything it proved that we weren't in the right place yet to build such a thing. Feels like we are getting there now.
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