2026. Time flies. I know I’ve been sitting on this “new year” post for a bit, but I wanted to give it the thought it deserved. I hope you read this to the end. 

I recently hit the 10-year anniversary of my first EP as a singer-songwriter, Perfect Moments. Ten years of releasing original music as a folk-rock artist gave me pause. What does that mean—to me, to the people I’ve met, the lives I’ve touched, the friends I’ve made, and the future ahead? 

Looking back at photos from 2013 onward, I’m reminded that most of my 20s were spent playing progressive metal, ending with the breakup of Starring Janet Leigh in 2011. I had no idea what came next musically. I took a breath and waited. At the time, I was hosting an open mic at Marcello’s. When it closed, I brought the idea to Cuchulainn’s, and we held our first open mic the Tuesday after Paddy’s Day 2011. 

That night changed everything. It sparked all the community work I’ve done since and reignited something I thought I’d lost. Hosting, meeting new people, watching musicians grow—it gave me purpose again. I made new friends, found new bandmates, and rediscovered a musical home. 

That inspiration led directly to Perfect Moments—songs about life, love, hardship, and redemption—shaped by the incredible people in my life: my wife Heather, my friends, family, and community. 

I’m looking at 2026 through that same lens of renewal—as a songwriter and as an advocate for music in my community. 2025 was good, but I’m focused on purpose, on doing good work for its own sake, and letting that breathe into my music. I’m writing again, with a sense of vigor I hope leads to my best work yet. 

What does it all mean - Time will tell. I’ll do the best I can with what I have and let history decide the rest. I’m good with the journey—wherever it leads. 

Zaddy