Why the SF time capsule?
There are moments in life when we have no choice but to stare into a space and watch our pasts play. In a different life, our unaccompanied selves have probably entered a theater to sit at the seat we think is best. We’re not as excited as usual, but we’re interested. Allowing the film its respect, we silence our work, errands, words, thoughts, and phones.
Reminiscing integrates itself somewhere in the decision-making process. It may not influence the morning coffee’s flavor, or the afternoon’s lunch. It’s not supporting the motivation to participate in employment, or next month’s first Thursday. In fact, its inconsistent linger connects unpredictably as lightning would. Over a certain amount of time, we near the open sky further than any other of our being. Or maybe our growth is a cellular version of how gears turn in clock towers, and each single experience that makes us eventually rotates to their own moment of exposure that equals our inescapable tendency to mind travel. Regardless of the vehicle, it happens, and the result’s choice is one of relatively strong, but temporary, importance.
The way humans can acquire, and discard so idly, leaves even themselves, surprised. For my lifetime, I’ve been thrusted into an individual feeling so conflicted against his environments, he chose to pursue learning from his nuances, actions, and inactions. By this investigation, the SF Timecapsule is conceived.
The explicit nature of its first track, helps me to recount what I perceive as the triviality of friendship or perhaps, any type of relationship. I found myself at the behest of my own emotions during the loneliness experienced that year. I thought, “how is it so easy to forget me?” and, “what act have I committed to make them think an end is the solution.” I think now, “why not foster long-lasting experiences?” and, “I choose to exercise accountability and seek out lessons when confronted with disputes.” Many lessons were learned through writing this song, in addition to its possible harm, as the now indicted Sean Combs, one of the producers of the original song, prepares for trial following charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. (CNN, 2024)
The Computer Love sampled second track, reminds me of how absent my life was in the areas of romance and sex. I’m catapulted to a time in my upbringing when my sister and I lived in Tennessee with our grandmother. A stark and often forgetful woman, she implemented many assignments in the 11-year-old me. Amongst extracurricular school engagements, house chores, sports, and choir, one of those duties entailed alter serving in the catholic church. She had a way of persuasion that didn’t give me a choice in a lot of my activities but gave me hope in liking whatever it was she had planned for me. There was always something to do, until there wasn’t. The lowest days required imagination.
Sex was borderline evil and Love was strictly for relatives. I hadn’t thought of a girl/woman in that way until South Carolina, where a relationship spurred sophomore year and roller-coastered until my early 20s. Maybe I thought it was easier to love someone else rather than myself and that proved to be false. Through my mid-20s, the occasional attempt to flirt would foretell a usual, boring, Hollywood, attaching. These lyrics suggest undeveloped character and thorough movie watching.
The third track is a commission item. It’s my understanding of the city I lived in prior to moving to San Francisco. Sacramento, like many well-known and highly visited American cities, bolsters a great number of communities. If you sex with a lot of people often there, you’ve probably integrated within a few of those communities and don’t know it. It’s okay, embrace it. I’m sure being the chosen individual to engage in sex with while living in such an up-and-coming city like Sacramento, comes with perks. I wasn’t one, however, I was able to observe a diverse group of people in various locations of Sacramento.
The client promoted a party, and I pitched the idea to have a song made to support it. That sort of collaboration could’ve been bigger, and I learned the unawareness my audience can have of my potential. Constantly moving and curdling out of sight of the world doesn’t help.
The fourth track, produced by Masuta, is a culmination of my brief confusion, between longing for companionship and not accepting its outcome, jealousy, boastfulness, and the Radio. It takes the 3 previous songs and sandwiches them into fictious radio play. This track also defines the melding of a great collaboration: When two or more artists can serve the medium whilst contributing their record of humanity. Masuta and I had not conceptualized any ideas before the composition was made. He supplied the beat, and I wrote and recorded over it. Simple. When I listen to the song, it feels like we were in the same place at the same time when everything was created. It’s how I’d like all my collaborations and relationships to proceed. A reciprocity that shows substance deeper than flesh. To an extent, reminiscing does that. Hence, the SF Timecapsule.
I’m excited to release more music very soon. When you have a moment, please give the SF Timecapsule a listen on Soundcloud and share with your friends. I hope to see you soon. Have a great week!
With sincere love and gratitude,
Raph
Andone, Dakin. “The Sean ‘diddy’ Combs Case Brings to Mind Another Criminal Case against a Famous Musician.” CNN, Cable News Network, 21 Sept. 2024, edition.cnn.com/2024/09/21/us/sean-diddy-combs-vs-r-kelly-cases/index.html#:~:text=Combs%2C%20meanwhile%2C%20was%20indicted%20in,life%20in%20prison%20if%20convicted.