Midsummer Dream House

Lyrics from Traditional Latin Requiem. Composition by Betsy Podsiadlo. Betsy Podsiadlo is a composer, performer and producer living in Richmond, Virginia. Betsy’s work as a composer features the combination of medieval religious tonality, traditional Appalachian style and surprising whimsical electronics ranging from choral suites to solo trumpet with fixed media. In her work as a composer and performer, Betsy is consistently engaged in the pursuit of creating art that, above all else, tells the truth. In addition to composing, Betsy is a founding partner and Creative Director of Art Grove Newsletter with her partner and managing editor, Tom Jakob. Betsy is also currently the 2023 Mellon Producing Fellow with Beth Morrison Projects. Betsy’s “Lux Aeterna” with fixed media commissioned and performed by inimitable soprano, Ariadne Greif, premiered on New York City’s WQXR on February 7th, 2024. 

Photography by Ashley Kaplan. Ashley Kaplan is a San Diego based photographer who specializes in working to empower the subjects she works with. She has been working as a photographer for eight years, and full time for two years. Ashley enjoys all things photography and the majority of the time you will find her with a camera in hand. If you catch her on the occasional moment without a camera in tow, you might find her running, hiking, painting, and hanging out with friends. To find more of Ashley’s work, please find her on Instagram at @kaplan.photographyy 

916 by J. Yoki. The track “916” featuring Sacramento artist Kkid Menace (Kielan Stewart) is a deep dive into the city’s level of creativity. J. Yoki’s opening lines romanticize the beauty of the state’s capital by reflecting on the discovery of Gold in the region’s river in the 1840s. Social and political tensions follow along these lines due to the reality of living in a city where progress can be slow. J. Yoki continues his journey through his hometown and acknowledges that his life is in his own hands and cannot be manipulated by the environment he grew up in. Kkid Menace enters and begins his tale of transformation and dealing with his struggles in love and trust. These two bring together an intimate reflection of their journeys through life.

J. Yoki is an artist from Sacramento and San Diego, California. He combines visual art and music to tackle heavy concepts and themes he faces. His lyrics are metaphor-heavy and reference pop culture in ways that speak to the issues he is addressing within his work. Most of his music is an abstract piece of how he experiences love, betrayal, growth, loss, and other lessons that we all face in life. J. Yoki is not shy about collaborating to create contemporary pieces that illustrate how dynamic art can be by fostering environments that breed creativity. Through trial and error, J. Yoki finds himself in front of mountains, waiting to climb to advance his path of enlightenment. He is on Instagram @j.yokii and @jessemunyoki. His music can be found on all major streaming platforms. SoundCloud: J. Yoki. YouTube: @j.yokiii. Find more of his music on Spotify and Apple Music.

Pretty Fingers by Cascade Cody. Cascade Cody is a folk musician originally from Yakima, WA. Now hailing from Bellingham, WA he has made it his life’s mission to bring musical recognition to a land steeped in natural beauty via the medium of song. Cody is currently working on his next project featuring his band “The Unpulled Bootstraps.”