We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Looking for Islands: Vol. 2

by dan zenga

supported by
Robert Orav
Robert Orav thumbnail
Dan Zenga
Dan Zenga thumbnail
Brian Wride
Brian Wride thumbnail
Holly Huizenga
Holly Huizenga thumbnail
hurleys
hurleys thumbnail
/
1.
Cultivate! 03:03
lyrics
buy track
The new spring sun falls under the darkness Enter garden lights The scent of new growth inspires our dreams of everything this can be Dirt still fresh on our tired hands We cultivated the soil, with a vision of what can be. Don't doubt what can come from the smallest seed. Don't doubt this is a metaphor for the lives we lead. Dirt still fresh on our tired hands We cultivated the soil, with a vision of what can be. Feel our love, transform us here. Feel our love, transform us here. We don't like to change, here we choose to change. We don't like to change, here we let ourselves change. What starts with a garden in the city, ends with the hope of a farm and a goat. Don't doubt what can come from the smallest seed. Don't doubt this is a metaphor for the lives we lead. Dirt still fresh on our tired hands We cultivated the soil, with a vision of what can be.
2.
Map of the Years 03:52
lyrics
buy track
I see it like a map of the years layered in the sunlight, faded out when the days got too bright. I know we didn't always see it like that. It's not just about us anymore. I was afraid of loosing you still I let you when you needed me to. I waited for you to look back, I saw you did for a second. When it comes down we can't try to control what the future brings I don't mean to scare you. Was it how we looked in the picture we took? Or how the photo looked hanging on the wall? I see it like a map of the years layered in the sunlight, faded out when the days got too bright. I know we didn't always see it like that. It's not just about us anymore. I held my tongue and didn't promise you that I would be here if you needed me to I knew you wouldn't have wanted it. Still in that moment we didn't let ourselves think about the end. I see it like a map of the years layered in the sunlight, faded out when the days got too bright. I know we didn't always see it like that. It's not just about us anymore.
3.
Shift 03:45
lyrics
buy track
The man parked, crying in his car, is not far ahead of us The kids in the distance are playing free Oblivious, as we hoped they would be Did you see the dust unsettle? Did you witness the horizon shift? Do you feel the air in your lungs when you close your eyes? We've had enough, we can regain control, in our fragile state. The old woman fills her cart with cans Wears a mask for the smoke from the fires nearby Did you see the dust unsettle? Did you witness the horizon shift? Do you feel the air in your lungs when you close your eyes? We've had enough, we can regain control, in our fragile state. The crowds gather in front of the banks Saying "we are not alone" "We will bring the heat, who will back track next? We've got the power now and its not what you think. Who will bring the heat? Who will backtrack next? We've got the power now and it's not what you think. We are not alone. Did you see the dust unsettle? Did you witness the horizon shift? Do you feel the air in your lungs when you close your eyes? We've had enough, we can regain control, in our fragile state.
4.
1000 Loose Ends 03:33
lyrics
buy track
Today I feel the way the snow falls Calm, delicate Touch the window, its cold. My thoughts slow and they grow on their own Become a 1000 loose ends in a megaphone I can't slow them down. It's a hard thing, I don't want memories to haunt me My mind is not sensitive to my needs. Move slow, I can't control how it came to this. Will I ever accept that it's not my fault? How did it come to this. Our prayers start slow, grow on their own Become 1000 loose ends in a microphone I can't slow them down. It's a hard thing, I don't want memories to haunt me My mind is not sensitive to my needs. Don't try to explain this to me. It's just a selfish attempt to justify your own story. I don't know and I don't need to If you know, I wont agree with you That's ok. We can make space for letting go, Because we have to. Today I feel the way the wind blows I feel the cold down to my bones That’s ok, we can make space here to heal. We can make space for letting go. Letting go.
5.
Waves 03:44
lyrics
buy track
We traveled all night For a view we thought that we might find Distance extends in every direction We have no understanding of how to draw it in. My tears at bay admire the waves Honest unfulfilling response What we both need is waiting on the shore We drift away Eyes lightly closed Cold stones pressed into my palms Full collapse Retreat at last I don't hear your footsteps anymore My tears at bay admire the waves Honest unfulfilling response What we both need is waiting on the shore We drift away It's not the wind It's the slow collection of debris It was never the rain It's the rivers it leaves behind My tears at bay admire the waves Honest unfulfilling response What we both need is waiting on the shore We drift away
6.
Did you see the Fire? 02:59
lyrics
buy track
I should have left my keys I knew, I wasn't coming back I've got all I need in my truck, all I'm missing are a few tie straps If you would just listen you would understand why I am right I know, I haven't said it aloud I can live with who I have become It's the loneliness of being misunderstood That's the hardest part I'm alone, I'm leaving Oh I'm committed, I'm defiant I'll make you see me Oh, I'm committed, I'm defiant I'll make you hear me I can live with who I have become It's the loneliness of being misunderstood That's the hardest part I'm alone, I'm leaving Please don't ask me to come back, please don't mourn my leaving Did you see the fire? I just posted it. Did you see the photo of the fire? I just posted it. I can live with who I have become It's the loneliness of being misunderstood That's the hardest part I'm alone, I'm leaving
7.
Agile Hope 03:56
lyrics
buy track
I don't want you to be afraid. Oh my child I'm scared. I would like, to promise you security, but I don't have the energy to lie. Maybe we can agree to agile hope? Love responsive, to all the changes we will live through. We can hold our world in place with our care for each other. We have seen houses on stone wash away. So maybe building on sand can be our strength? We can write our own story, in a world without guarantees. Maybe we can agree to agile hope? Love responsive, to all the changes we will live through. We can hold our world in place with our care for each other. I don't trust in myself, I believe in us together. I don't trust in myself, I believe in us together. Maybe we can agree to agile hope. Maybe we can agree to agile hope. For all the changes we will live through, we can hold our world in place with our care for each other. I would like to love the earth with you, and not fear for its collapse. We can write our own story, in a world without guarantees. Maybe we can agree to agile hope? Love responsive, to all the changes we will live through. We can hold our world in place with our care for each other.

about

In late 2019 and early 2020 I started playing some open mics in Toronto to regain my confidence as a performer and have some fun singing for people. Then the pandemic started. At that point the only way to move forward with my music was to focus on recording some songs, despite having never performed any of my new songs live or played any actual shows. I recorded 'looking for islands' in late 2020 with help from Andrew Patten. I went through a steep learning curve through this process. After recording an ep at home I decided that the next step was to record some songs in a studio. I tried not to over-think it too much and when the process started I hadn't even committed to any particular set of songs. To be real, though, me not 'over thinking it' is still thinking about it and working on it a lot. In the end I recorded 7 songs. 'Map of the Years' and 'Cultivate' were both last-minute decisions because if you have known me for a long time, you would know these are fairly old songs. But they are fun to play, and I have never recorded them, so I put them in .

The complete collection of songs is a bit of a mixtape of themes, from gardening and love (cultivate!), to dealing with the fear of climate change ('shift' and 'agile hope'), to learning to live with the anger and cold of grief (1000 loose ends).

The songs are themselves islands - distinct experiences and expressions. I have not tried to achieve a thematic unity across the album. Songs for me are always snapshots of different moments so to try to link them together misses the point. These songs represent the repetitive - and still fulfilling - journey of looking for islands.

credits

released March 22, 2022

Dan Huizenga - Vocals, acoustic guitar
Guillermo Subauste - Producer, engineer, drums, bass, electric guitar
Recorded at Pacha Sound in Toronto

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

dan zenga image

dan zenga Toronto, Ontario

Dan Zenga is a Toronto-based indie-folk musician. Zenga’s latest EP, 'we put ourselves in the way of wonder', is a roll of film taken over a 15-year relationship, complete with grainy still-framed photos of movement in the dark, light-leaks, and sun-soaked over-exposure. ... more

contact / help

Contact dan zenga

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like dan zenga, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Seafood Sam joins the show to discuss his newest album, " Standing On Giant Shoulders".
listen now