I ended 2012 with a video, so I might as well start 2013 with another.

I don't know why, but the roadrunner is one of my favorite animals. They seem a bit mysterious and rare. They are fast, yet often relaxed. And apparently, some of them are quite tame. At school I have been seeing this roadrunner a lot lately (one benefit of living in the desert, haha). Yesterday I was able to get really close and take a few pictures. For the last picture, I was almost close enough to touch it. These were taken with my phone, which doesn't have a great camera. Sorry about the quality. Also, it may look small in these pictures, but its size was actually pretty impressive.

About the music...shortly after seeing the roadrunner, I got the idea for this rhythm, as well as the ending harmonica melody. I happened to have a harmonica with me at school, and I tried to lure the roadrunner closer with its sound. :) I don't think it had much effect. Later, I started playing mandolin and the idea turned into a sort of "folk jam". The repeated mandolin chords were planned, but the more melodic mandolin part is almost entirely improvised. I also added a harmonica "rhythm" part, a shaker, and a small bongo drum. Basically, everything you hear is played by me and recorded with a microphone, except for the deep, steady beat, which is the beatbox. So it is much different than my usual sound, but I think it turned out to be some suitable theme music for that roadrunner.

Thanks for watching and listening! I hope you all are having a great year so far.