Birthdays, 8-minute dreams, and a middle finger to the Algorithm.

This time, too, the day has come. And like every year, I look back and ask myself what I've given myself. I'm not talking about objects, but about actions. Actions of consistency, of love, sometimes even of pure, healthy rebellion. This year, my gift to myself—and I hope to you too—is called “Symphonic Reverie”.

And it's an unreleased song by 8 minutes and 32 seconds.

Read it again: 8:32. In an era where music has become a disposable 30-second background music for TikTok ass-wagging, releasing an instrumental work of this length is a political act. It's my personal refusal to prostitute an idea, to sell it to the pimp of easy consensus, as I wrote some time ago.

“Symphonic Reverie” It wasn't born to be "shaken." It was born to be listened to.

This is the story of a long-distance creative dream, a disharmonious harmony built 10,000 kilometers away. My partner in crime is also part of this sonic odyssey., Michiko, a phenomenal young drummer from Tokyo with a soul forged in metal. Already a founder with me and Michal Dijkstra of the “widespread” group” 80 Hundred Miles. From our respective home studios—my little creative den and his basement transformed into a temple of rhythm—we spent months woven the threads of this piece, note after note, beat after beat, with all the logistical and technical challenges that entailed. It's a dialogue between two worlds, two cultures, united by the same expressive urgency. And yes, I admit, holding the pieces of this crazy remote collaboration together was also AI (horror! horror! 😱), used as a tool, as a bridge, never as an end.

But what is this “Symphonic Dream” like?

It's a prog-rock journey. It's a living, breathing metal creature that doesn't ask permission. It moves from moments of almost reflective stillness to full-blown sonic storms. You won't find a human voice to guide you, because there's no need. Only the music speaks, in the purest and most universal language there is.

This song is a practical demonstration of everything I believe in. It's my music made "for those who love to listen, not just listen in the background." It's the fruit of that intimate and secret conversation between two people, with the idea of music as a lover, before opening the door to the world.

Today that door opens. And if someone stops to listen, recognizing themselves in what we've created, then the magic has truly happened.

“Symphonic Reverie”"It's no longer just mine and Michiko's. Now it's yours too. If you want to welcome it.

Enjoy listening. And fuck you, Algorithm. 🖕🏻 With love.

You can also listen to it on:
Apple Music – Amazon Music – YouTube

and all streaming platforms