Synopsis:

As Seen in the Sideview Mirror opens with a dream sequence of the main character, Mr. Sleepwalker, on a winter morning. He is having a very pleasant dream about nothing in particular. In the end, Mr. Sleepwalker is woken up by his phone, to which he responds with a heavy sigh.

The Wandering Youth takes place at a friend’s house the night after Am I Still Dreaming. Several of Mr. Sleepwalker’s friends are present at said friend's house. They are all in their early 20's. In the first moments of his stay, Mr. Sleepwalker explains to his friends how he was rudely awakened earlier that morning, and how his dream felt like a premonition. The conversation then transforms into the topic of apathy and the things one does to stay occupied. Another question is raised about how a sense of peace (or moreover, a feeling of blissful ignorance) is to be maintained amidst the informational excess that plagues the millennial generation. The immediate answer, the group decides, is escapism. Drinks are passed around, and a drum circle is formed from household objects. After all, at midnight it would be December 21st, 2012, the rumored date of the world's end.

The Battle Between Winter and Spring takes place immediately after the Wandering Youth. Mr. Sleepwalker and his friends have decided to go for a walk in their suburban hometown, in the earliest hours of the morning. They have seemingly been spared of the world's cruel fate. Psychedelic substances have kicked into full gear. The weather is cold and snow is on the ground, despite it being unseasonably warm earlier in the week. This inspires conversation about personal change and adaptation. The group first discusses their younger selves, and then how quickly and painfully they’ve grown up. They have learned about the present situation of the Earth and their small part in it, as well as how futile it is to try and keep up with everything that's happening. At best the group feels overwhelmed and powerless. It is underlined how easily simple differences between people can be viewed as madness in a certain light, themselves walking around past 3am in the cold a perfect case for psychoanalysis. Eventually, the group delves into how denial, staying in one physical place, and being on different pages than those around us all can impede the process of self-growth and self-actualization. Mr. Sleepwalker finds he identifies most readily with the last part about different pages.

In A Blank Page, Mr. Sleepwalker has said goodbye to his friends and is again alone with his thoughts. He continues to wander about a quieter neighborhood as snow begins to fall. The only sounds heard are his footsteps, his breathing, and that of the occasional car passing by on the nearby highway, audible but not visible. He feels very isolated in both mind and spirit. But Mr. Sleepwalker's shadow upon the newly fallen snow is symbolic of a new understanding; a union of his past self with his present, and an invitation to begin the next chapter in his life.

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Dedicated to Sergei Babayan, Jake Wellman, Ethan Peterson, Josh Bosman, and all of the other survivors of the December 21st 2012 apocalypse.

Special thanks to Taylor Hall, Mary Cavolo-Kardell, Robert Kardell, Matias Brimmer, Sam Stark, Josh Stark, Sam Sprague, Isaac Sprague, Mara Zumberg, Steve Pliska, Alec Schumann, Ian Vamossy, Dustin Wahbe, Connor Doyle, Alex Mejia, Adam Angyalosi, Oscar Pena, Tyler Lowman, Roshanne Etezady, Jules Pegram, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Equipment/Software Used:
Yamaha MM6
Behringer ULTRATONE K450FX
Audio-Technica AT2010
Presonus Audiobox 2x2
Samsung Galaxy S4

Steinberg Cubase AI 5
Audacity 1.3