Alabaster DePlume / COME WITH FIERCE GRACE

When we are boldly and sincerely requested to be ourselves – whoever we may be – we can, in response to one-another, naturally create things that no-one could have ever specifically demanded we deliver. In order to record the compositions in his critically acclaimed 2022 release GOLD, Alabaster DePlume instilled a culture of creativity by leading his ensembles in spontaneous composition and development. To allow them to be present, he kept them constantly creating. This resulted in an abundance of material that he has since produced and arranged, resulting in this collection. It is a piece made entirely of authentic, unstipulated – yet welcomed – human interaction. It is similar to how elements in nature contribute to shared work and beauty without conscious motive – a bee’s own motives result in the delivery of pollen. As Alabaster says himself: “The great thing wants to happen, let us allow it to happen.”

On his first trip to the US, Alabaster collected messages from individuals, to be delivered to the hearts of his audiences. One, who preferred to remain anonymous, encourages us to “come with fierce grace.”