After five years, this is my first official single from my upcoming album. On my 30th birthday, my girlfriend treated me to a cabin retreat in the mountains. It was a beautiful way to ring in a new decade of life, but it was also a moment for myself to slow down and take a breath. Be it school, work, sports, or whatever, I’ve always been someone who is constantly on the move and worse, I would find myself upset when I wasn’t busy.

For once though, I finally had a chance to just...be. No worrying about the duties or responsibilities of life. Just a few days to exist how I wanted to exist.

As we were surrounded by the fresh mountain air and a light layer of snow, we sipped refreshing cups of coffee, ate delicious homemade food, read books, and created art alongside one another. It was the perfect sense of serenity that I needed.

And as I played some of the vinyl I had brought along with me., there was a moment that made me realize what I really wanted. An album.

But to run a mile, you need to take your first step.

We can talk about this another time, but five years ago, I had pretty much walked away from music. I had lost a close friend and my inability to cope at the time affected my passion to create. A couple years later though, I found myself falling back in love with it and have spent the years between just creating art and working behind the scenes with the music community. It’s been an absolute blessing, but throughout it, everyone I know has wanted me to finally release my music. I wanted that, too.

However, every time I attempted to release something I would find myself being too busy or too much of a perfectionist. Everything had to be just right, and there needed to be a perfect time to release. And as any artist knows, the stars don’t always align that way.

So as I laid in the cabin the night before my big day, I made myself a promise. I will finally release a song this year, no matter what. And then an album.

On my 30th birthday, I crafted that song. And six months later, here we are.

Using the records I brought with me, I wanted to capture those three days of relaxation. Even more so, I wanted to capture the five years that I have been away. “A Getaway in the Mountains” is my way of reintroducing myself. I’ve spent five years trying to heal by creating art that I wanted to create and helping others do the same. In a way, these past few years have been my own self imposed getaway. A moment to regroup.

But now I’m back. Coming down from the mountains, I’m ready to share my art.

My name is Eric, but you may call me OSHEN. This is the first song of many that you will come to hear. And it will not be the last. Please enjoy.