For those unaware, “into air” is a collection of four pieces written for multitracked soloists between 2020-2022. Humber’s first album of contemporary classical pieces, it was originally envisioned as a “Covid album.”

During that stretch of time, he really wanted to be writing large, expansive textures rather than solo music. Of course, ensembles weren’t really a thing, as groups were unable to gather. His workaround for this restriction was to write a collection of pieces for groups of like instruments (ie. 6 pianos, 5 violins, etc.).

These pieces are possible (although sometimes impractical) to play live with an ensemble but also have the possibility of being recorded/performed by a single musician in the safety of their own home.

1. into air - i [06:58]
2. into air - ii [03:58]
3. into air - iii [03:55]
4. mothmouth - i [06:33]
5. mothmouth - ii [04:01]
6. mothmouth - iii [02:19]
7. murmurations [11:56]
8. singing in circles [13:53]

Having admittedly taken a DIY approach to making these recordings happen, up first is the three-part into air, which itself opens on the industrially skewed i and then gives us the far more stridently flared ii, before rounding out on the pensively sharpened, arced and yet decisive iii.

Up next is the three-part mothmouth which begins with the flourishingly Latin-hued guitar work of i with the impassioned stillness of ii next, the set closing on the playfully constructive iii; the scintillatingly sculpted Murmurations and the sterner fare of the deeply rooted singing in circles bringing everything to a formidable close.

“Originally, I planned to release this album in 2022,” Humber explains. “I’ve since realized just how much work goes into completing a classical album of this scale. The bright side is, now I am able to look back with a deeper appreciation upon the time that these works were conceived. It was a time of creative blossoming and experimentation for me; I was throwing lots of ideas at the wall that I had wanted to try for many years without the means to accomplish them.”

“I have since stopped making multitracked pieces (for now), but I see the four selections on this album as important pieces for me, catalysts for my own self-discovery during that unusual time. I am forever grateful to everybody listed in the album credits. Many rewarding, longstanding relationships with cool, dedicated, likeminded collaborators were built during the creation of this project, and for that I am grateful.”

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