Details of
Ashes In The Morning
by Ken Dunn


Producer: Ken Dunn
Engineer: Ken Dunn
Recorder At: See credits above for full list of recording info
Mastered By: Indie Pool


About the Album

From Ken Dunn - "After two years of writing, rehearsing, arranging, and recording I am thrilled to announce the completion of my 9th album of original music, entitled "Ashes in the Morning" which will be released by Trespass Music in May 2020.   

I feel very passionate about this record which I view as a clarion call to embrace love, compassion, hope, gratitude, and non-violent activism as positive change agents in this unprecedented and challenging era of COVID-19, climate change, species loss, and upheaval on so many levels. I hope the music contained herein serves to inspire positive change both within yourself and the fragile world we share." 

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Words and music by Ken Dunn © 2020. SOCAN/ASCAP *Focus Tracks

*1.  KING HIGH TIDE (4:25) – Increasingly confronted by the reality of environmental destruction, I find that I can no longer hide from my responsibility to create a better world. 
*2. COME BACK JONI (6:29) – A song in which I conjure the spirit medicine of Joni Mitchell, while literally running from wildfires in British Columbia. 
3. TALKING TALES OF WANDERING (2:40) – A tale whereby the human race emerges from apocalyptic crisis with a stronger sense of home and purpose. 
4. RED AND PURPLE TOO (5:43) – This is both a warning against the peddlers of darkness and a reminder that we are rainbow warriors in the service of love. 
*5. DEEP IN THE HIVE (4:42) – Whether against ourselves, our fellow humans, other species, or the environment – war is never winnable. Now is the time to stop. 
6. WATER IS LIFE (3:00) – A modern cliché perhaps, but this song was written in honor of the indigenous water protectors around the globe. 
7. DOOMED (5:33) – This song emerged from some random thoughts during an extended power outage, although I may need to add a verse about
COVID-19. 
8. LAUGHTER IN YOUR VEINS (2:49) – This is a call to celebrate the magic and wonder of life with every breath we have the good fortune to draw. 
9. FAREWELL TO THE CAGES (2:52) – Though we shed these mortal coils and say goodbye to Mother Earth, the human spirit will never die. 

"A stentorian voiced folkie…finding strength through speaking truth.." ~ Chris Spectre - Midwest Record

“An very inspiring album.” Remo Ricaldone - Planet Country - Italy



Special Thanks

CREDITS AND THANK YOUS

Words and music by Ken Dunn (SOCAN, ASCAP) © 2020 Ken Dunn. Mixed, mastered, and produced by Ken Dunn. 

Ken Dunn – vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, keyboard, & white deer drum on Track 2 
Mark Mariash – drums & percussion on all tracks 
Randy Martin – bass on Tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 
Anna Green – backing and harmony vocals on Tracks 1, 2, 4, 8, & 9 
Ben Grossman – hurdy gurdy on Tracks 2, 3, 6, & 9 
Tyler Beckett – fiddle on Tracks  1 & 3 
Michael G. Ronstadt – cello on Track 5 
Dean Drouillard – electric tremolo guitar on Track 8 

Recorded at Orca Sound, Garden Bay, B.C. by Ken Dunn and Track6, Durham, Ontario by Randy Martin. Additional drums and percussion recorded by Mark Mariash at StarBird in Durham, Ontario. Hurdy gurdy recorded by Ben Grossman in Toronto. Cello recorded by Michael G. Ronstadt in Cincinnati. Tremolo electric guitar recorded by Dean Drouillard at Hepbourne Lab in Toronto. 

Orca recording on Track 2 from “Sounds of Dolphins and Whales” on the coast of Venezuela by José Morillo & Wilfredo Rodriguez, licensed under Creative Commons. Cover and disc art “Noch Slak” by Wilfred Langdon Kihn, also licensed under Creative Commons. Inside booklet art “Haida Carving” courtesy Tony Hisgett, Birmingham, UK. 

Many thanks to everyone who inspired and contributed to the realization of this recording. In particular, I am forever grateful to my life and musical partner, Anna Green for her patience, love, and support. 

Thanks also to the indigenous and settler communities of British Columbia, with special thanks to Mark Trevis for the gift of the white deer drum heard on “Come Back Joni”. Special thanks to my Trespass Music team of Michelle Fortier and Larry Ahearn and the team at Indie Pool in Toronto.