Awaken, Luke Gajdus, Piano Day 2023

Today is the 88th day of the year, which can only mean one thing; it s piano day. For a long time now Ive received messages asking me to share a recording of this piece which I play live often. So finally Ive released a live rendition of this piece titled Awaken, shot in Glenorchy, New Zealand. At home, I tend to play the piano as softly as possible, but outdoors is another story entirely. Here Im going against all my previous perceptions; that piano music should focus on dynamics in the softer range, that you shouldnt speed up in a track, that you shouldnt push tape too hard or distort the sound. Well here it is, an increasingly speeding, attacking, distorting piece of piano music to break out of my comfort zone. This piece was written as a means to heighten states of arousal that contain and carry emotions, to force the unconscious into the fore; the fire buried in the wind. Happy piano day. Love, Luke , pianoday, piano, pianomusic