On Wednesday August 28th, 2019; IvyBlue (my former collaborative project) played its final full-length show at the Paisley Stage in Napier supporting American artist Emma G. At the time, the project had become increasingly a solo effort and plans for recording and occasional shows during the COVID-19 Pandemic bore no fruit worth sharing. So instead of trying to put the pieces back together, we decided to quietly disband while remaining friends knowing that our time had come.

Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic and the years following it, I had struggled with a lot of things in my personal life (including the death of my Dad, my Poppa, and my best friend; multiple failed relationships; struggling with my mental health, and getting back to a cark place when I was 14 where I thought the only way out was ending it all. I had been a Christian since 2014 but in the mess of my personal life, I had lost track of my compass and God had been very quiet. Life got very scary, and I wasn't sure if I'd ever hear him or find my way around my compass again, but that changed in 2022. I was in a hospital room in Hamilton (having given a TED Talk about my time in Student Politics the day before) suffering from a blackout and a cardiomyopathic crash. God and I spent a lot of time together in that hospital room (with things being very uncertain). Over the course of that night, he helped me start the journey of getting my compass back in order and walking in faith again after that season of being LOST.

Throughout these lost years _2020-2024), I had written a bunch of lyrics and music about the season I was in as I was trying to navigate everything around me. At first, I thought this might be an album for IvyBlue in a last-ditch effort to create music again and exit on our own terms, but alas this was not to be. So, after leaving that behind and exploring various side-projects to find the identity of who I wanted to be as a musician post-IvyBlue, I started picking up the guitar and putting these songs together, going into the vulnerable places of the past few years that I was scared to face and even approach with God to turn them into something beautiful. Processing my grief, properly addressing my mental health, solidifying my walk in faith to try and be a better man, and navigating the many storms that have come my way over my life.

Through musical influences like Brooke Fraser (as well as her Christian music under her married name Brooke Ligertwood), Georgia Lines, U2, Robbie Williams, We Are Messengers, Lauren Daigle, Brandon Lake, and Jon Toogood (the frontman for rock group Shihad)- I began to find my voice not as a rockstar, but as a songwriter. On paper these artists shouldn't co-exist together; but their shared storytelling, vulnerability, and the way they tie lyrics and melodies together informed how I would walk with God. And through taking those musical influences and making them my own God blessed me with the ability to write and record the 9 songs (sung by some great session vocalists) that would become LOST and FOUND. And this album i the ne that you now hear today. These songs are beginnings of me finding my own voice, standing on my own feet on God's firm foundation to share songs of hope and joy in all the different seasons life has to offer. And I can't wait to go on this journey with you.

I was hoping to tour in support of the album later this year and into 2025, but I've had to put these plans on hold. I was involved in a car crash on June 13th, 2024. This crash not only wrote off my car but left me with physical and neurological injuries that have made touring impossible for right now. I know that if it was possible I would be out there sharing God's word and the stories of hope that I've found walking with him and writing these songs. I'm looking into other ways to engage with you and share this music while I continue receiving physical and neurological therapy to recover from the injuries I sustained and be back on stage as soon as I can and make up for the time that I'll miss playing these songs live and sharing this testimony and God's message of hope through them.

For now, thank you for taking the time to read this testimony of LOST and FOUND and where I've been on my walk with God over the past 4 years. I hope that this inspires you to walk with God and strengthen your faith. If someone like me can be dragged through all kinds of unimaginable pain and survive the stroms designed to break you and stll have their faith intact and stronger than it's ever been, then there's hope for you too.

Blessings be wth you and I'll see you soon.

From James.