Bobby Guard and Importer EP Stockholm shared with us being comfortable with the uncertainties of life.
Bobby Guard (they/them) is an independent musician currently based in Denver, CO. Importer (he/him) is the musical project of Daniel Brown, who is orginally from Michigan but is based in Los Angeles. And here is a little bit about there new project Stockholm.
Bobby and Importer’s collaborative EP STOCKHOLM manifested out of a longstanding desire to work with one another during their time living together in Los Angeles. The musicians held a shared, mutual respect for one another’s talents and sensibilities, supporting their respective efforts, though often from a distance. Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the US, the two found themselves grappling with the cataclysmic nature of the world around them, as well as with the often-frightening national response to the virus. With newfound time and space to create, the duo wasted no time putting their heads together and moving full steam ahead on production of the EP.
I’ve always been someone who had trouble with doing things that were out of my comfort zone. You see for most of my life I’ve always been afraid to do anything that was different. On top of that I’ve always been someone that liked to plan things out and liked to live a life where it’s safe. And as I’ve talked about throughout my time writing I’m not a fan of change. So, when 2020 happened and we were all stuck at home because of COVID19. I wish I can say that it was great cause I got to learn more about myself and was totally okay with cancelling 4 concerts and that it was good.
But I’d be lying to you. I hate it because 2020 combined two of my greatest hates which is change and things out of my control. It’s safe to say that this is what most people were feeling. But as I continued to really think about it I learned a few things that I will never forget. One thing I learned was perspective is key. My immediate and close friends were all healthy and safe likewise myself. So, I didn’t have anyone sick. I also learned how about resilience and how when things get tough you really learn who is there for you. I learned many more that I will share with you throughout this article.
When I first heard about this compilation EP called Stockholm by Bobby Guard and Importer it got me thinking about the importance of doing things out of your comfort zone. And I also learned about how despite being in a pandemic and the world not being the same the most important thing that we all crave and still crave is community, closeness, and peace.
The idea of peace and stillness can be heard in the song “Your Peace” by Bobby Guard & Importer. In the opening part of this song you are given this haunting but convincing instrumental that keeps you still and in the background you hear the faint but strong lyrics of “make your peace” said repeatedly. At first it made me think about the importance of making your peace with yourself first and then with others because the only way to live a true life is by having peace with yourself. Such a powerful message.
Here are some words from Bobby Guard about this project. Here’s what Bobby had to say about the the EP Stockholm "Both of us felt a need to express the sometimes abject, often changing feelings that came with the U.S. response to the pandemic, as well as our own experiences herein. It was a chance to explore new avenues and styles, and get out of our respective comfort zones." And here are some words from Importer "We had been supportive of each other's music, but from a distance. With the world seemingly crumbling around us, we felt compelled to turn to each other, and meet halfway with our approaches. I love the midpoint we found."
Listen to Stockholm wherever you stream your music at. You can follow Bobby Guard on Instagram and Spotify.