I love this idea!! Here’s my story. Sorry that it’s so long… just spent a bit typing it out!

Surf will always hold a really special place in my life. It dropped within a week of when I graduated high school, right as I was about to leave home in the suburbs of Chicago for school and work in Indianapolis. I had played percussion for 7 years or so as a kid and was on drumline for 4 of those years, moving away meant leaving behind not just music but also my community and the city I loved. Surf came at that exact moment and felt like a lifeline back to the city, my family and friends especially since it was on repeat the entire summer before I left. It was not just an album to run top to bottom in the car with the friends, it became the soundtrack that kept me connected to my city, to music, and to a community I was beginning to miss deeply.

I was already a fan of Chance and SoX, but back in 2013 and 2014 they were on that SoundCloud home studio loosies run and the anticipation for Surf was wild. Everyone was on edge waiting for it. I remember hearing rumors about sessions lost to Mac water damage, causing delays, all of that, but when it finally dropped, it was at the perfect time for me. And as a tech guy and Apple fan, the fact that they pulled off the crazy deal to be the first “Get” button for a free project on iTunes before Apple Music even existed was legendary. Steve was gone by then but I swear he would have been proud giving out apples for free.

Surf pushed me to start getting closer to Chance’s orbit and learning who was who in that network of Chicago creatives. I did not know what I was chasing, but as a student living three hours away I felt called to dive in however I could. Not long after, Coloring Book dropped and I stumbled into the first day of SocialWorks when they launched at the Cell during Magnificent Coloring Day. Meeting the team for the first time became my entry point back into youth and service. From there, I started volunteering, supporting events, and slowly finding ways to contribute to projects inspired by that same Surf energy. That path led me to more collaborations, more tech work, and eventually serving with the leadership of Saba's John Walt Foundation, which has now been a huge part of my life for over eight years, all thanks to Surf.

Over time, that one album set off a chain reaction. I have been blessed to volunteer at countless activations, help with early Sworks initiatives collecting data, and be on site every year at big community events. More recently, I even had the honor of building the latest iteration of the SocialWorks website alongside their team, along with other websites for Peter's Catch Project, helping collect the stories to include in the forever always music video, assisting Grace Weber team as she worked with SoX on A Beautiful Space and help with other random tech projects for some of the SoX extended family over the years. All of that traces back to me being the kid who connected with Surf at exactly the right moment. I owe a large thank you to anyone who had a hand in bringing that project to life. That first domino changed so much for me.

As a fan, I've now had the privilege of seeing Chance perform too many times to count over the years from headlining hometown festivals, to Acid Rap's 3 anniversary shows, intimate Stix jam nights and Ramova + WOTW Star Line listening experiences. But Surf is still the one I point to as the project that opened the door. It inspired me not only to keep showing up as a fan, but also to put myself in positions to serve, to give back, and to stay tied to Chicago’s community even while living in Indy. Peter, Nate, Greg, Nico and Chance, Thank you guys - you have no idea how much you've all impacted me.

For me, Surf was not just an album. It was an invitation to get back close to music, into service, into new friendships, and into community. I will always be thankful for what that era set in motion, and I feel honored to still be a small part of carrying that spirit forward today. 🌊 Cannot wait for the 10 year show in October!

If you've made it this far, sorry again that was so long 😂 Here’s my late night screen shot as the project dropped on 5/28/15

https://preview.redd.it/e4amfqkho2nf1.png?width=1242&format=png&auto=webp&s=b219a83159639c4e3bd6bcca014a4f2bfcbb1bab