In today’s era of ceaseless connectivity, keeping up appearances can be all-consuming. While also driving us away from truthful identity. A Voice in the Wilderness addresses the crucial moments that have the potential to disconnect individuals from the person they at one time knew, while also celebrating the freedom that comes with a life of searching and finding. 

Produced by Patrick Damphier (The Mynabirds, Jessica Lea Mayfield, Mikaela Davis), A Voice in the Wilderness was recorded at Club Roar in Nashville over the course of six months in 2016. After releasing his previous record, Swing and Float (2011), Palamara took some time away from music. Such a lyrical heart could never really leave it behind of course, and the songs that became A Voice in the Wilderness were written over a span of four years as his bourgeoning career in the world of fine art museums took him to Dallas, Texas, North Adams, Massachusetts, and, eventually, Cincinnati, Ohio. 

“This record became an accidental travelogue of sorts,” says Palamara. “Yet instead of documenting a specific journey, I found myself more interested in how my experiences directly changed my state of mind. Sure enough, a lot of people in my life were dealing with the same issues.” A Voice in the Wilderness challenges the listener. Its songs are heavy with the dichotomy of striving to fully live up to the world’s idea of who and how we should be while staying loyal to our truest selves. Within them you’ll find both joy and sorrow in the process. 

Perhaps the most delightful thread woven throughout, however, is the acknowledgement that sometimes figuring ourselves out means dealing with frustration and anger. The timeless coming of age story revolves around finishing high school, graduating college, taking our first job, or growing distant from someone who meant a great deal at some point. But what happens after these critical moments? This is what Palamara meditated on when making A Voice in the Wilderness.

“I realized that a ‘coming of age’ story is kind of a misnomer,” says Palamara. “The truth is that all of us are still learning new things about ourselves. I wanted to be more receptive to the idea that I needed to improve myself and reflect on what I really want out of life.”

Within these lingering uncertainties there’s a swelling of peace, contentedness, and confidence in A Voice in the Wilderness. The things that mortify and unnerve during youth can become less daunting as we age, and there’s an incredible freedom in that realization. In the last lines of the record, Palamara borrows a quote from the philosopher Seneca (“Life is long if you know how to use it”) and concludes, “if that’s not enough, then I’ll start anew.” Ultimately, the crux of A Voice in the Wilderness is confronting what happens next.