Growing Pains is a reflection on my experiences with depression. Each movement pin points an event from that time period and works to emulate it in musical form. This work begins with happy but confusing joy in “First Love”, then travels through the devastation of “Yuletide” and “Hurt” and finally cycles into jubilation in “Trains and New Life”. Each large movement is preceded with a short movement that often has accompanying text that narrates how I was feeling in these moments."Golden" works to depict the support and happiness my golden retriever, Abby, brought to me during this trying and stressful time in my life. 

‘Growling Pains’ is designed to act as a concept album and is most successfully experienced when each movement is heard in succession. Each instrument has been individually moved around “the space” post-recording to emulate thoughts and feelings whirling around ones mind. To best experienced this, try listening to ‘Growing Pains’ through headphones.