When Kaye and I went to the Great Smoky Mountains in April 2026, we found this beautiful spot where we could stand on this little bridge and watch a mountain stream endlessly flowing under a canopy of Springtime-green trees. No hint of humanity or civilization...just natural beauty. As I was shooting a couple minutes of video and taking in the beauty of the scene, my mind started wandering back in time. I thought about times when only the proud Cherokees inhabited the area...and then...of their exodus on the Trail Of Tears, when most were forced to relocate by the government and military. Then, my thoughts drifted to the Romani gypsies who wandered through the Southern Appalachians, and the culture and music they left behind. From there, I wondered what it would be like 10,000 years from now, here or maybe on another planet, with a bizarre metropolis, and an unexpected alien landscape. Then, as an afterthought, I journeyed back to the Big Bang, and forward through the formation of the Milky Way, the Solar System and Planet Earth. Then, after a hint of a beautiful Smoky Mountain sunset, my mind ended up back where it started. Then I came home and put it all to music. I also created a video version with images, which help tell the story behind the music you’re listening to. Check out the Video Listener’s Guide to see the story behind Passages unfold… Passages © 2026 - Joey Arata