Typhoon, White Lighter

Our paths would cross from time to time in the coming years, each time more special than the last.

But then the White Lighter album came out: one of the most emotional, personal and complete albums of the past 10 years, as far as I’m concerned. I am often touched by songs, but few times does an entire album become the soundtrack to my life. And the more I became obsessed with this album, the more I couldn’t believe how few people knew about it. So I knew that I wanted— no— I needed— to do something with them again.

I emailed Kyle and asked what he thought about doing a secret show where only a few fans could see them play, as if it was a rehearsal. Luckily for me, he obliged.

I arrived in Portland with some of my best friends to film this experience. But we didn’t anticipate the weather. It was the coldest weekend that Portland had in decades. It was so cold that we were genuinely concerned that some of the instruments wouldn’t play right. But as soon as Kyle and the band started playing, that fear quickly subsided. It was almost as if Kyle conducted the temperature in that room the same way he conducts his band: with grace, love, and a gentle wisdom that only he holds— and it’s inspiring and jaw-dropping to witness live.

Any fan of Typhoon will tell you how much their music means to them. It’s personal, it’s sincere, and it makes you tackle emotions you hold deep and don’t take out very often. And for that, they are magic.