istillhave.life -

Out Now: Score One for the Underdogs – In the Sun (ft. Arkastra)

Check out my cover of Joseph Arthur’s “In the Sun”. It includes my “house orchestra” Arkestra providing that orchestral drama. There is also a second version that is stripped back overall but features the orchestra more prominently.

I fell in love with the original when it was prominently featured in the 2004 movie Saved! with Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macauley Culkin, and Patrick Fugit. I’ve appreciated the song’s theme of wishing peace and love upon someone in the midst of life’s difficulties and unanswered questions, and my version accentuates the hope that we all need to help us endure and process the hard times.

Give it a listen HERE, and I hope you love it!

Posted on May 16, 2026May 16, 2026 by youredanwright

Introducing Dan Alive

Dan Alive is a new producer project covering a wide range of popular genres. Expect “collaborations” with my other projects, like Arkastra or Score One for the Underdogs, as well as instrumentals available for enjoyment on their own or for licensing to any variety of external products. I also would like to collaborate with other musicians, contributing remixes, beats, tracks, or string/horn/orchestra arrangements.

Dan Alive’s first album, First Steps, is coming on November 6, 2025. I’m calling it a mixtape, because besides being a standalone project, it is a sample of what I can do. In the future, elements from this mixtape could turn up in other projects; they could potentially even evolve into full songs with vocals.

I expect to be quite busy as Dan Alive, as I am actively planning to expand beyond my more moods-based previous projects. Which isn’t to say I’m leaving them behind; I’m currently trying to decide where/when to prioritize the next Duncle Dan lullaby album. I am also working on a full orchestral project for Arkastra to showcase that side of what I do.

Stay tuned!

Posted on October 13, 2025October 13, 2025 by youredanwright

OUT NOW: From Embers – Emeralds

My second album of solo piano music under the name From Embers is out now! It was inspired by a recent visit to Ireland. You can find it on virtually any streaming or download service out there.

Listen now!

Tracklist:

1. Emerald I
2. From the Beginning
3. A Letter from Home
4. By Cliffs
5. Emerald II
6. This I Promise You
7. Parting Clouds
8. Far Beyond the Sea
9. Emerald III
10. I’m Coming Home
11. All Horizon
12. A Grateful Heart
13. Emerald IV

Posted on July 21, 2024April 11, 2025 by youredanwright

Out Now: Sleepy Sloth

The new album from Duncle Dan is Sleepy Sloth, and it’s out now to stream or download from your favorite music service. It includes twelve more original lullabies; as with Little Llama Lullabies, each is recorded twice–once on piano and once on music box.

Posted on November 3, 2023November 3, 2023 by youredanwright

Now Available: From Embers – Portrait of a Past Life

The full-length album Portrait of a Past Life by From Embers is finally out everywhere now. It includes thirteen solo piano tracks that have been recorded twice each, once on a grand piano and once on a felt piano. This album works perfectly as a whole, but each of the tracks are also tailored for playlists and radio. Give it a listen and let me know what you think?

Posted on May 12, 2023May 12, 2023 by youredanwright

Out Now! Innerstellar’s Stardust to Stardust

Innerstellar’s second album Stardust to Stardust is out now. It tells the story of one explorer as they confront the great void of space and their own insignificance, and through it find their home among stardust.

It expands on the sonic palette used in Veil, adding bass and a variety of percussion alongside the strings, piano, harp, and celesta. It’s a blend of minimalist, neoclassical, ambient, and electronic sounds into something I call stargaze music, for lack of any better genre description.

You can stream or download the album HERE.

Posted on March 10, 2023May 16, 2026 by youredanwright

Duncle Dan – Little Llama Lullabies 2: First Christmas

That first Duncle Dan lullabies album was so much cuteness and fun that I just had to release another album to celebrate my niece Willow’s first Christmas. It features 19 holiday favorites and 1 original tune, and comes in two versions: one for piano and one for music box. Be sure to add it to your holiday mix so that those sugarplums will keep dancing in your head all through the night!

Listen now!

Posted on November 4, 2022November 19, 2022 by youredanwright

From Embers – Moonlit

Once again, here’s a new track by From Embers on my Rain on the Window imprint. It’s an original melody paired with accompaniment similar to Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata. I hope you like it! And as always, be sure to save it to your appropriate playlists if you’re vibing with it.

Listen now!

Posted on October 28, 2022October 29, 2022 by youredanwright

From Embers – I’ll See You Again Someday

Here’s another new track from me as From Embers on my Rain on the Window imprint. “I’ll See You Again Someday” is a simple piano melody with a title derived from the words I imagined gracing the final line of melody. Maybe in the future I’ll write lyrics and turn it into a proper song. What do you think?

Listen now!

Posted on October 14, 2022October 15, 2022 by youredanwright

New Imprint: Rain on the Window

I’ve created the new imprint Rain on the Window as a home for instrumental mood music for relaxing, studying, etc. The first release is under the artist name From Embers, and the track is titled “Dawning”. It’s a simple, pleasant solo piano track that is perfect for playlisting. Have a listen, and if you like it, add it to your own collections!

Listen now!

Posted on September 30, 2022September 30, 2022 by youredanwright