There are two main characters in this album, a panda named Ozwelda, who is the ruler of Atlantis, and a lion named DREAM. To reveal; what the panda represents is foundation, and the lion—passion, energy. The panda's black-and-white coloring mirrors the colors of the yin and the yang, creating a visual correlation between the animal and the symbol. The panda’s colors are a duality between darkness and light, space and matter, which are inherently the foundation of the universe. The lion; colors of the sun that provides energy to the earth, symbolizes passion and love. They are needed to produce life and purpose. Yet, purpose alone has no foundation, just as foundation alone, has no purpose. To exhibit progress, both must exist in harmony.

However the wrong given energy provided would yield a broken foundation, which is the revelation of this album. The beauty of what is imperfect yet the pain it bears, like a thorn on a lion’s paw. In retrospect, I came out of a heartbroken relationship, losing someone I deeply care about. Originally, I wrote this album as a continuity of what our love was at the time. But since we drifted apart, I decided not to scrap the title and wrote about the beauty of our tragedy. Because of this imperfect, overzealous and unjust society, the panda and the lion could not exist in harmony.

I composed certain off-putting, disconcert elements for this love musical. In one piano piece, from a song I titled, Hit or Miss, I abruptly played a G# and A# together, then later on, bedazzled with the notes C and B. These ostracized combinations of sounds should remind the listener of the tug-a-war arrangement between the panda and the lion—Ozwelda and DREAM. Still, these notes played within this overcast of a piano piece gives it a little more character and texture with a hint of grace. The first listen is unpredictable, yet it is certainly not boring.

I’ve worked on this project—since July—going through numerous transitions in my personal life. Any chance I get working on this, I take clear advantage. A little challenging when work demands more of my attention, knowing that trains and its alignment are always in need of some TLC.

The album is not limited to just the duality between Ozwelda and DREAM, it features the duality between Annie the Bombay witch, and Dorothy and her dog, Toto. Annie is a black cat that represents wisdom, draped in the colors of green and black. There is reverence between Ozwelda and Annie, both hold great wisdom and determination. Annie is a great general under the ruler of the emerald Atlantis. Representing youth and bliss—yet elegant—Dorothy wears a sky blue and creamy white school dress. Admiration exists between Ozwelda and Dorothy, both who seek to cultivate feng shui throughout the land. 

DREAM though… among Ozwelda and Annie there is a disconnect. To symbolize this absent connection, where wrong passion renders a bad foundation, the knowledge acquired was how to practice incorrect actions. DREAM is the input on producing wrong actions, even though his intentions were good.