Drive is just one of the entries from Roman’s Musical Journal, a project that he began during and in response to the pandemic. Each Musical Journal entry was based on a period of time — much like a written diary or journal — but was originally recorded with just one cello, straight into the mic.

 

“Drive” explores the tension and overwhelm of leaving that space of isolation. The piece stems from the experience of driving halfway across the U.S. as demonstrations, political tensions, and forest fires swept the country. Driving through the desert, Joshua found a sense of beauty and possibility in the land: “It was the first time I felt a sense of hope that wasn’t fake — it came from a place rooted in action and conviction, not just fantasy. Drive taps into that sense of frustration and tension, making space for hope to rise up.”