Ancestors Wheel by Matthew O’Neill emerges from a creative process steeped in the beauty of nature and human connection. Recorded live in January 2023 over a few transformative days in a house nestled high in the Santa Monica Mountains, the album ’embodies the spirit of collaboration. A decade after working on Campfire Cook with close friends Bill Fiorella and Toby Williams, O’Neill brought the group together once again to breathe life into a fresh collection of songs. Surrounded by blooming plant life and ripening oranges, the energy of the land infused every note and lyric, creating an atmosphere of regeneration and abundance. There’s a brightness to this record, a spark of life and love that O’Neill’s impassioned vocals are able to deliver so wonderfully. The sheer emotional weightage of a song like “We’ll Miss You” immediately brings you in.
In Ancestors Wheel, O’Neill weaves together themes that explore our complex relationships with the natural world, including narratives of displacement, loss, and the possibility of living in greater harmony with the earth. His lyrics are invitations to connect with ancient traditions and the resonances of deep time that lie within us all. Free of nostalgia and devoid of naive optimism, the songs imagine alternative ways of being, encouraging us to reconsider our connection to the land and one another. O’Neill’s work embraces a vision of joyful defiance, offering a roadmap to living in sync with nature’s rhythms. Ultimately, Ancestors Wheel is an invitation to explore new ways of seeing, living, and coexisting with our world.