I went on a trip with my dear college friend Michael Alves to see Big Bend National Park. The photo below is of me playing a Martin Backpacker Guitar on the Emory Peak of the park (highest elevation in Texas, at 7825ft). I had just received my first credit card and I don't think I'd put a single thing on it. How fitting that the Martin Backpacker was my first credit card purchase. To be honest, I could not afford it at the time, but I’ll never regret it. That thing has been to both rims of the Grand Canyon, Paris, Skywalker Ranch, Woodstock (a few times) and more. There is blood, sweat and tears on it. It continues to be a fascinating source of inspiration for me, often a companion in Nature.

You can take it anywhere. It weighs about two pounds and sits well on your back. Being able to take cheap instruments to places near and far is paramount for me ... Harmonicas, melodicas and ukuleles to name a few. I try to bring and play instruments I haven't played much when going to new places. Being stuck in an unfamiliar place with an unfamiliar instrument is wonderful. It makes me arrive at all instinct. This approach is something I use in my film scoring often.