Welcome back, wanderers.
It’s been nearly a month since the last missive, and the realms have been busy. In this edition of Dispatches from the Realms, you’ll find new releases, fresh reviews, exciting opportunities, and a few hints of what’s still to come.
Paths Through the Realms
From the Studio
Sail Away Released Worldwide
On August 15, my single Sail Away officially set out into the world — a release that carries a special journey of its own. What began as a reimagined version for Misty the Ambient Shih-Tzu livestreams soon became the clear choice for my August single, and the response since launch has been both encouraging and inspiring.
Within days, Sail Away found its way onto the Hypeddit Ambient/Chill/Instrumental chart, reaching position #14, while streaming numbers on Spotify continue to climb. Here’s a snapshot from the first couple of weeks:
Streams: 5,559
Listeners: 3,949
Playlist Adds: 137
Saves: 163
None of this would be possible without your support, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who listened, saved, and shared the track.
If you haven’t yet heard it, you can find Sail Away across all streaming platforms here: Listen to Sail Away
Resonance Alley Arrives September 19
The countdown is on for my next single, Resonance Alley, arriving Friday, September 19. Artwork is finalized, the track is queued for release, and pre-saves are now available. This piece continues the path Sail Away began, offering another step deeper into the sonic worlds I’m building this year.
If you’d like to be among the first to hear it when it drops, you can pre-save Resonance Alley here.
October Release Tease
As September unfolds toward the release of Resonance Alley, the next piece is already brewing in the shadows. October’s single will be appropriately themed for the season — haunting, atmospheric, and tied to a story of witches and whispers. The title is already chosen, but I’ll keep it hidden for now. Expect something that leans into the darker corners of the realms, arriving just in time for Halloween.
Epica Short Film Premiere
One of the most exciting projects this past month was the release of a brand-new short film for my album Epica. This piece weaves together the album’s music with cinematic visuals, offering a narrative journey through the soundscapes and mythic themes at the heart of the record.
It’s more than just a video — it’s a glimpse into the world Epica was always meant to inhabit, where music, imagery, and story converge. You can watch the full short film here: Epica Short Film.
Ambient Highways Vinyl & CD Sales Update
It’s been encouraging to see continued interest in Ambient Highways. Vinyl and CD editions have been steadily finding new homes, and inventory is starting to run lower than when this journey began.
If you haven’t yet added a copy to your collection, now’s a great time — each edition was designed with care to capture the spirit of the album, from the translucent purple and blue vinyl set to the galaxy-themed CD gatefold.
You can explore what’s left in stock here: Ambient Highways Collection.
Welcome New List Members
I also want to extend a warm welcome to those of you who are new to this list. Several of you discovered my work through Ambient Highways vinyl and CD purchases, and I’m truly grateful you’ve joined this community.
If you came here mainly for the music, you can also visit my dedicated music site at music.krichie.com. And if you’d like to receive updates that are purely focused on my music, you can subscribe to my music-only mailing list here: Subscribe for Music Updates.
Of course, I’d love for you to remain subscribed here as well — since this space connects both the music and the wider creative realms that surround it.
Reviews from the Aural Realms
On a Cold Frosty Morning
The latest entry in my Reviews from the Aural Realms series takes a reflective turn with On a Cold Frosty Morning by Kori Linae Carothers. This piece is delicate and contemplative, evoking the stillness of winter mornings and the quiet beauty that lingers in their silence.
In the review, I explore how the track balances simplicity with depth — weaving gentle piano lines with an atmosphere that feels both intimate and timeless. It’s music that doesn’t just play in the background; it creates space to pause, breathe, and reflect.
You can read the full review here: On a Cold Frosty Morning – Reviews from the Aural Realms.
New Artist Review Service Launched
After many requests from fellow musicians, I’ve officially opened up my Reviews from the Aural Realms as a professional service. Now, artists can submit their own work for the same kind of thoughtful, story-driven reviews I’ve been sharing here — with each review highlighting not just the music, but the journey it creates for listeners.
This is a way for me to give back to the community, helping other artists find new audiences while celebrating the art they’ve poured themselves into.
If you’re an artist and interested in having your music reviewed, you can learn more here: Request a Review
From the Table
Society of the Green Feather & Thornwood’s Shadow Prep
In the last dispatch, I mentioned plans to record the next session of Thornwood’s Shadow on August 13. But as often happens in solo play, the story shifted beneath my feet. New threads emerged — darker ones — connected to the witch-laden themes I hinted at earlier in this dispatch.
Rather than force the tale before it was ready, I’ve taken time to let those elements settle in. This means the upcoming Thornwood’s Shadow session will carry a sharper, more haunted edge than originally planned, weaving in the shadows that demanded to be heard.
Meanwhile, preparation continues for the next Society of the Green Feather session, which will resume its own threads once the party gathers again.
If you’re here mainly for the TTRPG side of my work, you can also visit my dedicated site at theoldbard.com. And if you’d like to receive updates that are purely focused on my tabletop adventures, you can subscribe to the TTRPG-only mailing list here: Subscribe for TTRPG Updates.
Of course, I’d love for you to remain subscribed here as well — since Dispatches from the Realms connects both music and tabletop, weaving together all the stories across the worlds I’m building.
Coming Up
A New Creative Opportunity for Artists (Teaser)
Beyond the releases and sessions already in motion, I’ve also begun shaping a new creative opportunity that I believe will be a real boost for other artists out there. I’m not ready to reveal exactly what it is just yet, but the groundwork is underway, and I’m eager to share more in the near future.
And as we edge closer to October, the shadows seem to be whispering louder — in both my music and my storytelling. Expect that to surface soon, in ways both haunted and harmonic.
Wherever your own focus may lie — music, tabletop, or both — this is the place where the threads come together. Dispatches from the Realms will always keep you connected to the bigger picture, tying sound and story into one shared journey.
Until the next door opens
The wheel keeps turning, and the realms continue to shift — from new music and stories to the shadows gathering just beyond the campfire light.
Thank you again for traveling these paths with me, whether you come for the sound, the story, or the strange in-between places where both meet.
See you in the next clearing…
and we’ll palaver a while.
Long days and pleasant nights,
— Keith Richie
Maestoso – Gunslinger of Sound | The Old Bard