From the recording Return to Dust
I never thought I'd record "Return to Dust" so soon. Originally, I'd been planning a much shorter version of this track that would be accompanied by a string ensemble. I was inspired by "Experience" by Ludovico Einaudi—which I genuinely believe is the best piece of music ever written—and I thought this piece had so much potential for success that I should wait until I was more well-known to release it. But then, in the summer of 2024, I decided to rebrand and leave Painting Winter behind. So when I finally recorded this track in July of 2025, I wasn't focused on commercial success—I was focused only on emotion. The entire purpose of this piece is to be as emotional as possible. It is my last ever piece as Painting Winter, maybe the last instrumental piece I'll ever release. I think it is the most emotional music I have ever written, and it might be the most emotional music I will ever write.