Jay Carlis decided the theme of his first album, “Here We Are”, would be about how life was changing.

He finished the album in March, just before the pandemic and had no idea how accurate a theme it would be, writes Richard Ilgenfritz for the Daily Times.

Now the Media musician is hoping just to get out and perform in front of audiences again.

The album’s eight songs were recorded  in South Philadelphia beginning late last year.

The songs utilize banjo, mandolin and more to create a “raw, earthy” sound “with a lot of acoustics…some electric guitar, piano…a good mix of sound,” Carlis said.

Carlis said the songs contemplate a changing world and coming to terms with those changes.

“Because these songs are so much about coming to terms with the way that the world is changing – I mean, it was changing really fast before the pandemic, but this year the changes have accelerated, and it’s been much tougher than anyone could have imagined. So the songs – as I listen to them and continue to play them – it’s like wow, they are really holding up,” Carlis said.

Carlis, a Haverford College graduate, has lived in Delaware County about 15 years.

Read more about Jay Carlis at the Daily Times.