Solo Vacation

I wrote this little tune after returning from a solo vacation that was both joyful and melancholic, followed by nerding out on music theory. I was consumed by the idea of blending A-flat major (for the bright sun, the beach, exploration, discovery) with the Turkish Hicaz makam (for the bittersweet emptiness of having no one to share these moments with). In the end, the Hicaz vibe got lost among the Western ideas, but I learned a lot. It was the very first piece of music I ever wrote. I still remember that vacation with a sweet-and-sour smile. : }