Yesterday, I shared the cover art and release date for my upcoming album, Vertigo. Today, I want to talk about the title itself.
“Life rarely gives us complete clarity before asking us to take the next step.”
Sometimes an album title arrives at the end of the process. Sometimes it appears before the songs are even finished. In the case of Vertigo, the title showed up long before I knew exactly what the record would become. I had experimented a few years back with an instrumental album I called “Caverns” and once that was complete, I loved the sound of the word vertigo.
In fact, an early version of Vertigo existed long before the album you’re about to hear. At the time, I was creating music under the name JKON and exploring many of the same ideas that would eventually find their way onto this record. As the songs evolved, so did my creative identity. Eventually, Moteventure became the natural home for not only the music, but the broader journey of storytelling, creativity, and exploration that continues today. Looking back, it’s interesting to see how the seeds of Vertigo were already taking shape, even then.
Image of an early version of the “Vertigo” album from about 5 years ago.
Most people think of vertigo as the sensation of losing your balance. The room spins. The ground doesn’t feel as steady as it should. But the word also carries a deeper meaning for me. It represents those moments in life when certainty disappears and you’re forced to move forward without knowing exactly what’s waiting on the other side.
We’ve all been there.
A major decision.
An unexpected opportunity.
A relationship that changes.
A risk that could either pay off or leave you wondering what might have been.
Life rarely gives us complete clarity before asking us to take the next step.
The more songs I wrote for this album, the more I realized they were connected by that feeling. Some explore obsession. Others deal with uncertainty, reflection, nostalgia, excitement, loss, and the tension between staying where it’s comfortable and moving toward the unknown.
Even the songs themselves often began from questions rather than answers.
What happens if I try something different?
What if I take a chance?
What if I look back?
What if I let go?
While each track tells its own story, they all orbit around moments of movement, change, and perspective. Looking back now, Vertigo feels less like a collection of songs and more like a snapshot of standing at a crossroads and deciding to keep going.
Musically, the album reflects that idea as well. Some songs look toward the future. Others tip their hat to influences that have followed me for years. There are moments that feel energetic and uplifting, and others that feel introspective and uncertain. That’s intentional.
Life isn’t one thing.
It’s a mixture of confidence and doubt.
Certainty and risk.
Calm and chaos.
Sometimes all at once.
That’s Vertigo.
Over the coming days, I’ll be sharing more about the album, including the full track list, stories behind the songs, and some of the creative decisions that shaped the final record.
For now, I hope this gives you a little more insight into the title and the journey behind it.
The countdown continues.
days
hours minutes seconds
until
YOU’RE FEELING VERTIGO
Vertigo arrives October 30.
Hey there — I’m Jon. This is Moteventure, my corner of the internet where music, movies, lists, and life all collide. Glad you’re here.