Justin McDermott · The Dream State Compass
Spoken Word & Music
From the depths of my Dream State, at different times in my life.
Before you listen
These pieces come from the depths of my Dream State at different times in my life. They hold feelings, images and questions that are deeply personal to me, and they carry considerable emotional weight.
Some of these pieces were written before the Dream State took its grip, but they stayed with me. Across the journey their meanings have shifted, deepened and changed, yet they still ring true.
The recordings are intentionally rough: mostly early takes rather than polished final productions. I have kept that rawness to preserve the feeling and immediacy of the moments they came from.
Some tackle big and difficult issues and may be emotionally confronting. From my own experience of listening back, I recommend taking them one at a time and giving yourself a break whenever you need.
Please listen with care for yourself. There is no need to hear the whole collection in one sitting, or to keep listening if a piece feels too much.
Justin McDermott
The recordings
Light Up the Dark
An autobiographical reflection on difficult years, renewed hope and the light that changes how we see.
Roam
A poem about confinement, freedom and the search for a life that feels one’s own.
Dreamstate 101
Dreams, voices and the search for meaning, expressed through the imagery of an inner world.
The Shaman’s Path
A spiritual reflection on uncertainty, compassion and offering light without claiming all the answers.
Unwritten Story
A reflection on choosing how to live when the story of a life is still being written.
Lost at Sea
Sea and storm imagery give shape to uncertainty, endurance and the wish to reach the shore.
A Roar of the Spirit
A symbolic journey through spiritual searching, conflict and the place of love.
Last and Lost Knight
A dramatic inner landscape of castles, siege and the resolve to stand again.
We Look Dead North
An image-rich poem about direction, companionship and finding a course through changing weather.
Listen at your own pace. Each recording starts only when you choose to play it.