betterArts resident Traveling John penned a farewell to the North Country yesterday before bidding adieu and continuing his adventure in New York City for a week before heading back to Sweden.

John's visit brought original, new music to the Redwood community in a live concert; offered him the unparalleled experience of a North Country winter; and gave betterArts the opportunity to offer an artist exposure, press, and experience with radio broadcasting, community outreach, interviewing with media outlets, and more.

Here's John's goodbye, in his own words. We wish him all the very best—and expect to see him (and other artists he's connected to) soon...

In the Tunes 92.5 studio.

Goodbye for now beautiful people of Redwood and BetterArts!

It has been a a little bit over a month since I arrived to Redwood for my Artist Residency, it's been amazing. I'm now heading for NYC for a short amount of time before flying back to Sweden.

The BetterArts crew has not only given me the peace and quiet and inspiration to concentrate on writing songs. They have also worked on getting me in the newspapers and the radio and have given me the exposure that is comparable to what a promotion agency would do, amazing:

Interview on North Country Public Radio

Feature piece on the front page of Watertown Daily Times' Currents section

Interview and live studio time on Tunes 92.5 FM

In addition to this they've been the key to making my first concert happening here.

I've felt incredibly welcome and accepted by the great people in the little town of Redwood. Check out BetterArts more through this link http://www.betterarts.org/, I highly recommend this place if you're and artist in any way and you would like to get away to concentrate on your creative work.

Thank you all for the laughs, talks, drinks and sing-a-longs. I'm looking forward to come back and see you all again when it's warmer, without all that stupid snow.

Love/John

To learn more about the betterArts residency program, click here.