Ethnomads

A message from Morph

As many of you won’t know me, my name is Matt Hall.

Nearly a decade ago, through the quiet alchemy of creative pursuits, my path crossed with Chris—his in filmmaking, mine in music. Like many of you, I've had the privilege of witnessing Chris's artistic journey unfold, bearing testimony to the profound beauty that emerges when a soul fully commits to its purpose.

Almost immediately, Chris and I recognized in each other a shared vision: a kind of divine madness, an unshakable belief that our role was to gently awaken the world to the kingdom hiding in plain sight. Through stories of epic adventure and quiet revelation, we sought to remind our friends, family, and strangers alike that their lives were not mundane, but part of something deeply extraordinary. We set out to create portals—moments of connection to the sacred mystery we were discovering, and remembering, through our artistic communion.

‘Aʻā is the third film for which I’ve had the profound honor of composing music, and each collaboration with Chris draws me deeper into his vision. In Dancing Days of Dawn teaches us how to participate with nature. Through flow states—skateboarding, surfing, music, play, and summiting our own mountains—we can remember how to be. Out of the mind, into the body. Whistles of Wilderness reminds us of the eternal present moment and our shared purpose as creators, creating in the image of Creation.

‘But ‘Aʻā stands apart: a deeply spiritual and important story. To many who watch the film, you will see the remarkable voyage of three Hawaiian natives across the vast Pacific Ocean, a feat so courageous it appeared to border on madness.

With an open heart, you may see a hidden door of the film appear—one that invites you into your soul’s own journey home. A story about life, death, legacy, and our soul’s longing for purpose. The story of our ancestors and the generations they spent sowing into our birthright and inheritance. The story of us—as humans, voyagers on this small rock we call Earth.

What many don’t see is the thousands of hours leading up to the trip where Chris studied with the masters—Uncle Nanoah and the Hawaiian Voyaging Society. The notebooks filled with illustrations and discoveries about celestial navigation. The years of diving deeper into the lexicon of ancient Hawaiian language to call things by their name. By the time I had the great joy of sailing with Chris on ‘A’a in the Newport Harbor, I could see the twinkle in his eyes—that he was about to realize another impossible, awe-inspiring dream.

In the weeks leading up to departure, Chris and I burned the midnight oil like we tend to—listening to the music that moved our souls the deepest, printing t-shirts, and taking a Sharpie to the sail that was to be raised on ‘Aʻā. Chris has shown me repeatedly that true art is born precisely this way: spontaneously, courageously, and with a profound trust in the unknown.

Just a day before the voyage, Chris invited me to inscribe a commissioning prayer upon the side of the sleeping quarters:

The Call to Voyage

from the shores of mundanity

when the winds of change catch your ear

you cannot unhear the questions

or avoid the muse

what exists beyond the horizon?

what cannot come aboard?

and who will I become in the process?

the yearning turns to madness

we toil with the unknown

and wonder if it can be realized

the comfort we leave ashore

is the cost of discipleship

in devotion to an endless dream

we may never see her

or capture her magnificence

in a picture, poem, or sentence

but for a moment we heard God’s voice

and this “faith” becomes the only truth

the irrational smile

we wear proudly

as we stare at the ocean from land

once again

and if the horizon is truly endless

the voice is everywhere

waiting to be heard

beckoning us in our dreams

in the pursuit of what exists beyond the veil

we discover our identity apart of the infinite

and perhaps nothing has changed

but everything becomes alive

It is my hope that in watching this film, you hear the still, small, ever-present whisper that calls you to voyage. The yearning for home is every man’s journey into the infinite. Beyond the day-to-day programs of who we identify as, and who we should be, there is a truth that is dying to speak to you—if you have the courage to listen.

May all who encounter Chris’s work, and the vision of the Ethnomads, feel compelled to step away from the shores of mundanity and into the endless horizon within. Your journey awaits, quietly calling you home.

I cannot wait to meet you there.

— Matt Hall (@morph.fm)

note from Chris - We love you Matt! Thank you for always being such a loving and genuine human. Honored to have you apart of our voyage.

To those who are curious you can check out Matt’s solo work and spotify as Morph