Child of the Universe
Single, June 2025

Jessica Richards sat down at the piano on a day weighed down by the news and had a finished song by evening. “Child of the Universe” opens on piano and voice, then builds into the fullest orchestration Dove Pax have released: strings, flutes, a distant choir and horns, with Ryan Richards driving the climax on guitar, bass and a pulse of kick drums, stomps and toms. Then it pulls back to piano, voice and a string quartet.

The lyrics draw on the I Ching, which both members have studied for years. The refrain names a woman and a man as daughter and son of the Earth, two halves of one whole in the yin-yang sense. The song looks straight at the anxiety of the moment and answers it with a decision:

“But with a little bit of faith / In my ability to grow”

Produced by Jessica Richards. Mixed by Ryan Richards. Vocals recorded by Jason Phelps at Acadia Recording Studio, Portland. Mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Adam Ayan.