Some days seem heavier than others. The body moves slowly, as if the earth itself had increased its pull. On other days, the opposite happens. The air feels lighter, the step quicker, the mind open to movement. Gravity & Inertia by James Filkins reflects this subtle dance between weight and momentum.

Performed on guitar and rooted in the language of acoustic guitar fingerstyle, the piece unfolds with a calm and thoughtful pace. Filkins has long drawn inspiration from landscapes around Northern Michigan, yet this composition turns inward, exploring how environment and emotion shape perception. A simple melody rises and settles like breathing, alternating between moments of quiet gravity and passages that seem to lift gently upward.

The idea behind the piece comes from a familiar sensation. Many travelers feel lighter near the sea or under the sun of tropical places, as if proximity to the equator softened the pull of gravity. Of course, it may simply be the state of mind that accompanies rest and freedom. Still, the feeling is real enough to inspire reflection.

Gravity & Inertia moves between these opposing forces, like a small musical yin and yang. The guitar lines remain clear and grounded, yet there is an undercurrent of movement that suggests balance rather than conflict. The result is a reflective instrumental where physical sensation and inner mood become one quiet landscape.

Recorded at The Loon Bin Studio in Traverse City, Michigan, mixed by Corin Nelsen, and mastered at Raighes Factory in Sardinia, the track continues Filkins’ exploration of atmosphere, memory, and place through the expressive voice of the guitar.