In the summer of 2016, at the sprawling Eaux Claires Festival, yMusic, co-founded by trumpeter CJ Camerieri, was debuting a program alongside English folk trio the Staves. Amidst the performance, Camerieri noticed American luminnary Bruce Hornsby, tall and casual in sweatpants, bopping along to the music at the side of the stage. Impressed at what he saw and heard, Hornsby invited the ensembles to his own Virginia festival. This led to a collaboration on Hornsby’s 2019 album, Absolute Zero, and a brief tour in early 2020.

During this tour, yMusic's violinist Rob Moose suggested a nightly encore - a new song they'd write together on the spot. Thus, the track "Deep Sea Vents" was born - a lively piece that became a favorite, evolving with each performance.

Now, "Deep Sea Vents" headlines a collaborative album between Hornsby and yMusic. Across ten tracks exploring water themes, Deep Sea Vents showcases Hornsby’s melodic piano alongside yMusic’s rhythmic precision. The songs touch on subjects from first dates to environmental concerns, with Hornsby seamlessly blending his style with yMusic’s compositions.

After the pandemic disrupted plans, Hornsby eagerly accepted yMusic's invitation to write more songs. The resulting album presented here reflects their shared enthusiasm and mutual respect. Each track is a testament to their collaborative spirit, offering a glimpse into the depths of their creative partnership.