My passion for American history has never been about chasing a flawed or idealistic past. Instead, I’ve always been captivated by how historic achievement, tragedy, and "impossible" progress were forged into the American identity we know today. This fascination began in high school and followed me through my journey into the worlds of professional, technical, photographic, musical, historical, and educational pursuits.
While my music production, photography, writing and American history interests span a period of about 40 years, the real catalyst for this project occurred in a tech hub nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. In February 2026, I was invited to attend the Silicon Slopes Summit in Salt Lake City, an experience that would fundamentally shift my creative trajectory and provide the momentum needed to bring this vision to life.
New Tools and New Sensibilities
While at the summit, I was exposed to the many ways technology could change the way I worked. I had no idea how I was going to use this information to help my business—which for more than 20 years has focused on helping early-stage companies raise investment capital—but I was surrounded by people successfully using a new tech stack to achieve amazing results.
While there, I also witnessed what I consider a modern miracle: a non-partisan discussion between Mark Cuban and Chris Klomp, the national Executive Director of Medicare. It was the most respectful and insightful conversation of its kind that I’ve ever experienced. While the subject was healthcare, the sensibilities of that discourse—the respect, the insight, and the focus on shared progress—became deeply ingrained in my thinking. It informed the tone I wanted to portray as I began writing songs to celebrate our nation's upcoming 250th anniversary. I wanted the music to reflect that same spirit of powerful, respectful conversation.
From a Musket Ball to a Movement
The breakthrough came two weeks later. After spending three days immersed in the new tech stack I’d seen in Salt Lake City, I found myself staring at a Revolutionary War musket ball from the Battle of Trenton sitting on my shelf. I decided to try something bold: writing a song about that day using the tools I had just learned.
That first track resonated deeply, followed quickly by a second song about the Declaration of Independence. While Ninety Minutes and Beating Heart of Liberty were the first tracks to emerge, they served as the proof of concept for a much larger vision. The blend of a lifelong love of music and American history with a forward-thinking technological approach eventually informed every line and track of this project, leading to its approval and sanction by America250 as an official historical storytelling celebration of America's 250th anniversary.
The Great Milestone
We are now standing on the doorstep of the United States Semiquincentennial, and what began as a personal experiment has evolved into an official contribution to the most significant birthday celebration our country has ever seen. This milestone is far more than a ceremony; it is a vital, living moment for us to look back at where we’ve been and decide who we want to be.
By honoring the complexities of our past through the innovative spirit of our future, I hope this music and narrative adds a meaningful voice to the American story. This was the start of my own personal road to liberty, and I am honored to share this historic journey with you.
Steve Mortensen