Jim Bulleit is a retired Hampton Roads schoolteacher and is doing what many people only say they’re going to do when they retire. He’s writing songs and recording albums and isn’t letting something like the Covid-19 stop him. “Catastrophe and Hope” is his fourth album, it was written and recorded during the pandemic and chronicles many of the emotions we all shared during that time.

Bulleit admits that he and his producer, Zach Moats of The Darhma Initiative, hadn’t met in person during the recording of the album, working virtually to craft the songs and arrangements. He says it improved his at-home recording techniques and allowed him to imagine new directions the songs could take because of it.

Many of the songs deal with processing grief into hope. One track is a tribute to one of his band members who passed away at a very young age.

These are some deeply personal songs but Bulleit also finishes “Catastrophe and Hope” by having fun with the album’s title.  

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