#03 / THANK YOU !!

Dear friends,

We did it !!

We have crossed the finish line together and I am so happy and grateful that it has been a joint venture. This whole process has been exciting, challenging and humbling. Exiting...because of the new music and working creatively each day.

Challenging...because I have never been very good at asking people for help. It has taught me so much and allowed for very deep personal growth. (as much as I like doing things by myself I very much like sharing with others too and so now I’m cultivating a fine balance between the two)

Humbling...because I realise that people have huge heart and are willing to give a when asked.

You have all surprised me very much with all your contributions and another surprise is how far and wide my music has reach. I have received contributions from the UK, France, Ecuador, Argentina, USA, Canada, Cyprus, Latvia, Estonia, Australia, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, Mallorca, Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, Mauritius and Guadeloupe.

I cannot begin to explain the feeling of being able to do what I love doing so passionately and to have others support me, hold me and cheer me on along the way. It is an incredible feeling that I wish for everyone. When I sing something unexplainable and magical happens. The best way that I can explain it is that it feels as though is me and that it is not me. Completely happening simultaneously and inseparable.

I have been blessed with the gift of music but the even greater gift is being able to share it. By supporting me financially on the project you are opening more doors for me as a musician and therefore allowing for me to continue on the musical journey and continue the cycle of giving and receiving. So once again thank you.

So now for the next step. Recording the album !! We will be in the recording studio this Wednesday 20th April and Thursday 21st April. The musician that I have been collaborating with on this album are all fantastic musicians and I feel honoured to be working with them. We have had many rehearsal and we are now ready to record our work. We will then add a few features in post production (harmonies and a few other surprise instruments ;) and then we go back to the studio to mix and master the album. Recording live is definitely the more time consuming way of recording (before even getting to the studio) but also the most rewarding because it capture a very pure essence of music.

Looking briefly at the history of recording music, recording equiptment first came about to capture a live performance, capture a feeling, capture magic.... let the musicians play and press record. Nowadays (not always, but often the recording as a final result or product has become the main focus). Over time with the development of recording equiptment and the incredible things that can be done in the studio, the process has changed so very much. Nowadays, instruments can be recorded separately, perfectly timed to a click, recorded, rerecorded, auto tuned, etc.. (I am not saying that this is wrong or bad, in fact I have done this myself and very much enjoy how technology can make things so much easier and less time consuming). I am simply showing the differences so as to tell you what I am doing with this particular album and why I have chosen to do so. I really wanted to go the old fashioned way. I wanted to get to know the musicians, practice with them, create an excitement, create a buzz, get ready musically and then put us in a fantastic recording studio, press the record button and see what happens. Hopefully we’ll capture some magic !!! There is a real excitement to that unknown. It’s almost like we will be allowing the music to play itself. We, then become instruments of the music. Ok, now I’m getting very deep and philosophical. But for those of you who know me well, you know exactly what I am talking about right !! ; )

So that is what we are doing. I have such love and passion for this project and I am so happy that you are all a part of.

So now onto practical matters. I am hoping that we can release the album sometime in June, but this depends on post production, mixing and mastering timing which can unpredictable. I will keep you posted all along the way. As for all of the other rewards, myself or a dear friend of mine who is helping me with the administrative part of this campaign, will be in touch about further details - getting full names for the certificates, addresses for the booklets and Skype addresses for our chit chats.

I send you all a virtual big hug and hope that soon it will be a real one

Love

Alexia