Diary: Feb 14 Love Letter From Emm

Hello Backstagers!!!

Much has been happening. If you have supported the Kickstarter campaign, you will know that I am currently in Nashville recording my next album “Business & Pleasure”. I had a feeling that with all the good vibes swirling around, whatever I did next musically would be full of joy. But I was unaware of just how joyful it would be.

I have posted a video in the “video diary” section of today’s vocal session at Loud Studios and there’s a little bit from Saturday at Sound Emporium. I used to think that recording remotely on the laptop and piecing things together was the way to go…I’ve multi-tracked so many of my records and sometimes it’s been a joy (Science Fair, Goddess)…but after this week’s events, I believe there absolutely is a purpose for the “big studio”. It can be a place of collaboration, of magic, of friendship and of love. It can be a garden where great big sounds can begin as seeds and blossom into huge magical things. This system WORKS. If any of you are contemplating making an album, I highly suggest finding a producer with whom you click. It turns out this entire year of chatting with Fred, Zooming with him…sending him songs and getting to know him (yes, I even did my Human Design connection chart with him) was all worth it. (We are a 9/0).

I am missing all of you. I have wanted to let you know that one of our fellow Backstagers Renee MacBeth has been featured on an amazing podcast that has a focus on wellness. Click here to be taken to the first episode. There is so much that each of you do that inspires me, and please keep sharing with me what you’re doing…whether it’s a relocation, a new job, a new spin on your existing work, books, sobriety journeys….the whole dang thing. As I grow, I feel we grow as a group.

Someone commented on my Kickstarter “Sounds great. Now comes the hard work.” And I won’t lie that it’s been swirling around - just what comes next with this new record.

I have too often put a record out without any faith that I can find partners to allow the music to be carried into the world. This no doubt stems from what a friend of mine once called “musical PTSD” … being dropped from a label, being misguided by a manager, being young…whatever.

This time, I echo the words of my professor and friend Terry McManus…that I must carry my love into the world.

An epiphany I had this morning was that so much of my work to design this chapter of my life stemmed from the pure joy of just wanting to sing with one of my favourite voices. This is an odd goal for someone in the modern world, to want something simple…something that is not rooted in followers, money, recognition, branding….whatever you want to call these things that pull us in mysterious directions, often in the opposite direction of what our passion truly is. I believe that if I can continue to remember the joy, to dive into the joy…that other joyful things can come.

Because I set out to sing with someone…and then this idea to make a record was born, but I believe a great album is unfolding before my very eyes. And it has come as the result of following my joy.

I wonder how often this gets lost in our lives…but how easy it can be to recover. It just takes a little surrender, a little dreaming…a little “what if”…and a lot of help from friends.

I hope a few of your write in comments a few things that bring you utter joy. Just list them for me. I’d love to know.

Sending you all my love. Stay strong, stay calm, stay joyful….I truly love all of you.