Dear {{ subscriber.firstName | default('friend') }},
"I write the songs that make the whole world sing. I write the songs of love and special things." These lyrics are from one of my favorite songs ever written by Barry Manilow.
The idea of songwriting and singing is really for the sake of impacting and evoking emotions in one another – to bring us closer, to make us feel something good, and to communicate without communicating.
As the pandemic continues to affect us all, and we are still self-quarantining, mostly indoors, what can we do to make the time more fun and enlightening? The answer to this is MUSIC.
Whether I am listening to Alexa play Gospel tunes by Kirk Franklin (my current favorite is "God Like You") as I cook or clean the kitchen, teaching my six-year-old daughter Joliette how to play the signature Addams Family song, singing my heart out to Frozen 2 in the shower with my twin girls, or listening to background kirtan music by Deva Premal while working in my home office, I choose to have music surround me to lift me up.
Music has the power to transform our moods, inspire us, and to make us feel better and even understood.
About a year and a half ago, I embarked on "A Songwriter's Journey" with the Koren Brothers, who were kindly introduced to me by my very good friend Lynn Rose. Thorald and Isaac Koren, two incredibly talented musicians, have magically instilled my songwriting talents back in me and helped me rediscover my singing voice. We collaborated on three songs.
"Woman of Grace" is one I wrote for my father's 70th birthday. I flew all the way back to Hong Kong for just three nights to premiere the piece on stage at his concert as a surprise for him. He had a full eight-piece band and I got to sing my song for the first time in the best way possible. What a truly special evening it was. I love my Daddy.
