I'm always shocked at how quickly time flies. In a couple of days it would be almost 4 months since I last wrote. Spring has come and gone and seems like Summer Solstice was just yesterday. In reality, it's been almost a month since summer officially started. As I sit and reflect on past events to write about I come to a moment of clarity that time waits for no one. Last I wrote, I was lamenting over my then, current circumstances of having to jump back into the music business as I took on the task of working with Ms Lauryn Hill. Three weeks after my last entry, I flew to Hawaii to meet up with her and my "business partner"/ employer JB. Since I have to so much to say this time I'll keep the details of my trip short and sweet. After seeing 2 high energy performances in Hawaii, my meeting with her on my last day there went very well. JB gave me a very gracious introduction and she was so warm and kind. I met her beautiful children and I flew back home to LA on the red-eye. During my stay I had a very cleansing moment-most would classify it as a psychotic breakdown but I'll stick with healing moment for now. Hawaii is a magic place. A lot of spiritual people and healers believe there is healing in the water and ground and it certainly worked for me on day 2. It rained so hard as I cried uncontrollably for 3 hours. I couldn't figure out what was wrong but all I knew was I couldn't stop. I sat on my balcony in the rain and just cried. The rain stopped long before I was finished crying. Slowly but surely I snapped back to "me" and felt 1000% relieved. In retrospect, I think it was just time for a release. It had been months of stress and chaos and I would have never guessed that a trip I didn't want to take would be the best thing for me. God is funny like that.
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| Diamond Head Volcano, hotel balcony |
The day of my return a very old friend reconnected with me - my friend Carl. He was in town recording for his new album and I was so very happy to see him. A few hours after landing, I was off to the studio. I had such a good time and I LOVED hearing and seeing him sing again. Even though I've seen him a handful of times over the past 15 years, this was the first time we hung out like we used to when we first met back in 1995. I so needed some fun and it was served up on a platter from the most unexpected source. April turns into May, Carl leaves and my saga with Prince starts.
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| Carl in the booth :) |
Short intermission- I do an event with my boy DJ Hapa at the Grammy Museum and I meet Chaka Khan who closes out the event by singing "I Feel For You" right in front of me. She was the coolest and the session teaching kids about the art of DJ'ing was inspiring. The History Of Hip Hop Exhibit was there and made my heart filled with such fun childhood memories.
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| Chaka Khan, DJ Hapa- "I Feel For You" |
My absolute most favorite person/artist/musician on the PLANET is Prince. Every since I was 9 years old he was "my guy." Prince was in LA playing 21 Nites at the Forum in Inglewood. This residency proved to be my ultimate fun and distraction for the month of May. My bestest girlfriend Ny, surprised with me with tickets and we had an amazing time. A week later, my dear friend MP so graciously hooked it up for me to buy tickets that were top choice seats for my many return trips thereafter. MP used to play with Prince, hence the choice seating. When he came to town he ended up sitting in on a few shows and to this day I can't tell you which show was better. They were all different and amazing each and every time. I felt like I was 14 all over again. One show was Stevie Wonder's birthday so I sat in amazement as I watched Prince, Stevie, Sheila E and MP on the stage at the same time. My moment of " how in the world did I end up right here right now?" stuck with me for most of that show. I was able to attend one of the more exclusive plays when Prince played 3 shows in one night at the HOB Hollywood. That night was the most spiritual, magical night of my entire life. I need a separate blog dedicated just for that night. It changed me and I am so grateful for it.
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| Magic Night at the HOB |
In conclusion, I realize nothing profound was written in this entry. The gist of it comes in the form of choppy reports of "catch up." But I can say that many ah-ha moments, clarity of heart, life lessons and resolutions were interwoven in these reported happenings. I swear, I hear my dad's voice in my head right now saying
"just write babe, that's what you do." I find joy in writing and why I don't do it more is just silly. Stay tuned, verse 2 coming shortly.
