My dear and precious friends,

I wanted to take a moment to write a few words to properly thank you for the countless messages, comments, and letters, which is becoming an amazing new communicative specificity taking place between us now (regardless of how bad my handwriting is!), everything you so kindly sent my way to congratulate me for the album release, for all the charts, and the praising reviews that “Standing Under Bright Lights” has received from all over the world… it’s truly heartwarming.

But even more importantly, it was important for me to tell you how grateful I am that you took the time to let me know just how significant the album is to you, which is the most marvelous and rewarding gift you could offer me. Communing those emotions with you all is the fundamental element that holds everything together, from what I have the privilege to create up to the blessing I have to share it with you.

As you may already know, the months leading to the release of “Standing Under Bright Lights” have been incredibly inspirational for me, not only because I was able to reflect some more on what I had experienced on that highly consequential and transformative night of July 5th, 2019, but I was even more importantly moved and touched by the inspiring measure by which we exchanged, shared and connected together with so much welcoming generosity. It truly means a whole lot to me and I’m deeply grateful for every single moment I had the joyful privilege to embrace with you. 

Over the years, I had the tremendous blessing to create a significant number of projects, which I have sadly never been in the proper emotional disposition to fully appreciate the beautiful essence of, nor to ever feel proud of the person I was slowly becoming through any of those artistic emancipative immersions. It all started to change when I decided to make peace with the affective disarray I had been struggling with for so long deep down inside. It’s been quite a journey, starting with my departure for Tangier, crafting “Windows in the Sky” and accepting to expose myself while releasing it, to accepting the invitation of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal to take part in their 40th edition and stand in front of people after 3 years away from the public eye… as I am, severely damage and utterly vulnerable. I was so insecure, doubtful, frightened, feared failure and disappointment, didn’t want to be an embarrassment for my friends and family, but more than anything else, I dreaded being rejected. Yes, it’s been quite a voyage for me since…

In fact, I have rarely felt so much at peace in my life as I presently am. And in many ways, I have to thank you all for that uplifting gift of acceptance, of affection, of love… of life. There are no words for me to express just how inestimably I value the extraordinary nature of our ever-growing relationship. That’s why, may it be thanks to all the exciting fun we had through the numerous vinyl giveaways taking place all over the world, the enthusiasm of all the sponsors who supported me regardless of their business’ precariousness, the kindness and benevolence of all the reporters who welcomed me as a person having the fabulous privilege to share a hopeful and optimistic story rather than promoting an upcoming album, I can now say that I’m happy and proud. Happy that I followed my heart regardless of hesitations and uncertainties I will always have to live with. Proud that I was able to do it all with you based on our community and human values. It’s been pricelessly empowering for me.  

Therefore, as appreciative as I am of how stunningly well-received the album has been, there’s no illusive charting position high enough or any prideful personal achievement too successful for me to forget about the graceful blessing that I have to stand under bright lights with you, even when I’m facing my own darkness and would rather lie back in the bleakness of my self-deceiving shadows. I’m learning to embrace whatever the instant I am into might be made of and to steadily accept any shade of colorful happiness coming my way now. To stay alive may not mean to be alive, but it’s another win nonetheless when you feel powerlessly desperate… So again, thank you all my dear and precious brothers, sisters & friends, not only for having spent that day with me, but for feeding my faith in better tomorrows… I already can’t wait to share it all with you!

Be safe and hopeful, I’ll have more good news to annonce real soon!

Your friend and brother,
AHF