The Album So Far
Mikko, unable to hide a proud and cheerful smile, invited us to converge on the studio to listen to what the “album” outlines were so far. The moment was equally exhilarating and stressful, as it would define the rest of the production process. Missing the emotional tone and the vibrating sensations I believe the album’s identity should be about would be quite a disaster for me, as it would mean we’d have to scrap everything we did and start all over again. It would be a major letdown for everyone involved, as we worked so hard to give life to what I saw through the invisible. At the same time, it all lies on the conviction I have that what I hear is “it” after a first listen. No matter the writing stage the songs might be at, they would propel us to a whole new level of empowering creativity and would give us the necessary confidence to keep on digging even deeper through the record’s spiritual aspect. We were about to find out as we sat down.
The sequencing of the song being an essential component of the emotional journey the album should be conveying for me, Mikko made sure to assemble its motion flow based on what I had shared with him along the way. Then, I would know if we captured it or not, if we channeled the proper spirit, or if we only executed convenient shapes and forms. I couldn’t care less about how long, how cool, how great, and how much of a “hit” factor, any of those songs might be about. For me, it’s all about the soul… it’s overpowering any other detail, as art’s pure nature is sacred to me. There’s no possible compromise about it for me, and even though I understand the business reality and the essence of its structural conformity, it’s entirely secondary without the authenticity of what is designed to commune over commercialization. That being said, it would be for the songs to let me know the direction they would want to lead us towards. Alright, time to listen…
The sequencing of the song being an essential component of the emotional journey the album should be conveying for me, Mikko made sure to assemble its motion flow based on what I had shared with him along the way. Then, I would know if we captured it or not, if we channeled the proper spirit, or if we only executed convenient shapes and forms. I couldn’t care less about how long, how cool, how great, and how much of a “hit” factor, any of those songs might be about. For me, it’s all about the soul… it’s overpowering any other detail, as art’s pure nature is sacred to me. There’s no possible compromise about it for me, and even though I understand the business reality and the essence of its structural conformity, it’s entirely secondary without the authenticity of what is designed to commune over commercialization. That being said, it would be for the songs to let me know the direction they would want to lead us towards. Alright, time to listen…
We dwelled into the voyage’s singular stream from one song to another, stopping after listening to each one to give our general observations and also to pinpoint any specific ideas we might have to add, edit, change, or revisit. The whole affair must have lasted 2 hours or so. And to be quite honest, I was completely floored. I was AMAZINGLY astonished by what I had just heard! Again, you need to understand that we only crafted the “barebone” versions of the songs at that point, which were all unique, purposeful, heartfelt, and relevant. Even the ones who were recorded the day after Mikko arrived were significant. I honestly didn’t hear anything that felt out of place, self-serving or ambitious. Mikko waited for me to comment on the whole journey and was happy when he heard me say that we had given life to an impressive foundation for what is destined to become very very special. He was genuinely happy, talking with terms such as “we”, “us” and “our”. It wasn’t only touching, it was speaking volumes to the profound degree of his investment, which was my ultimate hope when I met Mikko in London several months ago… I wasn’t looking for a producer, even though he is a high-profile name. I was looking for someone who would be fiercely engaged along our side to give life to what was only an abstract perspective of the vision I had in my heart and soul. Mikko was not only checking all my expectations’ boxes, but he became an essential presence for me to trust my instinct and ability to become the “spirit” I was foreseeing and to transcend my omnipresent fears of failing my album’s perception, its songs, my friends, and everyone else I love.
There’s no fear in love, no fright in honesty, which is my continual battle against my affective doubting reflexes.
If it took me some time to feel “in”, even if, as Jennie reminded me, I’ve never been “out”… I simply wanted depth. That first “album” listen truly gave me the courage to keep on exposing myself without having to question every single word or sound instinctively emerging from my ever-emancipative abandonment… life, life, life!!!
*Note: Leonard liked the album so much that he finally adopted Mikko as an official member of the family. That’s quite an accomplishment… it’s a HIT 😉
There’s no fear in love, no fright in honesty, which is my continual battle against my affective doubting reflexes.
If it took me some time to feel “in”, even if, as Jennie reminded me, I’ve never been “out”… I simply wanted depth. That first “album” listen truly gave me the courage to keep on exposing myself without having to question every single word or sound instinctively emerging from my ever-emancipative abandonment… life, life, life!!!
*Note: Leonard liked the album so much that he finally adopted Mikko as an official member of the family. That’s quite an accomplishment… it’s a HIT 😉
