Forged In the Fire Of Collaboration

Lovelies,

My most newsy news this month is that I'm a writer on the just-out Narada Michael Walden album, Euphoria. In honor of Narada's release, I figured I'd devote this, the streamy/dreamy portion of my Newsletter, to an abridged list of what I've learned from my now 3 year, rockingly formative collaboration with Narada. But somehow that list proved lengthy and a bit technical. Too dull for the STREAMY/DREAMY portion of my Newsletter! As you well know, we aim for creative process SCANDAL up in here! 

So yeah, I've spiced up my list. Here are the most SURPRISING things I've learned. Basically, a few aspects of my creative life I thought were enviably EVOLVED that turned out to be naught but creativity's best frenemy, SELF SABOTAGE!

In no particular order.

1. I've always taken my songs very seriously. Each one comes on like a fever, that will only break if I excavate some single hidden burning ember in my deep consciousness. I experienced this as CREATIVE INTEGRITY. But suddenly I was being asked to turn around songs in days, in HOURS. I learned to loosen my hold. I learned to lighten up. And I learned that when I write playful, write improvisational, write peripheral to myself, I gain a whole new access to my depths. PEOPLE, I EXCAVATED FAR MORE!

2. I have always surrendered to the rhythms of creativity. When I get a new idea, I stop everything to honor it. When it's finished with me, I close my notebook and cook soup. I felt this as organic and lovely. But suddenly writing wasn't just a dance between me and my muse. It was a dance between me, my muse, Narada, and his muse. Busy dance floor. And I often had to WAIT, for 2 days, for 2 weeks, until I got the rhythm track, the verse melody, the okay on the chorus hook. I well know: miss a creative wave and it's gone forever. But I discovered I have the power to put the whole glorious ocean ON ICE. I can FREEZE THE WAVE. And unfreeze it when I get the rhythm track.

3. I have always created for the love of it. I mean, as opposed to the success of it. This granted me such options as a career as a singer/songwriter despite the world not often seeming to want it from me. I carried this as a purity of intention. But Narada told me to imagine my music heard. To imagine my music sung in stadiums. Every part of me screamed no but I trusted him and did as I was told. What I discovered was a creative self shy, COWERING scared, playing small to avoid a plethora of potential hazards, external and otherwise. So tears and years later I cut it out. I scheme big and feel the wild peace of being myself. 

I've been forged in the fire of so many collaborations of late. I feel myself utterly transformed, and yet also the exact opposite: more who I am. Narada is a madman genius with a heart as open as the sky. He turned my beat around and I am forever grateful.

All my love,

Rachel