It’s 12:37 am and I’m listening to some ol’ school music and typing my thoughts. I’ve had a full day dealing with local production business while preparing for the arrival of Natasha, an artist coming in from Montreal, Canada, to allow me the pleasure of producing an album to accompany a book she has written. In effect, I will be creating a musical score as background ambiance for her spoken word poetry, and the book as a whole.

She is an outstanding writer with a gift for words similar in kind to the gift of music creation and production that I have. This is her first time doing a professional recording project, and my first time creating music to be released with a book.

I first “met” Natasha in November 2007 on MySpace while doing what seemed to be aimless surfing; however, I'm a firm believer that there are no accidents when it comes to meeting some people in your life. Our MySpace messaging led to sharing works we’ve individually created which led to phone conversations, texting and, ultimately leading to mutual respect and friendship.

Almost two years after our first meeting she is set to arrive in the Twin Cities just a few days from now. We will complete the foundation tracks and record her vocal performances for all of the pieces to be on the album. At this point we will be recording between 12 and 15 tracks and are going to accomplish this within seven of the nine days she will be here. I am pumped!

I have to say, the depth and length of our conversations affords me an understanding of her that I rarely experience with an artist to this extent before we start a project. With every artist I’ve ever worked with, I’ve taken some time to know them, ask questions and help them develop a comfort and trust for me to ensure fluidity and unrestricted creativity when recording starts.

I can pull out the best in an artist, but they still have to trust me even when they don’t trust themselves. I know she trusts me, which will make my work breezy.

I feel so blessed to be doing what I love to do, while not being limited to business in my local or regional area. I have, and will continue to acquire, relationships, friendships and business through the internet and social networks. I am currently on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, and I’m considering LinkedIn as well as a few other social networking sites. If you’re not doing the same, the world is within your reach and you don’t even realize it.

As an artist, producer, songwriter, or whatever, it has never been easier to present yourself directly to difference-making connections. Opportunities really are all around you. Today, I’m reaping benefits from seeds planted well before now and I continue to the planting process.

My relationship with Natasha delivers to me a different kind of fruit in August 2009 from a seed planted in 2007. I say a different kind of fruit because this is about business. I am being paid well for the delivery of my production services, but it didn’t start that way and I’m certain that it won’t end that way. At the very least, she is now a friend. The depth of our connection, not the frequency or length of time we’ve known each other is the reason for the label “friend.”

Through the help of one of my team members, I just planted a seed with you which would never have arrived without him, so I hope you stay around long enough for us both to experience good fruit. Oh, and feel free to come to The Garden and plant something like go getter Natasha. I nurture creativity around here! Lots of love ‘round here! Nahmean?

Just my thoughts.

-REL