July 2, 2002

June was quite an important month in my life. I released my single. It's been released for promo, it will be released as a commercial single shortly. It was a big accomplishment, but I didn't make a big deal of it though. I need to go out to dinner and celebrate it. Still, I'm very happy with how it's turned out. My mom looked at the CD with a big smile, then read the back credits and laughed. She likes to tease me by calling me "One man and his dog" because by God's grace I did the work myself. I also copyrighted two more scripts that I'd been working on. It was a really busy month. 

Yesterday I spent a lot of time on the English projects I've been working on. I stay in contact with my family in England, read books, magazines and newspapers from England everyday, have for years. I also watch British shows everyday. It's amazing, one of my favorite childhood memories was of the Thames Television music that played before Britcoms. That was like a top 20 hit song to me (don't laugh). When I was younger I would say THAMES. and my mom would correct me, "Aisha, it's pronounced Temz." Lets not even talk about Grosvenor or Edinburgh. I pronounced them just the way they are spelled.

I've seen so many British acts with so much promise that would do well in America. Many of these acts have so much potential. When I see them I can't help but think of how well they would do here, still many of them have not been signed by U.S. labels. I'm really looking forward to signing a few acts in England. I've listened to British music since I was a child, so it's a project that means a lot to me. It's something I really love working on. By God's grace I have so many songs and ideas for those projects that I hope to launch soon.

Another childhood memory I remember fondly is of my mom's friends farm in St. Ann's in Jamaica. We visited there when I was about 4 years old and I never forgot that place. It was It was one of the most beautiful places I'd ever seen. I remember in the morning I would just stare out the window, so amazed at the beauty of the place. I've been raised in the city all of my life, but I adore the country. That's where I prefer and want to live. I want to get married, live in the country and raise children. 

If someone wrote a song about you, how would you take it? If it's a good song, would you like it? What if it's negative? Why am I writing this. Well it's something that's been on my mind and people write songs about people all the time. I was just wondering how they felt about it. 

July 8, 2002

Congratulations to my cousin Anya who got married on Saturday.

I had a good week last week. I kept reverse hours though and that I don't really like (record at night, sleep in the afternoon). It's a bit disorienting.

Still pondering where I should move to once I complete the record. I do love Miami, but as I said before, I feel it's time for me to move on. 

Most of the tracks are completed. I really love this record. It's turned out  so well. It's an album I can feel good about. I'm also working on my live show. I'm in the process of selecting which songs from the album to perform. I want to add a remake or two as well. 

I've just recorded a new song for the album. The song is a bit sad, but it's about a very serious topic that was inspired by something I wrote about for the sound-off page. The two recording sessions I've done for it so far have been melancholy because of the topic. I'm not used to being sad when I record, but that's the nature of the song.  

I made fish and chips last week (British food). We don't have any fish and chips shops in Miami, so you have to make it. I made it without the beer in the batter though. You can substitute the beer with a ginger based beverage. It turned out well.

I hope you have a good day and remember to put God first in what you do.

July 12, 2002

Okay what's today again? I have been working! I'm working on 4 albums at the same time and while it is a lot of fun, it's only by God's grace that I'm able to keep my focus. One of the albums has 17 songs. 

While working on my set list this week for my show, I decided on two remakes to include. Since I'm going to include them in my set, I might as well record the songs as remakes as well. Since I have to study the sheet music for them anyway, might as well make full use of it. I will include them on one of the CDs I've been working on. I'm going to begin recording them in a few minutes as well as doing some programming and mixing for another song from my album. 

As I've said before, my dad is a DJ. My mom also worked for an artist management company. My childhood memories are dominated by the time I spent in my dad's music room playing records and making tapes. As a child, I used to try my best not to scratch the records, now I scratch records purposely. Now that's what I call irony.

My dad also does a lot of charity work and is the chairman of a high school. He was awarded an Order of Distinction and he is a Justice of the Peace. When they gave him that award, he made jokes that he could have me arrested if he wanted to. Scratching one of your records is not a valid reason for having someone arrested daddy...oh you didn't know about that did you...never mind (I'm kidding). My family was recently given a very nice Centenarian award for their contributions to Jamaica. Personally, I think it just means we're old (kidding). 

I was thinking of my godmother today. She is a very nice lady. She gave me my first microphone and DAT machine a few years ago (thanks again). My godmother and her husband have been in the music industry for a very long time. Their label put out Bob Marley and The Wailer's first 3 records and several other landmark reggae albums. 

I sent my aunt in England a copy of my CD and she said I look glamorous on the cover (Aisha blushing). She's given me a lot of good advice over the years. She has influenced me as well. Her influence is most evident in my love of Britain. My aunt moved to England about 33 years ago and my uncle about 40 years ago. One of my cousins was born and raised in England, while the other was born in Switzerland and raised in England. Their accents are superb.

While I'm being all emotional, I want to say thank you to two of my friends in England. One sent me a CD and another sent me some Turkish Delights and a really nice card. I'd never tried a Turkish Delight before. They were really good, like gummy bears covered in chocolate and I really like chocolate...and gummy bears. I don't like real bears though...kidding...well no not really. I'm not really fond of animals that consider me a food group. Thanks again for the gifts.

July 13, 2002

Just writing a quick little note. Just cleaned up the house. It's really nice outside today. I'm gonna go out and relax for a bit with my mom. That's my friend, I enjoy spending time with her. She's very thoughtful and does a lot of nice things for me. I love her and my dad.

I spoke to my god brother on the phone yesterday and he made me laugh so much. He is such a little comedian. I wish him the best in everything.        

I did record most of the two remakes I wrote about a few days ago. They turned out really well, praise God. Still finishing up my album and the other 3 CDs I've been working on. I'm gonna have to start work on another 3 CDs soon. My album is about 75% complete. I recorded for it yesterday, mostly a few keyboard parts that I hadn't recorded yet and some extra vocals. I really love my CD. God really blessed me with it. God gave me a vision for my career and I know I was made to do this and in a way that's never been done before. 

I'm listening to some CDs I made at my dad's house from records in his collection and they sound great. I can listen to music for hours. Silence is rare in my house. I spent over 10 hours selecting the records and making them into CDs. Everyone at the house was like, wow you're still making CDs, but it's worth the time. I'm enjoying them so much.

July 20, 2002

I'm having a really good morning. For the past two days I've been recording in the morning and that's something new to me. I'm used to recording at night. I'm gonna start recording in a few minutes. 

It's been hot here. Well it usually is, yet in Miami, we say it anyway like it's a surprise. I saw a commercial for a British airline that said "tired of warm, sunny weather, come to London" with a picture of an umbrella and rain. I had to laugh...but it worked. I was ready to go to the airport. Of all the currency I've seen, we have the smallest bills. 

My mom is about 5'1. We tease her about her height. My god brother who is 12 is now taller than she is and she is still in denial about being short. She depends on me for help around the house. She's short so she can't reach certain things. So It's "put this on the shelf," "turn the ceiling fan on for me it's too hot," "turn off the AC it's too cold," "turn on the AC it's too hot" and "pick up the remote for me, I think when I dropped it, it went under the couch." I love her though and I don't mind. 

I had a dream about New York last night. I like visiting New York. Each time I visit I walk for miles looking at the architecture and filming the scenery. People have the stereotype that New Yorkers are not polite, but they've always been kind to me and very helpful when I ask questions about local places.

I take the subway as well. At first, to me the subway trains were different from the trains I'm used to in Miami, but I got used to it and have taken them quite a few times since. I like it. It gave me time to think and to write. 

Growing up, I spent a lot of time writing songs and scenes for scripts on Miami buses and trains. I would stare out the window and think about life and write. I've also written at Miami International Airport several times while waiting for flights. For some reason, I like writing there too. It's a very nice airport.

Well time to go record. God bless you and have a good day.

July 20, 2002

I spent most of yesterday planning the promo tour (about 7 hours). I really enjoyed it. Yes, a bit odd I know because most people dread planning and paperwork, but I enjoy it. The promo tour is very personalized in that it's routed in the order I prefer. There are so many aspects to the planning and arranging of a show that some singers take for granted. When you plan the show, it makes you appreciate everyone and their role. The show is interesting and will give me the opportunity to perform live with a band which is something singers should do. I'm warming up to the idea of being on stage, but I still prefer being in the audience or behind the scenes as opposed to being on stage.      

I called my dad yesterday morning. He commented on how chirpy I sounded for that time of the morning. Usually when he calls me in the morning, I'm usually sleepy from not having slept the night before. He said you didn't miss your sleep last night, you sound refreshed. I told him yes, I've been sleeping at night now and recording in the day. To which he said, "you've normalized then" and I laughed and said yes, but thought, when was I ever normal.       

I've been doing a lot more gardening in the last few days. I find it creative and relaxing. When I have a lot on my mind, which I usually do, it gives me time to concentrate on those things. 

July 30, 2002

The industry affects different people in different ways. Some people aren't  used to the criticism that the press and audiences sometimes give to singers. Some people can't take the criticism that comes with being a performer and sadly they let it affect them. Stuff like that doesn't affect me, but some people have a rough time dealing with criticism. I do not want to bring someone into this business and have it destroy them. 

Speaking of the pitfalls of the industry, there are three people who's dad's are preachers who have gone into the music industry and have gotten into trouble. I care about them a lot and I'm really sorry about what's happening to them. A couple of them are battling addictions that they developed when they went into the industry and another's marriage has been destroyed. I wish all of them well. 

I spent a few hours yesterday going over legal documents. I do this every few days. I also recorded vocals in the morning as well. Today I have to work on programming and more recording as well.

Still thinking about where to move. I have to think of what's best for the company and not so much what's best for me. I'm thinking about Los Angeles, Atlanta and a few other cities in South Florida.

July 31, 2002

I'm having a really good day. I've learned a lot today and it's only 4:18 pm. By God's grace on most days I do learn a lot. 

I'm gonna record in a while. There is one track on the album that I have procrastinated in finishing. I have prepared most of the backing track, I only have to edit a few elements, but I've barely done any of the vocals for that track yet. Vocally it's the most challenging track on the album...and that's probably why I've left it for last. Procrastination is not good. 

Discipline is excellent, but I prefer singing when I feel inspired. Still, sometimes I don't feel inspired to work on a particular song, preferring to work on another song that's been on my mind, but once I get started, I'm fine. 

Then there are the times when I feel so inspired that I do not want to stop working, even though I maybe tired at the time after hours of working. 

By God's grace my catalogue has grown tremendously over the years. I write songs everyday except for on the Sabbath when I don't work.