Updated: Feb 14, 2020
I have a ritual at the beginning of every New Year, in which I recap and review all that has happened in my life over the past 12 months, and define and visualize my goals for the coming year. It is a way for me to mentally and emotionally clear out the old stuff and make way for new things, to get a clear picture of where I have been, and where I (think) I want to go. Instead of making a list of resolutions, I prefer focusing on things I would like to accomplish. It gives me a "map" with which to move forward into the future, but it is always open to revision!
This year, the process started a bit earlier than usual. It has been several months since Manvantara was released, and I have been taking a break from music for a while. Writing and recording the album was an intense process, and I really needed to take some time and give myself space and permission to “disconnect” from it, get it out of my system, so to speak, and turn my attention towards other things for a few months (including starting a local drum circle and taking up some new hobbies, etc.)
The weather in Michigan has been unseasonably warm so far this winter, but it is starting to chill down a bit more, and I am currently getting into a deep state of hibernation. A good time to do some inner reflection. As the New Year begins, I am still working on the motivation to start writing some new material again. I have to admit, there are times when I wonder if I should continue, if I have it in me to keep doing this. Why do I keep writing music, when it seems like no one is paying attention? But then the other day I came across a beautiful review of my work on psynews.org, and it was like getting a little push forward. A little encouragement to keep going, when the time is ripe. I thought I would share it here. Thank-you, Tsotsi, for your kind words!
“Blisswave Is Michele Leonard, a multi-instrumentalist who has a (k)nack for producing glorious sounds and soothing landscapes.
Manvantara starts off with some super ethereal energy that for a short moment turns ominous before light synths come in to let us know that is all ok and that's the first minute and a half. So many feelings. The broken beat kicks us off into a track that will travel us through all the feelings of the rest of the album in one go.
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Into the Abyss - Call of The Ancient Ones takes us through our paces of emotions just like the first track, only it has more time to delve into the ether of lightly clouded strange planets that we slowly wade through in a sense of complete dreamlike relaxation. A beautifully made piece that quite literally fills you with peace. That or an impending anxiety of the unknown. For me it was pure bliss.
Dance of Shiva - Comes in hot with eastern melodies and a beat designed to pull you ever so smoothly from the tranquil state the last track just put you in. So enjoyable that the sonic soundscapes rush by you and the track is over before you know it.
Portal to Shambala - Comes in off the back of Dance to Shiva seamlessly. A continuation of beats and rhythms that are 2 parts beautiful and 1 part shambalic vibrations.
Interstellar - angelic and soft this track is everything it says it is. A trip into the warm and self-assuring parts of the atmos, where Oxytocin flows from your synapses with ease.
Continuous Album Mix - What you are going to push play on if you have 3/4 of an hour up your sleeve and a whole lot of chillin' on the calendar.
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Blisswave has created a floating, dreamy & at times groovy extraordinaire. The first song really gives you a glimpse of what is to come so check it out to see if it's your cup of Chai Matcha. At the very least this is dream inducing morning symphony, at the most it's a deep, thoughtful & carefully curated group of tracks that are both fun and relaxing."