Clearing the Cache

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.