March 23, 2006 11:16pm aboard a flight to Los Angeles from Taipei
It’s been quite some time since I’ve written a journal and I know it’s long overdue. Not just for the website but also for myself as I haven’t put my thoughts and feelings in writing for a while. I know many of you have written in wondering where I’ve been and why I been amiss. One of the obvious reasons for my absence is because I’ve been busy with work and life but, also, because I simply haven’t had the motivation to write these past few months. I guess it’s seclusion in some form.
We’re already almost four months into the New Year and time has certainly flown by. I still can remember the Taipei concert earlier in January, which was simply a blast and probably one of the best concerts I’ve ever played since I started in this business. The Taipei show was such an enjoyable and marvelous experience for me (and probably for many others in the production and band) mainly because everything just felt right. No show or performance is ever perfect in a technical sense but sometimes the chemistry and vibe on stage and in the arena just feels good which makes for a great show. The audience in Taipei, I must say, is probably one of the best I’ve seen so far as they are both generous and powerful in the expression of their emotions and love. That energy coming from the audience is the most important element in making a show successful and meaningful. And, during those two nights in Taipei, the band and myself certainly felt “connected” with the wonderful audience. Thanks, Taipei, you Rock!
The “Love Can” tour has been ongoing and our next stop is HK, as many of you know. I’m excited about that show as I haven’t been there for almost two and a half years and can’t wait to see all my friends and supporters there. Amidst the concerts and performances, I’m also gearing up for a new album, which I’m deep in the throes of production of. It’s going to be a gentler, warmer album but that doesn’t mean the songs and messages within are free from struggles or emotions. On the contrary, I think these past few months have been very emotional and challenging for me as both work and personal life have presented many changes and obstacles. Like previous albums, this one will reflect on my life as a diary does for some. I’m excited about this album as it moves in a different direction and also allows me to write and express myself in a different way. I know some have thought my previous two albums were darker, heavier and message laden, however, when you look at the scope of somebody’s work everything balances out with one making up for another.
The next few months will be extremely hectic and challenging for me as I will be on tour as well as working on the album simultaneously. I’m trying to get the album completed in time for this summer so I only have a few more months. Where am I in the production process? Well, you can say that I’m still finishing up songwriting but at the same time the other parts of the production have already begun. I’ve never had to produce an album during a concert tour while attending events and shooting commercials so this is certainly a challenge. However, it is a welcome challenge as I feel the momentum building and I can’t wait for you to hear the new album once it’s completed. You may have already heard a couple songs here and there for commercials I’ve written, however, the bulk of the album is yet to come. This album will be something different from the previous.
I will stop here as I’ve more songs to write and work to do but I promise I will not disappear for long. As for lacking the motivation to write journals, sometimes I simply have this need to “runaway” and just be alone and not have to face the world. I’m sure you all have those moments as well every now and then. I simply want to just live a simple life and absorb the little details without having to share or divulge them.
I hope you are all well and have had a productive and meaningful first quarter of the year. I shall see some of you soon, I’m sure, at the HK show and for those of you who I won’t see in a while I hope to ”connect” with you in the summer with the new album. I’m also planning a US/Canada tour towards the end of 2006 so for those of you in those regions, stay tuned!
