"You Can't Always Get What You Want." (sung to myself)

Before we go "full on announcement" about the band, I want to get a bit personal on this one.

Sometimes in the pursuit of our goals we find ourselves in the difficult position of having to make decisions that disappoint, hurt and/or anger people who have supported us. Well, it's one of those days for me and I'm feeling a bit badly about it.

When it was time to start putting the band together I was faced with a big dilemma. I recorded "Ownership" with musos from both the US and SA side - all of whom I really wanted in the band. But it was just not logistically feasible to bring multiple players from either side to the other. So I had to decide: do I launch a band from Jo'burg or NY. Well Jo'burg became the obvious choice due to both the PR attention we've received, and the fact that more of the musos from the album were more centrally located there.

But making this economic/logistical decision meant that I had to disappoint a few people, particularly someone who had supported me from the very start of this project on the US side and I might add, was fully expecting to be a part of the band.

I had to tell my friend and brother Nery Arevalo, who supplied "Ownership" with some just deeply soulful percussion, as well as musical, spiritual and moral support, that I could not take him with me to SA. And though it's an economic issue and not a personal or musical one, that doesn't make it any less painful, for either of us.

Nery, you are a stellar musician, an indominable spirit and a dear friend...and I love you. I know you understand and I promise you here, publicly, that I will find a way to make it up to you.

Your brother in music always,
Ema

Very soon...

Well, we're almost there - I'm back in Jersey trying to sort everything out - trying to finalize details with all of the musos so I can make the BIG ANNOUNCEMENT i.e., band lineup. Also we're now implementing the next wave of PR strategies and organizing all of the logistics for rehearsals, PR events and performances (any tour managers out there???)... Whew. But it's getting close now kids, so stay tuned.

I'll be heading back to Jo'burg for the final push so we'll reveal what's behind the curtain before then!

And if you haven't received the emails or FB notices, we've started a FB group page - a little more update friendly - so please all you Facebookers, go join up!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103240869165

Uxolo
Ema

Retraction

Sorry the "Chillers" info was incorrect...didn't broadcast today. I'll keep you posted.

But the interview on Radio 2000 with Angela Ludek was very nice. Thank you Angela, you're a thorough and a thoughtful interviewer. We video taped it as well so we'll post it here as soon as I can get back to Jersey to do a little editing.

We've accomplished a lot in Jo'burg this time. I'll give you all a debriefing after I get back next Tues. and decompress!

Cheers
Ema

Talkin' it up in Joburg.

For those of you on the Mother Continent with DSTV, tune in to Africa Magic + (channel 115) on Sat. the 18th for "Chillers" with Nadine Richardson at 9:40 (20 min version) and 18:40 (50 min version). Nadine interviews me for a full 50 mins. with clips of "Jozi" the video and songs from "Ownership" interspersed between the dialogue.

Also if you're up early (!) listen to the live stream of me being interviewed by Angela Ludek on Radio 2000 Sat morning July 18th at 8:15AM (Joburg time - that's 2:15AM EST for all you insomniac yanks!).

http://www.radio2000.co.za/streaming.html


And of course, Happy Birthday Madiba!