WHERE THE F#!% HAVE YOU BEEN?! (and WTF's next?!)

I've been getting this question a lot in one form or another for almost two years now. I realize with the exception of the occasional quip or socio-political opinion on FB to demonstrate I'm still on the planet, I've been pretty much, an absentee artist. So, right off the bat, I'm here to tell ya that the pendulum has swung back in the other direction and I have re-emerged. Or to quote George Castanza: "I'M BACK BABY!"
(don't you just love how much Seinfeld still contributes to the "Boomer" lexicon lol). Anyway, I've spent the summer in the "shed" (musicians help the lay people out)...fresh haircut...back to running again...had a lovely birthday and an equally lovely labor day weekend with friends and family down the shore...season's changing...guess I'm finally ready to respond.

NOTE: if you're not really interested in the "wherethefuckhaveyoubeen?" part, skip on down about 4 paragraphs to the "whatthefucksnext?" part (but if you're just a little bit curious...)

WTFHYB?
After the frequently intractable and budget draining (albeit, still exciting and gratifying) South African launch of Ownership, I returned home to Jersey, intent on taking about 6-8 months to re-charge and re-tool before starting the next album and taking another "crack at it" with the band in South Africa. During this time, I did a house concert tour and a string of solo performances (as all of you friends and die-hard fans can attest to - thanks for the support). But as that period came to a close, I found myself  faced with *circumstances* that required me to go on a "slight" career hiatus.

You see, while I was over eMzansi trying to pry doors open and battling the screeching, irrational nine-headed hydra that is the music/entertainment biz, my wife Pattie (Patricia professionally), motivated by a most admirable conviction to "do good and do well," had launched a new business in the healthcare field, providing in-home care for people in North Jersey . By the time I returned she was in full operation, but contending with her own industry "beasts" (to light-heartedly continue the metaphor). Quite simply, she needed my help. So, I put my career on hold and joined her.

Now as I was writing this, I was considering inserting a paragraph on how "dissonant" I felt during this period but I was afraid it would sound too much like a rant or lament and I never want anyone (especially you babe) thinking that I harbor any anger, resentment or regrets over this. I say "circumstances" to mean literally and without sarcasm, the unpredictable, uncontrollable variables that impact on our lives while (to quote John Lennon) "you're busy making other plans". For love and survival, you adjust accordingly.

Although here's a picture of me during that period:

 

Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity)

 

BWAAA HAA HAA!!! (c'mon, just havin' some fun...)

OK, 'nuff said about that. At the beginning of the summer, *circumstances* allowed for me to return to my element and I'm now looking up into the limitless sky. Phambili we say in Zulu - forward.

WTFN?
Right then, business at hand... . I spent the summer priming the pump; I've now thrown the switch and am happy to report that all tubes, wires, tines, synapses, callouses, reflexes and laryngial muscles are firing up quite nicely thank you very much. So here's what's what: 

• NEW MATERIAL: I'm writing again and am very excited about what's flowing out (plus I still have a whole trove of material from the post-Ownership period waiting to be realized). That said, you can expect several preview and single releases in the upcoming season and a new album out of me in 2014, followed up by both solo and full band performances with an eye on a support tour. It's all still "in the chute" as of yet but preparations are underway.

• LIVE: 
  
  I am resuming my live solo show. I'm currently rehearsing it and will start booking for NY/NJ in October (including Asbury Park, 'cause YOU GUYS have been heart-warmingly tenacious in trying to get me down there in spite of my silence lol!). It will be the same format as before but I'll be previewing some new songs, reworking material from Ownership (as well as keeping some of the previous faves), tossing in some fresh stories/anecdotes and a few surprises for good measure (could be a song; could be a guest performer!). I have some new "handlers" in my camp now, who want me to expand the venue targets for this show beyond house concerts and performing arts centers to include clubs and colleges as well.

• MORE LIVE:
  
  My long time South African sister - singer/actress/choreographer Thuli Dumakude - and I have reunited to start working together again. We are also in rehearsals right now and will be doing shows both as a duo and in full band formats in NY and along the US East Coast. We're also exploring touring and theatrical possibilities here and in SA; and we are discussing the long overdue follow up album to Senzeni Na?. Again, we'll keep you posted, but look for performance announcements from the mailing list (see below) and on our repsective FB pages.

• STUDIO: I've re-opened Ikhaya Studios (v2 if you like) and am about to announce a significant upgrade - one that will not only be a game-changer for what comes out of the studio sonically, but should be of particular interest to producers, mixers, songwriters and drummers looking to get back to that currently in-demand vintage sound (hint) without killing your budget. 

• ARTS-IN-ED: Attention teachers, principles and coordinators, I'm also once again offering my arts-in-ed programs through Transhumance Music and Arts Impact and am currently booking school assemblies K-12 for 2014. Booking inquiries can be made at  info@emaworldrock.com

• HOUSEKEEPING: My crew will be freshening up the website and reinstating the "World Rock Shout Out" Mailing List,  so those of you who are subscribers will once again start getting regular (but not too) updates to keep you posted on live shows, new releases, special events, etc. (if you're not on it yet and would like to be, click  here and sign up!. 

Lastly, I'd like you all to please note that in spite of the cornucopia of metaphors I've used in writing this, I made it through this entire piece without a single clichéd "rebirth" reference like "phoenix," "Lazarus," "lotus flower," "ocean waves returning," (gag, ach, ahuck...), *BUT* I have inserted several references that will be found in upcoming new songs so hang on to this if you want to do a lyrical scavenger hunt down the road!

OK we're all caught up now. To be continued...

Oh and:

"a million years of peacetime."

Ema