I'm back -- here's the scoop.

Hey everybody --

I'm back.

Now, I know that I said I'd update the blog at least sometime during my trip, and I really wanted to - and meant to.

It turns out that between the huge time change (9 hours), lots of lost sleep, unbelievably intense days, and the need to decompress at night and think about anything BUT what was going on during those days... well, I just didn't get the energy up to write.  I really apologize.  I'd been hoping to keep you at least a little up to date.

SO -- like I said, I'm back in L.A.  And I guess MIDEM is over, but in a way it's just started.  Because the people I met, the ideas that were hatched, the relationships begun, and the seeds planted, all of them are requiring lots and lots of followup.  Which has already started to happen today.

But first, a quick rundown of the experience:

The flight and drive to Cannes were very graceful, everything ran on time, no bags lost (I heard some stories, so I'm grateful).  I spent a good part of the flight listening to the CDs of those other artists I'd brought with me -- I needed to be super-familiar with the best tracks on each CD, in order to have the right song at the right moment to play for someone.  My hotel was cute and tiny, just about a 10 minute walk from the Palais (the same place where they have the film festival).  Big signs "WELCOME TO MIDEM" greeted me as I approached the building (last Saturday) for the first time.  I registered the day before, then spent the afternoon walking around Cannes.  Very pretty town -- like any town, it has its lovely buildings, its views, its shopping, its traffic, its trash, etc.  Whoever decided to market Cannes as a luxury mecca did an incredible job, no doubt; there are ultra-high-end shops everywhere along the coast, and some of the most beautiful hotels I've ever seen.  Not huge, particularly, like Bellagio or something; just gorgeous.  The coast has beaches and very expensive restaurants -- mostly quiet, since it was 'dead of winter' (around 40-50 degrees most of the time I was there).  The biggest crowds were in fact there for MIDEM.  The entire town apparently expects, prepares and responds eagerly to the influx of visitors that a trade show like MIDEM represents, and there are evidently many such shows throughout the year.  In fact, I noticed that during the days of MIDEM, the town had these beautiful decorative (almost Christmas-y) lights overhead throughout downtown -- really beautiful -- and the evening AFTER MIDEM ended (I'd decided to linger one extra day) the lights were not on anymore.  Clever.  

Anyway, Saturday night was honestly one of the craziest nights of sleep of my life.  Make that NO sleep.  My mind was racing with excitement and questions.  I did not know what I was in for; whether I was properly prepared; whether I had the material I needed, or for that matter material that anyone would want; how I was going to transport my bag and binder and a few CDs, etc., around the floor; what my appointments were going to feel like; what I was going to do between appointments... you get the idea.  And, add that to the jetlag that I'd thought I'd defeated with melatonin and strategy, and I did not sleep.  AT ALL.  :-)  Literally, around 5:30 AM I gave up lying in bed, and started puttering around my little hotel room getting ready.  I'd have to say that a daily highlight was breakfast... not pancakes, mind you, but BREAD.  Oh Lord, the bread was CRAZY good.  I basically turned into a big fluffy baguette during my week there (and not in a good way).  Bread with butter, croissants, fresh jelly, tea and honey... good stuff.

My first meeting came upon me early:  10:00 AM on the first day (Sunday).  I met with a very nice guy from Australia, Mike, who works at one of the (if not THE) largest distributors of spiritual/new age/inspirational material in Australia.  He had traveled something like 30 hours to get there, and it was my first morning of my first MIDEM... but it went beautifully.  I introduced myself, the work I've been doing, the success I've had, and talked about the Parliament of World Religions in Melbourne this December.  He listened to "Last Song" and "One Power", and within 20 minutes expressed interest in releasing a Daniel Nahmod CD in Australia in coordination with a tour!  I walked away, I have to say, feeling absolutely thrilled.  It was my first attempt at 'pitching' what I do for the world, and it had been received just as I'd hoped.  In fact, we'll be shipping some music samples to him this week, and continuing the discussion afterwards.  Stay tuned.

After that meeting, I started 'walking the floor'.  It was a crowded, noisy, hectic environment, filled with individual companies (labels, publishers, various marketing companies, etc.), plus "Country Pavilions".  So, for example, the U.K. rented a very large space on the floor and set up a lovely area -- front desks, meeting tables, mail slots, etc., all color coordinated and beautifully designed -- where the entire (or almost the entire) U.K. contingency was represented.  And there were pavilions for dozens of countries, some with a few companies, some with dozens (like the U.K.).

One of my many perfect-person-at-the-perfect-time experiences was at lunch that first day.  It quickly dawned on me that I had too few meetings scheduled.  Simply put, MIDEM is a MARKET -- where you sit with someone, and you say "this is what I sell/buy, what do you sell/buy" and you do business.  But the meetings are paramount... most people were scheduled wall-to-wall from first day to last with meetings.  That was a frustrating thing to realize; I certainly had been registered early enough to schedule myself that solidly, but I just didn't understand the paradigm of MIDEM until my friend Steve described it, and by that time it was too late to book up.  So sitting at lunch that first day, I found myself talking to someone from Disney in Europe.  He asked about me, and when he heard my new realization, he gave me some pivotal advice:  go to the country pavilions, and tell the host/ess what you're there to do.  They'll guide you to companies that are suitable, or share their directory of companies represented so you can find those companies yourself.  

And so I left lunch (I owe that lovely man some kind of gift; I wrote him a thank-you email yesterday) with a renewed sense of "what's next". In the next three days I approached essentially every single pavilion, read their directories carefully, dropped off dozens of CDs and bio-"1 sheets" about myself and/or whatever artist I was pitching, and made a few additional meetings happen that had, of course, not been scheduled in advance.

One of those meetings was particularly exciting:  I introduced myself to Philip, a representative of one of the most prominent and successful new age/spiritual labels in Europe.  He was hesitant to get into a prolonged discussion at first, since we had no appointment and he had no I idea who I was -- but the conversation went wonderfully, and after listening to my story and to my "reel" of samples from Water, he too expressed interest in releasing a Daniel Nahmod CD in Europe, along with setting up some performances.  Very exciting!  We're communicating already, as well, to take the next step.

Everything that happened -- and there was much more, though those were two of the highlights -- was speculative, of course.  Just the beginnings of a conversation.  Some people I met have been attending MIDEM for 20 years or more (they also noted, consistently, that attendance was WAY down for MIDEM this year -- economy?  Music industry woes?  Who knows.  I didn't mind, of course!  The perfect people were there, and the perfect people were NOT there.)  So these are relationships that began in France, not start-to-finish business deals.  I love doing business with people I sincerely like.  Generally, in fact, I stop doing business with people who don't...well, FEEL a certain way.  Kindness is my currency.  So I'd have to say that the people I met and talked with, the people who felt like 'paths of least resistance' on my first visit to MIDEM, all were people who I liked.  And I'll continue to use that gut-feeling as a guide.

Other brief bits:  I did in fact pitch those other artists that I brought, and may have drummed up some amazing opportunities for some of them!  I was particularly excited about the effect one artist had on another record label in Europe... so much so that I couldn't help but wonder, "Did I just get her a European record deal?"  My jazz CD went over really well with a couple of companies, also.  And I became clear that I can be a real resource for positive/inspirational/global/spiritual music for companies around the world -- I have the friends, the business relationships here in the U.S., the understanding of various relevant organizations, and so I made myself available to several companies for whom my services might be very helpful.  That was exciting too -- pitching myself as a one-stop-shop for great & unknown indie inspirational/'humanity' music for compilations and labels around the world.  Cool!  "Humanity Music" truly was born on this trip, and it's going to be exciting to see what kind of deals I can make, whose careers I can boost, what companies I partner with, what countries & continents I'll find myself (or other artists) on behalf of Humanity Music... SO exciting.  I have a sense of purpose and clarity and entrepeneurial mojo about the whole thing that I may have imagined before, but never fully owned.  And now it's IN me, and I'm thrilled.

My assistant Michael is hard at work right now coordinating follow-ups to the dozens of people who were introduced to all this music... I'm even adding some artists to the list of 'represented' after-the-fact, now that I've caught a glimpse of how the world music market works and what it's looking for.

It wrapped up on Wednesday, and in retrospect, I could've flown home Wednesday night.  Most companies and people had left after the third day; Wednesday was very quiet.  Now, of course, quiet isn't necessarily bad -- I mean, I had a lot of one-on-one conversations that day that I couldn't have had on a busier day.  But I was DONE on Wednesday afternoon.  My senses were overloaded, my body and mind were tired (even as my spirit and imagination were BUZZING), and I missed my home.  But I'd booked my non-changeable flight for Friday, so I spent Thursday walking the streets (and eating bread - and chocolate crepes), and went to the airport Friday for the long (and as it turned out, uncomfortable) flight home on Air France.

And so here I am.  A new idea has been born, and it's good.  And I'll take it wherever it goes, and I'll call and email those who I met, and I'll find what I'm meant to find, and grow what's meant to grow, and surrender it all.

Thank you for coming with me on my exciting little journey.  I'll blog again when there's news... this story isn't over.

Lots of love.  I'm so grateful that I had your support and interest.  It made the whole thing that much easier to know that I had a 'team' of smiles and well-wishes at my back, moving me forward.

Daniel

PS  I returned from France to find a card and a check from a family in Arizona.  The card read "Daniel, may your music and your passion inspire the world as it has inspired us."  And the check was for the entire cost of my flight to France.  I have no words.

Three Days Away -- Here Goes Nothing!

I'm three days away from arriving in Cannes.  Very exciting!  I had an important meeting last week, with a friend-of-a-friend named Steve who not only has heard me perform, but actually is an exhibitor at MIDEM.  He spent an hour and a half with me, walking me through the details of what I should look for, how I should prepare, etc.  He was incredibly helpful and generous -- he's been attending MIDEM for 10 years or so, and gave me some powerful advice.  For example, he told me NOT to walk the (huge) exhibition floor with a stack of CDs; just bring a 3-ring binder with CDs and cover art, "one-sheets" (a photo of me, bio information, contact info, etc.), and an IPOD!  Let them LISTEN to the music... if they're interested, I can always get them a physical CD the next day, or by mail.  Brilliant -- with one recommendation, Steve saved my back from a lot of lugging CDs around.  He told me that with the advent of all-digital music, no-one really needs to truck physical CDs around with them anymore -- Amen to that.

And at the same time, I hit on another exciting idea that I've been pursuing for just the last week or so.

It occurred to me:  I'm going to France for what could be a powerful opportunity... why am I only bringing MYSELF?  So I sent out word to a small number of artists.  I couldn't invite everyone I know who makes great music, of course, since that would be a huge list, so I followed my instinct and picked just a few artists.  I emailed some folks whose songs are great, whose CDs are great, who are out working hard to build their careers, and whose styles are different from mine, but perhaps complementary in some way, perhaps artists with some pop/inspirational crossover potential too -- and I asked, basically, "Can I bring your music to MIDEM with me, and represent it to the world's music industry?"  And a majority of those artists wrote back to me saying Yes.

So not only am I bringing my OWN music with me to MIDEM, but I'm also bringing the CDs of a variety of other artists, all of whom have a positive or inspirational slant to their work.  They have a wide range of styles, and some compelling stories (an Emmy, a Grammy nomination, hit songs, devoted followings, etc.), and I'm excited to see how I might be able to jumpstart their own international careers by introducing their music to record label executives, music publishers, distributors, and booking agents from around the world.  And if it goes well, I can expand my 'roster' and invite even more of my talented friends to come on board.  It's a cool idea, I think -- a real win/win/win for ourselves and the world.  Who knows?  Where my little label has to date only worked with my own CDs, I may have (in just the last week!) birthed an international positive label called Humanity Music.  Great possibilities there.

In addition to that, I've also put out requests for meetings with record labels and booking agents around the world.  To be honest, I didn't really know how (or even IF) to approach companies in advance, but once I did, I was able to set up 8 meetings with interested companies.  So I'll be walking the floor, introducing myself to people, hopefully hanging out with my new friend Steve a little (he's actually on the same flight as me to France), and meeting with people from such countries as Singapore, England, Australia and Japan. 

So my trip has really taken shape in the last couple of weeks.  I'm excited, I've got a few nice shirts to wear :-) and I'm ready for -- open to -- whatever is to happen.

Thanks for reading.  I'll plan on posting a blog more than once during the trip (Thursday through next Friday, by the way) -- and for sure, I'll write afterwards.

Peace out!  Think good thoughts... bon chance (or however you write that :-)

Daniel

Daniel is gratefully accepting sponsorship of his trip to MIDEM 2009 in Cannes, France.  If you'd like to support his trip, click here to send a tithe online, or mail a check to Daniel Nahmod, PO Box 1130, Santa Monica, CA 90406.  Either way, be sure to note that your gift is for "Trip to France" so Daniel can thank you personally.

Know someone who knows someone...

Hi everybody -- thanks again for tuning in :-)

I've had some cool developments about my trip to MIDEM.  

I spoke with a radio promoter (who loved the Jessica Alba song, by the way!), and he told me to prepare for one of the most amazing weeks I'll ever have.  

Another very nice guy named Steve actually has a booth at the conference, and is a real fan of my music.  It's funny - we'd met a year ago, and he heard me perform, and gave me his card, but I didn't realize that he was also my friend Doug's brother in law!  He works in the music industry, and is not only knowledgeable but also knows a lot of people (and does a lot of business with those people).  I'm especially excited because he works with record labels around the world on a regular basis, and believes strongly that my inspirational music and message will resonate in countries all over.  He and I are meeting the first week of January, and he's already suggested that when we're in France, he'll introduce me to some of his worldwide label contacts.  I'm staying focused on my purpose here:  to spread the music and message around the world.  To take the One Power consciousness, the So The World May Hear and Unite (a song of the month) and God's Name idea... to take the message of those songs, and the message of my true calling, and to find a worldwide audience for it.  To exponentially increase the positive impact I can have on humanity, and the options I have in my own musical life.  (He also really liked the new Waiting For Betsy CD, actually -- I'll see what he says in January.)

Actually, I can show you a bit of the info about me that's been introduced to the worldwide MIDEM community.  They have a web-based network of everyone attending, and this is what's been posted about me:

Humanity Music presents Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter Daniel Nahmod.  Daniel has built an extraordinary independent career -- 65,000 CDs sold, 12 releases, performances for over 1,000,000 in 45 U.S. states and Canada, 40+ mechanical licenses issued -- on the strength of an unusual and powerful musical vision.  Daniel's music is for humanity.  His anthems of peace, compassion and connection across all nations, faiths and cultures -- in the tradition of "Imagine" and "You Raise Me Up" -- have ignited a passionate, heartfelt following.  His song "One Power" (35,000 sold to date) moves audiences to tears.  In a moment of global anxiety, economic hardship, and renewed hope in U.S. leadership, Daniel Nahmod's music and message are timed perfectly to have a profound impact around the world.  He is available at MIDEM to meet with labels, publishers, distributors & artists who share his passion and vision for brilliant music, significant sales, and positive impact on humanity.

Pretty cool, huh?  They can also listen to "One Power" and "Last Song" on the same page.

It's about time now that we prepare some 'one-sheets' (photo, contact info, bio, etc.) and CD samplers to hand out when I get there... I'm mindful that a woman who attends every year told me recently, "Don't go there and just 'hit up everybody you meet'... no-one wants to meet that guy.  Don't be that guy.  Just go, stay open, and see what happens.  You're going to learn a TON and have a blast."  Good to keep in mind.  

Again, I have no idea what will come of all this.  But I do know that I'm on the right path.  We'll see what happens.  Thanks for crossing your fingers with me :-)

I'll keep you posted...

Daniel

PS  We're in the final stages of promoting my Water Retreat 2009.  If you're interested, click here to read more.  It's really going to be amazing, and I'd love to see you there.

If you'd like to sponsor Daniel's trip to Cannes in January, and support him as he introduces the consciousness of "One Power" to the world music industry, click here.  Be sure to note on your online gift 'order' that it's for Daniel's trip to France, so he can personally thank you!

The trip is inching closer...

Hi friends -- thanks for joining me.  Well, I've been on the road like a madman this month, but definitely making progress towards my international adventure.  For one thing, "Waiting For Betsy", my new pop-rock record, has finally arrived!  I got a batch of CDs fedexed to me in Maryland, where I sang this past weekend in Baltimore and Philadelphia... honestly, it went over great.  I did something in concerts that I didn't plan on doing:  I sang parts of some of the pop songs, just me and a guitar or piano... then I had somebody press play on the corresponding song on the new CD, to invite people into the creative / production process.  I wasn't 100% sure audiences would be interested, but all the CDs I had were sold out by the end of my second concert, so that was a good sign :-)

So many other things about the trip:

1, I've received a reply to my submission to sing at the MIDEM Conference:  the answer is No. Oh well.  I was pleased with my submission, and though I thought it was a long shot for me to sing One Power for that audience (given how pop-oriented the world's commercial music is), I'm proud of myself for trying.  "Here Goes Everything" indeed.  It'll be interesting to visit the showcase stage, to see whether a performance there would have actually been right to do.  Evidently not :-)

2, I've spoken now with three people in the music business who have attended MIDEM in the past.  VERY informative.  What's exciting, actually, is that - while there's no doubt that the music industry is shrinking, and that the world's economy is struggling - neither 'expert' has really thrown cold water on my plan at all.  They've told me simply to go, be prepared with the right materials (CD, bio, photo, etc.), stay open to meeting as many people as possible, dress warm (!), and keep realistic expectations.  Actually, one of the people I talked to, a wonderful man named Eli, told me that there is a whole subset of MIDEM attendees looking for exactly what I'm representing:  a relatively unknown artist (and American apparently doesn't hurt, either) with a finished CD who's interested in spreading the music around Europe or Asia through radio, press, shows, etc.  So I'm encouraged, despite the 'negative' overall economic and industry picture.  It's gonna be exciting.  And Lord knows I believe in miracles -- I've experienced a million of them (no burning bushes, though).

3, I've gotten more and more eager to introduce my inspirational 'music for humanity' to the world music industry.  I just have this feeling about it -- I have for years, truthfully.  The fact that I'm going to introduce the concept to people who could make the music available in Australia, Japan, Europe, South America... it's a big deal.  Maximum impact, a more peaceful world, a more connected humanity.  Think good thoughts.  It doesn't matter that I'm not performing (though I'm still open to some opportunity opening up); I really believe that the time is right for the music and the message, that the world is hungry for it, that the 'market' exists.  Maybe it's my job to prove it.

4, I've put out feelers, just this week, to talk with a couple of PR people, and a couple of radio promoters, about getting "Waiting For Betsy" out into the American music scene - not only print media, but also probably the college arena, or smaller-market pop stations.  It's exciting to think about.  I don't know where it leads, but I do know that getting "Jessica Alba" onto the radio around the U.S. and Canada (#24 national Indie Pop!) felt like a major achievement and an important next step.  As I go to MIDEM, I'm told that the more "buzz," momentum and industriousness I can demonstrate, the better my pitch will be... so I'm hoping and planning for some good reviews in newspapers, magazines and music websites, and (maybe, just maybe) some radio airplay for a second single from Waiting For Betsy!  (If you've ordered the CD, it'll go out this week; and if you feel like it, I'd love to know which song(s) you think might make the best radio single.) (And if you want to order it, click here.)

Anyway, as you can tell, I'm excited.  November has been, well, OVERbooked:  Kansas City, Portland, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Orlando, Jacksonville, Laguna Beach, and Albuquerque.  The great news is, lots of people are interested in my Water Retreat (registrations have been coming in quickly, and I LOVE that because I know what an amazing time they'll have in February); lots of wonderful comments and appreciations for my music, which I always appreciate, AND of course, CD sales and gifts to support this trip in January.  I'm very, very glad, I will admit, that in December I've planned NOT ONE TRIP.  That'll give me time to gather my thoughts, prepare the materials, rest my body and voice, spend time with girlfriend & friends & family, have some more informational conversations with people... and just clear the space for something amazing to happen.

Thanks for taking this ride with me.  I love that you've joined me.  

Until next time,

Daniel

If you'd like to sponsor Daniel's trip to Cannes in January, and support him as he introduces the consciousness of "One Power" to the world music industry, click here.  Be sure to note on your online gift 'order' that it's for Daniel's trip to France, so he can personally thank you!

Will I actually PERFORM at the conference?

Have you subscribed yet?  Just click on "Join" or "Follow" on the top-left of your screen... that way you'll know when I've added anything to this little journal!  :-)

Well, yesterday we submitted my application to actually perform in France.  It was a complex process, actually -- we uploaded multiple songs, lyrics, photos, and a 'bio' in order to create what's called an "electronic press kit," or EPK.

If you want to see what the folks at MIDEM will see, by the way, click here.

As with every other aspect of this trip, I have no idea how this will play out.  At a conference like this, the emphasis is frequently on "pop" music -- and my EPK is definitely outside the mainstream.  I mean, words like "vision" and "message" and "moved to tears" aren't your typical pitches for a musical act.  It's actually been an ongoing puzzle in my career:  audiences understand, listeners to the CDs understand, but when I try to describe it, it's hard.  There's no "niche" in the music business for it, there's no radio station that plays it, there's no category in the Grammy's for it.  So what I'm hoping for is:  someone reads my EPK and thinks -- "Hmmm.  Interesting.  Music for humanity?  We've got 25 rock bands booked; I wonder if this might be a great change of pace for our showcase stage."

Some things I know (and will be reminding myself many times in the next 2 1/2 months :-)

1. What's meant to be will happen.  

2. I didn't have this idea for nought; I didn't pick this year to go for no reason.  I am guided to go, so I go.

3. It will be an amazing trip, and whomever I meet will be perfect.  Whatever happens will be perfect.  And whatever doesn't happen will be perfect.  It's an adventure.

4. It's also a marathon, not a sprint; maybe it'll take three years at MIDEM before something happens.  Or maybe it'll take 5 minutes.

5.  If I do perform this coming January, it'll attract attention :-)

We'll see... I think I'll hear from them within just a couple of weeks if I'm selected to sing.

Thanks for reading -

Daniel

PS  Interestingly, they actually CHARGE -- a LOT -- to perform!  I mean, it would add thousands of additional dollars to the cost of the trip, just to sing a 40-minute set.  Weird, right?  Doesn't feel great, but oh well.  Yet another investment in a 10-years-and-counting career of investments and 'chances' taken.  (Is there really such a thing as "risk?" Perhaps no --the line in "I Don't Need To Know" comes to mind, "as if I could damage my soul" -- but it sure feels like it sometimes, doesn't it.)  It's all for fun, and it's all exciting, and it always turns out aright.  I am always taken care of.  Or, as "Here Goes Nothing" says, "I'm OK, I've always been, and I'll always be that way."  You too.

If you'd like to sponsor Daniel on his journey to MIDEM in January 2009, click here to send your gift of any amount.  Thank you!

First Time Blogging... the beginning of my French adventure :-)

Hi everybody -- thanks for joining me on my new blog.  

Before I begin, I want to encourage to you to actually SUBSCRIBE -- that way, you can follow my updates as they happen.  Just click on "Join" or "Follow" at the top-left of your screen.  

Anyway...

I've started this blog because I'm off on a great adventure, and I wanted to include anyone who wants to join me!  Well, not technically JOIN me on the plane (though I guess you could), but join me in spirit.  The reason I'm going to France is to attend the world's largest music industry conference, called MIDEM, which happens in Cannes starting January 18 2009.

Now why is this such a big deal?  It's not because it's costing me a small fortune (though it is).  And it's not because I've never been to France before (actually, I have -- a long time ago, but that's another story).  

It's because of what my mission is.  And because of what this trip means for me, on multiple levels.

I've wanted to attend MIDEM for maybe 7 years now... I've just never had the nerve / cash / available time / fill-in-the-blank-with-your-favorite-excuse :-)  But this year has been a year of major shifts for me.  I've been singing my inspirational music around the United States -- traveling a lot (seriously, a lot) (did I mention, a LOT?) -- and at the same time I've moved my life down to Orange County CA, from West Hollywood and Santa Monica where I've lived a combined 10 years.  AND, I've also been recording a pop-rock CD called Waiting For Betsy, which has caused me to stretch in every way - financially, professionally, vocally, stylistically, songwriterally, performanceally & producerally (not real words, but you know what I mean).  It's been INTENSE.  And I'm coming out the other end of the project now, the CD is being mastered and it'll be manufactured in just a few weeks.  

I love pop music, and I'm loving my new CD.  I've already sold some (preorder here), which is cool, and the initial response from the music industry has been extremely positive.  So that's exciting.  I'm thrilled about it, actually.  It's already been on the radio.  It's got a good shot of ending up on TV and film.  I'm hiring a publicist next month to drum up some press... these are fun plans.  

And yet, there's another part of me, as an artist and a human being, that's had my eye on something bigger.  It's the part of me that sings "One Power," that took 3 months off in Utah, that volunteers in hospitals and prisons, that wrote "Last Song."  That part of me.  It isn't quite fed by the smartass, in-your-face, loud pop music.  It's fed by singing for humanity.  Being of service.  Doing good work, straight from my heart, straight to someone else's heart.

So what does all this have to do with MIDEM?  Well, my initial thought was to finish my pop CD, grab a bunch of copies, hop a plane, and walk around all over the conference handing them out, telling people about this Santa Monica-based pop-rock thing, and see if anyone around the world (radio stations, distributors, record labels, etc.) is interested in it.

But then I got to thinking:  What do I really stand for?  Who am I?  What kind of music do I make, what kind of music do my supporters appreciate the most?  What do I do that has the greatest impact, the makes the greatest difference?

And I returned to myself.  I am going to France as a recording artist.  Someone who sings songs for humanity.  Someone who brings love, compassion, connection and inspiration with him.  Someone who does not check membership cards before accepting and supporting -- not race, not religion, not language, not country.  Someone who brings the walls down for a few minutes at a time.  Someone holding a vision, like "Imagine" and "You Raise Me Up," of music that can do more than just entertain, but also uplift and inspire.  Someone who has found, throughout the United States and Canada, that people are hungry for more music of love, the deepest kind of love, God love, unconditional love.  Peace.  Serenity.  Trust.  A turning away from fear and division, a turning towards each other.  Facing the past without burden.  Facing the present without judgment.  Facing the future without the need for (or illusion of) our control.

I'm going to France, my friends, on behalf of everyone I've ever sung for, everyone I've ever met, everyone I've ever supported with my music.  And I'm going to see how I can reach the rest of the world with my music and message.  Among other things, I'm putting in my name to actually PERFORM "One Power" at the Conference...

More about the exact process later.  There are songs to prepare, CDs to burn, experts to consult, travel to book, and on and on.  Truthfully, if I'm gonna level with you, I don't know what I'm doing... basically, I'm following the advice of my own Water songs -- and going where the Ocean says to go.  In this case, it says, "get thee to Cannes".  And so I go.  Thanks for supporting me.  I'll keep you posted.

With love,

Daniel

If you'd like to sponsor Daniel on his journey to MIDEM in January 2009, click here to send your gift of any amount.  Thank you!