On December 12th, I completed the recording process for this album, “Hold the Vision.” The creative process began in June, so the entire album has come into being during this amazing and most unusual pandemic year.
A time of lock-down and isolation, it has also been an inward journey of great deepening. A time of letting go of many details that seemed important to the life flow, and in the space that resulted, a new experience of what is really most important to this life journey. The other side of letting go is stepping into new life.
“Hold the Vision” is the freest and deepest expression to come through so far, and I’m excited to see where the Muse Dance takes me next. Even as this physical temple shows signs of aging, I am nevertheless at the top of my game, and inspired to explore any and all new musical territory that Muse still has in store. Thanks to you, whoever might be reading this, for sharing this journey with me. Your connection with the music completes a creative circuit, and sparks the continuation of a creative adventure that is “beyond imagination of expectancy.”
Click on the image to watch the documentary Doug’s sister Jaine created, inspired by Josh Rice’s wonderful video footage taken on Doug’s 60th birthday concert weekend in May of 2016.
The night before the concert Doug’s family presented him with a birthday book, which chronicles a rich swath of Doug’s musical journey from childhood to Rainbowland Man. Doug and Jaine collaborated on the historical record of the film as well as the final production. The video will give you a sense of the abundant and extraordinary musical life Doug continues to weave.
It’s May 13th, my mom’s 89th birthday—coming down the home stretch of this new album that began on January 1, the first day of the new decade. Simultaneously, we began a global dance with a virus. The world is a different place, and life itself is in the balance…or so it seems. The opening words of this new project are a paraphrasing of Emerson: “What is coming and what has been, are but small details for the light awakening within.” These words have been very much with me as we traverse this strange time. Strange, yes…and also deeply inward, rich with space and insight.
My previous album, Notes from the Bus Stop, explored “forever in the fleeting,” the magic and transcendence of the life right under my nose. Muse in Love reaches for the vibration of the place the Bus will take us. The projector is smiling.
If you’re reading this, you must be a good friend. Thank you. Enjoy the dance with the Muse as she comes to you.
Now available in the video section of this site is a collection of concert clips from Doug’s 60th Birthday. It’s a 22-minute sampling of the spectacular show he performed for friends and family at Rainbowland on May 21st, 2016. Click on the photo above for a direct link.
