Record Labels. Producers. Investors. Marketing plans. Creative handcuffs! Collectively, they had reduced me to a feverish lump, curled up in the beachside hotel, unable to walk myself outside to listen to the healing sounds of the ocean. The appreciative audience and wonderful staff of the Myrtle Beach venue gave me the strength and resolve to get through the performance, giving every ounce I had as I knew I would be leaving all this behind, searching for a better way to be true to myself and to my audience.

I headed home the next day, hoping I had packed my dreams in one of my bags, yet too tired to search for them. My microphone had been lost to fate, my voice to 7 days of laryngitis, and my spirit was stuck somewhere over the Atlantic ocean, reminiscing for my peaceful Pacific island days, contemplating regret for ever leaving them.

When a dear friend proposed an a capella show, I gave all the reasons why one a capella number during a show is more than enough, and a whole show was just not feasible. While I was talking, however, my mind wandered to my roots - my first paying gig ever in an a capella quartet, singing a capella in Maui dive bars while the audiences hushed each other to hear, singing a capella at friend’s parties, unable to pay musicians to learn the strange songs I had pulled out of my eclectic collection or that I had written, often a capella. It would take a leap of faith, and would test my creativity…..but I’d come too far to turn back now. I yanked down the curtain to find I was alone on the stage!

A painter paints himself out of corners. I will sing my way out of mine. Strip away the past for the promise of something fresh, and new. I had to buy a new microphone, but my voice came back, just when I needed it. The band, producer, manager--well I trust that the right ones will follow. Oh, and my spirit eventually returned, carrying with it the songs contained in this eclectic new show. I hope you enjoy!

- Diesel

A capella

“Winds of Change” 2007