“Take It Slow” could have a number of different meanings in life, but this one is special. Amanda contacted Tesco Productions recently to record the lyrics to a piano track by this title. As I listened to the first pass on the song I was struck by not only how well she was performing, but also by the very amazing words she had penned. It turns out “take it slow” in this case means (as a mother) to slow down and appreciate every moment at each stage of your child’s life. As we later sat listening to the recordings and carefully picking the best of each part, I mentioned to Amanda how my wife and I have reflected on raising our daughter, and remembering how often we said “won’t it be nice when…” Well this perspective causes you to miss the “now” and each stage in your child’s development, and your unique relationship with them at each juncture. The same is true of course for every situation along life’s journey, but particularly poignant in the context of this song’s focus.

I had my wife take a listen after the session, and she was also quite touched by the reminder to cherish each moment we have with those we’ve been blessed with. Amanda has made a very nice video from her song which can be viewed here.

There’s a popular song I used to hear and sing in the 70s that said “It only takes a spark to get a fire going.” On the heels of “Unbroken Optimist”, Kofi Douhadji is preparing to release his latest book “Tiny Sparks”. The introduction to this book states that it is a “life toolbox” that “encourages reflection and meditation that will empower you to face each challenge with gratitude, optimism and resilience.” Reflecting back to stories learned at his Grandmother’s knee in Togo, West Africa, to collecting wisdom from mile markers in his life, Kofi shares short stories and quips geared to enhancing his readers/listeners lives and developing their full potential. Having worked with Kofi on “Unbroken Optimist” (available on Audible.com here and Amazon Books here) I can hear nuggets of wisdom reaped from his life journey to this point, and while he certainly focuses on today he also has an ever forward-looking perspective to what he will be and experience tomorrow. He challenges each of us to take a 2nd, 3rd, 4th… look at the (often timeless) principles of truth that enable us to live into the best design our Creator had in mind. At this point we’ve recorded nearly half of the book’s content, and I look forward to hearing the remainder.

The MKS Studio Vivace Choir has completed the vocal recording for their 2024 music video. The chosen piece is “Jesus, Thank You”. The ensemble, consisting of ten singers which includes three young men this year, performed well on multiple takes and a good initial mix has been made for use in their video shoot. There’s three solo parts and a good blend of choral harmonies.

This is the third year Tesco Productions has had the opportunity of working with the Vivace Choir for their annual showcase rendition, and I for one enjoy hearing an ensemble give praise to their Savior – an art form that seems to have taken a back seat in our more “contemporary” music configurations.