My Life's Musical Journey... When Your Eyes Kissed Mine
Two years had gone by since the completion of my last album. I had moved from the old house and occupied a modern rented unit in a better suburb. Sales of albums were good and I didn't really have any intention of recording another album at that time.
One day, after many years of solitude, I found myself going out into the courtyard and uttering a simple prayer... "Please God, let me fall in love just one more time'. It would be nice to share my life again with a partner.
Within two days of saying that prayer I received a phone call from some elderly friends asking me if I would be prepared to make a backing tape for a girl that stayed with their next door neighbor and was studying classical music at a local university. I said that I would be more than pleased to help out. So they all arrived at my front door that Saturday morning. Little did I know, at the time, that the girl they had introduced to me on that day would be my wife as of July 16th 2000.
'When Your Eyes Kissed Mine' was written in the early days of our friendship. And I composed the last three tracks first.
Track 5
'When Your Eyes Kissed Mine'
My new friend was in Queensland, singing in Port Douglas. I had a week by myself. It seemed fitting that I put my feelings down in music as I was certainly besotted by this lady. Once again I came up with a 12 minute track and had trouble playing the entire piece as I became very emotional. Five full days went by and I still had not finished it... and was in fact was not able to play the whole track. So I took it around to the studio and they joined the two pieces together on the computer. The first time I had to admit defeat. This title track summed up my feelings at the time and even the guy at the studio had trouble when mastering it. The emotion was getting to him too.
Track 6
'You Opened The Window To My Soul'
I was having a dream. I was at a rave party (you can well imagine John at a rave party), except there was no one there ! I was all alone in an empty hall listening to a harmonic sequence, time and time again. I woke up (12 midnight) and rushed to the keyboard, recording this sequence of chords so I would not forget them in the morning. This track is final. It seemed to signify the end of a very long journey. And indeed the window to my soul had been opened at last.
Track 4
'Maria... (sorrow, joy, love)'
I wanted to compose a track called Tiana. She suggested I write a track about Mary instead. So I had to try and imagine how Mary felt as a mother when Jesus was crucified.
The music speaks for itself. Needless to say, this work took many, many hours.
Track 2
'In My Silence'
We all need the silent times. This track was composed when I was in a particularly reflective mood and did not have much to say, if anything, to anybody.
Track 3
'Lift My Eyes From The Earth'
'Lift my eyes from the earth and let me not forget the uses of the stars'. I had composed this piece some 4 years prior, but had nowhere to put it. However it followed naturally from the previous composition, with a few enhancements.
'When Your Eyes Kissed Mine' is dedicated to my now wife.. Without her, none of the music on this album would have ever happened.
