About Mike...
Sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta do. Turn up the volume on your heart and really listen to what it's telling you; Tune out all the doubts, fears, regrets and insecurities; Let go of the illusions of material security; Close your ears to all the "you can't do that" voices; Knowing your destiny depends on your choices; Dare to dream . . . Dare to take the first step . . . What I'm talking about is living the life you came here to live. To awaken your "sixth-sense", your "INTUITION", and learn to hear what it's telling you and to follow where it's guiding you... completely. Because your intuition is your higher-self, the self that knows everything and wants to give you all you desire, and wants to support you all the way on your human-experience-journey towards happiness and joy. Life is a river - you can't stop the flow, but you can choose the river. Life is a journey - and the paths you take are yours to decide. Life is a story - and you are the writer. My story, my journey, my river brought me to where I am now. In the summer of 2012 I made a decision not to follow the path that led me towards an unremarkable old-age with an equally unremarkable pension . . . Instead I revived my dormant dreams of travel, writing and singing. I quit my job, wrote a set of new songs, made an album with a friend, bought a camper-bus. In May 2013 I set off on an adventure to sing my songs, to grow as a performer, to meet new people and discuss life, to be inspired by the places and stories I encounter, to write ever more new songs that reflect my experiences and understandings, and to share these songs with all who care to listen. I don't know where this adventure, this story will lead me, but I'm led by my intuition, by my heart, and I trust in it 100%... and it will be a story I can be proud of. |
About the songs...
After 30 years of songwriting I discovered that the same major theme keeps returning to me - the universal theme of the meaning of life. I've written love-songs and breakup-songs and protest-songs and plain story-songs, but always from the perspective of self-awareness and a spiritual consciousness. Maybe it's my age... but I feel I'm getting closer to an understanding of the purpose of this human-experience we call life - I certainly feel I'm getting more spiritual. My songs over the period 2013-2014 have been reflecting more consciously on life from a higher perspective - oneness, intuition, living in the "now", universal intelligence... and the new-science movements led by discoveries in quantum physics: songs of love and awareness, songs of gratitude, songs of the human experience and spiritual journey, folksongs, story songs... and zen songs! After 3 years away from the distractions and conventions of "societal life", 3 years of inner searching for peace of mind and spirit, I returned to the city (Amsterdam) with a new impulse, a new clarity and a new purpose - both in living and song-writing. Adding to the above list: protest songs songs of political and social awareness songs of freedom songs for a liberated humanity These songs I've bundled under the header "Jaid Songs" - a term that will become clear and relevant at a later date. I've recorded these individual songs simply and acoustically - just me and guitar. . I've included the lyrics with every song. Move on to 2015/2016... I'd done a spell of writing country songs while I was in Spain. Back in Amsterdam with my "producer and co-musician Geert Ormel, we've been developing these songs in his studio. Definitely worth a listen to those!!! And my newest phase... all instrumental guitar music. My(our) debut album "THIS SUNRISE" is featured on its own page, where it's also available for purchase At some time I will go into a studio to produce all the rest in album form. For now, I invite you to just listen and enjoy. |
"Our bodies have five senses: touch, smell, taste, sight, hearing. But not to be overlooked are the senses of our souls: intuition, peace, foresight, trust, empathy. The differences between people lie in their use of these senses...;"
C. JoyBell C.