GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT

As one CHAPTER in LIFE closes, 

a NEW one begins.

GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT happen simultaneously,

which is why at times shedding the last pieces of our skin allows for new skin to shine.

In May the "Busy Little Queen" chain turns 5 years old and were entering new territory very soon! Were eager to make a CHANGE for the better, and as many stones and boulders have been thrown our way, I being the head of it, am taking all of the bruising and turning it around. Some will continue to be a part of our journey, while others will leave to make room for the new upcoming  events. Quite frankly, all help and support is ALWAYS greatly appreciated and my 

ONLY concern is to make a difference, like in any industry the world has to offer.

Just like MUSIC helps me drive farther in LIFE,

 these following artists first and foremost know how they've always felt about their message and continue to break new ground, and POPULARITY is what they've received and accumulated rightfully through hard work and dedication.

Paula Deanda

Having released her debut album at age 15 in 2005, she's been hard at work wanting to stay true to her art and while personally as well as professionally growing into herself, now at the age of 23, she's going into the direction she's always wanted to go in...the one path that links her creative soul with her beating heart for MUSIC. Like any artist out there, she'll get her share of criticism, yet, she doesn't allow it to slip away and takes into consideration what is asked of her, which is to climb the ladder a bit HIGHER every time she takes a gamble on her music. Instead of making a second album that fills her vocals with empty promises, she's releasing herself piece by piece KNOWING how to deliver her message LOUD and CLEAR. The latest in her repertoire:

Shut Up & Love Me

Michele Vreeland
This Pop/Acoustic soul has been at it since her heart was delivered to this Earth! Michele released her debut EP album in 2008 with her voice haunting not only the ears of many, rather making the hairs on your arms stand up listening to her raw lyrical content. Vocal ability and harmonies are a must have when it comes to Michele, she's relating to the simple act of the soul when it comes to UNDERSTANDING and LOVING another human being. Infectious hooks that make you sing for hours after you've heard the Vreeland material make you want to explore more of this RAW and TALENTED voice that carries no other resemblance but to her OWN name. In 2013, Michele is ready to take on a new venture and a sound ALL of her own with her latest:

Like Most Girls Do

http://soundcloud.com/michelevreeland/like-most-girls-do

REIK

The talented Grammy winning trio have broken barriers in their genre of music within the Latin world and are now ready to take on some more new territory. Keeping their heartfelt guitar strings with powerful yet quiet strong vocals have made this band become more mainstream for the better without having to compromise their love formula of music. While touring the world non-stop from their Grammy nominated latest release PELIGRO, making new music with strong character filled videos along the way have only made REIK that much more desired for their 3 individual characters that make them a ray of light force not wanting to be messed with. As real as this trio of musicians are when it comes to the stage, they're characters don't end when the lights go out, for they continue to live with the musical fire that brought the 3 of them together since their debut album back in 2005. Their latest single riles up the musical world and strikes a chord with both American, Hispanic, as well as International audiences everywhere:

Con La Cara En Alto

We're all here to make a difference and continue to make our messages LOUD and CLEAR with 

GROWTH and DEVELOPMENT...no matter what our differences are, we are here to make the world a better place!

***REIK-Con La Cara En Alto 

& 

Paula Deanda-Shut Up & Love Me 

are BOTH available on iTunes***

~Sigh~

This has been a heavy month, especially with the news I heard today.

I understand now why March is always looked at with such a frown, there's so much transition and even when you read in between the lines, there's a lot to get through and understand.

Last week for 3 straight mornings I kept waking up between 4am-4:35am. I kept sensing something yet couldn't point my finger at what. Even while I was doing hair at one of my salons I kept having apparitions appear and actually scare me within seconds. Some of my clients would even ask me if everything was OK. Then yesterday as I was walking toward my apartment, I saw someone/something cross my window from the inside...was I scared??? A bit, yet I know that something was trying to get my attention, then as I was falling asleep I felt a male presence behind me...again, couldn't point my finger as ti who or what it was...

until today.

I received a voicemail from my Godmother (whom has been in my life since I was born to present day), informing me that my Godfather, her husband since they were late teens, had passed away last night at 8:10pm. I walked into my apartment last night by 8:30 pm...it was him whom I saw and felt. 

Hearing my Godmother's voice crack on the phone really made me feel her pain...she's had this man next to her bedside for all these years, and now she has to accept what LIFE has brought to her...I can't imagine what she's thinking at his point. My Godfather had been sick for years, yet, she knew how to handle him, and he would even slip away to get his cup of coffee everyday at 6 am from the Donut shop around the corner..he would tell me that it was his favorite. 

His memory was slipping and even up until the last time I saw him a couple months ago, he would address me as a friendly stranger, because the Erik he knew, was still 7 years old and 4 feet tall. He would even tell me to please say "hi" to 7 year old Erik the next time I saw him around. I remember a couple years ago I called him for Father's Day and he thought I was calling from a Credit Union...Ahahahahaha! I was laughing hard, yet I knew he was only going to get worse with time. 

My Godparents have taught me what LOVE, COMPASSION, and COMMUNICATION all are. They always wanted me to please check in with them when I had even 2 minutes to spare. I'm glad I listened and continued to accept and express what they had always instilled in me, especially towards them. I will TRULY and DEEPLY miss him with all my heart and NEVER look at coffee the same way ever again. 

FAITH comes in many forms, one of them is STRENGTH...I know my Godmother is being the rock as she normally is for her family as I type this, although now it's OUR turn to be that rock for her, and come Monday, I'll be there to support her as much as possible. 

Rudy Carranza, Godfather, may you now be at peace with GOD and hurt no more. You are now able to run and get as much coffee as you'd like, I'm sure GOD has plenty for you! THANK YOU for being in my LIFE and teaching me plenty to survive in this world. 

I LOVE YOU! 

Yours truly,

Your 7 year old Godson

<3

No Cure

Any of you out there watch the show SMASH?? 

If you haven't seen it, it's a MUST! I know I know, it's about a musical...though it deals deeper than just a musical, and it's NOT the adult GLEE, that's for sure! So much talent is on that show, especially one of my favorite runner-up "idols", Katherine McPhee. 

Now another great voice has emerged from the Broadway stage and is on the show as well on the Contemporary/Pop scene...her name...

Megan Hilty. 

"No Cure" is Megan's first single from her debut album "It Happens All the Time" that actually came out today. I was able to catch her perform this song on The View yesterday and of course the first thing I said BEFORE she started singing was, "Oh here goes a Broadway song!" WAS I EVER SO WRONG!!! Megan gave an AMAZING performance that left me breathless and wanting more from this new sound of hers. She gave so much heart and soul in the delivery of the song, all I could do was GASP in amazement!

This song actually deals with what EVERYONE has a fear of in LIFE and it's heartbreaking situations, the "What if's". It's hard to point the finger at what makes LIFE difficult and most times than not, it's a Labyrinth when were trying to find a solution and a way out. 

In "No Cure", a break-up has erupted and there seems to be a cloud of a mess that lingers so badly that even the human senses of sight, sound and feeling have been disturbed and a world of chaos surrounds this broken heart's dim world. 

Naturally she knows that there's a solution, yet, she's simply asking, 

"What if there's no cure?"

Ever been here?!....

Yeah me too!

 Usually happens when there seems to be a streak of bad luck on our side and things just go wrong left and right, then we just sit in a quiet room (our head space) and have a moment of 

"What if this is how it's going to be?!" 

When it comes to certain situations, there are "No Cure's" for them. We simply need to accept the WILL to move on with the best mind frame we have and start re-building what was once broken down. ONE might call it "giving up"...although "giving up" requires a CURE, and to find that CURE might take a while.  Now "Moving on" requires NO CURE, believe it or not, most times, that's the best option we have.

Next time you ask yourself "What if there's no cure?", weigh out the options and recognize you have the choice of there having to be a CURE or NOT...and that is OK.