Tanya Leah and Me
Sometimes
it’s the thing said with candor that changes the course of our lives. And
sometimes, a friend is just the person to say it.
To
be honest with you, I had a burning desire to make this record, but I had no
idea how I could – financially, logistically, and in every other which way. But
life has a funny way of presenting us with pivotal moments. And those pivotal
moments, from which all accomplishment emanates, are the moments when we decide.
I
know, you’re wondering what this has to do with introducing you to the
multi-hat-wearing Tanya Leah. So I’m going to reveal the private, candid conversation
that clinched the creation of this album.
It
went something like this:
Tanya
to Ilene: Do you really want to be on
your deathbed looking back at your life saying, “I should have made that
fucking record?”
Ilene
to Tanya: No.
And
there it is in a nutshell. The decision was made. And once a decision is made,
there’s no turning back or stopping until it’s completed…no matter what…even
if.
So
now it is my pleasure to introduce you to the ridiculously multi-talented, Tanya Leah – my producer, arranger, co-writer, guitar player,
harmonica (yes, harmonica player, though that one was largely born out of
necessity), and also, the “please can you shoot my crowd funding video and help
me get it up there” person, as well as my “hey, I’m having a semi good hair
day, can you stand on a chair and take a picture of me for these updates”
person!!! There’s really nothing she hasn’t done to help make this dream of
mine a reality. So it’s nice to have the opportunity to acknowledge that
publicly here. (I also make it a practice to tell her she’s a genius at least
once a day, though the way I text, it often comes out fenius. But it’s the thought that counts.)
I
think it was halfway through the making of her own CD, Roses for Panjo - Somewhere Beautiful, that I first approached her
about producing my record. I was listening to what she was doing with her own,
and all I could describe it as was achingly beautiful. The production was sparse
enough to let her voice shine and the songs’ emotional impact be the prevailing
thing about the record. I wanted those same qualities for my own project, and
so I asked.
It’s
a weird thing asking your friend to produce you, I have to admit. Things could
go sideways a million different times and ways, which is why Tanya and I sat
down from the get-go and talked about the vision for the record, the songs, the
players, and what was most important. I set an intention about what I wanted
the experience to be like. Loving, joy-filled, celebratory, and heart-centered.
Can you really decide that stuff ahead of time? Well, it turns out you can, but
you have to be willing to trust and let go.
So
here we are, inching close to the finish line, and I couldn’t be happier to
share the experience with Tanya.
Tanya’s
songs have been heard on the TV shows How
I Met Your Mother, The Hills, and Dawson’s Creek. Her voice has been heard
as a jingle singer for Coca-Cola, M&M’s, and Downy. And her songs
(including four #1’s) have been recorded by Wynonna, Melinda Doolittle, Leslie
Gore, Susan Ashton, Margaret Becker and many more.
We’ve
collaborated on two songs for this project, though we’ve written many, many
more together.
I
cannot wait for you to hear the fruits of our labor. And as always, I thank you
for supporting it and me from the bottom of my heart.
Peace
& Blessings (and hugs and kisses),
Ilene
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