|
Dear friends of Mostly Autumn,
 Although
it breaks my heart, I am here to tell you that I have decided to
step out of the Mostly Autumn fold.
Life within the Mostly Autumn embrace has offered me the opportunity
to explore myriad other avenues of creativity over the years
alongside my role within the band. Not least the ultimate experience
in creativity for me - becoming a Mother.
I am sometimes baffled at the realisation that here I am with my 15
month old son, Harlan - without a doubt, through the toughest trials
of bringing a healthy little baby boy into the world of toddling and
early boyhood already, whilst still presenting myself to you as a
performer of the stage and record.
At times, I too had my doubts! But whilst thinking,
‘’Why not? Why cannot two dreams co-exist hand in hand?’’, a long
pondered upon challenge presented itself to me to which, I rose and
fulfilled. Of this I am very proud. For not even one moment of
executing which did I feel that Harlan had slipped rank from my
number one spot. Nor do I feel that my performance within Mostly
Autumn faltered. On the contrary in fact, I believe the fire within
me, the one which ignites zeal, fuels creativity and makes dreams
prosper, burned even brighter.
‘’So... maybe it’s time? Maybe the next challenge is to branch
out?’’
Over years gone by the one major thing for me, that has been left
unattended on the back burner has been to branch out as a solo
performer. It was never something I had even imagined to be an all
encompassing venture.
‘’It’ll be fine. I’ll just fit it in around everything else’’ I
thought.
‘’After all, amongst dabbling as an illustrator; forming a duo with
Angela and having guested with numerous other bands and artists;
I’ve lived in another country; I’ve travelled, I’ve become a Mum...
Yeah, I can do this!’’
- Another year passes by, and another one...
That is until I brought that very prospect to the fore and gave it a
stir. Or should I say, until it brought itself there! Niggling away,
increasingly over the last few years it is fair to say that never
has the pull been stronger towards this very day.
You see, Heather Findlay is now Heather Findlay-Loftus. One
unit of which = Heather Findlay + Ian + Harlan.
At this point in time I can’t see a formula that allows Mostly
Autumn to be part of the HF equation. Not only for my own sake but
for the sake of Mostly Autumn as well, which as you know requires
110% dedication.
So, for now at least, I just cannot imagine having the time and
energy it would take to tame and tailor the passion I have to pour
into my own musical ventures alongside co-nurturing Mostly Autumn
and giving to it all the love, care and attention that it so richly
deserves. The timing I feel is right. I have not yet become involved
in the new Mostly Autumn record and there are no shows imminently
pending. It is a new year and a new decade to boot.
Although there are flutters of excitement, it is not without
wistfulness, sorrow and indeed a certain amount of trepidation that
I hereby step out alone to follow my own dreams. Mostly Autumn has
been my life for over 13 years now. It is a warm blanket of
security. It is unlike any other band I have worked with. It is a
family. It emanates a certain magic that pulls you in. For life, I
imagine...
I can only hope to succeed in capturing some of that magic to take
with me. Even a fraction of which I know, will go a very long way...
Mostly Autumn – Bryan’s dream - will always remain a very special
part of me and I wish for every success to befall it in times to
come.
I have made some wonderful memories and shared some of the best
times of my life so far with Mostly Autumn and its’ members both
past and present. Many of which have become and I hope will remain
some of my closest friends.
You too are part of that family. You already know that none of it is
possible without your presence and support. I wish to thank you for
being there throughout. I wish for you the happiest of times ahead
on your journey with Mostly Autumn and I hereby invite you along
with me to embark upon the Heather Findlay journey which starts
here.
I am underway creating an album which I will be putting out this
year.
It will be a ‘full band’ project – the exact line up of musicians
for which is still to be decided upon but, as soon as there is news
I’ll make sure it reaches you.
There are one or two other projects bubbling away also, about which
I will be regularly updating you as and when I am at liberty to do
so.
You can keep tabs on me by joining my emailing list. To do so please
drop me a line on
heatherfindlaymusic@googlemail.com
whereby all news updates and info will reach you first.
Please visit my website
www.heatherfindlay.net to
check in on album progress and general news updates (if not yet live
- it is coming soon). I hope to make this a multi-media experience
by way of video and photo diary updates and audio samples as and
when they arrive.
At the moment the site is still in the embryonic stages of
construction but, will be developing fast.
For now I bid you a very fond farewell.
Into the unknown I go...
With love and very best of wishes you all,
Heather Findlay x
|
|
From Bryan
Josh
Dear friends,
 Knowing
you have all just read Heather’s announcement, I can join you all
wholeheartedly in the sadness and heartbreak we feel at her
departure.
It has been a journey that will be so very close to my heart for the
rest of my life, and on reflection, I wouldn’t change a second of
it. We grew together, moved together and we rocked the hearts and
emotions of people all over the world together. Those memories will
always remain.
Personally I am so very proud of what Heather has achieved, the
force she has become, and because of this I know that she has to
follow her heart and destiny – there can be no other way.
As my father often said “Nothing stays the same, son” – and as we
grow, these words mean more than we could have imagined.
Mostly Autumn will not be the same, but just as something passes,
something
begins...and it is with sincere pleasure that I can announce that
Olivia Sparnenn has agreed to take
on the role, and I sincerely hope we can all embrace a new future, a
new decade, with a glow in our hearts for the past.
However, we feel we cannot let her go quietly, so I would like to
announce that there is to be a farewell concert for Heather to be
held at the Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa on Friday April 2nd
2010. Let’s send her off in style...
And lastly – on other matters, as you may be aware, we are working
on a new album, which is to be released in the spring, entitled..
‘Go Well-Diamond Heart’
More on this soon
To Heather.....
‘Through Valleys of Evergreens and Violets
We walked for a while,
We reached for the heart of the sun
And a forest of stars,
But down in the fields
I realised a dream
That they all shone from the back of your eyes’
Go well, friend of mine
Bryan Josh
|