Running through the rain of estrangement, catching pure drops of diamond bliss.

More than a bootleg... a revealing story...a touching music flow.

Right after the Bla BLa Bla of last weekend, I jumped on my computer to download my own version of the Bootleg filmed in Kyoto as I, just like you, was about to see the images for the first time! I know it sounds special that even if I'm in the band I didn't even see the bootleg before it's release!lol

Thinking back, I remember what happened that day, what I felt and the sharing I had with our Japanese family who joined us in the temple as the rain was persistently veiling the sky and surrounding the music with it's chant, but as I started to watch the bootleg, I had the precious chance to have another perspective, to live it in a fresh way, to give to it a new place in my heart and allow myself to grasp it's numerous gifts.

Silently watching the beautiful images, I was touched to see the simplicity of the moment, I was amazed by the soft peacefulness flowing through the room, I was noticing all the smiles and the eyes closed which were surely very sensitive to all that can't be caught on camera, I was also impressed by the face of Alex expressing such honesty. He was telling a story of his own, sharing such intimate memories. This time, music wasn't loud enough to cover any feelings or to shade any truth, this time music was uplifting every single detail of every word, every emotion, every offering of life passing away the borders of Alex's lips as we, musicians, were trying simply to craft a cradle that could rock gently, respectfully, carefully the moment that was birthing in front of our eyes. That moment was made of courage and of love as we all heard a song about suffering and doubts, about betrayal and isolation, about a quest and revelation, about the reality that a journey is made of so many colors that can take time to understand, to grasp, to accept and to let shine freely... Can't you see these mysterious colors in the mirror? I sometimes prefer not to look at all in any mirror... Alex was strangely singing a story that could be mine, that could be yours... and if we had also that courage to expose our story... and if we could find the strength to love ourselves enough to take one more step in this journey toward freedom and dreams... and if we were to trust, stepping out of the loud music and rumbles, stepping out in the light, letting ourselves be known, letting ourselves be touched... letting ourselves be known...

For me the title "Running through the rain of estrangement, catching pure drops of diamond bliss." means that the same thing that can make me want to run away, to hide,protect and isolate myself, that very same thing or situation can in fact be a source of refreshing blessings, new visions and enlightening revelations. I might be completely wrong... but to me, the whole concert gathering people of different cultures, ages and religions in a centenary temple, the whole context of the violent rain protecting more than threatening our peaceful communion, all these paradox were a demonstration that opposition doesn't mean impossible, that HOPE, FAITH and LIFE are reachable from anywhere we're at.

Catching pure drops of bliss... I want that:)
Miss Isabel

Visit www.yourfavoriteenemies.com for more free downloads!

Who's there to connect with my heart?

An invitation as simple as a mouse-click

Hi sweet friends:)

Most of you are thinking of summer vacation and maybe even going more than 10 meters away from the computer screen for more than 2 hours... That's scary!!!lol
Technology and communication is such a big part of our life that we can't imagine a whole day without the internet, our cellphone, our ipad or AT LEAST our ipod (preferably including wi-fi to connect to the internet...lol). Yet, in an era of extra accessible communication, loneliness and human disconnection is still so critical, painful and insidious. Every hour we connect to internet...but who's there to connect our heart to... clicking through the lives of others, can some pictures and videos help us to reach the level of communion we once believed in or heard about? I do believe it because when I open myself to you, when I share and I hear your stories, your life that you share generously with us, then when I look at your pictures I do feel the connection, I feel I relate to you, I feel that happiness to see you smile... Isn't it weird that sometimes we still are the ones who fear to connect with anyone?

Even if I use the web and communication all the time, I can't pretend I talk to each and everyone of my internet friends...unfortunately... but I believe that one of the ways to really have a connection with people is to push away any fear and to get involved with others. By really and sincerely interacting on a level that can start little but as we get to know each other can also get deeper and stronger, we are getting involved, we are opening up... Surely getting out of our comfort zone to taste a new freedom.
I want to invite you... This upcoming Sunday we are broadcasting a BLA BLA BLA, this show is more than a "talkshow" it's a way to really get in the action and participate in something that opens our horizons. Why is it such a great occasion? Well, first, we all have the opportunity to speak out, to comment, to say what we think and ask the questions burning our lips...you in the chat box, us on the BLA BLA BLA famous couch, in a safe environment in which everyone is accepted. Second, there are people joining the BLA BLA BLA that are from all parts of the world, from all ages, religions, cultures and backgrounds, so it's a great way to be exposed to something different, learn and again broaden our horizons. Third, you should know that every time we exchange a word from the heart with our YFE family, it has a HUGE impact!!! It really does as maybe that day we would need to know you are there and made the effort to get up early or to stay up late to be with us, to support us...maybe someone on the chat will have his/her question answered because you dared to ask first... maybe someone will be inspired by that moment we'll live together to go further with her/his own dream... maybe...I should say FOR SURE all of that will happen and impact all of us!

I truly believe we can bring our human relationships further even by using such a nonhuman and cold media such as the internet...we just need to add some love to it and mostly to get involved... What do you think? You're up for a try? :)

I believe in you...
Miss Isabel

Family, Studio time, Music creation, Dreams...

Gifts we take care with open hands

My dear family, the one I chose, the one I've been chosen, the one I believe in, the one that believes in me...

It's easy to think that we are separated because our reality is different, because our daily lives don't look alike, because we can't talk or spend time together as much as we would love to. Of course our brothers and sisters living in other countries can feel this way, but I can tell you that it's also how we can feel sometimes even here at the YFE HQ within our house, the close crew, the ones sharing the same roof, the same table. As we are back in studio recording right now mostly keyboards, lead guitars and vocals (oh... and we also have a section called "Chaos"!lol...), we are again quite isolated in the cocoon of the Studio. The five guys and I, Big Byrd and Sean are spending all day in that one room, letting the music we carry inside of us flow freely, trying every idea, encouraging each other to take part in what we believe is our destiny. We get out of the studio only to grab a coffee, a tea (for our English producer Sean), to go pee and we take a short break for lunch and dinner giving us the chance to see if it's raining or sunny as we walk the 30 meters between the studio/church and our house. This little time away from the mics and instruments is also our occasion to talk and share with the rest of the YFE crew who are working so hard in their office based in the YFE house... Do we feel separated sometimes?... I do. But I know how to break that feeling and first it's by believing we are united by the love we decided to build, by the trust we have, and that we care for each other, by every little note, hug, short conversation, the inside jokes, and also by knowing we are all walking for a common dream to touch the world with our common vision, our common heart.

It's so refreshing to evolve in an environment that is filled every day by laughter... We always find a way to laugh, to joke around, create some kind of crazy story that has no other purpose than gather everyone and have fun, whether it's by eating something weird (have you ever eaten squid beak???... I did... YEUK!) or impersonating a fake, over the top character (yes.. our imagination allows us to think about even more weird things than what we already are!Lol).

It's such a blessing to grow alongside people who are able to see in each other more than what's on the surface and, desire the best for one another, are willing to speak out and help to find ways to improve, to change, to be transformed, to bloom.

It's so rare to have such an environment made of more than 25 young people living together with such a commitment...

It's my strong belief that we couldn't do anything of what we are able to do right now if it wasn't for that committment... The dream we have is too big to be carried by only 6 band members... it feels too big for the 25 of us all together... I strongly believe that's why we are blessed with our family all around the world... blessed to have you that also carry this dream of seeing freedom, love, faith, cultural revolution, personal emancipation and so much more than what our imagination can envision blooming from the sharing of music.

One thing I've noticed since we got back from the tour in China and Japan, I appreciate more the time I spend in studio, I feel lucky, I feel blessed, I feel good, I feel I'm at the right place at the right time, I feel nothing is worth taking the place of the joy I have of taking part in the making of this album... such a historical moment for us. Just as every day while on tour I was thanking God for waking up in such and such city and living such intense human communion with new brothers and sisters, the same way I am thankful for every time I can participate in the recording whether I play or give an idea or am just a quiet witness of the birth of the songs. I can assure you that the spirit in studio is more than positive, it's the combination of all the life we experienced, the life we witnessed, the life you guys are sharing with us and the life we all believe is yet to be discovered.

As I write these lines, we just finished dinner... we can feel our body being tired... but everything we see and everything we hear is deeply inhabited by a spirit of joy... A joy not based on a problem or a challenge free situation, but a joy rooted in knowing what you have is a gift, recognizing its infinite value and realizing that somehow you've been chosen to take care of it with open hands. If you're reading these lines you are a part of that incredible gift... each person who joined us for concerts, lifted us by their scream and their will to live the music is an important part of that gift... each note that flows through our instruments and voices aren't taken for granted... each word that simply appears on this computer screen and miraculously takes life as you decide to breathe into them are undeserved but very welcomed presents...
Tonight, I'm just happy, happy to be here, today, doing what I do, sharing with you, conscious (although, only partially as there is so much more than what I can see for now) of the beauty of the life I live... and all those dreams... all those dreams I now know are possible... all those dreams that are telling me that we are not separated... those real dreams that invite us to believe we are united by the love we decided to build, by the trust we have and that we care for each other and by knowing we are all walking for that common dream to touch the world with our common vision, our common heart.


-Miss Isabel
Your proud and happy sister...

Bla Bla Bla: The Live Show (Back From Tour!)
from Your Favorite Enemies on Vimeo.

Coming back from more than a dream...

The YFE China-Japan tour

My dear family,

Even though I got to write a bit every day while on tour about what we were living and witnessing in my little notebook, I feel like writing to you is different and I missed it... sharing with you every week encourages me to take a look within myself and you give me the grace to be a witness and a supporter of what could bloom from that personal journey. I don't always understand how that connection we have empowers me and how your life can also be inspired by these simple typed words of mine, but I am thankful it is all possible and happening. When I meet you and you tell me that this blog is a part of your life, I'm always so moved and I think to myself "This is so much more powerful than me or anything I write... this is how you, my friends, are alive and are changing your own life with determination and using everything you can find...not because what I write is so good but because your will is strong and you decide to give your all to live more and more free".

During the tour, I've witnessed a lot of power. The music was releasing such a freedom and a boldness that carried crowds all over China and Japan, including all the guys in the band and crew. I saw the real demonstration of what it is to let go and trust... Alex letting himself fall backwards from the second floor balcony into an ocean of vivid hands... People who some nights were laying on stage eyes closed, hearts pumping, singing melodies... their own melodies born of their blooming spirits and exhilarating souls... We could feel the power, we could try to identify it, we were amazed how it could take different forms every single night, we were thankful we could experience it...letting it flow through us, teaching us, transforming us...

I wish I could say that while on tour everything in me was beautiful and worth being shown in the light of the stage, but just like all of us, even if we are 100000 miles away from home, we still carry our ugliness and beauty. So, just like for all of us, the power of music and its movement among us was an open invitation to believe we have the power to live our dream. I've embraced my dream during that tour... and now that the tour is over, I still believe there is more for me and that the invitation is only going to bring me and all of us into another chapter of this wonderful dream we decided to nurture. When we live our dream as a family an incredible thing can happen: it becomes bigger and more extraordinary than anything you could have imagined... it also becomes an incredible way to grow and learn from each other.

In China, I learned a lot about living the moment. I used to think that the best way to live the moment is if you just don't care about tomorrow; so might as well live to the fullest now... tomorrow might never come... But the experiences we had and the way everyone was living it helped me to see things differently. Tomorrow will come and it's out of trust that we can live the moment without fear or restrictions, on the contrary; to live to the maximum BECAUSE it will have an impact on the tomorrow we desire! Everything has a consequence; each action has an impact, on us, on others... We can choose to take that fact with the fear of messing up or with the honor and gladness to have the power to change our own life and lives around us as well, in a beautiful and positive way.

In Japan, we visited the volunteers of the shelter in the devastated city of Minami for the HOPE project. It was very intense emotionally as we talked with them and heard their stories but mainly when we heard and saw their courage and their determination to protect life, dignity and hope. Ordinary people, young and old, women and men, they were all joining whatever energy, knowledge, resources and heart they possessed to honor the lost ones but mainly to take care of the living. They had all the reasons to be depressed and weary, but they were making the decision to feed something other than these reasons, to live something else beyond this sadness, to protect life, dignity and hope. I learned from these people... and I thought I was one who would give them something... witnessing their courage gave me so much! They asked us to thank you for the HOPE project, for your words, for your prayers, for believing like they do that Japan will rise up from the rubble.

As I am still processing all that happened, I'm sure I will keep on discovering treasures of truth and how what we lived all together is opening doors and breathing life... a life that will carry us so much further... carry us in wonderful lands we never imagined existed... Our family is on a journey... all the Your Favorite Enemies family is involved... In China...in Japan...in your bedroom... and like Alex would say, that journey starts with a simple dream... a little idea...

Have another look at the stunning images of the amazing journey in China and Japan... and don't miss reading the words of Alex, Jeff, Stephanie and myself describing what we witnessed and lived there! You will not only feel what happened but I truly believe you can also get a lot from them!

I love you sweet dreamers... I love you ideas crafters...

-Miss Isabel

http://www.yourfavoriteenemies.com/china
http://www.yourfavoriteenemies.com/japan