The quietest whisper of hope can be enough

The HOPE Project 

Someone asked me on Facebook a very interesting question: " How we can create a family for our band?".

Many thoughts came through my mind... from "that's great that people see and can feel how we do live everything as a family not only among the musicians but with all the music lovers that follow Your Favorite Enemies" to "How in the world am I supposed to explain that?  There's no obvious instruction manual for building a family from a music group!" to "Wow... it is humbling and an honor to be inspiring someone to want to build his own family."

I have to admit that sometimes I like to start this diary by saying "my brothers and sisters", but I hesitate... I think about what someone reading my words for the first time might think... WE all know how it's not common to have such relationships that we allow ourselves to be linked closely to each other, to share deeply, to be open, to desire to expand our world and touch as many people as possible, staying true to ourselves and accepting others as they are with their freaky personalities and so different ways to see life... But hey! that's what we do and that's why we can say proudly we ARE a family and if someone reads our words for the first time, when they see us hugging and being close even, when they try to understand what Your Favorite Enemies is all about, well... they soon realize how amazing it is to call someone a brother and a sister, being connected through the heart and soul, through a decision to take part in each other’s lives.

This past week we launched a very important and precious to heart project called HOPE.  It wasn't enough for us to see some people draw attention to "products" to send "profits" to Japan... for sure any initiative can make a difference but we wanted to make sure our initiative to support our people in Japan will be for THEM first and them ONLY.  So we came up with an amazing project to print and sign postcards and distribute them in schools for the kids to write or draw a message of hope...   We extended it for anyone to participate, any age, anywhere around the world, to give our best, the best of what we have on our hearts, to pour it out in words on these postcards.  The Red Cross is a great way to send money that will help people to rebuild their house, their cities... but what can help them rebuild their life, their dreams, their confidence, their smile?  Our words can! 

Our family in Japan, my brothers and sisters, your brothers and sisters, they need us, they need to know they're not alone... they need to know that everything in our hands can disappear but the true love and hope that we grow in our hearts cannot be taken away from us... they need to hear our voice rising higher than the sound of waves and earthquakes... 

"The quietest whisper of hope can be enough of a sound to make life bloom out of despair" -Alex Foster

We are a family and we stand together. That is not only will there be thousands of postcards written by thousands of people but we will go in Japan to deliver them in person.  Nothing less... Most people would flee Japan right now... We booked our flights last week to make sure we would be with our Japanese family and to bring with us in May the powerful words you will write with an ink that flows directly out of your heart.  We will be your hands and now is the time for you to raise your voice:

http://j.mp/HOPEYFE

-Miss Isabel

p.s. if you desire to have an even bigger impact, share that link with as many people as possible, encouraging them to join their voices to ours... Facebook, Myspace, Mixi, VKontaK, Blogger, Radio Stations, TV Hosts, your school teacher... it's the best time to take that one step further.  I'm already waiting with a smile to know how you'll bring HOPE around you for Japan.

Expect the Unexpected

CMW 2011


Every year in March, it became a tradition to gather the YFE family in Toronto during the Canadian Music Week. As much as we prepare for the concerts, rehearsing the songs and preparing what we desire to breathe through the shows, we know for sure what we will live on stage can't be rehearsed or set up... In fact we absolutely don't want to plan the emotions and experiences as we want them to be real, spontaneous and a true sharing with those coming and so determined to let the music open their eyes and heart. It's special, because even if the chords and the lyrics are the same from one concert to another, each show takes a fresh direction, moving alongside the emotions each person in the room carries and also how Alex leads all of us with his invitations to let go, his screams to feel alive, his call out to take a stand for freedom and hope.

I'm always quite impressed by how Alex lets himself be inspired every single night for a specific message to deliver, an emotion to leave everyone or a direction of something that can be lived all together... I wonder how many artists think of their shows that way... with the very first priority being to deliver to anyone in the crowd something fresh and special, an experience that could bring them further... but also something we, on stage, will live and share... Every single show has to be special, different, inspired, true, breaking barriers, an occasion to give our all... "Guys, if we don't die on stage tonight, it's not worth it" Alex reminded us before each show. Dying on stage... what’s that suppose to mean? lol I asked myself that question a lot and the answer I came up with is that I should set my desire on giving everything I am, everything I have with no limits or restraints... that would be to give my life and "die"... die to my limits, die to my selfish desires and needs, die to my control... completely letting go and living the moment opened to everyone and anything coming my way.

It was really beautiful to see so many people coming from as far as Ireland, Japan, Germany, South USA, Vancouver gathering with one thing in mind: to live something they never experienced before. And it happened! Not only they lived it, we did too and we extended these incredible life changing experiences to more people as we broadcasted live 2 of the shows on internet! It was very touching to know that as we were broadcasted live, people in Japan were telling us they felt more courage and hope... especially that at this exact same moment another earthquake was hitting them... But we were one... One standing against fear and hopelessness... One screaming "We're alive!"... One supporting one another with a wave of sound that traveled from concert rooms in Toronto across the planet... across hearts and souls.

This year's rendez-vous has been special in many ways... So exciting for all the friends we could meet... So devastating for the tragedy striking our family in Japan... So liberating for the experiences we lived during the concerts... So encouraging for the time and discussions we had after the shows, building the relationships and this amazing family we call Your Favorite Enemies. I have faith that what I've lived during the YFE CMW 2011 is already bringing me further and is allowing me to hope and desire for more passion, more freedom, more compassion, more openness, more determination and more confidence.

For those who were with us I want to tell you that what we lived together was fabulous, it was real and it's now up to us to feed that part of our heart that was revived and to keep it sensitive and open. It's up to you and me to also apply what we have lived together in our daily life, refusing to live as zombies and constantly looking for more and to share what we live with others.

For those who witnessed the live broadcast through internet, please know that you had such an impact on us. To know you were with us, some of you waking up in the middle of the night to be connected with us, sharing your heart, singing while typing on your keyboard... it gave us a lot of strength and power and inspiration.

For those who are reading these lines but didn't get to live the shows, I truly believe there are plenty of occasions to break the cycle of numbness surrounding us and within us. Music is a great tool to feel alive just as all the sharing we do through messages on every media available. Life creates life and it's up to us to be that first spark!

Just as I have to discover more of what it means to die on stage every night in order to seed life, we all can discover what real passion means, what giving our all means and how jumping with no safety net can open amazing new horizons. Thank you for being there for me, giving me that extra push, that so needed motivation to jump and be myself, that inspiration to want more and that faith that I will get more!

I love you and, again, I feel so honored to jump by your side... expecting the unexpected!

-Miss Isabel

With the colors of passion

You painted a new horizon


Hi my loving bros and sis!

This past week has been really full in action and emotion! We've been working on the live performance in the Studio B, crafting not only the sound of the show but also its spirit. We asked ourselves the question: "What do we want to give to all our friends who will travel across oceans and lands to share a special moment with us... what will we offer... dying on stage every night to seed life and pull down heaven". We're also in the midst of recording the core of the album, every day allowing us to touch something completely crazy. The final touches are being made to the new website and SFCC... Are you excited about it? I AM!!! And then, as we were all passionately busy in Studio A, Studio B and other YFE HQ offices, we were invited to stop and discover another creation that had been crafted here in the Studio/Church, in a "little" corner where no one really goes, no one but the sound of the music that echoes day and night... Our brother Kosho had been working on a painting and he invited us to unveil his creation. It was obvious that Kosho was more than proud and it was more than obvious that we were all speechless, in awe and just moved by this image...

We filmed this magical moment... and I think you can feel how Life creates Life through the love and sharing that goes on in it:

I pushed that sharing a little further by asking Kosho a couple questions. I could see it was hard for him, not to answer the questions, but to trust he could expose himself in words just as powerfully as he does with his brushes and colors...
Here are his words:


Can you tell us how you met YFE?

I went to their concert at first. It was in 2008 in Osaka which was the very first show for YFE in Japan.

I went there just to follow my brother and at that time I didn’t know anything about YFE. But right after the show I became a huge fan of the band. Because the show was incredible and so powerful of course... but also I didn’t really expect that we could actually meet and talk with the band members right after the show. There were so many people around them but fortunately at last I was able to have a chance to talk with Alex.

At the time I didn’t really know much about Myspace or Facebook, so I couldn’t really find them on internet after the show. But anyway I created the account that same night and left that for months. After around 1 year, I got a message from Alex on Myspace. Of course he didn’t know that we did actually meet before. So it was very surprising for us and we’re both so excited to talk to each other!

When we both met last October for the filming in Japan of ‘Voyage A La Mer’, we spent wonderful moments, talking about music, art and life.

And now you're here with us, creating every day visual art that gets its roots from the music you hear ringing in the studio.
The last painting you did strikes anyone who's looking at it... I'm still wondering how simple colors can capture our eyes, reminding us of the spirit of the song and bring the whole experience even further... it's so nice to SEE the way you express your experience with the song...

What was your spirit before you started the painting?

My feeling is always unstable before I start to paint or create any art work. Every time I feel like so angry or very sad or frustrated for something... anxious but being excited at same time. You don’t really know what the feelings are all about. I guess it would be easier if I could describe it by words. But one thing I’m sure about is that it’s not just something to be ‘explained’, It has to be ‘expressed’ somehow by using any kinds of material you have. I do make sculpture, take photos or just do sketches on paper. This time, it was painting for me. The band express feelings through music, but the spirit to create something would be the same I guess.

What did you want to express?

I was so related to the lyrics of “I Just Want You To Know” at the time. And again, I didn’t really know what were the feelings I had inside, whether it was sadness or anger or anything else but I think it’s all about the passion I felt through the song.

It’s funny because every time I look at the painting, the face in the painting looks different. Sometimes he looks like he's crying, sometimes looks very angry..

Can you describe the emergency you had to create this piece of art?

In that song Alex is singing “you can't stand these feelings anymore. it's killing you inside.”.

In this part I found my emergency and a hope at same time, because the feeling which is trying to ‘destroy’ you could turn out to be the feeling of the passion to ‘create’ something. I think this is the beauty of the emergency of this song and this was the first point to start the painting. I needed to expose myself and pour everything inside out.

When you were watching the Sounds and Noises about the song "I Just Want You To Know" it seeded something in you...
how would you describe it?

I’ve been listening to the song even before the video was released, so I already had my own perspective of the song. But after watching the video and listening to the interviews, the song became very three dimensional by their perspective as well. The song became more alive and real.

It was very inspiring for me to know the whole making process of the song because I believe that music or art or any types of creation can give the same kind of impact even though the way to express it, is different. Sounds and Noises gave me the way to express ‘the sound’ of the painting.

what did you want to do with that spark?

I’m really interested in how music and art bring us further and what really makes us so excited and what makes you just stop and listen and look at. The materials we use are different but everything is all about ‘how to capture the moment’. So I just wanted to capture the moment and feelings I had about the song into the painting.

Is there a part of the lyrics of the song that inspired you? What did you feel about it?

The part that says ‘So much more than noise’ became a message of realization for me and for the process of my creation.

Especially in this song, there is a massive noise guitar part. So I wanted to find a way that I could possibly make this painting ‘so much more than the noise’. I thought it would be great if my painting could be quiet but not silent. That was a big challenge for me to do.

Our heart since the beginning is for each and everyone to share, bridging people through music and hoping that each person will step out and shine. You're definitely shining beautifully lately Kosho...

What inspires you to shine more and create something incredible?

The people around me are the most important thing for me. It’s been my dream to work with very creative people and inspire each other. Everything here is so inspiring. I just realized we have to live like the band, even if you don’t play any instruments. Always you need to ‘input’ everything around you, and, when your turn comes, you need to ‘output’ and play loud as much as you can with your own tone and unique sound.

The music inspired you to create this piece of art. Now that the painting is born... what's next?

Now I’m planning to make a big sculpture of Sef’s head. lol

Well, I don’t really know what’s coming next, so I can be excited as well! It’s always so exciting to see the first blank canvas before painting because there is nothing but possibility. I just want to keep my hunger for the excitement.

"Cause I'm one of the millions... "

Alex reveals even more after the live chat!



Hi dear friends!

I hope you're doing well and I’m glad that you're doing this little "pit stop" to fill yourself up with some food for thought; a fresh perspective and an occasion to feed hope and passion in your life. This weekend we had the chance to participate in a live chat with a very special topic: the "I Just Want You To Know" lyrics. Alex was ready to answer all questions about it and most of all he brilliantly opened up about, what in his life, he wanted us to know... his heart, his struggles, his desire to live free from his past boundaries and illusions. I left a couple days pass and I asked him a couple questions to get even deeper in what he lived; to see how that sharing was so important to him.

Read carefully and think. Think how you can relate to his experience and how you deal or want to deal your things the same or differently and why not share about it?

I believe amazing things can grow if we let true words coming from a loving heart to be seeded into our soul...Alex asked me to share these seeds with you... it's up to us to let them penetrate our soul and mind.

-Miss Isabel



Hi Alex!

I have a couple questions for you concerning the live chat we had all together a couple days ago.

You often do videos, Q&A, blogs and facebook stories revealing parts of who you are; sharing what's in your head and in your heart. But it's the first time you were doing a very personal LIVE interview about something even more personal: your lyrics.

Why at this point do you want to open up in such way, so open and exposed?

I think, I've been hiding for a long time... for many reasons...good or bad. I still have my own demons and my own doubts; the emotional winter has been quite long for me. So long, that at one point, I felt more secure being secluded and isolated than actually seeking a bit of spark to set me free from my own illusions and make-belief. My recurrent physical illness and mental degradation was only feeding that sense of alienation I was feeling towards the gravitation of my spirit accepting the abandonment of my will to care about life any longer.

I was turning a lie I've heard so many times being professed over my head into a self-desconstructive truth...I guess whatever had to fit…fits. I wasn't a victim; I was simply coping out from a world I built myself into... kind of illusive and delusional, but I decided it was time to let go. Being open and exposed isn't easy for me and never will. But after being dead for so long... I decided it was time for me to fully embrace the new season that I was truly in and to receive the love gently sent my way by so many amazing people. The raging winter of my fears was overcome by love in many ways and I think that for me, sharing my lyrics was a wonderful occasions to feel the breeze of that new blooming season.

We were all in the room when you were about to start the live interview and chat...you were surprisingly comfortable, calm and anticipating with excitement what was about to take place.

Can you explain what journey you had to walk or what obstacles you had to overcome to get there?

Nothing, but what has already been settled in my personal life…like I wrote recently to a very special friend of mine who was wondering what was the nature of what seemed to be a permanent state of grief residing in my eyes... "I'm not misunderstood, I'm ecstatically sad at time"...lol... a lie that had been told too many times becomes a truth for many and I didn't want to become that lie or some rock n roll cliché.

I was comfortable; because I knew it wasn't about me...it was about creating life through words that weren't simply mine anymore. I was one of millions and it was exciting... to let the words be the catharsis of what needed to be freed from. And in many ways, I've been freed from many things through the whole process...from writing the music, to the lyrics, the performance and all the interviews that came with it. Words truly have the power to heal when they are sketched with compassionate colours and lay over a canvas of communion...that's what I felt...

Would that link with what you said during the chat: "I just Want You To Know" helped me heal unsettled wounds in my life"? Was the creation of this specific song a major turning point?

I believe that waking up every single day with my hands open is a daily major turning point...I have rarely been able to let go. I grew up in the mist of constant surrounding of violence and I turned that violence towards myself for the most part of my life...writing from a personal point of view isn't easy when you want to fully let go and it has never been easy for me to write in that regard. That song is part autobiographic of those wounds and part reflection of other people's pain, but it doesn't have the same tone as the previous songs I've written...truth could be pretty messy, but the way you deal with that mess could be very positive…"I Just Want You To Know" is very positive…not a happy go lucky type...that's for sure, but real in every way and knowing that "I Just Want You To Know" is clearly one of the fruits that bloomed out my decision to embrace life, makes it a very important one indeed...

You said that “I just Want You To Know” lyrics were created from a very personal place where dreams seemed so far away...How important is it for the song to relate to your personal story now that the world can sing it?

Cause I'm one of the millions...

What is the first thing you thought when:

1. You woke up the morning of the chat?

That I was very fortunate to be able to share with the people I love; knowing how many people don't, at the very least, have a right to whisper. I felt humbled towards that and really grateful…love, when taken for granted, becomes the rape of somebody else's innocence...

2. You were about to start the chat?

As I was observing the incredible dedication of the team members working with so much dedication to make sure everything was perfect...I simply thanked God for having such a fabulous family and simply lived the moment...

3. You saw so many people participating?

I didn't pay attention to such details in particular...neither do I care about numbers in general...it might be cool when you need to feed your ego out of those vain details, but for me, being able to share with people I love was enough of a moment to open myself without any fears or insecurities...it was real.

4. Big Byrd said "CUT" at the end of the chat?

I was peaceful...

5. When you finally went to bed and at what time?

I don't actually remember the time I went to bed...it's always too late anyway, but I do remember thinking, that for every single person being treated like noise, I know that somebody will join and together they will make sounds out of any rejection they ever felt before, because we really are more than noise. I imagined millions of people in the streets creating such a powerful sound, that barriers of oppression, indifference, apathy and abandonment will crumble and that even those rocks will scream their joy of being free... isn't that what is going on in the world now?

What in this first experience makes you want to do it again with other lyrics?

I don't know, I have never really been into trying to recreate a moment…Especially one that has been so pure. We'll see if I have something to add regarding other lyrics and if people might be interested in sharing and exposing themselves again. As I said, a moment like that isn't something you take for granted. It’s not mine, that's why I felt so privileged to do so, because it wasn't about me... but about creating life!

You want to share anything about these quotes of yours?

1. "We're so much more than noise"...means for Alex that you might be only noise for some people BUT...
2. Your favorite line of the new song "Faith is pretty much like pain...it's hard to let it go all at once"
3. "perfect balance between emotional breakdown and hopeful colors"

I think it should be for the people reading your diary to define or redefine those quotes, because those lyrics are ours now and I'll be blessed to witness the sparks of life that will overflow out of it...the beauty of words remain their ability to empower those willing to be...

Ready-to-wear...ready-to-be!

My incursion into the fashion world...


Since my last diary, I've lived some unexpected experiences that revealed so much about me, about what I want and about where I want to go from now on.

It was the middle of another usual day, working on my own tasks in the family that I got an invitation from an artist, Mitsou, who's been a pillar of the cultural scene in Quebec for many years, to go to a fashion show. It came out of nowhere! I was surprised and excited, because for a couple months, Alex has been really encouraging me to explore and develop my creativity and interest for fashion, clothing and accessories. It's almost as if this was happening like a big thumb up meaning "come on! It’s time to jump!” It was so sudden and unexpected that I didn't have the time to ask myself the question if I was ready or not, if I was capable or not, if and if not. The facts were: I was there; the invitation was there and my friends believed in me. Just to think about designing stuff creates a spark in me and I was willing to live an adventure...so 1+1+1+1+1= GO!

It was kind of weird to be in a public event without my brothers around me…. I’m pretty sure it was better for most of them (and for the world in general) NOT to be in that "fashionista world"! Except maybe for Alex; a guy that owns the most pairs of shoes, more than anyone that I've ever met. He has a real talent to find in a huge clothing store what would perfectly fit women according to their own personality and potential. Yet, at least I had YB with me as a bearded figure (lol)!

What I find always funny, so incredible and comforting is that we're so close as a family in this band, that we bring home everywhere we go... making it so we never totally feel like strangers. When you're at home you can be yourself, right? Well, when I was in this glamour extravagant place, surrounded by designers, TV stars and models; witnessing a show that I couldn't understand technically, but only feel the vibe and then like the clothes or not... I strangely felt so at ease and able to be myself.

I think that all I went through in the past years is allowing me today to be myself in any occasion and place. All the decisions that I made to purposely feed the positive in my life, all the opportunities I seized to open my hands to a reality that doesn't obey to the society's boxed view, all the learning I did through heartaches and mistakes are now my anchors as what I know are my weaknesses, but also my best way to seek guidance. It’s a partnership that is making me so much stronger, safer and able to enjoy the unknown with confidence and joy.

As I was in the middle of this new world, I didn't compare myself with the beautiful models, I didn't look down or up on anyone, I didn't try to convince myself of anything, I was just me...and me was enough, because deep inside I was trusting, confident and I was also backed up by my family. I was able to enjoy my night and connect with people on an equal level and to see things as they were, instead of filtering them with insecurity.

Moments like these are very important to me as references, as a point where I can feel the moment, look back and understand how my past allowed me to be here today and, also, look ahead and decide where I want to go from here. The moment I lived was exciting, fun and motivating. Looking back, I saw my old patterns of comparing myself falling into jealousy and insecurity; I remembered fighting those patterns and getting help from my family in order to do so. And now, I look ahead and I just want to jump into creating a fashion line that would be totally Your Favorite Enemies. Exciting, no? :) And what about you? What could be the unexpected you could jump in? "Come on! It’s time to jump!" :)

I love you

-Miss Isabel

Define your experience...

Bla Bla Bla: the live show... and Me... and Us!

It's hard to believe it's been already 2 weeks since the Bla Bla Bla was done!  I feel like it was yesterday that I was on the set of what we would refer to for years to come as the very first LIVE performance of YFE from our home to yours...one that was done by us for all of us... living a moment the way we decided to live it without any limit of time, space, topic, or way to live things...

The fact that we could be with all of you guys all at once was really special and we really felt the connection.  We had exciting stuff to talk about: the new Sound&Noises YFE TV show, the Open Your Eyes special DVD+CD project, the upcoming Canadian Music Week shows, the SFCC and the heart and vision supporting it...  It's funny how it's hard for us to talk about facts of the different things as we prefer much more to tell you guys about how we live for these moments and music to share with you, tell you the passion that wakes us up even when our body says "GO TO BED OR I SHUT YOU DOWN"...lol... tell you about the warm fire that consumes us when we think about you, about how we are blessed to be in your life and to grow with you singing and playing music that is and will transcend borders, cultures, age and ourselves... Let's say that when we plan the BLA BLA BLA we ALL know it will be AT LEAST twice the length of time we are planning! lol  An hour becomes very easily 2!  And why should we cut? It’s OUR TV Show...it's OUR time with YOU and we don't want to be restricted, do we?:)

Sitting on these white couches, we were very at ease to be with you talking about what we are planning and preparing for you, but we were also VERY excited about leaving that place to get to our instrument and play for you the new song "I Just Want You To Know"!!!!  We knew that it was for many of you a very first Live show with Your Favorite Enemies and we knew how meaningful it was for you just as it was for us.  When we were doing the sound check I was thinking "I'm so glad that technology allows us to play in front of our family from all around the world all at once!  I'm so happy we can bring everyone here in our studio/church/home/!  I'm so touched that we gathered in this place and moment to live something unique and I get to play a role in this incredible and special story..."

Your role was also obvious that day: you were a family member that was adding your love, your energy, your passion, your desire to see things change, your guts and soul... and because we all decided to be there fully that day we can share to those who weren't there an amazing recording, a video of the song you inspired and we all lived with one heart...  Some people think that what has an impact is the quality of the sound or the image or how provocative the words are or how loud the guitars are or if the singer bleeds by the end of the song or if the chick is half naked... We believe that the real impact is the spirit that is lived through the moment we crafted the lyrics, the chords and the moment we performed it with all of you with us.  THAT is why it is a song that is and will impact your day, your colleagues and friends, that will impact my thinking and way to see life...

After the performance we were almost in shock.  We returned on the set of the BLA BLA BLA and not only the band members but the whole filming crew was different, in a completely different spirit, the proof that we all lived something deep and significant.  What we shared following that was so true and touching...I was moved and I cried when Alex was talking about how our journey had been quite difficult at times but the fact that we were here now living the happiest time of our lives was all that was important. Not sure we can see me cry on the video but tears were streaming softly on my cheeks and in my mind I was thinking: "what we went through, seeded with tears and so many mistakes is today allowing us to shape the present and to touch a reality we were only dreaming with little conviction".

Now the dream is definitely there, we can touch it, feel it, shape it and share it!
The conviction has grown and the journey is amazing!

Miss Isabel