1,2,3, GO! 6.-10.12.2014

I’VE GOT YOU BOTH UNDER MY SKIN

Whenever I sing and record an album, I put myself out there, I’m aware of  making myself vulnerable. I take a step and I have no idea where it will take me. It feels lonely and liberating at the same time. I believe the important thing is to trust and keep on going. What would happen to me, if I stop taking risks?So here we go. Bold. Naked.

My flight to San Francisco left on Wednesday. We got back from Lech on Saturday night and we had exactly three days for our booklet, our video and cover shooting...otherwise there would be no CD on the release date. I was tensed and excited. The video shooting was set for sunday evening. 17:30 Agnes Slupek, our Make-up artist started to work on Naima and me. Yes, Naima Marilyn Mazic!Do you remember when I told you about our time in France in September...when we started to work on our choreography?Three months later it was time...we wanted to do a one shot video and at the same time give it our best shot. After a long time of practicing, getting ready in every way and a long time of searching for the right lighting, we got started!!!Bahadir Gokce was behind the camera, keeping track of our takes!We had so much fun and enjoyed the fact, that we were finally capturing our ideas Naima and I have been working on for quite some time...After each take we were able to let go more and more and in the end it felt so natural to us, that is was safe to drink a glass of sparkling wine and keep on dancing...at around 23:00 we called it a wrap and enjoyed some more sparkling wine : )!!!We had one hour before it was mathias’ birthday...at midnight we started screaming, singing, jumping and dancing. We took mathias out for dinner and of course we kept our make-up on!!!We couldn’t stay up for too long or at least I couldn’t because the following day started at 8:00...and I didn’t want to look toooo tired for our cover shooting with wonderful Julia Spicker!!!

The idea for the cover occured a while ago, inspired by someone really special to me, this special someone is called Vincent Pongracz, an incredibly talented playing composer...during an evening that turned into a night...I don’t remember exactly how it happened but he wrote those names on me, we made pictures and it turned out to be the original for the cover of my poet’s love – the last piece of the puzzle. I knew I wanted to do it that way. I just wasn’t sure if I would really dare. And I didn’t know or expect that I would have to persuade mathias. At first he was against it but after some time he was on board with it. Frankly, I was scared, I do not feel comfortable. Especially as a young man called Lukas Pfliegler was writing on me. Mathias discovered this talented young man in one of our favourite coffeeplaces in Vienna. He is responsible for all the writings in there and we asked him if he would write Heine, Rilke and my poet’s love on me. He said yes, he did and he showed up just before it was too late! Agnes Slupek once more did her magic on me and then it was time for me to take off my clothes. It was hard but I felt safe in front of Julia and her charming assistant Xenia. Julia is a stunning artist, her vision, her lighting, the way she challenged and encouraged me and last but not least the moments she captured. Thank you for this unbelievable day!!!We were done around 15:00 and I was so very tired but there was still so much to do. We would get the first selection of photos the next day and until then I had to complete all the texts and lyrics for the booklet. Tuesday morning Julia sent us her choice and we easily agreed. You’ll see for yourself very very soon!!!Tuesday afternoon I went back into the studio one last time...Tuesday evening I finished the booklet...Tuesday night I hopped on the last train to Wels from where I left to Munich the next morning to fly off to California...

To cut a long story short: We made it in time. m y p o e t ’ s l o v e coming soon...

Yours Lia