I haven’t put pen to paper (actually fingers to key … but pen to paper sounds a touch more personal), so I decided as the curtain falls on 2023 it would be a good time to do so again!

As I reflect a bit back on the past year … one where our world has become even more divided; politically, racially, sexually… with just about anything else possible. People are ‘triggered’ by the most ridiculous and harmless things. And to top it all off, the ‘threat’ of us as a species blowing us all into nuclear extinction seems even more a topic of MSN conversation than the Reagan 1980’s….

Oh well, this is a BIC Blog, so I am going to switch gears and do a bit of retrospective reflecting on 2023! If I just look at the ‘output’ of what we have done this past year, on the surface it may look like MR and I have rested on our laurels! NO!!! As I originally dabbled with the idea of releasing a string of singles in 2023, I quickly realized that BIC works best in the traditional (old-school) context/concept of an album. We did release a single and an accompanying video in March … the ear-worm of a track “KISS ME (GOODBYE)” featuring the talented and charismatic JULIAN SHAH-TAYLER. While I truly love this song, and had a blast doing the video, I was far more inspired to write a collection of new songs with the continuity of an album in mind. As with our previous releases, I already have the title and the cover (and back cover!) art selected. This is always my inspirational first-step. Doing it this way just ‘feels right’. As I am writing this, DIrk Doucette (who has played drums on most of the BIC tracks) is here in our SAINTinLA Studio tracking drums on five of the songs with MR and I. We have all of the music tracks written … which is what we have been doing in 2023, and five currently are now songs … with words and titles. Keeping the element of surprise intact, I won’t divulge the singers … but the titles of the songs we are adding live drums to are “Made Of Rain”, “Hollow”, “Echo and the Angels”, “Present Tense”, along with an ever-so-slightly remixed version of “Kiss Me (Goodbye)”. The other 3 music tracks are in the hands of singers who are currently diligently putting their talents, heart and soul into where the music takes them! Something else I let on to in a recent Q&A post was that we are doing something I wanted to do on the other albums, but finally going to make happen on this one …. on the CD and DIGITAL versions we will connect the songs with musical interludes, called ‘Halos'. These different soundscapes will seamlessly ‘link’ the songs. While this may annoy some, it is my hope that our BIC Family will sit and uninterruptedly listen in its entirely just once. 33.3 Music Collective will also include the songs in a digital stand-alone (sans halos) format . Creating these unique Halo soundscapes have been extremely inspiring … to the point that Mr. Rozon (who usually leaves the driving to me) said '“we should do a BIC ambient record!”. I added that to our ‘vision/to-do’ board! And for those that will ask; yes there are indeed plans for a ReMix/Re-Envision release to follow up. Some tracks have already been sent to a few producers and artists to do their thing. I still really love that as a consistent thing we do!

Since Tish and I are no longer playing with GLJ, it was a blast to be asked by Mr. Hussey and company to join The Mission on stage in September to play “Tower Of Strength”. Wayne even had the audience sing happy birthday to Tish as the show was on her birthday! Check out a few pics by my long time friend Kevin Estrada below!

Our friends at 33.3 are offering as a small token of thanks for the belief and support in 2023 a FREE Digital Download of our Anthology 14-song “There Is Always A Light” ! Click on the link HERE to get yours and please share as we would love for our BIC Family to grow in the New Year!!

I will end this here by wishing our BIC Family around the world a Very Happy and Blessed New Year, with hopes of peace and love. We can all start by being kind, understanding and tolerant. …

BE THE STORM * BE THE CALM

MC X

**GET YOUR FREE 14-SONG DIGITAL DOWNLOAD** **HERE** !

MC on stage with THE MISSION in LA !

BIC BLOG - New Years Eve 2023!