Being nervous...

..isn't something I tend to focus on. 

Sure, I do feel that kind of electricity in my veins before each gig, no matter how big or how small it is. It keeps me on my toes, and that's precisely where I want to be.

On. My. Toes. 

So when the time-consuming task of putting the new Motherpearl album together is starting to reach the end, and you realize that you have to stand by your creation in a cocky and proud pose and let the world know that "this is what we do, and we're damn good at it", well, then the nervousness sets in faster than Miley Cyrys sheds her clothes in a music video.

Don't get me wrong.  Gazing through the vast cloud of indie-spirit that this debut album was born into, I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished on our own. All the way from setting up mics and amps, rehearsing and recording the darn thing, I have never doubted that this would not be something to be proud of.  We did this ourselves and with a surprisingly great result.

But I'm still nervous. 

Why? Well, for once we do have two really heavy names in Swedish rock and funk music adding their mojo to the record, thus expanding the potential fanbase quite a bit. "IA" Eklund from the always awesome, and awe-inspiring band Freak Kitchen won't need more of an introduction than this live video from Gotheburg featuring two of my favourite songs; "Speak when spoken to" and "Porno daddy".

IA adds his two cents, (an then some!) to the fast paced "Showstarter".

The second star contributing to the album is Paulo Mendonca, currently reclaiming the funk throne across Europe with his new album "Does anybody wanna funk?", recorded by Maxe Axelsson at PAMA Studios. Paulo has become a good friend of the band, which is crazy considering that the whole band has looked up to him since the early days of "Chocolate Chips & Chicken Bones"  The new album is an awesome display of modern funk and true musicianship. Just check out this video from the live studio sessions at PAMA earlier this year.

Along with Paulo, who shreds his way through the solo part of "Simon Says", we also had some great horns added by saxophone wonderboy Martin Svanström on the track "Waste my time".  

Last but definitley not least, we were able to make another dream come true by adding Mattias Bylund to the roster. This man has so many hits and collaborations with world artists that it scares me. How about Brandy, One Direction, Demi Lovato, Westlife and Russel "Gladiator" Crowe, to name a few. "Mr Happiness" himself has arranged and recorded the strings on the only ballad on the album; "Sooner or later".

So with all these great musicians among us on this debut album, I do believe I have earned the right to be nervous.  

But as I said: being nervous keeps me on my toes. And what happens when you have no toes left to stand on?

You leave the ground, you soar, and then you fly.

So bring it on. I am ready.

I just hope you are..

/M