Recently a new friend asked “Elika, I’m interested to know how your path in music came about… was it always music for you?” 

I began playing the piano from the age of five.  My mother was a piano teacher so I was always surrounded by music while growing up.  As a young child I enjoyed learning to play, but at around age twelve I had an overly strict teacher who made going to class a terror and a torture! I still remember walking into her class one week when she was playing a beautiful piano piece.  I asked her if I could learn it and she coldly replied that it was too difficult for me to play.  However, her discouragement had the effect of making me want to prove her wrong – so I found the notes for the piece and learned it.  At the time I simply wanted to show her that I could do it, but now in retrospect I see how it was a valuable learning experience which taught me that “any stumbling block can be turned into a stepping stone”.

In college, a close friend, Michele Brown, encouraged me to continue playing the piano and that’s when I began setting the Baha’i Writings to music.  We performed mostly for our friends and the community at UC Davis.  Later, after I transferred to UC Berkeley, I met another dear friend and talented musician, Fiona Doomun-Rouhani.  We performed together for a couple of years and many of our friends encouraged us to record a CD.  In 1996 the three of us collaborated and finally recorded ‘Melodies of the Nightingale’.

After my son was born in 1997, I started composing pieces for children, youth and family, and in 2001 “Melodies of the Nightingale for the family’ was released. 

Since then I have continuously been working on new compositions and am ecstatic that ‘Fire and Gold’ was just released. Music is my passion and I feel so blessed that it has developed into a career. 

What is your passion?  

Thought of the Day:  ”A wondrous melody is wings for the spirit and maketh the soul to tremble with joy.” Abdu’l-Baha 

This is a photo of me in my producer’s studio in Vancouver listening to some recordings we made for ‘Fire and Gold’. 

A close friend of mine, Parviz Eshrati, passed away a week ago today.  He was truly a remarkable person.  His sole aim and desire was to transform and improve the lives of every person who crossed his path. He never missed an opportunity to guide and help those he met.  I know Parviz achieved his purpose in this world as so many of his friends can attest to the fact that he was the instrument to changing the quality of their lives. 

One of the pieces on my CD, ‘Fire and Gold’, is dedicated to him.  It is called ‘The Prison of Tihran’ (track no.14).  I chose it to be the last piece on the CD as it is one of the most special ones for me.  It was composed during one of our study classes that Parviz had facilitated and he had requested that we memorize certain passages.  I decided to set the passage to music and I played it for our group one evening.  That night left an unforgettable memory in my mind as the music seemed to give it a special spirit.

Parviz had cancer and in the last days of his life, he stayed in a hospice.  The nurse there couldn’t fathom why his room was always full of joy and laughter and she asked him what it was that made him so different from the other patients.  When asked Parviz would always say, it was the love and prayers of his friends all around the world.  Another time, a few weeks before his passing, a friend tried to convince Parviz that he could still survive the cancer.  Parviz replied that he had already bought his ticket and was on the plane looking forward to his trip, why would he want the pilot to say that the flight had been cancelled?!  Such was his understanding that there is no need to fear death for it is simply the end of one phase of life and the beginning of a much more glorious journey.

I know that his soul is rejoicing in the next world, for his life was full of pure love, dedication and service.  I and many others have learned from his loving example and we will miss him.  

Thought of the Day:  ”O Son of Spirit!  With the joyful tidings of light i hail thee: rejoice!  To the court of holiness I summon thee:  abide therein that thou mayest live in peace forevermore.  

Baha’u'llah 

I am thrilled to let you know that ‘Fire and Gold’ is now available on a digital download site called Songslide.  The beauty of this site is that you can choose how much you would like to pay per song.  You can listen to all the songs on there and select the ones you like.  Better yet, you can purchase the whole album with a click of a button and again choose how much you would like to pay.  There is a minimum charge but not maximum. J

CDbaby has received the CDs I sent them but it will take another week for them to make them available for purchase on their site.  I will let you know when they are ready. 

Thank you once again for all your support and words of encouragement.  

Thought of the Day:  

“Try…to use spiritual melodies, songs and tunes, and to bring the earthly music into harmony with the celestial melody.” - Abdu’l-Baha 

Another joy of mine is making specialty cards.  I like designing different styles and catering them to various occasions for my friends.  About a year ago, I decided to market them to the public.  It has been a challenge as they are so time-consuming to make.  I spend time and energy on each one to make them unique and special.  

 At this time I am focusing specifically on making sets of Ayyam-i-Ha cards.  I used to do everything from scratch: folding and cutting black paper to size, printing the text on gold paper and cutting and gluing exquisite Japanese paper onto the card.  I have now found a printing company that will help me with the basic folding of beautiful shades of gold paper.  I also make sets of cards that have inspirational quotations from the Ruhi Institute books.  You can view some of the cards on the ‘Beautiful Items’ page on my website. I would love to hear your feedback or comments on the cards.  I hope you enjoy!  

Thought of the Day:

“…all things that have in themselves grace or beauty are pleasing to the heart and spirit…”  -Abdu’l-Baha 

I crave silence – especially during those times when I have the urge to create.  I have a passion for many types of the arts, but I find that the one that requires the longest period of silence is composing.  While it is challenging to describe how the creative process unfolds, I find that it is often the case that an intense and meaningful conversation will spark my inspiration.  Other times if I am in a pensive mood the melodies flow much more easily.  In the past friends have also requested that I set their favorite passage to music, and this is always a challenge and joy.  A few years ago, a dear friend’s father passed away so I set the ‘Prayer for the Departed’ to music to be sung at his memorial (this piece is included on ‘Fire and Gold’).  Another dear friend got married in our home and as a surprise I set to music a passage from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha’s on marriage and surprised her by singing it at her wedding.  I was so touched that both she and her husband were both in tears!    (My next project is to produce a marriage CD on which this track will be included).

These days the difficulty is finding the time to create.  My time is usually occupied with being the mother of two sweet children and other responsibilities so I feel it is so much harder to be a clear channel.  I am now trying to dedicate a few hours a week to just have silence so that I can enjoy and experience those moments of bliss when a melody is inspired.  

Thought of the Day:

“Through the power and charm of music the spirit of  man is uplifted.” 

Abdu’l-Baha 

Thank you all for your gracious comments on the Guestbook page.  We have now moved the guestbook page on the blog site so that I can now respond to you too!  Unfortunately in the process of doing that, we lost a few comments.  The CDs are on their way to different parts of the world and we’ll let you know once they’re available on CDBaby as that may be the easiest way to order.   If any of you would like to assist in the promotion and sales of ‘Fire and Gold’, please let me know and we can communicate directly. Thanks again! 

I am so ecstatic!  The CDs were finally delivered to my home today!  When the delivery van pulled up to our home I felt like I was receiving a truck full of gifts J Here is a photo of all the boxes in our entrance. 

The process of completing the CD has really tested my diligence and perseverance, but now that they are in my hands I feel like a new baby has been born and a new life  has begun.  Now the process of getting them out to the world begins.  On Monday I will be sending our first shipment to CDBaby as well as to some bookstores, friends and family who are assisting in the promotional process in different parts of the world. |

I am so grateful that I have had the opportunity to create ‘Fire and Gold’ and am excited to share it with as many friends and their friends as possible. 

Thank you all for your support, prayers, kind words on the guestbook and for spreading the word!

Thought of the Day:

“Perseverance is an essential condition. In every project firmness and steadfastness will undoubtedly lead to good results…”  -Abdu’l-Baha

During the last two weeks of the production of ‘Fire and Gold’, there were some stressful moments and delicate decisions to be made.  It was the first time that I have manufactured a CD in China and this meant searching to find appropriate companies to duplicate the CD and print the booklet (my previous two CDs, ‘Melodies of the Nightingale’ and ‘Melodies of the Nightingale for the Family’ were manufactured in Hong Kong).  At one point, I felt flustered as to which direction to take and was under pressure to make all the arrangements in a very short time so that the CD would be ready on schedule. 

 At this point, a dear friend encouraged me to spend some time meditating so that I could calm my soul in order to make the best choice. 

 The next morning, after I prayed, I closed my eyes and sat in silence in order to clear my mind.   At first, all the possible options flooded my thoughts, but soon after that a sense of tranquility filled my soul and it became quite clear what I should do.  It was such a feeling of exhilaration after the confusion from the night before.  I am grateful for the reminder of a caring friend who understood the benefits of spending some time in silence.

Do you meditate?  I would love to hear your comments.

Thought of the Day:

“Meditate profoundly, that the secret of things unseen may be revealed unto you, that you may inhale the sweetness of a spiritual and imperishable fragrance…”  -Baha’u’llah