It has been a busy summer…

I just got back from the US after taking my daughter to university!  It was bittersweet knowing that she was excited to start a new chapter of learning and study and yet difficult realizing that my husband and I are a 14-hour plane ride away from her.  I’m grateful that our son is a 20-minute drive from our daughter so they will be close by.  :)

Before my daughter left for the US, we were able to record a video of us singing her composition ‘Boundless Favours’ together.

I think you’ll be able to see my joy at the way I gaze at her almost throughout the video. There is something very precious that happens when we sing together.  The joy and elation of singing in harmony with the blending of our voices is a magical feeling!

And I am also so moved that I could include her composition on my album ‘The Exalted One’.

>>> Watch Boundless Favours <<<

I would so appreciate if you could say a prayer for my daughter as she embarks on a new year of study.

If you would like a copy of ‘The Exalted One’, you can find it here.

For the Commemoration of the Martyrdom of the Báb I am sharing a video accompanied by a piece titled ‘Remover of Difficulties’ – a prayer in 3 languages: English, Spanish and Arabic.

I am sharing it with you a few days early in case you would like to use it for your Holy Day program.

>>> Watch the Video here <<<

Just a few more days left till all proceeds of ‘The Exalted One’ album go towards the fund for the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá (until July 10th).  To order or send as a gift, click here.

I explain this initiative in this video that includes photos of friends who have supported it.  Thank you to the many friends around the world who have been supportive of the Kickstarter campaign, the album and this initiative.

Special thanks to Ali Gomez who sings the Spanish section so beautifully and to Daniel Badi Rinaldi who produced the piece.

If you haven’t had a chance to see the previous video and read about how the prayer ‘Unto Thee I Repair for Refuge’ was inspired, click here for a previous post.

And please don’t forget to subscribe to my Youtube channel for more videos. Thank you in advance.

There is a prayer that I have recited frequently throughout my life. The prayer is by the Báb and starts “O Lord! Unto Thee I repair for refuge’.  I say it often as it seems to apply to so many aspects of life: seeking God’s protection and aid, asking for detachment from all things, praying for contentment.

For many years I wanted to set it to music but found it rhythmically challenging.  Since the prayer is by the Báb, I felt it should be on ‘The Exalted One’ and so I attempted to compose a melody for it one more time. When I placed my fingers on the piano the melody seemed to flow through me from another realm!  The experience was magical!

In the piece the piano takes us on a journey like a train moving towards its destination, with the rhythm of the music carrying us forward.  Then the music slows down in the chorus while we ask for His ‘Sufficing Help’.

As the song progresses towards the end it becomes more complex with harmonies and varied voices, reflecting the path of our lives as we grow through difficulties and joys.

In the last part of the song (my favorite part at 3:20) the piano rises an octave without any distractions, symbolically signifying that we have become “independent of all things” and that we are finally aligned to His wishes.

I have made a video for the piece and encourage you to watch it thinking about your own journey and your own hopes.

>> Watch the video here<<<

** If you are able, kindly give the video a thumbs up and leave a comment as that will allow more eyes to view the video. Many thanks. :)

To hear all the songs on the album: ‘The Exalted One’.

Just a Kindly reminder that all proceeds of ‘The Exalted One’ go towards the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá until July 10th.  To order or send as a gift, click here. 

LYRICS

O Lord! Unto Thee I repair for refuge, and toward all Thy signs I set my heart.

O Lord! Whether traveling or at home, and in my occupation or in my work, I place my whole trust in Thee.

Grant me then Thy sufficing help so as to make me independent of all things, O Thou Who art unsurpassed in Thy mercy!

Bestow upon me my portion, O Lord, as Thou pleasest, and cause me to be satisfied with whatsoever Thou hast ordained for me.

Thine is the absolute authority to command.

Selections from the Writings of The Báb, page 74

Join Elika’s music family and receive 3 gift songs.

My interview with Baha’i blog just went live!  Here is a link to the interview where I share what inspired the creation of ‘The Exalted One’, what brought me the greatest joy in making the album, and my hopes for the project.

>>> INTERVIEW with Baha’i Blog <<<

All proceeds from the sale of ‘The Exalted One’ will be contributed towards the fund for the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahábetween the Declaration of the Báb (on May 23rd) and the Martyrdom of the Báb on (July 9th).

Thank you for all your loving comments about this initiative. :)

If you already have one, you might consider giving them as gifts to friends.

Here is a link to download ‘The Exalted One’.

I would love to hear from you once you read the interview.  Let me know what you enjoyed about it.

Joyous greetings for the Declaration of the Bab!

I was thrilled when I recently read that plans for the design and building of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá are now in process.

Upon hearing this exciting news, I immediately felt that I wanted to be a part of this historic process.

Therefore I decided that all proceeds from the sale of ‘The Exalted One’ will be contributed towards the fund for the construction of the Shrine of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá between the Declaration of the Báb (on May 23rd) and the Martyrdom of the Báb on (July 9th).

This seems particularly befitting given that ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was born on the very same day as the Declaration of the Báb – May 23, 1844 – and it was ‘Abdu’l-Bahá who worked tirelessly to build the Shrine of the Báb. It brings me great joy to think that ‘The Exalted One’ will contribute to the building of the Shrine of the ‘Servant of God’!

If you already have one, you might consider giving them as gifts to friends.

Here is a link to the album ‘The Exalted One’.

Here is a link to watch the video ‘My Beloved’ (if you haven’t had a chance yet):

One of my favorite pieces on ‘The Exalted One’ is titled ‘My Beloved’.  It is based on a prayer of the Báb and is sung in 6 languages – English, Spanish, Swahili, Chinese, Italian and French.

For the Declaration of the Báb I have made a video with beautiful photographs of the Shrine of the Báb (thanks to Farzam Sabetian) to accompany the piece.  I hope you enjoy it.  Please feel free to use it for the coming Holy Day.

>>> Watch the video here.<<<

I would like to thank all the talented singers who recorded on the song: Ali Youssefi (Spanish), Auntieclare Rezin (Swahili), Tracy Chen (Chinese), Ali Gomez (Italian) as well as my talented producer, Daniel Badí Rinaldi.

To hear all the songs on the album: ‘The Exalted One’.

If you missed the timelapse video of how each album is prepared click here to watch it.

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Timelapse Video

Thank you for your support of ‘The Exalted One’.   I am so thrilled to be receiving emails and posts from friends around the world who have opened their packages with the new album.  Thank you for sending them in. :)

I recently made a timelapse video of how each album is prepared – it’s quite the intricate process!  Click here to watch it.

Just a reminder that each CD package has a unique download code inside for you to download the music if you don’t have a CD player (see photo below).

Online Platforms

The album is now available on Spotify, apple music, and other online platforms.

On my next blog, I look forward to sharing a video from one of the songs on the album. Stay tuned….

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The Exalted One released!

I’m thrilled that my new album, ‘The Exalted One’, has just been released!

The CD is now available on my website. Two thirds of our stock is almost gone! Here is the link to download the physical or digital album on my website.

I would like to thank so many friends around the world who supported the making of this album through their generous contributions during the Kickstarter last November.

I am deeply touched that our goal was reached in 3 days!  My Kickstarter friends are mentioned by name below.

I have so enjoyed composing, designing and assembling this precious album and I hope that you will enjoy it as much I have creating it.

A special thanks goes to my producer Daniel Badi Rinaldi and Jarome Matthew for mastering the album!

Each album contains a unique download code within the package

Kickstarter supporters

Thank you to all my Kickstarter supporters who helped in the creation of this album.

I treasure you! :)

William Cai – Executive Producer

As you may know, the cover of my previous album ‘The Ancient Beauty’ was inspired by the gate at the entrance to the Shrine of Bahá’u’lláh, with a delicate gold papercut tracery of the intricate design of the “B” that adorns the gate.

The design

For the cover of ‘The Exalted One’, I wanted to use that same motif in order to visually represent the relationship between the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh. Both covers therefore feature a similar gold laser cut of the wrought iron gates that lead to the Shrines of the Báb and Bahá’u’lláh (in Haifa and in Bahji), reflecting the unity of Their reality as the Twin Manifestations of God for this age.

Befittingly for the Báb, however, the cover of ‘The Exalted One’ actually opens up as a gate, visually alluding to His role as the Herald of Bahá’u’lláh. It is also set against a deep forest green background, the color associated with the mission of the Báb. I must say that the results exceeded my fondest aspirations!

Below are some photos of the creative process so you can see how detailed the design is.

Release date

Only six more days till the release of ‘The Exalted One’ on May 2^nd!  :)

Photos of the process

Designing all the intricate details around the letter ‘B’

In the end we had to remove one of the rings as it was too detailed

Making sure all the proportions are right

Working with the designer

I have so enjoyed collaborating with Nev, the designer from Oops Studio to work on the cover and design of ‘The Exalted One’ and ‘The Ancient Beauty’. Feeling extremely blessed by the capable hands that helped bring this album alive.

Our first session coming up with the concept for the cover of ‘The Exalted One’

A few years ago I released ‘Rejoice with Exceeding Gladness’ – a song in honor of the Festival of Ridvan.  I love listening to this composition: it is in 6 languages and everyone can join in singing the chorus!

Click here to listen to or download the gift song (there are also other languages).

The song is a gift to you (please feel free to share it). Even though the link says ‘Buy Now’ you can download it for free (just enter 0 in the amount).

As there were production costs, there is an option for donation.  Just enter whatever amount you wish after clicking ‘Buy Now’ on the website.

I have uploaded a video for the Ridvan song that my talented friend Glenn Franco Simmons created of communities from around the world.   I hope you enjoy it! Click here to watch it or watch below.

Can’t wait for the release of the new album ‘The Exalted One’ on May 2nd.  Stay tuned…

Some friends have been asking for the chords of the song ‘Rejoice with exceeding gladness’ so I am sharing them below.  Enjoy!

Here is the link to more Ridvan videos. Enjoy!