There is an important announcement from Heather and from Bryan on the main website. I have copied and pasted it here for you.
Dear friends of Mostly Autumn,
Although it breaks my heart, I am here to tell you that I have decided to step out of the Mostly Autumn fold.
Life within the Mostly Autumn embrace has offered me the opportunity to explore myriad other avenues of creativity over the years alongside my role within the band. Not least the ultimate experience in creativity for me - becoming a Mother.
I am sometimes baffled at the realisation that here I am with my 15 month old son, Harlan - without a doubt, through the toughest trials of bringing a healthy little baby boy into the world of toddling and early boyhood already, whilst still presenting myself to you as a performer of the stage and record.
At times, I too had my doubts! But whilst thinking,
''Why not? Why cannot two dreams co-exist hand in hand?'', a long pondered upon challenge presented itself to me to which, I rose and fulfilled. Of this I am very proud. For not even one moment of executing which did I feel that Harlan had slipped rank from my number one spot. Nor do I feel that my performance within Mostly Autumn faltered. On the contrary in fact, I believe the fire within me, the one which ignites zeal, fuels creativity and makes dreams prosper, burned even brighter.
''So... maybe it's time? Maybe the next challenge is to branch out?''
Over years gone by the one major thing for me, that has been left unattended on the back burner has been to branch out as a solo performer. It was never something I had even imagined to be an all encompassing venture.
''It'll be fine. I'll just fit it in around everything else'' I thought.
''After all, amongst dabbling as an illustrator; forming a duo with Angela and having guested with numerous other bands and artists; I've lived in another country; I've travelled, I've become a Mum... Yeah, I can do this!''
- Another year passes by, and another one...
That is until I brought that very prospect to the fore and gave it a stir. Or should I say, until it brought itself there! Niggling away, increasingly over the last few years it is fair to say that never has the pull been stronger towards this very day.
You see, Heather Findlay is now Heather Findlay-Loftus. One unit of which = Heather Findlay + Ian + Harlan.
At this point in time I can't see a formula that allows Mostly Autumn to be part of the HF equation. Not only for my own sake but for the sake of Mostly Autumn as well, which as you know requires 110% dedication.
So, for now at least, I just cannot imagine having the time and energy it would take to tame and tailor the passion I have to pour into my own musical ventures alongside co-nurturing Mostly Autumn and giving to it all the love, care and attention that it so richly deserves. The timing I feel is right. I have not yet become involved in the new Mostly Autumn record and there are no shows imminently pending. It is a new year and a new decade to boot.
Although there are flutters of excitement, it is not without wistfulness, sorrow and indeed a certain amount of trepidation that I hereby step out alone to follow my own dreams. Mostly Autumn has been my life for over 13 years now. It is a warm blanket of security. It is unlike any other band I have worked with. It is a family. It emanates a certain magic that pulls you in. For life, I imagine...
I can only hope to succeed in capturing some of that magic to take with me. Even a fraction of which I know, will go a very long way...
Mostly Autumn - Bryan's dream - will always remain a very special part of me and I wish for every success to befall it in times to come.
I have made some wonderful memories and shared some of the best times of my life so far with Mostly Autumn and its' members both past and present. Many of which have become and I hope will remain some of my closest friends.
You too are part of that family. You already know that none of it is possible without your presence and support. I wish to thank you for being there throughout. I wish for you the happiest of times ahead on your journey with Mostly Autumn and I hereby invite you along with me to embark upon the Heather Findlay journey which starts here.
I am underway creating an album which I will be putting out this year.
It will be a 'full band' project - the exact line up of musicians for which is still to be decided upon but, as soon as there is news I'll make sure it reaches you.
There are one or two other projects bubbling away also, about which I will be regularly updating you as and when I am at liberty to do so.
You can keep tabs on me by joining my emailing list. To do so please drop me a line on heatherfindlaymusic@googlemail.com whereby all news updates and info will reach you first.
Please visit my website http://www.heatherfindlay.net to check in on album progress and general news updates (if not yet live - it is coming soon). I hope to make this a multi-media experience by way of video and photo diary updates and audio samples as and when they arrive.
At the moment the site is still in the embryonic stages of construction but, will be developing fast.
For now I bid you a very fond farewell.
Into the unknown I go...
With love and very best of wishes you all,
Heather Findlay x
Knowing you have all just read Heather's announcement, I can join you all wholeheartedly in the sadness and heartbreak we feel at her departure.
It has been a journey that will be so very close to my heart for the rest of my life, and on reflection, I wouldn't change a second of it. We grew together, moved together and we rocked the hearts and emotions of people all over the world together. Those memories will always remain.
Personally I am so very proud of what Heather has achieved, the force she has become, and because of this I know that she has to follow her heart and destiny - there can be no other way.
As my father often said "Nothing stays the same, son" - and as we grow, these words mean more than we could have imagined.
Mostly Autumn will not be the same, but just as something passes, something begins...and it is with sincere pleasure that I can announce that Olivia Sparnenn has agreed to take on the role, and I sincerely hope we can all embrace a new future, a new decade, with a glow in our hearts for the past.
However, we feel we cannot let her go quietly, so I would like to announce that there is to be a farewell concert for Heather to be held at the Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa on Friday April 2nd 2010. Let's send her off in style...
And lastly - on other matters, as you may be aware, we are working on a new album, which is to be released in the spring, entitled..
'Go Well-Diamond Heart'
More on this soon
To Heather.....
'Through Valleys of Evergreens and Violets
We walked for a while,
We reached for the heart of the sun
And a forest of stars,
But down in the fields
I realised a dream
That they all shone from the back of your eyes'
Go well, friend of mine
Bryan Josh
Dear friends of Mostly Autumn,
Although it breaks my heart, I am here to tell you that I have decided to step out of the Mostly Autumn fold.
Life within the Mostly Autumn embrace has offered me the opportunity to explore myriad other avenues of creativity over the years alongside my role within the band. Not least the ultimate experience in creativity for me - becoming a Mother.
I am sometimes baffled at the realisation that here I am with my 15 month old son, Harlan - without a doubt, through the toughest trials of bringing a healthy little baby boy into the world of toddling and early boyhood already, whilst still presenting myself to you as a performer of the stage and record.
At times, I too had my doubts! But whilst thinking,
''Why not? Why cannot two dreams co-exist hand in hand?'', a long pondered upon challenge presented itself to me to which, I rose and fulfilled. Of this I am very proud. For not even one moment of executing which did I feel that Harlan had slipped rank from my number one spot. Nor do I feel that my performance within Mostly Autumn faltered. On the contrary in fact, I believe the fire within me, the one which ignites zeal, fuels creativity and makes dreams prosper, burned even brighter.
''So... maybe it's time? Maybe the next challenge is to branch out?''
Over years gone by the one major thing for me, that has been left unattended on the back burner has been to branch out as a solo performer. It was never something I had even imagined to be an all encompassing venture.
''It'll be fine. I'll just fit it in around everything else'' I thought.
''After all, amongst dabbling as an illustrator; forming a duo with Angela and having guested with numerous other bands and artists; I've lived in another country; I've travelled, I've become a Mum... Yeah, I can do this!''
- Another year passes by, and another one...
That is until I brought that very prospect to the fore and gave it a stir. Or should I say, until it brought itself there! Niggling away, increasingly over the last few years it is fair to say that never has the pull been stronger towards this very day.
You see, Heather Findlay is now Heather Findlay-Loftus. One unit of which = Heather Findlay + Ian + Harlan.
At this point in time I can't see a formula that allows Mostly Autumn to be part of the HF equation. Not only for my own sake but for the sake of Mostly Autumn as well, which as you know requires 110% dedication.
So, for now at least, I just cannot imagine having the time and energy it would take to tame and tailor the passion I have to pour into my own musical ventures alongside co-nurturing Mostly Autumn and giving to it all the love, care and attention that it so richly deserves. The timing I feel is right. I have not yet become involved in the new Mostly Autumn record and there are no shows imminently pending. It is a new year and a new decade to boot.
Although there are flutters of excitement, it is not without wistfulness, sorrow and indeed a certain amount of trepidation that I hereby step out alone to follow my own dreams. Mostly Autumn has been my life for over 13 years now. It is a warm blanket of security. It is unlike any other band I have worked with. It is a family. It emanates a certain magic that pulls you in. For life, I imagine...
I can only hope to succeed in capturing some of that magic to take with me. Even a fraction of which I know, will go a very long way...
Mostly Autumn - Bryan's dream - will always remain a very special part of me and I wish for every success to befall it in times to come.
I have made some wonderful memories and shared some of the best times of my life so far with Mostly Autumn and its' members both past and present. Many of which have become and I hope will remain some of my closest friends.
You too are part of that family. You already know that none of it is possible without your presence and support. I wish to thank you for being there throughout. I wish for you the happiest of times ahead on your journey with Mostly Autumn and I hereby invite you along with me to embark upon the Heather Findlay journey which starts here.
I am underway creating an album which I will be putting out this year.
It will be a 'full band' project - the exact line up of musicians for which is still to be decided upon but, as soon as there is news I'll make sure it reaches you.
There are one or two other projects bubbling away also, about which I will be regularly updating you as and when I am at liberty to do so.
You can keep tabs on me by joining my emailing list. To do so please drop me a line on heatherfindlaymusic@googlemail.com whereby all news updates and info will reach you first.
Please visit my website http://www.heatherfindlay.net to check in on album progress and general news updates (if not yet live - it is coming soon). I hope to make this a multi-media experience by way of video and photo diary updates and audio samples as and when they arrive.
At the moment the site is still in the embryonic stages of construction but, will be developing fast.
For now I bid you a very fond farewell.
Into the unknown I go...
With love and very best of wishes you all,
Heather Findlay x
Knowing you have all just read Heather's announcement, I can join you all wholeheartedly in the sadness and heartbreak we feel at her departure.
It has been a journey that will be so very close to my heart for the rest of my life, and on reflection, I wouldn't change a second of it. We grew together, moved together and we rocked the hearts and emotions of people all over the world together. Those memories will always remain.
Personally I am so very proud of what Heather has achieved, the force she has become, and because of this I know that she has to follow her heart and destiny - there can be no other way.
As my father often said "Nothing stays the same, son" - and as we grow, these words mean more than we could have imagined.
Mostly Autumn will not be the same, but just as something passes, something begins...and it is with sincere pleasure that I can announce that Olivia Sparnenn has agreed to take on the role, and I sincerely hope we can all embrace a new future, a new decade, with a glow in our hearts for the past.
However, we feel we cannot let her go quietly, so I would like to announce that there is to be a farewell concert for Heather to be held at the Assembly Rooms, Leamington Spa on Friday April 2nd 2010. Let's send her off in style...
And lastly - on other matters, as you may be aware, we are working on a new album, which is to be released in the spring, entitled..
'Go Well-Diamond Heart'
To Heather.....
'Through Valleys of Evergreens and Violets
We walked for a while,
We reached for the heart of the sun
And a forest of stars,
But down in the fields
I realised a dream
That they all shone from the back of your eyes'
Go well, friend of mine
Bryan Josh
