Hold Me Close - RichardShekari

Thanks so much, bro! Hope you're doing great too.

Hey, Bullitt.
I really appreciate that, thank you! Credit goes to Nameless for that amazing guitar loop; it made the creative process so much easier. I'm truly grateful I had the opportunity to build something around it.

Thanks as well for the kind words about the track as a whole. I really appreciate you taking the time to listen and share your thoughts!

Nameless is a genius. You really need to check out the rest of his work; he's incredibly talented and consistently amazing.

Haha, I had to read that twice before I figured out what you meant by the umbrella. Good one, King!
I've always thought that working with loops takes a special kind of skill. In fact, I still do. Some producers can take four or more loops from different artists and somehow weave them into a solid, clean track. That always amazes me.
With this one, I didn't do much, really. I matched the tempo, added another rock loop in FL Studio, and voila... kaboom Haha.
Thanks for the kind words, Mark. I truly appreciate them. And yes, Nameless is a genius. The loops he creates are incredibly easy and inspiring to work with.

Oh yeah, that loop is something else entirely, Paul. Thanks for dropping by and giving it a listen. I really appreciate it.

Thanks, mate! I really appreciate that.

You're right, I don't use loops very often because they're rocket science to me. Haha. But this one was too good to pass up. I'm glad the rain effect worked for you; I was hoping it would help set the mood and tie everything together.

And yes, those are my vocals. I still track my vocals in Adobe Audition 1.5... old school, right? Haha.

Thank you for the kind words! I'm primarily a vocalist, so hearing that means a lot. I'm looking forward to hearing your LM loop mix as well. It's always fun to see how different people interpret the same source material.

Ah, don't praise me too much on this one, though! Haha. The drums and guitar are actually loops; one from Looperman and the other from FL Studio. I just stitched them together and built around them. I think I have no excuse to be lazy now; seeing what can be done with a few good loops has definitely inspired me to keep creating.

Thanks again for listening and for the encouragement. It means a lot.

You got it, Zoot. That guitar loop literally swept me off my feet, haha.

Thanks so much, 1GF

I appreciate you opening up like that, brother. Thats a heavy story to carry, and Im sorry you had to go through so much loss and recovery. The fact youre still standing, still creating, still present with your kids and grandkids says a lot about your resilience. I hear no bitterness in you, just honesty and depth. Respect to you for that.

Thank you so much, bud

I appreciate it, stay cool

Hey, Gizmo. thank you for the kind words! Cheerz

Thanks, James. I've just sent everything over. Please check your email when you get a chance.

Dude, this is more than an honour for me. I absolutely fell in love with the guitar loop and melody. It's one of the most beautiful musical ideas I've heard in a long time. I really appreciate this opportunity and I'm excited to work on it.

Thanks, Raj

Thank you, Jai! That means a lot. I'd love to hear what you come up with when you get your guitar out. The tune has such a beautiful feel to it, and I think it leaves plenty of room for creative interpretation.

Thanks so much for the encouraging words, Glenn. Have a wonderful weekend ahead. I'm sure you're already strumming the chords for your next amazing release.

Hey brother, I think it's obvious I'm getting a bit fed up with producing all my own beats, so I'm exploring different approaches to keep growing creatively and stay true to the art, if you know what I mean. I'm really glad you loved this one, and I truly appreciate your kind words

Thank you for stopping by, Ehbadya

You know, Paul, I first heard the word "sciatica" from my wife towards the end of her first pregnancy. Before then, I had never even come across the term. Trust me, as an African, words are only important to us when our survival depends on them, if you know what I mean. Looking back, it's possible she was dealing with a different kind of pain and figured that anything that intense had to be sciatica.

Anyway, I brought that up because when you mentioned it, I went and looked up the common symptoms. Man, just reading about it made me uncomfortable. If a few paragraphs can make me not want to continue reading, then I honestly can't imagine what it's like having to live with that kind of pain in your own body.

Now, I think you and I both know I don't have the power to heal anyone, and I don't believe any of us do. But I do believe the One who made us knows us better than anyone else ever could. So the best we can do is take our requests to Him honestly and sincerely.

After all, He said in Matthew 7:8 that everyone who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. To me, that means we don't have to approach Him timidly. We can come confidently and lay our burdens before Him.

After seeing your message, I pulled out my little worn-out Bible, the one I always run to when I need to hear His words. I read Luke 10:19 and Psalm 23:1-6 with you in mind. And since you invited me to pray along with you, I used your name specifically when I prayed. I asked the Lord not only to heal you, but also to walk with both of us and continue guiding us through this life.

Just so we're clear, I'm no pastor or priest. I'm simply standing with you in spirit, believing that God's healing isn't limited by distance, circumstances, or anything else. In a way, I read those verses as though I were Paul, the one dealing with the sciatica. Maybe when you have a quiet moment, you can read them yourself and spend some time reflecting on them.

I pray the Lord becomes your shield and your protection. I pray He takes you under His mighty wings and heals you in a way that leaves no doubt about where the healing came from. And when that day comes, not if but when, I hope you'll give Him all the glory.

One thing I've learned the hard way is that the secret to getting through life is found in the very name the world often overlooks: Jesus.

So that's my prayer for you, my friend.

Amen.