Thank you for saying “YES!” to this album, my first “legit” recording project, including a real-live producer, a cast of world-class studio musicians and pro-level mixing and mastering--the real deal! This entire process has been a labor-of-love, and perhaps the longest gestation period ever: 4 years of recording, 20 years of writing, and 54 years of preparing! Now that it has finally been birthed, I am so excited to share it with you! These are deeply personal songs, each one a glimpse, a chapter, a reflection along my pathway toward healing, self-discovery and unconditional love--for myself and for others. (It’s no accident that the word “love” shows up in so many of my titles! We teach what we most need to learn, right?!) My fondest wish, dear listener, is that you will be moved by this music and its message, so much so that this record becomes the soundtrack of your life, if only for a moment! May it elevate, educate and activate your body, mind and SOUL, and may you find yourself inspired to share your own gifts with the world as a result! In Harmony, Janis

I want to thank my beautiful daughters, Sasha and Katia, for all of the gifts they have brought to my life: joy, inspiration, love, laughter and so much learning! I love you madly and am bursting with pride at the women you have become and the way you walk in the world! “You’re the reason why I sing!” Thanks also to my wonderful husband, John Welsch, for believing in me, supporting me, encouraging me, being my biggest fan, my #1 roadie and the subject of some of my best love songs! To the rest of my amazing family, including my sisters Joy, Jill and Joni, thanks for your steadfast love, kindness, compassion and generosity, and for being my first musical partners-in-crime! Finally, to my mother, mentor and muse, Joyce Sundeen Kelly Riebe, thanks for the music, Mom! It truly did save me...

To Christian Teele, Producer, Drummer and Percussionist extraordinaire, I offer a deep bow of gratitude for sharing this vision with me and helping to make it such a beautiful reality! Thank you for your clear yet gentle guidance, your patient, professional demeanor and your oh-so-groovy sensibilities, not to mention the fact that you assembled such an incredible team of musicians! I appreciate you, brother, and can’t wait to do it again! As for the rest of the musicians and vocalists involved, including Eric Moon, Ryan Jalbert, Paul McDaniel, Garrett Sayers, Emily Williams, Katia Cardenas and Amanda Grover, I can’t thank you enough for all of the goodness you brought to the mix! Every time I listen to these songs I get the “perma-grins,” remembering how magical it was to be in the studio with you! And finally, a huge round of thank you’s to Colin Bricker of Mighty Fine Productions for the stellar mixing and mastering, to Emily Olson for the fabulous artwork and design, and to Andrew Wyatt, my favorite photographer on the planet, for the amazing photos!

Okay, finally-finally: Hugs, kisses and big thanks to Spirit Voices, Global Soul Experience, Columbine Spiritual Center and all of my students, colleagues and “co-conspirators!” It is such a pleasure to sing, share, serve and shine with you! And to Christian Boele and Valborg Werbeck-Svardstrom, thanks for helping me to truly uncover my voice!