Days in the Sahara - Between Wonders and Storms

Hey, 

I hope you’re doing well! It’s actually Sunday morning and we just left what has been our home for the past seven days in the Moroccan Sahara…! The scenery is actually so beautiful as we’re driving under a clear blue sky surrounded by some desert mountains! Silence is loud in the van as all we hear is everyone looking by their window, thoughtful, following an entire week filled with magic, wonders, and of course, loads of challenges, personal ones as well as collective ones.

Some Tuaregs told me, "You can’t share stories about the desert, you have to live them..." Well…! These words are still strongly resonating as I’m writing this missive for you!

Since Alex has faithfully invited you into his daily journey through this very first Moroccan tour of ours, please allow me to simplify the past seven days with a few words!!!!

Sunday November 1st - Day 1

We woke up at the hotel following an evening where we couldn’t play at the festival in the end for lack of electricity reasons…! Since we were about to live on the festival site, it meant there was no electricity waiting for us on that day and we had to work it out. I’m tour managing this wonderful journey, which means I have to make sure everything goes according to "plan", but I don’t want to say plan, as we’re way past this point now, so I haven’t been very “nice” on that day with our now friends who welcomed us. Excuse my French!

Silver lining - 

We managed to get the electrical power we needed and listened to The Fragile Beauty (Of New Morning Hopes) album very loud at the exact place where we would film and record the movie! This was my best album listening session ever under such a wonderful sky!!!!

Monday November 2nd - Day 2

We’re ready to film and scream action! It’s 3pm and we spend 7 hours building that entire setup for us all to be happy and comfortable under one of the warmest suns of the past few years for me! So here we are, Jessie. The movie producer screams AC…T…! Then the wind decides to go crazy, generously bringing a sandstorm with him, which forces us to unpack everything, as, of course, sand and musical instruments, digital keyboards, laptops, and so on are not to be invited at the same party normally…!

Silver Lining - 

A warm tajine in the desert is more than welcome, even — or especially should I say — with pockets filled with sand.

Tuesday November 3rd - Day 3

Quote of the day: Rain storm and sand storm at the same time should be illegal! Someone also told me, when good people visit the desert, it likes to throw its worst shit at them to see how good the good people really are…!

Silver Lining -

We slept at the hotel since we’ve been sleeping outside under the stars for the past few days, but now, everything is wet and filled with mud. A warm spaghetti, even seated on a wet blanket, is more than welcome!

Wednesday November 4th - Day 4

After the rain comes the… Flies! :) After the rain and the sandstorm comes the… Technical problems! Sef and Ben had to open and clean everything we had…! We managed to film and record, but not as much as we planned!

Silver Lining -

We managed to have at least parts of a movie, whatever happens from now on...!

Thursday November 5th - Day 5

Some people in the crew started to complain about the food right as we were about to play and record Alex’s most personal song on the record. It hasn’t been welcomed very well, and everything came really close to collapse…!

Silver Lining -

As the sun went down behind the dunes, we ended up recording what has been one of my greatest live musical moments ever lived! The desert has been quite confrontational with us since we stepped foot in it, but what it gives birth to simply is above and beyond! Let’s bring the conversation higher than personal desires — not even needs!

Friday November 6th - Day 6

We had to film the hardest part of the movie as we were all exhausted under the warmth of the past three days of sun and all of what happened beforehand! Alex was in such a great vibe as we were about to record a new single we wrote for this movie, especially following the spiritual moment we experienced the night before; he was digging for something more and deeper…!

As you know, Alex’s music is all about vibe, spirit, colors, vibes, and noises within a structure he really likes to mess with, which makes it really hard for us, at least for me. Since I’ve been managing this band for years prior to having proper management, I’m a little behind the rest of the band when it comes to being completely free and aligned with the song’s spirit on stage and in the studio. I’m always doubtful and scared of being the one who will mess things up.

Well...! I messed every post chorus up for the entire day and was so mad at myself since we had to stop before things went south between all of us! I still feel bad about it, but I sincerely didn’t get where we had to switch a single time. Was it the exhaustion, the sand, the sun, the rain, the electricity we lacked as the day started, or was it just me not being able to simply let go and be right in the moment with everyone else?! I’ll let you know!

Silver Lining -

We have a full movie with every song we wanted, as we managed to work way harder when the weather allowed it — which means it was really sweaty and hot for us all! Especially for Alex and Oli!

Saturday November 7th - Day 7

Half the band and crew spent the night vomiting and else...! They all stayed in “bed” until 3pm that last day! It was a very hard one mentally for all of us, even those not sick, always making sure we had some water and the sanitary area was allowing at least a very light ounce of human dignity.

Silver Lining -

We managed to take some band pictures as the sun was going down and immortalized something I never thought we would be able not only to accomplish but to make it reach this high level in such fashion up until Thursday afternoon! :)

Sunday November 8th - Week 2 Day 1

We’re leaving the Sahara toward our very first concert of the tour! Next stop: Aït Benhaddou! 

Silver Lining -

Second shower of the week is on the way! 

Next Tuesday for the missive will be our last day in Morocco! Make sure you follow Alex’s daily videos and adventures! It’s quite a trip so far! 

Looking forward to meeting some of you this Friday night in Tangier! I never thought I would write these words when the year started!!!! Thank you all so very much! 

I’m leaving the Sahara different from the way I came in…! These days will live on with me and us all forever…! Life can be so hard but so rich!

Silver lining — it’s worth living it!

Let’s be great to one another! 

Your Chief Operator and Friend, 

Jeff