Life-changing Japan Tour Letter from Erik - October Babies

To our friends in Japan - 

Well, we are back in the U.S.A.  We are all tired and jetlagged from the October Babies/Satchel Jones tatsumaki tour, yet we are exhilarated from this very powerful experience.  When we arrived in Detroit yesterday, the main question we all had was - Was it just a dream?  The last two weeks are so suddenly gone, in the blink of an eye, and we find ourselves back in Michigan.   

However, it wasn't a dream. So much happened over the last two weeks.  Every day was full of experience: new foods, new friends, new surroundings, new challenges.  Intense heat and humidity, long walks carrying heavy equipment, led us to deep existential crises and liberations through music, led us to magnificent castles and lush gardens and exquisite temples with streams of clear, refreshing water.  Oh, it was just like being born again and again and again.  Traumatic and ecstatic.  But of course, this is the meaning of October Babies.  When Toko and I found each other in 2002, we experienced this rebirth into the light.  Since then, we are born again and again together every day.  Technically, our birthdays are both in October, but every day is our birthday now.  Love is great, ne? 

Making music together is natural for Toko and I, because it is simply the expression of our constant rebirth through love.  We do not need to make music for any other reason. But to be honest, we never expected our love music to attract so many other angels...   

Our two bandmates, big Ben and Dale Jr., are not just wonderful and passionate musicians, they are shining and generous people.  They have not only contributed their musical skills and experience and showmanship, but also their optimism and love.  They have not just been "sidemen", but have been core participants in the creative evolution of this band.  They take pride in October Babies, and every gig is a communion. 

Our tourmate, Satchel Jones, is nothing less than a force of nature.  When we learned that he intended to join us on this tour, we were very very excited. Not just because we cherish his talent and personality, but also because we knew that this cosmic gypsy would shine so brightly and attract multi-colored miracles at every turn.  And ooooh, he did.  

Our performing venues - Cave Be, Club 440, Mori no Gallery, Club Mercury, and Club Water - each was so different. But each venue treated us so kindly.  We felt like each place was glad to have us there, and so we did our best to return this respect. Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu.  To the staff and owners of each venue, many many thanks for an unforgettable experience.  

Of course, we must thank the many great artists who joined us at each venue - Tanaka, Jointrain, Mio, Moah Moah, Inoue Yu, mileStone, Mothersmilk, Naniwa AK Blues, Flakes Burn Group, and Plastic Mode - oh my god, you were ALL superb.  After watching all of you perform, we felt that we had to give more than 100% on stage.  We bought your records, and we will play them for our friends.  We sincerely hope that we can share the stage again in the future! 
 

We must bow deeply to Shinko Music (Indies Jump).   When "Something Eternal" won 1^st place in Indies Jump contest, Toko and I began to develop the confidence to share our music with the world.  And because "We Are the Ones" reached Top 10 in Indies Jump contest, Satchel Jones joined us on the Japan tour.  We truly appreciate your constant support of our music, and are very grateful for your help to play at Cave Be and Club 440.  Tanaka san, Takamizawa san, and FlipSide's Onishi san, we hope you were happy with our performance.  We know you worked hard to help us.  Hountoni Arigatou.  Let's cherish each moment now, and look to the future! 

Yes, this tour was so surprising in so many ways.   As I said, our music is an expression of true love, unconditional and luminous. We don't expect a response or a reward for it, yet this is exactly what we have been given.  We have been truly humbled by all of you who surrounded us and joined our struggles and our successes.  Our audiences were full of bright smiles, freed tears, bodies moving to the music, voices singing "la la la" "wa wa wa" and "go go go!"  Our friends and family, oh thank you, thank you so much. Most especially, those of you who helped us through very difficult parts of our journey. Hiroko Obasan, Mammy Shiiki, Saiko chan, Tojima san, Noriko san, Wakabayashi Jun, Chiharu, Sachan, Yumi san & Yudai kun, Shintarou san, Onki and Sumiko Nogi, Mori Yoko,

Sony Music Entertainment Tanaka san, Honda san (Lennon House), Mori san (Kaze no Mori), Iwamatsu san (Chofu FM), Pat and Keith - we will never forget your generosity.  It was clear to us that you were helping us not just for our sake, but for yours as well.  How are we so lucky to be surrounded by love? You have kept us pure and made us believe in ourselves.  Because of you, we will sing even more purely and faithfully.  Thank you. 

Finally, I want to give most special thanks to my beautiful and talented wife, the lead singer of October Babies, Toko Shiiki-Santos.  She had a dream, to share our inspiration in her native land.  That land was Japan, but more than that - her native land is heaven.  She sings to the heaven in all of us, and this makes us shine, when we forget about the light in our hearts.  The first time she smiled at me, I was lost, but suddenly I was found. I know that you all will join me in saying, Toko, thank you for all you have done for us.  Thank you, for being you. 

Love to all.

Now, as we recuperate, we are gathering together all of the video/audio footage.  We got tons of cool stuff to sort through and edit together, for your viewing pleasure.  We've also got new songs, developed on the road, to record.  Please stay tuned, this band is growing at an accelerated rate!  There will be much more to see on this website, including new dates for live performance.  October Babies will be playing again very soon, and we hope you can be there with us!! 

with a big love thump on low B,

Erik Santos