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That sounds complicated but I just want to tell you guys that I really appreciate your wonderful comments on the site. Especially when I'm not touring it's so great to know you still sometimes think of me. I'm equally thrilled with the messages from new fans, as well as the ones from old friends just letting me know they're still there.

I wish I could answer them all, but even now when I finally have some time I will never be able to answer all the past ones. I just want to let you know I will always try to send you autographs, a mail to the fanclub is even better, and if you've ever asked for one and haven't received it yet please let us know.

As for the requests for sheet music, I can't really help you right now because the old songbook has been sold out for ages. But there is hope, because I'll soon be working on a new one if everything goes well, and then I can finally help you with that one too.

I love it when people ask me to come and play in their country, because that makes me feel so welcome. And yes, there is absolutely no reason for me not to be playing in Australia, the UK and Russia other than planning issues. That will soon be solved once we have a new album out. Rest assured that I would love to come to your countries, because if I had my way I'd be touring year round. I'm writing new material with some people and that is going very well, so hopefully we can start planning a tour soon.

Also there is some hope for fans who love our live CD's, but it's still in the works so I can't reveal anything yet but I promise there'll be news on that soon!

Many people ask me if I'll also be touring with Prince this year and I honestly don't know at this moment since he hasn't totally revealed his plans to us yet. People who know me know that I had a wonderful year touring with him and it would be a thrill to do the same thing here in Europe. I hope it's possible to do both his tour and my new album this year but I'll let you know a.s.a.p.

In the meantime I've played with Van Morrison again who gave a wonderful concert in Vredenburg in the Netherlands. It was great to see him again and he and the band were in excellent form. Sorry that we couldn't let the fans know that I was playing as well, but this was truly a last minute call, so there was nobody in the office to put it on the website.

At the end of the Prince tour I had the incredible pleasure of playing and singing on Maceo's new album, which will be out in March. I have to say, this is going to be my favourite Maceo album. (I know I say that every time, but they just keep on getting better and better!) I had the privilige of hearing some of the tunes and it all sounds so goooood! Watch out for Maceo's new album; it will knock you off your socks even if you're already a Maceo fan. Some of you must have been at his concert in Paradiso in November and that was one of his best ones too I think. That lady with the red hair he pulled on stage was my mom Inge by the way, only Maceo can get her to do that!

Furthermore, I just played some notes on Monique Bakker's new CD and I think that is going to be the bomb. Monique used to sing with us between 2000 and 2002 and I am a big fan of her because she has so much talent and she puts so much feeling into her stuff! Now she is emerging as a great songwriter as well, so look out for her album soon. We will let you know when it's released. One of the songs has been playing in my car stereo for quite a while now and it's addictive stuff!

Also, I would like to let you know about a project for the Asian children hit by the tsunami disaster. The project is led by a good friend of mine named Martino. He used to play percussion with us and since he's Moluccan he was deeply affected by the images and stories of the children in Asia. The project is called Eurasia, the song is called 'In this world', and the proceeds all go to the Liliane Fund. I'm not going to make a habit out of putting charity things on the website, since I know so many of you have given so much already, and this might not be the place for it, but I just love it when people take positive actions and this is certainly one of them. It's a beautiful song so I hope some of you will buy it. Thanks!

Talking about positive action, check out the new movie 'Ray', about Ray Charles. I think it's a great movie with a lot of attention to his music and that's rare in the movie business. They always focus on the drama, and always have the actors do terrible playback stuff, but here it felt real and Jamie Foxx is incredible! I know this is not a moviesite but I just wanted to recommend this one. I had the pleasure of seeing it twice, once with Prince and the band in a private preview and once in Tuschinski, Amsterdam's oldest movie theatre. Both times it moved me to tears. (In a good way!)

Okay, you can see I have a bit more free time since I'm babbling on, but I hope you just like to hear from me once in every while.

Take care and if there's any news we'll let you know right away!

Lots of love, Candy
[Edited 3/4/05 8:09am]

That statement is already quite old, and well past the expiry date of the Musicology tour.