Peace and blessings be upon you all,

I know I’m a little late, but as the saying goes, “better late than never”. Therefore, allow me to wish you all a very Happy New Year. I hope 2011 brings with it more light, love and Peace for everyone.

I actually just finished taking part in a Live Chat in the SYcafé. It was an excellent opportunity to to address the New Chapter and what I am hoping to achieve and be part of in the coming years.

I will leave you with my closing statement from the Live Chat (albeit, a somewhat more ‘refined’ and slightly modified version) and I hope it will shed a little more light on what this New Chapter/Spiritique really is all about.

Peace and much love to you all 🙂

“Peace & Blessings everyone,

I wish to welcome you all once again and thank you for the years of support and love you have shown and continue to show me.
We have embarked on a New Chapter. It’s a Noble Chapter. It’s a very important chapter. I’m blessed to have a mixed cultural background which also shines in my music (Eastern and Western etc). I am Eastern by blood, but Western by Nationality and culture. There is a LOT of work that needs to be done. I have chosen not to go ‘backwards’ in my life; need to focus and move forward.

I don’t believe today is the day for me to say “Insha ALLAH” and “Subhan ALLAH” (in my lyrics/songs) and 100% orient my music towards gaining new ‘Fans’ in the Muslim circles! Just as I thought it was right to say “He Was Mohammad SAS, Mercy Upon mankind, Teacher of all mankind” back in 2003, today I feel it’s the right time to say “Wherever Are You, I’ll find You, Cause You’re the one, I turn to”. This is what my heart says deep inside, and the truth in one’s heart never fails, as long as its followed by sincerity and hard work.

As I have mentioned on many occasions, I don’t wish to be an ‘Islamic Pop Star.’ Besides, in my humble opinion, using Religion in such a way in songs is not sensible as it mostly tends to end up being a one-sided dialogue with very little advantages… It may bring a quick rush of ‘fans’ (due to its simplicity and lack of philosophy), but it’s not the path I wish to pursue. There are a few people I am truly proud of in the Music world. One of them is Yusuf Islam (or Cat Stevens). He is truly using his talent responsibly and speaking to audiences of all backgrounds. And I feel quite close to him in terms of philosophy, as well as approach.

In my opinion, everyone should support him — especially our Muslim brothers and sisters — as he’s carrying out a very important mission.

I ask my dearest supporters to understand and appreciate this New Chapter and to support it wholeheartedly and with sincere belief. Believe me, what we are doing now is much more important than before… Our world is going through not only an economic recession, but also a moral and ethical one. We are living in a global village. We need to stop addressing people of other faiths and beliefs as “others”. It’s one humanity, and the only way to ‘coexistence’ starts with love. Until we LOVE everyone, we will never reach our dreams and aspirations in order to reach a better and safer world for us all.

I want you all to appreciate my words and to support me with much more passion and belief than before. We have a lot to do :).

God bless you and much love to you all!

sami yusuf”