Seasonals was created by James Keith Norman and his life and creative partner, Beck Norman.

In the same way that Beck heard the music that would eventually be on the album Love in Times of War and was inspired to write a single, stirring narrative that connected all of that album's instrumentals, she was inspired by another four songs composed by James. What Beck did this time was create a story about a mother writing letters to her three adult children over the course of a year, culminating at Christmas with a letter to all of them.

"Letter to Sandrine - Spring (Spoken Word)" is the first letter. It is an emotional missive to a daughter with whom her mother (the narrator) has, in more ways than one, a distant relationship. The song "Heading Home, 3 A.M. - Spring (Instrumental)" continues the story started in the Sandrine letter, and evokes strong feelings as a result.

The next two letters - "Letter to Adam - Summer (Spoken Word)" and "Letter to Geoff - Autumn (Spoken Word)" - address relationships quite different from the one with Sandrine. "Awaiting a Rainbow - Summer (Instrumental)" and "Bike Courier - Autumn (Instrumental)" - compliment and evolve the letters to the two sons.

The album's penultimate cut - "Letter to My Children at Christmas - Winter (Instrumental)" - is a powerful, passional communication that celebrates the joy of family, but the recognition that not all families are able to be together at that time of year. "Christmas is Coming - Winter (Instrumental)" concludes the album. It is a lush orchestral work that evokes images of crystalline scenery, shoppers bustling to and from quaint and busy shops, and ice skating in a town square.

Seasonals is a special album, with a story that many can surely relate to.

Mixed and mastered by Grammy Award winner Matt Lawrence.

Cover art: Beck Norman.

About the Cover:

Based on a photo originally shot by Beck Norman while looking up at the crabapple tree that was on her lawn, this became a series of four different photos all taken at the same angle. When it came time to choose an album cover for Seasonals, Beck pieced together all four shots to assemble one continuous view of the tree - and gave the result an illustrative glow - to represent the changing seasons.