About This Album:Life is beautiful and colorful and full of diversity, but it is also messy and chaotic and full of imperfection. That alone is what makes life so wonderful. This album is about life's dichotomies... balance and disorder, light and dark, ups and downs, joy and sorrow, peace and turbulence, hope and despair, and so on. The songs on this album are beautifully crafted solo piano pieces to musically express this common journey we all experience.1. The Gift – Life is a gift, we are a gift, our experiences are a gift, the present moment is a gift. If you treat every person, and every moment as a gift, you begin to truly treasure and cherish everyone and everything.2. The Storm – This song represents the forward progression in life… the ups and downs, the highs and lows, the calm and the turbulence… we are all going through at any given moment. 3. At Home – This is my love song and my happy place, dedicated to Matt. There is no greater comfort than that of being held by someone who loves you and makes you feel at home.4. Life – Life is beautiful and colorful and full of diversity, but it is also messy and chaotic and full of imperfection. That alone is what makes life so wonderful.5. Belonging – Humans are social creatures. We want to fit in, be accepted, have a place in the community, take part in the greater whole. We all just want to belong and feel included.6. A Deeper Understanding – This song is about finding your place in the universe, being mindful and aware, and working to be truly present. It is about self-love, self-acceptance, and a deeper understanding of who you are. This song is dedicated to Rachel and Steve, for helping me to find and understand and love myself. 7. Drifting Through A Dream – When life is going well, and all the pieces seem to fit together, and everything is going your way, it feels as though life is a dream.8. Heartbroken – This song represents what it feels like to have your heart shattered. 9. Stronger – No matter what battles I fight, no matter how many times I get knocked down, I always surprise myself with how resilient I am, and how I always seem to stand stronger in the end. 10. Precious Memories – This song is about the moments in life that make us smile… memories of good times passed, memories of loved ones, memories of times that we experienced pure joy and love. Those memories stay with us and continue to make us smile long after. This song is dedicated to Donna.11. Crossroads – Life is a series of decisions and choices. We must constantly choose which direction to go and what path to take. Those choices lead us to new decisions and new directions. Life is a constant state of crossroads.12. Guilty Pleasures – We all have guilty pleasures… little things that make us happy and brighten our day. For me, it’s chocolate, silly TV shows, inside jokes, good food with friends, etc. 13. Give It Time – This song represents the struggles we go through, the battles, the strife… and no matter how much it hurts, or causes discomfort, if you just give it time, it will get better or easier to handle. Everything gets better and easier with time. This song is dedicated to Brandon. Special Thanks:Joe Bongiorno, Matt Strieby, Rick Baldassin, Matt Sojourner, Liz McLaughlin, Steve Jones, Rachel Posner, Brandon McLaughlin, Mom & Dad, Clint Gray, Donna Coleman, Ute & Greg, Mike & Leslie, Ryan & Cindy, Frank & Cheryl, Tierney Swenson, Jennifer Thomas, Rebecca Oswald, Kathy Parsons, Jamey & Stacey Osborne, my Whisperings Solo Piano Radio family, 12 South Music for being the best marketing and web team ever, and mostly to my friends, fans, followers, and listeners who keep inspiring me to share my music. Thank you! Technical Credits:All songs composed, produced and performed by Michele McLaughlin michelemclaughlin.comRecorded on Michele’s Fazioli F212 grand piano at her home in Salt Lake City, UTMastered and engineered by Joe Bongiorno at Piano Haven Studio in Sedona, Arizona pianohaven.comArtwork and design by Matt Strieby at New Leaf Design newleafdesign.comPiano maintained and tuned by Rick Baldassin at Baldassin Pianos baldassinpianos.comManufactured at Diskmakers www.diskmakers.comCopyright © 2017 All Rights Reserved (ASCAP)www.michelemclaughlin.com