Jimetta Rose and The Voices of Creation Things Are Getting Better.

Things are getting better is a bold statement to make in a time when the world seems to be on the verge of world war 3 and the cost of living is rising beyond most of our reach. Five years ago when I started the Voices of Creation with Jack I knew the world would need new songs, new mantras and prayers for this new day that is dawning. We would need more faith, we would need love, we would need vision, and we would need each other. A part of every beginning is an ending, this is an observable law of nature. So it is with unyielding faith and a hopeful heart that I look out at this world and find reasons and ways to keep moving forward with love; making music that echoes with the sparks of this new world I’m working to see come into view. Things may be falling apart, old ways of being becoming unsustainable; death, war, chaos, genocide, famine, and floods; symptoms of the internal combustion of a society wracked with fear and given more access to weapons than to their own feelings.

This collection of songs are my testimony in a way, a sonic exploration of finding my faith and figuring out how to use my faith to navigate life and this great big old world after losing family (my mother Betty and my brother Keith) and in a way losing my sense of hope for what my future could even be. Through the writing and singing of these songs I healed myself of the doubt and mistrust of the unknown. I found a way to forge my faith into what is now a mighty sword of song, community, and ministry with the intention of healing myself and others. I’ve always felt as though melody and language were tools that could be agents of change and healing if used with intention and integrity. To witness the expanding joy and shared purpose grow within the choir and to see the contagious nature of faith and togetherness through our rehearsals and shows showed me how necessary it is to the human experience. This has been truly revelatory, further anchoring me in what I feel my purpose is on the planet; and that is to sing and bring to life more joy, peace, love, community, unity, faith, and praise. With more of those energies flowing around the planet, things will surely get better and better and better…ad infinitum. Word to Nina, Jimmy & Betty, and all my angels and ancestors riding wit me. We still here and God is still good.

"An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times." Nina Simone

- Jimetta Rose

Jimetta Rose: Lead Vocals, Director, Writer, Arranger

Jack Maeby: Organ & Synth Bass, Music Director

Allakoi Peete:Percussion, Vocals

Yohance Wright: Drum Machine, Bass Vocals

Gaby Hernández: Soprano Vocals

Roz Kumari: Soprano Vocals (lead vocals Things Are Getting Better)

Steven Kellye Hawkins: Tenor Vocals

Tamina Lawson: Soprano Vocals

Aankha Neal: Alto Vocals

Tamara Blue: Alto Vocals (additional vocals To Each A Zone & Portals)

Khalila Gardner Adelabu: Alto Vocals (lead vocals Everyday Blessings & additional vocals Things Are Getting Better)

Zavier Wise: Baritone Vocals

Kam Talbert: Tenor Vocals (lead vocals Surrender the Day)

Novena Carmel: Alto Vocals

Isaiah Collier - Saxophone

V.C.R. - Violin & Vocals

Ryan Porter - Trombone

Danny Janklow - Alto Saxophone

Drum Production - Allakoi “Mic Holden” Peete , Timothy “Low Blow” Dancy, Carlos “MegaLosDon” Lasuncet, Yohancé “Elete” Wright, Daniel “wavy josef” Lasuncet

Produced by Jimetta Rose, Jack Maeby & Allakoi “Mic Holden” Peete

Mixed by Ben Baptie

Mastered & Cut by Martijn Schouten

Recorded at Sunset Sound, LA & Nothing 2 See Hear Studios

Recording Engineers:

Clint Welander (Sunset Sound)

2nd Engineer: Farrokh Shroff (Sunset Sound)

Allakoi “Mic Holden” Peete (Nothing 2 See Hear Studios, Iconica Recordings)

Photography by Ethan DeLorenzo

Sleeve Design by Kai Damian-Matthiesen

Special thanks to Jimmy and Betty Smith, Paul S. Peete, Leah Wilson Moore, Neal Birnie, Simone Arasimowicz, Carol Tanzman, Jabari Moore, Brandon Cordoba, Tim “Low Blow” Dancy, Carlos “MegaLosDon” Lasuncet, Clinton Welander, Farrokh Shroff, Sunset Sounds staff, Patricia Gay, Patti Henley, Ethan DeLorenzo, Trisha Angeles, Isaiah Collier, Ryan”Papa” Porter, Danny Janklow, Brisa Chander, Robyn Minshall, Cindy Sun, Carlos Nino, Alex Birnie, Cecilee Von Rhea, Pastor Lisa of LA Third Church, Ben Caldwell, The World Stage, Dwight Trible, Mama Renee, Crystal Hardy, Renita Pettus, Benny Chu, Amoeba Music Hollywood, Keny Long, Ben Baptie, V.C.R., Dexter Story, and all the loving supportive spouses and families of the choir members.