Pachamama (Mother Earth)

Late July of last year Franklin attended a pow-wow in Pasadena. One of the people that performed was an Incan indian from Peru named Abel Hawk. During his performance he offered a prayer to Pachamama (Mother Earth) and Pachakama (Great Spirit). It deeply touched Franklin’s heart and gave him the inspiration for this song. The vision was to create an upbeat dance groove which combined cultures and instruments both modern and ancient. During the recording sessions Abel Hawk was brought in to do the prayer in both English and his native language, Kechua. Two master Indian musicians from India also contributed to the recording playing tabla, reciting, and singing.

Eyes of Love

Val lost her lover to Cancer in 1999. Soon after a new love came into her life. She experienced a number of mixed emotions about becoming involved with someone new. This song came to her as she was sorting through her feelings of both pain and joy. Val feels this song was truly given to her by Spirit as she wrote it in just one sitting.

What’s Going On

Both Val and Franklin grew up loving this song as well as the entire album "What’s Going On". They decided to include it on the CD because of its strong message to question things that are not right in our world. They feel that we should not be afraid to question those things in the world that are not as they should be and to get involved in making positive changes in the world.

Goodnight Song

This started as one of those grooves Franklin would play at the end of an evening, over and over and over. It soothed and helped him to unwind from his busy days. Franklin was playing it one evening as his girlfriend was going to bed. He told her "here’s your ‘Goodnight Song’". Checkout the mandolins in the middle of the song. Val played these on her 100 year old mandolin.

Little Grace

Little Grace is the niece of Val’s lover who died in 1999. Grace was born only a few weeks before. For Val it was a very immediate and personal illustration of the cycles of our very precious life. She originally presented this song to Franklin as a reggae tune. Together they changed the song to a world beat feel using lots of hand drums. They had a lot of fun jamming at the end of the song – a rhythmic and melodic interplay of sax, mandolins, and keys.

One People

The first song Franklin ever heard from Val was a reggae tune she had recorded called One People. He really liked the positive message and the infectious chorus. Franklin talked her into doing a rewrite and making it a Pegasus Project tune. They wanted to share a positive message of how we all are part of one global family. This song was shaped from a number of African musical influences, including the Tuku style. The huge chorus backup vocals were done in two days of recording using seven different singers.

Planet Opus

This song was written almost 10 years ago and has been waiting patiently to be recorded. It is their most dramatic piece, influenced by Pink Floyd and Phillip Glass. A number of people have told them that it also reminds them of the music of Cirque De Soleil. The song was named after Franklin’s 12 year old cat, Opus.

Imagine

"You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one…". Through the years Franklin has recorded several versions of this song. He now feels the beautiful essence of this song has finally captured with their unique interpretation. Both Val and Franklin feel that this song has a message that is positive and universal, a message that is timeless. Just this year it was re-released in England and went to number one.