How sad it was to read the news on Jem’s web site. For those of you who don’t know, Jem is a brilliantly original Welsh singer/songwriter whose first album “Finally Woken” was stunning!

Unfortunately (?) it was also somewhat successful and now she is in Los Angeles recording her second album with hip hop producer Jeff Bass who worked with Eminem, 50 Cent and so on. Now even though I like some of Eminem, who IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would EVER think of mixing Jem’s unique style with some cardboard cutout hip hopster? Then if this wasn’t enough, it turns out that she is also working with Lester Mendez, who was the idiot that RUINED one of my other favorite creative singers, Nelly Furtado. Why, oh why must creativity end in such horribly mundane and boring ways these days, gravitating to a stale predictable yawn? Money I suppose is the answer?

“I’m sorry .. so sorry .. I’m sorry it’s like this …”

Prophetic words, Jem ….