My father was a man of love. He always loved me to death. He worked hard in the fields, but my father never hit me. Never. I don't ever remember a really cross, unkind word from my father.
I like to not be too involved in the beginning and during the process so as to keep this fresh look and be able to give constructive recommendation on the final production.
But you can't extend, or go beyond any point musically, without the basic fundamentals.