Emi Jarvi

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4th August, 2008: The Ninja Butler's chorus...

I was playing some tunes with the Ninja Butler the other day and we were playing a song that both of us 'kinda like'.  We wrote it a couple of years ago now and it was always one of those almost-there songs.  But it was one of these no-real-chorus tunes, nothing ever really happened.  It just kind of ambled along and then eventually ended.

We were half-way through this tune the other day and I just stopped because I was so bored.  I just threw my hands up in the air and said, 'this isn't working'.

There a was a pause...

N.B. briefly strummed his guitar lightly and sung under his breath...

There was another pause...

And then he busted out this this AWESOME chorus outta nowhere!

It's freakin' catchy and the perfect gear-change from the verse and I was just sitting there with my mouth hanging open while it rained 'awesome-chorus' in my apartment.

Once I came out of my trance, I learned his new tune in about .08 seconds (which is one of the signs of a truly good chorus) and was bopping back and forth, happy as a singin' clam in no time.

I've written with N.B. for 7 or 8 years now, and I know that he's flippin good at what he does.  But it's always nice to be reminded.

The Ninja Butler strikes again...



14th July, 2008: Album 'From Within' now available


Jon O'Bir's debut album 'From Within' is now available to buy on CD and via digital download!  I was very lucky to write and record the vocals for two of the tracks, 'Tell Me' and 'Do It All Again'.  It was my first time working with anyone that I can slap the words 'Grammy-nominated' in front of because Paul VanDyk picked up the whole album and released it on his label Vandit (check out the press release for the full story).  I am still dorkily excited about it... there's been lots of hopping up and down!

You can check it out and buy one of your very own at one of the following places:
Excitement!  Excitement!!



7th July, 2008: What's a sellout?


sell-out -- noun
1.    an act or instance of selling out.
2.    an entertainment, as a show or athletic event, for which all the seats are sold.
3.    Informal. a person who betrays a cause, organization, or the like; traitor.
4.    Informal. a person who compromises his or her personal values, integrity, talent, or the like, for money or personal advancement.

Lately I've had this thought rolling around in my head.  What's a sell-out?  I've finally (well, I say 'finally', I'm only 26) getting to a point where I'm starting to make a little bit of a living with music.  I still have 'another' job, too, the Dude and I run a web design business together by day (www.siteclick.co.uk), and make musical sounds by night...

The one thing I've learned so far is that, unless you're famous, you've gotta start stickin' your puds in as many musical pies as you can get your hands on.  You just never know what's gonna 'work' (what I mean by work is help-you-pay-your-bills).  So this is what I'm doing, and it's been making me ponder about 'selling out' and what that actually means.

So far, this is what I've figured out...

  1. Just getting paid for music isn't selling out.  Because Artists (with a capital A) can make money busking or selling gig tickets, or albums and not be sellouts.
  2. Only YOU can really know if you're selling out.

According to our friend, Dictionary.com, a sellout can be a traitor to a cause OR a person that compromises their values for cash or success.  Well, I don't think music is a Cause (with a capital C)... not when there's war, famine, poverty and disease to contend with.  I think music is powerfully medicinal or integral in some of these Causes; it's a kind of escape because it has the ability to make you forget where you are for a moment.

So that leaves you, essentially, being a traitor to yourself.  So... are you?  At what point would you feel like a sellout?  Where's the line?  When you become a session-player and they cut you your first cheque for singing 'ooooooooo's?  When labels start knocking and asking for a cut?  When you sign the big deal with Pepsi?  When you write a song because someone asked you to, not because you need to? 

And what about that pesky rent-and-bills business?  These things just don't go away... and when it becomes a choice between being a pro muzo, or pushing papers around a desk, (or some combination of the two), does that change things? 

It's really on my mind these days, and I'd love to hear what anyone thinks about this...  Mostly because I know that no two people's opinions will be the same...

My goal, ever since high school, has been to earn a living with music.  To get to the point where I can write and sing and that will be enough to keep me alive.  That doesn't mean that I would stop singing if no one paid me (just ask my brother, he could never get me to shut up when we were kids and that still hasn't changed).  But it DOES mean that, in addition to writing and making music that I love, I'm also looking for ways to make a living so I don't end up homeless and hungry.  It doesn't have anything to do with fame, although I'm aware in the back of my mind that, the more people know about you, the easier it gets (like a snowball rolling down a hill... if you like giant snowballs).

So there's the current dilemma!!  It's a luxurious dilemma, I know... one of those things that I wouldn't have time to think on if there was anything fundamental to worry about.  But there it is all the same, rolling around in my brain like a big ol' ball of snow...




29th June, 2008: My first record!  My first record!!  Ahhhhhh!!!!

I am sooooooooo excited!!!  Last night a friend brought 'round a copy of my very first record and I'm like a cat-on-a-hot-tin-roof (that likes hot tin roofs)...

The second I saw it, this picture was taken with my phone so I could send it to my Mom, Dad and Brother:

Emi holding her first record























There are not words to express how excited I am about this.  There are only facial expressions and hand-waving motions that can truly convey my excitement!!

It's a record...  A big shiny gorgeous thing!  With a beautifully printed cover, that has my lyrics printed on it!!  A record!  My first actual record!!!

If you love collecting trance on vinyl (c'mon, I know you're out there...), you can pick up a copy from Paul VanDyk's online shop.  Otherwise, if you're into this euphoric-business, it comes out on CD on 11th July.

YOINK!



25th June, 2008: The Ninja Butler

The ninja butler is quiet like the darkest night when there's no breeze... 

He can move undetected in the most challenging of 2-bedroom flat environments...

He can disappear at will, vanishing almost before you're very eyes when you're looking in every room trying to find him...

He can bring you a cup of tea without ever being noticed. 

You may be on the sofa relaxing, or in the studio recording some vocals...

Gradually, you'll feel a pleasant warming sensation on your arm... you look down... and a cup of tea has appeared as if from nowhere!

He has the ability to clean or tidy without causing even the slighet stir. 

You may go to wash the dishes and find the sink sparkling like a silver beacon in the night because of the Ninja Butler's stealth cream cleanser work...

Or you may go to bed and find the mattress rotated, with clean sheets and fresh duvet cover.

Nobody knows how he does it, his knowledge and discipline go unrivaled...

The Ninja Butler is a great and mysterious being... always using his power for good.

We can all rest easier knowing he's out there... somewhere...


18th June, 2008: The Carphone Warehouse is run by stupid monkeys

On 17th December, 2007 I ordered some Sat Nav software from the Carphone Warehouse.  I returned the Sat Nav software un-opened and in pristine condition on 20th December, 2007 (3 DAYS LATER).

I sent it extra-special, signed-for, taste-the-difference, First Class post with sprinkles on.

I called in January --> "Please send all proof of postage, your original receipt, your original order confirmation and your first born child to our head office"

I did.

Nothing happened... 

I called in February twice --> "I've sent a warehouse search request across and should hear back in 48 hours.  I'll call you as soon as I hear anything"

I wait.

Nothing happened...

I call in March --> After explaining the whole saga over the phone, the person I'm speaking to just HANGS UP ON ME!!!

HANGS UP ON ME!?!?

So I call HSBC and tell them about the big bad Carphone Warehouse and they 'go to bat'.  They had to chase and pester and harass and bully the Carphone Warehouse until JUNE to get them to give me my freakin' refund.

I JUST got a call from HSBC saying they finally got my money back for me!!!  Hoorah!!

Moral:  Do not buy things from the Carphone Warehouse because they are all stupid monkeys.




5th June, 2008: Things J made out of Lego

There's something amazing that I've recently discovered.  Sometimes after knowing someone for 10 years, dating them for 8 and being married to then for 2.5, you start to think there's nothing you don't know.

I LOVE finding out new things about J... and this one's a doozy (translate for the British - 'a corker')!

When J was a kid, he built things... ALL kinds of things.  This, I knew about. 

He also loved Lego and played with Lego a lot... I knew that, too.

But one sunny day in the park, I asked J what he used to make out of Lego and this is what he said:
  1. A Washing Machine - fully functional with a spinning drum and water pump.  He successfully washed handkerchiefs with it.
  2. A Bus - with gears that work.  This was tested by putting a friend's hampster on board and taking him for a spin.  Gives a new meaning to the term 'Guinea Pig' (ooooooooooo... sorry...)
  3. Cash Register - with a drawer that shoots out and everything.
  4. Cable Cars - between the window of an upstairs bedroom and the ground.  Again, the hampster was on the maiden voyage and I hear he got some lovely views.  (Note: no hampsters were harmed in the making of these Lego creations)
  5. A Guitar - WITH A WHAMMY BAR.  A whammy bar!!!  Genius...
This is without little 'Lego-kits', he designed them himself, too!

I'm both impressed and proud... J is AWESOME...

29th May, 2008: Making things


'make'    -verb
 
to bring into existence by shaping or changing material, combining parts, etc.: to make a dress; to make a channel; to make a work of art.

Today I feel like SINGING... not so someone will pay me, not 'cause I love being on a stage, not 'cause 'this song's a request'.  Nope, I just feel like singing...

Getting paid to sing is kinda like magic.  I'm STILL amazed when it happens.  It's like someone coming up to you and saying, "Hmm... nice blinking... here's some cash"  I'd sing (in fact, I DO sing) all the time.  ALL the time...  I call my brain The Radio because it's a steady stream of random tunes all day everyday.

I've grown up surrounded by musicians, writers, and 'makers'.  People that make things.  I went on to go to a couple of different music schools and, let me tell ya, there's no shortage of musical people in this world.  There's also no shortage of people that 'just wanna get famous' either...  Sometimes you catch yourself thinking, "what's the point?"  Right?

It's ok... you can admit it... no one's watching...

Well, it's pretty simple really... I think the best part is the Making.  Remember when you used to make something out of play-doh when you were a kid?  And as it started to take shape, you started to glo a little a bit...  With every tentacle that you squidged on, your beam shined brighter.  Then it's like something gets a hold of you and you become totally engrossed in it until you've perfected every subtle day-glo curve.  When it's finished, you know.  More than you've ever known anything... and for a split second, you sit and bask in the unparalleled satisfaction of 'Making'.

Then you go running to your parents, all flailing-limbs, saying, "look what I made!!".  Or better yet, when one of your parent's friends made a blink-and-dance about it when they came to visit, saying in a hush, "Ooooooo, what's THIS?  It's WONDERFUL!"

Oh, the glory!!  I doubt any 15-minutes of fame can beat it.  That simple feeling that someone else on God's green earth likes what you've Made.

But it seems like the glory of the Making often gets squashed by the attempt of the Selling.  Once you've had a few admirers of your play-doh creation, you start to think about opening you're own E-bay shop.  You weigh your over-heads and the cost of play-doh, add on a healthy profit for your hard work, consider packaging options, contact an accountant to do your books, set up your own website, become a limited company, and hire in factory workers to crank out 10,000 play-doh creations a minute.

Well, sometimes it's easy to lose sight of how fantastic it is to make something.  It's not a chore... it's not an 'extra cost'... it's doesn't have to be for a pay check.

If you love making things, then make things!  Don't forget that first glow... before anyone else even knew about what you made.  That's what it's ALL about...




22nd May, 2008: Been a long long long time now...

It's been a long time since I've sat down in front of this blog!  Work (both web and music) have been positively fraught with action-packed developments!

I'm going to stop promising to write more with updates about the distribution deal because it's still in-the-making and I'm not so sure when it's going to be finalized.  I'll certainly write more when everything has been set in stone!  We're still REALLY excited about it, rumours are that the CD's have been duplicated now... woooooooooo!

Then there's this whole wild Trance Release thing... I mean it's CRAZY, right??  I've really enjoyed working with Conspiracy so far and there's a few more projects in the pipe-line already.  The idea of those tracks being played to thousands and thousands of people makes me wanna FALL OFF MY CHAIR.  Except in a good way...

4th May, 2008: Share and share alike!


Just over a week ago I was going crazy both in the music studio and for SiteClick getting ready for a distribution deal of much excitement and a trade show of much busy business-y-ness...

The music we recorded for the nameless company is now 'gone' (I WILL blog with more info soon, I swear, I'm just waiting to get a revised copy of the contract back from our lawyer-peeps).  This means it's been given to them to do with what they please (within the confines of the contract, of course).  There's still a few tweaks to two songs that will be available for download only, so we're scheming a few changes there, but the brunt of the sweaty-donkey-labor is now complete...  No more late-night-we're-so-hard-core studio sessions.  No more last-minute-how-many-instruments-can-you-play-and-how-quickly-can-you-learn-this-song phone calls to muso-friends.  Most importantly no more tight-chest-are-we-going-to-meet-this-deadline episodes...
 
Yup!  We're rested once again, our muso-friends played incredibly well, and the deadline was met (mas o menos).

This is the part of this blog where I say THANK YOU to two very important people.
Basically, I'm still continually astounded by the level of talent around and about York.  J musically arranged, engineered, mixed and mastered the whole thing like an artist.  It was like watching that guy that paints 'happy little trees'  he waves his paint brush around for .07 seconds and all of sudden this forest appears out of nowhere.  And he makes it look easy... but you know it's NOT.  His level of focus really left me amazed (after know and working with him for about 10 years, that's saying something).

We'd be slumped in front of the computer in the dimly-lit, cave-like studio.  Eyes puffed up like vegetarian marshmallows, mouth-breathing from sheer concentration.  I'd be racking my brain for what the track 'needed' next, it's like trying to be creative at gun-point (well... water-gun-point maybe).  And all of sudden J would just 'start'!  He'd list the things that he thought it needed in a beautifully tidy list, beat-boxing me grooves, humming harmonies, improving electronica.  A one man band!  And then he... just ...'did it'... 

'in the zone'...

A train without the brakes...

And too many hours to count later, another song was born and we had enough time to get a little sleep before we did it all again!

I know he already knows, but I wanna thank J... LOTS...  Because being the vocalist means getting the glory, but I know (beyond the shadow of a doubt) that this is his record.  These 5 tracks are his, and I was blessed to be able to work with him and sing on them.

So thanks J!!  You're a genius!!!

More updates soon!


26th April, 2008:  Worthwhile discomfort


Some things in life are worth being a little uncomfortable for.  Now I don't mean things like thongs or being in the back seat of a convertible on the freeway.  No, I mean bigger things... things that are Important (with a capital 'I') so they make you feel stressed.  Stressed in that standing-at-a-crossroads kind of way.  Stressed in a 'this-could-or-could-not-change-things' kind of way. 

Well this project that J and I are working on now COULD change things, but it probably won't... but it COULD...  and I find myself having these bizarre day dreams about travelling with J and playing music and seeing things and meeting all the 'right people'.

So far this blog is mostly about me talking myself out of a nasty bad mood that's a result of exhaustion, hunger and stress.  What a combo!  I don't WANT to be in a bad mood because at the root of it there are roots of pure excitement and grateful feelings!  We're staring at an opportunity that would mean distribution far beyond anything we've ever had before.  They may be covers of songs (we're still negotiating original stuff), but that's still 'us' out there in the cosmos.

So I'm going to try to NOT let the stress of this crazy deadline take over and steal the excitement.  It's a big deal for us and it's worth being excited about!

Almost there!  Not long now!  Soon the hard part will be over and it will all level out.  And once that happens...  I'm going to CELEBRATE...

and sleep...


22nd April, 2008: These are the days...


Y'know how you look back at certain times in your life and you think, 'those were the days'... well I think these days might become 'those days'...

James and I are involved in a project that involves recording a 5-track jazzy CD in a week.  ONE WEEK...  To give an idea of how crazy that is, each track is taking roughly 14 hours each without mixing and mastering...  That doesn't leave a whole lot of time for trivial little things like running our own business, eating and sleeping.  But what an adventure!!

So far we've managed to inject Emi-and-James-ness into 3 of the 5 songs and it's all going swimmingly!  But when I looked in the mirror this morning I looked pale and puffy and confused (and I FELT pale and puffy and confused) from the long hours and stress-levels of 'these days'.

We've been working with a top piano player named Dan Clarkson who seems like he eats Jazz for breakfast in the morning.  He's been a big player in helping us achieve our jazzy-ness.  And tomorrow we've got flute-playing fiend Jessica Quiñones coming in to solo all over a couple of songs.  Excitement abounds!!!

We've essentially been working our jobs (gotta pay those pesky bills) from 9 to 5, eating some form of dinner that required no preparation what so ever and then living in the studio all evening and into the night.  Then the sun rises no matter how much I try to use the force to stop it...  We roll outta bed and do it all again!! 

Not long to go now... just a few more days.  It's not so much burning the candle at both ends.  It feels like I've thrown my candle into a fire...

One of the best parts about all of this is that when you're exhausted and excited, everything is HILARIOUS...  You laugh at everything because this strange perspective has very temporarily become available to you.  If these last few days are anything to go by, by Friday (jazz deadline!) J and I will be borderline hysterical from sun-up to fall-down...

I willwillwill write in more detail soon, I promise.  I want to wait until we all sign little protective pieces of paper before I spill all the beans everywhere...

I'm headed back into the studio even as we speak!  I left poor J in there figuring out horn parts and walking bass lines so I could come and drain my brain to make room for more 'stuff' in there...

More news soon!!


21st April, 2008: The sky must be falling cos my head's in the clouds...


There is

A LOT

going on right now...

A LOT...

The next week of my life will be spent from 9 to 5 planning for SiteClick's first exhibition (coffeecoffeecoffee) and from 5 to 9 in the studio-cave with an intravenous drip of Red Bull making jazzy musical sounds.

Musically speaking, J and I are currently in negotiations with someone about something.  I don't want to put any details out into the cosmos until we sign bits of paper...

In other news, Exit Project the band has now formed with the following line-up!
It's all go!

In fact, it's all gogogo...

It might even be all gogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogogo...

4th April, 2008: Exit Project on the move?


I don't know if the rest of the world will give this a second thought, but it sure has my little-gray-cells working!

Exit Project (J Carmichael and Emi Jarvi) is re-thinking the complexity of their live looping set!  Last night we padded into the studio in our slippers (or duffoos to use a Jarvi word... Mom, how to do spell dufoos?) and spent some QT with our newest tune, 'Winter'.  We played it using the Akai Headrush (a looping pedal) rather than the Mac-mini and software extravaganza.

And it was awesome!!  Not only did we like how it came across, but we HAD FUN playing it!

Live looping can be a bit like running lots of errands in your lunch hour.  You only have a set amount of time, and you have a long list of things you HAVE to accomplish in order to 'be successful'.  So you develop a plan of what order things MUST be done in so that it's the most efficient route.  Also, you estimate how long each task will take in order to cram in as much as possible.

But if you forget an errand or do things out of order, the whole system comes crashing down and you're left with un-deposited paychecks and no milk for your tea...

Live looping is the same way, especially when two brains are controlling the looping instead of one.  If you forget one button or one melody line, everything goes higglety pigglety.  Your left staring at your musical-partner, wide-eyed, trying to frantically read each others minds to figure out how you're gonna salvage the song without having to 'just stop'. 

'JUST STOP'... *shudder*.

One thing I've always said is that the number 1 reason I stay involved with music is because I absolutely freakin' LOVE it, and it's INCREDIBLY fun.  If it ever stops being fun then somethings not right...

Well, I think it stopped being fun recently... I'm a little weary of metaphorical un-deposited-paychecks and metaphorical un-milky-tea.

So we're keeping the strong bits and ditching the weak bits.

And I'm really excited about it!!!!!!



20th March, 2008:  Flight of the Emi-Bee

On the 18th March my plane took off from Chicago O'Hare, bumped and bustled it's way across the big blue ocean and landed rather violently at Manchester Airport.  Here's are the statistics of my travel:

So that's it!  Another American notch in my English bed-post!

I had the

BEST
TIME
EVER

over there and I'd very much like to return as soon as humanly possible (this time with The Dude).  So I guess it's time I either win the lottery, become and international trance super-star or sell some websites...

Better get a move on...


14th March, 2008:  Count Down...

I am torn very neatly ALMOST directly in half...  maybe about 52% of one and 48% of the other.  On one side is America and my FREAKIN AWESOME family and their ability to effortlessly make music that first destroys and then re-builds me.  And restaurants that aren't very expensive, but serve OUTSTANDING food and free refills for your coffee, or church services with people that I recognize in them.  And seasons, or my family again and the things that they say, or being able to drive, or being able to introduce myself right away without offending people, or having music connections that make me weak in the knees...

And then there's England and James (he's the DUDE, no question).  There's really no contest when the love of your life is involved, but there's other things too.  Like tea, and being able to walk somewhere without seeming like you're homeless, the lovely studio, instruments, the best sofas of all time.  Getting up and going to work so I don't spend all day wondering how James is and what he's up to.  Singing with Jester, or James, or organizing the EXPERIMENT and getting excited to see what crazy schemes the city of York has bubbling under the surface.  And SQUASH... no-added-sugar pink grapefruit SQUASH... there is truly no substitute...

So there it is.  Not quite neatly divided down the middle.  A life that could very easily be lived 100% on either side of the coin (provided James is with me, of course... he's the clincher)...

I'm now thinking about what it will be like that first instant the plane wheels leave the runway at O'Hare.  And the first instant I feel like I'm not in America any more.  But also knowing that I'll be a mere terrible-nights-sleep away from tackling James at the York train station.  What a brain pickle... what a head-shaker... what a brow-furrowing enigma...

You get used to it...

11th March, 2008: I came, I went to Walmart, I conquered...

Today I had enough strength to do many exciting things.  I made my hair big (which can only be a good sign), went out to lunch with my parents, and went to Walmart. 

I got a Walmart  gift-card for my birthday and, let me tell you, a Walmart gift card goes a looooong way.  I was on the verge of buying a summer dress from the kids section and trying to wear it for gigs, but I thought it might be a step too far.  So I settled for the most brightly colored and ridiculous hand bag you've ever seen in your life (proven by it's ultra-mega-uber-reduced-clearance price... NOBODY wanted this thing...  It's awesome!!

Strangely enough, Walmart ended up being like a mini-mind test when I'm at a point where I need to learn how to use my brain again (since all I've done with it for the past 7 days is try to blow it out my nose).  When you need to find something at Walmart, it puts your lateral thinking to the test, as well as your ability to navigate in unfamiliar surroundings and identify specific targets in a sea of bright colors and 'sale' signs.  For example, I wanted some more Kleenex... the 24-acre Walmart spanned out around me for what seemed like miles.  The Kleenex needle was somewhere out there in the Walmart haystack...  So I thought, what would Kleenex be near?  The toilet paper?  The cold medicine?  The sundries and groceries?  Maybe they've set up some kind of all-in-one-fight-the-flu island somewhere complete with Day-quil, Tissues, and Alka-Seltzer...

I remembered reading book once where a hunter in the woods didn't 'look' for his prey, he looked for the outline of his prey and that's how he could spot it when it was camouflaged in its natural habitat.  So I pictured the outline of the Kleenex and went to work.  Lo and behold, they had a Kleenex shrine right next to the Chloraseptic throat spray, a giant tower of them with a big bright sign over the top.  Not QUITE a difficult as hunting for prey in the woods, but you get the idea.  It seemed like many had come from far and wide to pay their respects to the Kleenex shrine.  I took a couple of travel-packs since I flat out refuse to sit around any more because of this friggin flu...

Man, this blog is RANDOM... I'm not feverish anymore, I swear...


8th March, 2008: Film Festivals and the Flu...

There are few things in life as fun and exciting as a film festival.  Especially a film festival where your new music video is playing!  The bustle and the buzz of everyone wandering in and out of viewings.  The opportunity to see things (to see excellent things) that you'd otherwise never get the chance to see.  The bargain prices of popcorn and water and Take 5 candy bars...   There's so much to appreciate...

But when it's followed by the flu from HELL...

Then it's not so good...

I have spent the last 4 days feeling HORRENDOUS and confused and phlem-y and feverish and generally very baaaaaaaad.  In face, I'm not out of the woods yet, I don't think...  I still can't breath without coughing or cough without hurting or hurt without breathing.  It a vicious cycle...



24th February, 2008: New Video - Crochet owls galore

Check out the video section to see Emi's latest solo-attempt.  She made the owls, the tune and the video!  Thanks to J for holding the camera for the sing-y bits  :o)


23rd February, 2008: New Song - Get Me Outta Here


Remember when I judged Battle of the Bands?  And it was both very interesting and semi-traumatizing?  Well a song has been born of that experience.  Awhile ago I discovered Garage Band and there's been no looking back since!!

You can listen to or download the track here - www.myspace.com/emijarvimusic

I'm no mix engineer (not even CLOSE) so the levels might be a little bit weird, but it's the ideas I'm the most excited about!

If there's a mix engineer out there that fancies helping out, that would be FREAKIN FANTASTIC.  I'll crochet you as many owls or other woodland creatures as you like, so get in touch...

I'd like to point out that this song is not about the bands.  The 'Get Me Outta Here' is more in reference to the students that seemed to almost foam at the mouth whenever I provided my opinion...


17th February, 2008: The gig that BoB built

SO!  Tonight I'm off to judge the York Uni Battle of the Band Final!!  I judged the semi-finals earlier this week, as well and was greeted by a host of skepticism and drunken hostility.  At one point a guy came up to me and asked, "If you don't mind me asking, who ARE you?" (subtext: "What do YOU know and who gave you the right to provide your opinion?"), to which I rattled off my musical resume quite happily.

But after two nights of experiencing what it's like to be a judge, I've learned several things...

Power is intoxicating. 

The first night I was fairly nice, even in the face of bands that were more interested in their hairstyles and rock-stance than their sound.  I didn't wanna be harsh... even Jimmie Hendrix was rubbish at SOME point...
However, the 2nd night I was told by multiple sources that I wasn't mean enough.  I think they were envisioning something like the Roman Circus in which the three judges were like thug-warriors or hungry-annoyed beasts that the bands would be thrown to.  The next night, I was meaner (against my better judgment) and was greeted by some serious hostility from the drunken and fiercely loyal punters that had come out to stroke their friends' egos.
Basically, the power went to my head... I'm gonna put a stop to that...

I don't like judging.

I don't mean that I don't like being a judge in this competition.  In fact, I'm really enjoying it and I feel privileged that I was asked.  What I mean is that, I general, I don't like judging other people.  I feels really ugly to me.  There's always going to be a piece of the story that you don't know about.  Maybe the guitar player has had the runs all day from some bad curry the night before and he's not on the top of his game.  Maybe the singer is getting over a cold and can't hear a note that he's singing.  Maybe the band has only been together for 5 weeks which is why they're not as tight as I'd like.  I know, I know, excusesexcusesexcuses, right?  Well, I also like to call excuses 'reasons', I'm sure that some (SOME) of the bands that were less convincing had genuine reasons.

Ability or Attitude?

The fact is (based on personal experience), unless you're so talented that you're a musical mutant OR you already have fantastic contacts in the industry, your attitude will get you further than your ability. 

Can you play? 
Great... 

Are you obnoxious about it? 
Go away. 

Are you adequate? 
Cool...

Are you friendly, too? 
Please step into my studio...

This is how it works out there in the real world.  I have gotten gigs in the past based on the fact that I show up on time and smile (and can carry a tune, of course).  Easy-peasy...  If someone has to choose between a vocalist that makes a fuss and gets the job done, or a vocalist that smiles happily and gets the job done, what do YOU think will happen?  I operate under the idea that absolutely EVERYONE EVER can sing, play the guitar, play the bass, play the melodian, play the keyboard, write a song, and say funny things into the mic between songs.  I think it's healthy to think that way, it helps you redefine your personal definition of the term 'success'.  To make music, you have to love music, not looking at yourself in the mirror (although those two elements often exist in a kind of symbiosis).

Right... I think that's enough of a rant for now!  With the 'booo's of the last heat still ringing in my ears, I'm off for my final night in the judge's chambers...  here we go again!!




10th February, 2008: Exciting things that make me feel excited


I can be impatient sometimes.  But I KNOW this about myself and it's one of my 'works in progress'.  When I was growing up my Mom would always say to me, "Patience is a virtue" and I still hear that phrase in my head when I'm fidgeting for something to happen more quickly.  One morning on the 4th of July, when I was about 9 or 10 (immediately after getting out of bed) I remember saying to my Dad, "I wish it was time for fireworks already".  And he turned to me with a little smile, gestured 'around' and said,

"You're missing it..." 

So, yeah, I'm STILL working on that :o)

But these extremely exciting things have kinda-happened or are-happening or however you wanna describe it!  I'm trying not to to fidget even as we speak...

Paul van Dyk's independent record label has picked up the two trance songs that I wrote the vocals and melody for!!  And one of them is gonna be released as a single!!

What does this mean, you say?  Well, as it stands, I'm not totally sure.  Don't worry for my welfare, though, contracts are in place and everyone is getting what they're entitled to.  But what interests me more is where this could lead.  If I'm totally honest, writing Trace music was never high on my list of priorities, but I actually think it's really faboooooooo.  It's supa interesting to get involved in a new genre and wade around in it and see how much you can 'get it'... and then try to write it!  Awesome...

I may seem all relaxed about this now, but let me assure you, there was a lot of teeth showing and arm waving when the news first came through from Rob (my window into the Trance world from Conspiracy Recordings).  I may even have actually jumped up and down a few times.  (When I'm in a really good mood, I usually imagine myself in some kind of movie montage or slow-motion action-shot, so there was probably some jumping involved.)

The second bit of gravy is that I've been asked to judge the University of York Battle of the Bands!  I'm actually really looking forward to seeing what bands are oozing attitude and hair gel at the University right now.  I've been scheming a list of criteria that I'm gonna judge by because I don't wanna go by 'gut-reaction', doesn't seem fair...  The first heats are on Monday and Tuesday and the final is on Friday.  I even get a 'retainer'!!  How good???  I was EXTREMELY tempted to ask for a large glass of brown M&M's, but I decided on a large olive pizza for me and my spouse-extraordinaire instead.

The final bit of exciting news is that I've crocheted another owl... Need I say more?


29th January, 2008: Greg the owl finds good home


The gig last night went really well!  A good time was had by all, and an owl was sent to a good home. 

"What?", you say?  "An owl?" you say?

Yes... an owl... a crocheted one...

I have been crocheting tiny owls these days and it's a fine pass time.  However, they've started to take over my house a little bit.  A tiny-owl army is marching through my living room.  I wake up in the morning and pass the owls on the way to make coffee.  When I come home, one is balancing precariously on top of a picture in the hallway (the guard owl).  They turn up in the strangest places...  So last night I asked a trivia question during our show (about owls) and the person that answered correctly won their very own owl!!!!  It went to a good guy, too.  I can't imagine a finer win...  He promptly named him Greg and he's promised to send me a picture of Greg-the-owl as sort of a follow-up social-worker-esque background check.  It'll probably turn up on this blog at some point!!

But enough about owls!

The gig itself was really good fun, and we played to a lot of new people.  It was a support slot for a country band called Country Dawn.  Because it was a country crowd, part of the gig involved a lot of people staring like we were levitating a few feet off the ground (Confusing?  Skepticism?  Awe?  Drunk?) but it warmed quickly and everyone was incredibly friendly.

I also had the happy privilege to sing a song with Holly Taymar who is FREAKIN' AWESOME.  We practiced a tune together about 30-min before the show and then sang it... it was really really really really really cool...

So thanks to everyone that came down!!!  We'll see you next time, yeah?  J and I are gonna make some changes before our next show... a musical trim of sorts.  Change is on the horizon!!! 


22nd January: New song, free download

Hello!  I discovered Garageband and spent the night in the studio last night.  Here's the result!
Like They Used To (free download from MySpace.)

Thanks for listenin'!!!


20th January: The good, the bad and the stressful


"Something is afoot... at the Circle K" - Name that movie?  Anyone?  Anyone?

You know when you get stressed and it makes you hyper and weird, and your chest feels tight all the time?  Like something large is sitting on you, or something small is trying to get out of you?  I've got a major case of that goin' on over here.  But I think it's because there are some very exciting events and changes swirling around...  So shall we begin?

I think I'm still recovering from the gig on the 15th (see the 18th Jan blog).  It was a reasonably stressful experience just because there was a lot of opinionated perfectionists (in fact, that shoulda been our band name) crammed into one room trying to reach some kind of common ground in a finite amount of time.  It was still incredibly excellent in every way, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat... but sometimes stress hides out for awhile and then emerges like an alien bursting out of your chest when you least expect it...

In another vein, J and I are trying to work on this mini-album little by little and trying to write new material.  Whenever I'm involved heavily in the writing process, I feel distracted all the time.  ALL the time...  Seriously, I should wear a bright yellow reflective coat and a helmet when I feel this way.  I feel like it's all I wanna do, like there's spare words rolling around in my head and I need to twist off my ear and drain them out into big mixing bowl.  Or put a tube in my arm and withdraw a pint of music before I can go to work in the morning... But a lot of addicts can go to work fully functioning without a hitch, so I'll do my best, too.

I've also started a new job as of last Monday!  I'm officially self-employed and co-own my own company.  I won't include all the gruesome details (gotta keep those stalkers at bay), but suffice to say that it is VERY different from working for someone else.  There's no 'pretending to work' while secretly scouring Facebook.  There's no calling in sick.  If I go onto Facebook I'm washed with guilt instantly, because I'm essentially stealing from myself, and the monthly bills aren't going anywhere.  I pop out of bed like a piece of hyper toast, knowing there's things waiting to be done.  And there is SO MUCH to be done, too.  Normally, in the past, I've done a little kicking around in the first two weeks of a new job.  But the second I walked into my new roll, I was slammed with work and it hasn't changed yet.  And I kinda like it... Actually, so far, I absolutely love it... Here's hoping I can make enough money to buy baked beans, bread and pay all the bills!  I can do without the bells and whistles while I find my feet...

And that pretty much sums it up!  I'm gonna go make the alien hanging out of my chest run on the cross-trainer until he passes out...



18th January: Now you see us, now you don't!


Photo by Wanyu LinOn the 15th of Jan I played a gig with some amazing musicians.  J Carmichael, Ewan Fisher, Jan Minx, Matt James and Tim Crabtree to be exact.  Some of us had played together before and some hadn't.  Jan and Ewan schemed a gig where we would all learned a little of each others material, practice intensely for 3 days, play the show, and then put the whole thing to bed.  So that's just what we did!!  We practiced for 12 hours total over 3 days and then played a show in front of one of the friendliest crowds of all time.

It...
was...
FANTASTIC...

There was only so much that could go right, so we all just rolled with the punches.  It was CHILL... no nerves, just fun and messing around on stage.  Spontaneity, dancin', laughin'... it was reallyreallyreally satisfying. 

It was also genuinely eye-opening to hear some of J's and my stuff played with a full band.  It helped us figure out just what our music does and doesn't need.  We're constantly wrestling with the idea of bringing a band in and whether or not it's actually a good idea.  So hopefully the whole experience has gotten us a little closer to making a decision :o) . 


8th January, 2007: Herbert the Owl


Hello!  Just thought I'd introduce you to the newest member of my crochet family.  Meet Herbert the Owl!

Herbert 001Herbert 002Herbert 003



















I've been crocheting for awhile now, maybe 3 months?  I also did some crochet when I was younger but it never 'stuck' until now :o) . 

Recently I thought how nice it would be to make something.  I thought I'd like to make something functional and useful that I could keep (rather than eat).  So I picked up a crochet hook, asked my Aunt Jackie for a lesson and away I went!  Now, several hats and scarves later, I thought I'd actually try to brave my first 'real pattern' (by this I mean a pattern that doesn't involve huge brightly colored diagrams).  So here's Herbert the Owl!  My first real pattern... WOOP!!!



5th January, 2007: The Admin of Life


Hello and Happy New Year!!  I hope you're all rich and famous by now and, if so, also have the moral capacity to deal with how much responsibility comes with that level of status!  :o)

But I digress...

In order to get to the content management system that I use to update my blog (and entire website), I have to enter a long web address that involves the word 'admin'.  As I'm typing 'admin' into the all-seeing-all-knowing-web-bar thing, I think 'here we go'.  Like I'm about to go and try and figure out how to decipher a new fax machine (which way does the paper go in??  Do I need to dial 9 for an outside line??  Etc), or photocopy 250 copies of a 123 page document, enlarged by 33%, double-sided, landscape, with two staples at the top of the document...

This feeling of readying yourself for a very tiny and insignificant battle, but a battle all the same...

But once I arrive 'back-stage' at emijarvi.com I realize very quickly that I actually LIKE it... and that life admin is FAR more satisfying that office admin.  Because at the end of it all you have a clean house, or the dishes are done, or your clothes are clean, or your dog has less hair, or your car sparkles, or your bathroom isn't gross, or there's food in your fridge, or your garbage can is empty... or you have a new blog to show for it...

It's a far higher level of satisfaction than sending a fax successfully or watching as you kill trees for a conference you'll never see for yourself...

I don't really know why I felt the need to share this...

But there it is...  :o)


29th December, 2007: Emi 1, HomesickChristmas 0

Don't worry, that title is a good thing...

Christmas was great this year!!  It was the first time that I've spent Christmas away from home (Mom/Dad/Bro-ham) without that horrible hollow feeling that could only be kept away by self-medicating with expensive chocolate (taken every hour on the hour)...

This year I kept the intravenous chocolate drip, but the hollow feeling was more effectively kept at bay by simple ideas like Familiarity and James-the-wonder-husband and (my personal highlight) a really excellent long talk with my whole Ameri-family on Chrimbo day 2007.

Certain Christmas non-essentials were left behind.  Like the general feeling of rushed panick about food being cooked very carefully so it's all finished at PRECISELY the right millisecond, and the urgency of the kids who act like THEYMUSTOPENALLOFTHEIRPRESENTSRIGHTNOWORTHEYWILLDIE, and the hustle and bustle as too many people wander around the house with cups of tea in their dressing gowns and giant fuzzy slippers, gently bashing into each other like a set of real-life-terry-cloth bumper cars.  Things like this seemed to be like Chrimbo water off a Duck's back (and the duck was wearing a Santa hat).

There's was a general feeling of relaxation and lazy-grins.  We ate an excellent Christmas lunch prepared by my Mom-in-law's fine hand.  We open presents (a lot of which were made by hand!... and also a lot that weren't) and took pictures and each made our own little individual present nests which we sat in the middle of like proud parents.

There were Christmas Crackers**, wine and a little bit of Sherry.  We read our books and watched my little nephew trying to build a very complicated Lego set while simultaneously trying to bat away his little brother (who says boys can't multi task?).  We flopped in various shapes on the sofas or on the floor.  We even had a little bit of a Christmas snooze for awhile...

It was a top notch Christmas this year!  I'm so relieved by the lack of heart-crushing home-sickness, I can't even really put into words.  But don't get me wrong, I miss my family veryveryveryVERY much and I always will when I'm not sat right next to them staring at their fantastic faces.  I guess it's just a learning curve that I'm slowly climbing up...

So a slightly belated MERRY CHRISTMAS to everyone!!  I hope it was a good one this year, my lovely people!!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

** Engligh Tradition at a Christmas dinner - Cardboard tubes shaped kinda like a giant Tootsie Roll.  Two people each grab one end at pull.  The Cracker pulls apart with a bang and there's a surprise inside along with a brightly colour tissue paper hat (shaped like a crown) and a wonderfulterrible joke like:

Q: What do you do when you see a space man?
A: Park in it, man!

 

9th December, 2007: The Christmas that ate Manhattan


Y'know when you look at the calendar and some obscenity slips past your lips because you've COMPLETELY lost track of time?  That's me... RIGHT NOW...  2 weeks until Christmas people!  TWO WEEKS!!

We just had a show on Thursday night that went really well.  It was our first headline in York and we were joined by extremely creative individuals - HumDrum films, and King less Kingdom.  One is an independent film making outfit... the other is a guy with great hair and the ability to make very strange and exciting sounds come out of a small glowing black box. 

It was raining BIBLICALLY on the night, so I got a lot of apologies last minute, but the quality of shenanigans was second to none.  A good time was had by all!!

James and I are finally to the point where we can arrive and play without living in fear that everything is going to go horrible wrong.  All 642 buttons that need to be pressed in precisely the right order are starting to fall into place at exactly the right time. 

Remember that game at carnivals that was a rotating silver wire that you had to slowly pull a metal ring around?  Without touching the ring to the wire?  Kinda like an over-complicated version of that kid's surgery game... (training the surgeons of the future... HA!!).  Our live set used to feel like that.  One mistake and you're out.  No "prize" giant stuffed animal to sit in the corner of your room.  Nothing to scare the BEJIGGITY out of you when you wake up in the middle of the night under it's giant fuzzy shadow, forgetting where you are for a second, and think you're about to be robbed.  (Not that that's ever happened to me...)

We're also working on our mini-album with a Mix Engineer that's so talented, I nearly wet myself when he agreed to work with us.  Actually, the exact quote was, "I'd love to work with you guys".  He's LOVE to????  I feel faint...

And I'm recording the second trance vocal for Conspiracy Recordings, a dance and trance label that was looking for a vocalist.  It's a learning curve like Everest, but it's all good fun!  I'll post a new article when the tracks are available for purchase/download for all those HARD CORE dance fans I have out there *wink*.

Other than that it's the same ol same ol!  Blinking... breathing in... breathing out again... (leaving most of this to the medulla oblongata, or course)  Getting ready for Christmas (if you can count leaving-everything-to-the-last-minute as getting ready).  Hanging out with James, the best guy in town...

If I don't blog before (although I hope I do), MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY SEASON'S AND NIFTY NEW YEAR!!

17th November, 2007: First Aid, First Time, Freaked Out


This blog entry does just what it says on the tin... 

Roughly 2 weeks ago I completed a First Aid Course through work and became a qualified First Aider.  This means that you're basically qualified to be the first person on the scene of an accident, stop people from panicking, make people so they are comfortable and safe, etc etc etc.

I won't go into details about what happened, because it's not fair on the other people that were involved.  And I don't want anyone to worry, because for a 'First Time First Aid' it could've been a LOT worse...

However, when I arrived at 'the scene' and realized that the proverbial 'buck' was gonna stop with me, I had a strange super-fast internal monologue.  I thought, "Oh my God... I'm going to have to say that I'm a qualified First Aider and from that SECOND, everyone is going to either step away from the patient and wait for me to tell them to do something, or run because stuff like this really freaks people out.  If I don't remember what to do this person could get worse very quickly.  If I do something wrong, I could make it worse.  But I'm gonna DO this... here we go..." 

It's at moments like these when I realize how fast the human brain really is.  The amount of thought we can cram into 0.5 seconds is STAGGERING.  So I did the things I was supposed to do (after being reminded by the loveofmylife to put gloves on first, thank you!!!)... and helped as much as could.  While constantly maintaining a jovial attitude towards the patient (this has been drilled into me as the most crucial thing... putting people at ease)

I don't remember much about it, actually.  But what I do remember is the second the Paramedics arrived... the second I saw the man's face in his green paramedic suit, I thought my legs were gonna give out from under me and I wanted to cry.  Fortunately neither of these things happened.

Instead, I went to do a sound check and played a show... how bizarre...

I am REALLY glad it's over.  And I am so unbelievably glad that it wasn't worse.  And I'm sure everything was fine in the end. 

And the gig went well, too...


3rd, November, 2007: Hit by the homesick truck, but filled with pride, feeling preoccupied, but Sufjan Stevens helps...

The sheer length of that title is probably because I've had a pure of IV of the Sufjan Steven's album Come On, Feel the Illinios flowing directly into my veins ever since my cousin Sara let me borrow her album.  He has titles like - "The Black Hawk War, Or, How To Demolish An Entire Civilization And Still Feel Good About Yourself In The Morning, Or, We Apologize For The Inconvenience But You're Going To Have To Leave Now, Or..." and "A Conjunction Of Drones Simulating The Way In Which Sufjan Stevens Has An Existential Crisis In The Great Godfrey Maze"  He's a freakin' GENIUS...  It is AMAZING... I haven't been this enamored with music since my parent's original stuff (nothing can ever beat that, but this is the closest anyone has ever come...)

Anyway, the real subject of this blog is to ooze with pride for my Dad so that I don't hold it all in and explode and J won't have to clean up the red mess...

My Dad, Mike Jarvi, specializes in Contemporary Furniture.  Like Sufjan Stevens, he's a GENIUS (although, my Dad's older so, technically, Sufjan's a genius like my Dad and not vice-versa).  Dad makes the kind of furniture that makes this happen:

Wow... this chair is soooooooo freakin' cool...  I wanna touch it...  Ooooooo, it's really smooth...  Uh, I really really really wanna sit in this chair, but it's art...  Can I sit on art?...  I'm gonna... oops, that guy in the hat is lookin' at me, maybe I shouldn't sit on his art...  He's coming over here!  I'm gonna meet the art chair guy!  Ok, He told me to sit in his chair...  I'm gonna do it...  WOW, it's both really comfortable and mind bogglingly swizeldy-sweet... Sitting in this chair makes me feel famous...  "HEY, (insertfriendsnamehere) take a picture of me in this chair with your camera phone!"

He's currently part of a not-for-profit booth in SOFA in Chicago, Illinios.  Sofa seems like the Olympics of the furniture world to me, although there's no limit to how many golds silvers and bronzes there can be in any one category.  Imagine a bunch of chairs snorting at the starting line, but also imagine a bunch of contemporary artists milling around, networking like an office full of friendly Mac's, learning and growing from each other.  It's simmering... SIMMERING with the coolest energy...

So being part of SOFA is a big deal, and I feel soooooo proud.  My Dad and I used to go to SOFA every year and wander around and see the sights.  He'd teach me (on purpose?  Accidentally?)  How to think with a mind just open enough to accept the out-of-the-ordinary fresh ideas that were on display, but not so open that any old rubbishy thoughts can wander in and taint the rest.  Man-oh-man... the memories are FRESH and I have a sneaking suspicion they always will be...

So now Dad's furniture is at the starting line!  My Dad is one of the friendly Mac's!!  And I wanna be there SO BAD it actually starts to crush my chest if I think about it too much.  Sigh...

But, like I said, Sufjan Stevens helps (and J helps the most of all, 'cause he seems to have the most accurate need-a-hug radar of all time).  And my mind is over there in Chi-town... wandering through SOFA, hanging around next to my Dad, Mom, Bro-ham and Sis-in-Law.  So my body is left here wandering around York solo while my mind world-travels and spends some QT with family.

Ok... enough for now.  But check out Dad's furniture, it's the very definition of 'really something'


9th October, 2007: The boy that sent the red envelope of doom

Picture it...  You arrive at work right on time.  You lounge into the kitchen and make a cuppa to start the day.  Stroll over to your computer, humming whatever song was playing on the radio when your alarm went off.  You turn your computer on... the 'Windows' song greets you...  You open your email...

And that's when you see it.

THE RED ENVELOPE.

Your blood runs cold and fear shivers through your body... because you KNOW, that whatever is in that email is URGENT. 

You think "it probably has something to do with a heart transplant... or someone is probably choking and emailed me for help... "

*Deep Breath*  Brace yourself... *double-click*

"Hi Emi.  We are down to only two pads of 3x5 post its.  Please reporder asap.  Thanks."

WHAT??  POST-ITs???  This is the PERFECT example of drastic misuse of the Red Envelope.  NOBODY needed a heart defibrulator.  NOBODY had become trapped at the peak of Everest.  NOBODY had been cornered by a rabid badger.

Nope...

POST-ITs...

*begin sarcasm*
Nobody panic... I've ordered them now, they should arrive tomorrow.  Mother's, quiet your screaming children...  Soldiers, at ease...
*end sarcasm*


7th October, 2007: Things that should be subsidized by the government



29th September, 2007:  Back in the land of Tea and Cake


Back in the land where the word 'cup of tea' doesn't mean a Lipton tea bag swimming in some microwaved water...  Where we can walk instead of drive... And, unfortunately, where summer dies before it even hits October...

But what CAN'T we do here?  Well, I can't drive at all (blasted stick-shifts)... You can't go to a coffee shop at 3am if you're bored... You can't speak loudly without people giving you the evil eye... You can't buy a 2 course dinner for 6 people including a bottle of wine for 50 quid (I swear that's a true story)... But most importantly, I can't stare at my Mom, Dad and Brother's 3 dimensional faces... sigh...

Still, it IS good to be back...

kinda...

I wanna go to Starbucks...



23rd September, 2007: The end of an era


Sooooooooooo, our American tour has now ended and it was a word that hasn't been invented yet that incorporates all of the following words:

awesomeamazingexhaustingfunexcitingscaryhighlearningcurvewireseverywherejetlagtravelextravaganza

Yeah... I think that pretty much sums it up...

We've played to some fantastic crowds for outstanding causes and met some excellent people...

But now it's back to England!!  Here we come!!

15th September, 2007: New music everywhere

So we've rustled up some new tunes and they've been plastered all over the internet for your listening pleasure!  You can find them here:
Right now they're only available to stream live, but the 3 dimensional version of our new release is available at our live shows.  It's also scheduled for digital release in early November for all you robo-fans out there.

All the business aside, I'm having THE BEST TIME in America.  We played a show at Uncommon Ground that was the best show we've ever played and the crowd was outstandingly supportive.  The Columbia kids were out in numbers and making noise like they invented the concept.  And having my mom in crowd means that someone always laughs really loudly at my jokes :o) .  That kind of show is like crack to junkie... I've got the shakes 'cause I need another hit...

One show to go!!  We play our final show of our American tour in Michigan before we board a plane and go back to our "Clark Kent" existence.  It's gonna be awesome!!!



4th September, 2007:  Wait... it's SEPTEMBER??

Time has this sneaky way of passing when you're not paying attention.  And when you ARE paying attention, it draaaaaaaaaags like a zombie limb...

So I guess I blinked on August 12th and when I opened my eyes again it was the 4th of September.  Weirdness...

There's a lot going on right now though!  We landed in Chicago on the 1st and spent the whole night getting ready for our show on the 2nd.  We crossed the pond to play in our first ever festival and it was SOOOOOOOO fun and generally awesome that it might be in line as a new addiction of mine.  There were people relaxing in the grass, enjoying food and puddin' from local businesses.  The generosity shown by people in support of the C.O.O.L. Food Pantry was staggering.  People actually LISTENED, too... and made that 'Whoop Hoot' sound after our songs.  *kingofallgrins*

Being back Stateside is outstanding.  Seeing family faces and having James here, too is pretty much the best thing ever...  I don't really have words for it... it's that good...

Now we're gearing up for our 2nd tour date which is on Thursday at Uncommon Ground in Chicago!!  Check out the details here.

I'm off to go and soak up some more of the American way... MY GOD I love it here...


12th August, 2007: I'm not selling out, I'm buying in...

A bit earlier this year I joined up with a Dance Band (aka - a wedding band, a function band, a band that plays old soul classics and Top 40 hits).  We're called Jester and we deliver cheese with a smile...  I can honestly say that I really enjoy it!  I don't have to think at all about it being art or meaningful... I can just work at improving my craft.  PLUS I get to dance around on stage like a crazy woman!  BONUS!!

We played someone's wedding last night and I felt like we really gelled as a band for the first time.  We were communicating on stage, we played tight intros and endings, I got to lead the band in a few spontaneous structural song changes (sometimes while singing the chorus of 'Build Me Up Buttercup, you realise you can ride the wave of the crowd's drunken hysteria... 7 minutes later you're still wailing away and they're all still kicking and gyrating like it's the first time they've ever used their extremities... classic.)

Anyway, I'm really buzzing from it.  I think we had a good night.  And we got to raid the buffet!!!  The cake was white with a dark chocolate icing in the centre and white chocolate rolls all along the outside... *drool* 

Initially I think I was worried that I'd feel like a sell out or something.  On the contrary!!  I can't believe I can sing for 2 hours and someone will PAY me at the end of it???  I'd do that at home anyway...

So I'm not selling out... I'm buying in...






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