*never leave a room empty-handed*

Hello, dear readers. Thank you for all your comments and emails recently!



Firstly, about the O Pato post. Unfortunately, the video from TeleQuebec's "Belle et Bum", which I did not post, but linked my blog to, seems to have been removed from YouTube, and is no longer available for viewing. Boo!

Now - on to Mariah Madness. I can't believe the feedback I received from this post. Thank you for all of your thoughts.

It's funny, I was definitely in a bit of a blog drought, and this piece just sparked a fire in me to respond. I don't really mind bringing attention to Bob Lefsetz's writings because I do think that he is pretty cool and has lots of interesting things to say.

I really appreciate hearing your feedback and I'm glad that the post was of interest.

Now, to you....Mr. Ass. Man. (see comments). Who are you, and where do you find all these various ECB-related tidbits? Fascinating.....



Well, moving on...

I think my mom used to say to me: "never leave a room empty handed". No. That's not right. My mom used to tell me not to carry a "lazy man's load", when attempting to bring in ALL the groceries from the car in ONE trip. "Better to make two trips!" said she... No WAY!! I'd rather make one, completely awkward trip, dropping things along the way.....that's just how I roll.

But back to that "never leaving a room empty handed thing".....Where did I hear that? Could have been Oprah, during one of those 'organize your home, get rid of clutter!!' episodes.

In any case, it is a good tip. When you leave a room in your house, ALWAYS grab something that does not belong in that room and return it to its home. So, if you're leaving the living room and are heading to the bathroom, pick up that bottle of nail polish and bring it with you. If you are leaving your office to go to the kitchen, pick up that box of crackers and put them away!! For MANY reasons.


Anyway, it is a good habit to get into.

Now TODAY, I am in the final stages of neatening up my house because the Toronto Star is coming tomorrow to do a shoot for a feature in the Home Section. "At Home With....".

There is nothing like having company over, to get you cleaning.... Now multiply that by...hmm what is the circulation of the Saturday Toronto Star.....ahh....half a million?

Yikes!


I've already done the interview portion of the article, so it's just the photo shoot tomorrow. I'm trying to remain calm, really...

Now I'm procrastinating by writing this blog!

I've actually given up. I've decided that, when we decide on the area to be photographed, I can just sweep all the clutter out of frame. Nobody will ever know.

I have to share a funny thing that happened in an email conversation with my publicist.

She wrote to me: "Okay, here is a the date and time for the Toronto Star shoot. Let me know if this is okay etc..."


I wrote back:

"No problem! That gives me a bit of time to get the house spliffed up."

Yeah - spliffed up.

After laughing hysterically at that typo, we then went on to imagine the shoot, in a 'spliffy' sort of way. Me, all red-eyed, lounging on the couch, empty chip bags strewn about, watching "Behind the Music - Doobie Brothers".

Oh, the amusement.

No - the house will be SPIFFY. Not spliffy. We'll save that for AFTER the shoot.

*Mariah Madness???!!*

Let me start by saying that I am a fan of Bob Lefsetz. I subscribe to his letters, read most of them, and almost always agree with what he says.

But this is SO wrong! I took such offence to his recent letter "Mariah Madness". Why does he have such a problem with Mariah Carey? Perhaps there is a personal issue that I'm not aware of, because there is no way she deserves this kind of an attack.

In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, here is the letter:



LEFSETZ LETTER - MARIAH MADNESS, APRIL 24 2008

I challenge you to sing three of her songs. Hell, I challenge you to NAME three of her songs!

Let's see... There's "Vision Of Love", a teenager demonstrating melisma for all to see, unleashing upon us countless copycats with vocal training, but no ability to write meaningful music. Then there was "We Belong Together"... Histrionics on steroids, if that concept is even possible. Then... There was that video of her being a bad girl in the bathroom, directed by Brett Ratner. And the one of her on the roller coaster. Oh yeah, and the one of her shaking her mini-tits, before she got that porn star boob job, in the school hall. But what were those records again? And what were the verses of "Vision Of Love" and "We Belong Together"? In both cases I can only remember the single line from the chorus.

Hell, I'm no Elvis fan. But rather than tote up the reasons why he's no match for the Beatles, I'll tell you I can sing UMPTEEN of his hits. From "Hound Dog" to "Suspicious Minds". Maybe because they're classic songs, hits no matter who might have done them. Maybe because I was subjected to many on Top Forty radio again and again. To say that Mariah has eclipsed Elvis' string of number one hits is akin to saying that some quarterback playing Arena football has got a better passing record than Dan Marino... THAT'S RIGHT, THEY'RE DIFFERENT LEAGUES!

Elvis was competing against everybody, when the whole world was watching.

The whole world isn't even listening to music anymore. Hell, there are hundreds of cable channels and multiple video games with a greater visceral effect than ANY of Mariah's hits. Music counted because that's where the innovation was, that's where the flavor was. What exactly is Mariah Carey saying? I'm an uneducated twit who loves junk food who must be supported by the public because I demand so?

And we've got a mainstream media lapping this shit up. Hyping Mariah like someone cares. Well, SOMEONE does, but not many. She's a sideshow for those lost in the twentieth century.

Not only are many not paying attention to music, a great percentage of those who do ARE NOT LISTENING TO TOP FORTY RADIO!

That's the only place Mariah counts. It's like she's the star shotmaker on an NHL team. Interesting if you're into hockey, but most people DON'T GIVE A SHIT! Saying 500,000 people bought her record the first week out is like saying 1 in 600 people voted in an election... HUH? That's how few care about Mariah. In a country of 300 million, she doesn't mean DIDDLY SQUAT!

But that's the main asset a major label has today. Its media relationships. With favors traded for years, labels can count on a sycophantic media wined and dined into pledging fealty to run nincompoops like Mariah Carey up the flagpole. Come on, her album is a train-wreck. It's like having Quincy Jones, Trent Reznor and Tiny Tim make a record. It's like having the body of an Aston Martin powered by a four-banger with a manual transmission out of a Ford Focus. E=MC2 isn't a record, it's a PRODUCT, constructed by an industry that's lost touch with what the consumer desires. People don't want flash, they want SUBSTANCE! Something meaningful, that they can sink their teeth into.

Enough with the lowest common denominator tripe. Didn't we learn that a great percentage of the public is fed up in last week's debate? I mean if they're booing at a debate, what do you think they'd do if Mariah Carey took the stage? Laugh? Leave? No one who is not a fan gives a shit. And we're lucky, she's running for President of a club we're barely aware of, that we don't have to pay attention to.

Ooh... In an era when the Raconteurs and Elvis Costello release instant albums, sans endless hype, we've got a paint by numbers album massaged into nothing over YEARS marketed for months so that a big first week SoundScan number will be achieved. If this is the game you're playing, I hope no one is watching your expense reports, that you've got a blank check. Because you're wasting tons of money on one act who's only as good as her last record. Yup, Mariah is one stiff away from playing theatres, at best. Hell, she doesn't kill on the road, she doesn't play ten arena dates in one town, that's the classic rock acts. And, don't tell me it's apples and oranges, she's constantly comparing herself to Elvis and the Beatles, but the Eagles can do ten times her live business, and they didn't even have TEN number one singles, never mind the twenty Mariah's going to achieve to become BIGGER THAN THE BEATLES!

But when the Eagles reigned the first time, it was about the album, about FM, about the MUSIC! The trappings were close to insignificant. Band made record, then raped and pillaged on the road, little girls sacrificing their virginity to musicians who wrote songs that changed their lives. If you want one night with Mariah, based on the vapid shit she's released, then you must not be married, you must only visit prostitutes, because you're not CAPABLE OF HAVING A MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION, the underpinning of a great relationship!

Mariah is a cartoon. But she's no match for Veronica. And she's certainly no Betty.

But I don't read comic books anymore. Oh sure, there's a Comic-Con, but it's easy to ignore. Just like Mariah Carey and her music.



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Okay, so, I have a couple of things I'd like to say.



In response to this:

"To say that Mariah has eclipsed Elvis' string of number one hits is akin to saying that some quarterback playing Arena football has got a better passing record than Dan Marino... THAT'S RIGHT, THEY'RE DIFFERENT LEAGUES!"





Why? We're talking about the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, right?

So Mariah's "Number Ones" are less valid?

You say Elvis was competing with 'everyone' with the whole world watching. Maybe the whole world isn't watching now, but, who's Mariah competing with? Everyone! More on this later.





"Music counted because that's where the innovation was, that's where the flavor was. What exactly is Mariah Carey saying?"


She's not claiming to be an innovator! Jeez! Does EVERYONE have to be an innovator? And nobody's saying that just because Mariah happens to have more #1 songs on that Billboard chart than Elvis, that hers are BETTER songs? Nobody is saying that!



So, it's safe to say that Mr. Lefsetz is not a fan of Mariah Carey's music. He considers it 'vapid', among other things.

Fine. You are entitled to your opinion. But is it necessary to PERSONALLY ATTACK someone in this way?




"...shaking her mini-tits, before she got that porn star boob job..."

So, Elvis the Pelvis never used his sexuality to enhance his performances? You see 'porn star boobs' everywhere you look today. Whether or not Mariah Carey had any work done on her breasts is completely irrelevant. Who cares if she did?






"What exactly is Mariah Carey saying? I'm an uneducated twit who loves junk food who must be supported by the public because I demand so?"


Mariah is supported by the public because she continues to churn out music and videos that enough people want to hear. Maybe not you, Bob, but lots and lots of people. Don't punish her because she's popular.

That's like talking about how horrible you think paparazzi or tabloid magazines are. THEY aren't the bad guys! The people that buy the magazines and have TMZ as their home page are. They're the ones keeping them in business!

So, don't hate on her. Hate on all the people that watch and enjoy that hilarious and thoroughly entertaining video for her latest single "Touch My Body".


I think she is a smart woman, who has managed to continually TROUNCE competition half her age, in this, the SECOND DECADE of her extremely successful career.




".....nincompoops like Mariah Carey....."

Nice.





"E=MC2 isn't a record, it's a PRODUCT, constructed by an industry that's lost touch with what the consumer desires. People don't want flash, they want SUBSTANCE! Something meaningful, that they can sink their teeth into."



Actually, I think she IS what many consumers desire. To be totally contrary, Bob, I would contend that a lot of people DON'T want substance. They don't want to have to THINK! That's why there is a dishwasher that you can load up with 3 months worth of dishwashing detergent and it will dispense it for you load by load! Because that's ONE LESS THING WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.

They don't want to have to sink their teeth into anything. They just want to listen passively to something that makes them feel good. They want something they can dance to in a club, or have on in the background at a party.

I'm not talking about EVERYBODY. But I'm talking about a lot of people.

As you know, there are lots of different kinds of music. Some more "deep", "complex" and "meaningful" than others. Does it make it any more or less valid?

And actually, come to think of it, I find her music quite refreshing at times. It's not trying so hard to be 'deep' and 'meaningful'. It just IS what it IS.

I'm sick of that faux angst-y shit, a la Simple Plan or Ashlee Simpson. Is that real? No!

And then theres Toby Keith, cashing in after September 11th with songs like "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue". Come on. I just can't buy it! I don't believe that it is coming from some place REAL! Well, it's coming from a place that really, really wants to sell records.

By the way, as a side note, THIS is what Toby Keith says of his songwriting:

"God's gift to me was to be a writer," he said. "And that's what I do best of all. And I'm as gifted at that — as anybody."

Wow.


So, back to Mariah....



YUP. She IS a product. She is a brand. Most bands/musicians/actors/athletes ARE these days. You know why! You've said it a million times. There is no money to be made in selling records anymore. What's an 'artist' to do to sustain themselves? You sell your BRAND.

Elvis is still selling his brand. Where's the money coming from? STUFF. PRODUCTS. Wow....meaningful. Deeeeep.





"Mariah is one stiff away from playing theatres, at best. Hell, she doesn't kill on the road, she doesn't play ten arena dates in one town, that's the classic rock acts. And, don't tell me it's apples and oranges, she's constantly comparing herself to Elvis and the Beatles....


Okay, first:
Show me a statement where Mariah Carey compares her LIVE SHOW ticket sales to Elvis and the Beatles or anyone else, for that matter.


The comparison was about #1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.


I have no idea what Mariah's ticket sales are like. So, maybe she's not a road act. It's too bad, because I can tell you what people would see if she takes the stage. They will see SOMEONE WHO CAN ACTUALLY SING!!



"One step away from playing theatres at best"? Great! Good for her! Most of her competition from when she started out almost 20 years ago couldn't even get arrested, let alone play theatres.


And let me get to those classic rock bands such as the Eagles, for a minute. Yes, they will sell out arenas. Why? With all due respect to the Eagles, it doesn't have anything to do with their most current album, that's for sure. It's because they are a NOSTALGIA ACT. And GOD LOVE 'EM!

But, do they have any NEW fans? I don't think so. Their old fans just happen to still be alive, and have some money to spend.

Mariah's latest #1 single, and it's aforementioned FUN and entertaining video, probably garnered her a whole new crop of "tween" fans who will buy a t-shirt, fragrance or ring tone. They aren't a fan of Mariah's because of a song she wrote 20 years ago. They are a fan for her because of her current song!


Back to that being in a 'different league' than Elvis thing. You are absolutely right. Because Mariah actually WROTE OR CO-WROTE ALMOST ALL OF HER #1 SONGS.

She, like Elvis, also had success with songs penned by others, namely "I'll Be There" and "Without You", but for the most part, had a hand in writing most of the songs she recorded.

Mariah is a cartoon? Hmm. I thought she was a hugely successful popstar, who has managed to DEFY the odds.


Actually, I give Mariah EXTRA kudos for her success, considering that in her genre of music she is probably the only female over the age of 25 (and that is generous), other than Madonna.

So, who is she competing with? Well, much younger versions of her, who can 'auto tune' their way to ear candy. Not fair!? She still in the game though.

She has achieved what we all would love to achieve as entertainers/singers/songwriters: LONGEVITY. It's gotta count for something.

Forget about #1 singles and forget about SoundScan (which we all know is meaningless). I'm talking about LONGEVITY!!






"Come on, her album is a train-wreck."


Is it? Is it REALLY a train wreck? I wouldn't go that far. It's not my favourite, but neither is the Eagles latest effort.



I think you chose the wrong person to pick on, Bob. At the very least, she can SING, and she has WRITTEN (and produced!) oodles songs that I think are pretty well crafted pop songs.


What about "Hero", or "Love Takes Time" Pretty good melodies. And very well sung.


I just listened to "Anytime You Need A Friend" from the Music Box album, and I actually got GOOSEBUMPS from the spectacular vocal performance with the gospel choir. The lyrics are nothing groundbreaking. But it is universal, and feel-good. And that song only peaked at #12.




So let's talk more about THE SONGS for a minute.

The pop songs of today will probably never become classics. That's just the way it is.

I am a jazz singer. I don't write my own songs. I interpret the songs of Frank Loesser, George Gershwin, Rodgers & Hammerstein etc...

It's the same thing. Those songs are classics and have been done and re-done. I can't really think of too many contemporary jazz tunes that I think will become 'standards' someday. For whatever reason, it just doesn't work that way.

Even the best, most amazingly written pop song of today, WON'T become a classic song. It will never be in the same 'league' as Elvis or the Beatles, Dylan or the Stones etc..

Why is that? Is it a matter of quality? Or is it a matter of quantity, meaning that there is so much out there, that nobody can stay ANYWHERE too long, no matter how good or bad your product is.

Or is it about a TIME in history. When people REALLY connected with songs, and music was truly a soundtrack. The over-saturation of the market and our collective short attention span means that nobody really gets too attached to any one song (or artist) for too long. We don't even really have a good ol' "Song Of The Summer" anymore. I think "Living La Vida Loca" is the last one I can remember". ; )


But a #1 song on the chart is a #1 song on the chart.


Just because Mariah Carey's songs, in your opinion, don't meet the calibre of those of Lennon/McCartney, doesn't mean that they are less #1.


The fact is, you want people to want what YOU call "substance". So do I!

You can say the same thing about television, movies, books...

I like to think that people want to watch National Geographic and Planet Earth. But they really don't. They want to watch "The Pussycat Dolls Presents, Girlicious", or "The Bachelor, Season four-hundred-and-seventy-two".


THAT is VAPID. Oh, so mindlessly entertaining!


But, see, I don't think Mariah IS vapid. I think that a few of her songs are vapid-ish. But a lot of her songs are pretty well written! AND satisfying to listen to.

Mariah is not a 'sideshow', as you put it. She is the main event! When it comes down to it - the woman is smart, she is current, she is human, and she has a sense of humour about herself and the business!


One last thing:




You say "she's constantly comparing herself to Elvis and the Beatles..."

Really?



Courtesy of the Associated Press

With her 18th chart-topper "Touch My Body," Mariah Carey has passed Elvis Presley for the most No. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, and is now second only to the Beatles.

But while the diva was in full celebration mode after learning of her latest milestone, she was also quick to put her accomplishment in perspective.

"I really can never put myself in the category of people who have not only revolutionized music but also changed the world," Carey told The Associated Press on Tuesday via phone from London. "That's a completely different era and time ... I'm just feeling really happy and grateful."



Hmm. Seems like maybe she's got a bit of class too! Another point for Mariah.

*singing o pato on "Belle et Bum"*

*clips from the ET Canada shoot*

*some photos from February*

A little de-icing action in Winnipeg...



I was quite fascinated with the de-icing process.





Montreal - Radio Canada. I was recording a radio show called Studio 12....in front of a studio audience.














Welcome to Winnipeg! We were there to film a TV show called "Pour Un Soir Selement" - a collaborative effort with an amazing artist by the name of France D'Amour. She was so fabulous! The show will air in the fall of 2008




Waiting around to play! Marc Rogers and Roy Patterson, chatting.



Ethan Ardelli and I - posin'.








Goofing around with Marc Rogers.




Ethan Ardelli...warming up!

*delayed baggage*

Good evening blogland.

As I type, I am sitting in a hotel room in Montréal. This is a whirlwind week of , well, THREE BIG THINGS.


1) A showcase performance in Québec for La Bourse Rideau (that happened last night)

2) A rehearsal and performance in Montréal for a Radio Canada show, Studio 12.

3) Rehearsal and performance in Winnipeg for an ArtTV show called 'Pour Un Soir Seulement'.




Here's how it has gone so far.....

Tuesday morning - woke up at 5:45.

Car came at 6:45 to take me to the Toronto airport. I checked in, checked my two pieces of luggage - a huge suitcase and a garment bag - and then traipsed off to security with my purse and carry on suitcase. I'm good at this now, from the traveling I've done lately. Laptop out of the purse, into the bin.....coat off, into the bin.....boots off, into the bin......hoist my carry-on on to the conveyor belt. Walk through security....no coins in my pocket....belly button ring - removed that the day I turned 30......no belt buckles.....we're good to go!


Hmm....I can recognize the telltale signs immediately now. Conveyor belt stops....a few airport security people are scrutinizing the x-ray screen with brows fully furrowed..... What is it now? The 20 CDs? The 15 press kits? My eyelash curler (it does look like a small instrument of torture)......My BIG BARREL curling iron?.....probably.....


None of the above. Turns out, I had grabbed the "slightly larger than carry-on sized" bag from out storage room, while doing last-minute packing the night before....

So, I head back to the check-in counter.....$75 dollars later, that puppy was on it's way to the belly of our plane - AFTER - of course, I had grabbed the guitar and bass book out of it. I like to cover my bases. (and basses....hahahahahahahahahaha!)

I don't care if I arrive at the gig without makeup or a dress (there's always Shoppers Drug Mart and....Le Chateau...!) But I don't want to show up without charts.

Really, it wouldn't be THAT big a deal to lose the charts - but it would be a hassle.


ANYWAY, off to the gate...to wait. Reg (guitar) and Ethan (drums) arrive shortly after me.

(the rest of the band is meeting us in Quebec City)

Of course, Ethan had NO luggage. I could have given him my suitcase to check and saved $75 bucks! Oh well...

Hmm...our 9am flight is delayed....45 minutes..... Okay.

That's okay! We're still good!

Once in Montreal, I have to pick up the rental and we'll drive to Quebec City (2 3/4 hours). Sound check is at 3:30.....we're still ...okay....!


We arrive in Montreal and I'm off to pick up the rental. I leave the guys to retrieve their oversized baggage - Reg's guitar and Ethan's drums.

20 minutes later, I'm juuuuuust finishing the 'circle check' of the rental vehicle, Reg comes walking towards me......uh oh...


The guitar and cymbals did not make the flight. Where are they? .......they are...NOT HERE...


The guys have to fill out a "delayed baggage" claim. Delayed baggage.....like, sorry, the baggage just got delayed! The baggage had to take a very important conference call, and missed the flight..

Like, the baggage went to grab a latte and didn't hear the final boarding announcement?

Like, the baggage was feeling anxious about flying and went to the bar to take the edge off and ended up getting in a fist fight with a salesman from Newark?

It wasn't delayed....THEY FORGOT TO PUT IT ON THE PLANE. And 'delayed' gives the impression that it is actually on its way! That it will eventually get there...but....we all know that, in terms of luggage, this is NOT the....case........(hahahaaa).

Whatever. Who needs a guitar and cymbals anyway??? Oh, wait, my guitarist and drummer do.


SO.... we HAD to get on the road at that point....no time to spare. Reg and I both made some calls regarding our new and exciting instrument-less situation. Things were beginning to take shape. Reg KNOWS people, you see. He had a line on a guitar....and a NICE guitar too.... meanwhile, I was calling Mark Kelso, who was playing drums with Hilario Duran that night at the same venue...he has cymbals...he'll share......this will all work out.....


We pulled up to the hotel at about 3:00 - just enough time to check in, meet up with Nancy (piano) and Kieran (bass) and boot it over to the venue, l'Imperial.


We muddled through sound check without guitar, and then had a few hours to have dinner and relax before the show. Well, SOME of us could relax. Reg had a guitar to pick up!

He was off on his guitar acquisition adventure...the rest of us went to a lovely place called Le Postino for dinner. The place had a very cosy feel to it. We all ate well, and enjoyed the smooth jazz mix. Especially when a little ECB poured out of the speakers. Far out! My one night in Quebec City....of all the restaurants! A fun moment.


Quick change at the hotel and back to l'Imperial.

This event was a showcase for buyers, presenters. People who are basically looking for live acts to buy, put together tours, and present at venues across the country. My agent was there - representin'. We had a quick meeting and then it was time to get the fancy singing dress on, curl the hair, do the make up etc...

Wouldn't you know...our dressing room was THE place to be. Everyone hanging out, telling jokes....I actually find that quite comforting when I'm getting ready, truly...I like it. There's a good energy. It's better than being all by myself.

The showcase itself went really well. The show was extremely well attended and the people were very receptive. We played a short but sweet set. It had a good flow.....


After another quick change at the hotel we had time for a brief P.S.H. (post-show hang)


Shoot! I just lost a paragraph due to intermittent internet connectsh...

I'm going to post this - and then write more later, or, more realistically, tomorrow.

*Juno Nomination!*

It has been an exciting time. I recently found out that I've been nominated for a Juno Award (Canada's Grammy) in the category of "Vocal Jazz Album Of The Year" for my album "The Very Thought Of You".

The morning of the nomination was quite a trip. An early morning press conference and then a totally chaotic (but fun) press scrum.

I was asked questions ranging from: "How does it feel to be nominated?" to "Is this like....validation..?

The answers are: "Fun!" and "No." respectively.


It is extremely fun to be nominated - for anything! (Well...) But if I needed to look to these things for validation - yikes! Being nominated is like 'icing on the cake'. I'm going to make records regardless of awards or nominations....this is a bonus!


The main reason I am so proud of the nomination is the fact that I am still an independent artist. All the others in my category, and most categories, for that matter, have major distribution - that is, they have distribution through one of the few remaining MAJOR labels. To be indie and be nominated is pretty cool. And really, as cheesy as it sounds. It is an honour JUST to be nominated...

The only moment where you REALLY want to win is in that moment when they are listing out the names of the nominees before they announce the winner. THAT's when you say to yourself - "oooh! It would be so fun to WIN!". I remember that from the last time I was nominated (in the same category). I didn't care about winning until that moment - then I was overcome with GREED....

This year the awards are April 6th in Calgary. Everyone is saying it is going to be a huge party. The last time I was at the Junos they were in St. John's Newfoundland. Needless to say, Calgary a lot to live up to - in terms of a good party! I think it will be a blast...


The other bit of news is that I was honoured with another nomination. This one for "Female Vocalist of the Year" at this year's National Jazz Awards.

This one is fun because it is open to public vote. Go to NJA.com to vote in all the categories.

*roller coaster*

What a roller coaster ride this damn music business is.


It's not like this is a surprise to me. I know this. I'm not NEW!


But it never ceases to amaze me. It's a good thing I'm a lot more mellow than I used to be. Well, maybe not just mellow....mature...? Experienced?

Things that happen to my daily now would have really riled me in the past. Now I just roll along. Up, down, down, up.


Within a span of 15 minutes yesterday, I got some really great exciting news and also some really obnoxiously annoying news. I won't say 'bad news' because, really - we are talking about the music business. Bad news is when someone gets sick or hurt. Obnoxious, irritating news is just another day in this biz.


I'm not grumpy! I'm not even bugged right now. See, I can get over things quickly now. That is an acquired and practised skill. Move ON...

But yesterday was just one of those days where you have to throw up your hands and laugh.


One show is selling out fast - another show is not selling at all. Who's to blame? Promotors? Venues? The artist? Ticket prices? Weather? Competition?

But on the other hand, there is this amazingly fun offer that just came in for a tv show. And lots of bookings coming in.


I have no right to complain. If fact, I love that this job is never boring. It is a lot of things, but it's never boring.



Last week I had an audition for a new animated series. I was reading for three roles, one of them being a character with an Australian accent. My first instinct when my agent sent me the script and character description was - "oh gosh no! I can't do an Aussie accent!". But I actually talked myself out of that within a few seconds. I thought that it would be a good challenge for me. There is also something to be said for a healthy amount of fear! Ha.

Seriously - it is the reason I took those Second City Improv classes. It sounded intriguing, but more importantly it scared the living daylights out of me. It made me want to run away and hide under my covers. It made me feel slightly like throwing up. Yay! I'm ALIVE!!!

You HAVE to do things that terrify you.

I used to be terrified at voice auditions. What? You want me to laugh on cue, cry on cue? Oh GAWDDDD!

But after 12 years, you get more comfortable (one would hope). There is not the same kind of nervous energy going into an audition. This is a good thing because I feel like I can LISTEN better without that nervous ringing in my ears that comes with complete panic! And listening is good. Listen to the director, listen to your own voice....

As a result, I have been able to build up a rapport with voice directors, my fellow voice actors, writers, and audio engineers - and I feel comfortable and confident enough to try new things...


In terms of this Aussie accent thing - I think I was daunted by the prospect. And it would have been easy to just say to my agent: "Nope - don't do an Aussie accent".

In FACT, when I got to the audition, they didn't even think I was reading for that role! I had to convince them that I was. They asked: "Oh! You can do an Australian accent?" - "Sure!" said I.......Oh dear - it better be good NOW!

I took on the challenge and spent hours researching the nuances in the accent, listening to audio clips, practicing the lines on the script, practicing lines that WEREN'T on the script, talking to Rexy with said accent (he thought it was FLAWLESS)


I gave it the "ol' college try". And nobody can say I didn't. (and I am mostly referring to myself)


We'll see what happens. I may get a call-back, I may get cast! Or, I may never hear a peep about it again. Whatever happens, it was an exhilarating experience to feel that buzz...


I have to sign off now, but to Kara, who sent an email asking about the lemon verbena candle - this is the one I have burning right now. It is just lovely:






Lothantique

*lemon verbena*

I have been having the strangest dreams. None of them are as clear as the Oprah dream. I can only remember bits and pieces. Is it what I'm eating? Hmmm. I've definitely been feeling the cold...makes me want to sleeeeeep.

The dreams are probably due to the fact that I have a lot on the go. I'm getting to the point where I'm constantly jotting things down on scraps of paper. Then consolidating them on my laptop. Am I weird? I have a new system for keeping track of gigs though. And thank goodness, because I think this year I will have about 3 times as many live shows as last year.

I'm telling you - if I don't write something down or send myself an email IMMEDIATELY, whatever it is I was supposed to do or remember will be gone....like dust in the wind.....all we are is dust in the wind....


I love my new office. Now Empress Music Group Inc. really has a home base. When I was first moving in, I was so gung-ho about setting it up, placing everything just so....

Then things got crazy with the Japan tour and the holidays and it never QUITE got finished. Really it just needs a few final touches. I want to keep it as minimalist as possible. Keep all the clutter hidden in the hard drive of my laptop.

The first night I worked in here, I placed a brand new lemon verbena candle on one of the shelves. I now declare it the "Official Scent of Empress Music Group Inc"

Not overpowering - not too sweet. Just fresh and clean smelling. And also somewhat invigorating. Ahh lemon verbena. You never let me down.

Uh-oh - jazz related crisis - gotta run!

*rexy & bear*

In case anyone was wondering about the whereabouts of Rexy's friend Bear (and I know you were all on the edge of your seat) - here is a recent video of that cute pair...

Bear still goes where Rex goes - pretty much. We try to discourage him from taking him for a walk because Bear gets really gross and dirty around this time of year, and I'm not sure how many more washes he will survive. You will note that he is starting to come apart in some places. Every once in a while Rex pulls at the stuffing. But he is mostly intact.

Ahh - the love....

Oh - by the way - if you are one of those people who gets annoyed when people talk to their pets in annoying little baby voices, you might want to turn the sound down. Don't say I didn't warn you. When I talk to animals, my voice goes up approximately one octave. And I don't try to stop myself - I just go with it. So there.