There are many pieces to the puzzle that makes up this musician’s life but it’s the music that keeps me chasing my dreams. Somehow I am plugged into a constant stream of sound, so it is always with me, and there is no escaping, fortunately. To hone in the sound, I have to process it, and this is the first hard bit about being a music maker. I sit there with my guitar, pen and paper and hope I can form what I hear into something that you, the listener, can also hear. This is the hard part because, if I could, I would just hum and scat my whole way through this new burst of music, but no, song writing is called song writing because there is a certain element of writing that takes place, you know, those pesky lyrics! I call them pesky because they are (for me) the hardest part of creating a song and I would say that over sixty percent of the listeners out there don’t even process the lyrics at all which makes it all the more difficult because I WANT you to process the lyrics, so I try to make them really good, something that you will really want to listen out for. Once I have my theme ready, I place it all together in some kind of wonderful structure or other. There is no one way to write a song, they all come out differently and I am always stoked to see how one of mine will end up (I have so many in the works!! I really must be more disciplined in finishing some!) I was once told that the bridge should be the best part of the song, so I always try to make it stand apart and be the BEST, but it doesn’t always work. Some songs are just plain better than others. I am still waiting for that ONE song to get heard. Perhaps you will take the time to listen to what I have so far? My newest labour of Love is NOW ONLINE!! You can scoot over to Itunes and check it out if you so desire… ‘tis the season for sharing J http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/monkeys-under-stars/id485589392
Autumn Blues n News
What a glorious time of year. The air is alive with new scents from old, the horizon dull and bright at the same time, the wind and stars blissfully fresh and clear... and me without a penny to my name. Thank heavens I can see the beauty in life, and the creativity, musically, never ends. Thank heavens going for a bicycle ride down windy rocky roads doesn't cost money! Alas, to be a full time music maker in a coin driven world where one in 10 music makers don't make it! What kind of decision did I make, to be a contender in a race that is almost impossible to win? I ask myself this question on many occassions and always come up with another question: Life or death? I choose life and with life, in my world, comes music and not just in my stereo, mp3, computer or from someone else completely...no, I have this musical gift and it was given to me by the cosmos and the cosmos have demanded that I share...so share I will, I do, I must! Here is a clip of one of my favourite songs, sung this past year at The Ottawa Bluesfest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SayF4Vrsto&feature=related it's called "Sky'n Me" and I have recorded it "album" form, along with 6 other songs, which hopefully I will one day be able to press, put up on Itunes and sell from the stage... outta my hands into yours (sorry for the big huge font. just happened all of a sudden and I don't know how to change it back!) Anyway, I hope to sing for you soon, and if you are in the Ottawa area on the 14th of November (my birthday!!) I am singing at The Rainbow Bistro... it's a Saturday night... come on down... I'll be in fine form then... just a rant today, on a grey day in October... Lxo
Lindsay LIVE with The Lost Boys... 2moro Night!
Greetings Websurfers, Indeed, I have a gig 2moro night in Wakefield Quebec. That's Thursday the 7th, at The Black Sheep Inn. We've been practicing some new songs as a band, and boy, sometimes they sound SO MUCH BETTER with a band then when I am standing in the kitchen singing to the taps! I will also be on CKCU Radio from 8am til 9:30am in the morning, that's 93.1fm in Ottawa...I may bring out some older recordings for a treat or a laugh... depending...! I will also be performing a few live songs as well... solo style...without the taps. Maggie Meyer from Newfoundland and Megan Hamilton from Toronto will also be singing souls on Thursday night at The Sheep, so if you are in for a trek out to the hills, come join us, the fun starts at 9pm!!!
Life as a music maker is a little slower for me these days, as I am spending my daze, writing new tunes for a new album. I would LOVE to get it released next Spring, Spring 2010. My last album, released September 2007 took a year to organize, so it appears I may indeed have the time to reach my goal date, but I will of course keep you posted on all of that, I still have to choose the right studio, and that's half the battle. The songs are flowing freely and I am stoked to get them recorded...all in good time I suppose!!
Summer will see me traveling a bit, out to the East Coast of Canada for some shows and then out to the West Coast, to the Rocky Mountains!! With an exceptional gig in between at at The Ottawa Bluesfest, on July 10th, where Jackson Browne, Steve Earle and Sam Roberts will also e performing... I am SURE it will be a fabulous night for all!!
As an independent musician, I am always looking for shows. I do all my own booking (so far) and if you have anything exciting happening and are in need of Music Makers, drop me an email. With or without band!! Keep in mind there are 2 Lindsay Styles...or ring me! My number is up there at the top of this page...
On another note, I have fallen in Love with a new band called "Mother Mother" maybe they aren't so NEW, but new to me... I saw them perform a few days back, and it was one of the BEST performances I've ever seen. An amazingly dynamic, creative, melodic, harmonic, and RAW talent type of band. Check them out sometime. One more Canadian Gem to add to our musical roster of greats....
Talk soon, Lindsay xo