Canada is my home. What a lucky girl I am. While I Love traveling and culture, I must say that living in Canada feels right and safe and comfortable. Struggling through freezing steps is one of many parts to being Canadian, so is Hot Chocolate and Beaver Tails, skating down the Ottawa canal. There is something touchable about living here, like you can talk to almost anyone, go almost anywhere, and you still feel like you belong. Of course there are exceptions to every rule and it's NOT all roses, but Canada has a certain familiarity and even though it's so incredibly huge in size, we have a shared quality of life here. We seem to speak the same language; beer, pizza, movies, music, campfires, wine, balaclavas, popcorn, pancakes, CBC, skis, candlelight, festivals and potluck dinners (something like that...) Realizing one's dream or purpose is attainable here, you can be a writer, lawyer, farmer, doctor, musician; it's all at your fingertips and surely someone knows someone who knows someone that can help you. That's why I Love Canada, because everyone is connected into this vortex of Canadian life, and most are willing to share their knowledge. I have come into contact with MANY Canadians while I tour and sing, and there always seems to be a "small-world" link connecting one dining room table conversation to another, one taste to another, one cousin to another, one neighbour to another one hand to another. After being away from home for the last two months, I just wanted to share some of my insights about this beautiful Country, tell you that I am always happy to return. If you are in the Ottawa area next weekend, tune into CKCU around 9:30am on Saturday morning, the 24th for some live songs by ME!! Also, I have a gig the SAME night, in Cantley Quebec at "La Grange de la Gatineau" where you can enjoy a Lovely meal inside a beautiful log home, as well as some musical sounds from me...I hope 2009 is shaping up nicely for those of you that actually read this blog... I know 'so far so good' for me... xox
Life at the base of The Alps....
It's pretty Lovely down here. I am here on a "writing new music" term and what a place to find inspiration! There are tiny 1500th century nooks around every corner. The sound of my heels clicking down cobblestones and echoing through ancient buildings, is music to my ears. There is a certain amount of stilness here in Switzerland that can evoke a song from any person willing to sing. The church bells ring through this city every fifteen mintutes and have been doing so for such an incredibly long time, it's divine inspiration! I am living quite cozily for the next few weeks along the River Royce, a crystal clear river that runs through the city of Luzern. There are covered bridges with moss of the roofs and axe marks carved out by hands that no longer exist, oh if those walls could talk!! I have been here just short of 2 weeks, with about five left to go and have one song finished. I quite look forward to bringing it, and more to my band when I get home. Leaving Canada is not a must, but I sure am glad to get away from the many inches of snow for at least a small space in time! I also look forward to hitting the slopes, there is nothing like skiing on a blues sky day in Switzerland. I can feel a song coming already!! I look forward to getting back and singing you my new songs... with hopes to record a new album sometime in 2009!! More Chocolate & Cheese stories to come....Lxo
Nominated by the Ottawa Xpress, BEST NEW MUSICAL ARTIST 2008!! Vote for me!!!
Greetings from what appears to be a Spring-like day. We had a blizzard a few days ago, out here in the hills. The snow came roaring down and attacked all the glorious trees, breaking some and eliminating all of the colours down to the ground. No more Autumn in an instant. But now, all the white stuff is gone and I am flat out confused. I think being a Canadian means being a "Seasonal" person. Somewhere deep inside there is a 'seasonal change' box that just knows when to switch to the next phase....well, mine doesn't know if it's living in Spring or Winter or somewhere between. How about you? One day the skis are out, the next day jean jackets! Whatever the case, confused or not, life is indeed strangely beautiful. I spent my Halloween listening to one of my favourite bands "The Sun Parlour Players". They are mad good, sweaty folk rock good. I passed the evening as a blood-sucking Vampire. It was great, noone knew who I was, so I could REALLY dance as if noone was watching.... I'm not such a dancer, usually I have to be filled with vast glasses of beer and even then it's like pulling teeth. I am meant for singing, that's my excuse but it doesn't always work that way. Especially if Loudlove is playing, they are my ALL TIME FAVOURITE OTTAWA BAND!!! Please check them out, they are on their way to the stars. NO doubt about it. When it comes to their music, beer or no beer, costume or no costume, I am all over that dance floor. Speaking of dance floors, "The Sadies" are playing on my birthday in Ottawa at Barrymore's. I think it'll be a swell night, so if you are reading this and are anywhere near Bank street on the 14th, let's have a cheers!!! I will keep you posted with what's happening next, but for now I have my fingers crossed that I will be voted "Best New Musical Artist of 2008" by the Ottawa Xpress. It's not usually my luck to win anything, but maybe, just maybe I will get lucky this time (with your help!!)Go to
http://www.ottawaxpress.ca/dossier/bestof/xpress2008.aspx MERCI!!! xo