"Shut-Eye" *NEW SONG*

Hey folks, since I am a musician first and foremost, I figured I should add some musical material from time, to time...right?? Well here is my latest song "Shut-Eye" The lyrics are pretty self-explanatory but I challenged myself to write a song last week as part of a group I am a member of over on Facebook called "Adventure begins at OM." It is the brainchild of friends of mine who created "My Five Acres" a wonderful blog page I have been reading for quite some time. They challenge the FB group members om Monday to do something for the week and I decided to write a song. I have heaps of started songs, and I really need to commit more to those, but here is a fresh one for you! 

"SHUT-EYE"

Nighttime, you got my full attention. Whisking me away like that, from a dream I never knew I had. Over-Drive, my imagination. Turning all the 'right side up' in direction upside-down.

It is all quite concerning all this tossing, all this turning and I can't seem to find a reason why. There's a big fire burning and I fear my fear's returning and I can't seem to catch me some shut-eye.

Shut-Eye

Hollywood, see this as a piece of fiction. Movie in my mind won't stop and I gave it everything I got. Sunrise, you're so pretty in your deep blue sky, but I'm not ready for the finer things, only wishing on what dreams may bring.

CHORUS

It is all quite concerning all this tossing, all this turning and I can't seem to find a reason why. There's a big fire burning and I fear my fear's returning and I can't seem to catch me some shut-eye.

Shut-Eye

BRIDGE

Feeling like I'm crazy, I got all this stuff inside but can't do nothin' about nothin' when it's 3.45 Hunted, I'm the hunter, I'm the zombie, I'm the ghost but can't do nothin' about nothin' in the mornin' I'll be......

CHORUS

OUT

Open Letter to BONO

Photo_of_Lindsay_on_stage_taken_by_Steve_Gerecke

It was at Summer camp in Backwoods, Ontario, Canada, when I was about 13 years old, where your music would touch me for the first time. There was this camp counselor who would play guitar by the campfire, strumming and singing "All I Want Is You" all the while we would star-gaze, listen to the crackle of the fire, thinking about what kind of adventures tomorrow would bring.  Maybe it was his voice, I have always listened for slight intricacies in a persons voice (and in his voice there were an abundance) but in the end it was the song that stood out and the song that I connected to.  Your song.

Anyone could sit here and write about how your voice is rich in colour (burgundy) texture (winter honey) and beauty (sunset/sunrise) but that would be stating the obvious, so I won't go on about that. Your stamina is wildly fascinating and unbeatable. The ideas and dreams that you pursue and live out are epic in nature and clearly heartening, these, too, are obvious. What isn't obvious is how you have touched individuals, and how you have inspired them (us) to grow. There is no way you could know how deeply you have moved so many people, individually. But today I will share with you one story, my story.

From as early as I can remember, I would sit on the floor in my bedroom, at ear level with my ghetto-blaster, listening to and singing along with many, many a song.  My introduction to recording a song was most likely me pressing record on my boom-box and singing along with some top forty radio song enter "Ebony and Ivory."  You have no idea how badly I wanted to be a "Mini Pop," singing "Video Killed the Radio Star." A musical life just had to be!

My first real stage performance occurred in a High School talent show, where I would showcase my voice away from the stereo, under lights and in front of a red velvet curtain, holding a microphone for the first time, singing Sinead O'Connor's "Black Boys on Mopeds."  Years later I would understand the meaning of the song. But as it stands, melody and vocal sounds are what grab me first. Then lyrics. This was the song that gave me my first dose of musical confidence.

Ten years on I would buy my first guitar in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada and on that first guitar, I would write the song that I asked you to listen to. It was the first proper song that I would record, and I took that song with me, everywhere. Introducing once more, "Wide World."

After leaving St. John's, I moved to the Wesht of Ireland, a couple hours north of Galway City. I worked at an old and beautiful hotel on the Sea with a far off view of Croagh Patrick called Renvyle House Hotel. It was here where you and your Loved ones would attend a weekend wedding. I was so excited to be scheduled to work that weekend,  I brought my Discman with me, praying for the courage to ask you to lend your ear and so curious to see your reaction to my music. In all honesty, I missed the staff meeting telling us NOT to approach you or any of your family unless it was work related. I am SO glad I missed that meeting otherwise I would never have heard your encouraging words in my ears at the darkest of times.

I will never forget the way your face lit up to the sound of my very first song, to the sound of my voice. I will never forget the smile that grew upon your face and the choice words of encouragement that you gave to me. It was my first recorded song and it was all I had. You gave me the strength to continue, when those around me just didn't get it, and were unable to offer up the things I needed to hear. It was your sentiments that kept me going in and among all the rejection. Whenever I started to feel supremely down in the world that makes up the music industry, I would see your bright eyes smiling to my music. Meeting you would change my life for the better and cause me to continue on, over and over.

Most likely I was just a blip on your 'filled-to-the-brim' schedule and perhaps you never thought about that short moment again, but in case you DID wonder...         Well, my musical story continues...

Today, more than ten years after that Sunday afternoon in the courtyard under an Irish sky, I have continued on in my pursuit of music, and have just released my third record. It would (obviously) be an honour to me if you would have a listen to this newest Labour of Love "Chameleon." Also a  few weeks ago we filmed a video featuring music from said record,  which you can watch here: "Donal Og/Apologies."

Clearly it would be amazing if you Loved this new music and found a way to help me get it out to more music Lovers. Truthfully, with all the death happening around us,  I wanted to inform you that there is a girl out there making cool stuff happen because you took the time to listen and share, all those moons ago....I wanted you to know, today, how grateful I am because of it. So, Bono, I thank you.

Love,

Lindsay xo

Exit David Bowie

When I was about fifteen years old, I heard David Bowie for the first time, courtesy of my big brother Jeff. Jeff was (and still is) introducing me to new music. Thank you brother, I will never forget your generosity, I just Love you so much!! Well, in comes Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes and it does exactly that. I am changed forever. A new window to my life, which had been closed and covered (but there) since the day I was born, had been unshut. It was the first time that I had a soundtrack to my life which gave me confidence. Listening made me feel like I was a part of something super amazing. His music didn't make me feel the same as my idols Cyndi Lauper or Madonna, but rather more grown-up somehow or like I was finally connected to or made more aware of the music stream that was flowing within. David Bowie gave me my first taste of inner-enlightenment. So I will thank you, Starman, for sharing your humongous gift. Here is his latest video released just days before his death... I have woken up with the song and images from the video for the last few days... It gets right in there!!  Introducing "Blackstar." Warning, this is a true piece of art, featuring extreme ARTISTRY.

Hand-drawn-black-and-white-David-Bowie

What were your earliest memories of his music and the way he made you feel? The out-pouring of LOVE that is being shown by SO many different types of people  all over social media.. the array of lives he has touched... I am Loving reading the stories from people who have had the incredible fortune to meet him in real life. Alas, his music lives on, his art lives on. Lucky us!!

In other news, well.. That will have to wait.

Pressing pause to think about and listen to a little Bowie.

Join me?

Enter 2016

Ahhh... here we are. Into the New Year, new beginnings, new ideas, new designs and into getting better at something or into getting better at ourselves. Am I right? Are you reading this and feeling better about YOURself, six days in, have you made any changes? Maybe the fact that so many of us ARE trying to work on ourselves, it is easier to harness the power that we need? Am I wishful thinking? It was from Emoto's water experiments that I learned about these monks who gathered around a small body of water, holding hands, sending positive vibrations and Love into the water, to heal the eco-system within and it DID come back to life!  That idea of many folks working on something together, releasing "strength rays" might just be what is going on at the start of the New Year, far and wide!!  

My_Mama_and_Aunties_in_the_60's_gig_poster

 There's something new for me! I am playing at one of the funkiest little venues in Bern next week. I did a few house concerts over the past while, which I LOVE to do, but sometimes you gotta get down and dirty in a vibey city venue! I have been going to Café Kairo on and off over the past few years. They have the best Open Mic in Bern, for sure, and I am STOKED to hear some new music next Monday, as well as singing my own set after, so if, by chance you are reading this and you are in der Schweiz, come on out, eh?? Getting back to new-ness....Yes, that! We were at a NYE party, a quaint and cozy one, spent with wood-fired pizza, children, red wine and music. It was a beautiful evening spent on the Lake of Zurich. Nearing the end of the evening, or should I say morning (ahem) we played a little game, one that was new to me. Molybdomancy is a form of "telling the future" by melting lead shapes and tossing the melted metal into cold water; whatever shape comes out of the water is supposed to give you a sign of what is to come in the New Year. We all sat around with our shapes and expressed what we might like to see in this year of 2016.

My_lead_future_shapes

What do you see? I posted this photo on my personal Facebook page and received some very interesting ideas, which just remind me that everyone looks at everything in their own way, we are all individuals! These shapes are both mine and my husbands, and I thought it impressive that we had such similar forms. A good start to the New Year, whatever the case! As we were dreaming up new visions for 2016, I thought the most important thing to do for myself is to eat healthier and to drop the junk food. Not sure I will be able to do it, but I will try, darn it! My great-Grandfather, Dominion Botanist, Dr. Hans T. Güssow, (A doctor of flowers! He once came up with the cure for wheat disease, in Canada) Well, once upon a time.. He said EVERYTHING IN MODERATION! With hopes that one day I will actually live by that rule, I am doing my best, for now!

My_great_grandparents_in_Victoria_in_the_1940's

The history before me is epic and I just wish that I could go back in time and ask some of my ancestors questions, even just hearing the voices of those before me.. I wonder what they sounded like, my Great Grandparents... I wonder who sang? Someone must have. Ahhh, sweet music running through the blood of those before me and I became blessed with it. Lucky me.

p.s My new record made TOP 50 ALBUMS of 2015, according to CKCU, a fabulous radio station out of Ottawa, Ontario, Lucky me, indeed!