Song Block!

I guess it's a good sign when you wake up with a song in your head, day after day, and it's especially cool if it's your own... Personally I am almost driving myself crazy with it on repeat, replay, repeat and again! Waaaaaaaaaaaa! This melody has been with me for a week now as well as most of the lyrics, but I just can't seem to find the missing puzzle pieces!  I wanted to post it today, to actually present some MUSIC for a change (after all, it is what I have this website for.)  But it isn't always easy to finish something (there are over six hours of unfinished songs in my Iphone!! What am I like??) Sometimes I wish I wasn't so finicky (okay, SOMEtimes I am not! But in most cases, when you are writing a song, every word counts. I remember doing a songwriter's workshop with Singer Songwriter extra-ordinaire Lynn Miles a few years back and she made a point to remind us that every lyric she places in a song has it's own important place. Each "The" and every "and" are intricately considered. Some songs just flow on out, effortlessly, but not today.

So I thought to go out for a hike, to see if the lyrics would reveal themselves. Maybe the creeks and rivers would spark something in me...

There_is_a_waterfall_in_them_thar_hills

Me_in_my_happy_place

And now I have a bunch more words to consider. But not quite the perfect fit! 

HOPEfully I will be able to share with you some NEW MUSIC next week, or maybe even in the next few days? Gotta dream big... ! I have pages and pages of "brainstorming" happening... The living room's a mess!! Yes,  song writer lives here..... 

"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

Snapshots & Somethings

Good day fine folks! Here's hoping this message finds you well, and happy on this fine Spring, err, Winter's day. It is SO green out there, the trees are starting to sprout again. We had snow for about two weeks  and it  was so great, to get out there in that crispy, cool,  bright, white. Today however, not so sure about this rain and all the mud...it's nice not having to do the chores associated with winter (shoveling, scraping, slipping etc) but snow helps with finding the "Christmas Spirit" of things. I suppose for me it does, anyway. Spending most of my Christmases in a seasonal country, one with WINTER, that is, it's a strange feeling, looking out the window to a sea of browns and greens. Just the other night while at a family gathering, I was reminded one has to make and create the Christmas Spirit themselves! Good point. I do remember some wonderful Christmases spent in Bermuda, hanging out on the beach, So, yeah, I guess I have to make a point of finding it and creating it myself! Perhaps practice a few Christmas Carols for my gig this weekend....

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This past weekend, I went to the neatest, coolest, oldest and funkiest music venue I have ever been to. The Mühle Hunziken is an old mill that was converted into an awesome place for Live Music about thirty years ago. It's a lot like a museum in a way, filled to the bring with the neatest stuff and nooks and crannies everywhere, spiral staircases, balconies etc. We were gifted tickets (my husband and I both have birthdays in November) to see an ACDC cover band called "Whole Lotta DC." I have to be honest in saying that I wasn't too interested in seeing a Swiss ACDC cover band.. but I was SO wrong. They were an amazing band (complete with bag pipes!!) and the place was MAGIC; there was magic there, TOTALLY. Here are some photos.. it is such a special place and I can't WAIT to play there one day myself :)

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Wooden_spiral_staircase

Scary_little_cement_boy_and_girl

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It has been pretty hard to choose which photos to share, I took SO many! Check out their website, in any event, it really is a super spot. (Website is in the link in the venues name above the photos.)

In other news,  we released our brand new OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO last week for "Donal Og/ Apologies," music from my latest record "CHAMELEON." The video was shot in the Lanark Highlands of Ontario as well as in Almonte's Textile Museum. My friend and dancer, Sara Corbett put together some moves for it, and Kaylen Prescott was the Videographer, you can find more about him at Rip Roar Productions! It was an awesome day spent out there shooting and here are some out-take shots from that sweet September day!

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Sara_dancing_in_the_Textile_Museum

And in case you didn't see the video, HERE IT IS!! Please share it, I would LOVE to get it out there, a lot of effort and work went into the production of this, the music, and everything... So, if you like it, that would be awesome!! Introducing "Donal Og/ Apologies"

Okay, well that is IT for THIS Wednesdays ramblings...

Hope you enjoy them :)

A Musical Dream

When I start to write I need a soundtrack. We all know that music guides us, somehow, whether in it's ability to conjure up memories or in it's might in stirring our emotions. Think about the time you were listening to the radio in the car and suddenly Alphaville's "Forever Young" came on. Recently I heard it and there I was, right back at Summer Camp, I could almost smell the campfire. Maybe that song does nothing for you, but I am sure there are songs that can take you back, instantly, to a spot in your life, somewhere far away. I find listening to music, while I write, brings more soul into the things I ramble on about. Today's choice is a new record that I picked up while in Ottawa, at Compact Music. Thanks Ian Boyd for keeping an old fashioned record store ALIVE!!! (consequently you can get my new record there too! Ha!) 

The_cover_of_Lindsay's_new_record

José Gonzalez first came into my life one Summer at The Ottawa Bluesfest more than a few years back. I was astounded at the amount in the crowd on a Saturday afternoon, all of whom were singing along to this Solo Singer-Songwriter from Sweden. I was sold within the first two bars of his first song, and mesmerized by him for the rest of his show. I now own a few of his records. His music guides me at the moment, have a listen to this song and tell me it doesn't move you somehow! Introducing "Let It Carry You" just one of the great tunes from his newest record "Vestiges and Claws."  

José_Gonzalez_looking__all_soulful

Music moves, music inspires. More and more this has become evident to me, as I try to find meaning in a fast-paced-almost-soulless music "industry." In the past years I have spent so much time worrying about things that are not in my power to control, things that have no bearing to the music which comes out of me. And really, the music itself is the most important part. I have been told once and again that all I need to do is write the "right" song and get my music played on the radio. These two bits of advice are pretty smart. The ins and outs of HOW to do it, now therein lies the problem, but the one thing I can do, is to keep trying for that ONE SONG. Batten down the hatches and write, and then write some more, to my own soundtrack.

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For a long time, I thought I was creating the music for you. As I get older and wiser, it isn't something that I need to do for you, but rather, I need to do it for me. It used to be that I needed your affection, approval, validation etc but now I know that all I need to feel fulfilled is to keep on making music, in all it's shades and colour. It's the music itself!  I want your support, I like it. It helps me in many ways, not the least it just makes me feel good inside. Does it ever feel awesome when I see your beautiful eyes looking at me with Love in them, after you have felt something from my music. Wow. What a rush indeed! But the rush that comes from the musical dreaming that I am attached to, that tops it all. So I guess I just have to remember my gift when I am searching for "likes" on social media. Ha! If only that riddle was easily solved. So, go on, like this post eh? Share this post, eh?? The conundrum of being a musician on several social platforms in need of support while trying to demystify it all and be at peace with the gift itself. 

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My Uncle once told me that all I needed to do (at the very least!) was one thing every day towards my music career. Then at the end of the year, at the very least, those things would tally up to three hundred and sixty five 'somethings' that I did to get my  musical self out there.  So, today I write a bit about who I am, what kinds of things I think about, how music helps, what music I enjoy.. and I put myself out there.

Thanks for reading,

Love Lindsay