180 Days Later

It's been six months, 180 days since I wrote to you the last time. I can't really say what or why it has taken me so long to come back here! Maybe it's that I enjoy those personal connections, those connects that happen between real life people, the back and forth conversations between us where we can look at each other, see the nuances, the expressions, the crinkles, the colours! We can hear the textures of voice and sound around us, be inspired through what is happening in the back ground, what we are seeing, feeling,  the smells, the looks, the hustle! When I sit here, in my office (I use the term lightly though, as this room is also where I create and practice music, create and design cards, earrings, dreams and the like) up here in this old farmhouse, it isn't as much fun to ramble on about life and it's qualities/quandary's without the real life you!

Home_office_with_a_view

Alas, it is also nice to connect here and to share a bit about my life, with you, my friends, family and fans! How lucky am I to have YOU, whether in actuality or virtual reality, I am happy you are here. Over the past few months, life has been very kind. SO  many changes and SO MANY new songs!!! When I think back the to the last six months of life, it looks good... To be SURE, I am grateful... But where to start?? Switzerland, Ireland or Canada?? I've had the good fortune (desire, will, perseverance and MIGHT) to perform and travel to and within all of these countries since I last wrote...All of these places have been home to me at some point and cultivating the connections and friendships that life has afforded me between these patches of land.... My heart! Oh the people you can meet, the places you can go!

Dried_flowers_from_the_garden_make_an_excellent_gig_poster

Ireland was very much like I had remembered it. Full of small yet profound moments, enforcing my belief in magic, fairies and musical healing (and the true meaning of "The Hair of the Dog." What a spot. I even tried my hand at busking for the first time. It was the Galway Arts Festival and everyone was out on the streets, sharing their talent, the hustle was real! As I was wandering around the market, with my guitar strapped to my back, a fine guitarist asked me if I wanted his spot to play and he accompanied me for a few songs to break the ice of "my first busk." I have to admit, I was nervous. I decided, in the end, to rent a guitar for my performances, otherwise I would have had to pay double what the renting cost was to bring my (lug my) own guitar through airports, train stations and more. It was a fabulous idea, thanks to Opus 2 for the rental! 

Photo_cred_Jennifer_Higgs

Summer is ALWAYS great, everywhere but I would probably have to say that about Spring and Autumn too. I am not a HUGE Lover of Winter, but I DO enjoy the darker, shorter days (call me crazy) but candle light and cozy just go hand in hand with the type of life I aspire to (and) have! Hot drinks just taste that much better when it is freezing outside. Recently I went to a Christmas Market up on Mount Pilatus, in Switzerland. CHECK THIS VIEW OUT....

View_from_Mount_Pilatus_at_sunset

I mentioned song writing and LOTS of it. The tap seems to be very giving and new songs are coming at record speeds! This means that a new record will be imminent in 2018. Not sure how but where there is a will there is a way! Here is a favourite shot from the past Summer, singing at The Wakefield Market.... It remains to be one of my favourite gigs. Not only do I get to sing for a huge range of people, all ages, but the gift of singing in the middle of all that ART and Loveliness can not be compared....

Singing_in_colours_at_Wakefield's_Market

As we get older (I just passed another year around the sun) life starts to reveal truths. OR, rather, we start to really see them. I am sure they are there all along. It has been monumental (and slightly mental) getting older, because... WISER!!! Now I know things and am stronger with regards to things that would have tortured me in the past. It gets easier to say things like "No thank you!" and "Yes, I really DO am going to be kinder to myself!" Which leads me to sharing the BIGGEST change that I made, for myself, ever...

Lovely_deliciousness_from_our_garden

Around six months ago, I watched the documentary "What The Health" and decided to eat a plant based diet. It was on a whim and I NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE thought I would do it or even wanted to do it. Ever. I thought, maybe two weeks might teach me something. Well, it taught many somethings. Some of which I would never share with anyone, because it is not my duty to try and change you. So I will not pontificate. I will say, that I have never felt better in my life and no longer live with chronic pain. I am not one for labels (plus I can't label myself as the DREADED V word because we have chickens here who, when they feel like it, give us eggs!) It is a very sticky topic, FOOD. So do what you will, but know that eliminating animal products from your life will change you for the better. Maybe one day, when I am feeling stronger about this discussion (you have NO IDEA how many people hate on folks who want to change -or have changed- their diet to plant based, all of a sudden EVERYONE cares where I get my protein) I will elaborate in another full on blog about the subject. It has become VERY interesting to me, now that I feel so different!!!! Anyhooooo.....

In January, I am playing a VERY special concert. It will be recorded LIVE and I hope to get a few songs down for a Lindsay Live record! It has been something I have wanted to do for quite some time, and it is FINALLY happening, thanks to Peter Finc. If you want to be in the audience and you live in or near Bern, please save the date JANUARY 20th, Werkhof 102.

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So I will leave you now and I will not let another 180 days go by with SO MUCH WEBSITE SILENCE! Life is a gift and I am privileged to be able to share with you little tidbits about the things I learn, the world I get to know. In the meantime, I will keep crafting words into songs and hope that you will keep listening.

Lots of Love,

Lindsay 

An Orchid and A Song

My_First_Orchid_Bloom

I was gifted an orchid plant a few months ago, a friend was moving her office into her home and had too many to keep... Sure why not! I was always under the impression that orchids were hard to take care of. I was wrong! Just one bath a week for a couple hours and presto, healthy plant. Fast forward a few weeks, to Valentine's Day....We found out (yesterday) that most roses, imported to here (Switzerland) are grown in Kenya, Africa. A place where water is sacred and scarce, is using said water to grow roses to be imported to Europe. So a few people get jobs, tending to and growing roses, but so many more are fighting for fresh water. Money over water is never a good thing. I would choose water, every time. The same day we decided to "say NO!" to these 'Fair Trade' roses, our Orchid bloomed for the first time. Timing is everything, and once again, we were given a sign that we are on the right track.

The_begining_of_bloom

2017 has been good to me, musically speaking. It is always tough, finding the time and discipline, the inspiration and creativity to sit down and really focus hard on writing a song. I seem to get halfway there, and then a new idea comes up and I put aside these quarter/half songs, and soon there are over a hundred halfsies just waiting for completion. Well these days, I seem to be able to focus more and entire songs are born. As an example of my first song of 2017, you can see it and listen to it here: "Flip Side"  it was inspired by having to leave (loved ones, loved places, whatever, leaving something over on the other side and we'll see you on the flip side!)  It isn't easy, bouncing between two countries, always having to say good-bye, but on the other hand, always having to say hello!

Still_shot_from_Flip_Side_Video

Sometimes opportunities present themselves. I had the fortune of recording a music video with Kawaii Sessions, a wonderful studio concept, live off the floor, video shoot in Wattwil, Switzerland. Some musical guests joined in and we played two songs, two takes each. We had an hour and it seemed to go alright! One would think that singing/performing two songs, live off the floor (twice) that an hour would be long enough! Alas, we were finished with only seconds to spare! What you see here is Art in itself, raw and live. The first video: "Two Minds" was released yesterday, Valentine's Day, so that was a nice surprise. Thanks to Patric Menzi and all those at Tonstudio, Wattwill for the sweet recording. And a BIG thank you to my special guests: RYKKA, Timothy Jaromir and Nicci on Electric Guitar.

Behind_the_scenes_at_Tonstudio

Sometimes you wonder if anyone is listening at all! It has been YEARS of trucking through the ups and downs of a music career... Ultimately I do it for the music, in and of itself. As Sting once said, Music is it's own reward! Thankfully though, it does seem like some are on board with me. What a waste if I had to do it all alone! So when I woke up yesterday (again, Valentine's Day,) to being recognized by an acclaimed Swiss Music Website, I was feeling pretty good! A nod in my direction (regarding the music I create) is always welcome. So thanks for the SHOUT OUT Mx3...  "Love yourselves & each other folks, happy valentine's day with our great 'HOT TODAY' artist Lindsay Ferguson, listen here!"A fitting day to be a HOT artist ;) Once again folks, it's all about the timing. Thanks for reading and we shall see us next month? 

Life Lately

Me_singing_live_on_RADIO_RABE_in_Bern

This past week has been amazing and I have been really feeling the LOVE from many new fans and musicians alike. Some times I go through less play time and more computer/creative time. I have always been able to control my emotions on this. BUT I REALLY LOVE to play for YOU the most (providing it's a good room with a good sound system, nice venue owners and happy music Lovers - am I really asking for too much?? Hahaa!) It can't always be like this, I can't always be on the road to the next performance,  I have to write new songs, book new gigs, practice guitar etc etc. It can't always be the "pay off" (which I consider to be the act of playing music for -and connecting WITH- the people.) This past week, however was SO THE PAY OFF!! I think I will be happily prancing on Cloud Nine (or Cloud Seven as they say over here in Switzerland!) for quite some time. I met many new music makers as well as new (magical) rooms, which remind me of WHY I chose this life... sometimes I wonder (what with so many deaf ears, judgement and rejection.) But today I could care less about that and I feel great! 

Happy_Lindsay_Face

I would like to introduce to you some new musical friends whom I met and shared shows with in various Lovely places... Ishantu and I became fast friends even before we were privy to each other's music. We sat at a large table and feasted on Veggie Coconut Curry and delicious Rioja, thank YOU Pillow Song! I was so happy to see when after she played that she was GOOD!! Yes!! I Love new and GOOD music. You can find some of her deep and dreamy vocals here: ISHANTU MUSIC. Next I  will introduce to you some LUSCIOUS SOUL-FILLED sound, who because of them I may be changed forever...Peter Finc and Nicole Johaenntgen were THE most STELLAR duo I have ever come across. She is a CRAZY sax player, heavily influenced by SKILL!! Holy smokes. Peter can sing like an old Blues-Filled Soul-Man and his guitar playing makes me want to put mine in the corner and let it get dusty. Wow. These two. I don't really have the words but FOR SURE sharing a stage with such talent is both humbling and BEEautiful  Soon after I was privy to a concert in the neatest room somewhat like an old school house from the 1800's, with fabulous acoustics featuring an Austrian Singer-Songwriter from the "Americana" genre. Harry Marte played unplugged with his trio, featuring another new musical friend (SWEET!) Beth Wimmer and stand-up bass player (AWESOME) Claude Meier. Just when I most needed new musical experiences (There's no 'easily accessible' BLACK SHEEP INN in these parts!) Ahhhh... sweet musical states of bliss. Thank you, thank you, thank you.... 

That is it for me. Just checking in!! STOKED to play a house concert THIS WEEKEND in my teeny little village of Rüschegg. Then the following weekend in Luzern... Yes... Life is good when you have music... So we ALL have new music now!!! AWESOME, WONDERFUL!!! xoxoxox

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!