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!

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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!

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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! 

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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....

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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...

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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 

On Song-Writing

Lindsay_holds_her_Guitar

It all starts with....

Hmmmm.

There are many ways to begin writing a song.

Some days, I pick up my guitar and noodle around... Eventually hearing a satisfying  melody and  (hopefully) some random and enticing poetic line blasts out of thin air, and off I go! These compositions can take a long time to work out, but there are rare moments when a song comes along in its entirety, and fast.  

Sometimes, I have  to really work at getting into 'song-mode' and there has to be a ritual of sorts...everything has to be 'just right' so I have to clean the house first! I might then light some incense (Nag Champa) and light some candles, hoping to create the ultimate ambience for tapping into that 'precious musical flow.'  Composing a song is very connected to moods. Some days, I have to inspire myself to write, and I have to change my mood to get myself psyched to create, so a hike is great for that! It helps get my heart beating, my blood pumping and my brain flowing away from  the un-necessary, and into the right direction. At times, I really don't want to play at all, but I have to. I must practice and prepare but  have no desire to start. No desire to get the ambience in line, no desire to get outside for some fresh air for that new perspective...Sometimes I got nothing and have to start anyway.  But usually, within fifteen minutes of 'just doing the act itself' I find myself back in the groove of things and all is right with the world, musically. Yep, that's it, you just have to pick it up and there you are, right back where you left off.  

I usually come up with  a melody first. Things can get pretty dreamy up here and out here in the Music Stream. I start fiddling around unplugged (guitar fiddling around) and when I think I have something good, I'll plug in, turn on the reverb and from time to time, kick in some harmony vocals with my Harmony Singer Pedal, (This pedal somehow magically finds the right notes above and or below the note I am  singing and somehow 'hears' what the guitar is playing and  really comes up with some beautiful stuff!) I Love jamming out (rehearsing) in my own space, because the sound is set 'just right.' The sound outside, in a new room or music venue can be wonderful, but more often than not, it isn't and there's not much that can be done about it. Mostly, I have to stop being so critical of myself and let the flow FLOW! (don't we all!!)

With regards to lyrics. On one side, lyrics are extremely important to the music and on the other side, seemingly not so. For years I knew every word to my favourite songs, and it wasn't until much, much later that I would process just what those words actually meant. I can sit through an entire concert, never processing the lyrical content. The music, if it's good enough (to me) will just take me over.  That said, I still put value into each word that finds its way into one of my songs. Every word counts and every one is placed with exacting thought. The "the's" the "at's" the "too's" every one! Let's face it, a song with BOTH brilliant lyrics AND melody can be life changing, inspiring and profound. (I am working on it.!)

There most certainly is no "right" way to make music and/or to write a song, and truly no "one" fail safe method. Unless you count writing from the heart. If you write from there and from yourself; from that place down deep,  you will find a brutal honesty that  actually does prove to be fail safe. Now,  add a little melody (make it good) and write/sing/play about whatever you want. There is most certainly a freedom to music, never let anyone tell you differently. But make it good. Make it great!

Upon re-reading and editing what I have written here, I find myself thinking of Bob Snider's book on how to write a song called "On Songwriting" which you can find HERE. I read this book a few years ago and in it you will find all sorts of rules that were meant to be broken! It really is awesome and funny, just like himself and his music.

On another side note, a couple posts ago, I posted my newest song "Shut Eye" and in one post before that, a post to BONO you can hear the first song I ever wrote on guitar "Wide World"... Just scroll down if you like! 

Love,

Lindsay xo

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!) 

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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."  

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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 

An Audience of Trees

Some days I hike into the woods and sit in the trees, pondering life, breathing in that life-giving goodness. I try to focus on exactly what is around me, on exactly what I am feeling, what I hear, what I smell... As easy as it sounds, I find it hard not to let my mind wander into what will be. 

I attended a healing ceremony this past weekend. It helped me in many ways. I rested, I dreamed and I learned. One of the practices I learned to bring into my life is to try my best to focus on "the now." Such a cliché. I know. Be in the now, focus on the moment. Haven't we all been told this, haven't we all read this over and over? When does wisdom sink in, finally? Does it take a weekend of meditiation of an ancient kind? Does it take a weekend spent in a sanctuary of sorts? For me, I think it might just be exactly what it took.

But I know this is just the beginning of something. It will take a lifetime of practice  and discipline. It does seem a little quieter and more peaceful, that somehow, maybe I am closer to spirit? I hope this insight stays up front. By "up front" I mean, I hope this new wisdom does not get lost somewhere deep inside again. I must remember that I have this knowledge, that we all have this knowledge, this 'knowing.' The answers are there, we only need to tune in. Finding stillness and really listening, now therein lies the challenge! Quieting all the noise, tuning in, breathing in, taking care of oneself, finding the courage to step away from the ego...

Nothing is black or white. What might be black for one is purple for another, there is no absolute right or wrong. One has to feel it out, does it feel bad, does it feel good? Your senses are intuitive. They know!   We all live here, searching for something to hold onto, searching for value and happiness. When I asked both of my parents, separately, what they thought the purpose of life was, they both said "To have fun, to live a joyous life." Both of them worked really hard and are now retired, living out their own dreams now and I am beginning to see. We just have to look for it and we will see! See?

Life is long (unless it is cut short!) But if I live as long as my grandparents, I sure have a way to go! I can only hope that I will honour myself first and continue to honour you as well. We are all in this together, so let's help each other! Create smiles, create Love! (click on LOVE, you will see the most amazing and short documentary about an old man in Bermuda who shares his Love every day! Old man Johnny Barnes, I thank you!)

Here is another video, a music video, that I think sums up what I have been saying here quite nicely. One of my dear and musical friends from across the ocean, just released it... Click HERE to watch :) And please, inspire, and be inspired!

Love,

Lindsay xo

Blog Archive

Archived Lindsay Ferguson blog posts.