Guitar tracks are Complete! #GettingErDone

It's time! I can barely contain myself. We're getting this album done! Last week, I recorded rhythm tracks and pretty finger picking tracks to 7 songs.

I often worry too much during recording sessions. I suffer from "Recording Light Pressure"... I named it myself. It's the state of panic that occurs when the record button is pressed. I know it's absurd considering I perform in public, but recording really is a completely different vibe. I get anxious when that button is pressed and only when I'm trying to record guitar or keys. I feel relaxed when I'm laying down vocal tracks. I did fine though. Instead of downright panic, my entire body would tense until the stop button was pressed. But, you can't HEAR my body tensing up so we're good. Aside from that, the process wasn't painful at all. I kind of enjoyed it.

In a little over a week, when schedules slow down, Darbs will come in and lay down some drum tracks. I know it seems backwards but all the guitar tracks were recorded to a metronome, so it's good!

It has been such a long road to get to this point and I am so thrilled to see progress. I am so fortunate to have good people helping me with the process.

Inspiring Times

It would be a lie if I told you that I was a fan of the cold. As beautiful as it may be, I am a sun baby. I do love it when the weather warms, even if it is only Mother Nature's way of teasing us. It is so inspiring to go for a walk in the sunshine and see the bright green that is new growth hiding away. It reminds me that spring really isn't that far away. Along with the new growth, comes the promise of creativity. Songs and stories emerge like daffodils pushing their way through the soil.

The last few nice days have inspired new songs, stories, characters and dreams for the future. I can't wait to share them all with you. For now, I will hide myself away by the wood stove. Practicing in my little nook, waiting for this upcoming winter storm to pass; while I dream of warm weather and the splendor it brings.

The Snow Angel

Sometimes, I reflect on the people who have graced my life. I am grateful for you, each of you. There is a place in my heart that is only whole when I think about the things I have learned from the memories we've shared. Only when I think about the kindnesses and the hardships fought do I truly appreciate the wonders of each of us. There is no telling what the impact of a stranger or a loved one will yield in your life. When my grandfather passed away, my life changed.

I went out for a walk a couple days ago. The snow had been coming down quite hard and I felt weepy. My grandfather passed away Boxing Day 2006 and I do get a little sensitive this time of the year, whether I realize it or not. He was a very large presence in my life and the reason I am so passionate about music. I left the house hoping that nature would give me some perspective and by doing so, faced my fear of being eaten by a coyote in the night times. I live in rural Nova Scotia, it could happen.

The wind was calm and the flakes were big. I didn't make it very far down the road when I found myself captivated by these beautiful trees, back-lit and covered with snow. Sometimes, you have to be vulnerable before you can see the beauty around you.

I miss him a lot this year. Some years are worse than others. I feel him strongly, I can hear him clearly sometimes, like a whisper in the winds; He guides me ever so gently where I need to go. 

The Seasons are Changing

A couple weeks ago the Quiet Parade and Ria Mae came and played a show and myself and Cory LeBlanc from Rain Over Saint Ambrose were each asked to play a few acoustic songs to kick off the night. Unfortunately since it was my husbands first night lobster fishing for the season, I wasn't able to stay and enjoy the other bands. I got to share the stage with Ria Mae a couple summer's ago at the Harmony Bazaar Festival in Lockeport and she is absolutely fantastic. The Quiet Parade is always a treat as well! Thanks goes out to Lynn Hemeon for capturing my performance of Sweetheart.



Over the next few weeks I will be getting into the Christmas spirit while the hubby is away on the water providing for our family. Upcoming Christmas Events and a house concert are on my Calendar and in the New Year, I will be ready to pick things up again. I also have an album to finish up and I am very excited for the finished result.

Crystal Porter - In the Ghetto (Elvis Presley Cover)

It has been ages since I've posted anything on You Tube and not for lack of content. It has been a busy summer and to be honest, I hadn't really thought much of it. I might have had a couple passing thoughts about posting something but they were washed away in the busy flow of things.

I have managed to write a few new songs, amid the travel, performances, gardening and general summer activity. I've also had to learn a lot of covers for various reasons like weddings and very lengthy set lists.I thought it might be fun to upload some covers over the next few weeks.

I present to you my rendition of Elvis Presley's song "In the Ghetto" based upon Natalie Merchants interpretation. Enjoy!


 

Sweetheart

So, I've been working on this new song for the last couple weeks and I'm mostly just tweaking with lyrics right now. When out of nowhere comes this song, I received it nearly completely whole and the lyrics came about as naturally as they can. In under an hour this new song had life and I felt like Doctor Frankenstein. It's called Sweetheart, I hope you enjoy it.

Masks

While writing the song "Masks" the Blue Masks poem came to mind:

"She had blue skin and so did he. He kept it hid and so did she. They searched for blue their whole life through, then passed right by - and never knew."

We all wear them sometimes, often to protect ourselves from situations where we think we might feel pain. We have masks that we wear everyday and there are masks that we reserve for special occasions.  I wonder how many we can detect in our own lives and what life would be like if we each began to embrace our vulnerabilities and loved all of those things within ourselves...sounds like a lot of work though! ;-)

Without further delay on this beautiful sunny day, here is my newest song: