Pepsi

Recording a demo tomorrow with this commercial producer I've been working with - this one is for Pepsi.

Always so excited to do this!

Had a great rehearsal today with The Bloodsugars at Looming Studios in Greenpoint. That has gotta be the quaintest rehearsal space in NYC. You go up a set of stairs, then exit onto the fire escape, then go in a different door. SO weird! HAHA....

We're performing next Monday, the 4th at Bowery Ballroom - and then of course Tuesday the 5th is MY show at Bitter End :-)

The Art of Singing (in the snow)

Had a wonderful lesson today with Jennifer Hamady.

She is so wonderful - great soul and awwweesome teacher - wow, I learned alot in our session.

She has sung with Stevie Wonder, Def Leppard, Patti LaBelle, Christina Aguilera, Wyclef Jean, Babyface, Jessica Simpson, Smokey Robinson, Lee Ann Womack, Kid Rock, Usher, Cirque du Soleil, Disney, and American Idol.

I mean, really????

I was walking along today (to my lesson) 

and all of a sudden

my Ipod

just

paused

------ and I realized I was singing really loudly

projecting

down 

the

street

HAHAHAH

Today's snow was CRAZY - - -

I went deep down into BK to record some hooks for this producer

and the trains were running slow

and by the time I got there

he had left

AAAAHHHH and this snow is crazy - like blowing everywhere

He was already on the bus going home.

And then it took me about 2 hours to get home on the train.

AGGGGH finally home.

BUT

I

LOVE

THE

SNOW.

Really.

Calling All Hearts

Had an awesome demo session today for Miller Beer.

The producer was so nice & made me feel really comfortable.

He seemed really pleased with the turnout and said I was "as advertised"

(He had found my demo & profile through a website)

AWESOME!

On another note, I'm obsessing over Keyshia Cole's new album, "Calling All Hearts,"

especially one song in particular called "Take Me Away" - been listening on loop!

She gets alot of crap for not being a great live singer,

which may or may not be true

BUT I think her voice sounds GREAT on records and I love the production and all the vocal arrangements

I'm into it!! Check it out :-)

Demo Session & Reality Show Placements!!

Awesome day!!

Went and took Jared Grimes today at Broadway Dance Center. It had been so long!! He's inspired me since the first year I moved to NYC and had me participate in a bunch of his Broadway Underground shows at B.B. King's in Times Square. Blessed to know him. It was a great class!

I'm called in tomorrow to sing a demo for Miller (beer). The song is All By Myself by Eric Carmen, but a contemporary soulful version. Was listening to the original though (I was only familiar with the Celine Dion version) and it sounds good...

I also got awesome news that my music has been licensed for a bunch of reality shows.... REALITY TV woo-hoo!!

Here are the shows the licensing may include:

Real World

The Challenge

Keeping up with the Kardashians

Kim & Kourtney Take New York

Bad Girls Club

Bad Girls Dating

Very exciting! Hope this is the first of many licensing / placements to come!

Writing

Had a couple students today -

and then

WRITING sessions all dayyyyy........that's what I'm talking about.....it was awesome!!

First up was Amy Crawford, wonderful singer/songwriter and fellow keys player. We've been to a few of each other's shows, and we had been wanting to get together for awhile. It finally happened and we came up with a great song, discovering we blended nicely together....can't wait to finish it!

Next was Ryan James, who I knew in Boston back in the day and we've reconnected here in NYC. He's a great songwriter and producer, and I really like what we came up with as well...

In both cases we did a whole song structure - form, melody, and harmony....so now just have to plug in the lyrics.

I can't decide which song I like better, but I feel so grateful for the opportunity I have to use my gifts and create music with others.........So happy!!!

Beautiful girls & music

1. Recording session with Brooke Forman, for her new song "Benjamin."

     Really love bringing out her vulnerability. She is a young voice with lots of potential and I do enjoy working with her. She is such a cutie - look at her:

2. Went to see my girl Emily King at her spot - Rockwood Music Hall

WOWWW----- I've seen Emily LOTS of times, but this was the biggest group I've seen her with. She had drums, bass, guitar, piano, keyboard, and background vocalist, in addition to her of course. WOW.....and what a bandleader she is. Usually it's just her and guitar, or solo, or with one or two other pieces. She is wonderful, and I'm always so inspired by her performances.

SO tasty, delicious, subtle, sparse ----

and I was thinking, 

if my life boils down to moments, the moments I've spent at her shows have given my life meaning, because I know I've loved something so beautiful. 

Snow Leopard!! Boo-yah

I have a new operating system for my computer and have been downloading lots of new software....

Fun...

Last night played at Bell House in BK with The Bloodsugars. I always have a good time with those guys!

Tonight I met with a songwriter named Ron Gerald and did some recording at his place.

Song was called "Constantly."

He lives in Jamaica, Queens. Kind of a trek on the subway, but it was fun.

I love meeting with new people, and I love recording. Every time.

Even if it's a small hot room, and I'm sweating. LOL

Wandering Gypsy

Another long, full day today.....

Babies and music,

followed by rehearsal for "Faraway Bayou."

We are having rehearsals in the apartment of the woman who wrote the music.

She has such a lovely apartment down on Bank Street.

Then I worked in the studio today with my dear friend Brooke Forman.

We were recording a song called Wandering Gypsy that we wrote together.

I love working with her, because I see so much potential,

and I get excited to pull out her best!

Met and worked with awesome engineer Phil Fabrizio.

I really enjoyed helping to produce this song....

Just got off the phone with this fellow Jerome, who I've been chatting with for awhile

about personal management.

Good conversation....

And it continues....

Etcetera

Went out to Orange, NJ today to record a song called "Yesterday" with rapper Etcetera and producer Johnny Velvet.

It was a good session. Really enjoyed working with those guys and looking forward to more!

Took the 2 train home, but they were running shuttle buses after 96th St. I mistakenly got on a bus that would've taken me express to The Bronx-149th St. (I live on 116th) but luckily a friend saw me and told me to get off and get on a different bus. Thank God for that!! Very serendipitous, and it was good to see him and his new wife and their roommate. Very thankful!

Updatessss

My blogger world:

This is the longest I've gone without writing a blog since I started, and I am sorry!!! eeek....

After my show last week I did a lot of sleeeping, and living life, and not blogging.

I did have a fun night on Friday going to Jordan Scannella's CD release show. He has played bass for me on 2 occasions. He does this white guy hip hop thing with some really clever/funny lyrics and SICK music & band. So proud of him!

Afterwards I headed out to BK to check out my girls Lucius at Sycamore. Though I missed their set, I got to hang out with them, Lucas Madrazzo, and some others. We went back to the famous Bromley House, where Jess & Holly (of Lucius) have lived for a couple years. It's an old music school, and they were the first tenants since it had finally closed a number of years ago. It has a rich history, and I loved hearing the stories.....There were definitely ghost stories!! And I was genuinely spooked. In other news, check out the music of Lucius. They are amazing!

Saturday and Sunday, I went out of town for 2 kids parties. The first was in Southampton, and was amazing. There were camel rides for the kids, and it had an arabian theme. Lavish. On the way back, we stopped at this random carnival for some rides and ice cream. HAHA..

                                 

The second was this lovely family who I have done many parties for. They have 3 beautiful girls and another little girl on the way!

Last night, I actually took the Long Island Rail Road out to this studio in...duh...Long Island, to record a song for this rapper. I did the vocals for the chorus & breakdown, and some ad libs. I think it actually came out great. They were all happy with it, and I was too, and excited to hear it! I will get a copy of the master and it will probably go on their mixtape. 

That's it for now.....over and out!!