lady cordelia

and there is this.

Some of you know that I have another side to me.  A side that was in great huge motion from the age of 18 to about 32.  And that is the singer/songwriter part of me.  I don't do it as much now, I don't tour or release records currently, but music still finds its way into my life in various forms.

Some months ago I was asked to sing a song on this record which benefits Heartbeats For Children, an organization that strives to help children in need harness the power of music so that they may better cope with the extreme challenges of poverty and conflict. 

The song I sing was written by another artist and quickly needed a singer.  It was the very last track to be recorded. I had a very fun day in a beautiful studio with friends and got to support a great cause. (And, let's be honest here, I got to be on an album with people like Paul Simon and Joan Baez.  Ahem. Freaking Wow.)

If you would like to support the cause, even just by buying one track for less than a buck, you can do it at iTunes.

Hardcopy CD's can be found here.

You can read about the organization here on their website.

xoxox

 

Cha Vin (again.)

I have to backtrack and write a bit from the post that got erased.  ( If some of you have already heard me talking about these things because you saw that post before it got erased, sorry to bore you.)

A few days ago, I wrote about getting paid from some music royalties that came through from overseas. Payments like this are always a surprise to a certain degree since I really never know if the music will get tracked accurately and funds actually paid back to me. Sweden put my music in a commerical for a weight-loss bar.  Who knew? A weight-loss "nutrition" bar and my music going hand in hand. These are the moments that kinda make you go: Huh. And kinda make you go: Neat. And then you kind of go: Cha Vin. (explaining in a moment.)

I'm thrilled to know that somewhere people are using my music. I don't care if it's weight loss bars in Sweden or cell phones in Bulgaria. I am very thankful for the uses. Very.

And now back to another point from the erased post. A bit about the words Cha Vin. I'm so sorry that previous post was erased because I did explain so eloquently the meaning of Cha Vin. That said, I"ll try again..... Cha Vin is a saying that The Brad and I made up somehow many years ago. It's used quite a bit around here.

It can be a happy exclamation like... Lookie! I just got paid for all my International uses! Cha Vin!

Or it can be sarcastic, kind of like saying..."As If"....You think I'm going to fold all that laundry now that I had a song played as background music in the Czech Republic? Cha Vin!

Or it can be used in agreeance, in place of "yeah" or "cool." Cha Vin, it scares me too that one of my songs was used on "Hogan Knows Best."

Anyway, I just thought you should know about the uses for Cha Vin as it's a highly useful word. 

And I wanted to share my excitement for the music being used.  As some of you know, it's been something I don't talk much about on the blog as I use this as a place for sharing other parts of myself...

Anyway...
Cha Vin.

 

Good Things.

My Goodness.  It has been a very full week.  I don't get around to commenting on as many blogs as I'd like to these days, but I do dip in and read whenever I have a few spare minutes.  I love my blog community and you are in my heart as I go about my day. Thank you for reading. Here are a few wonderful things that I was part of today:

* The Brad rototilled 2 bigger plots of our yard today.  What a difference! The dry cracked soil is now bouyant and beautiful.  We will be putting in lots more veggies.  Our goal is to not need the local farmers market.

* I decided to paint my office white.  Of course.  I just need it all white.  Everything white.  More white.  Everywhere white.  Is that all white with you?  (Tee-hee.)

* And now, the gem of the day! Today I had the honor of singing a beautiful song that is going to appear on a compliation album for a non-profit called The Heartbeats Foundation.  This amazing organization helps children recover from the extreme challenges of poverty.  Other artists on the album include: Paul Simon, Joan Baez and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. (Wow!)  I will be sharing much more about all of this in the near future.

Much love, inspiration and creativity to all on this Thursday eve!!

xoxo

 p.s. We found an AMAZING (and inexpensive) authentic noodle house just down the way from us and had dinner there.  Really.  Could this day have been ANY BETTER??????!!!!!

 

"only child"

Hello,

Today I present you with a song.  It's not a "final mix", as we say in the music business, but it's fine to share here.  This song, written and performed by me (vocal, guitar, piano)- is being given to a music library.  I will always be the writer however, and I do get compensated for that when songs such as this get used (usually.)   I hope you enjoy this little slice of my person. 

 

Only Child.08 (mastering)

 

XO

C

photo source:  kiyoaki

"Shine"- a song by me.

                                                                                                                                                              
My heart is this: my family, my kids, my husband, my home.  That's it.  The rest of life is the rest.  But that does not mean it's not meaningful or important.

I've worked towards things in my career, taken time off, things have gone up and things have gone down.   And up and down.  You know.  I've ridden a lot of waves. Right now my motto is: keep flying, keep writing. 

Here is a new demo that I'll share with you called "Shine." 

So you know, a "demo recording" is a recording that is not in a complete or final state for one reason or another. 
Oh, and yes I wrote it.  Yes it is me singing.  This is what I do for a job.  You know.  Basically.  I try to sell these little suckers. Ya.

And so. Well. By the way, if you know any established artist out there that might want to re-record this ditty, or a sitcom that needs a theme.... a commercial that needs some meaningful music...you know....just ring my bell.

I'll be right here.

Enjoy.

Download Shine

Photo Source: bigpicture.in via Heather on Pinterest 

Photo Source: longlivejava.tumblr.com via Lisa on Pinterest

Source: longlivejava.tumblr.com via Lisa on Pinterest

 

music, night-driving and persimmons & toast

Last Thursday I drove to LA, spent the night with one of my dearest friends who I've known for almost 20 years, then headed out to the studio of another wonderful old friend.  That friend is recording three new songs of mine.  I am very exicted to share the songs with you.  However, it's not time yet. Dang!!!!

In the span of about 8 hours I sang three vocal tracks, with background vocals, and did two acoustic guitar tracks.  Then I had to drive back.  In the dark.  In the rain. All the way home.  Three different freeways and several highways.  Didn't like that part.  I'm a night-time driving wimp.  I called The Brad a few times on the road, almost in tears cause I didn't know to stay on the 118 when it turned into the 23. Or something like that.  Whatever. I'm not too good with directions. When I got home he said: Really, honey? You got lost?  How many times have you done that drive? Really? And then he said Awwwwwww.  And patted my back like I was three.  I punched him a little. 

Sometimes men who are good with directions can really make you feel stupid. 

Sang my butt off though, in the studio.  I can do that.  So: na-na-na-na-na (say that like a three year old.)

So.  Excited.  I am.  About.  The new songs.  

K.

Also:

Toast with butter and fresh persimmons mushed all over it.  
If you think that seems weird, you and The Brad would get along great.
If not, you can sit by me at the breakfast table and we can share.
Wanna?

weekending with Amanda.

 

$40 bed frame and other important items of the day.

On Monday we purchased a "big girl" twin bed frame for our five-year-old.  We got it on Craigslist.  Of course.  This sweet frame (headboard and footboard) is not fully dissimilar to a cute white metal frame from, say, Pottery Barn or Land of Nod.  It is darling and perfect for our girl. And, at the wonderful price of $40.

Sure, we had to drive to a nearby yucky town, in rushhour traffic, and get lost about 5 times.  Sure, we had to almost lose our marraige over putting it together, because even though it just has 8 screws holding it together, it came with no directions. Sure, The Brad lost about 6 hours of work and the lot of his patience putting it together.  And taking it apart.  And putting it together. 

And so, that is the price you pay when you buy things on Craigslist.  You get a $40 bedframe, but you lose  hundreds of dollars in self-employeed work time putting it together.  You also, inadvertently, teach your children new swear words that no adult should ever be caught saying. 

Still.  $40.   Good deal.

(When the mattress and bedding arrives, I'll be sure to take a pic.)

:::::::::   ::::::::::

Other than that?  I'm in songwriting mode as I will be in the studio later this month.  An old musician/engineer/producer friend is recording three songs of mine "on spec." This is a good thing.  And, since I haven't done any "serious" writing for myself in many years (just songs that I sell to the music company that puts my songs in Taiwanese commercials -as per last blog entry, and by the way, I did inquire and I WILL get royalties!  Maybe I'll be rich off this commercial!  YAY!  Doubt it.  But still, oh happy day.  ) Anyway- back to original point: I am not used to the lack of SILENCE while trying to write.  In other words, the last time I wrote songs the house was quiet because I had no family.  This time, I have children coming into my room every 5 minutes saying:  "She hit me", "I'm thirsty", "Can I watch a video?," "I'm hungry" and so forth.
Often though, they just dance around and say.."Mama, I love that song!"  So, I can't complain much.

Other than THAT, I'm just doin' stuff like dressing up our 10 year old lab in a shirt that translates as "Made in Mexico."  It's cool.  It's fun. As you can see, our lab likes Bert. They often go everywhere together.  Bert does not smell good at this point.

Have a great rest of your week.

XO

Weekending

This weekend was another stay at home weekend.  My favorite.  The kind we almost always have.
Friday we had a few friends over.  The house ranged with kids aged from 3-11 and they all got along so sweetly.  I made stuffed tomatoes, and they were good, but did pale in comparison to my friends salad. Her name is EE. This is her salad:

EE's Salad
Organic spinach & arugula
Honey goat cheese
Toasted pecans
Orange soaked cranberries (dried.)
Corn

There.  Simple.  All these fine things you can get at Trader Joes!

Dressing
locally sold fig vinegar and lemon olive oil. (you can do your own favorite vinegar and olive oil)
some minced shallots and garlic
mustard
salt and pepper

Sorry- don't know the exact amounts.  Just do it all to taste.
Wow.  Best. Salad. Ever. I am driving the 30 minutes to Trader's today so I can have it again tonight.

Saturday: An estate sale. Wow. I did something I never do and purchased a furniture piece.  I replaced the two weathered garage-sale shelf units for all my kitchen mixing bowls and such and got a vintage shelving unit.  I know.  Hard to imagine it without a pic.  And if my kitchen had light in it, you would not have to imagine it.  Blame it on my kitchen. And the fact that I won't use a flash. 

Also this: a tiny vintage flour sifter.  This I could drag into the light of the window.

And: had to share a weekend art piece from the 5-year-old.  Complete with shells I got in a $3 bag from the estate sale. (We have lots more, if you want to come and craft with little shiny shells.)  She is really into mermaids.  I always dreamed I would have a little girl who drew mermaids.  I love it when dreams come true.

Last but not least: my mom emailed me this link this morning with the subject: "Are you getting paid for this?"  This is what happens when your songs are licensed by a corporation.  You never know that your music was used in a Taiwanese tissue commercial (unless your mom randomly finds out for you.)

Hmmm...what else do I now know about?  As long as it shows up on my royalty check, frankly dear, I don't give a damn.

linking with Amanda for weekending!

Me, musician.

I don't often talk about my music on this blog.
Not sure why.
Motherhood overtook me and I decided I wanted to learn to cook and knit and all that.
You know.  You get it. 
But I do play music. Don't forget that about me please.
I do write songs.
I do play shows.
I do have a new band formed.
A lot of things get in the way of my music these days.
That said, I'd love to record a new album.

Here's a few treats for you:
Firstly: I heard the other day Lindsey Buckingham put a song of mine (yes, that I wrote!) called Shut Us Down on a new live album that is coming out in August.  AND: here he is performing the song live on Ellen!  I really had no idea this ever existed until I just today found it on youtube.  When famous people sing your songs, you never know what goes on with them afterwards.  Wow. I feel like I "almost" met Ellen (in that 7 degrees kind of way!) 

.  

And: In honor of all my baking of late, I thought I'd share a song I wrote that was on my last album called Sweet Arrangement (get it?  baking...sweet...did I have to point that out to you? I'm trying to tie my two worlds together here, don't think it's working.)  Anyway:

Here is my song

11 Sweet Arrangement

Please enjoy and if you like what you hear, remember you can buy all my albums on itunes, the link to my itunes store is on the upper right of this blog. I really do owe everyone, including myself, a new album.  I only wish I could snap my fingers and make the reality of making one appear.   In reality, I have to finish writing the songs first. And then figure out how to get the darn things recorded.  And those thoughts, sometimes, are more than a woman of two small children can handle.   We can only do our best.

XO

 

it's this that I feel

Weekends for us are the opposite of what they are for most.  My husband works at home during the week in his upstairs office.  He is usually gone (out of town) for work on the weekends. 

I don't mind single-parenting the weekends. When it comes down to it, I would rather be just hanging out at home with the girls than anywhere else in the world. If I could, if it made sense for us, I would love to have another baby or two.  Since that is not an option for us, I treasure every moment with the two beautiful children I have.  I remind myself that they get more private time with me because there is no one else they have to share it with.  I read to them, one under each arm. I watch as they get closer and closer with eachother.  They deeply connect with a bond I will never truly understand.  I am an only child.

People assume it's nice for me to have the girls at "this" stage.  They are a little older now and so I can start doing my "own" things again. 

I don't know what my own thing is anymore.   I write songs with my girls in the same room. I garden with them by my side.  They help me clean up their rooms.  My own identity is wrapped up in being a mother to them. Maybe this will bite me in the ass at some point.  You know, someday I'll have the "kids are grown" crisis.  Fine.  I'll deal with it then. 

To give myself credit: I am doing the music career thing a little more these days.  Once I'm actually up on the stage with my guitar and singing, I do love it and it does feel very homey.  But, let's be honest, it's not a "career" anymore because I just don't have the same energy or time for the business end of it.  I wonder if I should be a little more aggressive about it.  And I know that I can't.  Some part of me still waits for something amazing to "just happen" with the music.  I've had good breaks before.   Why not now?  

Anyway, look, this is me: I'm in the yard.  My girls swing and run and skin their knees. We hold onto eachother in the breeze with the birds and the trees.  Some song that I love (maybe Rufus Wainright's "I Don't Know What It Is") floats from the Ipod.  And I'm all smiles.  In the hammock, perhaps.  Or watering the garden.  Filling up the duck pond.  Clearing spiders from the playhouse.  Oh my, oh my I am brilliant at this.