CREATIVELY SMOKIN'!

Holy Smoke!  So much is happening that I forgot all about my own personal blog!   rhagataggach!!  So I'm just going to share the scorecard in this post....and reflect a little on human nature and the music industry while I'm here.


ON THE GO:

• The new album made brilliant and rapid progress to start but has now stalled - waiting for another studio date.  Hopefully Rob can fit me in before the end of July.  About 75% of the tracks are done but I had to find a young woman's voice to sing "Gemma's Song" and it looks like Kate Lightening McLean-Hamilton is going to do the job.  She has a lovely distinctive sound which should fit the song well.  Some additional instrument tracks need to go down and Rob Long will do most of those.  And there's another couple of vocal lines to go down including Mike Gray's voice on a Spiritual Round.
• The morning Seniors Shows at the RX Theatre in Newcastle haven't sold which is disappointing but we're hoping that we'll at least fill the last Tuesday in July.  
• The fundraiser for Folk in Broke was a great night that everyone enjoyed ....however it was poorly supported by the local community and raised less than half of the hoped-for $s
• The Savoy Supper Club opens in just over a week and fingers crossed that it gets the support it deserves.  I'm thrilled with the artist response and the acts coming in to perform.  You can find out more  at Savoy Supper Club   It's on trial for just 6 months on the 2nd Wednesday of each month and I'll review it at the end of the trial.
• I've just formed a chorus group to give new singers an opportunity to build their skills and showcase their talent at some upcoming concerts.  Their first performance will be at the SOUP! concert in August.
• I'm beavering away on the 5th Folk in Broke music festival and the program is shaping up beautifully.  Got lots of new faces appearing this year and some great activities lined up to fit the theme.  You can read more about this on the blog at http://folkinbroke.wordpress.com     
• The annual SOUP! Concert will be a hoot this year ...I'm really excited by the range of performers joining us at this one....expect surprises as always!! {more at  www.royalexchangenewcastle.com.au }
• And finally, the other major project {not enough room to fit in all the minor ones!} is a fundraiser for Heart Magazine and will be a Women Upfront Concert on 24th September.  Again, the lineup of women performers is wonderful.....musicians, dancers, storytellers, poets, songwriters, singers.  Wow, there's so much talent around.

and ON REFLECTION:

• The older I get the more surprised I am by the quirks of human nature.  And I'm grateful everyday for the energy and the enthusiasm which drives me forward. 
• why are there more 'devils advocate/s' around than there are enthusiastic people willing to celebrate the journey more than the results?  Some people immediately put their hand up and say Good Idea - can I play too?!  While others want to give you at least 10 reasons why what you're proposing won't work - you're wasting your time.   Such negativity is soooooo hard work!!  Life is SO much more enjoyable when you meet it with positivity and enthusiasm.  
• I've long divided the music industry into Street Musicians and Elite Musicians  {and if you're a muso you'll understand the difference} .... but there are some interesting facets of the industry that falls into both or neither categories;   all musicians complain there's not enough work, not enough good quality venue's, not enough recognition and value for the skills and the contribution of musicians;  most musicians complain because audiences won't come out and support their shows.  Yet the number of musicians who simply can't be bothered supporting other musicians is staggering.  "what's wrong with this picture?!?!?!"
• I've come to the conclusion that musicians generally are driven by either:  money;  ego; or passion.   In my experience - 1. independent musicians are the most passionate - they're ALL about the music, the money comes second  2, there is no direct correlation between talent and ego!  3. the majority of musicians I've ever met are the most generous, compassionate, and caring individuals you could wish to meet  {there are exceptions to this rule!!!#!!%!*!!!!}
• I've come to the realisation that the Industry 1. doesn't care about the music or musicians  2 does care about how much money they can make and how far they can exploit musicians  3 has absolutely no comprehension of the role musicians and music play in community and society well-being  4 has absolutely no understanding of the hours and years of work and study a musician puts in to develop their craft   5 truly believes that a musician should be grateful for the privilege of entertaining their paying patrons in return for a meal  [!?#  and who pays the musicians rent, fuel, heating, et al?!??]

That's it......BIG BLOG!!......and now - - - back to the music room!

Mojo Matters

Well, since I got back from Queensland that mojo I found has been working overtime!  A number of projects are already underway while 2 have been put on the backburner until the second half of the year.

Today I completed the first studio session for a brand new album and it's just sooo delightful to be working with the excellent skills of Robbie Long once again.   Not only a multi-award-winning fabulous musician, Rob's also a master behind the desk in his sound studio here in Newcastle.  I reckon he could make a duck with laryngitis sound good!  I'm over the moon that in just 1 x 5hr session, we've actually got the bedding tracks for a whole album locked down.  12 tracks in one session - down to my satisfaction....that's outstanding!  {and if Hachabel is reading this....the renovated studio is very comfortable boys hehehe!]

I'm opting to keep this album simple and uncluttered.  Not too many instruments, not overproduced.  As others have commented to me previously,  "the songwriting is the artwork - the songs can stand up proudly in their own right.  They don't need to have masses of instruments or sounds to enhance them".   I've finally come to believe in that principle.


The songs on this album are an eclectic mix ranging from Jazz/Blues, Comedy, Soft Rock, Urban Folk, and even a touch of Mozart would you believe it?!?!  I'll tell you more about them later when the album is ready for release.  In the meantime, if you have any ideas for a title I'd love to hear them.  Tell you what - there'll be a free copy of the new album for the best - selected - suggestion!  Put your thinking caps on, eh?

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On other Mojo Matters,  

• I'm trialling a new initiative at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Newcastle.  For the month of July I'll be doing a series of morning shows - every Tuesday in July.  The format will be a morning tea followed by a show loosely based around the theme of *Gravity *Grandchildren  and *Ageing Disgracefully.  I'll have a guest artist at each show.  If you'd like more information on this one - like to come along, or tell a friend - check the theatre's website:  www.royalexchangenewcastle.com.au
• I'm also organising some fundraisers in the next few months - for Heart Magazine [a not-for-profit publication that recognises and celebrates the achievements of Australian Indigenous Women]  - and for Folk in Broke [a not-for-profit community festival in the Hunter which showcases the music, talents, art and produce of the Hunter region and welcomes Australian talent from across the country].  If you'd like to jump on board and help or support either [or both] of these worthwhile projects, please check out their websites and contact me for details.   www.heartmagazine.com.au  and  www.folkinbroke.com.au

How to Find Y' Mojo!

It was only a short tour but Holy Smoke!.....it was just what I needed to get my mojo working again.

Here's what I learned I need to locate my zing, get my inspiration back, get excited again:
I stayed with muso's.  I played with muso's. I hung out with muso's. I met new audiences....and new audiences met and loved my music. Oh yes - I LOVE BRISBANE!  Some 22 hours of solo travel time - to and from, with just me and my thoughts. Hearing new bands and other songwriters. Just goes to show it's not quantity [or length of tour] that counts but quality [richness of the experience] That's my recipe and you're welcome to share it!

Here are just a few of the highlights of this little tour:

• Making Magic at Redland Folk  - Sunday afternoon could only be described as magic when I invited a whole bunch of musicians I didn't know to play on various songs in the set.  Chrissy and Julie on single then duelling harmonica, Chuck on stunning guitar, Richard on Trombone, and of course those gorgeous harmonies from Mary and Anne.  Didn't the audience just love it?!   And didn't we?!! Just an extraordinary experience, sharing the passion of music
• Discovering the gold nugget of Foco Nuevo - totally unexpected, totally different from what I'd anticipated.  Having Steele Chabeau turn up to play de-lovely Bass on my set with me - no charts, unknown songs, just cold play ....and he did he rock!!!!  Delightful audience.  Stunning music from Jumping Fences who were just soooo tight and polished.  A great set from the Toni Pollard Band [although just a tad long - and how the heck does she keep up that pace for so long?! impressive]
• Staying with friends Chris and Peter - Pete is a songwriter and lovely guitarist who used to live in Newcastle.  Yakking our heads off about music music music....and then lending a hand to write a great set of lyrics to a brilliant melody of Peter's and turning out an excellent song!   My first successful collaboration. 

    Plus many more little joys and delights to add to the memory bank [and subsequently flavour some new songs with in the future].....and a couple of experiences that I plan to forget once I reach the point where I can laugh about 'em [like a crap last gig, getting lost driving to Ballina via Ipswich].

I returned home with my head absolutely stuffed full and buzzing with new ideas, new projects, and new enthusiasm.   Doesn't take much, does it?!

Green 'n Clean

What a lovely Irish night at the RX theatre on Wednesday evening - St Pat's Eve!  And thanks to all the people who trooped out for it ....including some genuine Irish folk in town.

The feedback on Borderless was most gratifying with audience members commenting that they just loved the stories and appreciated that somebody was bringing this information to light.  For some, it was a real insight into just how influential Irish womens settlement was on Australian family and society today.  And with @ one-third of Australians claiming Irish ancestry, that's a whole lot of influence!

The audience also enjoyed some cracking Irish yarns from Clark Gormley and Catherine Knight - such accomplished storytellers! - as well as some sweet Irish songs from Bilbo.  And everyone - performers and audience alike - expressed appreciation of being able to celebrate St Pat's day [albeit in advance] in such an authentic way.

Those comments contrasted glaringly with some anecdotes related to me only last night...... "we went to 3 local pubs after work at it was ghastly!  They were all full of ugly drunks and there was NO music!!  We couldn't believe it!  What's St Paddy's day without Irish music?!" ... and this  "we found music at lunchtime in one pub but it wasn't REAL Irish music.  We were hoping to hear some traditional Irish but what we got served up was plastic paddy crap which just sooooo bad and then it deteriorated into stupid rock music sung in this ugly false accent"

I reckon it's a pretty poor indictment of local venues disrespect for their patrons.  And maybe that presents some good opportunities for alternative initiatives NEXT year.   If patrons can't get what they're looking for from their local pubs, they'll find it somewhere else.

Oh well, you know what they say .....it's an ill wind.......