This creative road is an interesting one. I spent some time at our cabin off and on over the last few weeks and found that business concerns really disappeared and art and songs wanted to reign supreme. I had no real desire to write any new songs but a couple wanted to be born so I now have a song about one of my first boyfriends and one about an ex-girlfriend. Then I did a few water colors for myself that expressed some of what I was feeling about the songs on the CD. Creativity is so often surprising and continue reading…
Awakening
Songs Masters and Beyond
Song Masters and Beyond. I received the masters of my songs for my upcoming CD by email two days ago. It scared me a bit. What was I supposed to do with them? I figured I better download them. It was a whole different process then three years ago when I received the masters from the music producer and he kept a copy on a hard drive that cost me a couple hundred dollars.This time I think it is more up to me to decide the order of the songs on the CD, make sure they have all they need continue reading…
Heading to the Studio
I have experienced many feelings in these last couple of weeks about heading to the studio. It is just over a week before I will be meeting with three studio musicians and my producer Brad Prosko to start recording my songs. Brad and I didn’t have too much trouble choosing the eight songs. I had sent him fifteen for consideration. I am not quite sure how they all hang together yet except the overall theme seems to be one of hope. Robyn’s (my wife) favorite so far is Shifting Sands, one I just wrote when I was away on retreat. continue reading…
Love Hurts
WOW, Lyrics really do stick! As I wrote down this title the melody was already in my head. So Valentines Day is right around the corner. I had a break-up around this date many years ago and I know that it is both a much loved and much hated day. It depends so much on where you are at in your life. I have written many songs about love being over and only a couple about love. I realized this as I looked for songs to enter in a couple of Valentines Day playlists. My break up songs or love continue reading…
Songwriting Group
Last night was our monthly songwriting group which I co-coordinate. We had a guest last night, a local songwriter named Belle Plain. She spoke openly and honestly about her songwriting process, about the challenge of finding the right words, the crafting of the song and the time the whole process takes for her. She was also clear about how important each word is and about the fact that she must know the intention of the song before she can begin writing. We have had several other songwriters as guests over these last couple of years and I find it so continue reading…
Christmas 2016
As I sit here and reflect upon this upcoming holiday, I realize that I am often behind those around me when it comes to Christmas. I like to wait until it is nearly upon us to put up my tree, think about the season. This year as I thought about advent, someone said to me that she prepared before hand so that the season could be as it was meant to be, a time of reflection and silence. This year on Christmas Eve I will be singing about that silence. “Silence” is a song that I wrote when I was continue reading…
Break Out West 2016 and other Ponderings
It has been a busy fall. I had a great birthday month of October. I was able to attend a full week of Break Out West here in Regina, SK. I met many new people, reconnected with others and got some great advice from some industry people. I was also able to go to some great Showcases of some of my favorite Saskatchewan musicians. I took in shows that included Jeffrey Straker, Megan Nash, Blake Berglund and Poor Nameless Boy to name a few. Following this stellar adventure I headed out to Montreal to hang with my eldest boy for continue reading…
Connections Fall 2016
As I reflect on the summer I don’t think I have ever enjoyed one so much as this past one. It was a season that was full of inspiration, from the hills I got to hike, to the songwriting retreat I took part in and the silent retreat I attended in Moose Jaw. I did some nursing work in there as well, but I’m told that my facebook feed looked like I was spending a lot of time reflecting, resting and rejuvenating, which I was. I have been writing new songs for a CD which I hope to record some continue reading…
Songwriting Retreat
In January I was able to attend a great songwriting retreat hosted by SaskMusic at a retreat center two hours north of Regina. We were fortunate to have Jason Blume a world renowned songwriter teaching us about the craft of songwriting. I enjoyed the learning and camaraderie so much. As a nursing colleague said, I was having a chance to be with my tribe. I was given positive feedback on the song I shared at the retreat and for that I was grateful! With the new skills I acquired I was able to go home and rewrite an old song continue reading…
Summer 2015
It has been a quiet summer. I spent some time reflecting on the past year and what I have accomplished so far. A year ago this month was my CD launch. It was such a highlight for me. I stood in front of such a supportive group of friends and found it difficult to accept all the applause that were coming my way. Fans/audience. I have thought a lot about this in the past few months as well. Trying to determine who my fans are and what makes them fans. How do I find my fans? I think my fans continue reading…
