Almost there!

So, the EP is done being recorded and almost done being mixed. It just has to be mastered and packaged and it will be done. I want to take my time with the album art and make sure I really like it, so I'm shooting for them to be shipped to me by late February/early March. Then my plan is to have a CD release show sometime after spring break, where friends and family can get schwill-ay and listen to the songs live and hopefully be down to purchase the EP.

The recording process was an amazing learning experience for me. We spent all day Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the studio for about ten hours each day just pumping out song after song. Even though it was super tiring, I felt so motivated and rejuvinated by the experience.

Collaborative creativity is probably one of the most enlivening and enriching feelings on earth. To take these songs I've written over the past year or two and mold them into a piece of music using high quality equipment, with high quality musicians, in a really nice studio was soooo much fun for me. And being able to take each part (full band, guitars, vocals, etc.), break them down and do them seperately really allowed me to hone in and perfect each part of the song.

The two guys from Gadgetbox Studios that I worked with were incredibly hardworking and dedicated which made the experience that much more fulfilling. They really took time and care with my songs I think it shows.

So here is the final order of songs for the EP, which will be titled The Wind Shift:

1. The Fire

2. It's Not Easy

3. My Guitar

4. Setting Forth

5. Singing to Herself

I'll end with the line from the last song, which is where the title of the EP comes from:

and suddenly a leaf falls from a tree

and just like that, she sees the wind shift

and she's singing

she's singing to herself

New 5-song EP

Hellooo wonderful friends,

I will be spending the upcoming weekend in the studio recording my still untitled 5-song EP. I am soooo excited to get these songs recorded. There are lots of treats in store, such as drums, bass, the sweet harmonies of Kaylinn Douthett and more. This is my first time playing with a full band sound and it feels amazing to hear these songs that started out with itty-bitty me and my itty-bitty guitar come to life so gloriously.

The five songs I am recording are: Setting Forth, The Fire (II), My Guitar, It's Not Easy and Singing to Herself. Some, like My Guitar, are pretty old, and others, like Singing to Herself, have only been heard by a few ears in this world.

I'll try to update this with the latest news about the recording. Until next time! Que tenga un buenisimo fin de semana.

I'll end with my horoscope for this week from Risa in the Good Times:

A whole new world begins for Pisces this week. Jupiter in Pisces will create a greater life force, expanded energy, optimism and a fusion of heart and mind, from which wisdom will emerge. For long you’ve wanted to bring forth something in form and matter. Jupiter will assist in this creation. Jupiter provides abundance, blessing and beauty, strength of will, spiritual purpose and a demonstrated love that becomes Grace in the lives of others.

Agradecido

A new year has arrived as well as some new musical projects I am growing quite excited about. Fall felt like the turning of a new leaf for me, so to speak. I spent pretty much all of my time RUNNING like a mad woman.. literally. I trained for the Big Sur Half Marathon, which was in November, and spent many many hours alone, pounding pavement and writing lyrics in my head. It was quite a spiritual, meditative learning experience that I will always carry with me-- reminding me to keep in touch with my body and always push push push myself to reach a new challenge, a new height or a new level, whether it be athletically, musically, mentally or emotionally.

In October, two of my best friends, Kaylinn and Olivia, and I, drove up to SF for Hardly Strictly bluegrass. We decided to take Hwy 1, the long way, and enjoy the views. Along the way we saw two young men hitchhiking and very spontaneously decided to pick them up. They were two Australian travelers, Paul and Alex, and the second they entered our vehicle, history changed forever. It was as though these two guys were meant to find us! We talked non-stop the entire car ride, and ended up hanging out with them in the city that weekend, and then again in Santa Cruz that week. We played music and rev talked the days away. In this moment, The Beekeepers were born. The Beekeepers is the name of the musical project of Kaylinn, Liv and I. We sing together, we play together, we do life together. Expect some real musical developments from us someday, but for now it is mostly slightly drunken harmonizing of The Be Good Tanyas in our sundresses.

On another note, I have recently begun preparing to go into the studio (yeeee yeeeee) to record a sweet 5 song EP that I am SO pumped about. I am pushing myself to be very deliberate and thoughtful with the decisions I make regarding this recording. I want to be proudddddd of it. So stayed tuned for more. and with that, I'm out

"Let’s play this one out, until it explodes

Into a thousand tiny pieces
What’s the story universe
You are melody in numbers
You were shapes you were rhythms
There are signs that we can learn
Place over the heavens
To predict how long we’ll burn
How long will I last?
Can you turn up the heat?
What star am I circling?
What’s circling me?
Am I ebb, am I flow?
My lack of control
Turn it on, turn it up
Say yes, play no

Things keep changing
Things keep changing
Things keep changing"

-Sean Hayes