Record update

Not sure if I mentioned this but I was in France for two weeks tagging along on a tour of four shows with Jered and the band. We had an amazing time... we travelled from Paris to Chinon (central France in the Loire Valley) to Tours to Berck (far north, on the English Channel) to Chavanod (far south almost in Switzerland) back up to the eastern central part in Dijon, back to Paris and home. We went to 9 wineries in 12 days, visited three Chateau's (castles) ate amazing food, drank amazing wine and stayed at some really cute little boutique hotels. The festivals were a ton of fun. Jered and I didn't really buy anything while we were there, except wine (17 bottles in our little backpacks!) needless to say I couldn't carry our luggage past that point.

Before I left I asked my engineer Randor to have the record mixed by the time I got back. I am happy to report that upon the day I returned I had all 10 songs waiting for me in my DropBox. Jered and I have been listening to them non stop. We have a bit of tweaking to do, and want to hear Brent's feedback as well... so once we get that sorted it will be on to mastering.

Also upon my return I got my photos back from my photographer Lillian, and sent them to my web designer. So hopefully in a few weeks I will at least have my website re-vamped and ready for the digital release, then all I'm waiting on is the actual music (obviously the most important part of all!).

Baby steps I know, but steps closer to a finished record. Once the digital release is said and done, then I'll start working on getting the physical cds manufactured. Once I have those cds in my hot little hands, then I can actually nail down a cd release date and perhaps a mini fall tour? Patience is key I tell ya. I have been dying to be done this for quite some time now. I'm really excited about the finished product!!!!

That's the latest for now. Stay tuned!

little life

*a new song I wrote for my sister Brooke who recently had a miscarriage. It definitely brought a new perspective on losing a little life, and searching for meaning and hope in the process. Love you Brooke!


verse
yesterday, I had a little life inside of me
but today, that little life is gone and I feel empty

that little life had only one request
that I just do my best to keep it growing

I know that I did the best I could
and you know I would do anything

chorus
and I know, everything happens for a reason
and I know, I'm going to be just fine

I know there is a hope that's worth believing
I'm just having a hard time
letting go, of this little life

verse
who was I, when I was on the other side
I couldn't relate, couldn't appreciate the loss in their eyes

now that I can see, beyond just me
I know the path I'm on is worn and waiting

for someone to come and claim,
to just release the blame in everything

chorus
and I know, everything happens for a reason
and I know, that I'm going to be just fine

I know there is a hope that's worth believing
I'm just having a hard time
letting go of this little life

bridge
it almost feels as though, it was never really mine
but by letting go, I'm never leaving it behind

chorus

Jesse Peters Trio

There is this amazing jazz, funk, soul, r&b artist here in Edmonton named Jesse Peters (aka Paramedic) and he just released a new album called Facetime. He had a little cd release show / benefit concert for the RF Staples Music Program in Westlock last week and graciously asked if I'd join him on stage for a few songs. Here's one of them:




Thanks for having me Jesse!

prairie belles

So this weekend was a big weekend for the Prairie Belles Podcast! On Friday we were invited to the Shell Theatre 2011 - 2012 Season Launch. Daneel & I headed out to Fort Saskatchewan for a little luncheon/concert/press party launch all put on by the lovely and very talented Elizabeth Budd. The Shell Theatre is the first official sponsor of the podcast, supporting our U22 Revue Segment. We are so excited to partner with the Shell Theatre to further the arts in Edmonton & surrounding areas.
We had so much fun. A few weeks back Elizabeth came to my office at the YWCA and asked me a few questions about the Prairie Belles, U22, the greater Edmonton arts community & more. I got to be a part of the season promotional video. Check it out!




Also this weekend Daneel & I drove to Canmore to be a part of the Rocky Mountain Soap Co. 12K women's run. Not only did we run 12K in 1 hr & 22mins (13 mins better than our usual 12K time) I also got to sing two days in a row to a bunch of very special and inspirational women, in the midst of the rocky mountains no less! I'll be uploading a video very soon.

A very exhausted lil' ol' me is heading to bed. Cheers!

balconytv edmonton

Hey friends. So a few weeks ago I met up with Sean & Cheryl from BalconyTV Edmonton - a sweet "franchise" if you will in cities all over the world, that includes performances & interviews with artists of all genres on balconies overlooking the downtown core in the corresponding city. An amazing concept I think. I sang one of my songs Heavy Heart that will be on the upcoming record.

Here's the vid:



It was really fun to do, and if you listen carefully at the end of the song you can hear icicles falling from the balcony above us. I love unique arts projects like this! There are some great local and Canadian artists on the website so check it out.

This coming Tuesday I have a photo shoot with an old friend from high school that has become an amazing photographer, Lillian Patz (Visible Echo Photography) for the record graphics. I am stoked to work with Lillian since we go way back and because I think her photography is fantastic. I'm also working with the graphic artist/web designer that built my original website to do a full overhaul, to line up with my digital release next month. I'm planning on having a new website to go with the new record. We'll be using the photos from this shoot on Tuesday as a basis for the re-branding. I'm really excited to see what we come up with.

Also, this coming Monday I'll be joining the fantastic Jesse Peters Trio in Westlock on a few songs for the release of his new record FACETIME along with a benefit for the arts program at the Westlock highs school. Could a show get any cooler? Don't think so.

I'm also going into the studio this week to fix up some harmonies on one song, and then my portion of the record will be officially FINISHED. Woohoo! The editing, mixing & mastering comes next. I can't believe this album is almost finished.

On a non-music related note, next week I am going to Canmore to run a 12K race I have been training for, with my Prairie Belles cohort Daneel Irons. It's going to be tough going from running through the fairly flat prairies to a mountainous town with a different altitude but I believe in us! I'll be sure to let you all know how it goes.

That's the latest!

Cheers.

recording update...

So it's been a few weeks since my last update on the recording progress. The boys and I spent an evening in the studio with Terry Tran recording a live off the floor version of my song "Someday". A lot of people have been asking me why I decided to do a live off the floor song when every other song on my album is being tracked. I guess I just decided that since I probably won't get the chance to do another full length professional recording for quite some time (since I'll most likely be broke after this one) I wanted to experience a live off the floor recording and throw in something completely different on the record.

We did 11 takes and took the 11th take. Every time we recorded the song it just felt better and better. To be honest I wasn't really expecting to take my live off the floor vocal, I thought maybe I'd record a final vocal at a later date but I was pretty happy with how things went and will be using my vocal from the live recording as well. My dad came to visit us while we were in the studio and took some pictures of the action.

  

 After recording Terry also interviewed for me his blog.

 

So there's the latest news on our progress. We have three sessions booked over the next two weeks, and I am hoping to be done by the end of April. That gives us May to edit, mix and master and hopefully we will have a digital release for you in June! I'm planning on doing my official cd release in September. Looking very forward to having a finished product to sell! :)

Hallelujah

We took a fun little break from recording my record @ Turnkey Studios last weekend and recorded a little rendition of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah with Sandra Sperounes from the Edmonton Journal. Have a listen!