Hi everyone. Please listen for my songs, Let It Go By and My Little Mamasita, in the premiere of the new Lindsay Lohan movie Labor Pains, on ABC Family tonight at 8pm. It's really sweet and your kids will not be corrupted, I promise. Mamasita was co-written and performed by my good friend Steve Conte of NY Dolls (and, of course, Andy).

Check your local listings to confirm time as it varies slightly.

Here's a link with some fun stuff: http://community.abcfamily.go.com/watch/389309

Miss you, more news very soon..... luv, dp

Hi guys. Man, it's been too long. I have so much to tell you.

Had a blast last night at the premiere of Serious Moonlight at Tribeca Film Festival. I am thrilled to have a song called Lucky Stars in the movie (wrote it for the wedding scene between Meg Ryan and Timothy Hutton) and the audience really loved the film. It's a dark comedy directed by the multi-talented Cheryl Hines and stars Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, and Kristen Bell. The script was brilliantly written by the late Adrienne Shelly, and her husband, Andy Ostroy, made it all come together. It's bittersweet hearing Adrienne's words come to life now, but also a beautiful legacy she leaves us. I have loved watching it evolve over the last year, but I sure do miss her. Here are some photos from the premiere:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/danaparish/sets/72157617257416523/show/

Got an overwhelming response from having my song, Watch Me Fly, on the Kardashian show. People blogged about it, posted comments, sent me letters, the Kardashian sis (she looks GREAT in the PETA ad) said she just "loves it"...soooo...it's now on ITunes. They did me a huuuuuuge favor and released it with the quickness so I could get it to you fast. Umm...but you're still reading this when maybe you should be on Itunes posting a comment and, uh, coughing up the buck?? C'mon people. You asked. Plus, it'll make you feel good. It's that kinda song. And I don't write many of 'em.

Next, I am happy to tell you my song, Let It Go By, was just placed in a new Linsday Lohan movie called Labor Pains. I also co-wrote another song in the film with Andy Hollander and Steve Conte from NY Dolls called My Little Mamasita. Steve sings that one with all his soul. Labor Pains comes out soon and you can hear Let It Go By on my page or find it on Itunes.

Other than that, I am figuring out what to put on my next album. I have about 14 songs to choose from, and am realizing this is gonna be a pretty melancholy affair. I wish I was in a more upbeat place when I write but inspiration mostly comes from heartache for me. But let my angst be your benefactor. Next time someone does you wrong, I will have already have dredged up the perfect song for you. However, I am glad to report, as I heard in a song recently, I'm movin' slow but I'm movin' on.....

Thank G-d.

I send you all my love and good wishes and hopes that some of you are writing happy songs out there.....xoxo dana

Hey guys. Our song, Watch Me Fly, featured on Keeping Up With The Kardashian's, is up on ITunes now. They got it up fast because of all your requests so THANK YOU!! Please post your reviews if you have a sec and feel so inclined.

 xoxo love, dp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0jORv11iH4

Here's the clip with my song Watch Me Fly. It starts playing around 5.52 and goes through the end. There are lots of comments with people thinking Brandon James sang it so if you have a youtube acct, feel free to chime in and let the people know. (we hired Brandon to do a version of it for something else) It's a great use of the song!

 

Hi guys! My song Watch Me Fly aired on Keeping Up With The Kardashian's on Sunday. I had no idea it had played yet til YOU told me! So sorry for not making it available sooner. If you want it, I am posting it on Snocap in a few minutes. I wrote it with Andrew Hollander and Jeff Franzel, my amazing cowriters.

Lots of love....dp

http://shuttersisters.com/home/2008/12/29/the-trut...

Hi guys. What a year, huh? Up and down and up and down. Obama won (yay) but we all lost some money or a job and maybe a little sanity. And losing (most) things is no fun. It's been a crazy ride and I can tell you I am looking forward to the new year cause it's gotta be better. It's gotta be.

If you wanna know what's been getting me through, I can share with you a few new discoveries and some great old gems. I am obsessed with the uber-talented Lucy Woodward's new song Slow Recovery. Unfortunately, my neighbors are not so fond of my incessant full voice singing of it, I'm sure. But I don't care. It's perfect from top to bottom, and you should definitely check it out. It's on her myspace page or you can (and should) buy it on Itunes. The girl can SING! (and I forgive her exuberant laughter at a dog peeing on my foot a few weeks ago) myspace.com/lucywoodward

Then there's Patty Griffin's Flaming Red. The whole record is great and I love not having to skip half of the songs on my IPod when I'm running around. I love (almost) every one but my favorite is probably Mary. At least today. Such a beautiful lyric. I love the "sand shifts/ snow drifts" line and "birds who sing a million songs without any words." Read it here and let me know whatcha think: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/pattygriffin/mary.html And seriously, CHECK OUT THE RECORD, it's a gem.

I just found Holly Palmer's first record (which I had lost in the move to my new apt) on Amazon. I am so freakin' happy cause it was always one of my favorites and I've been searching high and low. You can download it there, I think it's just called "Holly Palmer" and it's very ethereal and special. (the front cover has a drawing of a pair of shoes, it's ONLY ON AMAZON, not Itunes) I also dig her record Songs For Tuesday (itunes) and listened to it a lot today. Really good. I am in love with her colorful voice and delivery. She is incredibly artistic and unique.

When I wanna feel good, I fall back on these (this is the short list):
Stevie Wonder: Songs in The Key of Life (best album ever)
Prince: all the singles, Purple Rain and Nothing Compares to You being high on my list
Otis Redding: Live In Europe
Sam Cooke: Live at The Harlem Square Club 1963
Michael Jackson

When I feel bad and wanna stay that way, there ain't much better than Donny Hathaway. A Song For You and For All We Know rip my heart out every time. But that whole record with Roberta Flack is killer. And there's the first Counting Crows record, August and Everything After, which I still love cause Adam is the real deal. He is a poet. And he is deep. And then there are the Damien Rice songs Canonball and Blower's Daughter. So good, so depressing. Perfection. And Coldplay's Fix You and Ryan Adams' album Heartbreaker. Really good.

And speaking of poetry, I read this poem the other day by David Whyte that literally took my breath away. It's called The Truelove. Do you know it? I'll post it at the bottom of this. If you've ever been in love, and you probably have, this will speak to you. And if you're thinking of falling in love or getting hitched in some way, read The Invitation first. http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/poetry/oriah-mountain-dreamer.html

I wish you all the best in the new year and as always, I thank you so, so much for your generous support. Kiss kiss kiss....Love and peace, dana


The Truelove

There's a faith in loving fiercely the one who is rightfully yours
especially if you have waited years and especially if part of you never
believed you could deserve this loved and beckoning hand held
out to you this way.

I am thinking of faith now and the testaments of loneliness
and what we feel we are worthy of in this world.
Years ago in the Hebrides I remember an old man
who would walk every morning on the gray stones
to the shore of baying seals, who would press his
hat to his chest in the blustering salt wind and say his
prayer to the turbulent Jesus hidden in the waters.

And I think of the story of the storm and the people
waking and seeing the distant, yet familiar figure,
far across the water calling to them.
And how we are all preparing for that abrupt waking
and that calling and that moment when we have to say yes!
Except it will not come so grandly, so biblically,
but more subtly, and intimately in the face
of the one you know you have to love.
So that when we finally step out of the boat
toward them we find, everything holds us,
and everything confirms our courage.

And if you wanted to drown, you could,
But you don't, because finally, after all
this struggle and all these years,
you don't want to anymore.
You've simply had enough of drowning
and you want to live, and you want to love.
And you'll walk across any territory,
and any darkness, however fluid,
and however dangerous,
to take the one hand you know belongs in yours.

-David Whyte

Hi guys. Since I get a lot of the same questions, and I usually answer them all individually, I decided to consolidate a little. Keep 'em coming...xo dp

How and when did you start to sing?
I was born singing. There are tapes of me at 2 years old singing my lungs out to Barry Manilow and the Bee Gee's and my pitch and vibrato were already there. I knew every word and had a lot of emotion in my 2-yr-old voice. When I was ten, after years of begging, my mom finally took me to my first singing lesson. I loved it, and was classically trained from then on. However, when I was 12, I wanted to study with a very special teacher and acclaimed opera singer, Paul Adkins, but he wouldn't take students before they were 14. So, my mom and I decided I should show up and audition and not mention my age and see if he would take me. He said yes, and for the 6 years I studied with him, he assumed I was 2 years older than my age. Now we joke about how he thought I was a bit of a "late-bloomer". To this day, we are very close and I fully credit him for teaching me how to be a real musician ("you can't just sing, hunny", he would say), making me go to college, helping me to record my first original song, and for believing in me in my bleakest moments. ("It will happen, hunny. You have to be patient, just do what you do.") I still hear his words in my mind every time I sing an "ooh" or an "aah"--"Dana, what is the SUBTEXT there??? What does that 'ooh' mean or are you just showing off?" So, he also keeps me humble and I can guarantee if you hear an extra lick or I repeat a word a few times, I really mean it. He taught me to be honest.

Where did you go to school and do you recommend going to a conservatory?
I spent one year at New England Conservatory in Boston and then transferred to Manhattan School of Music. I had applied to/auditioned at a few major universities too (to appease my mom and dad) but was insistent upon going to a conservatory. I hated being forced to spend inordinate amounts of time in high school on subjects I didn't care about, but I KNEW I loved and would pursue music, so that's how I came to that decision. Looking back, and it's hard to admit my parents were right, I regret not going to a big school and simply majoring in music. Conservatory life is definitely intense and worthwhile and I learned a ton, but it is pretty isolating and can be antisocial and elitist. Living in NYC offset some of that, but I have no doubt I'd have the same exact career and drive regardless of where I went to college. If you are born to do this, it kinda doesn't matter.

When, how and why did you start writing songs?
I always wrote. I tell people I write to live, and that's really true. I started writing little poems and began transcribing other people's lyrics when I was 6 or 7. I have dozens of notebooks filled to the brim by now. By 13 or 14, I had written my first real song, entitled Only You and Me. I recorded it with my singing teacher (see above) at his friend's studio and knew I wanted to keep doing it. I loved singing other artist's songs but was strongly compelled to channel my own thoughts and feelings. I wanted to write personal songs, as they were what inspired me. Writing came naturally for me and was something I looked forward to at the end of every day. When everyone went to sleep, there I was with my flashlight and notebook hiding under the covers. My mom could never get me outta bed for school in the morning!

Do you get writer's block? What compels you to write?
I don't think of it that way. I write when I have something to say and that could be every day for a week or an hour in a month. Writing is absolutely not a choice for me; it is something I have to do, but not something I can force. I write all the time though--just not necessarily songs. Letters, thoughts, words, concepts, essays, short stories etc...whatever, I just gotta keep going. But when it comes to songs, it starts with a feeling in my gut and eventually a title or concept will come and soon, a song is born.

How long does it take you to write a song?
Ten minutes (The River, She Laughed, Not My Problem) to a year (Frustrated).

Who inspires you?
I love all music that feels soulful and authentic to me. I listen to everyone from Yolanda Adams and Donny Hathaway, to Damien Rice and The Beatles and Dinah Washington, and Annie Lennox and Kanye West and Coldplay and Pink. The list is long and ever-growing. I also love the lush arrangements of the 40's and the magic in those lyrics. I was listening to Bing Crosby tonight.They don't write 'em like that anymore.

I always cry when I hear your songs and I don't know why. What's going on? Do you cry when you write them?
I can't really explain this except to say thank you, and I am glad to help you feel something. I never aspired to be the Barbara Walters of music, but the reason I love songs is because of all the places they can take you, so I am grateful to be on the journey with you. I don't usually sit around crying when I write, but I did when I wrote We Got Angels and Outta Time. I specifically remember being in my living room (in NYC, where I still reside) and writing the line in Outta Time, "Goodbye New York, I'll come back to you..." and bursting into tears at the thought of leaving my life behind. I love this city so much. But I was in SUCH a bad place and felt like quitting and giving up and I wanted everyone to know I was DONE! Goodbye world!! But then I decided I still had TIME...and even if I was broke and defeated and disheartened, I could still make this thing happen. Eventually. Probably maybe.

Are all your songs true and are the break-up songs about one guy?
Yes, they are all true, even if they're not literal. And no, there have been a few messy break-ups. All reconciled now, though none of them know I've written about them.

Do you co-write or write for other artists?
I used to co-write a lot but am most comfortable and compatible with only a few collaborators at this point. I write primarily with the beautifully talented Andrew Hollander, who's also my producer and a successful film composer. I very occasionally write for other artists, but only if I'm feelin' it. I am giving a song to Shakira and Leona Lewis right now and have written with everyone from The Jonas Brothers to Leigh Nash to Kara DioGuardi. But I am happiest when writing for myself.

Do you write lyrics or melodies? Play piano?
I write both and if you wanna get technical with the lingo, I'm a "top-line" gal. But I always collaborate, so my songs wouldn't exist as they are without someone else as well, usually Andrew Hollander. I play very bad piano--enough to bang out a few chords if I must---and like to leave that to the experts (again, Andy). I sat down at a gig recently and accompanied myself on a song called Lullaby that I wrote a few years back, but it wasn't pretty. You'll have to get me drunk to do that again anytime soon. But it was fun and I love a challenge.

What was it like to hear your song on the radio for the first time?
AWESOME and surreal.

Do you like performing?
I love it. I am most at peace when I'm singing.

Do you get stage fright?
Almost never. But life fright? Yes.

What was it like singing the National Anthem at the Giants game?
Scary and amazing.

Can we go on a date or get together when I come to NYC? I'm visiting soon.
Thanks for asking, I am very flattered, but also very taken. But I'd love to meet you if you come to one of my gigs so please say hi.

Will you record one of my songs?
Sorry, probably not. It's nothing personal. I just prefer to sing my own.

Why did you name your album Uncrushed?
Because it's how I felt when I finished the record and mostly how I feel now.

Can you give me some advice about getting started or songwriting?
If you MUST do this, if you want nothing else in the world, if music is your life and your lifeline, then ok. I'll give you a little advice. But if not, then seriously, do something else. It's too horrible and soul-crushing and mean of a business to recommend. Getting started should have already happened if you're asking that question. You should already have a few songs and some kind of a demo by now. Look at your lyrics and see whether you're saying something truly personal. Ask yourself whether you've ever heard that sentiment put that way before. What's your point of view? Make it colorful and visual and real and honest or nobody gives a shit. Trust me. The world does not need one more generic pop song to clog the airwaves. Now would be a good time to equate that mistake with the collapse of the entire industry. I'm telling you, people want to feel less alone in the world, they want to feel understood and less ashamed and more empowered and better and stronger and more alive. They wanna feel the love. And the only way to do this is to be authentic, be honest, be yourself, do not try to please anyone or follow the trends. Just be you and be open to criticism and be willing to know when it feels right. And if it doesn't, be able to let it go. And get out there and play. Play everywhere you can and get in front of people so you start to see what works and what doesn't. If you got the goods, you will be discovered. People will talk. You don't have to live in a major city. Opportunity will come to you but be patient and have a vision for yourself. Be really gracious to people who help you along the way cause it takes an army of goodwill to make anything happen, and you'll need all the support you can get. (and people want to help people who say Thank YOU!) Take it seriously, show up on time and work hard at honing your skills. Don't be afraid to rewrite or edit or make changes if a song isn't quite right but you still love something about it. Be humble cause karma is real and for the love of G-d, don't google yourself.