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This summer has been amazing, but I can’t believe how quick it’s flown! I guess there’s something to that saying that when you get older time flies faster.. Yet I don’t feel any older, and I don’t act any older. As the charming card I found in a Camden market stall; “Growing old is compulsory, growing up... is optional”. As long as you can act mature when the situation so require, I guess age is just a number ;)

Enough about that; what have I done this summer to make the time fly?

Well apart from spending time with some of the most precious of friends and family ever (my ones), loads really:

Summer started with a wonderful gig supporting Foy Vance as part of Liverpool Sound City in our favourite venue, Studio 2 Parr st. The live room that was built for music is just fantastic to perform in, especially with my band and supporting the amazing Foy Vance.

Then we played with Stephen Langstaff at the O2 Academy, another highlight with the band. Sold quite a few CDs (You got yours yet ;), and really enjoyed the atmosphere with a great audience our best gig so far.

Then I was welcomed back, this time with my band, to lovely Jarnac for the Fete de la Musique gig in the end of June. The people, the pineau, and of course the music was fantastic and although it was only possible to take Dave (vox/guit) and Chris (drums) on tour because of various circumstances (next year awaits..), we had a great time! A tour diary was filmed, but takes me a while to edit as I am a novice in the art. I’ll surely blog it in a short while!!

Then it was MIBI work galore; the songwriting competition I work with. Really love this engagement, which means it steals more time than it should, but is still both rewarding and challenging. This year the contest is bigger and it’s great to help offer opportunities to aspiring artists that I would have died for as a bedroom writer between the claustrophobic small town mountains of Narvik, however gorgeous – only performance opportunity was school related and therefore quite contagious for a weirdo like me..

Next big thing was the Oya festival where I met, once again, some fantastic people and saw some jaw dropping performances from the once again very well booked line up. Highlights include Bon Iver (who are nice), Pony the Pirate and having dinner with Band of Horses. Did enjoy the big big acts too including Arctic Monkeys and Royksopp, although have to admit that as the heavens decided to rid itself for all water possible on the Sunday, I was quite content under the tent roof of VIP and a blanket watching from afar..

Our “Under the Influence” nights have not had a summer holiday, and I’m happy to say we haven’t had a bad one yet!! Over summer we did editions inspired by Tarantino: “It’s 30 minutes away – I’ll be there in ten”, "The Morbid 27 Club", Motown; “You are soul”,  Californication “Good Vibrations” , and of course “Let it Beatles” as part of the Matthew street fringe festival. Loved each and every one. Feels like a house part down there :o)

Other festival treats was the lovely boutique Above the Beaten tracks in the gorgeous View 2 Gallery and the L1 which was not as successful cause of L’pool weather. Bad weather does not make a difference in Scotland for last weekend’s “Disconnect” festival in Inveraray and despite of enjoying the music under umbrellas and warm sweaters, the experience was marvellous – again fired up by audiences that are so supportive and appreciative. Being taken well care of by arrangers helped a lot as well, and we might have tasted one too many nice whiskeys and gourmet pub meal; bring on a healthier September..

Saying that though, September – my 10 years anniversary as an immigrant Scouser is far from empty! I hope you can celebrate with me at some of these gigs:

15 sep 2009, 20:00 – Bedford in Balham....

16 sep 2009, 20:00 - Eclectic Collective @ Leaf....

19 sep 2009, 20:00 - Under the Influence "Nordic edition"@ Studio 2....

20 sep 2009, 14:30 - Hope Street Festival....

Lastly; I will try not to make it so long in between blogs that I need to take up your valuable cleaning or working time (I assume that’s why your online reading blogs; you’ve got something your procrastinating over? No? Just me then... ;0)....

I will now go back and enjoy Valencia where I’m visiting my sister.  Tonight we’re out for a jazz jam! And the conclusion of this whole summer summary: Time may fly; and there might have been times where I didn’t think happiness was for me, but all-in-all I LOVE MY LIFE, MY FRIENDS, MY CHRIS , MY FLAT & MY JOB. Which means, as I say in ‘Balloon in a Cactus Field: I’m an amazingly lucky girl!!

..but my time is now finally mine (until September when as bit of teaching sneaks in again). As you might know, I have been gigging loads; mostly solo, but was finally ready with the new band set up to gig at O2/Carling Academy w Stephen Langstaff last Friday and tomorrow in Studio2 for Sound City, where I'm supporting Foy Vance.

You should all come and see us, as the new set up is much more me; still much of the same but with a great balance between edgy explosiveness and vulnerable dynamics. I've also started to work with a new manager; Adam, who is strict when I'm artistically challenging ;-)

Other gigs this month include Organic Cherry@ the Bluecoat on the 27th and 'Under the Influence Vol 5', the Jeff & Tim Buckley edition named "My sweetheart the drunk" after JB's posthumous album.


I have been writing loads too, and we're playing two of the new songs in the band set up; 'Left, Right and Self Centered' and 'Living is a fickle art (the Sunshine song)'. I'm also playing around singing weird sounds in to my computer in an a capella project that i may or might not develop.. Haing fun with it anyway.

For those of you who knows I'm having a guitar built by my mysterious friend Maximus Power, I must disappoint you and say it's not yet finishe, but I'm already dreaming about it ;0)

Summer will mostly be spent in rainy L'pool, although some gigs in France again and back to the mothership once or twice!!

Hope you're all great!x

i just finished a new song.. Tell me what you think :o)
This is it:

-----------------------
We meet up in a bar; supposedly a catch up but a mirror’s next to you
Some chit chat later and I find that you just haven’t heard a word of what I’ve said

just looking at yourself

And i’m not gonna take it personally
cause you’ve become a planet
 – your world revolves so clearly
Around yourself

You entertain the ones prepared to dispute every insecurity you have
Looking at your life

If you are thin enough or good enough or smart enough or even “you” enough
Its all about yourself
All about yourself

And i’m not gonna take it personally
cause you’ve become a planet
 – your world revolves so clearly
Around yourself

As you ignore me, or applaud me whilst confirming every prejudges I have
Not looking in my eyes
You look at someone else

I’m not important cause I can’t see how they put you on the pedestal they have
Looking at you now
Looking so confused

And i’m not gonna take it personally
cause you’ve become a planet
 – your world revolves so clearly
Around yourself
And the only place for me is a star in your horizon
... far away

you tell me I am beautiful
then go inside to escape it all
you used to sparkle all alone
but now you’re never on your own

the atmosphere is killing me
you’re not the one you used to be
But I’m not convinced you’re who you seem
cause you’ve become so distant
in the light of their sun beams

But I’m not a star – I’m a planet too!
I’ll only help if you let me help you
I’ll only be your friend if you let me in
and I’ll only bother if you begin
To come back down to earth

To be yourself



 
Pl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIwgrE08gng

I've been featured in another blog, so thought i should share it with you ;o)

Here's what Paul from Holland said and here; WWW. myspace. com/paulgarynixon  is where you can find it!

Kaya www.myspace.com/kayaherstad No I havent gone crazy I just found another band with the same name but also with gorgeous, dreamy vocals.  A
Norwegian operating out of Liverpool this particular Kaya delivers her
own bluesy compositions with a voice that soothes and then grips you as
it shifts across ranges to entrance you with its depth, sometimes Janis
Ian sometimes Christina Aguilera.  Her page says she has famous friends.  Isn't
it time for her to breakthrough so that they can claim they know her
;-). Try "Balloon in a Cactus Field" and "High on Coffee Low on Life".  She also with impeccable timing lists as one of her influences "Jethro Tull"  Whoever would have thought it to listen to her?  But clearly the woman knows a thing or two as.... ....

Well, that's a bit of a milestone!! This week you can catch me at Parr street Studio2 again on Friday, Lake District on Saturday and generally on here..

just thought I should share that with you! :o) Kaya x

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI2SD2Am20Q

Professionally shot video by Hydra Studios at the CUC/NOVAS launch party 24th November 2008 :o)

It's all happening tonight..well.. if all is the kick off of the new
gig series. A night inspired by the genius of Bob Dylan's work with
great acts playing a mix of their own and his tunes;
Ronan Boyle
Emily Barden
Rob Clarke
Ashley Theberge
James Munro
+ an eclectic mix of Dylan covers and originals played by DJ X-Ray Cat

In
the amazing acoustics of the beautiful Studio 2 Parr street; (main
entrance to the studios, not the 3345 bar this time..)Hope to see you
there..

Also; if you're longing to see a night dedicated to another artist - send me details and I'll put them on the list :o)

TOMORROW: Headlining Oxjam@Hannah's from 4pm. Loads of good acts on including Stephen Langstaff and Jonny Sands I'm on at 7..

HEADS UP FOR LONDON GIG: 16th Feb in Bullet Bar.

Kaya x