I just did a song all by myself!!!  More like a rough sketch than a finished painting, yet nonetheless I am feeling happy & proud.  I haven't been playing much lately, and a couple days ago I just felt it was time... so I busted out the fiddle. 

This summer I had been messing around on my laptop, trying to figure out some various programs like Acid, Fruity Loops, etc.  Just been putzing around, trial-n-erroring, hoping to make something I could play live to.  And I had made a few baby tracks, but never plugged my violin into my computer.  I don't have the right interface, a module where I could control the levels better.  When I first plugged in directly to the mic jack I got a lot of scratchy & high-end.  I then ran through my fx pedal (which is how I normally amplify anyway) and that took care of some of the high-end and smoothed out the tone.  Still not the best quality though, and I don't know ish about mixing/compressing/etc.  I guess I need to get through the tutorials, huh?

But I am happy to have recorded and produced myself, by myself.  Of course this does make me appreciate the people I work with even more, for their skills & know-how (not to mention not having to push play AND play at the same time ;)

This is only the beginning!!

C

PS- "extranjera" is 'foreigner' in Spanish, which was conjured up by the Latin flavor of the riffs and samples.  I was gonna call it la gringa or guerita (things I hear when I travel), but I figured calling myself a foreigner was a less tacky way to say it.  More mysterious & exotic, right?  ;)

I just got "Strawberries", an album they released 25 years ago, when I was enjoying the completion of kindergarten (I always put albums in historical context to my life - "My mom was graduating high school and Vietnam was in full swing when this came out ", or "I was using Aqua Net and slow dancing when this was popular".  Anyone else do this?)

Anyway, I am just blown away by this band, which began the year I was born (more context ;)  They started as a more complex punk group *cuz in my opinion most punk contains minimal complexity* and evolved into theatric-prog-rock, managing to straddle both styles on albums that have mosh-pit-worthy beats side by side with Syd Barrett-style songs.  I guess it's this combo that appeals to the submerged rock chick and the more prominent arrangement-melodic-complexity-driven taste that makes up the conglomeration of my musical taste.  ((What?!!))

Exactly.

And many credit The Damned for the genesis of the Goth style, thanks to Dave Vanian's white made-up face, black eye-makeup, and vampiric tastes.  Yet relatively few people seem to revere them musically in the way I believe they deserve.  They just get lumped together with the Sex Pistols, The Cure, and any other disparate "alternative" band of that era, without any recognition of the unique style and complexity they were trail-blazing.  Geez I sound like I should be their PR lady, but it's like when you really like a band that isn't highly-reknowed but you KNOW they deserve to be, though secretly you're glad because you hate it when your favorite bands are huge and known as legends and icons.

I'll shut up now so I can listen to this Damned good album..  heh heh...

and you have Chilean radio!  I will hear songs in the supermarket that I haven´t heard since circling around the Jr. High gym floor, slowdancing with my arms locked straight & nervously resting on the shoulders of an equally awkward (or maybe just bored) prepubescent lad.  Seriously, I will be in a ´hip´joint and "Total Eclipse of the Heart" will screech my senses to a halt as I ponder the fascination with American and UK hits that are at least 2/3 the age of my 30 year life span. 

How can so many people take seriously music that they can´t understand, much less music that people who CAN understand it don´t take seriously?  I know language isn´t a necessity, as I have witnessed plenty of gringos spinning the night away to Salsa whose lyrics they couldn´t differentiate from "Yo quiero Taco Bell".  It´s more just the acceptance and commonplaceness of it that throws me off - the understanding that Martika deserves to be heard in the Banco as complex financial transactions are taking place, and Bon Jovi owns a coveted spot in the supermercado as Chileans count out pesos for avocados and instant coffee. 

But hey, I´m not here to judge anybody, I´m just trying to understand.  This world culture thing is a trip to say the least!!

love from south da equator,

C

 

AKA Sananda Maitreya.  I now own 4 albums by this man and each time I hear a new one (new to me I mean, this one I just got is 11 years old!) I am amazed by how talented he is.  And underappreciated.  Incredible voice and wonderful songwriting.  I guess it makes sense he hasn't become huge because the mainstream doesn't tend to appreciate those kinds of things.  Quality and depth sure don't always translate to $$ for the record companies (More like wreck-what-you-heard companies!)  Yea maybe I'm in a cynical mood but I'm so appreciative at the same time.....

Point being, GO Terence, GO Sananda, GO all us musicians with depth and power!

Yep.  Wham.

I've been watching this DVD of some of their videos, and it's this amazing combination of silly/cheesy/wonderful to me.  I've always loved George Michael's voice, if not always all of his songs.  And Wham (beneath the now-dated synth sounds, dayglo, short shorts, fluffy hair & homoerotic posturing) had some really superb arrangements, harmonies, horn & bass lines, and all-around awesome songs.  And Deon Estus...  this man was an incredible bass player and put a lot of funk-slap-pop into their sound, as well as later solo-George stuff.  Just because it isn't mixed bass-heavy doesn't mean it ain't funky!! 

I'm not trying to convert anybody here, it's just one of those musician-moments where I'm really hearing and appreciating in a different way a sonic memory from my childhood.   That's it!.

And that is to commemorate MLK Jr. by putting him on the $20 bill. Every time I see his image I can't help but think about what he represented, so maybe if the other 300 million residents of this country had a similar thought while hitting the ATM, buying some food, whatever, we would be that much closer to enacting his vision in our daily lives. I know not everyone who uses US currency is enlightened enough to recognize his contributions to our country and our planet, but it would be an appropriate step toward helping to right some the wrongs that have been committed for way too long by way too many people in our recent history. Just my two cents.

There is a petition at this site, so check it out: putkingonthe20.com

It had been awhile since I had slumbered uncomfortably yet contentedly on Mother Earth in a sleeping bag, in a tent, breathing nice foresty air.  But this past weekend I had the good fortune to accompany 6 friends southeast to the Big Trees State Park in Calaveras County.  The weather was beautiful (a bit toasty in the sun, wonderful in the shade), the company was excellent, the food was delectable, and the location was choice.  We celebrated birthdays with chocolate cupcakes, talked politics around the firepit, sunbathed and sat in the icy river (well I did, anyway...brrr!!) and walked through trees big enough to house a tribe of dwellers.  The least pleasant factor was the numerous bug bites I acquired and am still scratching, but there was misery in company at least!  (Check out my cool shoulder constellation..)


So I'm totally ready for the next round, if anyone's interested?

So, you've probably had that experience where you get a friend request and you go, "Hmm, who is this?"  You check out their profile, hear a song, maybe look at their pics or browse their friends.  Then you have to make that monumental decision....  what makes them worthy of your friendship?  If they are a friend of someone you know, is that an automatic green-light?  Must they be reasonably attractive/witty/creative, or have a groovy song playing?  As a musician and artist, it (theoretically) benefits me to have a large pool of "friends" so that I can promote an album, gig, piece of art, whatever.  So in that regard, I should be adding everyone and their brother, right?  Yet often I get requests, mostly from musicians, and I just don't like their style of music, and am not sure if I want it linked to me, no matter how superficially. 

But maybe I should add them, just for the sake of musician/artist comraderie and support.  Maybe they liked what I had to offer, and would be willing to support my future endeavors even though I would never buy their stuff or go to their shows..?  Actually I'm probably just a handy demographic pick that will push their friends number from 1,286 to 1,287.  Woohoo!  You caught another one, Shoegazing Twilight Moonshiners!  Your welcome, Mr. Naughty and the Underhanded Backstabbers, I just pushed you to 5,000 friends!!

Yes, it's a strange dilemma sometimes....I don't usually think about it too hard, I just add most everyone unless their profile is really skeezy or repulses me on some level.  Thoughts?  

..we create our own families.  We cry on cyber-shoulders because real ones are unavailable.  We don't want to wake another human off in the distance so we visit the glowing box and attempt a moment of comfort as fast as our fingers will allow.  I am surrounded by people but know only a few of their names.  They sleep soundly, unaware of my angst, and likewise their trials and tribs are completely unknown to me.  Knocking upon the doors of strangers, attempting to forge my 21st century family would only bring about confusion and fear.  Or maybe they are still connected to the "old ways", a culture not-American that would allow them to welcome me knowlingly, speaking a different language while offering a non-cyber shoulder.  I romanticize, fantasize, soothe my techno-freak soul and remember that I'm doing the best I can, and did in fact choose to be here.  In this spot.  Right here.  

I reflect and recover from a week's journey and the ensuing cold it brought, drinking tea & watching "Purple Rain"..  Realizing I am so fortunate to be able to pick up and go almost anywhere, with minimal disturbance to my jobs & responsibilities.  I return unscathed, saving my pennies for the next adventures (Seattle in July, Cuba in November!)

This past week I reunited with:

~ 2 friends from Arrowbear Music Camp, unseen since '92
~ My freshman year roommate, unseen since 1996
~ 2 other UCSC friends also unseen for a decade
~ 4 Ridgecrest friends
~ 2 Berkeley friends who had migrated to LA
~ A friend who I used to manage the kitchen of the Santa Cruz Bagelry with.  (I was finally able to give him the card I made for his graduation 5 years ago!)

I also:

~ Went dancing at a lively & crowded bar in Culver City on St. Pat's & watched my friend bump-n-grind a 21 y.o. Wisconsin kid

~ Located & patronized a Venice Beach vendor I discovered last September who makes kick-ass lotion/soap/bath crystals

~ Had my clutch cable snap while freshly stoned and on the way to see "16 Blocks" w/ my friend.  (We left the truck and still made it to the movie, loved it!)

~ Dove into my friend's old pics that reminded me that I had permed/moussed hair & way too much makeup for a 13 year old

~ Discovered lush green parts & artsy-funky enclaves of LA, though the traffic made the Bay Area seem delightful by comparison

~ Experienced a live-art/music showcase in Downtown LA, where people are painting & sculpting live and selling their art while rock/jazz/indie bands played

~ Lost 1 hat, bought 2 new ones

~ Drank Irish Coffees in Fresno while discussing love and the state of the world

~ Watched "Spirited Away" with my mom.  SEE THIS MOVIE if you haven't already! 

~ Ate incredible cheese & drank cabarnet from a decanter that reminded me of a science beaker (Thanks Amanda L :)

~ Received an intense and wonderful massage that my neck still feels!

~ Played violin for my friend's 7 month old daughter, who listened & stared at my hands with rapt yet calm attention

~ Had fish tacos in Echo Park while discussing Latin American/USA corruption and economies as it rained heavily

~ Shared and gained incredible insight from all of these wonderful people who reminded me of how blessed I am


And you know what inspired this inspiring trip?  Myspace!  Yes, it connected me to folks that had become memories and question marks in my brain.  I totally encourage everyone here to make the extra effort to find old friends and keep in touch as best as you can...  It's worth it!!!