I'm playing in public again and (surprisingly) I'm really enjoying it: it's time. It's a bit weird to be sat behind a piano rather than cradling my guitar but I'm loving having the expansive freedom of so many keys. I'm playing with and sharing the set with my friend Rebecca Wright (please check out her myspace) and its just great. And for the first time ever I'm accompanying someone else on their songs - it's a hell of a lot easier and more relaxing than being the upfront person all the time. The cello piano combination is a bit lethal when it comes to sad songs: I'll try and get a live recording up for you guys to hear.
So I'm discovering that house gigs aren't the best way to make money from music but it's a much more intimate experience than playing in a public venue and that's what I was aiming for at this time. Tomorrow night we are doing a gig in Church and I think it will work but I reckon being in a church is a bit weird for lots of people. Churches were specifically designed and crafted to be sung in and sing I will.
In the last few months I've continued to write song after song and it's been such a gift. Don't get me wrong it's been a tough and hard time but the music that has come through it with me has been so healing and nurturing. Some of the songs come out and I think "Who on earth am I going to sing you to?" But I reckon thats not the point.
Next month I'm about to start recording again: I just need to get the piano tuned. I head off to Maine again at the end of the summer and I really want to capture and record these cello/piano songs with Rebecca before I go away. I'm going West in order to start my training as a wooden boat builder (YEAY). I've decided to try and be a boat building minister. Why? Just because. How I'm going to manage this I really don't know; the ministers don't understand how I'd manage to do this and the boat builders think I'm a bit crazy. I'll wait and see what evolves and grows out of this idea and in the meanwhile I've got a lot of music to do.