Summer of Music

Sometimes in life you need to shake things up and when adventure comes calling answer the call! This past August I had the opportunity to spend the whole month solely dedicated to making music in NYC & Asbury Park, NJ. So often as musicians we have many side jobs on the go in order to support our art. It was a real pleasure to just focus on one thing - my music!

NYC is one of my all time favourite cities! The raw vibrant energy is very inspiring and there are so many different unique people in New York that you feel free to be your wild crazy self! While in the city I worked hard with my vocal coach Cari Cole doing vocal arranging & getting my songs ready to record. I've sung a lot on stage but singing in a recording studio is a whole different thing. I would take the L train to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to work with my co-writer Jay Stolar on re-writing the songs again & again until we felt that they were the best they could be. It's so important to me to take time with my songs so I feel that they tell a compelling story that connects deeply with the listener. All this pre- production work helped me get ready for recording with my producer in Asbury Park.

I feel very lucky that I got to record my songs with the Grammy nominated producer Steve Greenwell who's worked with artist's like Joss Stone, Diane Birch and Andy Grammer. Steve's studio is located in the seaside town called Asbury Park. Asbury Park has a rich musical history many great rock 'n' roll bands have recorded & performed there like Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith and Jon Bon Jovi to name a few. From the sounds of the ocean waves hitting the Jersey shore to the live music floating out of the bars and down the street I felt very inspired while recording my music there. Not only are the songs sounding killer (I can't wait to share them with with you) but I learned so much from Steve during the recording process! It kinda felt like I was in music bootcamp this summer and I loved every moment of it! 

 

 

 

I May Surprise You...

I have a loud voice, the kind that can wake up a whole house and sometimes when I find something really hysterical I have a laugh that sounds like a scream (I kid you not). I’ve always felt best in bold red lips and sexy over the top rockstar outfits, I loathe beige. But there is still a huge part of me that wants to “fit in” eww admitting that feels yucky! I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve shrunk myself because I was afraid people wouldn’t like me. Everytime I did this it killed me a little more inside until I felt like no one knew the real me… 

I’m tired of hiding. It’s exhausting to spend most of your time worrying about what other people think of you and I just don’t have the energy to do it anymore (thank f$cking God). My favourite artists are the ones who push buttons and boundaries and I love them for that. Musicians like David Bowie, Prince, and Lady Gaga help liberate us all with their wacky, bold and fearless music! I have always longed to be like that but have never given myself permission until now to break down my walls of fear. 

I am very lucky to have some amazing mentors, co-writers and teachers in my life who challenge me to step out of my comfort zone and boldly be who I am. It’s messy and vulnerable but it’s also incredibly freeing! You're gonna be seeing and hearing new things outta me. I may surprise you… I might even shock you… but I might just set you free!

I've Had Enough...

I have a confession to make... this morning I was considering not writing a blog for January because I didn't know what to write. I had tried a few half baked ideas like writing a fresh take on New Years resolutions because everyone needs to read more about that, lol! 

While sometimes if you are patient enough inspiration comes your way. I've always been a very ambitious person. Even as a kid I had lists that I would count out on my fingers of all the fabulous careers I was gonna have - singer, actress, clothes designer, writer, interior decorator, dancer and the list goes on. I remember looking at the clock, bored in school as the hours dragged by, day dreaming in my head that if only I wasn't in class I could be working and doing what I loved. Adult life ain't that simple but I'm still a dreamer.

Some New Years I've jumped into goal setting with great enthusiasm only to find myself depressed by my lack of accomplishments. I have been racking my brain and searching my soul for the secret formula to make this year different. I could bore you with a list of self righteous observations of what it takes to make the most of your year but I'm sure that you, like me, have had more than your fill of this kind of talk on Facebook and Twitter and on the cover of every magazine. Sometimes our lofty good intentions backfire and turn into heavy weights on our shoulders. Not a person I talk to now a days doesn't feel the pressure of too much of much. So I've decided to put my focus on a softer goal which is going to effect everything in my life. NO MORE BEATING MYSELF UP!!!

I've had enough of the constant critic living in my mind. It is perhaps the cruelest voice of all, echoing past hurts and shames, making me feel bad about all the mistakes I've made, all the chances I've missed, how I should be further along by now and then my personal favourite beating myself up for beating myself up for beating myself up, cause that makes sense?! This voice may never go away completely but if I can soften the volume, open my heart and take a step away from perfection I'm not only gonna be a lot happier, but I will feel lighter and healthier and that's gonna give me a lot more energy to go after my dreams!

Come on give it a try with me, what do you have to lose... ;)

Goddesses of Rock 'n' Roll

Last month I had the joy of seeing not one but two of my idols- Stevie Nicks & Chrissie Hynde of the Pretenders.They performed live at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. I always feel a little nervous when I am going to see one of my idols in "real life”. Will they be as amazing as I dreamed they'd be? Well... it was even better than I imagined!  I've now gone from being a big fan to a super fan! These women are the Goddesses of Rock 'n' Roll!

Chrissie Hynde with her band the Pretenders was such a badass rockstar in every sense of the word. She worked every corner of that stage and would go from rocking it out on songs like "Middle of the Road" to stealing your heart with "I'll Stand By You". The guy sitting next to me gave me the stink eye a few times 'cause I was singing along with every song, I couldn't help myself. Her band was amazing- lap steel guitar, big drum set, booming bass and she was always having fun with her rocking lead guitarist. 

Chrissie Hynde & the Pretenders

One of the things I loved most about watching Stevie Nicks perform live was that she did things I never expected her to do. She was surprising, delightful, inspiring and of course amazing! When Stevie introduced her band she gave a personal introduction to each member. It was so touching and you could tell that they weren't just bandmates but friends. Not only did she sing hits from her solo albums like "Edge of Seventeen" and "Stand Back" but she performed songs she had never sung live before. I thought that was so brave that after years of being on the stage she was still taking risks.

Stevie Nicks talked about fearlessly pursuing your dreams in spite of the naysayers! These ladies prove you can rock out at any age and that you can always follow your dreams. Our society is very ageist but we don’t have to buy into that, in fact we can set and break are own rules. This is the true spirit of Rock ’n’ Roll! I aspire to live my life with the same gusto and courage that Stevie Nicks & Chrissie Hynde possess!

Stevie Nicks

IN AWE OF YOU

I’m amazed by the power of music. You could say I’m “In Awe”! Sometimes I feel totally humbled by how beautiful and magicial music can be like when I listen to Freddie Mercury sing "Somebody to Love" or Ray Charles perform a spine tingling live version of "Georgia on my Mind". It makes me have a kinda Wayne's World "We’re not worthy moment" (FYI if you haven’t seen this movie you have to).

It wasn’t that long ago I was going through a tough time where I felt like I was rebuilding my life and chasing this wild dream while most of my friends were settling down, getting married and having kids. Sometimes I’ve felt crazy to have this dream but I have no choice I know in my gut that this is what I am meant to do.

So one night when I was in a bit of a dark place my friend dragged me out to see this amazing band play and all of a sudden I felt lifted out of the darkness and filled with joy. Like I say in the song “It made me dance when I was low, gave me a friend when I needed one so”. The next morning I woke up and wrote “In Awe of You” it just came pouring outta me.

About a month before that I met my producer Roy Hamilton III who had worked with Michael Jackson and Britney Spears and sold over 70 million records worldwide. We connected on a soul music level that's hard to describe. His grandfather Roy Hamilton was a R&B recording artist and performer with Epic Records from the late 1940's to the 60's. His recordings of songs like "Unchained Melody" influenced artists like Elvis Presley, Jackie Wilson and the Righteous Brothers. I'd like to think some of that musical history rubbed off on us while in the recording studio.

"In Awe of You" is a fan favourite at my live shows so as a thank you for all of the love & support, I am giving this single away for free! All you have to do is sign up for my insiders list here:

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Studio Pic from when we recorded the song at the Backroom Collective