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The Audition

I was actually pretty nervous. Not only did I have to wow the owner and audience with my voice but I also had to look smoking.

My good friend, Sean, had started working at this new hot spot called Le Piano Rouge. It’s located in the heart of the old port just off of St Laurent, on the walking street. I could here the live music before I saw the sign. The ambience was just pouring onto the street creating such a romantic setting with brick walls, drippy candles, red couches and of course a beautiful Red Piano tucked away in the corner in front of large bay windows.

I spent at least 30mins trying to decide what to wear. I’m not usually a three inch heel kind of Gal but tonight I was making an exception. I decided on a Grey Vest with a tight black T, Dark Grey shorts with Buttons, and Baby Blue peak-a-boo Pumps. I think one of my favorite things about dressing up is when I come out of my room and everyone is a little surprise to see how nice I can, occasionally, clean up.:)

When I walked into Le Piano Rouge I was greeted with a huge beaming smile from Sean who was behind the bar. Over my favorite drink, The Naked Angel, Sean explained that the regular Pianist wasn’t available and the Pianist they had didn’t really have much of a repertoire of Show tunes and Jazz Standards. But we made it work. As I strutted across the Saturday Night Shmoozers my heart was pounding.

With a last gulp of water the music chimed in. “Fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly, I gotta love one man till I die. Can’t Help Lovin that Man of Mine.” I couldn’t help but think about that night when I was 9 years old peering over the balcony through my Mummy’s binoculars watching that Big Lady belting out that Exact same song in the musical, “Show Boat.” It was the first concert type show I’d ever been to.

The owner shinned a big smile in my direction, which made my nerves disappear…

My First Photoshoot

I don't know if you have those super outgoing, eccentric, quirky friends in your life, I do. Fierce Scott Brown is like a persona. When he is a t the club in his, shall we say, 'Sunday Best' you know. One of my favourite things about him is that under that persona if you need him, he'll be there:)

Now of course Scott would have other super outgoing, eccentric, quirky friends one of which calls himself, Steben Alexander. He reminds me of a diva. And what talent?! We did my first ever photoshoot together in my old skool, hardwood floor, crown molding downtown appartment. Here are a few highlights from that hilarious afternoon in June...

Inked

On a Tuesday evening in June I signed my first ever recording contract. It felt like my stomach was in my butt all day. It was a big commitment. I've been writing these songs since I was 13, you know? They are a peice of me...

All day I was searching for a friend from home. Someone who'd known me for more than a year, some support from home to help me move forward into the future. It was bittersweet...But, I guess I will appreciate it more that way.

(Above my Manager, Rivkah Sherman and the first Artist Signed with Ambrosia Records, George Azzi)

I waited until the very last moment to get dressed to impress and realized that I had no shoes for the new dress I'd recently acquired. I finely settled on my strappy black sandals as black goes with everything and put on some bright pink eye shadow to finish the job.

As I waited for my manager, Rivkah, I smoked...I'd been smoking all day, Why? Because tonight when I sign the contrat I will stop smoking! If they are willing to invest in my voice I should too. Besides, I don't even know why I started.

Actually I do...

I started smoking with my college roommate. He was an amazing dancer. He'd spent a few years at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and was now branching out to singing and acting to be come what we called, 'A Triple Threat.' I came home one afternoon covered in sweat, just panting from three hours of dance classes. He was leaning back on a lawn chair in the hot sun on the patio. He turned his head just enough to flood his face in shadow, it was as though he could hear my heart pounding in my chest. " You know what you need? A cigarette, come here!" I went outside and had what I would still consider to be the most amazing cigarette of all time. As if time had stopped...That's what smoking was back then dramatic. It was all about the moment.
And that is why it now has to stops because those moment are starting fill to much of my time...

Soo I jumped into the cab with Rivkah and we were off to Ambrosia Records.

In the office it was as though there was no more to say. We'd said it all. Now it was time for me to ink it.


Now on day one of being a signed recording artist I still feel like my stomach is in my butt...But I can't stop smiling:)

Busking on St Catherines

It's funny how playing music on the streets makes you so aproachable. On Sunday of the May Long weekend I went out busking at noon. I set up infront of this beautiful church with shade from a tree. The moment I started strumming this tiny, round, italian man strode over with a purpose. He walked right up to me turned around and started shaking his tooshie at me! Now, keep in mind I was playing a slow romantic jazz tune to set the mood and this man must have been at least 65...As he was dancing these four, young, bravilian travellers decided to join in. They started clapping and dancing with him and then came over and started to do the same with me. They tried to convince me to pack up and go for a drink with them, but I declined seeing as I had only begun playing.. Usually when I play I bring a tea and a big bottle of water, my shades and my set up includes my amp a mic and stand a funky outfit and some flyers or buisness cards for people to grab while passing.

After about what I would say was an hour this alternative midthirties street kid named Rob aproached me. He had sat across the street while I was playing and had made a soap stone carving and was now presenting it to me. He asked if I would give him 5 dollars because he wanted to by some shoe polish to finish the job. " It's doesn't need any shoe polish," I said, " But did you need the 5 dollars?" " I haven't eaten yet today, so yes that would be nice." And so we exchanged gifts and I continued playing. I would say one of my all time favourite songs to play on the street is Video by Indie Arie.

All the city folk were in they're hussle and bussle with there new packages, or strutting in there Sunday best. I particularily noticed this old Lady scuttling along with quite a few shopping bags. She looked down at my case and ask, " Dear, do you think you could use a bag?" I smiled' " Well sure!" So she produced a brand new plastic wrapped handbag and without a word dropped it in my case and continued on her way...How funny is that?

I really appreciate the small things....I think now more than ever:)

Toronto

So I finally made it to Toronto. Those street cars are the thinest form of public transportation I've ever seen...I was confused, couldn't quite make an opinion of what the city reminds me of. I think it's old like Montreal, new like Seattle, and has Street Cars like San Fransisco. My friend Mark Harris is such a character. When we got on the Street Car of course he would assume the position of tour guide announcer with all the quips and started pointing out the different sites as we rode by.

Gig number one was set for Thursday Night at the Free Times Cafe in Downtown Toronto. The ambience gave it a 90s Comedy club feel with the checkered tablecloths and the curtains framing the stage. Darren played this amzing Quartz singing bowl that made the whole room shake. His Voice is amazing and he has sooo much feeling when he sings. David St Bernard has such a fresh sound. His voice is young R&B coupled with with wiity lyrics and guitar. Mark Harris has a unique sound. Sometimes Folk, sometimes Jazz, sometimes hip hop, matched with a comedy and stage presence that brings the audience right in. I enjojed playing that stage because it was dark and felt underground.

Gig number two was at Vapour Central. The stage was great, the audience changed every hour, and we had the whole night. The opening at was a new young female artist. Her voice was similar to that of Dolores O'Riordan, vocalist from The Cranberries, and accompanied herself with an acoustic Bass. Mark Harris played a totally diferent set, experimental Comedy Synth, He's a risk taker and it seemed to go over well with the crowd. Playing at the Vapour Lounge was interested. There was a big audience but I could help feeling like I was in a giant livingroom.

Overall it was a great weekend. Got to visit UofT and sample the cafeteria food, went to a Library, played 2 gigs, jammed with an old friend and saw a lovers quarrel on the street get broken up by a policeman on a horse. Best part was that he never got off the horse...Hope to visit again soon.

Busking

City life is strange...people feel so stressed and nervous about everything. Why is it that when someone looks you in the face on the street they immediately look away. The moment your eyes meet there's they have to look away. It's like they're worried there going to offend you or something. I often find myself giggling in the middle of these situations.
In Thailand my friend Flo and I decided to conduct an experiment. We decided to drop the Good Morning Bomb on whoever looked us in the face that morning. It was great. Some people smiled, some people didn't noticed. But the best was this middle aged Russian Lady. We strolled up and both chimmed in at the same time"Good Morning." She looked like she was going to have a heart attack. She grabbed her chest and said in a thich Russian accent," aah...rg...Hi." It was fantastic.

I find the only way the city folk can redeem themselves, for me, is when I busk. People have a reason to smile when they catch my eye. There so much more human and real. They start strutting on tempo to the music and catch themselves smiling,

Some moments~

~This little girl about 100 metres down the road started running through the crowd. She ran right up to me and put out her little hand. "My mother makes these. It's a ring", she said, "and she said I could give one to you." She waited with her small hand streched for me to stop playing and take it out of her hands. She smiled and started runing back through the street.

~Playing outside on St Catherines last summer... I was jamming away with the sun beaming in my face. This man walked up and grabbed my hand and gave it a good strong hand shake. "Make it happen "he said, I opened my hand to find a twenty dollar bill...

~The sun was going down and It was starting to get a little cold playing underneath the Bay Centre in Montreal. This older gentlement dropped a 5 dollar bill in my case while strolling by. A few steps down he turned around. " Do you smoke?" He asked. We leaned against the wall beside my gear and had a cigarette. As he lit mine he started telling me about his life. How he had been a photographer to the stars. Moments after he left this young guy zoomed on to the curb on his long board." Do you mind", he said as he caught his breath, " If I just stood over here and listened for awhile?" "Of Cousre not," I said and I smiled. It was like being a fly on the wall. He wasn't looking at me. He was just leaning on a light poll and gazing dreamily into the sunshine while I watched his expression change as the music changed.

~When I was 18 years old I started busking in Victoria on the harbour where the boats come in. On this one sunny afternoon I could here these 2 men shouting. It was coming from out in the water. I turned around and to my delight two guys were waving from there sailboat at me while dancing to the music.

I'm starting to realize that no matter how many times I try to fight it there's nothing else I want than to play music. It may not be glamoruus but it's mine. I hope that everyone has something in there life where they get to say," This is mine and you'll never take it away from me," because that's what music is for me.