At Metal Works Studios

more to follow in this posting…

Until then, enjoy a verrrry rough track of Lavandaria Sucia.

LA is lovely, but Toronto beckons…

We had a great week putting together trax for our Toronto visit with Brendan, and the good folks at Metal Works Studios.

Kyle has said that he’s gonna make it out for the session. It’s gonna be cool to hang out with Brendan and Kyle together. It’ll be a complete hack*, so to speak.

hack

v.

1.) Short name used for “hacky sack”

2.) The goal achieved when every player within a “hack circle” kicks the hacky sack at least once without letting it touch the ground.

Los Angeles has been very good to me. Below is a picture of what I see every morning – very inspiring.

It seemed like a good idea to start bringing in some video fun, so I taped a special message for you. Incidentally, I’m standing on top of a railroad tie, and holding the camera myself. Taking that into account, here is my self-video-portrait debut:

Thanks US Airways!!!

When I was a little girl, we moved from Milwaukee, Wisconsin to sunny Phoenix, Arizona. Our green Pontiac stationwagon drove us to Phoenix (well, actually my Mom drove, but whatever) and we settled in as a family.

At the time, there was a brand new start-up airline forming called America West Airlines. I remember because there was this girl in their television ads that would stand up and sing, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, as part of their ad campaign.

It was mesmorizing. I loved her. She represented all that was good in life – singing and transporation. Looking back, it’s amazing how influential those early years are.

My first plane flight was on America West, and by the course of fate, we’ve flown together ever since.

US Airways and America West merged in 2005, and now US Airways flies to over more than 200 destinations worldwide.

As an artist, there are a lot of things that, sometimes, just get put on the back burner; things like health & dental insurance, direct deposit, stability, and freedom of travel.

I kinda like health insurance, and believe it or not, I like going to the dentist. Even though mailbox money is preferable, I like direct deposits, too.

So prior to the US Airways merger, I became a team member of the airline. It’s been a fun adventure, and I always say that my life only gotten better since I began working for the company.

This week, US Airways placed a link to my website on the internal employee website giving me an, “Atta girl!”

They’ve also recently had me start doing company on-hold messages, so when you call US Airways, many times it is my voice asking you to consider Philadelphia, or Barbados, for your next vacation. I don’t do all of the messages, but there are quite a few with my voice on the system. (The next time your making a call to US Airways, keep an ear out for me…)

Coming from an airline of 30,000 plus employee’s, it really goes to show that both as an airline, and as an employer, US Airways ROCKS!

I just wanted to say, “Thanks US Airways!”

OneRedPaperClip ABC 20/20

It’s Been A Five Star Week

(Lance Morrison, Tom Weir, me, Richard Feldman, and Matt Laug)

No complaints. Everything has been great.

We recorded bass and drums at Studio City Sound for three of the songs that are going to be on Pivot. The One Red Paperclip song (Give It Up), Me Who Changed, and Lavandaria Sucia.

Tom Weir was engineering, Lance Morrison played bass, and Matt Laug played the drums.

Richard Feldman was doing his darn thing, and I was happy as a clam to just be in the same room with those guys – all amazing individuals, and ridulously awesome at their craft.

Richard and I are working together again this weekend, so that means that I have been forced away from the 110 degree heat of Phoenix, to be available in Los Angeles. Bummer.

People get all silly when it’s that hot – I was looking forward to it.

California Here I Come!!

Have an early flight for Los Angeles in the morning.

We’re putting the finishing touches on some pre-production before heading out to our first session in Toronto at Metal Works Studios.

As Kyle would say, “rumor has it” that a one red paperclip song is right aroung the corner. “Rumor has it.”

Brendan and I are very excited to finally get our time together at the studio. He’s such an awesome guy.

Actually, Brendan and I met last month in Toronto. We hung, checked out the amazing facilities at Metal Works Studios and enjoyed a very musical afternoon. Lots of warm fuzzies.

Openly Soliciting Advice

Trying to figure out how to get the band from Phoenix to Kipling, Saskatchewan…

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$, blech.

If anyone has any suggestions, shoot me an email here.

Otherwise, consider pre-ordering Pivot.

Either way, wish us luck. Hook or crook, we gotta find a way.

Congratulations Kyle!

Kyle and Dom,

May your new home be a place of peace and love.

You both deserve it.

Rock on.

So much to say, not enough words…

The last couple of weeks have been spent in the studio working on pre-production for Pivot. And, I’m happy to announce that Richard Feldman has agreed to produce the album!!!

For those of you that are fans of my previous release, Treasure Quest, you might recognize Richard’s name in the credits (a lot.)

There are some people in life that “are the bar.” You know, when you look at a decision, or a person, or whatever, and you find yourself comparing it to other previously awesome events in your life? Richard Feldman is one of those people to me.

He was so influential in showing me what I could do vocally, and towards understanding who I was as a songwriter. He helped shape who I am as an artist today, and for that I am eternally grateful.

(self portrait of Richard and me)

Oh, and because if it happened to me, I would be shouting it from the rooftops, please allow me to do a minor amount of soap-boxing for Richard…

HE WON A GRAMMY!!! That’s awesome.

Toots and the Maytals, True Love. What a great album.

We are expecting to go to Toronto mid July to record our first sessions with Brendan at Metal Works Studios.

Words cannot explain how happy/grateful/excited I am in this moment.

Thanks to everyone who has already shown their support by pre-ordering the album. Believe it or not, the pre-orders have been a huge help, and I thank you.