|
Forgive me friends for my long absence. I've felt a little anti-social lately. But mostly I've been dreading writing this long awaited post.
Life has a funny way of not being so funny, but rather of being more unpredictable
than we would care for. And that is all the preface I will give this news.
As you know, Almost six months ago, me and my crew went down to Nashville TN to record "Nobody." It's hard to believe that much time has elapsed. The week of recording was quick and almost painless, which was great for me--the recording process isn't really my favorite. By day five, we had left Nashville with the cat in the bag so to speak. Over the next six months Andy Walker, my former producer and I, commuted our producing and mixing by email week after week. Sure enough, in our rush to get things done (we only had a limited time before my husbands springbreak was over) we had neglected a few important things. So I had to go back into the studio in Northern Michigan and re-record a few times. After a long arduous process, Andy and I decided to part ways professionally. So, now I am producer-less. The project is 85% done, and I am just waiting. I already tried to rush this thing out the door, and look where it got me...here. So unfortunately I cannot give you guys a definite date for the release of Nobody. Because of this fact, I will be releasing some new songs online available for free download. Thank you all who pre-ordered my album, hang in there--you guys will get free t-shirt, 4 cd's to give away, and bumper stickers!
This project has been the cause of many tears. My expectations for others, and myself challenged, rearranged, and finally just erased all together. To say that this has been a learning experience would be an understatement. I always thought the word "perseverance" was a nice, heroic word. Easy to toss out, but not so easy to live out. I am learning through this project, the art of waiting...it is an art. The art of trusting.
There have been so many times when I told my husband I was "quitting," and giving up on this, and just leaving it altogether for someone else to clean up someday. Perhaps that's just the drama queen in me, but no, I do feel things deeply--and that's okay. I have learned through all of this, why I do this. I do this because a secret was whispered to me before I was born. There was a song planted in me...and I have no choice but to sing of it's colors in every season, and in every circumstance. When it's easy to sing, and when my singing sounds more like sobbing. This is what my maker has called me to do...to bring joy, express freedom, and inspire true beauty in your life...perhaps where you never saw it before.
Many good things have come from this painful learning experience. One in that I have decided to start my own label, and to release this new album under it. The label is called "Sunshine Wreck Chords." I have the hope of starting out small, and hopefully growing to support other young, passionate artists.
What else is new? My husband, our pug named Otie, and I moved into a new house! It's in a super cute and charming town that still has a train go by, and beautiful church bells that ring. We painted the walls in our living room green--and since then I've been feeling pretty inspired. There is a fireplace, and I have deemed that room my new writing room. The other day I curled up on a pillow and sat by the fire (it was raining, so why not?) and tooled out a few new songs.
And last but not least...about a month ago I entered my new song "I Love You" in a contest sponsored by Ourstage, JetBlue (the airline), The Bowery (BIG part of Bonaroo), and Superfly Productions. The contest winners get flown to New York to perform at JFK airport at Jetblue's terminal 5, and also at another NYC Bowery venue TBA. With that said, the other day I was getting my teeth cleaned and my phone kept ringing. I finally answered and it was my manager Carl. He said "Jetty, don't you have something to tell me?" I replied, "Um no not really, no cavities to report." At this point Carl informed me that I had been chosen as the grand prize winner for this contest, and that they were flying me out to New York! Wow! I am really excited about this opportunity, and I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't totally psyched to go to New York, and to sing in an airport!
Ah, it's great to be a winner...but just maybe, that's not what life is all about. Having not felt like much of a winner lately, I feel I need to encourage those of you who can relate. My advice to you--find out what you were made to do, and do it with all your might. Do it when it's the hardest thing to do.
Love you all--enjoy the new tunes for now!
|
