Summer is officially here. My life is becoming more and more interesting by the day. Although I'm well into booking for September and October, I find myself living week by week as that is the only way I can remain focused on what's next, without freaking out over how much I've really taken on my plate. I've always been the type of person to take too much on her plate, but thankfully my number of nervous breakdowns has significantly decreased. I've mellowed slightly, and my level of anxiety has depleted, possibly due to the realization that freaking out over any matter only generally makes matters worse. I find that there's little room for disappointment by living in the moment, and not focusing sooo much on living in the future. You can't predict what life will ultimately dish out to you today, tomorrow, or in the end, so why waste any time dwelling on the future? Treat your life well, and your life will be good to you in return. Surround yourself with good people, let the ones you love know you love them, do anything you aspire to do, achieve what you set out to achieve, make yourself proud just as you long to make others, and never hesitate to be YOU. If only I would've realized what I know now years ago.
A musician's life is interesting, and not easy to understand if you're not one, or if you don't actively work as a musician. I've been fortunate to meet sooo many fantastically awesome people through gigs, through open jams, locally and across the world through Facebook and Reverbnation. I finally feel that after a year of plugging away at all I've been working at, that it all is finally beginning to pay off. I feel the attention building, attention to my music, which before wasn't quite so prevalent. I also feel the growth musically. I'm capable to connect with my audience, to feel out a crowd, to ENTERTAIN like an entertainer and not like someone who is just up there to sing off whatever songs they have on their set list. I no longer fear the clock, and have the liberty to play whichever songs I feel will suit the environment. My repertoire has grown tremendously, and I'm able to pick up on music, and learn songs much more quickly than ever. My influences have expanded, and my songwriting has strengthened. I'm 85 percent confident in my piano playing; I now am able to improv, and to sit in with other players which I wasn't comfortable doing so much a year and a half ago. I no longer have to work scummy gigs, because I've gained the respect and built a name which grants me choice and not obligation. I owe this all to my experience. In the beginning which I started playing out regularly, I received a ton of criticism from my musical peers. I find it interesting, because all the things that I just mentioned, all the improvements I owe to every gig, and all the hard work I've put into developing my career. I don't understand how anyone would want to deprive themselves of that, or how they'd see any of what I've done as being negative? There's no question that living a life as a musician involves a lot of risk, a lot of sacrifice, and has at many points strained my relationship. However much the dollar amount, the pay off emotionally is well worth every lost penny.
Well, with letting that off my chest........ Time to fill you in with what's been going on, and what to expect NEXT:
* SouLife Magazine launched their 3rd edition which featured an article on yours truly :-) You can read the article here: http://www.soulifemag.com/
* Music officially is going through digital distribution and will VERY soon be available for download on Itunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and more. More information to come.
* OUT OF TOWN SHOWS lined up for the next few upcoming months:
Syracuse and Utica this July, Boston in August, and September shows in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Long Island. Keep your fingers crossed, as there's a possibility for Miami in early October.
* Radio Live on air performance and interview with the Sunday Night Shakedown's Frank Deblase. Tune in July 10th to 98.9 the Buzz at 9:30pm.
* Back in the studio to record July 10th. New Cd will blow your mind, and will be the polar opposite of the last. I'm currently writing for Texan producer Frankie O. Solovely's tracks. Will be a mixture of R&B/pop/dance.
Lot's to look forward to, so stay tuned :-)
Amanda
A musician's life is interesting, and not easy to understand if you're not one, or if you don't actively work as a musician. I've been fortunate to meet sooo many fantastically awesome people through gigs, through open jams, locally and across the world through Facebook and Reverbnation. I finally feel that after a year of plugging away at all I've been working at, that it all is finally beginning to pay off. I feel the attention building, attention to my music, which before wasn't quite so prevalent. I also feel the growth musically. I'm capable to connect with my audience, to feel out a crowd, to ENTERTAIN like an entertainer and not like someone who is just up there to sing off whatever songs they have on their set list. I no longer fear the clock, and have the liberty to play whichever songs I feel will suit the environment. My repertoire has grown tremendously, and I'm able to pick up on music, and learn songs much more quickly than ever. My influences have expanded, and my songwriting has strengthened. I'm 85 percent confident in my piano playing; I now am able to improv, and to sit in with other players which I wasn't comfortable doing so much a year and a half ago. I no longer have to work scummy gigs, because I've gained the respect and built a name which grants me choice and not obligation. I owe this all to my experience. In the beginning which I started playing out regularly, I received a ton of criticism from my musical peers. I find it interesting, because all the things that I just mentioned, all the improvements I owe to every gig, and all the hard work I've put into developing my career. I don't understand how anyone would want to deprive themselves of that, or how they'd see any of what I've done as being negative? There's no question that living a life as a musician involves a lot of risk, a lot of sacrifice, and has at many points strained my relationship. However much the dollar amount, the pay off emotionally is well worth every lost penny.
Well, with letting that off my chest........ Time to fill you in with what's been going on, and what to expect NEXT:
* SouLife Magazine launched their 3rd edition which featured an article on yours truly :-) You can read the article here: http://www.soulifemag.com/
* Music officially is going through digital distribution and will VERY soon be available for download on Itunes, CD Baby, Amazon, and more. More information to come.
* OUT OF TOWN SHOWS lined up for the next few upcoming months:
Syracuse and Utica this July, Boston in August, and September shows in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Long Island. Keep your fingers crossed, as there's a possibility for Miami in early October.
* Radio Live on air performance and interview with the Sunday Night Shakedown's Frank Deblase. Tune in July 10th to 98.9 the Buzz at 9:30pm.
* Back in the studio to record July 10th. New Cd will blow your mind, and will be the polar opposite of the last. I'm currently writing for Texan producer Frankie O. Solovely's tracks. Will be a mixture of R&B/pop/dance.
Lot's to look forward to, so stay tuned :-)
Amanda
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