“These past five years have been a time of grieving, acceptance, growth and renewal for me. I rely heavily on God, who is my reason for living. Contained in this compact disc are my very personal stories, experiences, wishes and dreams that I have put into song in an effort to heal. I hope they inspire you to create some of your own as part of your recovery.

A friend of mine wrote, produced and directed a movie that will be coming out within the next eight weeks.  I had the privilege of co-writing the theme song for him, as well as recording, performing and co-producing the recording itself.

Yesterday we filmed the opening sequence, title credits of the movie, featuring yours truly The song is produced in a 60′s style, a la Nancy Sinatra.  I was dressed in all manner of fringy, frilly, flowery, loud and very, very short attire, with crazy-fun wigs and feathery head dress.  What fun!  I had a stylist, make-up artist, choreographer, director of photography and the director-screenwriter at my disposal.  I felt very pampered.  It was great.  It was really hard work, but I did my best.  What a wonderful experience.  What a great group of people to work with.  If anyone is looking for recommendations for folks such as these, email me and I will put you in touch with them.  They are truly at the top of their game.

I just bought Protools and a new Mac.   I will be starting from square one with my new cds – which were mostly done already on my old system.  Well, thy will be done.

I know blogs are supposed to be interactive, but I haven’t figured out how to do that.  If anyone knows how, please email me and let me know.  In the meantime I’ll try and keep searching.

What a blessed life I lead.  I am truly thankful to God for everything in my life.

In the Light,

Juliet

This evening was the icing on the cake of a week I’ve spent deep in thought about the process of songwriting, where inspiration comes from and the life songs take on once they’re written.

I really pour my heart into my songs.  I write what’s true for me, I write about my experiences, joys, heartaches, dreams. fears and goals.  My songs are really tiny windows into my soul.

I think that once I write a song, the song itself pretty much dictates to me what the production should be.  I have struggled with this as of recent as I’ve been listening to bands I love for a long time and have really wanted to produce my songs like they do or write like they do, etc.  (Porcupine Tree comes to mind. They are so great.)

However, in this whole process, truth reigns.  I have to let my songs be what they are and resist the urge to fit them into some kind of mold just because I think its more popular or what someone else wants to hear.  Or what I want the song to be like.

For example, I’m working on a ballad that deals with loss.  I would love to produce it in a really cool, spacey, rock vein with loads of complicated samples, overdubs, etc.  But that would be what I want, not what the song needs and it would end up sounding fake and forced.  I have to let them grow into what they’re meant to be, not what I want them to be.  That’s the truth.

So that’s where I’m at.  I’m letting my songs tell me what they need to sound like.  I’m accepting that maybe I’m answering to a different calling and my writing and producing reflects that. That’s okay.  It’s truthful. And its something I HAVE to create.  So I do.  It will find its place.  I will do my best to let my music be true unto itself.

In the Light,

Juliet

I’m working on a new cd, the title of which is uncertain. Beloved was a very open, honest look at what I was going through at the time that I wrote it. The new material continues in that honesty with songs that ask difficult questions, share secrets and look to the future with hope.  I am about half way through right now.

I have, in my professional and performance lives, been grappling with the concept of the performing artist.  For me, singing and writing songs are the way I express myself as an artist.  I do it for myself, because I love it.  It fulfills a need.  Even just here in my studio, creating my music, I feel fulfilled.  But I need more. I need an audience.  Yet, if they don’t like what I’m doing, it doesn’t really matter because I’m there performing for myself.  This begs the question, “Then why do you need an audience if it isn’t for the applause?  Why perform?”

I have often pondered this question.  My answer so far seems to have a couple of angles to it.  I am an artist and writing music and performing it is how I like to express myself.  It also seems to be the direction God is sending me in.  This is my calling and “not thy will but thine be done.”  How great it is that we are on the same page with that!  God is great.   He is my reason for living.

I am also working on cd of standards.  more on that later.

Until then I will create and perform to the best of my ability and will try not to intellectualize the whole thing too much.

Happy Holidays and many blessings in the new year to you all.

In the Light,

Juliet