I just got back to my room from my voice lesson this week. They're 30 minutes long, every Monday at 4pm. The thing that is not so great about that is the fact that so many long weekends occur on Mondays, so I've already lost 2 voice lessons this semester [one from Labor Day weekend and one from Fall Break]. But, I guess it's just something I have to live with and work around. Also, it forces me to actually practice more throughout the weeks so I don't completely fall behind.
My voice teacher is Michael Delos. I googled him once and found out all of the great things that he has done. I think it's such a privilege to be part of a music program that has access to some amazing musicians from all over the world who are continually involved with the music industry through performing, composing, etc. Although I am no longer a music major, I still enjoy being a performer. It was my favorite part of the program: voice lessons and choir. I may complain about having to go to them sometimes, but singing literally makes me feel better. I'm always in a better mood once I finish a lesson or rehearsal and I just want to keep singing more and more. I don't know what it is, but there's just something about music that uplifts me and makes me forget about any worries or stress I may have.
This semester I have been noticing that I've been growing a lot, as a musician. My voice is developing so much, compared to last year, and I've become much more comfortable with just putting it all out there and not being afraid of singing the wrong note or having my voice crack. That, in return, has allowed me to support myself fully while singing, which causes a stronger sound to be created and avoids any mishaps. It's just one large never-ending cycle of affects; it's wonderful. Although I'll be done with completing the requirements for a music minor by the end of this school year, I want to continue with my voice lessons and I still want to be involved with choir. I just don't know if my schedule can handle it, and that would suck. We'll see how it goes, I still have time to figure it out. But, either way, I'm glad I've been able to stay involved with music throughout, at least, half of college.
I don't have much else to say. Just a random expression of my love for singing. Have a great week!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Purple
I know this is a music blog, but this topic is too important to go on unacknowledged.
Today is a special day. I’m wearing purple all over the place and so is everyone I know. This is in memory of all people in the LGBTQ community who have been victims of suicide due to bullying. What is happening is not okay and we need to raise awareness on this issue. No one should ever see suicide as the only solution. I’m not just talking about LGBTQ bullying, just in general. Everyone should know and realize that there is ALWAYS something else - a way to make things better. No matter how alone or depressed anyone may ever feel, there is always at least one person out there who cares dearly for you and would want to know that you’re going through a rough patch. Tell someone, talk to people, they’ll listen. Or if you don’t feel comfortable talking to anyone you know, talk to a counselor - that’s what they’re there for. I’m pretty sure every college campus has counseling services available for students FOR FREE. Puget Sound does, use it. There are so many options and steps that can be taken before anyone should ever think of hurting themselves.
Trust me, I know this. There was a time when I was feeling so completely low in every aspect of my life and I felt so alone and I hated it. Although I never got to the point of even considering suicide or hurting myself, it was a difficult time and everyday I have a lingering worry that something might set me off again and cause me to fall back into that horrible place. But one thing I learned from that is this: there are always people who are there to support you. All you need to do is take the courageous step to let them know you’re not okay and that you really need someone. Not only is it so nice to have someone to talk to about everything, but it makes you realize how much you really do have. Family and friends - they’re around to help.
If you’re a Puget Sound student, PLEASE go to the Suicide Prevention Presentation today. It’s only an hour or so out of your busy day and it will be a huge help for everyone to simply be informed of the details around suicide and signs to look out for. I know I’ve really been pushing this event and as the RSA Vice Chair I feel like this is one of the most important events we’ll be putting on all year. Sadly, I can’t even go to my own event [I have a previous academic commitment] and I’m upset about that. But I truly hope that everyone who has that open gap in their evenings goes to this. Maybe you can’t make the whole thing, that’s fine. Come late or leave early, just be a part of it. And go to the Candlelight Vigil afterward. I’ll be there. This event is to raise awareness and provide aid for people and it would be great to see such a large part of our campus come together for something that is so sensitive, emotional, and important. Candles are going to be provided, but if you have one, bring it just in case. We don’t know how many people will exactly be there, but I’m hoping for a large turnout.
Anyway, there’s my spiel. I hope it did something for you.
Oh, and look at the facebook event for more details right here
Today is a special day. I’m wearing purple all over the place and so is everyone I know. This is in memory of all people in the LGBTQ community who have been victims of suicide due to bullying. What is happening is not okay and we need to raise awareness on this issue. No one should ever see suicide as the only solution. I’m not just talking about LGBTQ bullying, just in general. Everyone should know and realize that there is ALWAYS something else - a way to make things better. No matter how alone or depressed anyone may ever feel, there is always at least one person out there who cares dearly for you and would want to know that you’re going through a rough patch. Tell someone, talk to people, they’ll listen. Or if you don’t feel comfortable talking to anyone you know, talk to a counselor - that’s what they’re there for. I’m pretty sure every college campus has counseling services available for students FOR FREE. Puget Sound does, use it. There are so many options and steps that can be taken before anyone should ever think of hurting themselves.
Trust me, I know this. There was a time when I was feeling so completely low in every aspect of my life and I felt so alone and I hated it. Although I never got to the point of even considering suicide or hurting myself, it was a difficult time and everyday I have a lingering worry that something might set me off again and cause me to fall back into that horrible place. But one thing I learned from that is this: there are always people who are there to support you. All you need to do is take the courageous step to let them know you’re not okay and that you really need someone. Not only is it so nice to have someone to talk to about everything, but it makes you realize how much you really do have. Family and friends - they’re around to help.
If you’re a Puget Sound student, PLEASE go to the Suicide Prevention Presentation today. It’s only an hour or so out of your busy day and it will be a huge help for everyone to simply be informed of the details around suicide and signs to look out for. I know I’ve really been pushing this event and as the RSA Vice Chair I feel like this is one of the most important events we’ll be putting on all year. Sadly, I can’t even go to my own event [I have a previous academic commitment] and I’m upset about that. But I truly hope that everyone who has that open gap in their evenings goes to this. Maybe you can’t make the whole thing, that’s fine. Come late or leave early, just be a part of it. And go to the Candlelight Vigil afterward. I’ll be there. This event is to raise awareness and provide aid for people and it would be great to see such a large part of our campus come together for something that is so sensitive, emotional, and important. Candles are going to be provided, but if you have one, bring it just in case. We don’t know how many people will exactly be there, but I’m hoping for a large turnout.
Anyway, there’s my spiel. I hope it did something for you.
Oh, and look at the facebook event for more details right here
Friday, October 8, 2010
NetworkingNetworkingNetworkingNetworking
It's key for pretty much every profession. It might be a harsh reality to live with, but it's true. It's not always about talent/brains/intelligence/skill, you need to know the right people, too. I'm not saying that all those great qualities won't get you anywhere, because they definitely will. But you can't simply depend on your own personal achievements and abilities to get you that amazing job. You need to network, market yourself, market your abilities, use any and every connection you have ever made to your advantage. Also, on that note, never create negative feelings between yourself and someone who is involved in the professional business that you want to be involved with and in which you want to start your own career - that definitely will not be helpful and may actually be harmful for your future. Networking. It's something I started to do this past summer at my internship and is something I'm trying to continue to do.
Last night was ASK Night here at Puget Sound. I wasn't able to go because I had a mandatory dress rehearsal for Dorians. I was upset because ASK Night is when a bunch of alumni come to answer any questions that current students may have about a specific career. There are people who graduated with degrees in a wide array of majors and are currently working in very impressive fields. It's basically a great opportunity to create connections and, well, network. Students give out resumes, receive business cards, and create open lines of communication with these professionals. When I looked up the list of alumni who would be at ASK Night, I found one person who I really would have LOVED to have met. Her name is Gretchen DeGroot, she works for One Reel. I've been looking into One Reel since this past summer and am really hoping to apply for and get an internship with them this coming summer. One Reel is the organization that sets up the intern programs for music festivals in the Pacific Northwest such as Bumbershoot. I would LOVE to have an internship with Bumbershoot. It would be so incredible and I feel like I would gain so much amazing experience and so many great connections [networking, right?]. Especially since one of my dreams is to organize my own music festival someday, it would be such a great opportunity to get a solid idea of how things work. When I interned at the Ojai Music Festival this past summer, I got a small taste of the behind-the-scenes life of a music festival and it was awesome. But being a part of something that's so much bigger would provide me with even greater knowledge.
Anyway, so I was bummed that I couldn't go to ASK Night and I was in the Cellar with my friend, Taylor, getting pizza after rehearsal when Serni Solidarios came up to me and told me that he wants to introduce me to someone: Gretchen DeGroot. I was so happy to meet her and told her that I had seen her name on the list of people at ASK Night and really wanted to meet her - I also explained why I wasn't able to go. They both also explained to me that Gretchen had graduated with the Executive Director of the Ojai Music Festival: Jeff Haydon. Serni decided to take a picture of me and Gretchen to send to Jeff; I thought that was funny. All these crazy connections among people at Puget Sound just blow my mind. Gretchen gave me her card and I expressed my interest in interning with One Reel. I just sent her an email. I hope things work out well, I hope I get an amazing internship this summer, - I'm applying for 3 so far - I'm so excited for this summer and it's barely October. I just want to start applying for internships already and start my summer! Oh well, I'll have to get through my Sophomore year first and then finally start the fun stuff.
Whichever internship I end up getting will be amazing. I'm hoping to be able to return to Ojai this summer to do that internship again. I loved interning there so much this past summer and all the other interns were so great, it'd be nice to be able to hang out with them again. I'm also applying for a few NPR internships; I'm interested in getting involved in radio in the future so that would be a great experience. They have offices in Culver City, CA and in Washington D.C. I'm not sure if we can choose at which one we'd like to have an internship, but if I could I think I'd choose D.C. I mean, I like being home and I love my mom and sister, but I feel like I really need to push myself to learn to live on my own because, at this point, I don't know if I'll even be going back home after I graduate; I really don't think I will and I'm already planning on not going back for the majority of the next few summers. And I love the east coast, I think it's has so much character and is just thriving, so I'd love to be in that environment for a few months. In addition to those internships, like I said, I'll be applying for an internship with One Reel for Bumbershoot. Who knows where I'll end up? I'm just going to do what I need to do in order to be qualified for these internships and we'll see what happens.
To sum it all up, I'm just so excited for any options that may be available to me this summer. It's all about networking. Get out there and meet people who are involved in the field in which you are interested. Keep in touch with past connections made, stay friendly, and don't create animosity. That's my advice. Take it or leave it, after all I am just a 19-year old college student who is so unsure about so many things; I don't sound like a very reliable source of information or a wise adviser. This is just what I've gathered from my own experiences and by observing the experiences of others. Network. I really don't have anything else to say.
Last night was ASK Night here at Puget Sound. I wasn't able to go because I had a mandatory dress rehearsal for Dorians. I was upset because ASK Night is when a bunch of alumni come to answer any questions that current students may have about a specific career. There are people who graduated with degrees in a wide array of majors and are currently working in very impressive fields. It's basically a great opportunity to create connections and, well, network. Students give out resumes, receive business cards, and create open lines of communication with these professionals. When I looked up the list of alumni who would be at ASK Night, I found one person who I really would have LOVED to have met. Her name is Gretchen DeGroot, she works for One Reel. I've been looking into One Reel since this past summer and am really hoping to apply for and get an internship with them this coming summer. One Reel is the organization that sets up the intern programs for music festivals in the Pacific Northwest such as Bumbershoot. I would LOVE to have an internship with Bumbershoot. It would be so incredible and I feel like I would gain so much amazing experience and so many great connections [networking, right?]. Especially since one of my dreams is to organize my own music festival someday, it would be such a great opportunity to get a solid idea of how things work. When I interned at the Ojai Music Festival this past summer, I got a small taste of the behind-the-scenes life of a music festival and it was awesome. But being a part of something that's so much bigger would provide me with even greater knowledge.
Anyway, so I was bummed that I couldn't go to ASK Night and I was in the Cellar with my friend, Taylor, getting pizza after rehearsal when Serni Solidarios came up to me and told me that he wants to introduce me to someone: Gretchen DeGroot. I was so happy to meet her and told her that I had seen her name on the list of people at ASK Night and really wanted to meet her - I also explained why I wasn't able to go. They both also explained to me that Gretchen had graduated with the Executive Director of the Ojai Music Festival: Jeff Haydon. Serni decided to take a picture of me and Gretchen to send to Jeff; I thought that was funny. All these crazy connections among people at Puget Sound just blow my mind. Gretchen gave me her card and I expressed my interest in interning with One Reel. I just sent her an email. I hope things work out well, I hope I get an amazing internship this summer, - I'm applying for 3 so far - I'm so excited for this summer and it's barely October. I just want to start applying for internships already and start my summer! Oh well, I'll have to get through my Sophomore year first and then finally start the fun stuff.
Whichever internship I end up getting will be amazing. I'm hoping to be able to return to Ojai this summer to do that internship again. I loved interning there so much this past summer and all the other interns were so great, it'd be nice to be able to hang out with them again. I'm also applying for a few NPR internships; I'm interested in getting involved in radio in the future so that would be a great experience. They have offices in Culver City, CA and in Washington D.C. I'm not sure if we can choose at which one we'd like to have an internship, but if I could I think I'd choose D.C. I mean, I like being home and I love my mom and sister, but I feel like I really need to push myself to learn to live on my own because, at this point, I don't know if I'll even be going back home after I graduate; I really don't think I will and I'm already planning on not going back for the majority of the next few summers. And I love the east coast, I think it's has so much character and is just thriving, so I'd love to be in that environment for a few months. In addition to those internships, like I said, I'll be applying for an internship with One Reel for Bumbershoot. Who knows where I'll end up? I'm just going to do what I need to do in order to be qualified for these internships and we'll see what happens.
To sum it all up, I'm just so excited for any options that may be available to me this summer. It's all about networking. Get out there and meet people who are involved in the field in which you are interested. Keep in touch with past connections made, stay friendly, and don't create animosity. That's my advice. Take it or leave it, after all I am just a 19-year old college student who is so unsure about so many things; I don't sound like a very reliable source of information or a wise adviser. This is just what I've gathered from my own experiences and by observing the experiences of others. Network. I really don't have anything else to say.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Summer Has Ended, the Textbooks Have Opened
Summer actually ended a few weeks ago for me when school started on August 30th, but this post is coming later than I originally expected. Anyway, to the point of it...
This past summer was probably one of the most musical one's I've had in a long time. I, myself, didn't actively take part in many musical performances. BUT, I did attend quite a few. As you know, I was able to intern at the Ojai Music Festival for a few weeks this summer. There, I met some amazing people and was able to listen to awesome performances of contemporary pieces. My summer musical experiences did not end there, however. When I went back home for the rest of summer, I was reminded that my mom had purchased a series of tickets for concerts at the Hollywood Bowl for the summer. I've already written about one [or two?] of those concerts, but I decided to stop because I felt like they were going to start to become fairly repetitive and uninteresting. Let me just say one thing: I LOVE the Hollywood Bowl. I was able to see so many amazing concerts there this summer with some of the best musicians from around the world:
Baaba Maal
Yeasayer
Tinariwen
Fool's Gold
Goldfrapp
The Swell Season
She & Him
The Bird and The Bee
Sergio Mendes
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, playing:
Bizet's Carmen
Gershwin and Bernstein
Every single one of these performances was worthy of a standing ovation - most of them had the audience up, out of their seats and dancing throughout the bowl. I love the formal-casualness of the Hollywood Bowl. It's a place where it's acceptable to dress up and dress down, whichever you decide to do; it doesn't really matter as long as you have fun and appreciate the music. One of the best things about this venue is the fact that it's outdoors. Not many cities are able to safely and confidently pull off an outdoor venue with scheduled events throughout the entire year. But, due to the lack of rainstorms and abundance of heat in Los Angeles, it's an easily accomplished task for the Hollywood Bowl. I think it has so much character. If you think about it, the most famous musicians of the century have performed right there on the same stage. I don't think I've ever appreciated it so much before; I didn't realize it's importance. But now I think about the hundreds and hundreds of talented persons who have stood on that stage and received such applauding acceptance from the audience and it amazes me. Everyone who's anyone in the music business has been booked at the Hollywood Bowl at some time or another.
I think another reason why I'm so amazed by the Hollywood Bowl is because I have had the amazing opportunity to perform there. Granted, I wasn't some soloist or anything, but I was on that stage! It was when I was probably in the 6th or 7th grade, I was with the Los Angeles Children's Choir and we were a small part in a large orchestral and choral arrangement of the music from the Lord of the Rings [yes, I did have to sing in elvish]. I don't think I understood how lucky I was, at the time, to be able to say that I've performed at the Hollywood Bowl. But I did, even though it's all just a faded memory to me now.
This summer I realized that by moving away for college, I have come to appreciate the little things about Los Angeles so much more. For example, the Hollywood Bowl and being able to go there whenever I want to see an astounding line-up of musicians. Los Angeles is such a musically-thriving city and I love it. This year I have made a promise to myself. A promise that I will try to go to as many music events in and around Tacoma/Seattle as I can. Last year I spent too much time doing things that didn't mean as much to me. So this year I need to make up for that and make sure that I go see a musician I've been wanting to see forever, no matter what. I want to find a way to do it. Going to concerts used to be such a large part of my life and I don't know why I stopped going to them within the past 2 years or so. But the prominence of attending concerts this summer has reminded me of the great feelings I get when I watch and listen to a live performance of any genre. I think it's one of the most rewarding feelings ever.
Now, going off of that, over Labor Day weekend I was able to attend one of the biggest music festivals in the Pacific Northwest: Bumbershoot. For those of you who don't know, Bumbershoot is a 3-day festival in Seattle, WA filled with line-ups of bands from all over the United States [and even the world], comedians, artists, and entrepreneurs. Tickets are offered for an extremely reasonable price of $40 for a single day, with main stage access [$22 without main stage]. At this price, I was able to see some great shows and listen to some awesome music, all while hanging out with one of my best friends, Lindsay. Here's a list of the music I saw [and some art and a comedy show]:
The Submarines - LA natives!! They were so good and were perfect introduction for the rest of the day
The Bumbershoot Piece - an eccentric structure made completely of wooden coffee stirrers and held together by nothing more than the pressure of how they are interwoven
Hey Marseilles - Pacific Northwesters! The violinist actually took violin lessons at Puget Sound and has performed in Schneebeck Hall! I feel so connected to him haha...
Ubiquitous They - a sketch comedy show that actually started at Puget Sound, these are the original members of the club who decided to continue after graduating from college!
The Decemberists - need I say more?
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - one of the most amazing and craziest performances I have been to in a really long time. It was so invigorating.
Bob Dylan - okay, so I don't really listen to him but I mean, it's freaking Bob Dylan and if you are given the opportunity to see Bob Dylan, you're gonna see Bob Dylan.
Ozomatli!!!! - I was really excited for them. This was the fourth time I've seen them and the first time I've ever paid to see them. They're also LA natives, but I actually think a few of them are from Mexico...? I'm not sure, I should look into it though. but, as always, they put on a great show and were the best way to end my night. The bassist, Will Dog, actually lives down the street from one of my friend's in Silverlake, it's crazy.
Bumbershoot. It was so good to me. I can't wait for the next concert I go to. I'm glad I started this year off with a bang that I won't forget and I hope to keep my promise to myself. Sorry this post is so ridiculously long, hopefully it has kept you at least somewhat entertained. There was just so much to fit into one post! I'll try to do more frequent posts from now on so that they don't seem to go on forever like this one has. It's getting pretty late now and I have class in the morning, so I should go. I hope you had an amazing summer and are looking forward to Fall! I know I am. Goodnight!
:]
This past summer was probably one of the most musical one's I've had in a long time. I, myself, didn't actively take part in many musical performances. BUT, I did attend quite a few. As you know, I was able to intern at the Ojai Music Festival for a few weeks this summer. There, I met some amazing people and was able to listen to awesome performances of contemporary pieces. My summer musical experiences did not end there, however. When I went back home for the rest of summer, I was reminded that my mom had purchased a series of tickets for concerts at the Hollywood Bowl for the summer. I've already written about one [or two?] of those concerts, but I decided to stop because I felt like they were going to start to become fairly repetitive and uninteresting. Let me just say one thing: I LOVE the Hollywood Bowl. I was able to see so many amazing concerts there this summer with some of the best musicians from around the world:
Baaba Maal
Yeasayer
Tinariwen
Fool's Gold
Goldfrapp
The Swell Season
She & Him
The Bird and The Bee
Sergio Mendes
The Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, playing:
Bizet's Carmen
Gershwin and Bernstein
Every single one of these performances was worthy of a standing ovation - most of them had the audience up, out of their seats and dancing throughout the bowl. I love the formal-casualness of the Hollywood Bowl. It's a place where it's acceptable to dress up and dress down, whichever you decide to do; it doesn't really matter as long as you have fun and appreciate the music. One of the best things about this venue is the fact that it's outdoors. Not many cities are able to safely and confidently pull off an outdoor venue with scheduled events throughout the entire year. But, due to the lack of rainstorms and abundance of heat in Los Angeles, it's an easily accomplished task for the Hollywood Bowl. I think it has so much character. If you think about it, the most famous musicians of the century have performed right there on the same stage. I don't think I've ever appreciated it so much before; I didn't realize it's importance. But now I think about the hundreds and hundreds of talented persons who have stood on that stage and received such applauding acceptance from the audience and it amazes me. Everyone who's anyone in the music business has been booked at the Hollywood Bowl at some time or another.
I think another reason why I'm so amazed by the Hollywood Bowl is because I have had the amazing opportunity to perform there. Granted, I wasn't some soloist or anything, but I was on that stage! It was when I was probably in the 6th or 7th grade, I was with the Los Angeles Children's Choir and we were a small part in a large orchestral and choral arrangement of the music from the Lord of the Rings [yes, I did have to sing in elvish]. I don't think I understood how lucky I was, at the time, to be able to say that I've performed at the Hollywood Bowl. But I did, even though it's all just a faded memory to me now.
This summer I realized that by moving away for college, I have come to appreciate the little things about Los Angeles so much more. For example, the Hollywood Bowl and being able to go there whenever I want to see an astounding line-up of musicians. Los Angeles is such a musically-thriving city and I love it. This year I have made a promise to myself. A promise that I will try to go to as many music events in and around Tacoma/Seattle as I can. Last year I spent too much time doing things that didn't mean as much to me. So this year I need to make up for that and make sure that I go see a musician I've been wanting to see forever, no matter what. I want to find a way to do it. Going to concerts used to be such a large part of my life and I don't know why I stopped going to them within the past 2 years or so. But the prominence of attending concerts this summer has reminded me of the great feelings I get when I watch and listen to a live performance of any genre. I think it's one of the most rewarding feelings ever.
Now, going off of that, over Labor Day weekend I was able to attend one of the biggest music festivals in the Pacific Northwest: Bumbershoot. For those of you who don't know, Bumbershoot is a 3-day festival in Seattle, WA filled with line-ups of bands from all over the United States [and even the world], comedians, artists, and entrepreneurs. Tickets are offered for an extremely reasonable price of $40 for a single day, with main stage access [$22 without main stage]. At this price, I was able to see some great shows and listen to some awesome music, all while hanging out with one of my best friends, Lindsay. Here's a list of the music I saw [and some art and a comedy show]:
The Submarines - LA natives!! They were so good and were perfect introduction for the rest of the day
The Bumbershoot Piece - an eccentric structure made completely of wooden coffee stirrers and held together by nothing more than the pressure of how they are interwoven
Hey Marseilles - Pacific Northwesters! The violinist actually took violin lessons at Puget Sound and has performed in Schneebeck Hall! I feel so connected to him haha...
Ubiquitous They - a sketch comedy show that actually started at Puget Sound, these are the original members of the club who decided to continue after graduating from college!
The Decemberists - need I say more?
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - one of the most amazing and craziest performances I have been to in a really long time. It was so invigorating.
Bob Dylan - okay, so I don't really listen to him but I mean, it's freaking Bob Dylan and if you are given the opportunity to see Bob Dylan, you're gonna see Bob Dylan.
Ozomatli!!!! - I was really excited for them. This was the fourth time I've seen them and the first time I've ever paid to see them. They're also LA natives, but I actually think a few of them are from Mexico...? I'm not sure, I should look into it though. but, as always, they put on a great show and were the best way to end my night. The bassist, Will Dog, actually lives down the street from one of my friend's in Silverlake, it's crazy.
Bumbershoot. It was so good to me. I can't wait for the next concert I go to. I'm glad I started this year off with a bang that I won't forget and I hope to keep my promise to myself. Sorry this post is so ridiculously long, hopefully it has kept you at least somewhat entertained. There was just so much to fit into one post! I'll try to do more frequent posts from now on so that they don't seem to go on forever like this one has. It's getting pretty late now and I have class in the morning, so I should go. I hope you had an amazing summer and are looking forward to Fall! I know I am. Goodnight!
:]
Friday, June 25, 2010
New Music!
I'm not sure if any of you know this, but I am a HUGE fan of The Killers. Seriously. You have no idea. I've been a fan since like 8th grade, and they were the first real band I liked [after the whole boy band/teen pop stage...wow that seems like a really long time ago. Anyway]. So if you know anything about The Killers, you probably know that they went on 'hiatus' not too long ago. When I heard this, I was so sad. I've never even seen them live before! I was very disappointed...But I recently [I know I may be a little late on this] found out that Brandon Flowers is actually doing his own solo project. Brandon Flowers is the singer for The Killers and did a lot of the synthesizer for them, too. He made this announcement in April on The Killers' website. Obviously, right when I heard about it I searched for any kind of sample of the music. Only one song has been released so far - Crossfire. It's pretty good and I'm excited to hear the rest of the album. As expected, it sounds very much like The Killers. Of course it would, I mean Brandon Flowers was kind of the face of the band by being the lead singer and it's usually the singer's style that is shown the most in a band. Personally, I think Flowers is a very talented musician and I haven't ever been let down by a single Killers' album and I'm sure I'll love this one as much as I've loved those done by The Killers. 'Crossfire' is currently available on iTunes and the album is set to be released on September 14th. Keep an eye out for it! I will definitely be buying it once it's released. You can listen to the single here at Brandon Flowers' website.
Also, in other news...
One band you should keep an eye on: Red Robot. You probably won't find their music if you searched for it. But they are a band from my city of Los Angeles. They're actually friends of mine. [Yes, I am shamelessly promoting a friend's band on here.] But seriously, listen to their first single. They're working on their first real EP this summer and they've just released their single 'Stars Ignite' which you can download here. It's really good and everyone I know who has listened to it, loves it. Since there isn't really a way to hear their music anywhere, you should be a fan of them on facebook. They post videos and other random things about what they're doing, musically, on there. So check them out and enjoy! Goodnight :]
Also, in other news...
One band you should keep an eye on: Red Robot. You probably won't find their music if you searched for it. But they are a band from my city of Los Angeles. They're actually friends of mine. [Yes, I am shamelessly promoting a friend's band on here.] But seriously, listen to their first single. They're working on their first real EP this summer and they've just released their single 'Stars Ignite' which you can download here. It's really good and everyone I know who has listened to it, loves it. Since there isn't really a way to hear their music anywhere, you should be a fan of them on facebook. They post videos and other random things about what they're doing, musically, on there. So check them out and enjoy! Goodnight :]
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Hollywood Bowl
Last Sunday, June 20th, was not only Father's Day but also Yeasayer's concert at the Hollywood Bowl. They weren't the headlining band, but they were the reason I wanted to go. They played with Fool's Gold, Tinariwen, and Baaba Maal. First, Fool's Gold performed. Their music is so good and different, I love it.
Then came Tinariwen. Tinariwen is a band of Taureg musicians from the Sahara Desert in northern Mali and their story is amazing. The person who started the band, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, built his first guitar out of a tin can, a stick and a bicycle brake wire. To my understanding, he was an orphan and lived with other Taureg exiles. In 1979, the band was officially formed but not under an official name. People started calling them Kel Tinariwen which in the Tamashek language means 'The People of the Desert.' They became the voice of the Taureg rebel community. With some years spent in the military, they finally decided to devote all their time to music in 1991. Over the years, they gained more and more international recognition and have performed all over the world for the past 30 years. If you want more details about their story, look them up. It's inspiring.
So, back to The Hollywood Bowl...
After Tinariwen, was Yeasayer's set! They put on a pretty good set and played my two favorite songs :D. I really want to see them live again, when they're the headlining performer. Because I really think they would do some crazy things, visually, if they had a longer set and were the main band. But they did a really good job and it was really cool to be able to see them do everything they do live haha
Then came Baaba Maal. His music was really fun and had a lot of people up and dancing. It was a very diverse line up of musicians from all over the world and I really enjoyed it.
Here are a few pictures from the night. I recommend that you listen to some music by all of these musicians, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
I love the colors of the bowl.
Then came Tinariwen. Tinariwen is a band of Taureg musicians from the Sahara Desert in northern Mali and their story is amazing. The person who started the band, Ibrahim Ag Alhabib, built his first guitar out of a tin can, a stick and a bicycle brake wire. To my understanding, he was an orphan and lived with other Taureg exiles. In 1979, the band was officially formed but not under an official name. People started calling them Kel Tinariwen which in the Tamashek language means 'The People of the Desert.' They became the voice of the Taureg rebel community. With some years spent in the military, they finally decided to devote all their time to music in 1991. Over the years, they gained more and more international recognition and have performed all over the world for the past 30 years. If you want more details about their story, look them up. It's inspiring.
So, back to The Hollywood Bowl...
After Tinariwen, was Yeasayer's set! They put on a pretty good set and played my two favorite songs :D. I really want to see them live again, when they're the headlining performer. Because I really think they would do some crazy things, visually, if they had a longer set and were the main band. But they did a really good job and it was really cool to be able to see them do everything they do live haha
Then came Baaba Maal. His music was really fun and had a lot of people up and dancing. It was a very diverse line up of musicians from all over the world and I really enjoyed it.
Here are a few pictures from the night. I recommend that you listen to some music by all of these musicians, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
I love the colors of the bowl.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Post-Music Festival
I know it’s been several days since I’ve written anything here about the music festival, but it was a super busy weekend and I really didn’t have time to update this.
Everyday began at 9am and didn’t end until sometime around or after midnight – the earliest I went to sleep was last night around 1130. The festival was fun, I really enjoyed it and I’m glad that I got to watch a few of the performances, too. The entire program was really amazing. Some of my favorites included:
Indian Ragas with Aashish Khan and Javad Ali Butah; they were amazing in both of the performances I saw. I had never heard Indian Ragas before and I was just blown away by them.
Frank Zappa performed by Ensemble Modern, conducted by Brad Lubman; although I didn’t get to see much of the actual concert, I was able to see a lot of the rehearsals and it was all so cool to watch and listen to. I also took some videos of the rehearsals:
George Benjamin’s opera Into the Little Hill with Anu Komsi and Hilary Summers; it was [obviously] very contemporary and different from anything else I have ever heard and I know a few people weren’t huge fans of it, but I really did enjoy it. I think Hilary Summers has an amazing contralto voice and she did extremely well. And Anu Komsi, she hit that high D so easily and naturally each time. Also, it had a good message so who can’t appreciate that? Here’s some video from those rehearsals:
Needless to say, it was a busy and exhausting weekend. Sunday was probably when I was the most tired; I ended up taking a short nap in box office haha. But, I did enjoy it. Amongst all the chaos, running around, malfunctioning phones, and a sold out show, I got to listen to some great music, meet some amazing people and have fun every so often. Speaking of meeting people, this weekend I did get to meet Serni from Puget Sound and I believe he’s going to be doing a story about the Ojai Music Festival in Arches, a newspaper in Tacoma. He was taking pictures of different things and people at the festival. I also found out that he has read my blog – another unexpected reader haha. I am definitely planning on setting up a time to meet with him in August. Also, I met a woman who works at KUSC and we started talking about radio and the ups and downs and stresses that working at a station can bring about, but also how much fun and rewarding it is at the same time.
I experienced a lot this past weekend and I’m glad that I was able to be a part of this team to put on this festival. Working with Christiana, Katie, and Kayla was great; I think we all worked together really well. I hope I can come back next year to experience it all again! I only have a few more days left here in Ojai, and it’s weird. I can’t believe it’s over. Of course, we do have a few more things to wrap up and finish. But, for the most part, it’s done.
By the way, Jeff, I didn’t come up with some secret code or way of writing your name so that my blog wouldn’t pop up on your Google Alerts, I just haven’t been writing anything. I’m sure this did show up, though!
Anyway, I hope you’ve all enjoyed these posts about the festival at least a little bit. I don’t know when I’ll be writing on here again. Until then, bye and have a good rest of the summer!
Oh, p.s., I found out that I got into the Business Leadership Program at the puge! That was exciting and I’m looking forward to starting it all in the fall!! :]
Also, it is ridiculously hot in SoCal. I’m ready for some nice cool fall weather in Tacoma.
Everyday began at 9am and didn’t end until sometime around or after midnight – the earliest I went to sleep was last night around 1130. The festival was fun, I really enjoyed it and I’m glad that I got to watch a few of the performances, too. The entire program was really amazing. Some of my favorites included:
Indian Ragas with Aashish Khan and Javad Ali Butah; they were amazing in both of the performances I saw. I had never heard Indian Ragas before and I was just blown away by them.
Frank Zappa performed by Ensemble Modern, conducted by Brad Lubman; although I didn’t get to see much of the actual concert, I was able to see a lot of the rehearsals and it was all so cool to watch and listen to. I also took some videos of the rehearsals:
George Benjamin’s opera Into the Little Hill with Anu Komsi and Hilary Summers; it was [obviously] very contemporary and different from anything else I have ever heard and I know a few people weren’t huge fans of it, but I really did enjoy it. I think Hilary Summers has an amazing contralto voice and she did extremely well. And Anu Komsi, she hit that high D so easily and naturally each time. Also, it had a good message so who can’t appreciate that? Here’s some video from those rehearsals:
Needless to say, it was a busy and exhausting weekend. Sunday was probably when I was the most tired; I ended up taking a short nap in box office haha. But, I did enjoy it. Amongst all the chaos, running around, malfunctioning phones, and a sold out show, I got to listen to some great music, meet some amazing people and have fun every so often. Speaking of meeting people, this weekend I did get to meet Serni from Puget Sound and I believe he’s going to be doing a story about the Ojai Music Festival in Arches, a newspaper in Tacoma. He was taking pictures of different things and people at the festival. I also found out that he has read my blog – another unexpected reader haha. I am definitely planning on setting up a time to meet with him in August. Also, I met a woman who works at KUSC and we started talking about radio and the ups and downs and stresses that working at a station can bring about, but also how much fun and rewarding it is at the same time.
I experienced a lot this past weekend and I’m glad that I was able to be a part of this team to put on this festival. Working with Christiana, Katie, and Kayla was great; I think we all worked together really well. I hope I can come back next year to experience it all again! I only have a few more days left here in Ojai, and it’s weird. I can’t believe it’s over. Of course, we do have a few more things to wrap up and finish. But, for the most part, it’s done.
By the way, Jeff, I didn’t come up with some secret code or way of writing your name so that my blog wouldn’t pop up on your Google Alerts, I just haven’t been writing anything. I’m sure this did show up, though!
Anyway, I hope you’ve all enjoyed these posts about the festival at least a little bit. I don’t know when I’ll be writing on here again. Until then, bye and have a good rest of the summer!
Oh, p.s., I found out that I got into the Business Leadership Program at the puge! That was exciting and I’m looking forward to starting it all in the fall!! :]
Also, it is ridiculously hot in SoCal. I’m ready for some nice cool fall weather in Tacoma.
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