So where are we after Day 3? Nothing solo written yet, except for one little snippet of…something…that picked the inopportune time of 3:00am last night to come knocking. I fought with it for a while and tried to commit it to memory but it wouldn’t leave me alone so I scribbled it down on an envelope before rolling back over and getting back to sleep.

On the collaboration front, things have been happening quickly with Mal and I writing something right off the bat at 12:01am, February 1st, over a beat of G Slade’s. “It’s All About the Dishes” (listen here) now has 54 comments over on the FAWM site and we’re quite flabbergasted. It’s easily smashed our previous comment records. And for those wondering we get along very well domestically and actually enjoy doing dishes together.

Here’s why I’m blogging now - because I need to blow off some steam. Today absolutely slaughtered me vocally, and by extension physically. I spent most of the day recording vocals for two more collabs. If they were regular-fare collabs, I probably would have been able to get through each in an hour or two, though yes, I know, FAWM is supposed to be about writing songs, not recording them.

The first was with a new FAWMer by the name of Psy-T, who had sent a really, really gorgeous ambient track for me to put vocals over. I’ve never done worked with a track quite like it before before. I decided to let it speak for itself, for the most part, so the lyrics I wrote yesterday were really sparse, but emotionally packed and I agnonized over every word because there were so few of them. Nothing would do but razor vocals, in other words, vocals that sound as though the singer is on the edge of insanity and completely falling apart. Vocals that are really, really hard on my vocal cords, and on my body as well, because to get the tension into my voice I tend to tense up my body an end up drowning in whatever I’m singing. Vocal teachers, you’re probably cringing, huh? What was most amazing to me was that I actually got them done in the space of two hours and sent them off to Psy-T to mix. I am so, so eager for everyone to hear this one.

After that I came downstairs and tried to get some work done (getting just one report done - awful) and started getting a feel for the second collab of the day, a rap/hip-hop track with the aforementioned G Slade. Working with G is normally a breeze and he’s more than happy to let me do whatever the heck I want to his tracks. Except…we want to use this track to raise money for Haiti relief, I really wanted to give him exactly what he envisioned vocally. Which was basically “soulful-diva-like-you’re-in-a-church-praisin’-Jesus.” Did I mention that I’ve never sung hip-hop before? I decided that all of that meant that I should sing from the belly, which I did, and sent him some test tracks which didn’t quite cut it. Four hours, more instructions (”okay, forget about singing like you’re black and just pretend you’re singing along at a rock concert”), and G singing on a webcam later, we were both happy with a take (and excited about the song) and I could go sleep. Except that instead of sleeping I’m writing this blog.

And…as tired and as beat up as I am, all I can say about today is that I am actually thankful for the challenge, and grateful to both collaborators for pushing me out of my comfort zone. And happy that I can feel competent out of that zone and work hard until I’ve got something I’m proud of. And I am definitely proud of these songs.

And now I’m going to sleep, hoping the finished tracks will greet me in the morning.

Goodnight!

Edit: The collaboration with Psy-T, “Genesis”, is now uploaded to the FAWM 2010 page. You can check out G’s Haiti Relief song (and buy it too) here!

It will be great fun, hope you can make it! You can find all of the details on the facebook event page, here.

I want to invite you all to my choir concert, happening on June 14th at the Lula Lounge downtown! We’ll be singing hot jazz tunes all night, and are also collaborating with Suba Sankaran, a Juno-nominated artist, for some Indian-Fusion stylings.

On another note, this concert represents brand new ground for me as well. We will be premiering two of my Monday’s Music tunes, “Lullaby for the Bruised” and “Big Jeans”! This is the very first time that something I’ve written will be performed publicly and as you might imagine, I’m nervous, excited, and about everything else between.

This event is really meaningful to me and I would love it if you could come and share in it.

Tickets are available for $20 ($15 for students and seniors) either at the door, or through making a dinner reservation on the Lula Lounge Website (though I would advise doing this soon, as tables are going fast).

It’s February, my favourite month of the year because as you all know by now it’s February Album Writing Month, where the goal is to write an album’s worth of songs (14) during the shortest month of the year. I’ve been a little slow getting into the swing of things because I’m still adjusting to being back in Toronto, but I figure, well, it’s Monday, and I’ve got a song so why not post it?

The music was sent to me about a month ago and it’s by George Slade, a fellow FAWMer, and his friend and frequent collaborator DJ Tezz. It sat in my Inbox through January, and then on Saturday I decided to listen again in case something clicked. It did, and so I wrote lyrics and recorded everything that day. I’ve got a confession to make: I am really proud of this one.

It’s also featured on yesterday’s edition of Charlie Cheney’s Music Exam (FAWM’s daily podcast), where George and I both called in.

[audio:http://www.partgerbil.co.uk/~debs/FAWM2009/echoesanddust.mp3]
Echoes and Dust

Shadows cast long under a blood red sun
Dancing ‘round the same way we have always done
The old familiar steps that we’re pretending are new
The words that we’re inflicting ‘til we’re black and blue
I’m begging you, believe me when I try to say
That I never intended me to be this way
I just need you to listen but you just won’t hear
I’m shouting but you’re letting me slip through your ears

‘Cuz the pain in you is ringing and I can’t get through
It’s eating you so bad that all you see is you
Don’t matter that I threw my needs and wants aside
You say you love me but you still just let me slide
You always make it easy and I play my part
I try to save the pieces of your broken heart
I thought that being there with you would make you tough
But I learned you’ll just keep taking and you’ll never get enough

Now I’m screaming myself out into the cold night air
I’m begging for some mercy but you just don’t care
Don’t know if I can change or if I’ll just decay
But in the grand scheme what does it matter anyway?

In the end we’re just echoes and dust, echoes and dust
In the end we’re just echoes and dust, echoes and dust

Now I’m throwing myself out into the cold night air
A pin prick of existence but who really cares?
What’s another small voice screaming out its life
On a tiny rock filled with billions’ pain and strife
As all galaxies and stars above it and below
Are moving swiftly toward their own dead black holes
And in the aftermath there’s nothing real that remains
Just the reverb of the starlight and a few small grains

In the end it’s all just echoes and dust, echoes and dust
In the end it’s all just echoes and dust, echoes and dust

I’m so excited to say that there were way, way more clips than I thought there would be - about 50 of them, from three continents! Many people sent multiple clips, so while I wasn’t able to fit in every single one, there is at least one from each person.

Creatively, I was blown away! You sent me teakettle phone messages, drunk-sounding ramblings, drums, guitar riffs, bass, triangle, poems, quotes, inspiring messages, greetings, bits of your own original music and clips from kids too cute for words. In the end it’s not so much a song as a delicious soundscape. Presenting, Frankensong! Thanks to Dana for the title.

It features (in approximate order): Monty, Matt (doing this song was his idea), Mallory (c/o Mal’s), Anonymous, Hoopshank/Helen/Nancy, Errol, PJ, Shawn, Hsinzie (c/o Sharon), Alina (mom), Susie, Dana, Zoe (c/o Errol), Ryan, Judy, Mal, Jonathan (brother), Adam, Sol (dad), David (brother), Sharon, members of the WSS, and Ekko (c/o Errol).

[audio:http://www.hypnopaedia.org/media/debs/mondaysmusic/MM52_frankensong.mp3]

This one’s called Boat on the Sea. It feels right to me that it is placed here and that it should be the last song I do myself, the same way that In the Wings (the first song) and Halfway belong where they are.

Of course, it’s not over yet - there is still one week remaining! For anyone who would like to be included in the final song next Monday, there is still a lot of time to email me your MP3, sketch, quote, photo, etc. I’ve gotten a few wonderful clips so far (thank you!!) , but I was hoping to have many more to work with, so I’m crossing my fingers that’ll happen. The deadline is Friday, December 26th, and more information can be found in last week’s post.

[audio:http://www.hypnopaedia.org/media/debs/mondaysmusic/MM51_boatonthesea.mp3]
Boat on the Sea
Boat on the sea
drift on and on with me
and I will lay me down in thee
and trail my fingers through the sea

And trail my fingers through the sea
and wish I could spy everything underneath
for I wonder what lies far below in the deep
while the waves gently tickle my boat on the sea

Boat on the sea
drift on and on with me
and I will lay me down in thee
and watch the sky above the sea

And watch the sky above the sea
and try to count the stars over me
for the longer I look the more I see
I in my tiny boat on the sea

Boat on the sea
drift on and on with me
and I will lay me down in thee
between the endless sky and sea

So, let’s get to today. I consider this song to be pretty ambitious vocally, I have no idea how many vocal tracks I recorded, and quite frankly, I don’t want to know! The first line of the chorus came up months ago as I was walking to the bus stop to go to work, back in October when my NaNoWriMo duties were starting up in earnest. What I said to myself at the time was “Damn, that’s a good idea, but it has really lousy timing. I hope it sticks around.” I never did write it down, but at of the November whirlwind, it was still there waiting patiently. It was a hectic weekend so getting it done in time to post today was a bit tough, but in the end I’m happy.

[audio:http://www.hypnopaedia.org/media/debs/mondaysmusic/MM50_bigjeans.mp3]

Big Jeans

I’m digging your jeans (big jeans)
They’re giving me dreams (good dreams)
Whenever you walk down my street
You’re making my heart skip a beat

Boy, boy, boy
You got me dreaming of how it would be
if you would slide yourself between my sheets
and close your eyes and watch the stars with me

I’m digging your jeans (big jeans)
They’re giving me dreams (good dreams)
Whenever you walk down my street
You’re making my heart skip a beat

Boy, boy, boy
There’s something ‘bout you that cuts to my core
You give me feelings that I can’t ignore
You’re like a drug and, baby, I need more

I’m digging your jeans (big jeans)
They’re giving me dreams (good dreams)
Whenever you walk down my street
You’re making my heart skip a beat

Boy, boy, boy
I need to know what lies behind your eyes
and if you tell me I swear I’ll play nice
and whisper secrets too
like all my life I’ve been waiting for you

I’m digging your jeans (big jeans)
They’re giving me dreams (good dreams)
Whenever you walk down my street
You’re making my heart skip a beat

[audio:http://www.hypnopaedia.org/media/debs/mondaysmusic/MM49_stillnotready.mp3]

Still Not Ready

I am dishes stacked in drawers,
I am an unswept kitchen floor,
I am piles of mismatched clothes haphazardly thrown.

I am scattered pencils fallen on the stairs,
bits of paper in the air.

Still not ready
for you and me.

I am bare feet stuck in boots,
make belief in three piece suits,
pushing up the heavy sleeves that hang too long.

I am four years old with lipstick on my face
spinning round and round in place.

Still not ready
for you and me.

I’m a puddle reeling from the stones tossed in,
I am a torn, white dress, soaked through…

…still not ready
for you and me.

Before I get to this song though, I’d like to mention that the Live Video Performance of Writer’s Block from Toronto’s Midway party is now online on the original post. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it was the first time I performed an original song in public. I would have been nervous, but you can’t be nervous when Errol’s involved!

This week’s song is my solo contribution to NaNoWriMusic 2008. I wanted to write something soothing and ambient that would help me (and maybe others) stop and take a calming moment during the madness.

[audio:http://www.hypnopaedia.org/media/debs/mondaysmusic/MM48_followthemuse.mp3]
Follow the Muse

Follow the muse
Follow the muse
whenever the storyline starts to get confused

Follow the muse
Follow the muse
when you’re at a crossroads and you don’t know what to choose

Every artist has one of his or her own
so when you feel like you’re writing alone

Follow the muse
Follow the muse
hand in hand in
into the wild imaginings,
crystalline dreams,
limitless horizons,
of your mind

and there you will find
the answers you seek.