Hey everyone, its been a year and, to help you better understand the title of this blog, only A song has been completed. Yes, that is correct. "A" song. Not "A bunch of"...just "A." So to say that I have accomplished much musically in the last year is really, reeeeeeeeeeaaallllllllly stretching it. Actually, I had a minor blip in the last year concerning my recording studio, producer, etc... First of all, though, let me just say that an artist and a producer will definitely butt heads throughout the recording process. It's great when you find a producer and a studio that you can feel comfortable at, that you can be yourself and form friendships within. But you always need to remember one thing - YOU are the artist. YOU are in charge of YOU and YOUR creations, your time and your hard-earned savings. If you feel like things aren't going your way, speak up immediately or else you may end up feeling that you are being taken advantage of and you will, I promise you, be wasting a LOT of time and money. I, unfortunately, let myself get too comfortable. This, in turn, made those around me get too comfortable and that just spells c-a-t-a-s-t-r-o-p-h-e. It took about one full year to complete a song that we both (my producer and I) sort of lost the energy for and made us grumpy, unfocused people when, normally, we are very happy-go-lucky! There were arguments, cold shoulders and hurt feelings. I began looking elsewhere to finish my album. But, in the end, my heart and my mind knew that the best place for me was right back where I started. My studio felt the same way and we worked through it. Apologies and understandings (both personal and business) were made and there is absolutely no awkwardness. That's when you know that you've found somewhere you belong.
Now that a year has passed and a song, although my least favorite - mostly vocally - is complete, we are on to something new - a recently written song with recently felt feelings. Producer likes, I like and we are on the road to what I know will be one of the highlights of my album. The last song, "Awake" (which can be heard on http://www.myspace.com/arlannasnow) has music that is amazing, thanks to a very talented guitarist - BJ Knights - who knows his stuff and can take my original and pump it up about ten times over. It has a latin flair that was made to sound so authentic (Thank you, BJ) that my voice no longer had a place in it. This isn't a bad thing, it just showed me that this is a song that I wrote for someone else to record and that is just fine by me. Someone who could make it what it should be.
If I may quote myself from the beginning of this post: "So to say that I have accomplished much musically in the last year is really, reeeeeeeeeeaaallllllllly stretching it." This is partially false. It should read that I haven't accomplished much as a recording artist in the last year - but as a songwriter, I have accomplished MUCH. A little TOO much. I have written, if I may say so myself, some of my best songs in the last year. Experiences - both good and bad - have given me an entirely new volume of songs. All in good time, though. All in good time.
And finally, a bit of something cool - you can hear my first recorded track "All These Years" on the radio! Tuft University's radio station, 91.5 WMFO is spinning it. So for all of you old-school radio listeners out there who care - please, please, PLEASE (desperation should be felt here) - request it. 617-627-3800. Pretty cool, especially since hearing any of my songs on the radio means I have reached a personal goal. I'll say it again - pretty cool.
dreamBIG,
Arlanna
dreamBIG,
Arlanna
