Autumn in Wine Country

Remember growing up?

Remember four seasons?

Remember the leaves changing color and the beauty of that time?

The only thing I miss from childhood is the autumn season.

The leaves turning and the glorious colors that happen during that magical time before the horrid winter.

Well, here are glimpses of our northern Cali autumn in wine country.

i think my mind is too chatty

i think my mind is too chatty
*******************************
sleepless nights
too many thoughts to chase
as random as a dream
I'm sleep-walking
I step into cyberspace
looking for clues about the world
acquiring useless information about 'can openers'
I did everything "balanced" today
I fed myself
challenged my mind
worked up a sweat
yet here I am
...trapped in this vortex...
the black hole of the mind
keeping me from my traditional orbit
all the thoughts that generate over months
started to boiling over...now
the state of the world
the state of the economy
finding myself in this puzzle somehow
getting a job...or not
creating moments of bliss
drawing pictures
writing stories
songwriting
musing a melody
and there it is
the melody without an actual key
the mind blowing symphony
without a conductor
no music to read
directionless
the flesh is present
the spirit is empty
yet, the glass is half-full
*****INSERT IMAGE of chatty mind****

Lucid Lovers: not up to snuff for Red Poppy Art House

Here was there response to my interest in playing at Red Poppy Art House.

I just have to ask, if someone finds music "beautiful" why is that not enough?

Oh, I forgot to mention they do book "Classical chamber ensembles" ...that cover Depeche Mode and U2.

****Red Poppy Art House email to me *****

hi kristina,

thanks for your interest in performing at the red poppy art house. i have checked out your website, and you've got some beautiful music.

however, we don't book indie rock at the red poppy art house. i've copied our selection criteria below for your review. thanks so much for your consideration and keep playing beautifully.

best, c

*Music Programming*

The Red Poppy Art House presents local, national, and international artists. Selected artists generally fall into one or more of the following categories:

Contemporary/innovative music ensembles, from varying countries of origin, performing original compositions
Traditional/folkloric ensembles with extensive knowledge and training in their discipline, and firm relationships to the respective country of origin.
Contemporary/innovative music ensembles thoughtfully integrating/crossing music genres from multiple cultural origins.
Jazz Ensembles with a particular emphasis on original compositions
Local established and emerging composers presenting new work and/or arrangements
Classical chamber ensembles

The Red Poppy Art House performance program tends NOT to feature the following:

(Due to both sound restrictions and stylistic preference)

Highly electrified high-volume music (rock, metal, punk, etc)
Indie rock
Singer-songwriter (some exceptions)
Solo Artists (some exceptions)
“World-fusion” groups that do not present clearly defined material and substantive relationships to the respective cultures of origin. (This is a challenging area. It is our intention to present work, yet work that is grounded in terms of cultural sensitivity and training. We are weary of casual attempts to combine genres from multiple cultural origins, particularly if there is tone of exoticism. An exaggerated example would be a Celtic-flamenco inspired fusion group with Middle Eastern and Balkan influences joined with Yoruban invocations to Elegua.) While the world is becoming ever more culturally mixed and complex, we recognize the need for thoughtfulness in this kind of endeavor so as to avoid a kind of multi-cultural overdose that does not do justice to any of the referenced traditions.

e=mc^

Sometimes I don't want to tell the whole world my thoughts.

Sometimes I just want to sleep and wait for the train to stop at my desired destination.

Sometimes I just feel like I'm not trying hard enough.

Other times I'm overachieving.

The ups

The downs

The frequencies of life's channel.

All of those experiences shape my perspective.

My perspective becomes my story.

My story is my life.

My life changes and I have a new perspective.

And a new story.

And the yo-yo playing, train stopping, boat hopping, merry-go-round, roller coaster riding continues.

Foggy thoughts for a foggy day...

It's 2pm on Monday. I just finished my 2nd cup of coffee and a cup of homemade granola.

Serious thoughts for a seriously foggy day.

I know that many people love music they just don't want to pay for it. Music never made it on Maslow's hierarchy of needs but there are groups of people that wake up in morning and if they don't have music, they will die. What about those people? Those people cross all demographic lines and cultural lines. Those people have a special part of there brain that crave music like some people crave chocolate, fresh air, caffeine or cigarettes.

Do you think with the internet that we can reach these people easier? Perhaps. Or is it those three words that I believe describes much of our current urban culture today "Too(.) Many (.) Distractions(!)"

Without a doubt, I'm much better at promoting other people's accomplishments and/or idea's then my own.
Especially when it comes to art and music. I guess I feel somewhat conceited always self-promoting "I'm an artist and I'm great", "Come, come listen to me!". I certainly want to have people come see our shows but I don't want to be one of those annoying people that send out 30 invites in 30 days.

With all the tools we have to tell the world what we are doing, thinking, where we will be etc, I often look at other artists posts and see what they are saying. Sometimes, I wonder "do I really come across like that?" Perhaps I need a manager to promote us and then we can just concentrate on the music and delivering a great performance. You know, like the good ole' days.

A few things I know right now that I feel to be true for me in this very moment:(maybe later I will eat my words)

1. I don't need a lot of money to be happy.
2. I believe working for someone else ultimately sucks. Yet working for yourself is ultimately a much harder task.
3. Being confined to an office 8-5 is like dying a slow death.
4. At 30 years old I am making less money then I have ever yet, I'm really happy!
5. I have no idea what I will be doing tomorrow, except it likely won't require me to wake up before 10am.
6. I would rather die broke then die bored.
7. Using my mind, my voice, my hands to make something that touch people emotionally or stimulate there senses is the ultimate feeling...now how to make a living doing just that...
8. To be an artist in a world where the priorities are different ... that is the question ... that is the challenge

Summer Eats...

A new creation using sole of fish, seasoned the fish with salt, pepper and smoked paprika. I then drenched them in flour and sauteed them till crispy on the outside. Removed them from the burner, added red onions, butter, white wine, chopped capers, some minced jalapeno' and more seasoning and cooked that till the onions were translucent. Placed the sole' of fish back onto pan over the onions, covered with foil and placed in the oven for 8 minutes, to get all the flavors of the onions. Removed the foil and then placed them in the broiler for 2 minutes to get nice an crispy on top.

On I side I had some baked sweet potato fries, broiled carrots with butter and cinnamon as well as chilled lightly salted cucumbers slices.

Overall, a very successful and delicious meal. The spicy fish was complimented by the sweet potatoes and the carrots as well as the coolness of the cucumbers.

I love cooking!

Don't Stop Warming My Heart

Whatever happens to this world

Whatever happens to us

Promise me one thing

Don't stop warming my heart

What's in a pile of papers anyway?

Once a month I have the tedious task of "purging me papers".

I discovered this time, I have a few things I don't normally have in the standard piles of paper.

A newspaper clipping from SF Weekly showing our upcoming gig at the Union Room. A scribble from Aja of Nico Vega when I asked her the name of her vocal coach "Katie Agresta", a week later Aja had blown out her voice and had to cancel 3 weeks of touring. A flyer for the worlds largest guitar ensemble playing "purple haze" happening in Oct at GG Park - I plan to be there.

A torn piece of my employment termination contract, a refund check for $4.00 - yes, I will cash it...that's a latte, a receipt from Mendell's sewing shop, all the goods I got to get back into sewing. All laying a top a book on music publishing I'm supposed to read someday.

A quarter note card, not mine, likely Dave's it ended up in my pile, some of the papers are sitting nicely on top a wool rug I got from Morocco, before the airlines started charging extra, you can see a little edge of a book by John Burdett "Bangkok 8" that I have been slowly making my way through, a photocopy of my passport, old business cards, a bunch of observations I'm saving for the day I'm ready for stand up comedy ... I like to call it "horrible truths about being an artist" a collection of the all the shit that venues put artists through to get "non-paying gigs"

Weekend of gigs in review...The Plough and the Stars and The Union Room

I'm going to attempt to recap this weekend but I realize that I'll be going back and forth between "I" and "we" in my recaps. Why? Because, I like to write about things "I" feel and observe as well as things that "we" (Lucid Lovers) did etc. Maybe it's because grammar along with calculus are my least favorite subjects in school...I barely squeezed by in both subjects.

This weekend was so exciting for me. We got to rehearse and play with Dave's friend Williem - a fantastic player from St.Louis who plays with all the greats out there and the only person I know that can learn 20 original songs in 2 hours of rehearsing, his timing is just impeccable and is he also an all around super great person, a heart of gold and a full-time musician.

Our first weekend gig at the Plough and the Stars was great. It seems the crowd in the first set didn't know what to make of us. We aren't really the typical "Irish Pub Band" but, the different sound seemed to be welcome. The bartender Laurie was warm, welcoming and also a fan of our music. I think it's the first time in awhile that I had "real" conversations with folks in the audience and to me is always awesome. When people really listen and appreciate the lyrics as well as the emotion projected in the performances that is so satisfying to me.

The Union Room gig was well, long...but nice too because a good number of my friends were there and that is always special. Rebeca, the Argentinean Korean hottie was of course there is full force in all her wonderfulness. Shaherose of Women 2.0 was also present and Torsten just returning from Denmark was able to come out and see us - jet lagged and all.

We got to see Jeff and Greg again from prior nights show, who we just met, two musicians who appreciate our music and are great audience members with superb feedback on our tunes. I really digg these guys, both genuine and these days it's hard to find genuineness - especially in people you have just met 24 hours prior.

At the end of the gigging, singing my heart out and standing up the entire time my voice and my feet both in need of rest I feel great that every time we perform we just keep getting better.

I'm looking forward to a week of writing and recording rough tracks to some of our newer tunes. "I love the ocean" right now, is my favorite tune and I'd love to lay a track out for that this week.

Our next original gig on August 15th for the Acoustic Chair Series @ CAFFE TRIESTE at Market St @ Gough, San Francisco we're opening for Tara Tinsley and Ryan Toth. I'm really looking forward to this!

Ok, now back to a new song I'm writing. I'm not sure I'll ever perform this one out but I always wanted to do a number based on a novel by Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, the ultimate novel in my book. The words just plant you in another time - Love in the time of Cholera - about loving someone that is out of reach - for 50 years.

I love cooking! Perhaps I should write a song about it...

Yes, it's true - almost as much as I love eating I love to create recipes on the fly and see what happens.

So, I started writing down my creations. So far I've got not 1, 2, or 3 but a total of 4 recipes.

I started with a relish made with Peach, Fig and Mint - I used it as a topping and sauce base for a fish and it was delightful.
Lots of nice fruit flavors with a tang from the onion and mustard.

Then I moved onto a rendition of a 'Vietnamese spring roll' - the secret is all in the sauce.

I then made a brined (it sat in the brine for 4 hours) then braised Pork shoulder with ah, you guessed... a secret succulent sauce. Well, I'll devulge soon but for now I'm keeping this post a summary of sorts.

Lastly, my big hit dessert! I like to call it a Blueberry Lava Crisp, I make it with fresh blueberries, nectar and some apples if I have, then top it with some vanilla ice cream and it is so delicious.

There is something so theraputic and rewarding about cooking. The instant gratification of tasting the fruits of your labor. Very different from being an artist and singer songwriter. It takes a long time, years of hard work and playing and developing a niche' and fan base to really see those results, I'm still very early in this process but in the meantime and for therapy's sake. I'll cook, and get that instant gratification of tasting having others taste my food.

Napa and Wedding Gigs

We were asked to do Wedding gig when a lovely couple approached us after our Jazz set at Harris'.

Here are images of our little trip to Napa. Not a bad spot to be and everyone was in a lovely mood.

Just Recorded a New Song last night. =)

Off to go hiking in Stinson Beach.

Let me know what you think of the new song. Comments welcome.

The Union Room at Biscuits and Blues

Last week Saturday June 20th, Lucid Lovers did our first gig at a new venue in SF right above the Biscuits and Blues. It's a fantastic spot with loads of potential. Doing a three hour set of 90% originals was challenging and rewarding at the same time. Rehearsing every day is definitely where I want to be - and WOW I got time now!

The same time last year we had 4 songs, we now have 24 songs and last week along wrote 4 new ones. Here's a bit about the new tunes.

- Wild Dreamer
I love this song, it allows me to use my inner Bjork and yell a bit while being melodic at the same time. The lyrics are cool too. Simple and yet effective "My only wish tonight is to see my dreams take flight".

- Never Enough
I'm digging this one too...I still feel it. "Like rain falling on dessert sands, like wind for waves and april days, with you its true and never enough".

- Chameleon Rose
This one is so fun for me. I'm finally writing a song about what happens when people ask me where I'm from. I'm a mix!
I tell them I grew up partially in Japan and of course they assume I'm part Japanese. Well, yes and no. I'm a mix of Filipino, Spanish, Jewish, Irish, French and English. I do feel more Japanese then all of those mixes because of living there for 8 years of my childhood. "I came from the place where my parents left last, some years in the east and others in the west. My blood is a mixture of ten countries, I'm from all those places cause there a part of me".

- You Won't Let Me Go
Another fun, uptempo tune that allows me to do some fun stuff with my voice.

Recordings of these are coming very soon!!

I Love Sleeping In...

One of the perks to not having to go to work in the morning is getting a little extra Z's. I love sleeping, but a week into this I'm starting to feel a little guilty. Should I put myself on more of a schedule?

I think I'll be enrolling myself into art classes and sewing - that way I'm sure to get out of bed for something.
Of course there is always music writing and practicing my vocals - I definitely need a more structured approach to this.

I'm excited to finally have time to bust out an oil creation. It's something of an abstract nature art piece, with the Japanese symbol for 'Happiness' mixed into the painting.

Recently laid-off

It's been exactly a week.

I was recently laid off of my "day job", a bitter-sweet transition. In many ways I didn't want to be there. I felt I was living in a drama-induced environment with little or no creativity.

Ironically, I took a pay-cut to try out an Online Marketing job vs. a Geeky Software project manager / business analyst. Good opportunity turned into great experience but, not altogether where I saw myself, and then the dreaded news about financial cuts backs lead to my unemployment.

I now, join the ranks of the unemployed. I'm grateful in many ways, I don't have children. I have fewer living expenses then I have had in my life.

The first time in my life I am qualified to collect unemployment. Something I actually always wanted to do.

Now, I have time. Crazy amounts of time and I'm trying to figure out how to support myself 100% with my music ventures...and other creative pursuits.

I'm excited about my freedom, anxious about not having enough money but at the same time truly optimistic. =)

This is blog is a journal of everything going on in my life.