New Jams: PJ Harvey - Let England Shake

I'm starting a new series called "New Jams." As many of you know, I am a musician, (fiddler/violist/singer/songwrtier) and there some really exciting things going on right now that are in the works (which I have mentioned before.) Although I can't share any of that information at the moment, I will be sharing the latest music that I'm listening to. (Not as exciting, but this is basically my favorite thing to talk about in "real life," so I thought I'd bring the discussion over to the blog!) I'm an avid Spotify-user, which is a bit taboo for a musician, I think, but that's another story for another time. Spotify is where I find all the current music I'm listening to. It's so easy to use and just makes it that much easier to explore different genre's that you might not normally give a chance. Some of the music I listen to has just come out and the artist has recently released a new album, but a lot of it is just new-to-me musicians and artists that I've discovered on my own. 

So first up, is this knock-your-socks-off  album "Let England Shake" by the lovely Ms. PJ Harvey. I've been a fan of hers since her album White Chalk, which came out back in 2007. When I first heard her, I was honestly like "what the f*ck just happened." She's bizarre. She's kinda freaky. And her lyrics are kinda scary at times. (White Chalk is REAL depressing for the most part.) But she's an artist… Yah?! PJ Harvey is one of those musicians who lives and breathes her art. In fact, I just read somewhere that every album she comes out with brings basically a new chapter of her life quite literally. Harvey's goal is to "never repeat herself" and to continue reinventing herself with every new album by changing not only her musical styles, but also her physical appearance. I remember I had my boyfriend at the time listen to "The Mountain" from her 2007 album, and he looked at me like I was losing my marbles. (I will never date another close-minded musician ever.) She sings completely out of key for the latter half of "The Mountain", but the more I listened to it, the more I realized that her out-of-tune belting was actually quite strategically placed and was in fact, beautiful. After that, I hadn't listened to her for several years, because I over-played White Chalk and was not a huge fan of Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. (There is a great track on that album though, called "This Mess We're In." It's a collab with my favorite Thom Yorke from Radiohead. But she also has several other albums that I have not listened to.)

Last week, I typed her into the search engine of my Spotify account and started listening to to her 2011 album "Let England Shake." And boy, am I glad I typed in her name and clicked on this album, because it's another world-changer in my opinion. PJ Harvey is a like a Bjork or a Thom Yorke. All three of these artists use their voices as instruments in different ways, and they're ingenious lyricists. I wish I had one sixteenth of the talent they had when it comes to writing lyrics, but alas, I have not been doing it that long. "Let England Shake" is absolutely beautiful, with many references to her love for her homeland, England. She uses different technologies throughout the tracks such as recordings of bells from a vintage ice-cream parlor, a circus trumpeter, or a middle-eastern lick from a old traditional-tune. That's what I imagine they are, at least. PJ Harvey brings her music to places that I would never expect, which is something that is hard to find in my opinion. Harmonics are my forte, and I often know where a song is going to go before I even hear it through once. So it's fun to listen to music that's surprising and exciting! She uses her voice in so many different ways and is not afraid to crack or sound odd. I mean, those of you who listen to her know what I'm talking about. She's just downright odd sometimes, but she hooks you in with her unexpected melodies. It's incredible! 

My Music: Selling my Violin

WELP! I'm sellin' this little lady. Yup, you heard it, the little fiddle needs a new home. I'm in the market for a 5-string fiddle on a violin's body. Unfortunately, the fingerboard/neck of this little lady is too narrow to hold another string, and in order for me to take new steps in my fiddling-studies, I want to work with a 5-string. I'm really not all that sad to see it go, because I've had it for so long. For all of my more-advanced studies, I was using the viola; but after several years of staying away from it all, I started using my fiddle again. Back to the roots! A 5-string fiddle is basically the viola and violin combined. It has the E, A, D, G, C strings, so I would totally be in my element. It'll definitely take some getting used to to having 5 strings rather than always having 4, but I catch on fast! ;) 

If you or you know anyone in the market, please let me know! The craigslist ad is here. 

Happy Wednesday y'all! 

Musica de Haviland: My Musical Upbringing

As promised, I'm sharing a bit more about myself! I've being going the whole concept of blogging a lot of thought this year so far, because I just knew I was missing some things. I read a lot of different posts on the subject matter, and started to realize that although I think my fashion posts are getting better as the years go on, that's really all I've put effort into. I wasn't sharing anything about one of my biggest passions, which is my music.  

 

I grew up in a pretty different household than most of my friends. The only music we knew of was classical, jazz, some oldies, and maybe we’d listen to top-40 every once in a while when we all started to get older. My parents were both classical music performance majors in undergrad, and when each child they had came of age in the musician’s standards, that is, they picked up an instrument of their choice. I chose the violin at age five, because my aunt played it and neither of my parents had played a string instrument, and Ben, my younger brother, chose the cello at age three (which was quite young, but he had the drive. My older brother chose the trumpet in elementary school .)

 When I was twelve we moved to the suburbs where art and creativity was supported a wee more. I spent my afternoons practicing when I got home from school for several hours, just as if I were playing a sport and had to go to practice till 5 or 6 p.m. every night. My mom would always remind me of that! (I would often get up at five in the morning to practice before school too!) And every Saturday morning from freshman through senior year of high school, I woke up early and drove into the city where I went to New England Conservatory’s prep-school program till 6 p.m. at night. Even though I worked relatively hard and was passionate about music in general, at times, I was very close to giving up. I had absolutely no drive or interest in the classical world. Fifty percent of the classical world is Asian most likely (not that I’m racist or anything!!,) with all the crazy tiger-moms, who beat their kids if they don’t get straight A-pluses! It’s just a cultural thing guys! But basically if you weren’t SUPER competitive, you were completely screwed. I couldn’t deal with the pressure and I couldn’t deal with my lack of perfection. Being a classical musician is like being a ballerina. It has to look the same and sound the same, all while using the classical world’s standards of perfect technique. After my first year as a music major in undergrad, I knew I had to give it up. It was time to leave this classical world behind completely, because it just wasn’t for me. I had only felt glimpses of my passion when we were playing Tchaikovsky or Stravinsky or Rachmoninaff. But if you didn’t compose anything after than the early 20^th century, I didn’t enjoy your music. It was a painful. Playing Handel or Hydan or even Bach to me was like being sentenced to a long and painful death. I need more freedom....

After not touching an instrument for over two years, I started playing in church again. I sounded horrible after not playing for that long, but I kept at it. And when I was 24, after some traumatic life-events, I started writing folk tunes and listening to bluegrass fervently. And that’s when I found it... That’s when I found my future and one of my life’s major purposes. 

There's a lot happening with my music now, but I'm not able to say quite just yet, so y'all will have to keep reading to find out what happens later this year! 

images: Kathy Joyce Photography 

Real Life: Another Life...

So I'm having a super contemplative evening so far. Stick with me kids, this should be good... I'm listening to some pretty rad music right now (Beach House… holy JESUS, Meg and Col, you were right), the hookah lit up, and some patchouli incense. Yes, a contemplative mood, guys. 

So this past week was pretty interesting for me. In fact, I don't think I've ever had one like it and may very well never again. But let's PRAY that's not the case, right?! ANYhoo, I met some pretty amazing musicians, and it brought me back to the place I lived in for 15 years of my life. (And I have a very dear friend, little Jani-Muff to thank for introducing me to them.) For about five of those final years I was constantly surrounded by musicians that were blowing my mind away, and I haven't experienced that since probably age 20. Sunday night, I was introduced to the back-up band and part of the crew members for Mumford & Sons. 

Side note: Three years ago, I saw Mumford with my Irish roommate and Karina, my beloved best friend who died a year and a half ago. I had researched the band prior to going, because I didn't know much about them. They were new and fresh and folk, thus I was fell in music love. Karina went not having heard them yet, because we got her a ticket last minute. They were playing at The Middle East, in Central Square, Cambridge, Ma. MAYBE 200 people in the basement? And I believe they opened with Sigh No More, and Karina looked at me, looked at the band again, the music picked up, and she just started jumping up and down, fist pumping, with the rest of the mostly-Irisih audience. And I joined...

So after drinking several beers and not at all watching the Super Bowl with some of these guys on Sunday, I spent the next two nights listening to their beautiful music that I had memorized and going out with them afterwards. It was surreal… But I think the only things that made it truly surreal was because I saw them as my equals and vice versa. And I think that had to do with our musicianship that we shared, and how I had spent a night three years ago in oddly another life-time, listening to them in this tiny venue. 

Mumford & Sons' music is incredible and there will never be another band like them, but! their character is even better. And when I say Mumford & Sons, I mean the entire touring band and their techs and crew. They're great people that just love music, who just want to be a part of it in some way. And it brought me so much joy to feel a part of that again for three days. 

Thanks, guys. I'll never forget it. And I hope our paths cross again at some point. 

Style Icon: Carey Mulligan

So my life has been a little crazy lately, guys. I've been on cloud nine since Sunday night and now it's time to get back to reality! Oye, this is not going to be easy. I will share with you more information, but for now here's a little somthin'. 

Mumford & Sons. Know those guys? Yeah, so they're awesome in case you didn't know. And Marcus Mumford is married to the lovely Carey Mulligan. (She happens to be one of my favorite actresses.) Honestly, when they got together, I said to myself "self, that's about near damn perfect of a match if you ask me." 

And the lady knows how to dress. And just be awesome.

This is one of my all-time favorite fashion spreads that she was part of two years ago for Vogue

Triple Digits Celebration

This is it - This is one of the big milestones of this blog. I finally hit the triple-digits and now have 100 followers, guys! This is crazy slash awesome?! 

So as I've promised my readers, here is my first recording. It isn't an original, because I had to leave a little mystery! BUT it is one of my favorite covers that I do of an Ella Fitzgerald song. Neko Case did a version that I've based mine on. It's called "Runnin' Out of Fools." 

Thank you to Rob Houdlette, an amazing friend of mine. He mixed, mastered, and recorded this song for me. Just because. You can read more about Rob and his band Big Ghost here. 

My Brother: Buh Buh Buh Benny & the Jetssssss

I met to write this earlier this week, but work got in the way. Be prepared for some major mushiness. 

This past weekend, my younger brother was the soloist with the Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra. Here's a quick background: Ben is graduating from high school next weekend. He's going to Eastman with a massive scholarship, which is part of the top tier of conservatories in the country. And he works damn hard in school as well. 

Every time Ben is the soloist or is playing with the Youth Philharmonic at New England Conservatory or is just being himself with our little foursome of a family, I often tear up. I often say to myself, "holy shit, that's my younger brother." Not only is my younger brother oozing with talent, but he's also one of the sweetest, snuggliest, and most wonderful young men I've ever known. He's been by my parents' side 150% during these past couple years and has loved them to the fullest; which is something I couldn't be more thankful for during this time that we're going through. I couldn't have a more wonderful young man as my brother, I really couldn't. 

With all the pain and loss that this past year has brought me and my family, I'm astonished by the way he's turned out. It's all him. (And my parents' wonderful parenting skills, of course.)  

I honestly couldn't be prouder...

Above: This is what we refer to as "emoting."

Such a proud dad… They're so cute together, I just can't stand it. 

And isn't he super cute?! I mean, look at how photogenic this guy is?! It's STUPID. 

And another great thing is that he has GREAT taste in women. Anya, thank you for being so supportive and good to him. 

And I couldn't resist posting this photo of my momma and her bestie. They're "sisters separated at birth." 

Have a great long weekend, my loves! See you on the other side. 

Another Open Mic Night

Last night Rob and I performed at another open mic. This time we did one that’s held at The Burren in Davis Square, Somerville, Ma. I promise you that I will have some recordings to share very soon. Rob and I haven’t really been on top of it.

What I wore:

Necklace- Eastern Trading Company, Blouse: Nordstroms, Jeans: Buffalo, Boots- Nicol

And here are some silly pictures that Rob took of Dennis and I.

Even though these pictures don’t capture our entire faces (ehemm, Rob,) I love how happy we look.

Open Mic Nights

Just recently, a close friend of mine and myself have started to embrace the folk/acoustic in us and have been playing at open mic(s). And let me tell you, people freakin’ love us!

Okay, okay, okay, so I’m not going to let it get to my head. But seriously, it’s a good time. I do a lot of playing and singing in front of audiences of sometimes three to four hundred people at a time, because I co-lead worship at my church in Cambridge. But now I’m just starting to get into the whole, play-random-shit-that-I-love-in-front-of-people-I-don’t-know-in-a-bar, and it’s pretty amazing. I think the most incredible thing about it is that I get to play with an incredible musician who has far more knowledge in music theory that I do; which is sad, since I’m classically trained and started playing when I was five. (But let’s skip that part.)

A couple weeks ago Rob and I played at All Asia in Cambridge.

It was incredible.

Sang/Played some Neko Case.

And some Ben Folds…

Blouse: Thrifted at Boomerangs

Skirt: Zara

Earrings: Forever 21

Headband: Linda’s Vintage

Since I have the most amazing friends, I had support coming from all angles in abundance. Thank you for the support and love. It means everything to me.

Rob and I will be playing at the Open Mic at The Burren in Davis Square next Tuesday, January 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Come one, come all!

Hey, Hey Della Mae

Last night I was fortunate enough to go to a Della Mae show. They are one of my most favorite bluegrass bands, AND they are local! An old friend of mine is dating the lead singer, Celia Woodsmith, who pretty much has a voice of an angel. She also has perfect pitch. No big deal. Their stage presence is impeccable, and the thing I love about these girls is they are all genuinely lovely, sweet women. “Della Mae features the reigning 2-time National Fiddle Champion Kimber Ludiker,innovative flat pick guitar player Courtney Hartman, impeccable mandolinist Jenni Lynn Gardner, seasoned bassist Amanda Kowalski, and powerhouse vocalist Celia Woodsmith. Formed during the Fall 2009 in Boston, Della Mae was born from a yearning for a traditional bluegrass sound in the heart of New England. Della Mae strives to create music that tells a story while delivering a punch.”

Unfortunately, I was right behind a large pole… But you’ll get the idea!

The show was at Club Passim in Harvard Square, which is a non-profit venue. They always have great local artists playing, and they also have a music school. (I don’t know much about it, but feel free to check it out!)

Dennis, one of my closest friends, was kind enough to escort me to the event, and naturally, we decided to have a little photo shoot while we were waiting for the show to start.