Care for a Holiday?

I ran across this old video of Billie Holiday singing “Strange Fruit” tonight and I was just blown away. What a rare treat to just be able to look at her singing this song. It almost seems as though she is conjuring up spirits and casting them out. Now this is the power of music.

Rock For Livestock!!!

I am really excited because I have finally set a date for a benefit that  has been on my mind for quite sometime.  I recently found out about an amazing organization called Heifer International.  The more I learn about what they do, the more impressed I am, and the more I want to help.  

Basically they build community redevelopment by empowering individuals to attain self sustainability.  They do this by giving families livestock; such as a flock of chickens , a goat, even a cow (hence the name Heifer International) The families live anywhere from Rwanda to Inner City Chicago.  In addition to the actual animals, Heifer also provides education and resources to their project members.

It may seem foreign to us, but the possibility of a flock of ducks can be life changing.  It can mean eggs for nourishment, a means of revenue, and hope for a future. Their pass the gift program ensures others in the community will be given offspring, so it brings the community together in very real and powerful ways.

To me, their ideology  is so exciting because I think people gain self confidence through their ability to take care of themselves and their children, and everyone should have the chance to do that.  

If you want to learn more about what they do please check out www.heifer.org

And if you want to hear some great music and support a great cause come to the “Rock For Livestock” benefit , June 14th @ 4pm at Polly’s Gourmet Coffee Shop 4606 e. 2nd street, Long Beach, CA 90803.  It should be a great day!

Have some Free time?

By some rediculous stroke of luck, I just happen to work right next to one of the coolest record shops in Long Beach, Fingerprints. I knew of one of the guys that works there because I have been going to his funk / soul club , The Good Foot for many a year. As well as being one of the funkiest DJ’s I have ever had the pleasure to get down to,  he also turned me on the fact that he is also a bassist in the mind bending band Free Moral Agents.  It started out as a brainchild of Isaiah “Ikey” Owens, from Mars Volta.  So far, I have only begun to scratch the seemingly infinite surface of their imaginations, but I can’t wait to discover more.  You should probably just check them out for yourself,  I am not very articulate in describing why I like things , I just do.  What I will say about it is this- I think it’s perfectly ok to listen to something and appreciate the fact that you will never be that good.  It’s best to leave some things up to the people who know what they are doing.  I’m happy to just make those kinds of people a tea latte, know what I mean?

www.myspace.com/freemoralagents

What’s for lunch?

So I was eating a sandwich with my daughter today at Subway, listening of course to “Subway Radio”, when I heard a Natalie Merchant song.  It reminded me of the first song of hers that I absolutely loved, Trouble Me.  What an amazing talent she is, and that voice!! I love that weird black and white video she did for that song where she was riding on a bike, helping out an old lady and talking about friendship.  How refreshing is that?!  I think it’s so cool that in that time period of grunge and angst, which still exists today in a lot of popular music, she was able to write something so beautiful about giving, not taking.  She is a person who dares to extend herself not constrict herself, and she isn’t afraid to bring that message to the world.  So much value is put on things in the music world that are so self centered and short sighted.  I don’t want to come across as self righteous here because I know I am guilty of wallowing just as much as the next person.. I’m  just wondering, with all the power that music possesses, how much of it is uplifting me and how much of it is just trying to bring me down?

I couldn’t find the video, but here’s a live performance of the song:

Influenced by Influences

As you can see, a few musicians have made their way onto this page.  It’s such a beautiful thing when you find a band that speaks to you , expresses for you where you are at that exact moment, saying the things that you can’t say for yourself.  That’s when music turns into something bigger.  That’s when it stops being a cool song on the radio and starts becoming a vital piece of your life that you can not live without.

To say any music of mine is an completely original idea would not only be hugely self inflated, it would also be a lie.  Admittedly, I tend to stick to the music of yesteryear that capture the angst and passion of my life; Pearl Jam, Tori Amos, Jimi Hendrix, Ani Difranco , Bob Marley. Still I am always  open to new and exciting music that I have yet to explore.  I think the single biggest influence for me will always be my brother Dave Knudsen.  I remember he would come home from college with his acoustic guitar and I would play along on my casio keyboard and sing harmonies at the ripe old age of 7 years old.  He was my hero and still is for the amazing and artistic life that he has held strongly too.  Some people consider themselves an artist, he is one. He has done me the honor of still letting me hang out and sing harmonies on almost every major project he has recorded.  Music doesn’t get any more fiercely independent than Dave’s.  He has done everything he has had to do to write, produce and keep his original material.  He has volumes of songs that are full of secret melodies and poetry that the world has yet to hear.

Someday I believe we are destined to release a record together when all the stars line up.  Although his repertoir dwarfs mine any day, he still let’s me believe that I am a songwriter too.  To me though, I will always be his little sister singing along with him and his biggest fan .  If you want to explore his world check out www.hauntedrock.com .

Rehearsing the Record

We had another rehearsal last night for the record.  It was so fun!  I could feel the energy building as soon as I hit the Long Beach border.  It is an incredible  thrill to be working with such amazing musicians and in such a cool location!   I have been a solo act for 15 years, more or less, so to be able to hear the songs more fully realized is so fresh and exciting.  It also gives me a chance to make distinct choices, and really think about nailing down the song.  When I play by myself, I just do whatever.  It’s good to be able to tighten things up.

The best part though is having conversations with the band about what they feel and how they hear the songs, really exploring the dynamics.  I try to just sit back and listen to their opinions.  Sometimes we even share the same thoughts, which is kind of cool.  It makes me feel as though we are on the same page.

I am happy about the song selection too.  It was such a process narrowing down what songs are going to make it or not.  I got it down to 15, and then it got ugly.  Still I am confident that these songs are the ones.  Most of them are new material.  That could be because it’s always fun to play new songs, but in a way I think they represent where I am at as a songwriter right now, which is a lot of what this project is about. I guess it does not have to be the last record, it is only the beginning.

My favorite cut right now is Constellations.  Steve, the Producer and bass player, is laying down the perfect line on a fret less bass he found in some guys trashcan and Jon, the drummer,  has such a laid back swinging beat, I almost cry every time I hear them kick in.

I keep thinking this is the most amazing dream. .. If it is, please don’t wake me up.