Wowee! This was a LONG weekend for me, I ended up moving on a whim this past Friday thru Sunday. I finished Sunday and I managed to have some time to work on this weeks song, luckily. It was in part inspired by all of this moving. [1] Because I moved from a 2 bedroom townhouse with a roommate to a Studio by myself. This is my first time living completely on my own and I have to admit that I'm a bit anxious about handling all my finances completely on my own. [2] It's a new step in my life, I'm hoping that living on my own will help me be more focused on my creative endeavors and learning more about myself and life in general. I will definitely be reading more because I am without [internet] and [television] at my new residence, so that's good for me but not so good for having guests over.
This song is basically a projection of how I hope to see my musical career going. With a bit of humor added to it, for good measure.
Also in other music News.. my friend who goes by Nubenegra online made an amazing appreciation video for me for sending him a cd with some of my songs on it.
He's learning to play the ukulele and found me on myspace/youtube and he's a great artist he's made all the vector-art that you'll find on my myspace pages.
It's an incredibly windy day today here in Florida I feel like I'm back in Illinois.
So I moved to my current place of residence a few months ago and I had yet to get my address changed on my license, which was inhibiting me being able to get a Library Card in this county. Which is a crime in itself because Jacksonville, for things it seems to be lacking in some places, makes up for it in it's abundance of Libraries, they have a most beautiful one in the downtown area which I had been scoping out and visiting on several attempts without getting any books mind you. But today was the day! I got my Library Card!
I had to go and get my address changed on my license first, and they made me take a new picture.. i was so unprepared, check out my mugshot above.. but what is worse is my signature I was so aghast when I saw it printed on the card. So in retaliation of my awful signature I picked up some books.
I only looked in the new items section this time [ they have over 3 stories of books/magazines/movies/music/etc.etc.etc.etc.] to choose from it's a bit overwhelming and exciting all at the same time [I'll take pictures next time]. So in the new items section they had these three books all of things that I've been currently researching on my own online in the past 5 months or so, needless to say I was pleased.
Flapper : Joshua Zeitz If you check out my StyleMob account you can check out when my addiction for 20s culture and Flappers in general occurred - watch for the amazing finger waved hair.
Teach Yourself Better Handwriting : Rosemary Sassoon Handwriting, well I've been working on it bit by bit all my life, watching others write and being at awe of their neatness or spacing, mine was mostly adapted from hurrying to finish my work before everyone else in class when I was younger. Blog Wild! A Guide for Small Business Blogging : Andy Wibbels BLOGGING?!well.. before this Blog, I used to use Livejournal for MANY years. I believe from 2002-2006. .I advertised for a lot of my Jem Inc wares on there and had a good time with it. Now-a-days I've been getting into Blogging in a different way, I've been noticing how it has evolved and I'm interested in doing more with it myself.
I also picked up a few Dvd's for when I have an hour or two to kill this weekend, and I don't want to go out and spend money.
The Hours
Million Dollar Baby
I Shot Andy Warhol
I can't wait to dig into everything, it's like my birthday with all of these fantastic gifts.
What have you picked up @ your local Library lately?
So I contemplated and went through many-a-ideas of what I wanted to be for this Halloween. Mostly because I would be able to celebrate it this year on multiple occasions and wanted something that would be able to work well multiple times.
I ended up with deciding on being 'Amy Winehouse' for Halloween
It was a bit of an easy one for me because I already had a beehive wig that I coincidentally got earlier this year before I had even started listening to Amy, I think it was FATE! I just had to buy some Winehouse gear and make some hair extensions for my wig because her hair is much longer than the wig that I purchased. I'm basing my Amy look off of her in this picture, it will be complete with faux-arm tattoo's, shorts, gold belt, white T, huge Gold earrings, and heels of course.
I also picked up an amazing striped hoodie @ Old Navy for $4 ! I'm kind of coveting stripes right now [specifically black and white] so I was thrilled.
It's been raining all day again, so this is perfect for this weather. And I must admit that the rain has been trying very hard to put me in a bad mood but I'll just stipple it away.
So it's October in Florida, and our form of snow is rain. Thus it's been raining all day. Quite lovely if you are inside, but having to be outside in it is another story.
For a change of pace this Monday I was taken out to pizza.
It was an incredibly decadent Artichoke and smoked-bacon pizza, loaded with plenty of other goodies and a million calories but who's counting.
This actually has no real relation to this week's song. But I needed a bit of a distraction from my moodiness of today.
This week's song was started early Saturday morning after listening to a bunch of Beatles songs. It's about how I evaluate situations/people, I start out with picking out the negative things I'm frustrated with, but in the end I ponder [hum or sing] over things and realize that it couldn't ever out-weigh the positive things that make me be a part of the situation/relationship in the first place.
I'm a naturally optimistic person, I almost always see the silver-lining in situations. I think that it has made me a much happier person when I am alone. Which is a bit strange to me only because I hung out with all the gothic kids when I was growing up. But I think the only association we took on together was my constant need to visually represent myself, and I never felt like an outcast for doing so when i was with them.
In other news, I picked up a fancy set of Micron's at Hobby Lobby today, I'm super gleeful and anticipating using them.
Well I hope you enjoyed this weeks song, until next time!
On days that I head out to a soccer game or practice, I bring along my sketchbook, this time I brought all my watercolors, and painted this in response to this weeks.
I've still got to ink it and then it shall be finished. The Theme for this week is 'Grow'
When I immediately thought of the topic I thought of two things, nature and conception. I added these two things together and came up with my piece. Now I just need a quality pen to finish the inking, this week!
Song that I'm currently Obsessed with :
Originally done by the Beatles, here is a cover by ' I am Kloot ' that I quite enjoyed especially because of the bit in the beginning about how his sister played it all the time when he was a kid, I hope that my brothers have stories like that. I know that I have influenced my brother musically, i was always playing on my keyboard when I was a kid, I had my first miniature keyboard at the age of 7 or so and the first song I learned was Greensleeves and then I just started picking up how to play things by ear and made up my own songs back then, and my brother recently got into playing the keyboard and has surpassed me which I love, I'm hoping we can work on something together in the future he's much more precise than I am at music.
Also just saw the Trailer for the new Bob Dylan movie "I'm Not There"
Looks like something right up my alley, I've been on a musical-movie kick lately. Although I didn't see hairspray when it came out.
You can see a longer version of the trailer on Apple.com/trailers. Am I the only person who spends a few hours watching movie Trailers on Apple.com? I love watching movie trailers. But hate that they are doing an Alvin and Chipmunk movie, that's a piece of my childhood that they are going to mess up I can already tell.
Oh well, another day. Tomorrow is Make Music Monday, I can't wait... hope you all had a great weekend.
I haven't had a Magazine Subscription since sometime last year. As I've said before I love getting mail, and getting Magazine's in the mail is amazing for it's the mail quality and the fact that it is brimming with your choice of inspiration and own happiness, mostly because you chose the subscription so it must be something you love to see/read. Here are some of my favorite Magazines.
"ReadyMade is a bimonthly print magazine for people who like to make stuff, who see the flicker of invention in everyday objects — the perfectly round yolk in the mundane egg.
"Spin is a music magazine that reports on "Music for Life". Founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione, Jr., it is the main competitor to industry stalwart Rolling Stone. Madonna was the artist on the cover of the first issue."
"Nylon is an American magazine which focuses on pop culture and fashion. Its coverage includes art, beauty, music, design, celebrities, technology and travel."
"Giant Robot is a bi-monthly magazine of Asian and Asian American popular culture. It was initially created as a small, punk-minded magazine that featured Asian pop culture and Asian American alternative culture, including such varied subject matter as history, art, music, film, books, toys, technology, food, and skateboarding. The publication grew from its original format—a small, photocopied zine, folded and stapled by hand—to its current full-color format. Giant Robot was one of the earliest American publications to feature prominent Asian film stars such as Chow Yun-Fat and Jackie Chan, as well as Asian musicians from indie and punk rock bands. The magazine is also popular for its exclusive t-shirts and odd toys."
"Domino magazine is the guide to living with style for young, busy, fashion-conscious women. With a focus on home decorating, domino acts as design consultant, personal shopper and friend, offering inspiration, information and innovative ideas. Perfect for both renters and home-owners, each issue is packed with tips, shopping information and easy DIY tricks to help readers create the home and lifestyle of their dreams, on any budget."
"BUST is a groundbreaking women's lifestyle magazine that connects with bright, cutting-edge young women. Fierce, funny, and proud to be female, its revolutionary editorial mix addresses a variety of women's interests, including pop culture, crafting, fashion, sex, news and celebrity interviews."
I continue to work on my character look, mostly eyes. And I finally got around to taking a step on my 'Boys with Beards' project that I started a few months ago.
This past Sunday I had the privilege to see 'Across the Universe'. It's one of those films that has a lot of great imagery like Moulin Rouge. And it's an all around Musical film with plenty of incredible Beatles songs on every page. It's films like this one that inspire me to get out and take more adventures in life, and also helps if you need to take your mind to a completely other time and place.
I may be the last person on earth to see his work, but I love startling art like this. There is no way of avoiding something like this on your way to work.
I don't know about everyone else, but I had to read this book in Highschool. I found it altogether very informative then, but never got to read the whole thing for unforeseen reasons at the time. I stumbled upon this website that pretty much gives you the low-down on the gist of the book. [ http://www.westegg.com/unmaintained/carnegie/win-friends.html ] This book is very helpful in letting you think of the world outside of your own box when you are looking at how to deal better in your relationships with other people. I'd recommend it to all people as a must read for life.
And then there is the different perspective on something from your past. Such as this cover by the Bee Gees done by a Los Angeles collaboration called 'The Bird and The Bee' they cover one of my all time favorite Bee Gees songs, second only to Emotion.
It takes me back to that place in my past, but updates it to something relate able for relationships I could have in the current day. Also I'm a sucker for a good cover song.
I hope something inspires you to take a different perspective on something in your life today, it's kind of an exciting feeling.
This week's Make Music Monday is in correspondence with Blog Action Day.
I signed up to be a part of Blog Action Day where all bloggers get together once a year to write on a specific topic, this year it was [ Environment ] .
So, of course it being Make Music Monday over here at Jemibook's : Life Lessons, I decided I would make a song as my way of talking about one issue I feel is horribly disregarded unless it comes up in the news randomly, and they are one of my favorite imagery of all time, I've spent many-a-days staring into the mass of leaves and branches that all the trees in my yards growing up have allowed me to.
This song is written in the point of view of a Tree who has been mis-treated by his long lost friend, and telling their friend that they won't put up with being treated like they are nothing any longer.
And well, i'm not tree-hugger or anything extreme like that. But I defintely feel a spirit among nature that most people can coldly avoid in their sterile living spaces. I try to take a moment when I'm driving home from work to appreciate a cool breeze or if i'm lucky enough to drive down a tree covered passageway gaze upon how the light shines through the limbs onto the ground below.
A great place to go in Jacksonville, FL is Memorial Park, they really have done a great job at preserving a bit of nature in an otherwise Pavement Driven city. I'm sure there are other places I'm unaware of, but it's worth going for a picnic or a bike-ride to visit.
Well that's all for this week's Make Music Monday, I hope you can all take something from it!
Thee Crucials were also giving out free copies of their Records which I was excited to receive even if I don't have a record player to use them on. It'll become a collector's item I'm sure!
It was a superb time, I've never gotten into a band that I never knew existed until I went to the venue. They were really fun and had some great moves, the music was right up my alley and the band members were really pleasant, easily accessible people which I never feel that most bands are. I ended up being asked up on stage twice which was a first for me [ other than the peelanderZ show, but they ask everyone on stage].
Today I was a bit productive and headed off to Memorial Park in Jacksonville to watch a bit of soccer but to mostly draw some, I worked on my character eyes and then made this stationary for my friend Javier's present for his birthday coming up on Hallow's eve.
I plan on coloring it in with watercolors this week. I am practically finished with the other piece for Wil but I want to get it framed but I can't afford a DAMN thing right now, sadly so I'll have to wait until I have some cash flow coming in that doesn't just cover bills, what a waste!
Yesterday I spent some time @ the Laundromat doodling. Lately I've been more into Portrait drawing. But I found my old sketchbooks that I've had throughout my life and most of my drawings are of random characters. I tried my hand at free-drawing while I was at the Laundromat and here are what I came up with.
I was experimenting with some new ways of drawing Eyes. Because in my portraits that I've been doing lately I've been omitted iris'. I'm not exactly sure if it was purposeful or not yet, but I don't want to draw Iris' in the portraits that I'm doing, but characters definitely need eyes.
On another note, my outfit from yesterday was inspired by the pink ring that I had found on the ground at my work the other day. i don't normally wear leggings as pants so that was a bit of a change for me. I'm horribly afraid of ever having 'camel-toe' so anything that I think could remotely do that I try to stay away from.
I'm currently in the process of revamping my House, minimizing everything in my eye-space so that I can be more productive. It's making me feel less anxious about getting things done, thus far. I'm also going to be looking for a new second job later this week, so wish me good luck.
You can Check out some of his other music on his Myspace. I'd really love to hear him and Rufus Wainwright get together and do some musical magic together, that would be heaven for my ears.
p.s. redyed my hair.
Red Hot Red on top, and then rebleached the underside it's a lot more blonde than previously I'm pleased.
The Rush of a new relationship. The time in the beginning is so utterly blissful. Spending time together doing just about anything just makes your heart expand 10 fold. You know you shouldn't over do the time you spend together, but you can't help but not let go of their hand when it's way past time to leave. Daydreaming about them at work. Checking your voicemail/texting them / writing a letter. The High school days consisted of writing their name a million times or your name with their last name.. Figuring out their cute quirks or their sayings. How they make a mess of the bed when they sleep. How your bodies just seem to fold perfectly together when you are cuddling. The time when whatever happened in your past seems to fade away and you start believing that love does exist, again. Childish-foolish-lovesick days of the rush of a new relationship.
Well that's what this weeks 'Make Music Monday' song is about. It's called ' New Beginnings ' you can check it out below.
Lately love has been in the air even more for me, it may just be that Autumn is on the brink and that's always the time in my life when I've had my most torrid love affairs, or maybe it's just the idea of bundling up close together with someone in the winter-time that makes Love and Autumn go together so quaintly.
Either way, I can't wait for Autumn to start and for me to have my love affair with mother-nature once again.
On a lazy rainy-day I often find myself organizing things throughout the house or playing dress-up.
Today I participated in a little bit of both - organized my closet a bit, and went out and visited my local Sally's and picked up some supplies to redye my hair.
After a bit of that and a visit from the postman An Evening with Kevin Smith showed up at our door :
Found some fancy chocolates @ Target the other day and peeled them open. If you are into Kevin Smith films [ i.e. Clerks, MallRats, Chasing Amy. . etc. ] you should check out 'An Evening with Kevin Smith' and the Sequel to it, they are great for a laugh. I watched them a few years ago and haven't watched them since, it's nice to revisit old movies on rainy days.
Also watching movies you've already seen are great for being productive with art projects, so I worked a bit more on my Wil Murray appreciation.
The gold process is taking a bit longer than I had anticipated, but turning out wonderfully. I'm getting excited about working on my next piece after this.
Sometimes I get out and participate in the social life. . maybe later.
So as long as I've been making music, I've still yet to play a formal event. I originally conceived this idea of making music for my own enjoyment, and to do a little bit of street-performing. But It evolved into something that I really felt that I could do for the rest of my life with joy, and decided I wouldn't really mind sharing it with a large enough audience if they would have me.
But the problem still lingers that I've yet to play an actual show. It frightens me actually. I've been practicing my songs a lot this summer in part for my upcoming professionally recording some of my songs, and I thought it would give me the boost to go out and play some real shows, but I'm still waiting for the available time to record.
So what sparked this post? Randomly today I received a message from a venue asking me if I'd fill a spot at a show this Saturday. Immediately after reading it I became tense and a bit nervous, as if I had already said yes and the show was looming to happen this Saturday.
I've had recommendations to try playing at an open mic night to get myself used to playing in front of a group of strangers on a stage, but I haven't had the time off to do so. Yes I know all of this sounds like excuses but it's a really big step for me.
My only memory of ever playing an instrument in front of a room full of people with me on the spot was sometime in Middle school for my piano recital and I messed up in the middle of it, so I've always been a bit weary about playing instruments in front of groups, as for the singing part of it I've always been confident about my singing ability and sing in public all the time, so that isn't much of my concern.
I suppose the only real answer to it all is to practice, practice, and practice until there is no possibility of messing up regardless of the situation. I think I need a bit more of that before I play a show, but I'd like to check out this venue in case I feel like playing in Lake City, FL
For the first official Make Music Monday I decided I would start with a little introduction to Jemibook.
[Back in January with my First $20 Uke]
I started Jemibook in 2006 when I decided to start making music by myself, it originally was just electronic music via GarageBand and my Keyboard, but I decided soon after to take up the Ukulele and invest my time in properly learning how to play it on my own, since I couldn't afford lessons. The first song I attempted playing was "Lean on Me" which was a fairly simple song and it had a very basic strum. I also played with a felt pick when I first started playing exclusively, which most Uke players don't use. I've progressed mostly from playing songs that I know and learning new chords with each new song. Sometimes I thought I would never be able to hold my fingers in the positions, or handle the strumming patterns, but in the year that I've been practicing I think I've come pretty far. My songs as of lately are a lot more complex than my 4 chord progression that I played in my early songs, and I've even learned new strumming patterns. I still have LOADS to learn, and I'd love to take some actual lessons from someone who's played the Ukulele before, it should be in the cards for my future. But as for now I keep doing my trial and error, I make songs, sometimes just to make songs, but mostly I make them from whatever is inspiring me, bothering me, overcoming me, at the time. And yes a lot of my songs are downers but I don't really take them as that when I'm writing them, I've always been into slow songs rather than upbeat songs my entire life, so it just seems fitting for me.
NOW!!! as for Make Music Monday. The Concept is basically this....Make Music!
For me my goal is to either [a] make a new song or [b] learn a new chord from a song that I like.
If you'd like to participate [which I strongly welcome], and you are a musician you could use today to start a new song and finish it by next Monday, or try something more complex that you don't know how to do on your instrument. If you aren't a musician I'd suggest trying to find some new music, it's always a delight to find some new music via the internet. My favorite sites to find new music are:
[cdnow.com] The best way to go about this is to Search for an artist you really love and then check out the [ people who bought this also bought these things] it's a great way to find something similar that could also be completely new and innovative.
This other one I just discovered via my roommate- who is constantly finding great new music.
[http://hypem.com/] The Hype machine follows music blog discussion. Every day, hundreds of people around the world write about music they love. Then it all ends up on their website, you can listen to the most popular songs on blogs via their media player or go to the direct pages and read up on why they are blogging this artist, most of the stuff is not mainstream, unless it's a strange remix of a song.
Sooo... what did I end up doing for Make Music Monday [ other than work feverishly at my two day jobs..] I finally was inspired to come up with the lyrics for Little Asian Girl Part 1. This song is the prequel of Little Asian Girl Part 2 which I did last year I believe and I had been meaning to make the first part but couldn't come up with a different enough version or proper lyrics. It finally came together today after I saw my beloved Little Asian Girl this past weekend. I suppose it was the proper inspiration that I needed to finish the words off right in my head. Either way I'm excited about it. Check it out Below
Let me know what you think Also if you have some great music you think I'd be into, please don't hesitate to recommend it to moi!
Hope you all had a fabulous Make Music Monday and I'll see you soon!
