Blogging first thing in the morning...

So yesterday, I determined to record a song. I chose an original called Once Again. It was always my Nonie's favorite. I wrote it when I was 13 or 14 - one of the first I ever wrote after having picked up the guitar. Then, as I was practicing, I decided I needed a distinct ending. So I started playing around with some different pickings. Having found something that sounded cool, I decided I would make an outro to the song where it picks up a little and give it some energy (it's kind of a slow ballad-type song). However, the music has a mind of it's own and decided it needed to be a separate entity from Once Again entirely. So I switched up the capo position and got to work on some lyrics and melody. Two hours later, I had a finished song.

I made special arrangements to my day so that for 3 more hours, I could record the video. The audio tracks are the base recording of the guitar and me together, the harmony vocals, and the second guitar. I had some timing fluctuations, but I forgive myself having just written the song and it being so new. I had the lyrics typed up on the screen so that I could read off of them while I recorded. This is the first time I've ever had to do this with an original. Usually I just have them in my head, since they're usually either very old songs or at least one's that I'm very familiar with having had a lot of opportunities to practice them. Regardless, I enjoyed doing the video cuts and working with the lighting, etc.

One of my loves either second or equivalent to music, of which I know very little, is film. I find it utterly fascinating. What I create cannot be truly considered film, I know, but it's the thought that counts. Literature, film, music - fascinating. They all go hand in hand to me. I wish I was more cultured and versed in them.

While I'm thinking of it, I thought I'd mention that the book shown in the Tempest Makes Me Shiver video is indeed The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien. He is a mastermind. Language, I forgot, is another long lost love of mine and Tolkien was a master of language in particular. I thought seriously of becoming a linguist when I was in high school, but it never panned out.

Also, in the video, there are two clips of a shot that looks like scribble letters and a map behind it. That is a bookmark that I drew and laminated of a map of Middle Earth and the inscription of the One Ring is written in elvish script across the middle. I love this bookmark. It stays in my book always :) I'm laughing at myself for sharing this in a blog right now, but it's part of who I am. Take it or leave it, I guess...lol.

I did a little work on my youtube channel background and used a similar background for my iLike banner. It was a fun little project that, since I don't have a specialized program for graphic designing, I had to be creative in using programs like 'preview' and 'powerpoint' to get the job done. haha. well, I'll catch up more later!

*kori eryn*

just happy

I recorded a video cover of the Fleet Foxes "White Winter Hymnal" that I'm excited about. Thanks to my friend Z, there's no more buzzing in the audio track. Electronics malfunction around me, apparently they do the opposite around him. I think together, we evened it out and the audio cooperated :)

The video should be in the video box to the left or on youtube.

I've had requests for more originals so I'll work on that in my future videos but I also have another Laura Marling song I want to put up. I'll just have to do a little of both. If anyone has a request for any covers, send them my way and I'll consider them :)

Other than that, I'm trying to get a little store up and running on etsy. I'll be sewing things like decorative pillows, pillow cases, blankets (any size from crib/infant to king), crib bumpers and burp cloths/bibs, as well as tablecloths, table runners, and cloth napkins and beaded napkin rings. I have a lot to do before this is all up and functioning properly but i'm taking orders. Everything at a reasonable price. I'm not trying to get rich off of it or live in a mansion, I'm just trying to make it by. The prices all depend on the item chosen and the fabric being used. I'm definitely accommodating in making sure the product is what was desired. So email me with any requests and we'll work together on it. I'm actually working on a request - a vest. I know it's not on the list of things I make, but I'm open to suggestions.

Stay tuned for more to come in the amazing adventures of my life...lol.

And happy new year to everyone.

*kori eryn*

2010

I need a better attitude.

"This attitude's no better than hitting the floor"

I need to learn how to be okay with a step by step process to just about everything in life. And also, I need to get better at figuring out the steps to accomplish my goals.

I have a toddler to potty train, blankets and other sewn home items to make and hopefully sell for profit on etsy and elsewhere, youtube videos and audio recordings to create, a tolerable part time job to find, a career in music to launch, an education to hopefully continue starting this year, a novel to continue writing and all the research that goes along with it, and my sanity to keep intact. I've been re-reading The Lord of the Rings trilogy again and watching all the documentaries that accompany the brilliant films by Peter Jackson and it's reminded me how inspiring the film process is.

Here's to keeping my head screwed on tight over the coming months...

*kori eryn*

Here's my brand new artist Facebook...What should I include? Any suggestions as to make it more appealing? I haven't really started yet but hopefully it'll be one of the things I begin working on this coming week...

"The Silver in my Head falls down"

So here I am...I've been missing from the blogging world for quite a while. This is a reminder that I still exist. :)

I've been working on writing new songs as well as recording videos and also straight audio recordings for new and old songs as well. I want to get a rough demo out in the next few months. One recorded with only a couple choice mics, a mixer, and garage band on my mac...it seems to be going fairly well so far, but not without minor glitches along the way, but that's to be expected. For example, I just recorded an entire song in which the sound quality is muddled - certainly not ideal. I think what happened is that I recently rearranged the room that my computer is in and the new set up lends itself to poor sound. I'll have to do a little more rearranging until the acoustics are more favorable. It's all hit or miss on that front seeing as I have no real training or experience in the physics of sound.

Now once I have this demo completed, what do I do with it!!!???? This is my age old problem. I know where I want to get with things but the steps always evade me and I either end up doing nothing while I decide what to do or making the completely wrong choices. This applies to my entire life actually, not just music...lol. but so be it. I'm trying to do better though. It's the thought that counts right? If not, the effort certainly does as far as I'm concerned.

Tentatively the song list for my demo is as follows:

Strangers in the Cage

Breaking Mine

Should Be Home

When I Was Young

Urgency

The Words to Say It

If I Made A Movie

Twice

He Cries

Blood on Our Hands

You Got Away

Again, I say this is tentative. Some of these songs don't even exist anywhere online at the moment, and even if they are, they're probably recorded in their baby stages so not quite in finished form. So perhaps in recording them, I could get them out into public properly for the first time or at least that is my hope. I'm shooting for sometime after the new year. Start it off with a bang so to speak :)

Oh, and also, before I forget, my excuse for being absent in the online community is that I haven't had internet access at home for a while and there are not too many convenient places for me to do my online work/play/etc. I'm trying to be more flexible and resilient to these changes but not having access at home is truly irritating to me. My life is really busy. My brain doesn't stop these days and I'm at my wits end emotionally, but then again, who isn't? So, I'll just get tough and roll with the punches. I'm certainly happy to see the comments and support on my youtube page :) it makes my day. everyday i check my mail and find a new message. keep them coming!

More info to come...

*kori eryn*

Autumn in New England

So it's a little bit rainy and cold here in little old Rhode Island today. It's as if for once, autumn came on cue. Usually, September rolls around and the temperature is still in the 80's for a few weeks at least. Not the case this year. September 1st - mid 70's, warm sun, and a cool breeze. The leaves are actually starting to change color and fall already!

On a more musical note, i've been writing a couple new songs that I haven't gotten to record yet. I've also been learning a couple covers as well. The most recent is Tyler Hilton's "Tore the Line". I am in love with this song! I changed the key to suit my vocal range. Tyler plays this with his guitar tuned down a whole step. I, on the other hand, didn't bother tuning down, but instead put the capo on the 5th fret. So it sounds a little different but I still think it's awesome :)

My video camera is still out of commission, as my recreational funds are non-existent at the moment. There's a lot of financial matters that need to be taken care of that are slightly more pressing than a video camera. But as soon as I am able, I will either replace or repair my video camera so that I can begin sharing some music again. I'm currently trying to figure out an efficient way of using the built in camera on my mac for some low quality vids in the meantime. However, in my past experiences with my other mac I had some problems recording video and recording sound through mics into garage band at the same time. I'll play around with it when I get the free time and hopefully I'll be able to figure something out so that I can share some new music. Trust me - I am sufficiently excited and aching to share what I've been working on.

And here's some photographs from my family Labor Day picnic this past weekend, in which my sister, Keileigh, and I grow and shrink at rapid rates...lol. Some trick photography makes for a lot of laughs...this was fun to mess around with.

*Kori Eryn*