Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Entry #198

I hit high C today!! Twice!!! What is hitting high C and why am I so stoked about it? I exercise my voice everyday and usually I can hit high A to A# with true sound and something happened today where I made it up to high C twice in my exercise! That feels great! I guess it's like hitting a new level in my range. It makes sense though because I've diligently been working at it for a while now. That rocks.You rock. Seriously. Give yourself credit for all of your efforts.Rocking in to 2007,Jessica Star

Friday, January 05, 2007

Entry #197

We just got back to Brooklyn from our two week holiday trip out west! It was great! We went to Ashland, Oregon for Christmas and Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico for New Year's. Ashland is famous for its Shakespearian theater and "T or C", as the locals call it is laden with natural mineral springs. We had a fantastic time with all of our friends! I'm going to try to write more often in this online journal as my friends have been telling me they've been reading my blog and want new commentary! I had a huge realization in T or C. Ready? I am a Country singer. People have been telling me this for years and I never felt the truth of it. I just had some experiences down in New Mexico that really made this clear to me. It's beautiful! I feel like I can write music in many different styles and I've been wondering which direction to focus in. Now I know. I was going to put a little Country flavor on my new album but now I feel I have a real direction and I am very grateful. I've always had a little twang anyway. I feel the reality of this so deeply that even if some people don't like it, it doesn't matter. It's what I am and now I know! So hopefully you'll dig my new songs! I'm just starting to learn Pro Tools so I'm excited about recording! As a matter of fact, I gotta go so I can work out my vocal chords and jump into my new learning curve! Happy New Year to you all!!! I feel really blessed in my life and I hope you do too. Jessica Star

Friday, September 29, 2006

Entry #196

Yesterday I auditioned for Nashville Star! It's a reality show for finding the next country star. It was cool and fun. I'm not going to be on the show but I wasn't really attached to that one anyway. It was fun going through the process of auditioning. The auditions were held at the Rodeo bar on 27th and 3rd in the city. I met some cool country music loving folk while waiting for three hours in line. I sang the chorus to a Gretchen Wilson song. I have to get that song out of my head now! I'm very sound sensitive and when I'm learning something, I listen to it over and over til I know every nuance. Then I have to not listen to the song for a very long time so I can get it out of mind. I've been in my studio recording and writing almost every day! My drummer and bassist come over and record too. It is really important to enjoy the ride. Jessica

Sunday, August 20, 2006

Entry #195

Today was a lovely day. I have been recording in my studio and I love it! My past experiences in studios have been that I was paying by the hour so there wasn't a lot of time for trying things out, redoing, recording it until it's perfect, at least to my ears, and then listening to it over and over. Also, it's such a sweet experience be able to be in the studio alone. It's no one else's studio but mine and I love it! Collaborating is great, but there is such a beautiful magic in actually going deep inside your heart and mind and pulling out the music you hear in there. It's a very new experience for me to have my own space, as I'm a bit of a nomad. I lived in my car~ multiple cars for years, travelled around and stayed with friends which was great, I dug it while it was happening, but this is a whole new chapter in my life. I love having a home, I love having a garden, and I love having a space to do my work. Now that's a lot love! In the last month, I've written two songs that I really like (okay, I love them; I just didn't want to be redundant). I'm writing a new album. I already have enough new songs for an album, but I think if I keep writing songs, the newer ones are going to sound more cohesive together. So, that's what I'm doing. I know I talk a lot about yoga and its many benefits and I'm not stopping now! I've lived in New York City for almost 4 years, and it's just been in the last eleven months that I've developed a yoga practice. These have been the happiest and sanest eleven months since I've lived here! I'm falling deeper and deeper in love with this city. She opens her arms and embraces some people, and she chews up and spits out others. I got lucky. Our garden is glorious. I'm growing Anasazi corn among many other plants, and it just started to sprout the silky hairs of the corn. I planted grass seeds last Sunday, and it was the quick grow kind so they are sprouted and green, although a little patchy, but it's better than having bare dirt. I figure growing a garden and taking care of the space in my backyard is something that I can do to give back to this truly amazing metropolis (at least my neighbors appreciate it). I've definitely improved the quality of the earth out there. You would be amazed at the piles of broken glass, old bottles of lipstick, antique broken medicine bottles, bricks and all sorts of garbage that I've found and pulled out of the earth and sent to the dump (back to the earth, but at least it's a designated rubbish heap) I enjoyed every moment of working back there, believe me~ and it was very hot out too! It's kind of like an archaeological dig. It clues you in to what people thought was acceptable, just throwing bottles and broken things in the backyard. Mother Earth has every right to be livid. I really do hope we can pull it together to change our ways of living day to day and stop damaging the earth and our atmosphere and actually treat her like she deserves to be treated; as our mother and as our support system. But people treat their own bodies in the same ways. In our ignorance we eat garbage, we watch rubbish on television, we spew trash out of our mouths and we entertain thoughts that are~ garbage. Is that mean of me to say? I don't think that everyone does this, but I think that this is the common tendency of humans and until we really start coming out of our laziness and taking steps towards becoming evolved, those are the things we do because they're easy and within reach of our daily lives and maybe we don't know better. It's common, so it seems normal. I'm not free of it by far! Yoga definitely helps though, at least you start becoming concious that you have those tendencies. I'm in the mode of being a forward thinker, and not looking to see people thinking the same thoughts that I am and agreeing with all of my views. If you're truly a visionary and a revolutionary, you're going to be thinking things and doing things way before anyone else has caught on so you're not going to see the reflection in the outer world of what you think is an "ideal world". If you have information that could help set people's minds free, its your job to share it. And I thought I didn't have a lot to say today! Jessica Star!

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

Entry #194

Hi peeps! Hope you are enjoying this summer so far. This is Wednesday here in the Big Apple. Last Monday night I had drummer Dave over with his bassist friend, Kentucky. We added Reggae drums to my new song and then recorded bass for it! The art of recording well is very vast indeed. Luckily, our friend Keith came over just in time to reposition the mike and get us a decent recording on the very last take. Yesterday I recorded two vocal harmony parts~ one higher than the lead vocal and one lower. This is merely for the purpose of songwriting and fleshing out my ideas. Once I know way more about engineering and have the proper set up in my home studio, I'll be able to record cd worthy sounds. We've decided we're not attending Burning Man this year. Yep, the playa is not for us this time. It's cool, we're not really feeling it so, oh well. Maybe we'll go to Costa Rica soon or Ireland! The Black Rock Desert is extremely harsh on your body and at least for me, it's not what I need to subject myself to right now although I'm sure I'm going to miss it while it's in full swing. Ok, the truth is, I don't want to leave my beautiful garden, cats and home studio! What on Earth has happened to my priorities?! Things change, thank Goddess! We grow and change and things that were huge parts of our lives aren't so enticing anymore. We'll be there next year, no doubt. I'll be the one in the crazy costume. Enjoy and focus your thoughts on an abundant, positive future! Jessica Star

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Entry #193

It's a hot day here in NYC and I'm happily inside in the cool air conditioning. Today is Tuesday, and last Sunday night I played a gig in Amagansett, New York at Stephen's Talkhouse which is way out on Long Island in the very wealthy area. Apparently Sting, Paul McCartney and Billy Joel all have houses out there and from time to time come to the Talkhouse and jam. I sang with Hylton Beckford and Joe "Small Ax" Sinclair of the Slickers, and a band called the Majestics. We played Reggae music and had a great time. The band was hot and very tight, they play all the time. Their lead singer, Mesha, is great. Her site is http://www.mesha.org ~check her out!

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Entry #192

I just got booked at the Center Camp Cafe at Burning Man!!! This will be my 9th year on the playa and I finally made it to the Center Camp stage(although I'm pretty sure I played there a few years back but the memory is vague and covered with playa dust). So, we're definitely going to Burning Man now! I wrote a new song last week and Dave came over and put digital drums on it. It sounds groovy. It's very cool being able to record my ideas and then develope them into a full song with my recording equipment. I'm digging it. My garden is rocking. Next weekend I'm playing in South Hampton at a private party for an art magazine and at The Stephen Talkhouse~ both shows with Hylton "Johnny Too Bad" Beckford and a hot Carribean band. Even though the media and the world around might look bleak, there's a reason that we're here on this planet and it certainly is not to be bummed out and feeling like the greedy bad guys have all the power! Make an effort daily to make your world more healthy and positive! Stop complaining and make positive changes in your life. Do yoga, grow some plants, help someone who needs it, even if it's just saying hi to an old person. Reduce your red meat intake if you are experiencing alot of anger and frustration. The beautiful thing about being an independant musician is that I can pretty much say whatever I want! I love making music and forging my own pioneering path in the world, opening up new pathways for future generations. Jessica Star

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Entry #191

Hi! Sorry it's been so long since I've blogged! My trip to Northern California rocked, simply put. I rehearsed with my musician buds out there Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and then we played at the Harmony Festival on Saturday, June 10th and at the Ace Cider Pub on Sunday the 11th. I had a fantastic outfit on Saturday; a silk corset in shades of blue, a ruffly aqua skirt and the prettiest aqua blue backless shoes (mules) with a very small heel. The shoes were covered in beads and sparkles! For the Ace show I wore a black "Barbarella" tank that apparently belonged to one of the members of Four Non-Blondes, black Brooklyn Industries Capri pants and yet another pair of those ADORABLE shoes in black with sparkles! We recorded the Ace show and we actually sounded pretty good considering we had only three rehearsals. I had my own hotel room and rental car!!! Yes, this is a big step up from when I first moved to California and I was on the road hitch hiking around. Having your own hotel room is awesome. I hung out there every night and took hot baths listening to my ipod. Thank you to EVERYONE that came to our shows! It was really good for my heart to see all of you, just like old times but now we're older and hopefully wiser. I went to the ocean a bunch and everyday to the famous Hardcore coffee shop to meet my friends and catch up with them. I've been working in my garden since I came home and I love it. Last night I went to Hammerstein Ballroom with my drummer Dave Dawson and saw Pat Benatar. She and her husband Neil are still great. I was standing up with everyone else singing along to "Hit Me with Your Best Shot". And today was a delicious yoga class. Someone was writing in the sky above NYC today, "OHM" which is the sound that God/Goddess made to create everything. I think there are a lot of people who probably have never been to New York who think this city is not spiritual and just a greedy place. I think that is bogus. There are probably more yoga practitioners here per capita than anywhere else in America and people here are driven to work and create. God/dess in action~ karma yoga. It's all about your intention and motivation. It's also alot easier to be a wise person when you're in the beautiful country or on a mountain, it's alot more challenging to be a genuinely good person when you're surrounded by people, poverty, and pressure. Believe me, I've met some aspiring saints here! And as it turns 3am, I bid thee farewell and goodnight, Jessica

Thursday, May 04, 2006

Entry #190

We are all moved into our new apartment in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn! It's a two story! We have a big backyard, a new dishwasher, and a private laundry room! I love moving to a better space. The neighborhood where we live now is really cool. We moved over the weekend and we're still coming out of boxes. The downstairs is going to be my recording studio! The last guy who lived here ran an independent hip-hop label out of the basement. It already has the vibe. I'm very excited about the backyard. It's three times the size of our last apartment and it gets sun all day long. Oh the garden I'm going to grow! So, I'm confirmed for two shows in northern California. I'm playing the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa on Saturday, June 10th and the Ace-In-The-Hole Cider Pub in Graton on Sunday, June 11th. I can't wait to go to the ocean out there. I'm kind of happy in a way that I don't miss living there as much as I used to, because that used to make me sad. But I am so happy and grateful to be able to go back and visit and play music. We just got back from Bed, Bath and Beyond in Manhattan and got all the goodies to spruce up our upstairs bathroom!!! Alright, this is the end of my evening rant. Signing off, Jessica

Saturday, April 29, 2006

Entry #189

It's 7 a.m., and it's moving day! We're moving from Park Slope to Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn. I'm very excited about our new neighborhood. I'm writing this blog with my voice recognition system! Yeah, I'm up early. We're listening to reggae and packing up the last of our belongings. I recently purchased a digital home recording device! It's a Boss BR1600 CD with eight live input channels, and lots of very cool effects. I'm going to learn a lot, learning how to use it. I can't wait to get to the point where I can just walk over to it, press a few buttons and record the new songs that I hear in my head. Our new apartment has a huge backyard, and is just asking for me to do something very cool in it like plant a bunch of flowers. I'm on my second cup of coffee, which is really cool because I haven't drunk coffee all week. Our cats keep bringing out different toys that have been under the refrigerator or behind the stove or under the couch. I think it's their way of letting us know that we have to pack up their toys. Sometimes I can't believe how cute our cats are. So I canceled my performance at Telemagica Festival down in Southern California. I'm just going to stay up in the Bay Area when I go out there in June to play the Harmony Festival. I'm excited to play music with Gregg, my old guitar player. All right, that's it for the morning thoughts. I'm going back into the moving! Jessica

Monday, April 17, 2006

Entry #188

Hello readers! Spring is here in full force! All of the plants in my backyard are starting to bud and blossom. I've been confirmed for two festivals in California for June and I'm very excited about them. My friend Gregg Tilles will play with me at the Harmony Festival in Santa Rosa; http://www.harmonyfestival.com/ . The exact date and time of my performance is still to be determined but most likely I'll be playing on Saturday, June 10th at noon on the Goddess stage! That's my old stomping grounds. It'll be good to go for a visit. The other festival that I'm playing is down in the very southern part of California in the Jacumba Desert. It's called the Telemagica Festival http://www.telemagica.com . There is a pending Memorial Day show out here in New York on Long Island. I'll let you know as the details unfold. My wrist is healing and I'm starting to play a more guitar again. Thank the Goddess! Injuries suck! They definitely teach you about your body and your limitations and about when you're pushing yourself too hard and not listening to what your body is telling you. Cheers, Jessica

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Entry #187

We just got back from Amsterdam!!! Yes, you should go there if you have the chance. Most of the people ride around on bikes and a lot of the cars are really small like Coopers. The Dutch are pretty fashionable and serious looking. I guess that I come from a fairly smiley place (California) and I've learned living in NYC to keep the smiles to a minimum while walking around. This came in handy in Amsterdam; I put on my very bored and serious expression for those moments where Dutch people might have been looking my way. We walked around the first two days and had a great time. By the end of the second day my feet had run out of rubber on the soles and we found a bike rental for the rest of our time there. Bikes are definitely the best way to get around, just like at Burning Man. We went to the Van Gogh museum and learned more about him. He really wanted to be successful and he worked really hard to make it. His brother Theo supported him and sold only one of Vincent's paintings while Vincent was alive. He actually learned to paint and painted for about ten years before he shot himself in the chest and died two days later with his brother by his side. His brother died six months later and was buried next to Vincent. His brother's wife spent her life working on getting Van Gogh's work known after the brothers died. I guess one of the lessons here is that when you have a calling to create art or beauty, just create it and do your very best to get it to people but don't let the lack of success drive you to the grave. I do understand this. Vincent painted differently to try to be more appealing and sell his work. We also ate alot of delicious food! I'll write more about our trip later, just wanted to fill you in and say hey! Jessica

Thursday, February 09, 2006

Entry #186

Hey peeps! Just a note to say hey! I've officially started working on my third album and I'm very happy about it! See all the exclamation points? New York is a cool place and it's even better when you have a regular yoga practice! I'm recording at a studio here in Brooklyn called Platinum Studios and I've been recording there since October (directly after starting my regular yoga practice). Life is great. There are still all the sad and awful things going on in the world but when you're really doing what you love, those things just aren't as heavy on your spirit. Today we laid many harmony vocals for "Sweet Candy" and it sounds well, sweet! Whoo hoo!!!!!!! Jessica Star

Friday, January 20, 2006

Entry #185

Hi there! I thought I'd write a message just to keep you updated with what's going on in my life. I've been recording preproduction for my third album at Platinum House Studios here in Brooklyn. It's really fun and it's a lot of work! It's pretty amazing to be able to speak a musical language of sounds with someone, communicate the ideas I hear in my head, and have them understand it and be able to create tracks of music so that we can both hear it. This week we worked on," The River" and "Sweet Candy". It's going really well and I'm really happy that this is happening in my life right now. Actually, I'm very grateful. I moved to New York a little over three years ago and now I feel like the time that I've put in here is starting to yield sweet fruits. As I said in a previous message, it takes time to get used to the pace and to build friendships and connections. One of the big reasons I moved here was to be surrounded and immersed in the energy of manifesting my dreams. If you know anything about New York, you know that most of the people who move here, especially entertainers, are here to develop their careers and take it to the next level. I know for me, there are a lot more reasons why I need to be here. There's not a lot of room to slough off and be lazy when you live in NYC (unless you have a lot of money). I was perfectly happy living near the beach in northern California! I was happy, but I was not fulfilled. It was as if my future self was calling to me, urging me to walk the path that I'm on right now. Let me tell you, I am so grateful that I listened! Yoga is definitely helping me to stay sane, I recommend it. It's to the point now where we're going to yoga as often as possible. I'm learning about goals and processes and loving the process of getting there and knowing that the goal is just part of the journey, not the end. Yoga is helping me to learn this. All of my fairy best wishes to you for your journey! ~Jessica Star~

Thursday, December 22, 2005

Entry #184

Hi peeps! What's on my agenda for the New Year? I got my Dragon's Lair cd to people at Sony and their feedback to me was that they think I'm a strong songwriter and they'd like me to focus on writing songs for artists they're producing! I love writing music! I love to write in all different styles so, this is perfect. I'm officially apologizing for not playing out in the last few months. As I said in a previous entry; I've been healing my wrist from tendonitis. I am going to yoga and being very gentle on my wrist throughout the day (and night) and it is healing, it just takes time. I played guitar yesterday and sang and it felt so good (in my heart-not on my wrist). I'm definitely not typing or knitting until it's really healed but I'll play some guitar just to stay in tune (I'm typing with one finger on the good side and using my voice recognition system). I haven't written much cause that's "typing" and a no-no for now. When I start gigging again it will probably be as a vocalist with a full band. As far as all else in my life~ great! Winter has encompassed N.Y. and I'm once again, in love with this city. If I'm going to spend years on this planet living somewhere, I'm grateful it's here. It's really a bit of a love-hate thing but as of today, I'm happy I'm in NY. People know how to dress here! I don't always dress stylish when I go outside but it's nice to know that this is a place where you can really do it up and you're right with the way of life here. It's taken me a few years to actually feel like a New Yorker. My experience, moving here from the West Coast is that my metamorphosis has come in increments. A friend of mine, who I reconnected with in New York, told me that if you really want to do something with your career here, you have to give it at least 10 years. Before I moved here, I was planning on staying for about two years. As I sit here drinking Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, I realize I do love it here and I might stay for 10 years! Last night was the winter solstice, and the longest night of the year and our yoga teacher had us focus on our goals and intentions for the New Year. From now until June, the days will be getting longer and the natural energy for creating your life in the way you want it is synchronistic (more daylight= more energy). So take some time and figure out what it is you'd like to create for your life in this New Year, set your intention, and create it! And remember that change comes in baby steps; it's a process and the goal is not the end, but part of the process, part of your journey. This is roughly what our yoga teacher said. The New Year brings a new start and fresh inspiration for the things you want to do. Jessica