every summer has a story

Hi!
First and foremost, who is as obsessed with their adult coloring book as I am? I actually have to restrain myself from coloring all day, every day. 
Well, I'm deciding to dedicate this "blog" section of my website to more a news-based feed (my news) instead of just the solely ruminated blabber that I sporadically post (which has been waning for a while now). 
But, that's good news because that means I've been working a lot.....and by work I mean, doing things I really *want* to be doing, whilst making a (very modest) living from it. 
I've taught for many many many years and have recently decided to hang that hat up for the time being in order to push myself to really hit the pavement as the musician I am. 
Good news is that so far, I've been doing ok with it all. I may have thrown the baby out with the bath water but, sometimes you just have to do that to grow. 
I'm finding myself auditioning for things.....which is weird because I haven't auditioned for something since my freshman year of college (that was 11 years ago now). 
It also feels weird to talk about auditions because I haven't found out if I got the gigs or not. So, wish me luck, I guess! I'm not too attached with any outcome which is good. I'm just glad I did it and am still doing it (two more auditions this weekend alone). 
I really have just one focus right now and that is to SING and CREATE. 

Amazingly, I had a great project present itself to me recently. I don't really think I should talk about it just yet (not my project to announce), but, it's the first thing of it's kind that I have ever done and I feel so absolutely honored to have been asked to do it.
In short, I sang the "lead vocals" on a chamber/pop record (well, soprano & alto) which was composed and arranged by a colleague of mine. It's 10 musicians (I'm 2 of the 10) and 10 songs. It's really beautiful stuff with lot's of wordless vocals and equal parts, thought-provoking lyrics. It is currently on it's way to be mixed in NYC. The release looks like it'll happen in October or November. 
I'm still wrapping my head around it all. I still don't know where the composer heard my singing (or what) and I'm just plain flattered by it all. Of course, I'll let you know when and where it is released. 

In other news, I'll be singing with a great Brazilian project called Lado B (Portuguese for "The B-Side") at Blue Whale in DTLA in October, for their CD release. The project is fronted by Brazilian vocalist/arranger, Catina DeLuna and Venezuelan pianist/composer/arranger, Otmaro Ruiz. That show is October 22nd.
Then on November 1st, I'll be joining Nick Mancini as a special guest at Vicky's in Palm Springs. When I get more details, I will post them in my "LIVE" section on the website. 
November 29th, I'll be the guest vocalist at Unity Church of Laguna Niguel for the Sunday morning service. 

In the meantime, I'm hoping to start recording my vocal arrangements of Nick's album "storyteller". We've enlisted our ideal band and hope to get that started as soon as possible. Vibes/marimba, bass, & percussion, with of course, two vocals. 
I'm also looking into this whole Periscope thing. We may host some little "in home" concerts in the very near future. (I'll let you know!)

I have not been writing, but the itch is always there, faintly. Maybe all of this momentum will jumpstart me again. I so loved working on my EP and dream about releasing a full-length at some point. It's been almost 2 years exactly since "Human Becoming" was released. Time FLIES. 

Well, I'm off to bed. I'll definitely need a rested voice for tomorrow (classical!). Wish me luck with the auditions! 

Until next time....

x