Grati-Tuesday # 6 – Jen Lane

Today I am thankful for my friend Jen Lane. Two summers ago, Jen was just an acquaintance. I was in a state, because the studio I was recording at was closing, the producer was leaving, and I wasn’t quite happy with the music we were making but I couldn’t pinpoint why.

I needed advice, so I called Jen and her husband John and asked if I could buy them lunch. Jen and John together probably have more than two decades of experience and lessons learned about the music business. They can always be counted on for a coffee or brain picking session. Their generosity with their time, energy and knowledge is well known in the Saskatoon music community.
So we had lunch, and after Thai food and no small amount of venting from me, Jen offered a few producers’ names—including her own. “No pressure!” she said “Just think about it and I’ll see you at Ness Creek in two weeks.” I didn’t need to think about it, but she didn’t want me to feel even remotely pressured into a decision.

I made this record with Jen, in the end, and I am so glad I did. I have gained an amazing friend in my life, and my record turned so beautifully. Jen has a wicked sense of humour and is fantastic at putting things in perspective. She enjoys the simple things in life, and has a sneaky talent for helping the people around her slow down and do the same. When you’re stressed out around Jen, you’ll often find yourself fed, watered and laughing your butt off at some gloriously stupid Youtube video before you even know what hit you. I still haven’t figured out if she’s doing it on purpose or not.

Working with an inspired, talented and intuitive female producer was an incredible treat. I feel like my record was a newborn baby in a carriage controlled by four untamed horses and hurtling away from me at lightning speed. You whispered the horses, grabbed the reins and put the baby back in my hands. I am so grateful.

Jen has released a song and video this week, which you can check out below.
She will be joining us at at The Bassment on Friday night to do some SANGIN’!!! Can’t wait!

Jen Lane – Shoe (Official Video): http://exclaim.ca/music/article/jen_lane-shoe_video

‪#‎heartbeats‬ ‪#‎gratituesday‬ ‪#‎whenyouranswercomes‬

‘Ghost’ Single and Video

My new single ‘Ghost is out now! Purchase the song on iTunes or Bandcamp now. Here is the music video we made this spring:

Sarah Farthing – Ghost (Official Video)

Grati-Tuesday #2

It’s Gratituesday again! As I mentioned on FB last week Tuesdays are now the day when I will post a little bit of appreciation for someone who has made a positive impact on my journey—whether they know it or not.#gratituesday #heartbeats

This week’s Tuesday shout-out goes to Geordie Gescha Trifa.

Occasionally, you meet someone whose creative process is a friggin’ force of nature. Witnessing the other person in action, you’re awed beyond any precedent you’ve experienced, while at the same time feeling utterly destroyed in any lofty estimation of your own talents. You end up torn between a newly energized sense of inspiration and also a feeling of “why do I even try?” because your own work comes nowhere close. This is what collaborating with Geordie is like (and the trick, by the way, is to stay on the inspired side of the coin and work your butt off).

Geordie has a formidable artistic talent which does not appear to slow down when he switches media. He is a great songwriter, a stellar performer, and an insightful filmmaker. I have had the privilege of collaborating with Geordie for years on music and it has made a huge impact on my creative life. Geordie is the best kind of friend a creative person can have because he’ll remember the inspired, expansive version of your idea, keep it crystallized in his pocket, and be ready to hand it back to you when self-doubt has starved your version into a tiny morsel of its former self. From Geordie, I have learned to keep moving forward, keep inspired, and that the expansive version of the dream is the truest and most trustworthy version.

This spring Geordie and Rob (with the aid of some funding from Creative Saskatchewan!), made a music video for my song ‘Ghost.’ You’ll be able to see this talent at work tomorrow, when I release it. Stay tuned,
and thank you Geordie.