Pahchisme Plaid

Okay. I've been trying to figure this one out. Considering the challenge outline, you bring up Dorothy, but then say, "not the one from the wizard movies, geez". So who is this "character" meant to bring understanding to the song? It appears there would be none, unless you bring up Dorothy as a sort of symbol. Is Dorothy a symbol? If she is then there must be other symbolism in the song. I happened to look up "Wizard of Oz" and learned something I hadn't known previously about political symbolism of the characters in the Wizard of Oz and found it quite interesting, to say the least. So I wonder, is that the train of thought you are meaning to set listeners on? Which leads to other questions. Is there significance to Kansas City (?) because you say, she indeed is from there. It seems implied that her bestest friend was john who went missing and then was found in an old truck on a pile of junk, so a few things get swirling in my thoughts, (1) Is john, whose name is not capitalized (though Jersey is) a person, an idea or thing? And perhaps the upper/lower casing of those words is insignificant, but perhaps on purpose. The writer knows. (2) What is the significance of the search party of 30? (3) Does the truck represent something significant? (an industry?) and the junk? (4) Is there a significance to Jersey? Is it a shirt or a location? (4) What the non-human form is is hard to determine until the significance of john is known. (5) and finally, hinging this on the idea that it is politically symbolic, is it to be continued because it is yet to have been played out and is the political relevance current? I could be wayyyyyy off in considering your song idea as politically related, but I'd be interested to find out.

I wonder if I'm missing something. I've been periodically checking in here since December because this is a topic that I am really interested in and could really use direction in. I know the site has changed a lot from what I was used to, when I frequented previously so perhaps I'm missing something--not properly accessing?

Today, I’m privileged to interview a lady who has lulled herself into the hearts of our members with her truly sweet disposition and her smooth, soothing, dreamlike voice. If you haven’t yet had an encounter with the lovely singer/songwriter from Kolkata, India, Sreyashi Mukherjee, whom we call Sumi, you’re in for a real treat! Let’s get started…. Sumi, What got you interested in songwriting? To be honest I never saw myself as songwriter material. So maybe... about a couple of years ago when I was well into my thirties. I come from a music-oriented family and was interested in singing from a very young age. But all throughout my active involvement in music, until my early twenties, my focus remained on covering songs that I loved and admired. Then, like so many others, I got sucked into life doing the “important things”. At some point in everyone's life, the things that we defined as important don't remain that important anymore. Priorities change, circumstances change, we change or... maybe we suddenly realize we already changed too much from what we really are? That is what happened with me, a decade after I stopped singing. Something felt sorely missing and my quest for this missing piece led me back to music. Unexpectedly, I stumbled upon songwriting at this stage. While exploring opportunities online, I came across different artists and musicians who encouraged me to try out my own composition. It's been an amazing two years since then and I'm constantly learning and evolving all along! Songstuff has especially played a very big role in re-starting this journey for me because it was one of the first places that I turned to! "Priorities change circumstances change, we change or... maybe we suddenly realize we already changed too much from what we really are? That is what happened with me a decade after I stopped singing." How would you describe your particular songwriting style? I wouldn’t say that I have a signature songwriting style yet. I'm experimenting with different music genres to test myself. In general though, my preference is towards working on something that doesn't follow a fixed formula structure-wise and melody-wise. I also prefer to write in abstract formats if it fits the music. I find greater satisfaction from such challenges that I keep for myself. You have two albums out; HOPES AND DREAMS -- a collaboration with Russel Lucas, and ELLIPSIS, a collaboration with Mateusz Kowara. CONGRATULATIONS! Let’s start by talking about your album, ELLIPSIS. How did you connect with Mateusz? Well how I got in touch with Mateusz is indeed an interesting one. First thing, we met via Songstuff. I received a one-line message from him, asking me to look over his instrumental track and see if I wanted to be a part of it. Definitely something that a random spammer does! I almost dismissed the message but decided to listen to the track once - and it caught my attention immediately! I had to engage him in a few conversations after that, though, just to ensure that he wouldn’t "ghost on me" once I started work on the track (nervous smile). It turned out that Mateusz had been actively looking for a co-writer for his song ideas for a long time locally or even within Poland, but had not come across the "right candidates". In a last-ditch attempt, he tried the online route. Songstuff was one of the options that popped up. He randomly came across my profile and dropped me a message without even checking out my work! As shaky a beginning as it sounds, he has turned out to be one of my steadiest collaborators and a close friend. This first song draft that we worked together on became "Autumn Leaves", which is also featured in our album "ELLIPSIS". At that time, we had no thoughts about releasing an album but as we continued to work closely and saw another two songs coming to life, we began to think seriously along those lines. "I almost dismissed the message but decided to listen to the track once - and it caught my attention immediately!" Were you going for a particular feel or a particular sound at the onset of this album? We realized that while our songs were not exactly falling into any particular genre, they had an ambient feel to them, so, we structured the rest of the songs in the album to loosely come under the "ambient pop" category. In your ELLIPSIS album, you have a song called, *Kings*. Tell our readers, what IS that song about? This was the last song that we wrote while working on the album... it went through a number of revisions before getting its current half-dance, half-Viking vibe. Lyrically, I used “The King”, as a metaphor for all of us. Every king would have experienced power and defeat during his reign. That is the story of our lives, too... a cycle that we ride over and over again. "*Autumn Leaves* is so aptly named. As I hear the words of the song, I get an image of a once live, green leaf changing, turning gold and brown as it lilts to the ground much like the relationship you sing about in the song. Is this the image you intended to evoke?" Precisely! You have captured the essence very well. And I really feel that nature can depict all the emotions that even the most complex human being experiences - in such beautiful ways... In *Ruminations* you have a line that resonates with me. “But if we do run out of words we can always watch the sunset”. Those are the best kind of friends. The ones that you can just enjoy time with. Those are the kind you can pick up where you left off even though you haven’t seen each other in a really long time. Is this song more about friendship or is it more about enjoying the moment? This song is all about inclusivity - feeling one with everyone, every being, everything. This can only happen if we drop all our preconceived notions and be open to every experience that the moment presents. At some point in our lives (no matter how short-lived), we all must have experienced this and the feeling of liberation and bliss that came along with it. My favourite line? "Let's dive and be free" (calm, glowing cheeks smile). Your song, *Night Rain* has some interesting musical turns and what seems to be strategic pauses and change ups. Did you have a particular target you were aiming for in the creation of this piece? Even in its draft stages, this song was a very ambitious concept. The changing mood of the song brings to one's mind the idea of a musical - almost as if there are many songs in one. We did try to paint a picture with the arrangement and lyrics that describes a particular scene in the rain and some old memories ignited along the way. We probably struggled the most with this song because of the large vision we had for it. We are also the proudest of this creation! "I used 'The King', as a metaphor for all of us. Every king would have experienced power and defeat during his reign. That is the story of our lives, too... a cycle that we ride over and over again." I think your song, *Man-Made World* is one of the songs I find most sonically pleasing in the album, ELLIPSIS. The resonating echo, “wake up” lends a most appropriate feel to this lyric. I know that the lyric is often only the visible (in this case audible) surface of a mental web of processing when writing. What were the stirrings behind these lyrics? Yes, compared to the offbeat nature of our songs, this one is more radio-friendly (Delighted smile). We also made it the first release from our album. For me, I always let the music inspire me to come up with a lyrical theme. In this song's case, the haunting guitar chords and bass-arrangement brought the idea of something ominous to my mind, but like slow-poison. I based it on us...after all, isn't humanity almost at the brink of destroying itself? I must admit, it does sometimes seem that humanity contributes to its own destruction (bobblehead nod slowing to a stop). Next item: Tell our readers, Is there a significance in selecting the album title, ELLIPSIS? Our personal favourite from the album would be Ellipsis, which is what the album is named after. We know that it will never find its way to commercial acceptability but, it is what reminded us both why we want to make music. We put our hearts and souls into this song. "It is what reminded us both why we want to make music. We put our hearts and souls into this song." Ellipsis is one of the latter three songs you shared with me later as our interview progressed. It has such a gorgeous, haunting, almost ominous musical introduction and your vocals are just...ugh...absolutely stunning. I can see why this might be a favorite to both you and Mateusz. It has an almost dreamy, surreal feel to it and the ending just resonates with the listener. Readers, if you haven’t listened to it yet, you’ve got to check it out! Are there others who have contributed to the completion of this album that you would like to recognize? We are very thankful to have Hugiz Records, which mixed and mastered all our songs. We are already casually working on new song material and, when the time comes, will definitely look forward to working with Hugiz Records again! Let’s talk about your other album, HOPES AND DREAMS. Your collaborator was Russell Lucas. How did you meet Russell? (I’ve got the inside scoop on this one, haha.) Did I mention that Songstuff played a big role in helping me find a direction while restarting my musical quest? (Quirky, pondering smile). Well, I got introduced to Russell Lucas through a friend at SS (wink wink!) about 2 years ago. He comes from the world of classic jazz, blues and country. I've always had a deep interest in jazz music and collaborating with him helped me to tap deeper into this side. Russ goes into minute details right from music creation to the finishing touches of the song. I have learned a great deal from him and am continuing to do so. The themes of this album seem to run the gamut of emotions in an intense relationship. It seems to go from warm, fond, love-lit acceptance to the sting of lost love, the question of love’s sincerity and relational memories re-visited. What impact are you hoping these songs will have on our listeners? Most of the songs done with Russell have been done with the goal getting placed in film music as the themes broadly cover the main situations that many movies depict. We have a long way to go in reaching that milestone but we’ve started to gain some traction in this direction. *In My Dreams* I think is my personal favorite on this album. It seems to evoke a “happy memories” feel to it. It’s a chill-out listen. Did the music come first or did the lyrics? Thank you.. it is my favourite, too, from this EP! Yes, it's a really sweet piece of music. Russ provided me with the track first to check if it inspired me in some way. Was there a personal inspiration for this one? As I explained earlier, I usually try to let the pulse of the instrumental track guide me to come up with a lyrical theme. In this case, the music seemed to create a picture of a Utopian setting in my mind and so I came up with the idea of a Utopian kind of romanticism. It sounds too ideal in real life but I believe that we humans do have a great capacity for love, much beyond our own imagination. Absolutely! I think we continue to discover a deeper capacity for love than what we never imagined we were capable of. "I usually try to let the pulse of the instrumental track guide me to come up with a lyrical theme." You have two songs on the album, HOPES AND DREAMS that you were the vocalist on, but not the writer. *Just Like You Wanted* lyrics were written by Susan Cantey with music and arrangement by Russell Lucas. The other song, *Shadows in the Past* was written by Russell Lucas and Tania Knight. Were the songs ready-made with the vocal melody too, or did you take part in the vision and manifestation of that vision with your vocal melody... and how is it you came by these lyrics? Both these songs were fully structured, along with the lyrics, when they were sent to me as demos. Russ had been looking for someone who could bring an emotional range to the songs and he felt that I fit the bill (Happy smile). My main task was to bring in my own interpretation of the vocal melodies. I had, in fact, recorded these two songs first before starting my own compositions with Russ's music. How did you know you wanted them as part of this album? We later decided to make them a part of this 4-song EP, which would be more of a launch of our maiden collaboration under my artist name "Sumi". My fourth song, *Tomorrow* - is an original composition with which we closed off the EP. *Tomorrow* is truly reflective of your particular smooth, jazzy, honey-ooze vocal sound and Russell Lucass’s Jazzy, old-timey musical creations. This is what paired you two together in my mind. Are you planning any upcoming collaborations with Russell in the future? Currently, we are working on material to create a full-length album. The genres will be similar but I'm looking forward to experimenting more within these formats. Romano Erafficci has done the mixing on both JUST LIKE YOU WANTED and SHADOWS OF THE PAST. We can’t neglect to recognize the impact a good mix can have on the outcome of a song. How did that connection come to pass? Romano mixed and mastered all our songs and is also a regular with our new, upcoming material. He really understood the mood and feel that these songs had wanted to create and brought them to life beautifully. Russ, having worked with other artists, was already in touch with him from before. For me, it's probably just another coincidence that Romano is also from Poland (apart from Mateusz and the owner of Hugiz Records)! Where can listener’s access or purchase your music from? The links to my releases are: THE WINGBEATS (Band with Mateusz Kowara) - https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/ellipsis/1458043478?ign-mpt=uo%3D4 https://open.spotify.com/album/4omVv7EJL4hcKTmPvjBZNM?si=8hV2w8qhQiqDVvlI2SJIHg SOLO ALBUM (Collaboration with Russell Lucas) - https://music.apple.com/au/album/hopes-and-dreams-ep/1454740195 https://open.spotify.com/album/6A3W5GDDXnUBsF769wJprH Website: Music and Sumi https://www.sumi-music.com/ https://www.facebook.com/thewingbeats/ Finally, of all the songs from both your albums, which one most resonates with you and why? I think comparing my work with Mateusz and Russell is like comparing chalk and cheese --- they come from completely different worlds. I'm only extremely grateful that I am getting the opportunity to try out different styles of music with such gifted artists and composers, who are also very warm people. "I'm only extremely grateful that I am getting the opportunity to try out different styles of music with such gifted artists and composers, who are also very warm people." Chalk and cheese! There you go, readers! How exciting it is to collaborate with others in diverse genres and styles! Sumi has inspired great incentive to explore a variety of collaborators in the songwriting experience! She’s found two wonderful, warm and skilled artists that she has enjoyed, learned from and produced wonderful albums with. They’re out there, people, and you may just find your next collaborator on Songstuff! Well, thank you for agreeing to this interview, Sumi, and I hope to catch your next album when it comes out! Keep us posted! View full interview

I appreciate your feedback eclectic. I will probably clean Wile-E up eventually as time and attention allow. I've been taking some pretty good breathers between my songs (mostly because life demands I use my songwriting differently than before), but I still have plenty to work on and Wile-E isn't high on my list right now. I have songs I have fallen in love with and I have to admit, this isn't one of them. The ones I love the most get the attention first. I've also been taking some decent breaks for social media because social media seems to have an impact on me in such a way that I feel more grounded with the breaks. I pop in here now and again as I do enjoy it, just with need for limiting myself, so I apologize for delay in response to your feedback. Thank your for your comments on Caddy Shack Man. That is the effect I was hoping for!

This is when I wish I knew more of Sherlock Holmes. I was very young when I learned of him. So young I don't recall if it was in a book or through television. I would not have known if it hadn't come up in discussion here. I would not have known not on account of how you have written, but just that I am not freshly familiar. I would not have picked up on Moriarty as a character relating to Sherlock on account of this. That being established, I can comment only on how it appears to someone who doesn't have that background to relate, so here goes....Even for someone not relating to the story behind the song, your lines provoke interest and great curiosity and seems a timeless theme that could apply to something even today. It even comes across as a riddle of sorts when you don't know the story--a riddle expressive of something that a group of people would be able to de-code to a present circumstance. That brings it to life. London is falling appears to be your repeated line, but is a bit inconsistent in it's placement within the song. I wonder if the effectiveness of it's impact wouldn't be more if we could expect it to hit in certain places.

Hey Timbre, thanks for taking the time to check it out. I appreciate the look into it. You are right on spot. As I mentioned above to John, I wasn't particularly thrilled with the outcome of the song. I did not have my "song" on and it shows. I'm getting soft, but I was simply mentally spent and probably should have picked a different time to write, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity--I wasn't sure if I was too behind the game. Anyway, I'll mess up my way to a fix and hopefully get something better out of this. I'm one of those who tends to want to move on to a newer, fresher song, than to revisit, but I'm going to make myself on this one. ;)

Thanks for the feedback on Wile-E., John You were so nice. When I posted it, I really didn't feel great about it--(either song really), 'cause my songwriting brain wasn't on that day, but I really needed to TRY to work within some parameters because my I'm getting soft. I'm so used to just writing whatever I want to in whatever form I want to with whatever theme I want to, but I've still so much to learn that I really try to participate in these challenges. I like having the challenges. Feedback is great. I knew I wasn't so happy with something, but when its your own work and you're spent on a particular song, space from the song and feedback from others is so key. I like the specifics you gave. Thank you!

Here's a second attempt. Perhaps too much to have caddy shack man as my hook? Caddy Shack Man Lyrics by Kc Chad © 2019 Verse: Clint Eastwood cool, expression and stand Any given normal day But see bees with stingers And you hold a dead-ringer For that grounds-keeping caddy shack man Chorus: Caddy shack man, caddy shack man Weird phenomenon Where has your brain gone So obsessive Caddy shack man Verse: About to drown the bees in the ground When I said, “They’ll find other exits” You put down the hose went to the garage Came back with a tarp big as Texas chorus: Caddy shack man, caddy shack man Weird phenomenon Where has your brain gone So obsessive Caddy shack man Verse: “You’ll kill all the grass, then what will we have But dusty old, dried up dirt!” You grumbled some words Disappeared then returned With a gas can, torch and matches chorus: Caddy shack man, caddy shack man Weird phenomenon Where has your brain gone So obsessive Caddy shack man verse: You pulled up the spout, then I shouted out “Honey? Are you nuts! You’re gonna blow us Clear to Smithereens! Threw up your hands, Maybe you’re plum worn down chorus 2 Caddy shack man, caddy shack man Weird phenomenon Brain damage gone Calm, collected Cool caddy shack, caddy shack man

Argh, I don't know if I did this right and I seem to be stuck in ABC form today. Not sure if it's story-ish enough, but loved the imagery of Wile-E Coyote. You Can’t Be The King of Everything Lyrics by Kc Chad © 2019 Verse: Your jealously Ain’t getting the best of me It blows up in your face Your dynamite is under cover You’ve got plenty good to offer You’ve got a real creative thinker But you can’t be the king of everything Verse: Him over there Plenty smart but mostly cares Works hard though no one sees Attention isn’t one of his needs but when it’s mentioned, lo and behold Your fists curl up and your ears steam Oh, you can’t be the king of everything Chorus: Can’t you see you’re only hurting yourself, The harm you mean for someone else Circles round to where your ears are plugged While you wait for the boom, the wick Burns down and you crisp up and fall apart like a Wile-E Coyote, ooooo ooooo verse: Leave it alone Take a breath, and head on home Charlie’s not your problem, No If you want a job tomorrow Sow your seed in self-dug furrows Don’t be so bleak your strengths are unique But you won’t be the king of everything verse: You really think Their successes cause you to sink? It’s your distorted view Man, your truest enemy is you You’re just chewing up your own tail Your schemes are what’s dragging you down Yeesh! You can’t be the king of everything Can’t you see you’re only hurting yourself, The harm you mean for someone else Circles round to where your ears are plugged While you wait for the boom, the wick Burns down and you crisp up and fall apart like a Wile-E Coyote, ooooo ooooo Bridge: It’s not an exchange. Them having nothing Doesn’t get you everything. verse: Why can’t you see Your stocks in ALLME company Are misplaced resources Follow advice and change your courses Rather than always comparing, Find your differences endearing Cause you can’t be the king of everything Verse: Can’t you see you’re only hurting yourself, The harm you mean for someone else Circles round to where your ears are plugged While you wait for the boom, the wick Burns down and you crisp up and fall apart like a Wile-E Coyote, ooooo, oooooo See, You can’t be the king of everything.

LANDING IN THE WOMB OF THE WATERS Lyrics by Kc Chad 2019 Verse 1: Come for me Tomorrow’s a promised City of gold Where the breeze blows hot And the sky’s aglow. Let’s blow this joint Feign parental calls Or a note that’s scrawled, “sick day excused” They’ll never know. Chorus: And we’ll fly free, free as dolphins jumping through the air, landing in the womb of the waters (landing in the womb of the waters). Verse 2: Come for me We’ll head off for the beach I’ll tie my hair back With a polka-dot pink kerchief We’ll slap on our shades And put down the top Rev the fifty-seven engine Turn the tunes way up Chorus: And we’ll fly free, free as dolphins jumping through the air, landing in the womb of the waters (landing in the womb of the waters). Bridge: We’ll frolic in the seas Cool the beads off our brows Bronze our bodies in the sun Build castles in the sand We’ll dance with midnight madness While flames flicker soft and warm And we’ll follow the moon Back to our homes Before they notice we were gone Verse 3: Come for me One opportunity Slip out this pencil cage Live our own novel page Do it on my dare No one will suspect They’re busy with life This can be sealed in our memory A day of dreams Chorus: Yes, we’ll fly free, free as dolphins jumping through the air, landing in the womb of the waters (landing in the womb of the waters). We’ll fly free, free as dolphins jumping through the air, landing in the womb of the waters (landing in the womb of the waters). Landing in the womb of the waters.

Sound interesting... Guess I need to get my write on!

Hope I'm not too late to do this--just saw it today, but sounds like a fun one....

My youngest arrived home and shared this song with me and I thought it was sooooo pretty I had to share it here.

I don't have a great memory anymore, either. However, visuals stay with me better than some other avenues, so I was able to retain until I got home, but writing what I saw was the first and most immediate thing I did when I walked into the door of my house from my walk. It helped to mentally re-walk the very familiar route to and from in my mind over again seeing what I saw as I reached the particular area where I saw the visuals and writing it down before moving forward again on in my mental re-walk. Walking with the notebook is a very good idea, but I chose not to because for that particular walk, I needed to take in and absorb the scenery, the moment and BE as much if not more than getting the visual ideas to write down. Sometimes when life gets crazy, I just need to get grounded in my surroundings and NOTICE what is around, just be and take in. It helps me to let go of the craziness, at least for a little while. I need it! Songwriting has been good for me for the same reason. It helps me to take note of emotions, reality, people and moments, something that my very being NEEDS while my life often feels like a whirlwind. I have, at other times in my life, written with extreme care, trying to reach a sort of standard that my studies of lyric writing have suggested, but for this time in my life, it seems that I am writing because it ministers to me. For the time being, my songs are written to get my ideas on paper. Perfecting them, I think will come at a time in my life when it slows down a bit (summer hopefully!) I think its good to have a creative sitting at a different time than when you have the tweaking sitting. I think it must use different parts of the brain. Kind of like not wanting to stop the creative flow by doing the tweaks in the same sitting.

Hi Helen! We have much in common. Glad to see you here on Songstuff. I hope you find it a comfortable place to share your work!

@gradual is in a foreign language. Japanese?

Can’t find ComposerX with my search bar. I can find thatnwith numbers after it, but not just ComposerX.

Songwriter Jennifer Doll Bio: Jennifer Doll, 22, is from New Milford, New Jersey, but currently studies in St. Petersburg, Florida. From picking up her first percussive shaker at age 6 to then learning several instruments thereafter, she has always indulged in the freedom that music allows. Such enthusiasm led to her debut EP entitled "The Crystal Hours", released November 1st, 2017, which was written and produced nearly entirely single-handedly. Since then, she has collaborated with film directors and fellow musicians, having maintained steady airtime on Internet radio shows. Her sound has been compared to the likes of Courtney Barnett, Björk, Sóley, and Charity Rose Thielen. A full-length album is expected later this year. Hey Jenn, thanks for agreeing to be interviewed for SongStuff. I've just got to say, there are two factors that I find especially intriguing about you besides your music that has got me rooting for your success. One is that you are young (relatively compared to me) and have such potential ahead of you and the second is that you're female and breaking into the music industry in ways I've seen few females in my circles do. Its exciting for me to hear about your journey, so I hope you don't find all my questions overwhelming. Thank you to SongStuff for having me.. and keeping me! The site has been incredibly encouraging and I really do owe everything that I have done to its members. Though, I don’t feel young! I have decided that I am at the ripe age of 78.. maybe a little pruned. And just as a precursor, being a woman has never deterred me. I really do forget that genders play a ridiculous role in any industry—I guess I just push it to the back of my mind. There are many incredible women out there. Let me start by asking you, what was the earliest you knew you HAD to create music and what were your first experiences? This happened 3 years ago, ha! I don’t have a, “Oh, I’ve been a prodigy since I was in the womb listening to Mozart and Bach” story. No. I’ve always been uber into music but I was also really into science too, so I started college as a marine science major. I think I just finally gave in to that side that was always musical and really indulged in it. It was a lot of self discovery and heartache.. but I am so happy with where I am, now as a double major in marine science and music, but definitely pursuing music as a career. My first experiences were just fooling around with whatever instruments I could. I had a guitar and I had my voice. I didn’t know how to use either of them, but from those days comes Mr. Fox (which only took two years to complete!). I also listened to music basically every waking hour. I thought that the more I listened, the more I would learn. I think I still believe this today. My first experiences were just fooling around with whatever instruments I could. I had a guitar and I had my voice. I didn’t know how to use either of them What artists influence your music? I grew up with Fleetwood Mac, but also Britney Spears. I would dance around the house to “Tusk”.. which I am almost sure that influenced me to take up drums as my first instrument. Like I said, I wasn’t much into music until the last three years, so before then, I listened to anything. My first proper concert was The xx. I really loved the Juno soundtrack and I listened to some screamo, too.. can’t forget those middle school days. I went through a The Killers phase and some classic rock. Oh I really liked The Doors. But I really found inspiration in popular music today. I really love Lorde, Florence + the Machine, Adele, Sia, Kendrick Lamar, Wolf Alice, St. Vincent, The Bleachers, The Maccabees, Nick Cave.. it isn’t until I try to list these that I realize 1) how many female artists I listen to and 2) how much I suck at remembering what I listen to. I still love Fleetwood Mac, The Carpenters, ABBA… I could go on forever. One way or another, they’ve all found their way into my music. What is it about their work that makes them stand out to you? I really love big songs. A lot of people ask me to explain what I mean when I say that, but I can’t. I really love drums--a must have, good rhythms, and just an ending that makes you feel like you could leave this earth... Yeah…. I really love drums--a must have, good rhythms, and just an ending that makes you feel like you could leave this earth... Yeah…. Do you seek to pull that influence into your music when you create or is it a subconscious thing? I actively steal a lot of my ideas for my music, more or less. I’ve figured that I’m most inspired when I’ve sort of stopped listening to music for a little bit, and allow all the melodies and sounds to mosh together in my head. And then I kind of just transform it into how it is, actually wrong in my mind. But with each song, I can definitely tell you “That came from this song”. I actively steal a lot of my ideas for my music, more or less. You've been to school to study music. Tell us about that. I am so bad at theory. So bad. I don’t get it. I can read bass and treble clef, as I’ve played the trumpet for nearly a decade. But theory goes right over my head. I have never consciously applied it to any of my songs. My school is liberal arts, so it’s not designed for the application of music. We really just learn about the history of it and how it affects society, for lack of a better definition. Right now, we’re learning about 17th century operas.. I’m supposed to be writing a paper. You've got a really smooth style and distinct sound. Tell us how that came about. I really have no idea what sound I have. Like I said, I take from everything I listen to, so it’s just a conglomeration of all of that. I’m really happy to have my own sound, but I just try to do the song justice while I’m working on it. I used to be concerned about a “sound”, and it seems that only when I stopped worrying about it, did it come to me. You are one of the not too many females I've encountered who has mixed your own material. What resources helped you along with that? I really, really love the production aspect of music. I think it’s almost more fun than writing a song, honestly. Writing a song you have to beat it out of yourself and you’ve not satisfied until you’ve said it. But production.. it’s like putting it back into the world of conception and breathing life into it. It comes to a point where it’s just no longer yours, and at that point is when I usually release stuff. I really, really love the production aspect of music. I think it’s almost more fun than writing a song, honestly. I’ve mainly used GarageBand, but recently updated to Logic Pro X, and wow. Just wow. There’s so much, I’ve had to start resourcing back to YouTube for tutorials. But before then, I relied on trial and error and assistance from SongStuff. I had no idea what I was doing back then, and I still don’t really. Why do you suppose more men pursue mixing than women do? Do you expect that to be changing in the near future? If you do, what factors do you think has contributed to these expected changes? I think a lot of women do mix; one of the girls I graduated high school with was going to go into sound engineering. I think it’s just that they don’t get the attention. I’m really not sure why the music industry is so male-dominated; I think it’s still the confines of our society. I’ve never given it much thought, but it’s encouraging to see festivals requiring more gender balance in their line-ups. I use Twitter for my news source, and women are finally gaining their voices again. It’s really inspiring, and I hope to be more conscious of it. What helpful advice would you have for other females considering the path of learning how to mix? Just do it. Don’t even think about your gender. What instruments do you play and how have you used them in your compositions? I started with the drums, but wanted something with melody so I switched to trumpet. I also took up the guitar seriously in the last year and play with an all-girls punk band. I wouldn’t call myself a guitar player—I just read tabs. I actually never mean to use brass in my songs; I don’t have the intention of recording myself playing. I really love the texture they give, though. My teacher was angry with Mr. Fox and said “This is good besides the cheesy trumpets”.. too bad I lost all the stems to those songs when my computer crashed. So to answer the question, I don’t use any instruments I play in my songs! I use a lot of keyboard as the base for my songs, which is funny, because it does not come naturally at all. What do you believe to be your greatest strengths in creating your music? Oh this is a hard one.. it’s so easy to look at what you’re not good isn’t it? I think just my pure utter devotion to making a song materialize and come alive. Since the beginning, my goal has always been to make someone feel like I feel like when I’m listening to one of my favorite songs. Many nights, I’ve unknowingly stayed up until sunrise working on a song. I just can’t step away from it until it’s done. That’s also how I know it’s worthwhile. Many nights, I’ve unknowingly stayed up until sunrise working on a song. What challenges in your life have you overcome to get to where you are now with your music? How did you overcome those challenges? All the self-doubt and inward hatred. It is hard. How do you make something you’re satisfied with when you’re comparing it with to songs that have quite literally changed your life? How to overcome this? I really have no idea. I think at the end of the day, the love for the creation of music naturally takes over. What advice to you have for those who encounter those same challenges? Allow yourself to feel everything.. and then write a song about it. I'm not sure I've known of any collaborative projects you've worked on. Do you collaborate? If its a consideration, what strengths do you look for in a collaborator and why? I’m always down for collaborating with someone; they’ve just got to tolerate my stubbornness. In December, I actually film scored a short piece for my friend studying at NYU. She’s still working on the postproduction stuff, but she said it should be ready by the end of April. I’ve also collaborated with someone else, but I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say! Strengths—I guess I just look for someone who is really good at the element that the song needs. If that makes sense? What venues would you like to see your music in? Do you have s specific target you're aiming for? My goal is to perform at an outdoor festival. I just think it would be amazing and I literally have dreams about it. And as a viewer, Glastonbury. It’s probably not as glorious as it looks, but.. When you write, what comes first in your process and what are your steps from there? I was actually just thinking about this last night after reading a Twitter thread; I really have no idea. I think it all comes together all at once for me. And while I might not write often, when I do it comes in as a wildfire. I think the first step is just having this intrinsic inspiration and innocent excitement.. if I don’t have that guttural feeling, I won’t write a song.What is the shortest length of time you've had to invest in a song you've completed and published? Uhm.. all my songs take a pretty long time. I really need to set myself deadlines or else I’d still be working on my first song. I’ve just started the challenge for this year to write one song a month. So far all 2/2 songs have taken a little over a month to be satisfied with, but it’s going at a good rate! I’m also just very happy to be writing songs again; I had horrible writers block for about three months after my EP release. What is the longest length of time you've had to invest in a song you've completed and published? Well I wrote Mr. Fox nearly two years before I released The Crystal Hours. It started with a guitar loop and then I rewrote the whole thing in GarageBand a year later, and then again a couple of months before release. I was walking around the woods trying to come up with a chorus for the song forever. Is it the lyrics, vocals, music or mixing that takes the most effort and time for you? I would say the mix. There are just so many possibilities when it’s all in front of you: picking the best vocal take and the harmonies and the EQ’s to modify timbre, and do I really need that cymbal? It’s really hard because you need to step back a lot and it’s hard to do that when you’re so invested. I write lyrics on paper first, and then try to sing them. Then usually I’ll stumble across new words and then I’ll do a few more takes and I’ll get a melodic line. Melodies actually come very easy to me, I would say. Though I can’t really write them without already existing music. ~ Up until The Crystal Hours, Hidden Nightmares was my favorite. ~Jenn Doll You've been a member of SongStuff since 2016. How do you use SongStuff as a resource in your songwriting/composing? Well actually, I must credit HoboSage (David) for my Mr. Fox chorus. He’s the one who came up with it and I really loved it from the first time I heard it; he sings it better than I do! But SongStuff has been such an incredible source of inspiration, competition, camaraderie, and critique. I wouldn’t have made it this far without it. What do you like best about SongStuff? How freaking brilliant everyone is. These people know what they’re talking about. And sometimes a person will mention just one little thing to fix, and you do it, and it completely changes the song! It’s amazing. Do you have a favorite creation? Tell us about that. What makes it your favorite? What other sources besides your recent album release can listeners go to if they'd like to purchase or sample your music? Up until The Crystal Hours, Hidden Nightmares was my favorite. It perfectly encapsulates this moment at 3 am where things got a little scary with sleep paralysis and a clock ticking in the closet and the toilet not flushing.. Yeah. But I just wrote a song last month that I’m super proud of and I had a friend mix/master it. It captures this scene in my head and it’s just great. Super happy with how it came out. You've put out an album and continue to work toward another. Tell us about that. Yes! It was a seven track EP and I’m currently working on a full length album.. I think I’ll leave it at that! Where did you get the concept for your album? I probably should do this, but I didn’t conceptualize my EP. And I probably won’t conceptualize my album. It happens so that the songs just make sense all together at the end. Right now the two new songs I have don’t make any sense back-to-back, but I’m sure in a few months they will. Where can listeners find your album? Mainly SoundCloud or Bandcamp. I hope to release the new album on Spotify and iTunes.. I need a job first! Can we hear a sample to give us a taste of what's upcoming? Drums. Synths. Vocal harmonies. Drama. I'm sure members will be watching to keep up with your latest moves and direction. What social media can they link to in order to follow you? I really love Twitter. Find my drunk rambling there and please don’t be afraid to talk to me! Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JenniferDollMusic/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/JennDollMusic Website - https://jenniferdollmusic.wixsite.com/home Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jenniferdollmusic/ Bandcamp - https://jenniferdollmusic.bandcamp.com/releases SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/jenniferdoll View full interview

Impressive skills! I love watching guitar players do their thing. (I also love watching cellists, violinists/fiddlers. So fascinating! I like watching vocalists sing, too. Thanks for sharing, @Skin

A Most Wonder-filled Walk. 🏃‍♀️🏃🏻‍♂️🚶🏽‍♂️ The other day, I went for a walk after being shut in for the winter season. 🌥 It was a fairly warm day for what we’ve been having. It wasn’t one of those days where all was beautifully new and lovely to behold. 🤧 I decided rather than let my mind wander on this walk or going for a power walk, this walk was going to be a sensory walk.👟🚶🏼‍♀️ If you’re like me and you find the demands in your life can at times feel overwhelming or you only have a bit of time to take out of the day for yourself, you can do something of a walk regardless of if only ten or twenty minutes. ⌚️⏱My walk was quite short. If you schedule in some time for writing after, even better.📝📓✏️. It will put your senses into word visuals. Try taking walks in varying weather ☀️🌧💦🌬 and different times of day 🌝🌔🌓🌒🌚 and in different places for the best array of sensory experiences. Take note of where you are, who you encounter or animals/insects you observe 🐿🐜🕷🐊 and what they’re doing, what you see,👀 what you feel, experience, what you hear👂🏻, how it sounds, how If feels, how it smells👃🏼, it’s features. When you get home, brainstorm on paper ✍🏼everything you took note of. This isn’t a time to be a self-critic🔨✂️. Just get it down quickly. Everything you can remember—before you forget. Unfortunately for me, my working/short-term memory isn’t the best⏳, but thankfully my visual and experiential memory are the best means for me to retain information if I’m going to. Don’t be hard on yourself. Just do your best.🧢 After you’re finished with the brainstorm, go back and add detail. If you use colors, don’t just say, “blue”, say what color blue. 👖❄️💧🌊 If you felt cold, write what it was that felt cold or made you feel cold—the wind, the air, your skin?. 💨☔️🌪 How did your body respond to the cold? Did you shiver? Did you pull your jacket tight? 🧣🧤😨. If you saw a wheat field, what did the wheat look like, was it green, brown, gold or gray? Was it heavy with grain or just in bud? 🌾🌱🌅 Was it cut or blowing in the breeze, all in the same direction or swirling? What else was in the wheat field? How about the roadside? What flowers were there? Rocks, sand, pebbles, grass, ditches, puddles? 🍂🌷🌿🍄 If you were to take a walk in the ☔️ 💦🚶🏽‍♂️, there are so many visually and sensory things going on as you walk down the street, even the time of day and season will have different experiences. Being in a space aware of your senses contains the experiences that can be translated into concrete illustrations for your lyrics. If you do music, 🎸🎼🎹🎻🎺maybe it will leave you with a feeling that you can express through your music. 🎤 The exercise itself may just hep you on your way to noticing things and people around you, the qualities and characteristics that add detail and emotion to your songs.🎼🎼🎼 If nothing else, you may open the gates of creativity or release some tension, memories or fill your mind with ideas. The most basic benefit may be that you have a moment alone grounding yourself. Try it. See what it does for you! ————— Here is my brainstorm unedited. snow soaked gravel road footsteps poised and slow puddles so large I have to go around slim ice smashed up and floating bits oak leaves tips poking near the surface mud brown puddles reflecting the skies crusted muddy snow cars humming growing stronger as they get nearer motors trolling louder when they go by until trailing off into the distance I can only hear the road meeting the tires trickling water echoing under the iron grates cigarette butts smashed into the sidewalk cracked pavement matted brown-gold grass mixed in mud brown splashed snow boot prints, dog paw prints smooshed into the soft ground yellow fire hydrant with an orange flag and a little pile of something that matches the mud birds chittering my shadow angled to the right as I head away South tires of a bicycle spitting up damp of the road coming up behind me shallow pools of water in the parking lot of the convenience store tire tracks mark the puddles in which they were parked the imprint fading away as they go Bold neon blue Bud Light bar light in the window bells hitting the glass door signal exiting patrons Turn around the air cool on my hands, the skin on my knuckles crinkle the sun warms my chest and pleasant on my face the gravel beneath my feet crackles the iron grate is silent I hear the soothing tune of a woodwind coming from within a building I walk by children must be taking a nap walking down my driveway I see the reflection of the clouds and my mis-shapen form reflected in the black body of the Envoy My feet are dry I close the door kick off my shoes slippers are soft and warm I hear the clock ticking over the stove two cats purring in the window sun.

Thanks, John. That worked!