gilli moon's online blog

Warrior Girl Music eNews for July is out!

2009-07-06T20:43:00.001-07:00

warrior girl music july 09 eNews a little bit of gilli moon monthly in your inbox

Can't read this email well? Read the newsletter online at www.gillimoon.com/warriorgirlmusicenews

Quote (lyric) of the month: I can remember the joy the tears, the light the dark, everything... Lying in our spaceship alone, hoping love would solve it all. ...Breathe it in.... let it all go. (gilli moon from "Spaceship")

G'day peaceful warriors... Really nice to have your email company for a moment as I share with you my monthly newsletter. This is my personal artistry and music news that you get once a month. If you don't want to receive it, please be so kind as to head to the bottom of this email and click on the unsubscribe link. I much prefer you do that rather than yell at me.. he he. Just click and you're off and I won't bother you again. If you stay on it, we'll have so much fun together in our virtual playground.

We are garnering RSVPs for a really special CRUISE on MORRO BAY for Friday August 7, and need to get bookings in before July 15, so if you feel like a drive to the Central Coast, and a lovely dinner cruise with our band delighting your senses, then please look below and get the details.

Coming up, a fab gig on Tues 14th July in West Hollywood at Genghis Cohen, then we're off to Vegas baby, where I'll be speaking at the Songsalive! songwriters workshop on Mon July 20.

Enjoy the read below, and the ride. There's so much to absorb, as life is filled with action and creativity,

READ THE NEWSLETTER:

http://www.gillimoon.com/warriorgirlmusicenews

A new gilli moon article: The successful Artist Entrepreneur - – the ins and outs of getting out there as an artist in the business of music

2009-05-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

The Successful Artist Entrepreneur – the ins and outs of getting out there as an artist in the business of music . by gilli moon. The KEY TO SURVIVAL AND SUCCESS in the music business of TODAY is to be a unique artist, in charge of your own destiny. It means you need to be an artist entrepreneur. In order to be powerful as an artist, you have to be very business artist. You need to be very self driven and business savvy. You don’t need to know everything about the business (you can go to experts for advice) but you are in control. If you want it to be life long, you have to be a visionary. You have to be able to think outside the box and “feel” it inside. A lot of inner work is required. So while you are working on your craft and techniques on the outside, you have to work on your mindset on the inside. Read it at http://www.gillimoon.com/article-artistentrepreneur

Follow my call along the Roman wall

2009-04-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

“Follow my call along the Roman wall. Mystic signs of my family life… Dreaming of my homeland Didgeridoo Dreaming…” (From Didgeridoo Dreaming, by gilli moon. Album: Girl In The Moon. www.gillimoon.com/music) 2 weeks soaking up the cultures of France and Italy. It came at a perfect time for me: to get out of my shoebox, and the studio in which I’ve been embroiled in music production, and clear my mind with new foods, faces and adventure. Paris, … the Eiffel tower, so grand in its leadership over Paris. Crepes, the easy delicious solution while walking. Walking,… my legs are like steel. Rodin, Monet, Da Vinci… I begged for more. Wandering the left bank, Chocolate Chaud and Pain et Fromage. Sleeping soundly, dreaming in French. Overnight train to Verona, the chug chug chug lulls me to sleep. Brie and bread and my love, we watch the light dim and country side go to sleep. Arriving in another city of love, and Romeo and Juliet, and a car to take us on our adventure. Bergantino, family, food, love and comfort. Ferrara, Mantova, cities of days gone by, enormous castles and cappuccinos. Florence, people, too many people, but we found Dante and Michelangelo and Bernini. Tuscany with hills and dales and grass so green it looks like a painting. Lost in the hills for 5 hours seeking the holy grail. Windy roads and forest getting dark, we are caught in an Alice in Wonderland movie, Combined with a Van Gogh painting, with emotions on high just like his art, Our minds swirl and splatter, till we arrive, at the end of the last road there could possibly be, At the Casalino. Agriturismo, a horse, dogs, country eating, good wine and sleep. I feel surrounded by centuries of lives, and watch the sun rise like Michelangelo did in a nearby town, Contemplating art and creativity. Where art thou my muse today? What is my quest in life?

We slide down the coast through Civitavecchia and into the walls for Rome. Frenetic drivers and passionate souls, we embrace one of my most favorite cities, Seeking family, friends and solace. Cappella Sistina greets us, as well as the many cobblestone streets and interesting nooks and crannies, Often visited by terramottos of the past. And then the quake hits. We tremble at night, while D’Aquila’s thousand year old churchs and building crumble to the ground. But we are ok. Wine, Pasta, Prosciutto Café Walking Living Loving Dreaming

Becomes great art making.

Now, back to the studio in L.A.

Surrendering to the bliss of my recording journey

2009-03-26T13:42:00.000-07:00

The album journey is a wonderful one. I think it was 2004 that I was in the studio last for my own album making. Since then I've produced several artists' albums and I so enjoy that process. But making my own music is, really, where it's truly at for my heart. I set out to make an album that embraced all that was "the stillness" for me: the title of the new album. My first album "Girl In The Moon" (1998) was a hodge podge of ideas. Different sounds, different producers, different locations. Lovely songs, just eclectic. My "temperamental angel" album (2000) was emotional and edgy. It was my first album that set a "tone" and was marketable. It got lots of cool reviews from critics all around the globe. I pioneered some marketing things on the new internet of the time... long before people used the word "indie". I was moody, going through relationship turmoil, young, annoyed and listening to a lot of Alanis Morrissette, David Bowie, Jeff Buckley and Radiohead. I learned about producing, really producing, and also produced artist Rhonda Stisi and some artist demos. Then came "Woman" (2003), my empowerment album. I was victorious, the warrior girl, fiesty, strong and impenetrable. I was my own one girl band across the country, touring, with me and my keyboard, feeling fabo. Coming out of the dark of "temperamental angel" I needed no one (relationship wise), felt strong and had a go get 'em mentality. Rockin', edgy, mainstream, yet alternative. Ballads uptempo songs. Big productions. And lots of Lots of Aussie airplay and tv for the music videos. Fabo. I went on to produce albums for Dina Gathe, Holly Light and some artist demos here and there. Then came "extraOrdinary life" (2005), the peace de resistance. This was my first sophisticated album i'd say. I had glossy photos on the album cover taken by Jim Steinfeldt (rock n roll photographer whos also photoagraphed Tina Turner and Madonna to name a few). The music was epic, 15 tracks,... and an enhanced cd to watch the making of the video. Gloss and more gloss. But still raw, ya know? My emotions, my story, my path. Lots of rock, and groove, still edgy, some ballads, and enormous productions. I went on to produce Paulina Logan's album, and then David Babich's album (still in the process on that one). Also 3 Females On Fire compilations and Art of Men compilation (1/2 done) so over 150 artists through my label. Big marketing, big business, lots of action, lots lots lots of out there, big, and splashy on everything in my life. The Warrior Girl ignited. And now.... drum roll.... THE STILLNESS. Here we are in 2009. Who am I today? Well, certainly feeling victorious. But wiser and older and shit,... nothing more to prove. I've paid my dues, I've done the hard work. It's time for me to be still.... and embrace the moment. I've spent the last year going within,... deep. My life course is changing. I've always been a very ambitious girl. And still am. But now it's a quiet ambition that feels relaxed, in touch with "me" and full of light. For me, the essence of making music now is to tell my story, and inspire others, without the big to-do. So you will hear an album like none of my others. The production is spacious. Less is more. The feature? the vocal and piano, with my musicians also taking the spotlight. The songs and the productions are ELEGANT (as one of my dear friends told me after hearing some rough mixes). They are not with angst or high emotion. They are positive and make you "feel good". The songs are about hope, love, inspiration... positive messages. You can turn it on from the first song and the first words that you will utter is "ahhhh", and all your cares will melt away. This is an album to take you to a place of beauty, joy and seduction. No screaming guitars or heavy drums. It's organic, real... as if our quartet is in your living room. I can't wait till it's complete to share with you the songs. For now, I'm keeping it all under wraps!

delving in deep

2009-01-28T12:41:00.000-08:00

A week off, we're back in the studio and we're diving in deep. With song titles like "The Stillness", "Silent Prophet", "Outside In", and "Cling On", and "Be", you might see that I'm going within, going really deep. A lot of the messages from the new album reinforce enjoying the moments, enjoying the journey, as well as being happy to just "be" in the "stillness" and knowing that's the place to be. Like my last album, this one is a continual path of self-discovery, mixed with a lot of positive love and emotion: I'm in a good place, and it's evident in these new recordings.

The songs are coming fast and furious, and easy. Only 8 days of recording and we are pretty much ready to mix. I don't sweat the little stuff and most of the vocalizing and playing is spontaneous and free, yet methodical in preparation. We don't have fancy instrumentation: each song sounds like it's played with the same band. I'm having fun playing with my voice and coming up with cool parts. Matt, my co-producer, is enjoying editing weird shit here and there with loops and breaks. We are mad scientists in a creatively free realm. Loving it.

I head to New York Thursday for a show and some moments with my man, and then I'm off on a solo journey to Australia, to go on a Bushwalk, and finish my book I promised to finish. In March we mix the record.

Finding the music in the stillness

2009-01-17T11:42:00.001-08:00

What a thrill. Fourth day in studio mode and we are on a roll. We've recorded everything for the songs "Silent Prophet", and "Stillness". We just need to finish vocals and keys for "Outside In" and "Bushwalk". I wrote "Bushwalk" in '95. Wow. So long ago. My ol' 4 track demo is so basic. But boy I had lots of ideas in it. Now as we flesh it out in the studio, it's coming to life. It's a song that is socially conscious and about change. Although I wrote it in my early 20s, the message is very now. With Obama coming into power, I feel this song is so right on. "Racial freedom, trapped in society, I'm losing my sobriety Momentary madness, can we cure it through psychiatry? Need for solutions. War, crime, culture, family struggle. Time for education, get back to our roots and unify this nation. Going on a Bushwalk, going on a walkabout, gonna feel alive, solve our problems we have inside. take control, energize our thoughts to solve and, cure the world, we can start right now". The word "Bushwalk" is a term we use in Australia to go on a really long hike in the bush. And walkabout is what Aboriginals like to do sometimes. They just up and go for long periods at a time, and get connected with their culture and their roots. (and themselves). It's a right of passage for them. We had Cara and Erin from Little Sista sing on the song (as well as The Stillness, and Silent Prophet). Wow, their voices are AMAZING. We had a fund day yesterday doing vocals. Surprisingly, I feel very connected with my voice right now. It seems to sing easily. I'm no longer second guessing myself, and needing to be perfect. I used to waste a lot of studio time trying to be perfect. I remember once I came in to do a 4 hour session to sing vocals (this is years ago) and I was so psychologically constricted and my voice was aweful that I had to end the session after only 20 minutes. It's so weird. I think our minds play tricks on us. But now, I just walk in, and am pretty much a one take wonder. We sometimes do 2 takes and then "comp" the tracks, which means choosing best parts from each track to make one great track. I like this approach because it allows the voice to be free and sing the song naturally all the way through, hearing the crescendos and decrescendos through the song. When producing vocals, though, with other artists, it can be a hit or miss. Sometimes I "comp" as above (and sometimes comping from 3 or 4 best takes), or I record their vocal part by part. We work on the song in parts. This can be useful for beginner singers. But I still like the first approach, to be as organic as possible. I love producing. I found some writings from back when I was recording the last album "extra Ordinary life". Here's what I wrote:

... it’s a welcome relief to be still in one place and surrender to the flow of creating new music. It’s a very Toltec process for me, connecting with my silent, mysterious and creative side.

This album certainly has more emphasis on social perspectives and world harmony. If we can heal ourselves, and be more connected with our inner self and our community, then the world pretty much takes care of itself. We live in an extraOrdinary world, but if we’re not careful we’ll destroy it. The environment is in severe crisis, with natural resources including water drying up, rainforests are being eliminated, beautiful animals are becoming extinct and treated inhumanly, racial and political issues are of course paramount and yet… I see this as a spiritual crisis more than an economical or political one. I avoid getting too political and I prefer to approach these issues with a more spiritual perspective, almost Toltec, using metaphors about relationships with the Self and those around us to heal the wider issues. That’s why I believe that even a song about romantic love can deliver powerful social and global messages. This album touches on a common theme: we all live extraOrdinary lives, and have the potential to be connected with an unspeakable and extraOrdinary force within us for ultimate, perfect harmony, balance and joy.

…Music production is a whole language in itself, beyond just being a musician. i've always been a communicator, what with being an artist, teacher and writer, but producing is like being a conductor, a messenger, a voyeur, and conducting the chatter from the Gods.

…Producing is not about ego, or personal subjectivity. I can only be the "translator" of what the song is calling out for… a conduit. Plus it’s almost like remembering… whenever I get the right feel or vibe for a particular part, I get this weird “ah ha” or “deja-vu” moment as if the song had once found that perfection, but forgot it. It's really, really exciting delving into the psychology of producing. We become slaves to the song and what it requires, and living on the edge like a spiritual thrill-seeker. It’s also about being rebellious. Being a rebel to the current times, to the past, to whatever anyone else is doing out there or what radio dishes out. It’s about being rebellious even to our own taste, and finding the freedom in creating something new and cutting edge, even if it means taking risks. I crave it! It’s better than an extreme sport (even though I love fast down-hill snow skiing at the best of times!)

So I would have to say that this new album which is called THE STILLNESS, continues to embody such social issues, about the world, about our consciousness as a human race. But it's very much a personal journey too. I am going inward more and more. One song, "Silent Prophet" is about the very fact that when we need true guidance, we can go within and find that, in our inner prophet. Our inner voice. Our intuition. It also talks of the notion that we have nothing to prove in life, but to "carry the water well", which is a lyric in the chorus, meaning to "just do our best". Speaking of which, I saw the movie "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" last night, and i found it so timely for me. The themes were very much along the lines of my new album and where I'm at. There is one part where Brad Pitt's character travels to the Far East and India. There is a great voice over and i will endeavor to find that script because it was so powerful. It made be cry. The jist of it was this: In our lives we can be who we want to be, at any time. We can change our lives at any time, and pursue anything we choose to do. We have a choice. And if something doesn't work out,find the strength to start over, at the beginning again. Over and over again. We can be dancers, button makers, tug boat operators, anything. We can be it all. There's more to it, but it really touched me. In my album, I seek to express that where I am, I have done so much, and succeeded, and I have nothing to prove, but to express myself, and create and be ..... me. One song, "Be" will be on the album. I've had it as a download on my site for a while. This song is about living in the moment, and just "being". So many themes here. I'm excited to be recording and I will post more soon. xx gilli See the studio pics so far here.

recording a new album... it feels pretty sweet....

2009-01-14T18:11:00.001-08:00

Well I’m in the studio again. After 3 years of personal music stagnation (except for everyone else’s albums I’ve been producing), I’m now back in the studio writing and producing my new album. It will be called THE STILLNESS.

It’s been an amazing journey promoting my last record, extraordinary life, and as I’ve been travelling, and changing as person, woman and artist, I’m ready for this new collection of material to unfold.

Like the title represents, this album speaks to the stillness in our lives, and our souls. I’ve been on a mega journey inward these past years, and it oozes out in my writing. Or non writing actually. Things have been still inside, creatively speaking for some time. On the outside I’ve been very businesslike, entrepreneurial and successful to be honest. My record company and artist development endeavors have brought me enormous satisfaction. I like working with other artists and their careers. But the balance needs to be present, in my life: and so… the studio is my solace,… recording my album, my songs, my stories. It’s very exciting.

It’s coming organically as all the other albums, but I think I’m doing it much faster. My chops are better, and also my perfection ranking is less: which is good. Let me tell you why – when I was younger I would second guess every move I made, hence delaying and wasting time in the studio doing things over and over. I was very much like that with recording my piano playing and singing. Now, I’m usually a one take wonder, and because I’ve been doing it for so many years, I reckon I’m better than ever.

We recorded drums and bass on Monday with Frank Musarra on drums and Andy Cat on bass. They did a fine job. I feel it always important to lay the ground work first, and with solid drums and bass, the song can then flourish. Mind you, this time around I fiddled with my protocols at home first and did all the scratch tracks (rough piano, vocal and a click) which acted as a guide for the boys in the studio, and also saved studio money by doing that part at home.

We’re back at MT Studios in Burbank. Matt Thorne is an awesome engineer and friend. This must be my 6^th album with him now.

Shawn Cunnane stepped it up on guitar on Tuesday and Wednesday. We’ve been using a Les Paul, a Strat and a Minarik. They all sound great on the songs. It’s now Wednesday evening and we’ve been holed up in the same room for 3 days. I’m getting ansy, but I’m loving the music. I just layed down piano and B3 on a couple of the songs. Tomorrow we have off and then back in on Friday for vocals and luscious soulful sounds from Little Sista, a couple of singers I adore, who will provide backing vocals for some of the tunes.

I’m going to post video up soon of the process. For now, keep posted on my blog at www.gillimoon.com/word, the home of all my writings.

Xxx

gilli This pic is with Matt Thorne, gilli moon & Shawn Cunnane

MORE PICTURES ON FLICKR

May you be inspired and be great in 2009

www.gillimoon.com Warrior Girl Music www.warriorgirlmusic.com www.myspace.com/gillimoon www.linkedin.com/in/gillimoon

Happy Holidays! And a little review about our 10 year anniversary to inspire your journey

2008-12-29T21:07:00.001-08:00

REVIEW: We had a fantastic Songsalive! End of Year Xmas party and 10 year celebration at the Mint Los Angeles Mid December 08. www.socializr.com/event/gilli/songsalivexmas is the direct link of what it was about. I want to share with you how it went because I believe the success of such an event is an inspiration to us all who perform music, and deliver music content in this ever changing new music business. We celebrated it at The Mint in Los Angeles. It was STANDING ROOM only, and all the dinner tables were completely booked out in advance. We had a marathon of artists (22 singer-songwriters, 1 spoken word artist and a band so total 24) performing from 7.30pm till 12.30pm. Why was it a success? For several reasons. 1. All the artists came together to be part of it and many travelled from around the world to participate. They came and contributed their time because they knew it was for a common cause. 2. Everyone brought people. That's why it was a packed house. We all helped make it a full house so that everyone could entertain to lots of people. 3. The audience stayed for the whole evening because they were enraptured with the strong talent and the feeling that was created on the night. It was a rainy, windy, cold night in L.A, and The Mint was on fire. In the 10 years I've lived in L.A it can be a hard sell to get people out to a show, but I believe that because of the intentions we all had to "want" to make it a success, we ALL made it a success, together, as a united force. Artists who performed on the night were myself, gilli moon – J.Thomas - Christopher Barran (from Canada) - Charles William - Genevieve - Gary Fuges - John M - Melinda Ortner - Paulina Logan - The Conlons - David Babich - Wayne Storm - Amy Mathesius (from Colorado) - Bill Dobbins - Amy Raasch - Kaye Reznick - Linah Rocio (from Switzerland) - Chris Valenti – Ian Hopkinson (from Australia) – Steven McClintock & Cathy-Ann McClintock – Greg Dormani – Mike V. Plus spoken word artist J.Walker. And closing with the hottest star out from Great Britain, filled with rock, glam and pizzazz - Zoe Scott - and her 5 piece band Hosted by radio star Jennifer “JJ” Julian. Our Songsalive! showcases have always been great: with talent always exceeding expectations. Often small and intimate, this event last night was one of the few marathon type nights. All our artists are Songsalive! members, and also for last night. Some came from AROUND the world. Linah from Switzerland, Ian from Australia, and J.Thomas flew down from Sacramento JUST for the event, as well as Amy Mathesius from Colorado. The dedication of these artists to participate in it was fantastic. We gave away $1500 worth of prizes in our End of year raffle with two winners - of fantastic music business books and resources, vocal lessons, pampering gifts, Songsalive! membership and SO MUCH MORE. What I like the most is that we created a loving, creative and joyous space. People in the audience felt the energy. Brilliant. There was great harmony in the room. People came up to me and said how they loved the “energy” and camaraderie, and that the talent was superb. Yes it was. This was one of THE most successful shows we’ve had in our ten years, and what a way to celebrate our big birthday party and the holidays. I was very, very impressed with The Mint as a venue and we highly recommend it to perform at. Our Songsalive! team were fantastic, helping in every which way, at the merch booth, in the VIP room, on stage, off stage, promoting what we do and chatting with our guests. They gave their all, as did the amazing artists who contributed their talents for the wonderful night. I’m on a high. This is why Songsalive! exists. To build community and support for songwriters and musicians,…. To provide EXCELLENT entertainment looking for original music artists,…. To work with a venue that supports what we do,…. To provide a platform for talented artists,... WE achieved this last night. Songsalive! doesn’t exist without you. For Los Angeles residents: If you’re in L.A come to our workshop this Sunday (Fiona Kernaghan is our guest speaker, and Paul Moyer who moderates our workshops will kick your butt when it comes to your song you bring to present and get feedback). Our workshops are designed for our members to GATHER on a monthly basis, (3rd Sundays) share songs, learn, and just BE together as a community. Or perform or just turn up and support our Hallenbecks showcases First Fridays of the month. www.songsalive.org/losangeles for details. For worldwide residents: We have chapters all around the world www.songsalive.org/chapters for details. We provide critique workshops, performance showcases, and general "go-to" support with our coordinators who are all songwriters and volunteers who want to create community in their areas. Australia, our first Region, is run by co-founder Roxanne Kiely, and it's an unbelievable country for original music. Across the U.S we have chapters with hubs of songwriter communities who are all part of Songsalive! And now in Scandinavia we have a chapter and they did their first showcase in Copenhagen, Denmark on Sunday. We are about to start in Papua New Guinea and South Africa. UNBELIEVABLE! This is all because of people who want to tap into our international umbrella, to feel connected WORLDWIDE. And our "social networking" type organization was like this BEFORE the Internet had social network sites. This is a HUMAN NETWORK. :) If you are a Member, log into our backstage portal and USE our site. We spend a lot of time making Songsalive! function online as well as in person -www.songsalive.org, log in. Apply to showcase at future events by logging into the portal directly here at www.songsalive.org/showcaseapp). Join as a member at www.songsalive.org/join GET INVOLVED in our non-profit 501)c)3) organization. It’s not expensive. And you get SO MUCH for the value. Not a songwriter? That’s fine. Join as an Associate member and support our organization and its members. And I’m ALWAYS here for you. Much love to all, Gilli

Show Review: A fabulous Females On Fire launch in L.A

2008-07-09T15:33:00.001-07:00

I am ecstatic about last night's Females On Fire compilation CD 3 album launch ... so I'm writing a review on it, first hand.

The event has renewed my faith in the Los Angeles music scene, which I felt had been dying a slow death since 911. Ever since that time, I felt the L.A clubs were losing audiences, and the artists and bands in this town, losing faith in their ability to put on a good show, with less and less people supporting live music and opting for home video game/internet blogging instead (something I'm doing right now.. blogging J).

Last night, 9 female artists and 3 spoken word artists, plus their musicians (a total of 27 artists) rocked the house at THE MINT, on Pico Blvd in Los Angeles. It was truly a stellar night. Firstly, we SOLD out dinner seats in advance and only an hour into the show, the room was at capacity. A full house! (130 people, standing room only)

This is completely and utterly due to the diligence and team effort of the artists involved. Everyone made it a success because they all brought people – their fans and friends… who came to support the whole night. In L.A, it can be really hard to draw a crowd, but with combined efforts of all the girls, we DID IT!

Secondly, the artists were not only talented, more on that later, but very professional from beginning to end. They all came on time (early) and were ready, willing and able to ensure the schedule stayed on time (we even ran a little early!), that they didn't hog the stage, that they used the VIP lounge, they were courteous to all, including the Mint and their sound policies outside, and were just all a great COMMUNITY and TEAM together, supporting each other. All the artists stayed till the very end, and that's a feat in of itself as we started at 7pm and went till midnight.

Thirdly, People didn't want to leave. We passed the midnight hour and the crowd begged for more.

Fourthly, artists travelled from far and wide for this. In particular, Lori and Steve of Hide From Cleo from Michigan and Claire Wyndham, all the way from Australia!

The night was in aid of the launch of the new compilation CD (details at end), and in aid of CARE.org (CARE believe that the status of women in the developing world is the key to fighting and ending global poverty. With education, skills and basic resources, they can become catalysts for change. Women can help build a better world for all. Check out their website at http://www.care.org/). Warrior Girl Music is donating $1 of every CD sale to CARE.org and part of the proceeds from last night's door is also going to their charity.

The artists

First up was Amanda Abizaid, who also graciously lent her P80 Yamaha keyboard for the night. Solo artist, she was a great first act as she set the stage for the rest of the night. She was soulful, accomplished and eclectic. Very talented lass. Robbie Kaye came on after as a duo. Two blondes on stage. Really easy going and full of flavor. Loved her too. Spoken word artist Antoinette Valente gave us a story about her rabbit with higher meaning. It was very honest and heartfelt. Thank you Antoinette for sharing such depth.

Michelle Mangione and band came on stage and took us to a whole new level of energy. Really great stage performer, Michelle rocked us with her great accessible songs. The night was really coming alive around 8pm and people were filling the room with all dinner seats taken. Claire Wyndham came on stage solo and completely wowed us. From Australia, she caught laryngitus, but you couldn't tell. She was awesome. I might say that our 2 soloists of the evening, Claire and Amanda, were able to grasp the whole audience with awe and quiet. That's quite a talent! I took the stage with musicians Shawn Cunnane and Andy Cat, and it was really fun performing on a night I also coordinated. I could feel the electricity on stage, and am grateful to feel it both ends, on and off stage last night. I'm still on such a high.

Laura Bradley and her band then took the stage. She is tall, graceful and beautiful and her songs are deep and beautiful too. Awesome. J.Walker, spoken word artist, and also co-host of the evening, gave us some time to change bands over with his riviting spoken word pieces. No ordinary poems, his flow matched an imprompu jam session on stage with Nicole (drummer from Michelle's band), Andy and Shawn (Gilli's band). What a hoot, and we were left in a frenzy!

Time for Holly Light: soulful, bluesy, rock, pop, country, folk, all in one little person… and her band were hot, including Cara from Little Sista (also a Females On Fire artist). It was now 10pm and the room was full, to capacity, with people starting to dance under the euphoria. Some of the gals including me jumped up for the chorus of Red, White and Blues bringing the house down. Flint came up next as our third spoken word artist. She has performed for us before, and tonight her talent shined again.

All the way from Michigan, Hide From Cleo, as a duo, hopped up and duelled acoustic guitars. Sensitive songs, with a great American "I feel good" vibe, their performance was a perfect wedge between 2 bands, and they were very powerful in their own right. Zoe Scott, her sister Victoria and their band ignited the stage for the last segment at 11pm. We were running early… how amazing! Zoe is from London and she has this great British retro pop sound that delivers strong with her cool voice. Perfect time slot for this band, as Zoe melted all the men, and I'm sure some women, in the room in her little black mini. They were great.

We all got on stage for a bit of a jam at the end, because at midnight people didn't want to go home. Finally I had to put an end to it all. "People,… don't you have anywhere to go on this Tuesday night at midnight? Don't you have real jobs tomorrow???" Jeez J he he. I grabbed Holly Light back up on stage to end it with a graceful, easy, cruisy song to end the night.

WHAT A NIGHT! The Mint crew were great with food, drinks, door. Thanks to Rob the sound man, Deana on the door, all of the Mint people were fabulous. The artists were fabulous. The audience was fabulous. It will go down in our memories as one of the best Warrior Girl Music Presents nights.

Thanks everyone,

gilli moon

More of Females On Fire at http://www.femalesonfire.com/

about

The FEMALES ON FIRE [double] CD compilation series celebrates close to 100 talented female artists from around the world, delivering songs in a tapestry of different genres & styles of music dedicated to messages empowering femininity, human equality, love, communication and vitality. The third compilation showcases 36 female artists from the United States (many States including Hawaii), Canada, Australia, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Japan, The Netherlands, and The Ukraine.

THE CD's mission is to create, promote and manage unique artistic creations guided by the artist's vision and under the artist's direction; creations that transcend race, age or gender and embrace passion, love for music and life, personal excellence and global consciousness. The album is focused on 4 main elements, which the artists are asked to use as guidelines in their submission: 1. exposure of great talent and timeless songs. 2. a celebration of female fire and femininity. 3. following the CD's unique artistic creations mission 4. a highly creative and production-strong CD, competitive in the market place.

Now, with 100 female artists involved, producer Gilli Moon decided it was time to use the Females On Fire project as not just a way to promote the artists involved, but worthy world causes. CARE (http://www.care.org/) was chosen as an organization to donate part of our proceeds - ($1 per cd sold) - a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. They place special focus on working alongside poor women because, equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty.

Access more information about the Females On Fire Cd Compilation, the Artists involved and to purchase, at http://www.femalesonfire.com/

Sponsored by: Groove House Records, Independent Mastering, Indiegrrl, Lawmf -- *peace, love and groovy music ----------------------------------------- www.gillimoon.com www.warriorgirlmusic.com www.femalesonfire.com www.artofmencd.com www.artistlivingroom.com

Networking and Touring for Songwriters... a Danish experience

2008-06-20T21:57:00.000-07:00

This month J.Walker and I went to Denmark. Now, this country is not an ordinary hop skip and a jump for an Aussie girl who lives in Los Angeles, especially if one goes only for five days. That’s right, I ended up going for five incredible days, and the most fascinating part is I’d do it again 10 times over!

I was invited to come speak to the Songwriter Clubs of Denmark by Koda (the Ascap, BMI, Apra there), preceding the famous national Spot Festival that happened also on the weekend. The Songwriter Clubs, or Danske Sangskriverklubber, are a series of small but focused songwriter organizations around Denmark that support songwriters in their quest for exposure and learning. They are all independent, but the leaders all come together and meet, network and vote on various needs that Danish songwriters may need. I couldn’t understand their actual meeting component… it was all in Danish! But I spoke to the leaders (about 35) about an interesting topic to all of us artists really… how to network and tour… and specifically, how to network and tour overseas. My perspective was unique, yet very worthwhile for the Danish songwriters, as being Australian and going to the US to chase the bright lights of stardom, I knew I had kindred spirits in the room who see crossing shores as the way to “make it”.

Naturally, I break the illusion on all that fame and fortune stuff, and define success on my own terms, which creates a whole different slant to speaking to artists that I think is way more grounded and real. If you want to know more about my fascination with music biz realism, check out my book I Am A Professional Artist and this blog DIT: Defining the Music Industry In This New Era.

Needless to say, I had a wonderful time not only speaking to the Danish songwriters and answering questions, but also interacting and hanging out the whole weekend, during the Spot Festival. It was a memorable time and I’ll never forget the experience.

But it does lead me to a cool topic that I covered in Denmark and also in some Songsalive! Workshops recently: Tips and Tools on how Songwriters can Network.

It’s all pretty point form, but it might get your juices flowing.

Tips and Tools on how Songwriters can Network

By gilli moon

The importance of education, training and feedback

· Improve your songwriting craft. Listen to what’s out there, learn from the best, gain feedback, and don’t put songs out until they are ready.

· Come to songwriting workshops, such as Songsalive!; listen to panels with top songwriters and music conferences; buy great books on the craft of songwriting (John Braheny’s Craft And Business of Songwriting at www.songsalive.org/store)

· Work and re-work your songs until you really feel that they are ready. Don’t put them out till they are ready. A great script writer edits their script up to 20 times.

· It’s important to define what you are good at, your strengths as a songwriter, composer, lyricist or a combination of all. Know what you are good at and hone in on those talents.

What do we need to get over?

o Hurdles to climb – yep there are. But don’t be a victim of them

o The music industry is tough. It’s the hardest business there is.

o You need money, lots of it. You’ll spend a lot!

o People can zap your energy. There are some real vampire energy zappers out there. Pick your friends carefully.

o Friends and family can be your worst critics

o Some say there’s limited opportunity. You could see it that way. I see it differently though.

o Our worst negative thoughts: our own Torments of the Mind

o Commence-aphobia, my favorite term. Why this is a problem? Because our biggest fear is starting something. We procastinate as artists. We wait for others to tell us when it’s ready. We wait, we wait. We fear.

How to overcome all that: become a self-empowered artist

· Do it because you love it.

· It’s a choice. You chose to be a professional artist, so… don’t play the victim (“oh I’m so broke, but that’s cos I’m a musician”). Nah! That’s just cos you lean on your artistry like a crutch.

· know the difference between art and “craft”. Art comes from the divine. When it comes, it’s bliss. Craft is what’s going to get you through the tough days… the ability to fall back on your talent,but the skilled and rehearsed talent.

· It takes passion. A LOT of passion. Without it you won’t be in it for the long run.

· It’s a LIFE LONG journey being an artist. So, enjoy the journey along the way.

· You need balance and time. Make sure you find time for everything that makes up who you are. And learn to time manage your day, because….

· You have to be a business person as well as an artist. Gone are the days when you could just let someone else manage your career. Take hold of the ship and be the captain. Learn the ropes of business and marketing. Left and right brain thinking combining. That’s what the indie movement is all about!

· Learn to diversify your talenst, “spin the plates” so to speak. That brings more opportunity.

· I have a term: the 3 Os. Optimism + Organized = Opportunity. Think about it: a positive attitude and an organized mind goes a LONG way.

· Have a ‘go for it’ mentality. Be self-empowered. It’s all about you and your attitude.

· Endowing success. Walk into the room looking a million bucks.

· Knowing everything is in “abundance”. Even at the 11th hour, something always comes through doesn’t it? Believe that everything you want will happen.

· Take on the I AM THEORY. I am a successful, international recording and touring artist, songwriter and entrepreneur. Yes, I am.

Career building - how to get the most out of your career as a songwriter

· Seek out websites for songwriters

· Read Articles and Resources (see our Resource center at www.songsalive.org/resources)

· Get involved in Local and global organizations and services (like Songsalive!). We are a non profit organization run by volunteers so giving of yourself, and getting involved in your local community is the best way to receive and give back. That’s the universal flow.

· Attend Music conferences. They are always cutting edge in this ever changing music industry.

· Subscribe or access Pitch sheets (Songsalive! Songshop, Bandit A&R, Songlink, Music Business Registry, Film Music Network) and actively pursue pitching your songs to projects, film and television. It’s the new market to get exposure AND make money. REAL money.

· Finding your niche and capitalizing on that – is it

- As a songwriter and artist? Will you be singing your own songs?

- As a songwriter for other artists

- As a film or television music composer? (often hired to write)

- Or a songwriter placing songs in films and tv? (often pitching your already recorded catalog)

- What style/genre of music?

· Who is in your network? Other co-writers, artists, producers, music industry people, tv people etc. Capitalize on current contacts

Seeing you the songwriter as a brand and commodity like Artists do. (building fans, promoting yourself and developing your unique image)

· Songwriters often don’t think of themselves like artists, with the whole marketing / promotiong thing

· uniqueness+ talent=competitive edge - Develop your unique image

· Even songwriters need a professional name: not just artists.

· Brand yourself like a product - “When someone hears the name “gilli moon” they know who she is.” Think of yourself like a fabulous 3 dimensional living, breathing product.

· Website, business cards, flyers, promotion general – great ideas to get yourself out there

· Create a Marketing/business plan – Keep your goals, and strategies how to reach them, in focus.

Tools on how to use Songsalive! to your advantage as a songwriter

· Come to our Critique workshops (meeting people, getting feedback)

· Explore Songshop and Cd sampler (pitching your songs)

· Check out the Get promoted program (to music conferences and industry)

· Join as an Elite membership and get involved in the Connect Network, bridging the gap between songwriters and the music industry.

· Collaborate with our members worldwide: be part of our world nation.

· Get opportunities in our Songnotes monthly newsletter and the daily blog.

· Find resources, read articles and just plain get connected

Songsalive! supporting and promoting songwriters and composers worldwide www.songsalive.org

About gilli moon’s role in Songsalive! www.songsalive.org/team

www.gillimoon.com

Video blog Tips and Tools on how Songwriters can Network - by gilli moon

Watch it Click on pic and you will be re-directed to our blog page on Youtube

gilli moon's BTR interview - talking about music in the digital age, life as an artist and more...

2008-05-21T14:26:00.000-07:00

You might be interested to hear my interview with Break Through Radio from Friday.

Click on the link and be sure it's Friday 19th's show. Towards the end I talk about the projects and artists I'm involved in. Lots of food for thought about music in the digital age. This interview was brought about with my involvement with the Digital Freedom Campaign www.digitalfreedom.org

LISTEN TO GILLI'S INTERVIEW on BREAK THROUGH RADIO ::

http://www.breakthruradio.com/index.php?show=3868 Friday 19th show.

Enjoy the listen,

gilli moon

...................................................... www.gillimoon.com www.warriorgirlmusic.com www.songsalive.org www.myspace.com/gillimoon www.linkedin.com/in/gillimoon

gilli moon at Genghis Cohen, last Tuesdays

2008-04-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

Last Tuesdays of the Month starting May 27

gilli moon's Songsalive! Showcase

@ Genghis Cohen

740 N. Fairfax Ave, LA. 90046

(Just north of melrose)

doors open 6.30pm / 7pm sharp start.

Ends at 8.45pm

Great Chinese food during or after the show.

Club (323)653-0640 for dinner reservations

Door entry - $7 per person (or $5 with flyer)

Ample free parking.

gilli moon, j.walker and other extraordinary songwriters & poets in the round

May 27: including Thomas Hornig and Amy Mathesius

June 24: including Amy Clarke and Stephen GC www.genghiscohen.com

www.gillimoon.com

www.rhymecology.com

www.songsalive.org/losangeles for all details about Songsalive! and to apply to showcase

Gilli Moon is No #7 in the Adult Alternative Charts at mp3.com.au

2008-04-22T17:44:00.001-07:00

That's pretty spiffy!

No #7 in the Adult Alternative Charts at mp3.com.au

http://www.mp3.com.au/Charts/Artists/Adult_Alternative

“DIT”: Defining the Music Industry together in this new era.

2008-03-06T22:56:00.000-08:00

“DIT”: Defining the Music Industry together in this new era.

- by gilli moon

Quite a few years ago, I wrote an article called “Taming of the Music Mafia”. You can read it here: www.gillimoon.com/articles. It discussed the challenges artists were facing back in 2002 (sounds so long ago now right?), and where the music industry is heading. The term “mafia” was not not a literal term I used , but more a conceptual, metaphorically speaking way to reference certain control, monopolies and bribery that existed within the music industry, whether legal or illegal, between artists, radio, promoters and record labels. I talked about how artists signed to major record companies, who then spent their money negotiating airplay or retail end cap space to sell the CDs they needed to sell, to keep the ball rolling. I talked about pay to play, buying radio hits, and playing the “game” of the major record company system. Ah,… the music industry. Such an evolving subject these days. It's like a revolving door, with nothing that sticks.

Wikipedia defines the "music industry" as such:

The music industry is the business of music. Although it encompasses the activity of many music-related businesses and organizations, it is currently dominated by the "big four" record groups, also known as "the major labels"/"the majors" — Sony BMG, EMI, Universal and Warner — each of which consists of many smaller companies and labels serving different regions and markets.

Well, they’re a little outdated aren’t they, now that EMI and Sony are one. So basically, there are the big “3”.

I find it fascinating that the music industry definition is still defined as run by so few entities. But back in the day.. oh just a few years ago... artists would play the game with the majors because it was the only way to get a look in. Basically, worldwide exposure was “bought” , it has been claimed, and that any artist trying to get a look in had a fat chance because you’d have to sign up to the devil, really. The "devil", so to speak, were these record companies, apparently, who signed their artists to 5-7 album deals in order to get some kind of life expectancy out of them, be able to push their music through their styrophome towers and through all that, constucted binding 60 page contracts that left little room for artist independence, let alone the real opportunity for them to ever make their investment back or artists to make any money..

"the music industry mafia is pimping girl power sniping off their sharpshooter singles from their Styrofoam towers..." - Ani DiFranco

Playing the devil’s advocate, independent artists, those who were setting themselves apart from the machine of signing deals (or flogging themselves to the Labels to get signed), became silently, discreetly and effectively (to the major public eye) more in control of their business. I was one of them.

The cold hard fact was that Artists needed to become more in control of their careers and less beholden to the deep pocket, the stifling un-creative rigidity, and possibly (probably) get screwed, shelved, or bankrupt in the process. We all know, and knew then, that the "empire" was about to unravel. While independent artists began a surge of self-empowerment and the “indie” world ignited, so did the empire begin to crumble… as expected, and much needed. We all need Rome to fall in order for something new and exciting to transpire. Since my first article, Pandora’s Box has indeed opened and whilst label executives had kept their jobs for fifty years, since 2002, the majority have lost them. There is no more “status quo”. This is the movie The Terminator, except instead, the artists are the ones taking over the world.

What has happened is quite remarkable: the consumer started making decisions about what music they wanted to listen to. Instead of Corporate Music America deciding what we were to hear on radio, see on TV or watch live, consumers, with their ipods, napsters, myspaces, limewires, and youtubes, searched music content of their own choosing. Just google something and you can find it, and usually for free. They didn't want to have music forced down their throat anymore, especially when so much more interesting and abundant music was and is floating on the Net.

The indie artist quickly stepped up to the plate before a Major Record Company exec could write their next marketing plan. How exciting for an indie artist, who has always had to think outside the box and find other ways to get to the masses: the masses at their door step. And the "front door", with people banging loudly, became the artists' own websites, and Myspace profiles and anywhere an artist can upload, blog, ping, splash on the Internet. The indie artist began to take control of not only their careers and future income potential, but take control of how music is being marketed.

Meanwhile, the Major Record companies have had to think fast. Their CD sales plummeted, because consumers began to buy on the Net (downloads) direct from artists, and Cds were where their income had purely come from in the dinosaur days (that's just a few years ago by the way). They let off thousands of employees. Music retail chain stores began to close (Tower was the bedrock of Cd sales history. I was sad to see it go on the Sunset Strip, Hollywood). Recordd companies were closing down, merging, disappaiting, watching and waiting. The Majors realized they had to had to come up with marketing strategies and new revenue streams to survive, compete with the indie artist model of guerilla street and internet marketing tactics, that was thriving. The indie artist's model was now the model to go by. Who would have thought?

The Grammy Nomination systm is still a frustrating experience. Out of the hundreds of nominated artists, with some worthy albums and songs, the large percentage is trash. The best music to find is outside the traditional commercial norm: online blogs, word of mouth, iTunes, podcasts. Music television like MTV and VH1 rarely play a music video, what with lifestyle shows eating up the programming. It's partly the consumers' fault. We want reality... for some odd reason we want to get into the lives of real people and watch it on a daily, hourly basis. That's why American Idol works so well. Those artists that win each series become hugely famous in nanno seconds not just because it's rigged (um, I mean calculated programming by TV execs in cohoots with the record company ready to release an album by whoever wins). It's also successful, and the execs know it, because consumers WANT to be PART of an artist's development now. They don't want to buy an album by someone that is unknown and just lands on our airwaves (which is the old routine, payola and all that to get it there). No, consumers want to live and breath every moment, every tear, every laugh, every wrong note along the way to winning the contest that they have had a hand in voting. And then, when the record company releases the single only weeks after the last program of the series (weird how the timing is so perfect, huh?!), then the consumer is ready to buy, buy, buy, because they feel like they were part of the process of making that artist successful.

I’m not sure if I like the idea of American Idol being the barometer of talent, but it's true to say that the cream will always rise to the top, no matter how much sh-- you need to swim through.

I’m swimming as hard as I can…

The current shift

The new artist entrepreneur grew out of the ashes, like the phoenix, of dying Rome. It's just plain and simple. No one should be at the mercy of a large corporation when they don't even know the way. Many celebrity "major" artists once signed to major labels, have left them, and became indie, starting up their own labels (Radiohead, Simply Red to name a few). This is not just because they chose to. In some situations, the majors no longer have the power to keep up the level of promotion and finance, that these artists needed in the past. While there is still a "system" in place that the majors seemingly think they are in control of, because they still have more money to play with, it's a daunting future for them, because the income streams are so fleeting and ever changing.

Where we’ve arrived at is a slow shift of a quagmire – that is, it is seemingly unmoving and we don’t know exactly what the next phase is, but at the same time, there are shifts happening where artists are becoming more empowered, and labels are starting to change their face in order to meet the new business models, working with and by the artists’ playing rules. It’s a really exciting playing field, and not just for indie artists: but for the labels too. Everyone has had to change the way they do business and now we are all on the same playing field with bat in hand.

Artists have been able to control their sales & distribution, as well as their public awareness campaigns, themselves, and easily through internet interfaces. I'll explain further down about that. The record companies, in turn, are almost modelling their marketing tactics off indie artist ideas. For example, Marie Digby. Apparently she was so successful on Youtube.com promoting herself from her living room, playing raw, passionate original songs direct to 2.3 million friends, that she became an instant star, following that landing songs in TV shows and filling stadiums. Indie artist? Seemingly. But not really. There was no mention that she was signed. Just a girl with guitar. What we discovered later was this was a calculated marketing tactic by her record label, Hollywood Records, owned by Disney, to reach the new consumers who want to discover their own talent instead of being force fed. It worked. We all loved her Youtube site, and thought this 24 year old was a self-made success, and we were all discovering her. But the label was behind the ploy the whole time. You can read more about that here, and read other people's thoughts: http://www.p2pnet.net/story/14155

Personally, I think it's great. It's a clear example of how independent artists are offering the way, AND it's a solid affirmation that we are now all on the same playing field: artists and labels - we all can reach our audiences without having to "play that devlish game".

Where does it leave the independent artist? Well, I still think that although the "new model" is REALITY music, independent artists are more REAL in their marketing than anyone else. We are the first to let our fans into our worlds: our websites, our blogs, our free downloads. We want to interact with our fans, and we want them to be part of our development. Some indie artists invite fans to become investors in their CD production which is a great new way of including them in the early days, as well as helping to fund the album and it's eventual marketing.

I listened to a panel of record company execs recently at the Durango Songwriters Conference, that included reps from Warners, Curb and Atlantic. I felt it was a healthy discussion because I realized that the Labels now know they need to work WITH the artists and not just force feed their agendas on them, and everyone else. Reality is, as at March 2008, digital sales have plateued. Only 10-12% are legal downloads and Companies need twenty indicators to go off at once, not just a few Cd sales as ducks in a row, to see if their artists are going to "make it". There is a trend to go for the more organic music that shows realism rather than plastic, manufactured bland pop that represented an era that is dead. Music needs to be real, alive and shows the story of the artist that consumers so desperately want to interact in.

On another tangent, the younger generation are so distracted with all the available "toys" in their lives, that music is becoming a lesser "want". Gone are the days when a 16 year old would sift through vinyl records in their local music store for 3 hours trying to hunt down their favorite Grateful Dead album. These kids of today are plugged in introveniously to their ipods, cell phones and portable laptops, and are scouring the internet just for a quick, short term fix of a tune they heard on reality TV. Then trashed forever while they grab another quick hit song to engulf. They don't care if it's 5.1 Surround sound, 64 channel mixed. Nothing. They take it as it is, compressed, squashed and lifeless. They are also distracted by video games (hence that is now a great music marketing area to place your songs in), blogging, Instant messenging, social networking and all that is unrelated yet related to music. They love to chat, all day long, on their little digital interfaces, and if music happens to be involved, it's fast, furious and disposable. Preferably free to them.

Where to next?

So how do we hold onto our fans and create a career, then, if we are so disposable? What is the future for us Artists who love to make music, real music, that sounds big and fantastic and used to come with glossy visual CD covers that told our stories?

Well I see it is two fold: It’s about concentrating on two areas of our lives, and forgive me for asking artists to be a little business savvy here, but it’s absolutely vital to understand business and marketing. There’s no way out of it anymore. If you think you’re going to be in the music “business” without being business savvy, then get out now and make way for those who can do that part, because that’s the only type of artist who is going to “make it” (however you want to define that). I’ve spent a whole book speaking about artists as business people. Check it out: www.gillimoon.com/thebook. It’s called “I AM A Professional Artist – the Key to Survival and Success in the World of the Arts”. I also addressed the concept of “success” in that book, and I believe you need to define success on your own terms, not by some commercial token of reward, because these “tokens” are changing. Once a dream may have been to be number one on radio. Well, my friends, I figured that smoke and mirrors out long ago, and it had a lot to do with payola, timing and what deal you had in place. Nowadays, a token of success could be that you land the front page of MySpace. However you see it, and whatever you want, it can all be real, but don’t lose sight of the bigger picture – the longer path. Tokens come and go. Artistry is life long. Anyway, you can read the book to get the jist of my take on success.

So, for an artist to think business-like, it needs to be broken down without all the bells and whistles and ambiguity that Record Labels have done in the past. I see it in two ways:

1. Sales & distribution, and 2. Public awareness campaign

1. Sales & distribution centers around all the avenues that you can make money. These days, you make money from diversity, not just one avenue. Gone are the days when you wait for your royalty cheque for record sales. You can have record sales (CDs) but they will slowly die out. Don’t worry, something else will take it’s place in a tangible form, I promise. We still like to hold things in our hands, at least for now. So you have CDs, that you can sell at gigs, or in stores. When it comes to bricks and mortar distribution, you’re far better off just having your CD in the system rather than shipping them to the stores because if they don’t sell… if you’re not in that little town pushing the heck out of it, you better get your cheque book out to cover the return shipping. Still, retail is minorly tangible and doable, but touring is a real asset for any artist. Getting out there, being on the road and selling your products is so valuable. Remember, fans want to see you and feel you. It’s a cash business, an impulse business – they see you perform, they buy your Cd. I I think of myself as a door-to-door salesman ready to sell anything I have available (“Wanna buy a watch?” she says, as she opens her invisible trench coat). I sell CDs, my book, t-shirts, caps, mugs, posters… whatever I have that is about me. Fans love to grasp onto anything that’s about the artist.

Other areas of revenue include the now lucrative, but soon to be densily populated, film and television music placement market. Did you know that this is the number one marketing plan for record companies these days? That’s right. It’s lucrative if you’re ready to play the game hard and get on the phone. But it’s there for the taking, and artists and labels alike are equal with their foot in the door. While labels may have “ins” with the film companies (example, Sony Music and Sony Pictures), indie artists also get a look in because their original songs are usually easier to clear, and that makes it much easier for the music supervisor who needs to get the song in the film fast (music is always the last thing placed in the film by the director which is sad because there’s less of a budget, but we can capitalize on the opportunities fast).

Anything where you can think outside the box, and expand your revenue sources from all the creative aspects of yourself, will bring in opportunities and money. The focus should be about expansion and not the pennies. For once you start thinking abundantly, and expand your horizons, the money will flow in.

Capitalizing on your fan list is the most important avenue, because in business the most important thing is to take care of your current customers. So if you can work hard at building a relationship with your fan base, and tease them with new products for sale, and some giveaways, such as music downloads and ringtones, you’ll find that they will keep buying from you forever. Now, this theory works well for indie artists who are personally in touch with their fans. For the majors, they’re finding in this new era, that their targeted consumer base: young, hip, distracted, internet teenagers (I mentioned them above) will usually buy the first Cd or download, but can’t guarantee even 10% of sales for the next one. Poor Labels. I sympathesize with them as they “move through this rough period”. Believe me, an A&R executive actually said this on the panel last weekend. “We are assessing it as best as we can, as we move through this rough period”.

Rough period: What! Are we in the dark ages? Hell no. This is the age of enlightenment, of empowerment, of artist growth and global change. Just watching the U.S democratic primaries just makes me so invigorated about the future, no matter who gets in as President. We need this diversity, and change, and new thinking. I’m so excited to witness the evolution of artist empowerment and people empowerment before my eyes, while old mainstream corporations tumble.

2. Public Awareness Campaign – while those who are dependent on the nickle and diming suffer in their “rough period”, the second avenue of focus for artists is critical in order to support the sales and distribution: developing your public awareness. We have all the tools at our fingertips now: the Internet is our friend. Building relationships, everywhere, with everyone. Using social networking sites to draw attention to your website is the masterful plan.

Your website it the hub, the home for everything. No matter where you are on the Internet with your music or information, make sure that it always links back to your website, as that is the one thing you can control, and the one area where you want your fans to embrace your music and artistry. THIS is the new place to show everything about you, taking over the old CD Cover. You can bring your visual form to life with the way you design your website, and allow fans to enter into your world, and hopefully, live and breath it on a constant basis.

Build your fan list, one fan at a time (I now have over 25,000 on my list from doing every gig in the land… it takes time, but it’s so worth it.) Send really cool and insightful newsletters. Get to know your local media, which includes the traditional radio, tv, newspapers, magazines. And know that internet promotion is equally if not more beneficial: cross linking, adding comments, blogging, banner ads, discussion lists and networking.

Be out in the world. Just get out there. That’s the title of my next book I’m currently writing. Go to music conferences, play at festivals, get on compilations, host artist nights… where you can gather like minded individuals and help promote each other’s music. Podcast, webcast, Youtube, Myspace, Facebook. Gosh by tomorrow there will be 50 more sites to be on. Every day it’s evolving and growing.

Most importantly, nurture your current contacts and build formidable relationships. Most of my opportunities come from people I already know, and sometimes years down the track. And even if you’re 35, 45, 55, 65 years of age,… it doesn’t matter how old you are. I write about this often. There’s no age limit to artistry. You just need to know your market. Market yourself to the audience that loves you for your music, not how high your skirt is at age 18.

Have a plan. Have a dream. Dream big. Everybody should have their own plan. Don’t rely on a Label to provide you with the answers, because they’re right there with you wondering what the answers are too. You don't need a label, and the labels know you don't need them. But because everyone knows the same thing, there is no harm now working together on new models, deals and visions where EVERYONE benefits.

DIT

OK so here’s the crux of it. Listen good: there is no “us” and “them” anymore. There is no fight and there are no sides to take, anymore. You can be indie, and you can be signed. You can be self-released, and you can be commercially distributed. There is a “we” that we need to recognize now, in order for the music industry to survive, and for the “music” that we make to be respected and protected.

There is the overly used term “DIY” – Do it yourself. Sure, go ahead. But here’s my new theory. DIT: Do It Together. I am quite invigorated with the state of the music industry because artists and labels now have an opportunity to work together on a new future. Labels are making new deals where artists are more in control. Joint ventures are cropping up, and 360 deals are a buzz word (basically labels are taking a share of all revenue artists’ make, not just CD/music sales.) It might sound a little fishy, but in reality, it is asking for Labels to work harder now on the other areas of an artist’s life, not just on recording their album. Labels can help with their web presence, their merchandise, their touring, and be accountable too.

DIT means that indie artists don’t have to feel like they’re doing it alone. They are independent, yes… building their business as any entrepreneur should. But you can’t do it alone. You do it with people who support you: your team. We are in this world to work and be together.

I’m inspired by the opportunities at hand. They are what you make of them. You can either go back to your coffee and TV after you read this blog, or you can get on the Internet, turn the music up loud and take advantage of the sea of possibilities awaiting at your fingertips.

"We live in a time where entrepreneurial excellence is paramount. it's time for artists to take control of their own destiny..."

- gilli moon

gilli in melt magazine

2007-12-01T04:33:00.000-08:00

gilli in Melt Magazine

"Warrior Girl Music is the place in Los Angeles to go for music, inspiration and community. Gratefully you can join the action without leaving home. With the focus on creative and artistic development Warrior Girl Music founder Gilli Moon is making it her mission to bring empowerment to the people." A GILLI MOON INTERVIEW FOR MELT MAGAZINE by Dorothy Segovia

Here is the link to the online version of Melt Magazine which has this article in it. It is under Premium Membership and it costs only $10.00 a year. meltmagazine.com

For convenience, we also have a copy of it to read on gilli moon's website here

gearing up for quiet aussie bush creativity

2007-12-01T03:47:00.000-08:00

November was a rockin' good time in Hollywood. It's amazing what a warriorgirl can get up to in a month! It all started when I said "I'm taking a break". Well, no one would let me have a break! I was imagining cozy nights by the fire and by day, dabbling in a few song writings and little stuff. But I couldn't stay away from the limelight.

Beginning of November I exhibited some of my acrylic paintings at the Magdalene Center in North Hollywood. I'm a rare art exhibitionist (contrary to my music where I'll push it anywhere and everywhere ;). Art to me is very private and personal. So this was probably my 3rd exhibition in my whole life. It was really nice and nurturing.

Soon after, I spent 4 days at the Taxi Road Rally, one of the best songwriters conferences on the planet. We had a Songsalive! booth, also highlighting my book, and I conducted my very own Artist Empowerment Workshop, all about DIY marketing, touring and promotion. I had a blast and I am really touched by all the artists who personally commented about their experiences in my workshop. Thank you to those who attended.

On Nov 12 warriorboy marketing guru Bob Baker (from St Louis) and I hosted our first workshop today. I think it was a success and we held it at the Brewery Art Complex in downtown LA which was very unique. Not many people venture downtown in general, but this night had all the brightest artists out for an illuminating workshop.

View MrBuzzFactor's map

Taken in (See more photos here)

photo: Gilli Moon and Bob Baker present a workshop in Philip Horváth's fantastic loft space at the Brewery Art Complex in Los Angeles. Cool space, cool people. Photo by Pooki.

2 days later I had the awesome honor in opening the Jeff Buckley Tribute concert at the Keyclub. What a night. Jack Osbourne introduced me after Mary Guibert, Jeff's mother, said a few words. The room was packed. Over 500 people for sure. I could hear a pin drop as Andy Cat (bass) and I performed Jeff's sentimental tune Lilac Wine. You can watch my performance on youtube here, taken by my Flip video sleith J.Walker. The official video will be playing on www.jeffbuckley.com very soon.

I have to admit that I'm very blessed to be based in Los Angeles. In one week I held an art exhibition, spoke at a music conference, ran my own artist empowerment workshop downtown, and performed at the Keyclub to 500 people.

What next? Some quiet Australian time with family, finishing my 2nd book (I promise I will get this completed!), completing the Females On Fire 3 compilation, finishing an album with J.Walker called Skillz, and... getting some aussie sun.

gilli moon rocks hollywood in november

2007-11-02T10:51:00.001-07:00

G'day peaceful warriors...

Just when i thought it was going to be a quiet autumn here in hollywood, my life just went into sudden overdrive and it all happens before thanksgiving! Firstly, I want to send a peace sign out to all those who were affected by the l.a and san diego fires. Having grown up in the Aussie 'bush' where bushfires are always the threat, i am shocked to see how much of l.a has been struck by nature's horrible fires.

I am very excited to have my acrylic paintings as part of a women's art exhibition at the Magdalene Center in North Hollywood. The opening night is Thursday Nov 8 and there will be drinks and snacks available, plus live music. I'm a quiet painter (not so outspoken as I am with my music, so this is a rare appearance of my artworx). Details below. Then, on Sunday Nov 11 I will be speaking at the Taxi Road Rally, truly one of my most favorite music conferences that really give good juice for songwriters wanting to take it to the next level. I'll be there, actually, from Fri morning with our Songsalive! booth, but Sunday at 2pm i'll put you in the driver's seat of my workshop DIY Indie Artist Marketing, Touring and Promotion and the Key to Survival and Success in the Music Biz. Details below. You have to be a Taxi member to attend this conference.

Then, the next day Monday Nov 12, and open to ALL artists, songwriters, musicians, writers, actors, dancers, anyone who is creative, is an amazing first time workshop that I'm co-hosting with my friend and online music marketing guru Bob Baker. See below.

I have some REALLY cool gigs coming up in Los Angeles and down-under mateys. All below. Just scroll. Takes only a moment. he he. On Wed 14th I'm performing at the Oz City Circle (all Australian artists) at the Mint, and the following night, for one song only - none other than the famous "Lilac Wine", on Thurs Nov 15 I am performing (with my upright bassist Andy Cat), at the Key Club for the Jeff Buckley 10 Year Anniversary Birthday Tribute. This will be my first time performing at the Sunset Strip's famous Key Club. I have performed for a Jeff Buckley tribute show before, at Club Sin-e in New York a few years ago, which was put on by Columbia Records. So it's a real honor to perform in honor of him again. This show will be packed so get your tickets early. Read below for details.

Finally, to end the year, I'll be putting on my own going away Xmas party full set at Room 5, on Tues Dec 4. Definitely come out for that one to see me and my full band, and spoken word artist J.Walker in action before I jettison over to Australia for Xmas (and a Sydney gig on 8th). All below.

Take the ride with me,

~ gilli moon

www.gillimoon.com/warriorgirlmusicenews for the full newsletter

No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.503 / Virus Database: 269.15.19/1105 - Release Date: 11/2/2007 11:04 AM

Rockin' it in the free world - Down to Dewey Beach DE and final tour spot

2007-09-30T18:16:00.001-07:00

I think it is serendipitous to end, always, on a high note. I am delighted, enlightened, invigorated, satiated... i have performed, spoken, felt, lived, laughed, wept, celebrated and feasted. The ordinary tour has ended, at least for now. Because life is too extraordinary to pass up another ordinary tour. But this time on the east coast of good ol' USA, is now at at an end.

Melissa Mullins fellow comrade, artist and friend, and I drove 7 hours and a sleep over, down from CT/NJ to Dewey Beach Delaware, heading to the Dewey Beach Music Conference, our last tour stop for this month long expedition. I forgot to mention in my last blog our actual drive from CT to Montclair NJ, so thought i'd spill the beans here. After leaving Danielson CT, we hit a huge rain storm on the I-395 to New London. It was 10pm at night, and impossible to see. When it rains in Connecticut, it rains hard. We had to pull over. And so we did, into this seemingly normal BP gas station, for a pit stop, a cup of tea and a place out of the rain.

I walked into the gas station, and i just wanted to walk straight out. Firstly, there was no tea. Waa. Secondly, it was filthy, and thirdly there were about 5 filthy ol' men staring at my dress size as i walked in and walked around. I decided to seek cover in the loo. It seemed unlocked. I opened and hit the guy inside who was half naked getting changed.

"Goddam woman, you 'bout broke the door down", he loudly professes.

"I'm sorry, I didn't realize anyone was in there" I meekly replied.

"Well, look-a-here, look what yer did with the door."

We examined it together. Yep, it seemed that in my haste to enter the bathroom, I pushed not only the door, but the whole side frame around it, right off the wall, nails and all. He huffed and puffed, and promptly slammed the door in my face, leaving me outside wondering if I was ever going to pee in this town.

The gas station owner, however, was very nice about it and noticing my accent, he asked me if perhaps I was with the Beach Boys (I guess they were on tour, or one of them, tonight in the area.) I asked what that would have to do with my accent, and he said th

at one of them was Australian, and then he pulled is wallet out and showed me the shiny orange $20 bill this musician had given him. A bit of a show and tell on this rainy night in the middle of nowhere.

I went back to the bathroom, whereby the door was still closed. I waited another 5 minutes, now tightening my knees together, and then knocked.

"Hi there, just wanted to let you know I really need to go."

No answer.

ANOTHER 5 minutes went by (and that's a long time in the pee waiting business), he finally opened the door, gave me a surly look of complete disappointment in door management. I stepped in, closed the door, inspected the paneling, and decided there was better things to do than find a hammer.

The rain subsided quickly, fortunately for us, because we just didn't feel like staying here all night. Back on the road, Melissa at the wheel once again (she will not let me drive! She's a nut!)... we drove south west on the I-95 to the I-287 and where CT meets NY and NJ all at once, we crossed the Tappan Zee Bridge for the 3rd time in 3 weeks. Give me a house in Nyack and I'd be happy. It's truly a great spot on the Hudson.

Arriving in Montclair at 2pm, central pivotal point, we slept 7 hours, said goodbye to Patti, this time the last for this trip anyways, and at 9am we were off again, south to Delaware. There's no rest for the wicked.

We drove through the sludge of NJ and some nice quaint towns, stopped at many highway road stops for a pit break with international tour buses of people I generally don't want to do multi-cultural exchange with. We drank tea, listened to Texan band Spoon, U2, Tracy Chapman, Sting and India.Arie. We arrived in the small town of Dewey Beach by 2pm, checked into our hotel and marveled at the view. We had no expectations here, except to peacefully be included in what has been now a 6 year gathering of music artists and like-minds. We were the new comers.

Promptly setting up our booth in the exhibition hall, situated right on the water at a restaurant/hall at a marina surrounded by boats, we started to see familiar faces, Madalyn from Go Girls Music, Stephen from Music Registry, da boyz from Newartistsonline.com, and the troops from Myxer ringtone

s (fabulous bunch of techy wonders). The room was a buzz and we had our Songsalive! booth filled with merch, tees, books, cds, membership flyers and a whopping mailing list. Ready for business.

The opening party at sunset included a smorgasbord of free luxury foods, like sushi, seared tuna sashimi, strawberries and free drinks, with an amazing view of the water. It was an amazing start. Melissa and I were beside ourselves with the free food.

Water views so magical.

Tables and chairs were in the sand.

Rock bands in black t-shirts and wearing festival lanyards and spiky hair does.

Bus boys and waiters in white serving multi-color drinks.

Cross section of diversity and lots of music talk.

The room was buzzing.

That night, Friday night, Melissa and I had an outside festival gig in Ocean View, about 10 miles south, that was set up by the Showin'Tell band. Chris, their manager, is an absolute sweetheart, and Micolino (sp?) the drummer, is the cutest Goth long haired mascara eyed sexy straight dude ever. This gig was a great lesson in never making assumptions. Firstly, we were told we were playing at the Back Street Cafe. First impressions, before getting there, was that it would be a tiny java cafe on the beach, filled with hippies and internet coffee drinkers. So I wore my flower dress and looked al girly for this one. Were we wrong about this location. What we really arrive to was a back street (suburban) dive bar, with a row of about 10 trucks outside, and inside pool tables, sports on the TV and a

bunch of locals getting mighty drunk. I was so not dressed appropriately! Or so I thought.

I knew that Melissa could get through this gig, because she can just get feisty and loud, with her rockness on guitar. It's harder for me, or so I thought, to do a solo gig on the piano, with lyrical love songs, in a dress, to a bunch of yahoos. I let Melissa go up first. She did great. I got up and plugged in the keys as well as my loop station, so could diversify my performance... somewhat. I started into my first song, "Release Me" (track 2 on the extraOrdinary life album), with a few harmony layers on the loop station, and did some beat boxing to create my beats, which picked th

e vibe of the song up. Low and behold, I grabbed some attention, which turned into everyone in the room enjoying the set. Some drunk but happy blonde woman in her late forties starting yelling about her son, "Eric, Eric, he's great.... Get him to get up with ya and jam. He's really good". After about 5 times of her doing that, I coaxed the shy sun (hair falling all over his face) to come up, and so.... we jammed. He was a great guitar player. Really lovely. We had a good time. And that clinched the deal with getting the room to "get jiggy with Gilli". I had a great show. People clapped along, sung along, and hooted and hollered. I enjoyed performing, and didn't hold back. "Look, she's writhing in her seat," I hear one local comment." I think the truckers liked the cleavage in the dress. I mean, hey, sometimes sex sells, even if it's just natural and not planned. One trucker dude who hadn't slept in 48 hours bought me a Tequila Shot. When in Rome... He bought a CD too and was, infact, the nicest fella. He's just driven from Mississippi.

I learned that you can't make assumptions about anything through this gig. What I thought was going to be really hard, ended up being a joy, and it was mainly because I realized that these people, the Ocean View locals, love music, and love entertainment, and if you're prepared to entertain, and not take yourself so seriously, then everyone is with you. Sure, some were watching the baseball game, some played pool, but I was in the room too and it was fun.

> Check out our hotel room view to the right. Pretty nice!

Saturday was really fantastic day at the Dewey Beach Music Conference. Melissa represented our Songsalive! booth while I mentored

for some bands. One band I spoke to were trying to work out their next steps to take themselves to the next level. In 10 minutes we found the way together. They talked about their lyrics being uplifting for their audiences and the youth who hear them, and yet they play heavy punk music, which they love to play. But their bio didn't even touch on their uniqueness of uplifting positive lyrics. So I suggested they brand and market themselves as the new Creed of punk music, changing the youth through punk to have hope and bring uplifting messages. They dug it. I mean, the world needs this now. More positive statements for kids to latch on to.

I also spoke on the DIY panel which is quite interesting because having spoken on DIY panels for 7 years now, and having been one of the first DIY artists since the Internet came out, I realize that DIY is now changing as a definition for indie artists. I think most artists now have it down pat as to how to do things DIY, whether you get online, or tour, or promote, embracing the digital age. But what we are facing now, in this new music revolution, is a new wild west, where no one really knows what is truly going to be the next dawn. So we are all navigating our way through it all, trying to create revenue streams in this ever decreasing revenue market for songwriters and artists who, ultimately, "make" the music business exist. Yet DIY artists are struggling because everyone is doing SO much, touring A LOT, constantly WORKING it and never CEASING with the doingness. Is it time that artists make smarter decisions and choices so that they can build revenue? Does one just continue to go go go, as an answer to finding success? Does one continually plow forth alone, doing everything? I think not. I think it's time to change the phrase DIY - do it yourself, to - DIT - Do IT Together. I don't think this is about doing things yourself. I think this is about building community, of like minded people, to create shared revenue and success. The panel was a great brainstorm for food for thought.

That night Melissa and I had our last gig, at McShea's in Dewey Beach, as part of the festival. Another great lesson learned, about having FUN and again, not having any assumptions. This was another sports bar vibe with guys ready to drool at short skirts that come in, or dibble at the baseball player on the multi TVs. But, again, both Melissa and I rocked it. We had SO much fun. Everyone clapped, and danced, and laughed, and enjoyed. As the final piece, we ended with Don Henley's "Heart of the Matter" to everyone's complete satisfaction. If they weren't already standing, we would have gotten a standing ovation. Melissa was grinning from ear to ear. I think she needed to feel audience love again after somewhat lackluster responses in Redbank NJ and the little "quiet corner" towns in Connecticut. For me, McShea's launches a FIRST for gilli moon: After 15 years of playing the piano sitting down, I was forced to stand up because there weren't any chairs: I LOVED IT!!! I've found a new way to perform with the piano. I know many artists stand to play, but i just never did it, and i can't believe it took me this long to have a go. It really does provide me with more of a connection as a front singer, being behind the keys. I can dance, stomp my foot, wringle, jiggle, gosh it's so much fun! NEW STANCE: STANDING! Yay!

After our gigs, we were ready to celebrate, the end of a great weekend, and the end of a great tour. We band hopped a bit, (we loved the heavy metal band Panacea from North East Pennsylvania), and we just let go and enjoyed knowing the hard work of door to door salesmanship, lugging gear, sleeping on couches, and following tour maps, was over. We could relax.

Sunday morning after a nice moment on the beach, and a free bloody mary breakfast (thank you Vikki Walls for a GREAT festival!), we packed up and headed south. Through some humble beach towns down the Peninsula, past Ocean City Maryland, we crossed the border into Virginia (third state in one day) on the I-113 then I-13 south. All of a sudden, I felt safe and somewhat at "home". Since staying in Virginia Beach for 10 days before this tour had started, and having future family in-laws living there, I've kind of built a warm and fuzzy connection to this State all of a sudden. Being on the road for 3.5 weeks, coming back to Virginia made me feel closer to the home in my heart.

I had a fantastic time on the road, seeing and feeling the East Coast of the US. I really enjoyed the festival as a book end piece to the tour, to remind me what my purpose is as an artist, a community builder, and a motivator. Right now we are living in freedom as artists in the music biz. The world is for our taking, really, if we are tenacious and ready to create revenue streams in diverse areas and ways. If we think outside the box, and try something different, embracing new technologies and the internet, staying in touch with our inner talents and creative flow, we really are in control of not only our creativity, but also our business, and therefore our future. I've been doing this for over 10 years and yet I feel I've barely scratched the surface when it comes to my own artist empowerment. What I do know, is that I'm rockin' it in the free world, my world, our world... and a creative world. Thanks for being part of my ordinary tour blog. Catch ya on the next wave.

fire.creativity.energy.dreams

every day i give myself the authority to be who i am, 'cause i can. and anytime i need a little energy i reach for your hand, 'cause i can. in another world i would have been six hundred feet tall but i grew small and feisty. i never look back and i feel alive inside.. i am mighty. take my hand and i'll guide you take my hand and i'll show you the enchanted forest
sometimes i climb from the outside in and get lost in a thousand leagues under, 'cause i can. i swim through mud blinded by comfort, cling to the ladder, passing the thunder, 'cause i can. in a prophet's world we would never look back, never look back there would only be you and me take my hand and i'll guide you take my hand and i'll show you the enchanted forest take my hand and i'll nourish you i can give you the enchanted forest
don't be dismayed by my unencumbered strength i know.. what's... true and when i seem a little distant i'm just taking it all ... in ... all ... of ... you 'cause i know what's right for me... female intuition and i know what's going on with you... woman's suspicion getting from point A to B, trust in ... ... my hand to guide you (the enchanted forest) ... my hand to show you (the enchanted forest) the enchanted, the magical, the ever wonderful forest (the enchanted forest) my hand to nourish you (the enchanted forest) my heart to guide you (the enchanted forest) my love to show you that nothing else matters, but seeing the forest through the trees. (lyrics from "enchanted forest", by gilli moon, from the extraOrdinary life album. www.gillimoon.com/extraordinarylife

VIDEO OF GILLI JAMMING WITH A LOCAL BOY PULLED OUT OF THE CROWD IN OCEAN VIEW, NEW JERSEY (Taken by Melissa Mullins):

Learning about humility - Redbank NJ to Danielson CT

2007-09-27T22:44:00.001-07:00

I am somewhat impressed with my patience.

Life on the road requires this, plus humility, plus a heightened awareness of knowing that what's next is going to rock my world, far from the world i'm in right now. Redbank NJ, a very pretty town on the Atlantic and the Navesink River, is somewhat an "interesting" town to play in. I spent most of my 2 days here wondering why I was here. But I had gone on the pretext of a wonderful person who coaxed me down that way, now for my third time. His name is Joe, and he runs the Internet Cafe on Main Street.

Not much to look at inside, the white smudged walls and floors are a stale comparison to the quaintness of every other building in this town, which dates back to early settler times and has nice red brick or ornate victorian style walls. The Internet Cafe is like a 90s box, meant for a mini mall in east los angeles, so out of context. But.... still....twas our little base for 2 days. Notwithstanding, Joe works tirelessly bringing artists in to perform on a regular basis, and supports original music, so you can't scoff at that. Joe is our friend!

The drive to Redbank down the Garden State Parkway, from Montclair, was about 2 hours. It took us to the very Eastern tip of New Jersey, kind of parallel to Manhattan, so from where we stayed, you could see the buildings of NYC in the distance. Our first show (1 of 3) at the Internet Cafe was on the Sunday afternoon in the courtyard. Not as glamourous as it sounds, the courtyard is the back alley near the row of 10 garbage bins and a very messy arcade filled with empty dirty cups and trash. The PA was set up and we set to work. I've become the traveling salesman. My green warrior merch bag on wheels expands onto any table with CDs, books, t-shirts, mailing list, stickers... oh and don't forget the tip jar. If we didn't have that with us, we would certainly be running at a loss. Luckily we are about $200 ahead of ourselves, which means that all the gas, tolls, subways, accommodations have come under what we've made. But it's not without a sweat. While Melissa performs, I go around with the tip jar, mailing list and offer a free sticker from both of us if they do both. Then the next stage is, if we catch them with the first one, selling the cds, tees and book. When I'm performing, Melissa goes around. And on it goes all night. Phew. (I wipe the sweat from above my eyebrow).

Redbank afternoon in the courtyard attracted one 14 year old male, who preferred to talk about how many songs he's written (nice kid though), a couple who sat down for a quick coffee, and quite a few who used the alley to get where they needed to go, but not to destination ordinary tour. Alas, we played to rehearse, and were content to pack up and find a place to stay. This was an interesting and quite amusing moment. Joe, the Internet Cafe owner, had originally offered the upstairs of his house, which seemed glamorous discussing it on myspace with him. Then he tells me that it's all messy and he still has his Xmas tree up, and, "well, you can sleep on the pull out couch but..." Ahhh, no thanks. But he is kind, Joe, because he gave us some hotel money and off we went in search of the holy grail hotel, hopefully with a water view.

One hour and a half later, after much searching for a strip of hotels you'd think you'd find in an ocean town.... we found the one hotel that was available. Actually it was really cute, and it was on the ocean in a town called Sea Bright, called the Fairbanks Inn.., plus the waterway/lake behind with a mini marina and a swimming pool. Quite the spot. We still had half the money Joe gave us so we choofed off to one of 3 local fish restaurants and ordered some fish. But what we did do which was quite silly was spend all that remainder on the meal, which was $60. We've been so spend thrift on meals and then we blow it on one when we think we're playing with free money. Oh well. I guess it's all a monopoly game in the end.

We had to get back to the Internet cafe for gig number 2, featuring at the open mic. When we got there, it was deserted and all packed up and only 10pm. Weird town. So no gig.

I woke up desiring to sleep all day. Instead Melissa and I went for a nice long walk along the beach which was terrific. You could see NYC in the distance, and on the beach itself where a slew of giant clam shells which were a treat to photograph and i took a few as souvenirs. I wasn't attracted to swim because there were trillions and billions of jellyfish (thumbnail size) along the tide. Quite squishy when stepping on them, the seagulls picked at them a bit. Can't imagine they'd be that filling.

We headed back to Redbank for gig number 3, but a little earlier so we could capitalize on the venue and get online for a bit. I tried to find meaning in my tour life, sitting by the Redbank shore eating our left over fish from the night before, made into a fish sandwich. I really cannot claim my Redbank tour moment to be any way pleasing, except the company that I was keeping, cause Melissa rocks, and has a great attitude about going with the flow that has made our tour really, really enjoyable overall. In 2003 I came here for the first time with Eric Idle and we played the Count Basie Theater. Can't get better than that really. Lovely venue, lots of people, and the pay was great. This time around,.. just felt,... flat. This last gig, on the Monday night, was supposed to be a big one, and we were to headline the show. What actually happened was that barely anyone showed up to Billy Swift's promoted night, which may have something to do with their pre made tickets having the wrong date on them,... and when i did get up, i was cut off after 4 songs, which really sucked. But hey, I was ready to leave. Time to head north, back to tour baseland, Montclair NJ. Let's blow this joint. So after a slice of cheese cake at the local diner, we were outta here. Still, with much regret over the shows themselves, I do want to thank Joe for his hospitality and generosity.

Tuesday Sept 25 came quickly, waking up in our soft sheets and billowing comforter of Montclair NJ where our friends Patti and Susie and their 2 cats and 2 dogs and a girl named Grace have been our mid way point for many destinations of our tour. I needed a GTSL like it became my real fix. If you don't know what that is, get with the program and read previous entries. Hint: Starbucks.

This is the part where I announce the zig zag tour component. You see, we have already been to Boston, back down to NJ and now... we go back up to Connecticut. But for all good reasons. We had 3 appearances in CT, in the "quiet corner of New England" as they say. First stop, Mystic CT. Wow what a gorgeous town, and Bill Pere and the Connecticut Songwriters Association is a wonderful, inspiring and generous man. He invited me to come speak to his songwriters, and critique their songs, and thereby putting us up in the local Econolodge overnight... which by the way have THE nicest pillows ever. I felt like taking one with me but I refrained myself.

Mystic, as you should all know, is the home of Mystic Pizza, which was the location (albeit outside only) of the movie of same name that starred Julia Roberts in her first full feature. Mystic also claims the name of the other movie, Mystic River, though not too sure it was shot there. It also harbors the oldest American whaling boat, which I can't imagine is that politically correct nowadays to advertise that notion, except that in fact the town of Mystic boasts their whaling history quite strongly with ye olde whaling restaurants and antique stores.

I have become known to take up the local cuisine whenever I can. In Boston I had a clam chowder, and last year in Philly I had the Lobster Bisque. I usually taste the wine and beer of the region too. In Mystic I had everything to do with Lobster. I ate Lobster ravioli for dinner and a fresh Lobster roll for lunch the next day, which you eat at the side of the road and local lobster/seafood huts. Quite delicious, and contrarily inexpensive than what you would imagine lobster to cost. (Though nothing compares to the price of lobster in Puerto Nuevo in Baja, Mexico.)

The CSA songwriters workshop was a treat. I conducted my workshop - MPWR the path to artist empowerment, which is very close to my heart and experiences as an indie artist in the ever changing, and challenging, music industry. More about what I speak about at www.warriorgirlmusic.com/MPWR. Suffice to say, here are a few notions I profess:

- Use an I AM affirmation when introducing yourself, made up of positive and concrete statements about who you are, your talents, and how you are making a difference in this world. No "I'm trying", "I wanna be", "If only I had", or any other self defeating statements.

- Define success on your own terms, not by how others define it or by commercial standards.

- Enjoy the journey, the process, not just the end result.

- Live your career with passion, for without it you have nothing.

- Optimism + Organized = Opportunity (this is my own coined phrase.

- Be a business person as well as an artist.

- Surround yourself by positive people and beware of energy zappers.

- Know your competitive edge (advantage), which is your talent + uniqueness.

- Follow your strengths.

- Endow success.

I ended my talk with a song: evolution, from my extraOrdinary life album, and Melissa accompanied me on guitar, while i sang and used the wooden beam holding up the roof as my drum while I banged on it with my hands for some awesome and comical effect. We sold books and cds, hopefully uplifting and inspiring a few more talented artists to believe in their path, and then it was time for bed.

Mystic is a lovely town to wander around with a chai latte in your hand and a camera in the other. Lots of little spiritual book and gift shops, bric a brac, and a splendid old draw bridge that allows sail boats with tall masts to enter into the quaint and yet majestic harbor, that is surrounded by million dollar water front homes. I, t was a great break for Melissa and I to just "be" tourists for a day and not have to think about big drives, big gigs or big internet work.

But we did eventually head up the 395 freeway to just outside Danielson CT, to an empty town called Brooklyn, where we checked into America's Best Value Inn. I can't say that it was the "best". Quite plain and horribly incomplete when it comes to space and amenities. Nor would I call it an "Inn", more like a road side motel that could possibly house truckers and cockroaches. But "Best Value" it was, at $45 for the night, using one of those coupons out of the hotel coupon books you can pick up at any road side diner or gas station. It also was in a prime location for a trucker or two, with the "Beef and Fish" joint which sounded really appealing..um... not. I mean, would you stop at a place that just had a huge neon sign that said "BEEF AND FISH". Okayyyy.....

We checked in. We did not eat at the beef and fish joint. We went to Putnam, 12 minutes north, and checked in to our gig venue "Victoria Street Cafe". This is a very cute and olde worldy style place, juxtaposed next to a huge antique store that had 3 old pianos in the shared alley way to the loo, none of them were in tune. So I set up my keyboard, Melissa her guitar, and we promptly and in remote controlled seasoned fashion, displayed our little merch stuff, hoping to make a quid.

And that we did. A deceiving little cafe, it is also the only thing open in Putnam. I'm still trying to work out why people live here. I know that it was a big cotton mill down in the 20s. Then the big flood of 55 wiped everything out and everyone left, save for a few who are still here... Dave, from the Cafe, was awesome, giving us free drinks and cake, and we performed our hearts out as if we were at Carnegie Hall, to the locals on their laptops and people playing chess. One guy, I think not quite altogether there, asked if I had played with Elvis. "No, love, but wasn't he a lovely man?". Yesssss. By the end of our sets, new people had come and gone and it was time for Melissa and I to do our finale, Don Henley's "Heart of the Matter", which is getting better one bar chord at a time. I swear by the end of this tour I'm going to know the first verse by heart.

We awoke to our first grey day (it has been so splendidly sunny for us), a cup of tea and a shared packet of oatmeal. No time for internetting... we were going APPLE picking! Yeah! We heard that there were apple orchards you could pick your own apples, and sure enough, 5 miles up the road, the Lapsley Orchard on the 169 was there for our pickin'. It was SO much fun. Basically, you take an empty plastic apple bag and go out into the orchard, where rows of apple trees are, and you pick your apples. There were different varieties, but we stumbled only upon the Macintosh variety. I thought alot of them were a bit green (meaning unripe) so we picked about 6 and headed back to pay. When we bit into one of the apples for the first time, oh my god, they were SO good and totally ripe. My mouth tingled with delight. CRUNCHY and tasty, and sweet, but not too sweet, and so so fresh. We couldn't contain ourselves. We hopped back into the orchard and picked 16 more. It cost us total of $5. What a treat, and a great diet for the rest of the tour. I don't think I'll ever be able to eat a floury apple again.

Driving with no destination, we happened upon the Buttery. I thought it was a real buttery, you know, where they make butter, and maybe cheese. "Oh goodie, let's go get some cheese. Goes very well with apples", I said. But we got there and it wasn't even close to a dairy of any kind except that they did have sheep. It was an exclusive restaurant. The type of restaurant where there is no menu, except you can eat everything, especially what they are cooking for the day. The type of restaurant Alec Baldwin and Paul Newman hang out at. And the type of restaurant you don't ask the price. The view was splendid. Rolling hills of green, with a gorgeous lake at the bottom, seemingly untouched. In fact, being the "quiet corner of New England", this area has been preserved by the government and will not be built up with golf courses or condos. It's a nice comfort, for an Aussie girl in America, who has been witnessing for 10 years a constant development in this country that is quite embarrassing, save for the Americans themselves who don't notice how much of an urban mini mall freeway mcmansion cookie cutter sprawl their country has become. This little piece of paradise in the center of Connecticut was like being back in Wollombi NSW Australia, and I even have to say the people are just as nice.

We returned to the Victoria Street Station for wifi, chai and some peace before our second gig. I spent most of the time sleeping sitting up in a chair, and I probably snored. But not as bad as the girl next me playing some kind of board game and snorting every 10 seconds. Oh the things you put up with in public locations.

We should have been in Dewey Beach already, for the start of the music festival, but we had one more gig in CT, at the Riverside, Danielson, about 12 minutes south of Putnam .Jenn, the booker, who's a sweet young gal who booked both nights for us (we found her on myspace!) set our expectations high for this gig, being a very trendy and popular restaurant on the river. When we got there, I can't say that it was trendy, but sure was popular, with families, who sauntered out for a meal from the woods, and their 4 children under the age of 4. All tables, families and kids. Where is my kids song collection when I need it! Melissa looked stunned and wondered how she was going to ease off from her fiery angsty soul wrenching repertoire to be more on the family audience side. I decided that I wouldn't perform "Touch Me" nor "Naked" and even "Temperamental Angel" turned into a family rated song where I got all the kiddies to hand clap through the song. Ho Hum. We did get a great fish meal out of it, with Melissa having white sea bass, and I had salmon.

Lessons learned on this trip.... be choosy with the gigs, even when all we need are nights to fill between one and another. Be humble and don't carry any airs about how hot we think we are, when the best audience member could be a three year old, who claps along and dances in the middle of the restaurant. Be ok with making $30 tips and put it all down to experience, the journey, building strength and becoming more and more clear where you REALLY want to be.

On to Montclair NJ at 10pm at night, half way between here and Dewey Beach. Worthy of a mention is the Tapan Zee Bridge, on the border of Connecticut, NY and NJ, and where a little town called Nyack sits right on the Hudson in upper NY. It's a wondrous bridge, that spans similarly like the Golden Gate in SF. And Nyack has some houses that i could definitely live in, right on the water, with the leaves changing on magnificent trees around. The leaves are really changing now in the North East, and it's certainly something that reflects my mind state.

We could be anywhere, but we are here, and we are growing as artists, human beings, and souls.

Melissa says "we're 30 bucks and 2 fish richer with our 20 apples". That's right!

the neon lights of broadway - surviving the enlightening Manhattan

2007-09-22T23:36:00.001-07:00

Wednesday Sept 19. Manhattan. Peaceful busy-ness. Constant sounds like a hum in the inner ear drum. Roadsweepers, horns honking, somewhere close, a jazz quartet rehearses their notes. I am on 98th and West End. The Upper West Side. Amused by the creative chaos of my own thoughts, I am so excited to be here on one of my many (now yearly) pilgrimages to New York.

I wrote this when I was 21 in this city:

"So much to do,

So little time,

So many thoughts,

Running through my mind.

Keep a step ahead of the rest of the crowd,

Don't fall under, Success is where I'm bound"

It wasn't easy getting to New York this time. "Ease" has been the operative word, but as sometimes we are meant to be tested, so too was the car battery. Dead. Luckily, we didn't want to drive into Manhattan. Still, leaving a dead car in New Jersey for the remainder of the week was not of interest to us. At first, it was a dead battery (a leaking battery as Asif our mechanic up the road told Melissa). Then, some calls later, he tells us that the alternator is kaput. That will be $475 total thank you very much. I didn't know this for sometime, as i was packing for NY, while Melissa frantically looked up car places for second opinions. As soon as I found out this decidedly unclear and dubious piece of information, I grabbed Melissa and marched up to tell Asif a piece of my mind and get under the hood(U.S)/Bonnet(real translation), myself. I'm not going to let some suburban mechanic ruin our entire tour fund. Yikes.

I began to chat, (wo)man to man. "Asif, are you sure it's the alternator?". "How can the alternator and the battery go at the same time?". "Is your meter faulty" "Do you speak English?". As if, Asif, it should cost that much!" All done with a smile though. Anyway, we gave him 20 minutes to double check his mechanic resume and the car and find out if in fact it really was the alternator or, perhaps, just perhaps, maybe a wire got unplugged. Sounds rather "girly" to say, "he mister, maybe (eyes fluttering), it's one of those (smiling flirtily) wires, a little, you know, askew?"

CAN YOU believe it? We were goddam right. It was a silly little wire. THANK you Asif for listening to women for a change. I felt so proud of my dad's drilling in me about how to be like a mechanic with mechanics. The bush did me right!

We parked the car in Harvard Yard. No we didn't. I just wanted to write that, like Bostonian's say it. "Paak tha caa in Haaavid Yaaad". We parked the car back and Patti's and Susie's (see right, pic with me, Patti and daughter Grace) - and Melissa and I hopped on the #66 DeCamp bus to Manhattan... destination broadway, 42nd street. Fabo!

And here I sit, now 98th and West End, at Carol's. I remember my time here in 92, going after the big dream on rollerblades and a copy of Backstage, living on a banana a day. Today, I had to take Melissa to my and Jeff's favorite pizza joint on 96th and Amsterdam: Famiglia's. That juicy, cheesy slice, just melts in your mouth. Fifteen minutes later, I passed out in Central Park. The week was already catching up on me. It's taxing being on the road. Gosh we had the BEST weather in New York. The best I've ever felt. Sunny, warm, slight breeze. Perfect. I fell asleep with the light afternoon sun caressing my face, dreaming of inspiring stages for the next 3 nights.

i used to dream of this day

i never thought it would come to this

all of those weary nights

poems by candlelight

i danced alone in my own world

i feel so much alive

i remember the fear i felt

never believed the dreams in me

time to receive all that i need

time to reinvent my human nature

time to begin the child

time to begin

time

We took our time to Greenwich Village, for our first gig in Manhattan. No keyboard to carry, each venue promised one to use. Phew. I used the Honor Society band's keyboard. You can check them out at www.myspace.com/honorsociety. Thanks boys! They actually had a korg triton, like mine, PLUS a whirlitzer, and I made a right angle with both so I could go back and forth. It was quite an experience. The local crowd was not much, but the room was awesome. Melissa delivered her rock-ness, I played it more mellow. I'm very much an audience artist. If there is one, it's w.o.w. If there isn't, i'm like "ho hum, ready for a glass of wine." I really did like this venue though. Thanks Maria for the gig. 40 year anniversary of this cool hole in the wall on Bleeker street. After us, The Lenny Brothers played after us.www.myspace.com/hentaimusic. Talk about south of the border, N'Orleans meets Elvis coolness. So ego, just soul, blues and a great hair cut. Melissa and I ended the night popping our head into various Village clubs, like one of my old haunts, the Bitter End (this girl was singing, and playing violin at the same time, while her band rocked out. soo cool). Late night nachos and a jazz club and we headed uptown with a slight skip in our step.

Still, I traveled back to the pad feeling a little despondent. I'd traveled all this way to where... an almost empty room? This isn't the New York I remembered. I remember Baggot Inn last year with the walls humming, and Town Hall with Eric Idle, and Cutting Room with fabo piano and photos and industry and.. and... Here I am on the subway riding uptown on the 1, thinking... "i have to change this. i have to change who i've become, and get in touch with that warrior, innately creative, spirit... again. Will this town feed me like it once did?"

Sleep, 11am sleep in, groggy head, and a green tea soy latte at starbucks. Today, I felt it early...., was going to be sensational. My fiance (yep folks, you heard it), says that "it's always darkest before dawn". How true. I had sunk into deep 21 year old blues (it flooded back) and enlightened in the morning to my mature 30s "I can take on this world" view of things. It worked. We began the day strolling down the Hudson River in the park, watching the yachts and the geese. A vignet of New York I never knew existing. On 79th and the water there is the most fabulous cafe, with an in the round Rotunda type eating area and raised stage. Views spectacular the happy hour beers are $3. If I were getting married in New York, this is beyond a doubt the place i'd get married. A cafe, a bar, a place to rest, the views were magical, and nothing over the top at all in price. What a location.

Chelsea next. The moment that shifted my NY perspective. I had an awesome meeting at ufomusic.com. United for Opportunity. Same ilk as me and my warrior girl music. I'm psyched. They just released Ani DiFranco's latest Best Of album. Need a say more? .... More news about that soon, i hope. That night, a fabo, awesome, hot, rock-ness, coolness gig at Mo Pitkins House of Satisfaction. Couldn't get cooler. Amy Clarke, also pianist of extraordinary bliss, hosted the night which we titled "Songsalive! Sirens". We actually started the night at 7.30pm with a song critique workshop which was very cool for our local writers to gather and gain valuable, positive, critique. (Pic Left is Dan Schteingart, Chloe Watkins, Melissa Mullins, Amy Clark, Steve Archdeacon and moi. The NY Contingent).

Then we had so much fun to, phew, a full house. Gosh I was so excited, centered, and felt funny and got response back, and oh.so.nice. Love our new chica aussie friend Chloe who came and hung with us. She showed us around East Village and oh.my what an assortment of cool venues to play at next time I'm back: Living Room - has to be THE place for me, and unlike the popular downstairs room, the upstairs smaller space has a grand piano. Love it. Next door, Pianos. But no piano. Weird. Rockwood Music Hall round the corner, also very intimate and fabo for songwriters. This is a great part of town. We ended the night back uptown with a cup of tea and a left over piece of pizza slice.

>Fast Forward interlude: I'm currently listening to Ani DiFranco, at a later time in space as i write, and her new "Canon" album is absolutely stunning. Flows, spoken, sung, melodic, rhythmic, perfect for a 2am writing spell.

Friday twenty first of september is supposed to be a fabulous day. 9+ 21 + 2007 = 21. Good number. I'm sitting in a little cafe (Starbucks, he he) with Backstage and my gtsl. I'm observing the new york foot traffic out of the floor to ceiling high windows. There is a lot of noise. Goes with the territory. This is New York. I'm really getting into the thick of things now. I'm feeling my inner muse come back to life. I planned that this would be, by the time I hit Manhattan. I feed off the energy here. Simply Red is playing on the radio. How serendipitous. I met them recently in West Hollywood at Virgin Records, where Mick was releasing his latest record. I gave him my cd, extraOrdinary life, and his wife/manager was very kind. I haven't received the call. I wonder if my manager heard from them. Manager, manager? anyone? bueller?

It was a great day to see the Statue of Liberty on the free Staten Island Ferry.

Here in Manhattan I've been honing in... getting closer to "it". I've been so... disconnected from my "path" for about 2 years, really. I thought it was just months, but it adds up. Time passes swiftly. I had been milling in a quagmire of productive energy expulsion, with no sense of creative direction. I've done so much, yet felt so little. I've been a walking zombie, creatively, living on automatic pilot at gigs, meetings, productions, performances. I haven't sat down and written in ages, songs nor my book. I have produced a huge festival (www.fofest.com/) in August, and Dayjams the rock music camp, with 17 staff, and produced various albums for others (www.warriorgirlmusic.com/producing), and yes toured, and spoken at conferences, and yes, i've been out there. But the "in" became stagnant. I have played this game so long, I had lost how to make it fresh. My friend Jon Batson says "Gilli, when you've won the game, you no longer need to play it." So true. I had absorbed that piece of information, 10 days ago, on Virginia Beach, realizing that that is why I had become so numb recently. I have done this ALL before, and I have done it well. I have played the live performance game, the recording industry game, the internet game. So where to now?

Right now, it's about inner creative peace. That's the challenge. And this tour is ***WAKING*** me up! I am getting my creative juices back. Last night my show at Mo Pitkins was unbelievably satisfying. I felt in touch with my spirit I laughed, I was in joy. I was quirky, my voice, keys and eyebrow expressions were all connecting like a well oiled machine. I "Felt" my lyrics and the emotion transcended beyond me to the room. An extraordinary day for an ordinary girl.

The final gig at Baggot Inn was small, and the keyboard I was subjected to was the worst most rotten keyboard with no piano sounds. I felt like I was playing a toy dinky child's keyboard. But I DIDN'T CARE. One tequila shot softened the blow and I just let it out with fun and ease. How can you burst a bubble when it's protected by inspiring light? Darren was great on sound, notwithstanding, and the bar tender had the coolest magic tricks with shot glasses.

Vignet: Our last stop was in Bayonne, the arm pit of New Jersey, in an equally um, humble apartment, for the opposite *MAGICAL* live internet show with Jerry from www.bumpskey.com/ - We literally performed in the kitchen!

Summary: I am falling in love with my performance again, and more importantly, my art again. The artist within is shining. I'm loving meeting new people. My heart is beating, centered and joyous. My legs are killing me fro walking 10 miles and 100 blocks a day, but this is what it's all about...being the ox. Thank you Manhattan. I am alive again.

gilli moon & melissa mullins - east coast barefoot ordinary tour

www.gillimoon.com/tours www.myspace.com/abarefootordinarytour

tinkling the ivories - Boston MA to Montclair NJ

2007-09-17T22:22:00.001-07:00

i'm taking my time, doing fine in the autumn breeze, no time to sleep, places to be, but all with ease. taking it all in, it's no sin that i can be free 'cause it's just me, my voice, my stories and these ivory keys. We made it to mASS-achu-setts on Saturday evening. Or, Mmmm, Asss, Achu, setts. Or Massa, Chew Sets. Or MassAcchewy. He he. It's late as i'm writing this. Can you tell? It's a GREAT state. I love the green freeways. The Java Room in Chelmsford MassAchhhh is quiet an oxymoron, in a wonderful way. Typical cafe with cakes, tea and coffee, sidled with a gorgeous grand piano, cabaret style tip jar and a full bar with cocktails. I didn't know if I wanted a cosmopolitan martini sitting on the internet, or a cup of tea as i sang my songs to a quaint crowd. Quaint, I guess, is the operative word. Slightly blank, was the response we got from the crowd, apart from a few little hand pats, which is, I think, a polite way to say "lack of loud clapping and stomping, hooting and hollering. I say this only to those that weren't in our little party of 5, which included myself, Melissa, Christie Leigh, her sister Silvia and friend Bernie. We all were the life of the party, especially sweety Silvia who sang all the notes with us as we sang, albeit higher and in a different octave to us. She was adorable though! he he. But the rest of the crowd were rather mute, except of course during our songs when they picked up their conversations as if we weren't here. Funny how entertainment is perceived. It's either seen as background music for loud conversations, or you totally focus. Nothing in between really. Christie let us sit in on her regular gig, actually, and it was really quite nice. I am spoiling the fun with the above paragraph. In truth, we had a blast, and a welcome introduction to this very pretty state. We choofed off to Boston (40 mins) after the gig, in the pitch black of night but with lots of vigor in our lungs, as we sang songs about every exit on the way down. I think I've already mentioned this, but Melissa is a walking musical. If i mention something like "hey take this exit 241 up here", she sings it "hey.....you must take (higher octave) 2.4.1 (low) up (high) here..." long vibrato. Ha ha. It's funny. So funny, i'm catching it. So I think the rest of the tour should be sung, no more talking. Makes things way more interesting, at least in the car. We arrived in the South End and found (no way, that is so, like, amazing) a parking space. It's like worth $45,000 a year for a parking space in this neighborhood. I know. We went to an open house and they told me, so I know it's true. Really, it is. But we found a spot for the blue warriormobile. Chris Marston, our host for the sleeping part of our boston trip, met us on the corner and walked us in. He's also our Boston Songsalive! coordinator AND an attorney who runs his own law firm. My favorite part about his place is his two dogs, tiki and bailey, the most adorable pint sized muppets you would ever meet. Bailey is like this chocolate crackle, or a curly fudge cake, that is the size of one, on four legs and curly hair (mini poodle) with eyes that are deeper than some human souls. He's so cute, and so light. Absolutely adorable. Tiki is a mutt of black and white variety that's about the size of a fat cat (bigger than bailey) and prefers to jump all over you, lick every part of you, and doesn't know what 'no' means when it comes to more demanded affection. I love these dogs. Chris has the most important asset in his living room, a baby grand, AND it's midi and connected to Digital Performer on his Mac. Once click of the mouse and he can record a whole album in his living room. It's really great. House concert anyone? Chris Marston and I stooping, Boston style. Sunday morning came late. I didn't want to get out of bed. But a green tea soy latte begged me to release the sheets. We took bailey and tiki for a walk through the boston south end streets, and all the dogs sniffed each others butts and socialized, (as you do on a sunday), while us adults ordered our favorite drinks and stooped on a boston Brownstown stair (as you do on a sunday). Stooping is an essential and popular Boston weekend pastime. You grab a drink, and a newspaper, and preferably a cute dog to attract visitors, usually of the opposite sex variety, and you sit on someone else's stair case, in the sun, amongst a crowd, and, well, stoop. Just hang. Just gotta watch those steps with old sticky gum... Sunday afternoon we began what will be a new ongoing tradition, the Songsalive! Songwriting critique workshop at All Asia in Cambridge (Mass Ave). 2pm start, and we had a bunch of songwriters ready to share their song for some feedback from all of us. It was a great afternoon of song sharing. More deets for future ones www.songsalive.org/boston. Then Melissa, myself and Christie Leigh jumped up each in turn, respectively, and sang some songs. More fans turned out, the beers got heavier and chinese food wafted from the kitchen. A nice afternoon of song, and the red sox were even playing (mute thank god) on the bar's tv. I was starving, as we all were, so Chris directed us to the best thai place in town, or so he says, on Mass Ave opposite Berklee College. It was delicious.

Got dark quick. Autumn is more prevalent up here. We jumped on the subway downtown upon Christie Leigh's (below) invitation to sit in on her open mic at 6B on Beacon Street, Boston. Sat with my wine and thoughts of the universe. Kicked back, sang a few on the mic (and guitar... i had a blister after the first verse!).. i'm a piano player goddamit!, and my energy subsided. But it's been nice. We subwayed it back to Mass Ave, and hopped in the car. Oh me god... we need a parking spot. My friend Rick said, talk to Josephine the Boston parking goddess. And so I did. I called my love on the phone and he said there is one, small but a good fit. We got back, and oh my god there was a parking spot. The ONLY parking spot in the whole 1 mile radius, and NO parking meter. Free, for all day. That is so amazing. I feel so connected to the flow, to the universe, so in alignment. EVERYTHING we have done so far on this tour has been an easy flow, and just coming to us, in easy ways. It's quite a miracle to actually see that in action. To witness when one is connected, or in alignment, and so is everything around us. The leaves are falling and the wind is crisp but the sun is shining. Today, our third and last day in Bostonia, land of smart fashions, little mutts and big trees, was a day of walking the streets. Had a good visit with Peter Spellman over at Berklee, then down the Charles River to the city, the Commons, up Newbury Street, Some seafood at the famous Slip Jacks (including, naturally, their clam chowder), then Boylston and back to the South End for a visit to the crew over at Sonicbids. We walked 4 hours today. Good stuff! Life is not worth living if you can't "feel", and I mean, really feeeeel your environment. If that means consuming the local papers, or food of the area, or walking the streets, or meeting all of the people, and/or all of the above. I love going to each city and doing all of the above. I digest the local papers, i eat the local food (and wine/beer), I want to smell, see, taste the culture and streets and talk to its people. Boston is a city, similar to Rome Italy, where I feel I can walk all day and not be bored. I love this city. We hopped into our ever accumulating car at around 4 and headed down the I-90 towards Hartford and then onto New York. Time to kick back in New Jersey for a spell before we go mad in Manhattan (I can't wait!) It was an easy drive, and we were faster than expected. All through MA and CT we were the only car on the roads. Wide open spaces and free roads, with lovely views. It seems very posh to live in Connecticut. I can imagine someone saying (naisly with lower pucker old new england accent), "oh yieeesss. I live in Connecticut. I wear tiger tooth smoking jackets, corduroy and suede trousers, and a beret, and smoke cigars looking at my yacht in the bay. How do you do." Everything is so.... pristine, almost like a postcard. Montclair NJ, apart from central office for the Musicians Atlas, is another quaint posh suburb outside New York, and we arrived just in time for a bowl of rice and to hop into bed. Before I get under the sheets, I sit and write to you. I have to say, LA seems too far away. I'm in a contemplative mood. Working on a new song with a hook that goes like this.... Separated from my true joy of music, song and story when not in that guise, mischief arises. I pretend to be big, strong and feisty But really I'm just a troubadour lady I can wear diamond necklaces and long dresses, Walk down the aisle in high hells And I can act tormented in all black leather But really I'm just a troubadour lady. Something deeply important I need to say. I feel very much in alignment. This is a new feeling, away from productions, events, entrepreneurship of running organizations, I'm tapping into my inner creativity. Bits of songs are busting out to be written, and I'm looking forward to feeling my spirit in New York on Wednesday. Here's a poem I wrote in New York 2 years ago. I re-read it tonight and re-opened my emotional vortex. New York will be good for me, my soul, and my creative juices. Tinkling the ivories in New York makes me wanna be a cabaret star, Broadway star, billy joel singing uptown girl, a jazz singer, a rock star or all of it. Goodnight!

new york midnight express. Now is What. chaos. on the street in my head on the tv in the room. i stand innocent. it swims around me. i live the silent movie. bam...fast furious fire strong midnight express. sleeping in the bronx, smelling deep history race, creed, industrialized waste, toxic to my system, messy, grimy, how do people live like this? ..fixing for a taste of home, not going to come so easy feeling queasy. new york, new york, giant jungle people fight to stay alive dyin' inside but hungry like tigers fast and furious they push whoosh goes the train like hunter and hunted, subway speed and kids doing tricks street side. do they know what's going on in the south? nothing comes out of this boy's mouth but "yeah, wanna buy my pet lizard got no disease" the dis-ease of our nation is seen on these streets exemplified thrice fold. now what? i am alone in my thought on this how do i make it clear without inciting fear. while tears wash away in the floods of new orleans. where do we all go from here? fear is the one thing stopping.it.all. i contemplate while i wait for my pizza slice filled with cheese, grease and my god it's delicious, down in alphabet city, with the sleaze and cuban restaurants with melodic guitars and voices and drums and beer and wine bars and young girls with tats and black berets and striped socks. sleeping on the street. she sleeps. or dribbles not sure. i eat. i look around and find i'm in hell how ironic as i am in love with it all. it drives my creative muse and i refuse to be of it but in it in any case. alive and kicking i also am with it,loving it performing in it, feeling it. now what? i find the keyboard and feel the ivories at c-note, a dive bar that eases my mood. i drink cheap beer. magic of lower east side. new york city has me by the hook, line and sinker and i'm not fine with what i see, the black concrete playgrounds, and a city losing time. no time, all the time, every time people fast, forward in your face. ..and hard truck sounds and taxi cabs that don't stop when you put your hand up high and say "stop" i am crossing this god damn street. "stop" with the cockroaches and the grit on my glass of water. "stop" with the urine down on the L line people live with this going to work and back and they don't see this simple fact, they live in tunnels on the way from here to there tunnels under the roads, the labyrinth of codes. "stop" the chatter inside my head of fear and 9/11 and clubs that don't pay or leave it ambiguous like they don't know what an artist needs. what does an artist need? the feeling of connection... whispering my thoughts ....do they know, ...do they know what is really going on? are we all so centrifugal to our own moment our own journey? was this book really created for me? "go" with my heart, my pulse, the instinct to be alive, and enjoy this fast journey, the ploy, the entrancing feeling of living on the edge and feeling history,.. on 42nd street. where i stayed last year in 5 star hell and finally, finally performed on broadway with a python at that. new york city town hall. i have done it. now what? how does it feel? what's real to my heart my ambition to know ....to know i have grabbed what i wanted to do in '92, as i rollerbladed through these steamy streets with Backstage mag in my hands and dreams in my heart, and naivety in my lungs and all i felt was fun and cold and hot and all the stuff that makes an artist alive, wanting, yearning, begging for a stage to be heard. living on adrenalin and hard dreams, ambitions to fruition i want to be heard.. new york city. do you hear me? do you feel me? do you want me? BUT i have done it. already. i have made it real and lived broadway and succeeded for whatever that success means? what does it really mean? this constant fire in my belly that says more more more NOW WHAT? i turn to the burbs big houses, large windows fancy mercedes SUVs and i sit here on the couch wondering. now what? while... an old lady dies in a hospital and i'm left holding my friend's baby so calm and soft she smiles with the innocence of mother nature she calms my mind. the innocence of children reminds me that i must look at life through a child's eyes at all times to survive my own ambition. now what? NOW. Now is WHAT. i breathe in i submerge to dreamland to breathe some more and feel the blue sky beating it's heat reminding me of life and love and california and passion surging, coursing through me . i live an extraordinary life. give me another slice. gilli moon . september 10. 2005. manhattan.

taking the high road - Baltimore to Boston

2007-09-16T21:43:00.001-07:00

Sleep comes easily on long days in foreign towns. The dreams have been vivid though, like my days. I'm sitting in the passenger seat of Melissa's car writing on my laptop on my knees. The I-95 is calm this time of morning. We left at 8am for Boston. I'm sipping my green tea soy latte, and occasionally glancing at the greenerie bordering the freeway like some invitation into a wild forest. Melissa pipes up "I love it. I love driving along these freeways out here. Trees are starting to turn. Little bits of gold sprinkled everywhere". She's drinking a green tea soy latte too, and has a back up tea in a thermos cup ready to take over to keep her focused on the road.

Road trip!

We've had a GREAT time in Baltimore. It was way more than I could have possibly imagined. Our second day in Baltimore was equally as pleasing as the first. Susan Souza, hostesss with the mostess, took us for a tour around inner Baltimore. We parked the car in Fells Point, a kind of grungy, but funky inner suburb right on the docks of the Chesapeake Bay. We wandered around a bit, checked out a jamming old record store (i noticed a few mom and pop stores in the area), and then headed to Bertha's Mussels for some famous Mussels that is well known all around the world. At the end of the ginormous pot of mussels, now just shells, we all got bumper stickers with the check. They have this notice board with photos of Bertha's Mussels fans who've taken their bumper sticker to interesting parts of the globe, like the snow or Hawaii. Kinda funny.

Back to ye ol' house in Towson, and it was time to get ready for the house concert. Susan had the gear. Actually quite a light system. Her little Fender speakers pack a punch but they are lighter than my laptop. Kristin, her partner, organized an assortment of snacks, including her delicious home made grape leaves with rice. So yummy. We pulled the keyboard out and got the guitars tuned and ready, and waited for the masses of locals to come by. Well, I can't say we got masses, but we sure did get a nice little group of guests who turned up. We all sat around enjoying some wine and the dips and then it was time for some vocal warblings. Susan hit it off with a few tunes. We decided to do it in the round style, we a couple of songs each, then keeping the round going till we get tired. She has some great tunes, and her sense of rhythm is impeccable. Next up, Melissa with her fiesty songs and passionate lyrics. She has a lot of energy for a pint sized gal. I finished the first set off with 'Release Me' done a whole new way, using my loop station. It's a cool little unit and i don't use it enough. I started recording a beat box beat with my mouth, then added (each loop you can add more to it) a beat box kick drum, then some beat box high hats (with my mouth. love doing this lip smacking, ha ha). This gave me enough to start the piano progression, and vocals. Lots of fun.

We did the round of songs all night, in between grape leaves and red wine, until we could go on no more. That day, Melissa and I rehearsed a song i've been thinking of doing live for a while: Don Henley's "Heart of the Matter". Though I prefer India.Arie's verson of this song, nice and laid back with an RnB groove, doing this combined with Melissa's guitar brought it more rock like Henley's. I didn't mind at all. It rocked. It's a nice duet to end the show and hope to use it up the coast.

I cannot speak more highly of Susan and Kristin. They are a magical couple of human beings who are very gracious and generous and so hospitile. It was such a pleasure to stay with them and get to know them. Go to http://www.womenskiss.org/ and check out their wonderful organization of Kickass Women Songwriters.

Now, we are heading north, taking the high road away from anyone who can touch us, disarm our love for pure creativity, or point fingers. Being on the road means being invincible, searching for truth, light and a creative reason d'etre. See you in Boston MA!

Quote Melissa shared with me today:

Quote of the Day The first stage of higher consciousness is the state of equilibrium where praise does not inflate you and slander does not depress you. You may like praise, but you offer it at the altar of your Creator; you may dislike slander but you offer it at the altar of your Creator. A person who lives in this state is super-sensitive, therefore he is grateful. This attitude of gratitude makes a person great. - Yogi Bhajan

No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.487 / Virus Database: 269.13.19/1008 - Release Date: 9/14/2007 8:59 AM

we sang about love like a picasso painting.

2007-09-13T23:16:00.001-07:00

Wow. First gig on the tour and I'm in heaven, transcending through celestial continents of inner spiritual mindgames and joy of musical wanderings. It didn't seem much on the outside, but doing a gig at Read Street Books Cafe, Baltimore, just blew my mind.

It's been a trippy day. I'm starting to feel like we are attracting the right things from the universe that we are supposed to attract. Firstly, waking up on the futon in Susan Souza's downstairs pad was delighful. I hankered for a Starbucks GTSL (green tea soy latte). I think Susan has a mapquest addition, because she dutifully gave us a map with directions to a Starbucks down on the other corner. "If you drive here, then here, left there, then right there.. it's right there". Ok. If we walk? Well if you walk, it's right there and then it's there." Ok. We walked. But it wasn't there. Just a house. We walked some more. Ahh there it is.... No sooner had we swung the doors and stepped inside, that we found out they had run out of soy milk. Biscuits. That's Melissa's expression for a swear word. I like it. I demanded a free drink coupon (they complied) and we hauled ourselves up half a mile to the next one. Why am I going through all this? Because the fact of the matter is going for the 3 mile walk (that's about the total of it after we finally got home) got us out and about and exercising, so that we wouldn't feel guilty about our day of internet affixiation on the couch where no muscled spasmed for about 5 hours. We were thankful for the morning walk.

6pm, we leave the house and head into baltimore on the I-83. We had another serindipidous moment when I ordered the Nachos at the City Cafe, round the corner from the gig-to-be, and after 20 minutes of waiting the waitress sauntered out and happened to casually mention, "oh I'm sorry, but it seems that oddly enough our chef has run out of corn chips.". Run out? How can you run out of corn chips. Soy milk, corn chips, what next. I was getting all excited over the ideas of cheesy chips to whet my palate for some musical warblings.... Oh dear. So I chose the clam soup.

Oh.my.god...What a soup. It was deliciious. You see, if there were corn chips, I would have never had the experience of the delicious clam soup. There is always a reason for everything....

I feel like i'm in Darlinghurst Sydney in this Baltimore spot. The clientele were similar too. Check this out... Susan was setting up the PA in the book cafe, Melissa was setting up the merch. I discovered right next door that there was a piano bar. Mmmm, seemed like a more interesting spot with a full room to perform to, unlike the cafe that seemed void of humans, at least when we first arrived. I walked in and felt immediately intimidated by the onslaught of testosterone energy in the bar. All guys chatting, drinking beer. I could feel their eyes undressing me, and already i knew my skirt wasn't long enough for the moment. I chatted with the manager about playing there, "yeah, sweety, maybe next time you come through town", and headed out hoping my but didn't sway too much. Sitting back in the cafe getting ready to perform, I happen to overhear someone say that the bar next door was a gay guy hang out. How stupid I felt. Ha ha. Here i was worried about being oggled at by a bunch of men, when in fact they didn't care about my presence at all! They probably were wondering why I stepped in. Funny moment.

Crystal moment: meeting Lizette and Chris, two power-house women in partnership with Read Street Books, the quaintest book store I've ever visited. Three levels connected by a spiral metal staircase, and the top 2 floors for reading and flopping down with a good second hand book that they sell on copious shelves, this tiny book store has more nooks and crannies than Melissa's tour mobile.Stop press, Read Street Books will soon be a tour stop for travelling songwriters, and a home for our Baltimore Songsalive! songwriters showcase! Yay! Lizette is very keen to make this Cafe the spot for acoustic original music, after an hour of marketing brainstorming amongst the girls. We think it could blow up if the word gets out that this place caters to singer songwriters. They even have a futon and a shower for the traveller. Love that idea. Stage is a nice size, with an upright piano, and a natural breeze through the back gated door that avoids any need for air conditioning on balmy fall nights like tonight. I have this idea, to compile the Songwriters Guide to America, where I list all the best acoustic original gig spots that provide a clean bathroom, shower and a futon bed. This has to take the cake!

There wasn't much of a crowd, but there was lots of love. Tina Ward, a songwriter of the area who is playing tomorrow night at the cafe, happened to come by, and after i sang a few songs, then Melissa, then Susan (who really is so groovy and rhythmic, she's great), Tina got up too. She is like the Picasso of love songs. She takes the subject of love and splits it into all ways of seeing, like a good Cubist painting.

Lizette got excited. We motivated her about some branding ideas for the cafe, and with the music and fun, that she decided to make us all rum and cokes. What a nice way to enjoy singing songs of past loves, broken loves new loves and loving rum and coke. I think all of us sang of love tonight, with all our own take on the meaning of love and why love is love. More rum and coke. She bought 6 of my books at wholesale to sell to the local arts college and we parted with an awesome plan to reinvent the music hub at Read Street Books. Stay tuned at songsalive.org for more on that outcome.

Susan and her partner Kristen invited Melissa and I for a drink at the piano bar next door after our 3 hour round robin songwriter sharing show. Why not? I think I can take on the boys this time... Some dude was doing his best effort on a Frank Sinatra tune in the corner on the 1929 baby grand, and we all sipped drinks musing over the perfection of our evening. What a way to start the tour! Couldn't have been better.

Just before final call happened and house lights went up, a friendly clientele lost his friends and sat down at our table, introducing himself as a master of music calligraphy. I think he was on prosac, but we enjoyed our conversation until I couldn't see past my nose, and we all ventured out onto the pavement to bid goodbye to this evening, and onto another day.

a lot of driving between songs. the start of the east coast ordinary tour - Virginia to Baltimore.

2007-09-12T19:29:00.001-07:00

We're sitting on the couch in a cozy basement room of a 3 storey townhouse owned by Susan Souza, a talented songwriter, in Towson, Maryland. We're on the journey... my fourth east coast tour. This time with the delightful Melissa Mullins. We've called it the barefoot "ordinary tour". A humble slide up the coast to some cozy gigs and an easy laid back, cruise control, travel. We left Virginia Beach, point A of our trip, and headed to Baltimore Maryland. Started early with the important Starbucks green tea soy latte and a table spread with mapquest printouts and maps of Virginia and Maryland. Then off on the road in Melissa's blue mobile. I had been in Virginia Beach for a 10 day vacation. Oh my, I have sooo loved it. Most of the time I sat and watched dolphins frolic in the warm ocean, contemplating my future ambitions of getting in touch with my inner musical warrior, and letting go of being only a left brain thinker. For the past 3 months, and probably 3 years (!) I had been sliding into the realm of entrepreneur, organizer, producer, leader, thinker, decision maker and in a way, care taker. Running Dayjams the rock music camp, co-producing the Los Angeles Women's Music Festival, handling Songsalive!'s affairs, producing albums, running my record label, and keeping staff on their toes around me... just.wore.me.out. I'm really, just an artist. Just a girl. Just a creative nut. (She winks, 'cause she also is all the rest, but play along will ya). A seaside spell and now a fun happy tour means gilli becomes, again, the artist. So today, Melissa Mullins, poet rocker chick from Austin TX, joined me in VA with her car at 10am,... and on the road we went. Virginia boasts of dolphins, wide long beaches and lots of greenery. It was a delight to drive the freeways. It was just green all the way, with huge trees and lots of ivy on either side of the roads. But don't think that Virginia is all about retirement homes and cuttlefish... we dropped into the local Guitar Center and was mildly impressed by the notion that nearly every night of the week there's a hip hop showcase or some music club in full swing. Missy Elliot and Timberland have certainly found a nice spot for their cribs. But it was time to leave Virginia and head up to Baltimore for our first gig. Lovely greenery turned quickly into bumper to bumper traffic on the beltway around Washington D.C. Uggh. We sipped our temperate GTSLs (green tea soy lattes), turned up some new age music, and tried to focus on what we would do when we got there, rather than the big trucks in front of us. I-95 is an ugly freeway in this area, at any time of day. Melissa and I looked at each other. "There must be an alternate route to Batlimore instead of the I-95?" Sure enough, our trusty map showed us that a little highway 1 parallelled it. So, we jumped off the big drag, meandering through the delightful town of Laurel and some really cool small town memories to keep, instead of horrible trucks. What a find... it just goes to show that wonderful things come to you when you are prepared to think outside the box. The organic food shop which was a highlight of the day! Anyway, what should have taken 4 hours took almost 8 to reach our destination. But we were not complaining. Finally we reached the quaint little townhouse in Towson, Maryland, and Susan was watering her plants outside. She welcomed us in her home and I eyed the piano immediately. Ah yes, the music begins! Tomorrow we perform at Read Street Books in Baltimore, and Friday a house concert at the house. Can't wait. Then a 7 hour drive on Saturday straight north to Chelmsford MA. It's a premonition of the driving we will be doing though. I was chatting on IM with my songwriter friend Hal Cohen tonight, and he said "a lot of driving between songs". Ah, the life of a wandering troubadour..... Wouldn't have it any other way. r.o.a.d. t.r.i.p! Viva la musica! all tour dates at www.gillimoon.com/tours latest newsletter www.gillimoon.com/warriorgirlmusicenews

bit of gilli, bit of Fofest > all on The Ointment.com

2007-06-20T09:54:00.001-07:00

This is what i did yesterday!

I'm on The Ointment today! http://www.theointment.com

If you get a chance to watch it in full it's fun. goes for about 6 minutes.

Permanent link to the episode if you don't catch it today:
http://theointment.com/?m=20070620

rockin' and rolling it

gilli moon
http://www.gillimoon.com

Females On Fire: The Los Angeles Women's Music Festival
http://www.fofest.com Sat Aug 25