Happy Memorial Day

 Happy Memorial Day.

I remember as a kid, my parents venturing off to Connecticut for this annual tag sale that used to take place and for every episode of it, there was rain involved. 

We got the load of rain as well as the cold to come with it.  I think this is the coldest spring I have ever experienced. Not just the weather, but all the people that I have lost in this past year and a half; it seems almost like an unending season. RIP to all those who lost their lives to this pandemic. You were soldiers in your own right, taking on life and respectively doing whatever it was that God purposed you to do, only for your life to be cut short by the circumstances of COVID19. 

My condolences to all the family and loved ones of those fallen soldiers, as well as the ones lost fighting in wars for our freedoms. We salute and honor you today. 

And if you identify with me and feel as if this actually is "The Coldest Spring Ever," please check out John Mueller's and my tune on Soundcloud enitlted "The Coldest Spring Ever." PErhaps it will help to add some warmth to this Memorial Day. https://soundcloud.com/stephanay-jnote/the-coldest-spring-ever

Thank you so much for checking out my blogpost. God bless you and peace!!!

Stephani

I Soldier on With Haitian Culture Seeped Into My Bones

Culture is the wheel that started my life turning from the moment of conception. 

I soldier on with Haitian culture seeped into my bones. I feel connected to the world because I know that though people from a diversity of countries may have their differences, we all have aspects of who we are that seem strangely familiar.

It was a terrific experience trying to hammer out my understanding of Haitian Kreyol, to add it to this song. Language is a vessel of love that you use while dancing to your rhythm of life. I have had full color samples of the way my people speak, listening to my family talk in their native tongues. The culture may have somewhat evaporated into me, but my output of it is absolutely mine; kinks and all.

When Chicago bassist, John Mueller, saw interest in collaborating on something musical, one of the creative suggestions was to try to tackle my Haitian roots. And so, the song “Haitian” was written and it somewhat paints this wonderful picture of my cultural background.

I invite you to check out Haitian on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXbuZbhtF_A

“Haitian” is a tune by Stephanie Jeannot & John Mueller. This tune was originally released on “The Stephanie Jeannot & John Mueller Project” on October 10, 2020. This song features multilingual lyrics, both written with English and Haitian Kreyol words. It’s a song about meeting someone interested in knowing more about one’s roots and culture. In this scenario, the response is “I am Haitian.” To hear more music by Stephanie Jeannot & John Mueller, please check out the full album on which this song is featured here: The Stephanie Jeannot & John Mueller Project by Stephanie Jeannot & John Mueller https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-stephanie-jeannot-john-mueller-project/1535349877

Thank you for checking out my blogpost.

The Indie Music Show Airs Every Tuesday Evening at 9PM EST/ 8PM CST on mixlr.com/jnotemusic

 

What songwriter doesn’t have ribbons of desire for unique songs to burst into bloom? And what artist or musician doesn’t enjoy the aesthetic appeal of opportunities to have synergy with other creative beings?

I don’t know about you, but I love to hear a bass growling in a live setting. Don’t get me wrong; I guess it has become the thing to be plugged into the digital realm and to fulfill your genuine passion through a Zoom meeting every now and again, especially in these times but, there is nothing like when the melody flows and my gilded wings can unfold right there in the intimate setting of a live, innovative environment.

There is something special about putting your effort, originality and skill into the harmonious menu of a repertoire meant to be performed live. Is that just the way I think or is it a thought that other musicians and those who have a true cultural enjoyment of music thinks?

If perhaps we have the same way of thinking, after you experience the pulchritude of the stunning sunset this evening and you start to drown in the evening’s moonlight, I invite you to engage with NYC musician/songwriter, Stephanie Jeannot and cohost Chicago bassist/songwriter, John Mueller for the newest episode of THE INDIE MUSIC SHOW airing this evening at 9PM EST/ 8PM CST on http://mixlr.com/jnotemusic

What will you hear?  A shared thirst for all things music. We launch conversations about the practice of music, the study of music, the performance and recording of our music and some of the many artists that do music with some beautiful indie sounds sprinkled into the mix.

We dive headlong into it every Tuesday evening at 9PM EST/ 8PM CST and I hope that this blogpost might fan a flame of interest in you to take time out of your schedule this evening and log on to http://mixlr.com.jnotemusic to listen.

Until then, Peace.

Thank God it's Friday!!!

How many times have we heard or said the phrase, TGIF?

Yes! Thank God it's Friday.

Thank God I'm Favored

or maybe you said...

Thank God it's flurrying. 

Praying for all the homeless and the elderly and those with no heat and those in transit to and from work in this wintry mix. Be safe out there everyone. 

Definitely looking forward to "Friday Night."

"Friday Night" is a song by NYC singer/songwriter Stephanie Jeannot and Chicago Based Bassist/songwriter John Mueller featuring the illustrious NYC hypeman Bruffdacrowdpleaser. It was released on the October 10, 2020 The Stephanie Jeannot & John Mueller Project. 

It is a song about working folks experiencing a desire for the weekend. If that is you, maybe you can relate to that Friday feeling. Hopefully, you will listen to our tune on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/xVvJPe_HYig

Thank you for reading/listening and have a blessed and wonderful weekend; 

God willing! 

The Indie Music Show Airs This Tuesday, January 6, 2021 at 9PM EST/ 8PM CST with your hosts Stephanie Jeannot & Johnny J

 

Have you heard of the Indie Music Show?

It is an on-line radio show that airs each and every Tuesday evening at 9PM EST/ 8PM CST on The English Connection Media with your hosts Stephanie Jeannot from Brooklyn, NY and John Mueller from Chicago, IL.

Every week, the hosts come thick with words and have endless fun discussing a broad variety of topics and playing some beautiful indie songs that might peg your interest. This week’s topic is on the art of songwriting.

Nobody follows the same recipe when writing a song. Each person has their own way of approaching the creative process. The sounds you hear flooding through your speakers when you are listening to a tune went through a series of colorful actions by the composer, songwriter, and vocalist.

What inspired them? Were the lyrics written first or the music? How did they come up with the chord changes? What instrument or song was a source of inspiration? Did the writing process begin with a prompted idea? 

One thing is for sure; writing songs requires a lot of time and patience. You write the song then tweak it and can become hermitish because of the focus that a producer of a tune may have trying to correct and smooth out the problems.

The show hosts always have a jolly time interacting with each other and discussing whatever topic they cover. Hopefully you will join into the discussion. Tune in this Tuesday evening at 9PMEST/ 8PM CST on http://theenglishconnectionmedia or http://mixlr.com/jnotemusic to listen to the show. It is definitely worth the listen.

I’d also like to let you know that if you are an independent artists interested in being on this show to talk about your music, please send an email to jnotemusic@gmail.com and hopefully we can get you on the show.

Looking forward to connecting with you this Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 9PMEST/ 8PMCST for the Indie Music Show on http://theenglishconnectionmedia.com. The show can also be heard at http://mixlr.com/jnotemusic 

Congratulations to the class of 2020

Students often work around the  clock to claim success. It is their way of being in control of the outcome of their story. Doing well at their studies gives students a clear path to the stars and so, they pursue their education with diligence and devotion.

I have to give it to those students who were engaged in the great struggle of learning virtually; especially who were on the verge of becoming a class of 2020 graduate. Their
story is one I would consider as being unique because they had to deal with the
challenge of doing everything required to take off to the sky, online.

Thinking about that and so many of the students I had worked with who were about to advance to the next chapter of their journey made me remember life and how it felt to finally get to the last page of that part of my story. And I remembered all the first-hand exposure
and practice I did to make sure I had all the tools I needed to be able to walk
down the aisle with tears of joy rolling down my cheeks, to actually accept my
certificate of completion.

Thoughts of this ran through my mind when my sister sent me her intelligent and handsome son’s graduation picture. I looked at it and it made me want to dabble into a bit of creative expression while my excitement for his accomplishment was fresh in my mind. I’d say that I
went plowing full speed ahead and then not shortly after that, a song was born.

It is called “Moving Forward.” 

It is a song to celebrate the achievements of the students who put their all
into studying from the confines of home during the stressful time of the
pandemic and quarantine and were able to succeed. It is dedicated to all those
who were able to leverage the experience of the quietude and found success.

I felt such a feeling of elation for them that music came pouring out the well of my eyes; especially for my students and for my nephew.  Please check out the song here: https://youtu.be/cCqQLst99tM

I created the drum track and then the piano overlay and added stacks of vocal harmonies to it and then sent the song to my friend John Mueller in Chicago, IL, who added a funky bass line and moving guitar strums to it. The song was completed just in time for me to share it with my nephew on the day of his graduation.

I’m so very inspired by their strength; that even through the obstacles, they did it.

Congratulations to the class of 2020. Job well done. 

World Love is the Matter

Did the Governor say that today is day 96 of the quarantine? That is so crazy to me. We started off 2020 and my thoughts were that this was going to be a great year and somewhere in the midst of it, I was wishing it would be 2021.

But nonetheless, we are here and the fact that we are still here is a blessing, though we have lost so many along this journey.

Quarantine is interesting. I guess I never have had a problem with quietude. I think that is a musician thing maybe. 

I have spent so much time lately practicing my piano and working on music and a new forthcoming project that if God is willing, I will be able to share with you at some point in the upcoming month. But for now, here is one of the first cuts from "The Stephanie Jeannot & John Mueller Project."

The song is entitled "Love is the Matter." All lyrics and music by Stephanie Jeannot and John Mueller. It is a song to promote the idea of world love and unity. 

You can check out the full length song here: https://youtu.be/jNhGBWp1WII via @YouTube. 

God bless you all and be safe out there!