I had an opportunity to get on the stage with JNote Band at Shrine World Music Venue to do a concert featuring all original music.
It is not often that I get to do something like this and so when the opportunity arose, it felt really good to focus on lyrics that I brought to life in a song. One of the many songs I sang was "I Am The One" which is the first of seven tracks on the album Finally JNote with lyrics by Stephanie Jeannot and music by Mike LeShore. I hope that you will take the time to check out the live performance of the song here: https://youtu.be/7PV_yItyIZA
Hope you enjoyed watching the live rendition of the song with JNote Band. It was a fun night of music and just being able to express myself and to share my songwriting with people willing to listen makes a difference for me and I am grateful for it.
NYIAS
Ironically, it was an eventful day the whole entire day. I had just left Girls Night Out at the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center and that event set the tone for my drive on the stage.
Anything to keep the wheels turning and to put my energy into full gear. If you liked the song, check out the original song on CDBaby, and maybe it will resonate with you enough to want to download it.
And so, I try to put my whole
heart into every performance whether I am happy or with a broken spirit. The
stage gives me a reason to feel optimistic. I can declutter my mind for a
moment as I box out my troubles with a song.
I release infectious laughter
at the end because the joy that took over made me feel really good. I may worry
or climb over familiar hurdles every time before I take the stage but the music
clamors for my attention and then my focus turns to the song, the lyrics, the
notes, the key signature and the audience. And so my alter ego thrives in full immersion.
I am no longer who I was a
second ago and the sound art breaks the cycle of who I was and I become
who I am in the moment. The doubtful whispers cease and I feel as if the
music and I, become one before a score of people.
I guess this is why my heart rattles
like thunder for it. I am psyched with each opportunity to release the passion
within. Even on my worst of days or when I am completely exhausted, I get on
stage and my day changes into a masterpiece. I get this energy that is unreal
and I experience this maniacal grin because I still don’t quite understand it; you’d think exhaustion would pose as a challenge and instead, my alter
ego reboots me and I’m with a full battery.
Like for instance, a year ago
this week, I was on my way to an exciting performance that I was supposed to
do. My friend William Rivers invited me and my band to be on his television
show, “Showcased Talent.” And so, I got all dressed up, into my car and was
driving on the highway. The highway had a crazy merge from about 10 lanes to
one and while merging, a coach bus hit my car. I had to sit waiting for cops to
come and attend to us for two hours just to tell my side of the story and fill out a report. I was late to the television studio and still wanted to go do the performance though I was not under the best condition, being stressed and waiting out in the
cold for all that time. I still can’t believe I did not cancel after all of
that but, it was one of those experiences I will never forget. Check out one of the many songs JNote Band and I did that night together here: https://youtu.be/z7BZHMjQdFk
I try to maintain a thankful
spirit. It's no easy street to be a singer with an instrument inside the
body that you need to preserve through weather and sickness and drama-filled days
and emotions and tiredness. But singing is one of the most delightful things that I
do and I am happy with each opportunity to face the toil of what is required to
simply vocalize. I have genuine affection for the work because I genuinely love to
do it.
