The Priceless Gift
Hello Record Producers!
So, I’ve noticed something.
You’ve been out of touch in the last month.
Okay. Okay. I know.
It was ME that was out of touch!
And actually, I planned it.
It was a gift to you. Really!
Wanna know why?
Well, think about it.
The next time you’re at one of those froo-froo music biz cocktail parties, you can hang out with all of the artist management types and record producer types, and say things like:
“Geez. ‘Artist Management.’ Now THERE’S an oxymoron.”
And you can join in on all the stories about all the artists who just kind of disappear in the midst of important projects and the like.
Here’s what you can say:
“I’m producing this one chick? And we were in the thick of a pre-launch campaign. We’d given her close to FIFTEEEN THOUSAND BUCKS. We flew her to New York City three times. She SEEMED like she was into it. And then?”
(And here you take a swig of your Grey Goose dirty martini. And you shrug.)
“Nothin’! She just DISAPPEARS.”
(Pause to wipe your mouth with your sleeve.)
“What the f-?”
And someone else will pick up the story with, “Oh, that’s nothing. I was working with Boy George once…”
See what I’m saying here?
I’m giving you the TOTAL UNEDITED experience of working with an artist.
PLUS, the added bonus of getting some dirt about other artists in the process!
Cuz let’s face it…
The fact is this:
Artists are flakey sometimes. We’re downright divas at other times.
And I have given you full-on membership benefits – the right to roll your eyes whenever you’re in a discussion about artists. (You can thank me at one of the CD release shows. Or in the comments section below.)
Seriously though…
There are five things that have kept me away from this project.
Here they are in no particular order:
1 – After my three days at the studio in September, I got very sick.
I think it was lack of sleep. The West Village apartment I’m staying at is very loud. (One night I woke up to the sound of one of the patrons of The Monster vomiting exuberantly onto the street below me.)
2 – I got well. But then I got sick again two weeks later.
(Probably from remembering the vomit episode.)
So, Ben and I cancelled our October AND November studio times so that my voice would mend thoroughly before I hit the studio again.
3 – I’m not exactly loving the current mixes of the songs. (Sorry, Ben!)
I’ll post these next rounds of mixes, and I’ll write about my hesitations. But it’s taken some listening for me to be able to articulate what I’m hearing. This is one of the things I forgot about when I started this site. You always end up getting one round of mixes that doesn’t quite feel right.
4 – I’m a little stuck on the song-contest song for Barbara!
The song is called “How to Be Real.” And I’ve written and re-written. And I’m a hyper-critical writer. But it has to be done before I go back to the studio!
5 – The U.S. Elections.
I’m mostly not political. But in the past year, I’ve become passionately political. I’ve turned into a Rachel Maddow fanatic. And I have no fingernails left.
Now, I don’t expect you to believe the same things I believe. But I also am not a big fan of the Shut up and Sing campaign. I do think our whole planet is at a crucial tipping point, and that politics is reflecting it.
So, before I post another song –
(Tomorrow, if I’m in a good mood. Thursday, if I’m not.)
go vote today!!!!
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Leanna wrote on 04 Nov 2008 at 8:08 am :
I didn’t mind the break. I realized that I don’t want to know that much about what goes on underneath or behind or inside the music. (no more than I want to know what goes on inside a ballerina’s toe shoe.) I just want to hear the songs in the end. So I’ll just look forward to that! And tell stories about your flakiness over cocktails.
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Thom Shepard wrote on 04 Nov 2008 at 9:35 am :
Christine,
The best thing about BMRL is I think I can speak on behalf of everybody in that what we care most about is that you have fun making a great album.
The way I see it, the more you do it at the pace that is right for you … the better it will be in the end !!!
My only worry would be that your dedication to your fans as your producers would cause you to push too hard … but then again your sense of humor tells me otherwise.
Glad you are feeling better !!!
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Barb V wrote on 04 Nov 2008 at 10:03 am :
Christine,
So good to meet you last Saturday night!
I LOVE the title to the song and when its done it will be just right.
I’m with you on the election anxiety. I have alot of “hope” for today but still not comfortable till the results are in.
I posted a great YouTube video about getting out the vote in North Carolina. This should make everyone vote! -
Tre wrote on 04 Nov 2008 at 10:25 am :
Life happens.
You’re allowing us a window through this website to witness yours.
With each insight we see more than one thing at work….and with the combo of reading your blogs at christinekane.com, it’s clear you’re in the creative zone. I don’t see it as flaky - ness. I see it as making conscious choices of what you can devote your thoughts/time to effectively. Teaching gave me that perspective. You devote to a subject…some don’t get it…a few weeks later, something clicks and they do…sometimes. I appreciate much though the honesty and reflecting. Permission to breathe though for yourself. Maybe its the internal blue meanies that bark ‘you owe them an explanation!” more than it really is those contributing to this site. Adore that you care so much. Appreciate your integrity. Thrilling to be a part of the process in whatever direction it takes. You’re creating a new way of accountability. You’re teaching all to value the process as much as the outcome. We need more of that. You’re teaching a new bottom line (if you even like that phrase). Yeah, the end result matters.But no diff than (to me) the journey getting there.
Easy for me to say. I’ve spent 2 months in one area, decided my heart was in another, went back to the first city, got my car and stuff outa storage, drove 3/4 of the way down the east coast only to realize i still need to be north. Did a 180 and am back to where I started in a way The place that holds my heart will be there and I can visit. The work I must do beckons me live up north for a bit more….few years maybe. The few ones who know I’ve done this are now flat out convinced I’m nuts.
I of course know I am. hee hee.
Just know from my end….I GET IT. Luff u and hugs, Tre (impressed you didn’t offer that you’re launching a new website and held a benefit concert as well for two ‘other’ reasons for the seeming pause)…eh hem…no small feats in and of themselves either…and i almost detoured a 3rd time to come catch you last Sat. Hope it went well :))
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Tracy McCabe Stewart wrote on 04 Nov 2008 at 10:28 am :
From one flakey artist to another- taking a month break seemed totally normal to me after your initial push; time to let things stew a bit and get some space to look at them. Artistic projects have their own timetable-or so I like to think as I have been slogging through a commission for the past month!
Glad to hear that your health is back on track. Here’s hoping our country will follow today.
Tracy
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Cher wrote on 04 Nov 2008 at 11:02 am :
I have to chime in and agree-plenty of detours on the way to the conclusion of a record. If listening and not being happy with what you hear-that is just part of the process…I am not expecting anything other than you enjoying the project as it unfolds. I haven’t read how trying out some of your new songs at the benefit show worked out-right now I am dealing with a cold…tis the season and taking care of yourself should always be the priority. Glad to hear something from you on this site and will enjoy hearing music whenever it happens.
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By the way, the Monster looks like an interesting venue
Tracy -
Chris Ammerman wrote on 04 Nov 2008 at 5:52 pm :
The break was to be expected: Mercury was in retrograde for much of that time. Not that I’m an astrology expert.
Re “Shut up and Sing”: I was just reminded in an email from Neale Donald Walsch that “politics is your spirituality, demonstrated.” And music is also your spirituality, demonstrated. If A=B and B=C, then A=C. (That’s for your inner nerd.)
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NancyCz wrote on 05 Nov 2008 at 9:55 am :
I bet you’re in a good mood today
O-B-A-M-A!