One of Ours Yesterday I was one of about 75 (lucky) people to see Conor Oberst play at Other Music in NYC with his Mystic Valley Band. http://www.brooklynvegan.com/archives/2008/08/conor_oberst_pl.html. Let me explain. One of my good friends bought Conor's new solo album the morning that it came out, last Tuesday, at Other Music. (BTW, this is worth noting: Other Music was just named one of the top 10 music stores in the U. S. by Paste magazine, see here: http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/06/the-record-store-a-good-thing.html. It's a small, very exclusive store in Manhattan. It also happens to be carrying MY cd, Spare Key. Cool eh? http://www.othermusic.com.) Anyway, at the time that she bought the CD, she was given a ticket to see Conor at this in-store music performance; but, alas, she had previously made plans to be out of town. SOO... her being the good friend that she is, and knowing that I'm a rabid Conor fan myself, she passed on her ticket to me. So happily, I went! I realize there are some naysayers probably reading this blog right now, but I would like to state, for the record (actually I've already done this a couple of times) that I think Conor is It. I love this boy. He's an amazing poet, and sort of tapped-in, so to speak, to that mystical essence of life (see my Willa Cather blog.) This was a performance in the middle of the afternoon, 1:00 p.m., but in spite of the daylight, he got so deep so quick (also in spite of the Hot Topic girls that were there to see him! Not to diss them. There were also other audience members there, of seemingly all backgrounds and possibly music tastes, but undeniably, the small inappropriate screaming was from Hot Topic girls.) Aside from the awesome intimate concert experience itself, I also went to this concert on a mission to give Conor my CD, Spare Key. I have a bunch of things in common with him, namely: I'm from Nebraska (though, as I stress often, I'm from the RURAL part of Nebraska, he's from the URBAN part. As much as you might want to pass off Omaha as off-the-beaten-path, believe me, I know a place that's moreso!) Also, I went to elementary school with Mike Mogis, the producer for much of Saddle Creek's music and a regular member of the Bright Eyes band (this is true. I have the Kindergarten through 2nd grade class pictures to prove it, ha!) And, I love Conor's music. I'd like to think maybe he'd dig mine. After the concert, I realized something: if I gave him my CD, kind of hung around after the show, stalking, waiting for him to emerge from the back of the shop, and then pounced upon him with the aim of GETTING SOMETHING MORE, sort of, from him... well, I just didn't want to do that. This boy gives a lot of himself already, in his music, in his performances... and I don't want to be greedy and insist on taking even more than that. But I did want him to hear my music. Ah, the dilemma. So here's how I compromised: his band came out of Other Music much before him, so I went up to the guitarist (who was not swarmed with fans) and asked him to please give my CD to Conor, I explained I was from western Nebraska but I now live in NYC, I said I didn't want to ambush Conor, and by the way, he did a fabulous job playing the guitar... and he agreed to give Conor Spare Key. Whether he actually did or not, I don't know, but I think it's possible he did, and I had a decent conscience when I left the scene, which is really the only way to be. Kisses to Conor, hope he gets the CD and enjoys it.
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
old-time radio So, lately I've been doing a bit of radio this and that, getting some airplay, making some in-station appearances, etc. It's a real thrill, to broadcast your music (live and/or recorded) to unsuspecting ears! Yesterday I was a guest on the show Second Saturday on WPKN in Connecticut, with hosts Jo Williamson and Bob Johnson. I shared the airspace with another band, The Low Anthem, who were fresh from their appearance at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and sounded really great. They were a three-piece band but I believe it's safe to say none of the members played the same instrument twice! They switched around on a dizzying array of random instruments stuffed into the studio--made me feel rather lonely when it was just little ol' me at my turn at the mic! But I think my music came out all right. I did mostly all new material, in preparation of the live acoustic trio CD I'll be recording this Saturday, Aug. 16 at a space in Mt. Holly, NJ of all new material. Wish me and the Sugar Bowls luck! On Sept. 5 I'll be a guest on another live radio show, this for KBBN in Broken Bow, Nebraska. Broken Bow is about 20 miles from my hometown, and this station is not only an amazing little station (its mix of music is truly incredible, arty even--and this in a small farming town in the Sandhills of Nebraska!) but it's also been a great friend to me, playing some of my music on occasion, having me give over-the-phone interviews and such. I've never played for them live, in-studio, so I think it's high time. In fact I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that the folks at KBBN gave me one of my first (if not THE first) professional music gigs! Back in high school, they asked me to sing for the concert held every year at the Custer County Fair, this particular year they were hiring a big-time professional band from Nashville (sure wish I could remember their name) and showcasing local talent to front the band. I was asked to duet with a gentleman by the name of Tim Holcomb on the song, "The Battle Hymn of Love" (hahahahahahaha, that title still gets me) by the country duo The Sweethearts of the Rodeo, and then I could pick my own solo to sing with the band. I picked "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by John Denver. I also just remembered that I opened the concert by singing the national anthem, though I believe that was a cappella. The concert was held outside on the Custer County Fairgrounds, the audience sat in grandstands and a stage was set up in front of the stands. I remember it was QUITE a thrill, it was a rather large audience and besides that, it was my first time in front of a band like that. I believe I was paid $50 for the performance (but honestly, I would have totally done it for free. :)) Anyway, that's a pretty great memory, and it's all due to Bob Bowles and Dave Birnie at KBBN. Looking forward to seeing them again on Sept. 5! I believe you can listen to their station online if you'd like to check it out, at www.kbbn.com.
http://www.nessmp3.com
I (heart) words Ever since visiting her childhood home in Red Cloud, Nebraska on a family vacation (and picking up some books there to read), I've been a fan of Willa Cather's writings. I think about her sometimes, knowing that she wrote her masterpieces about life on the Great Plains while she was cooped up in a New York apartment. I first read her book Song of the Lark, about a plains girl who becomes a famous opera singer, when I was in undergrad, and there was one seminal paragraph in that book that flattened me to the ground when I read it. For some reason it popped into my mind today, I love the earthiness it conjures up in its portrait of an artist (specifically, singer). So, here you go, here it is: "One morning, as she was standing upright in the pool, splashing water between her shoulder-blades with a big sponge, something flashed through her mind that made her draw herself up and stand still until the water had quite dried upon her flushed skin. The stream and the broken pottery: what was any art but an effort to make a sheath, a mould in which to imprison for a moment the shining, elusive element which is life itself,--life hurrying past us and running away, too strong to stop, too sweet to lose? The Indian women had held it in their jars. In the sculpture she had seen in the Art Institute, it had been caught in a flash of arrested motion. In singing, one made a vessel of one's throat and nostrils and held it on one's breath, caught the stream in a scale of natural intervals."
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
make music, New York! About a week and a half ago I participated in this second annual festival here in NYC called the Make Music New York Festival. It's modeled after a festival in France that has existed for years: on every first day of summer, people get outside, wherever they are, and make music. I love the concept! The flower child in me wants nothing but peace, love and music for as far as the eye can see and the ear can hear. I was scheduled for two concerts that day, which was a bit of an honor in itself. The first concert took place, COMPLETELY UNAMPLIFIED, at Verdi Park, which is right outside of the 72nd Street stop on the 1-2-3 subway lines, it's a lovely park in an island at the intersection of 73rd and Broadway. Given its location, there are obvious noise issues with the subway and the traffic. There's no electricity in this park, which is why a concert there had to be unamplified. The classical singer in me was completely undaunted by this aspect; I'm a purist sometimes and I believe that unamplified singing is not only a lost technique (I think it takes certain chops to be able to sing well unamplified that most of today's singers simply don't have) but also a bit of a lost art form (I think audiences have grown so accustomed to amplification that, in a sense, they forget what a "live" singer sounds like!) That, plus I think nobody's created a microphone that correctly captures my voice. That's a whole different paranoia which I'm not going to discuss in this forum, but I'M RIGHT! ha. So anyway, I was ready for the unamplified challenge. My friend Tamara Hey shared the set with me, and we took turns being courageous folkie girls, armed with only acoustic guitars, and sang for the masses of New Yorkers who emerged from the subway. I loved it, actually, and Tamara said she was ready to do it again, too. I think people were alternately freaked out and fascinated by us, mixed with feelings of pity for the poor girls in the summer dresses who were singing into the face of the wind of the industrialized world! People stopped and listened (CHILDREN were the biggest stoppers, and they were also the most fun to watch tip us), some picked up show fliers and bought CDs, and of course, others kept right on walking, unfazed. It wouldn't have felt like New York if it had been otherwise! Some of my friends who have children and aren't up for regular nightlife shows came to hear us, it was such a gorgeous sky-blue type of day that I really think everyone had a great time. Of course, you had to be no farther than 10-15 feet away from us or you'd only see our lips move and our hands noiselessly strum (in my case, FINGERS PLUCK! Though my voice is up to the unamplified challenge, I fear my delicately picked guitar accompaniments are not! Oh well.) The second show I did was outside of an Irish pub in Soho called Mr. Dennehy's. There was a sound system at this gig provided by another act--actually, it was a GREAT sound system, which was fun too! Completely different set of acoustic circumstances. I sang there to the imagined former occupants of the tenement buildings of yore, my songs bouncing off of the old-style buildings across the narrow street from where I stood. Once again, people were receptive at this gig, stopping and listening for awhile and then continuing on their way. One particularly ardent admirer snuck a beer from the pub out to me on the sidewalk (it's illegal to have an open container of alcohol on the street in NYC. Laws are made for breaking, I always say, ha. You all don't realize what a rebel I am, in spite of the nicety of my music. I'm a rebel in a way that society hasn't yet learned to recognize. ;)) Anyway, the point is, it was an absolutely lovely day and I'm so glad to have been able to take part in it. I have some pictures from the day posted on www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer, I'd upload them here but my computer crashed last night and I lost them, that's no lie! Ah technology. Sometimes it's more fun to be no wires attached.
http://www.nessmp3.com/music/bands/761/
dreamin' Does anybody here interpret dreams? My friend Kristie Foster (owner of KrisTees, a lovely clothing boutique here in Astoria, www.kristeesny.com) had this amazing dream about me which affected her so much that upon awakening she took extensive notes and then transcribed the whole thing! I can't believe all the detail, it's impressive and touching. If anybody has any interpretations, I'd love to hear them, thanks! --KZ Kristie Foster's Dream about Kathy You were being honored at a ceremony and wearing the purple feather dress. (This is a dress Kristie sells in her store, it's beautiful. –KZ) The auditorium had lots of young people passing in and out, grabbing snacks and refreshments, sitting down and watching your videos and performances on a widescreen movie screen. The feeling of the auditorium felt like it was in a church reception hall. Chairs were like the card folding chairs in metal. I was sitting down with you by the back wall and you were showing me some older videos of you performing some older songs on an older tv monitor. The first song was about two lovers. It was pop driven and sexy and slow. Vibe was intimate and kind of Sonia Kitchell. You said a friend asked you to write it for his movie. There was a truck horn recording in it somewhere… ??? Second song was a video of you singing a duet with your mom or sister or some family relative? It was a slower acoustic song with more vocals and less guitar. It sounded very innocent but very genuine. Sounded very Colbie Callait with the tempo of the song out right now that she says she "realized what I realized." You were wearing a white vintage blouse with rounded collar and lace edges on collars and so was the other person. You also had a flower in your hair that looked like an orchid. The song made me cry in the dream because it was so heartfelt and "real" between the sound of the duet and the vocals. In the last song you were traveling in the video. You are recorded in a vintage inspired dress and wearing parachute straps standing on a chair in a room like you are going to fly off it singing. I can't recall how this relates or if it was part of the video in the last song but I wrote that there were mermaids jumping offshore into water at one of the beaches where "we" are in Southampton. I don't know if the "we" means I was there with you or you were there by yourself or I was there by myself… But all was very interesting and was very intense when I woke. All the songs really just knocked me over how great they were and I couldn't get especially that duet song out of my head. In the dream it really amazed me and you played down all of these songs because they were older things you had done and I was pushing you to get them out there! You said you would, you would… then I said to you that all these people here at the ceremony were here for you and you said to me, "No, I think they are here for the cake." Very Kathy statement. :) The cake being served was a simple vanilla sheet cake, cut in squares on paper plates. No icing or anything, just very simple.
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
he ain't heavy I sometimes shy away from talking too much about my family or making music with my family, because it's one of those pure places for me, it's a topic that I'd prefer to not hold up to public scrutiny and just keep mine, private... safe, kind of. However, I'm feeling a bit inspired so I'm going to share just a tad bit. This inspiration comes from the fact that my little brother got married a couple of weeks ago. I'm the oldest of five kids, two girls and three boys, and this brother is the oldest of the three brothers. I can't even tell you how proud I was of him, of the man he's become, of his choice of a spouse... and I'm aware you're probably not all that interested in my family pride, ha! But anyway, the wedding was a great time, practically all of my humongous family was there (each parent of mine comes from huge ol' farm families of eight kids each, so you can just imagine the multitudes! And each family knows how to get down as well as pack 'em in. ;)) My sister and I did the music for the wedding service. We both sang, I played guitar, our cousin played piano and another cousin, god bless him, was supposed to join us and sing and play some lead guitar, but he's a starving college guy out in western Nebraska and at the last minute didn't have money to put gas in the tank of his truck (it's a long story) so he didn't make it to the service. It's ok, we'll get him for the next one. ;) My sister and I have sung together for, well, our whole lives. Me being the older (my sis is three years younger), I think I was mostly the instigator for this. I specifically remember sitting with her in the bathroom when we were maybe ages 12 and 9, each of us singing into a little cassette recorder, and I'd insist we record another take of a song under the grounds that she was flat on her harmony part, ha!... hopefully I wasn't much of a slave driver, she seemed to want to sing too. Were it not for these times singing with her, trying to make up harmony parts, learning to sing as well as play guitar at the same time, performing in all the capacities we did... well, I wouldn't be able to do lots of things that I do now, that's for sure. Many of the times I sang in public through college, I sang with my sister. Our voices are very similar, and we have an instinct for what the other is going to do and we act accordingly. Needless to say, a sacrifice included in moving away from Nebraska and following my musical bliss to New York City is that I don't often get to sing with my sister anymore. She now lives in Omaha, and sings in a variety of venues there. No matter how many backup singers I have (or duet partners), I don't think anyone will ever match my sis! (sorry guys!) All I can say is, I'm really lucky to have her, and that statement doesn't even come close to doing it justice. Hopefully we'll find many more opportunities to sing together before everything is said and done.
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
Dolly all right. Well, since I made such a big deal awhile back about going to see the Police, I think I'd be pretty remiss if I didn't mention that I went to see Dolly Parton at Radio City this last Thursday evening.
Again, another good friend, god bless her, hooked me up at the last minute with a ticket. I went, I saw Dolly from orchestra seats (she didn't make use of the two big-screen tvs on either side of the stage... probably a wise decision.) And I loved her.
Dolly Parton goes deep deep deep for me. I remember hearing "Jolene" on the radio when I was a kid and just... LONGING for the next time I'd hear it again, you know? My childhood was not yet the days of the internet when everything was at the tips of your fingers, and I was not yet of the age when I was buying my own music, so I just had to patiently wait for the DJ to spin "Jolene" again. And given that the song came out in... '73, I think? It wasn't in its heyday when I was introduced to it, so it took a long time for it to come back around the playlist! It was elusive and very magical.
I went through a time when I scoffed at Dolly, she was too much fake big blondness for me. I have since grown up and so have my musical tastes.
I'm not going to say too much about her, after seeing her in concert, except that she's just an angel. As a woman who's a musician, I admire how tough she is, I admire her talents and her business sense and the fact that she's an earthy girly-girl who, though she has used her sexuality to her advantage, has at least been unflinching in doing it her way. I think there's no one else like her.
And don't even get me started on how great her music is!
And though I am not from the backwoods nor am I a Barbie ;), I am from a town population 160 and had 19 people in my graduating high school class, seven in my graduating 8th grade class (five girls, two boys, one of whom was my cousin. ;)) So I think that qualifies me to say that I can relate with her story of moving from the country to the big city, even though my big city isn't Nashville. Now I just have to get some gold records and co-star in movies about fun-loving whores with Burt Reynolds and Sylvester Stallone...
I feel like I could write about her for forever, so I think I'd better stop while I can!
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
happiness is a warm gun Awhile back I was asked to complete a "list" for this magazine named Fingermag, based out of Zurich. The whole magazine is a series of lists from a variety of artists, each artist answers their preferences to a set of questions that mostly revolve around musical tastes. In a roundabout way, it gives you a glimpse into the psyche of each artist. One of the questions asked was, "Favorite Beatles Song?" I responded, "In My Life", which is a fabulous song, well crafted and nicely hard-to-pin-down, as far as style and intent, etc. I do love it. However, I'd like to change my answer. About two weeks ago I feel in love, HARD, with "Happiness Is a Warm Gun". Just thinking about it now, I turn all mushy and gooey and warm-feeling inside, ha! Though I'd previously heard the song, I'd never owned a copy of the White Album until now, and the song had never hit me--and then, POW, right between the eyes. I'm still trying to get to the bottom of the song, actually, so I'm probably not ripe to talk about it, but... I mean, the form, the imagery, the way it just, with no warning, yawns into this twistedly sexy chorus that's so smart and witty and... perfect. The song doesn't make sense, structurally, it's not your typical pop song verse-chorus thing (which especially endears it to me, because sometimes my own forms are, um, imaginitive! Off the beaten path, shall we say.) but IT WORKS so well... HOW does it work so well?? How did that happen??!! How did they get the right sound for John Lennon's vocals in the chorus? Aurally, it sounds like red wine momentarily dripping somewhere and then being licked off, ha! IT DOES! And... of course, I'm a sucker for sensual religious references, god knows why (no pun intended ;)) so "Mother Superior jumped the gun" is... such a ripe and obtuse phrase, deliciously so. And don't even get me started on, "She's not a girl who misses much--she's well acquainted with the touch of a velvet hand like a lizard on a window pane." I mean, (... inarticulatable pause... ) (*shakes head and comes back to present moment*) Sorry, language seduces me! And all these pictures conjured up behind my eyelids are as intoxicating as all that red wine in the chorus. Last thing I'll mention and then I'll stop swooning here--if nothing else at least you are being made aware of how my honest reaction to music I love is visceral as well as intellectual!--I just want to know: how is it possible that we travel such a great distance between each short section of the song? Seconds pass as the sections collide into each other, and there is different sonic landscapes set for each section, but even so--nothing seems inappropriately disjointed, it all works together... oh man, I gotta stop typing. Steam is pouring out of my ears as my brain is working overtime, much like the man in the song's hands are working overtime as he's lying with his eyes. Too much greatness for me. One of the first days after I'd fallen in love with "Happiness Is a Warm Gun", I stumbled by accident into Strawberry Fields in Central Park as I was listening to the White Album on my headphones. I left a show flier there in memory of and in thanks to Mr. John Lennon.
http://www.nessmp3.com/music/bands/761/
today is April 10th of the year 2008 In a rehearsal held a bit earlier today (for our show on 4/15), my sweet band pointed out that today is April 10... three years from the date given in the opening line of my song "In the Park with George". What’s more, it’s the first thing they said to me as I walked in the door of the rehearsal studio, I hadn’t even gotten to singing the song yet! I think they thought it a bit of a momentous occasion. ;)
And them thinking that is influencing my view of today, too. I’ve never written a blog in the afternoon (I feel a bit like the Simon & Garfunkel song "Cecilia", ha!) but I’m in such a reflective mood right now that it seemed like a good thing to do, kind of get all of my thoughts out in the sun (and god bless it, it’s a beautiful day, too, just like what inspired the song.)
I knew as soon as I put a date in one of my songs, that it would be outdated. I kind of didn’t care, as I appreciate rear-view mirror perspectives, so long as one doesn’t desire to enter the mirror. Now, three years from the date of composing that song, I’m looking in the rear-view mirror, at myself and my life on and since that date.
Hmm. As of recently, very recently, I’m learning that not only can you not change anyone (I’ve known this for a long time, but sometimes your actions don’t reflect the knowledge in your head) but it’s also not always your own shortcoming that impedes success (in whatever form). Basically, I’m learning to take a good, hard look in the mirror, not even necessarily a rear-view mirror, and gaze at something that is worth it. For real. No more excuses.
I think that’s a pretty great distance to have traveled in three years!
So who knows, maybe I’ll write another song today, on April 10. That one will be a little different, ha! Kisses anyway to George, or maybe, as we were joking in the rehearsal, KISS OFF to George... ;)
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
the urge for going It's 12:11 a.m. as I start writing this blog, and I really should be doing lesson plans for my music students tomorrow. As it is, though, my kitchen window is open and a spring (yet still brisk) breeze is blowing on my face and through my blood, making it impossible for me to focus on anything to do with tomorrow. So procrastinate I shall! Hmm. What's new these days? Well, I bought myself a little travel guitar (a "Trailblazer", made by Johnson) which is inspiring me endlessly to get out o'Dodge (aka NYC) and go travelin. At this point, I'm open to anywhere new--I am a Sagittarius, after all, and the yearning to experience someplace new is in my soul! I can't believe I've been in NYC for as long as I have, actually... I've lived in my apartment for longer than I've lived anywhere else, excluding my parents' home. Settle? Perish the thought! I do know one thing, I'll be performing in September as part of the Mid-American Music Festival, an inaugural year for a music festival in Omaha, Nebraska. I know September is a long ways away (cue Kurt Weill's "September Song", "Oh it's a long long while from May to December...") but I'm already thinking about this show, partly because a) I want to get the heck out of Dodge, as previously mentioned, and b) though Nebraska runs through my blood more thoroughly than does this spring breeze tonight, I've never actually played a show of MY songs there, ever. So this is kind of blowing my mind--in a way, this will be a celebration, a homecoming show; in another way, it's an unnerving exposition (I can't run any longer! All my friends and family will know EXACTLY what it is I do! Time to face the music, so to speak. ;)) Regardless of the nerve-wracking aspect, though, I can't wait to play. I'm hoping to book other shows at out-of-the-way corners of the earth this summer too. If you know of somewhere that'd be itching for a restless NYC singer/songwriter folkie gal to come play for them, let me know! I'm up for it. Here's hoping my car is as ready to wander as I am, ha! Lotsa love to you.
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
Detroit in '68 been awhile, eh? I like to write blogs AT LEAST once every year and a half. Gotta leave people always wanting more, you know! ;) So, what's happening? I released a new album since my last blog. I like it quite, quite a bit. Always striving, reaching for that next stage of artistic development, or next level of self-expression. always always. I've been worried lately about turning into that character from the Joni Mitchell song "The Last Time I Saw Richard". If you don't know what I mean, check out the song, it's such a beautiful heartbreaker, like all Joni songs actually. True to the song, at least I haven't bought myself a dishwasher yet (though I've owned a coffee perculator for, oh, since college!) and what's more, I don't have anyone else to buy it for me. My TV is still off and my house lights are only on bright when I want them to be. Conversely, though, I might just be hiding away at dark tables in corners of cafes, I just might be. That ain't too healthy. Lotsa love to ya anyways, from my candlelit corner (temporary hiding place).
http://www.last.fm/user/kathrynzimmer/journal/2008/02/3/638066/
just a Saturday (a day in the life) Have you ever been in one of those states of mind where you're not really sure what emotion you're feeling? And basically, if you decided to pick ANY emotion, it'd be right there at your fingertips, ready for the choosing. Welcome to Kathy Z at 1:25 a.m. EST on Sunday, Jan. 20! This has been a crazy busy day. I got my hair cut, pondered my reflection in the beauty salon mirror and wondered about it, didn't have the hair dresser blow dry my hair to save a few $$ but then went out in the cold with dripping wet hair (!), bought a new pair of earrings to complement the 'do, went looking for the latest issue of Rock-n-Reel magazine (I'm supposed to have a little blurb in the back of it, but so far all the NY news stands are still stocking December's issue, and I'm in Jan./Feb.) Tried to make a bunch of illegal photocopies of music but only got halfway done cause I broke the photocopier, talked to an old friend whose mother died suddenly on Dec. 8, and surfed the net looking for footage of Tom Cruise making a Scientology speech. Couldn't find it, btw. Ate chili mango (dried mangos coated in chili powder, had some for the first time at a reception on New Year's Eve afternoon, I've been looking for it since.) Drank some coffee. Found out I'm gonna book another NYC band show! Stressed a little bit about various relationships. Didn't go out. It's ok, I'll do that later. That's it, pretty much. My soundtrack for today was the album Jolene by Dolly Parton. I thought a lot about her today, rumors I've heard about her, wondering what sort of a woman she really is (ambitious, obviously... wholesome in some respects or she couldn't write songs with the voice she does, though I wonder how much is really wholesome and how much is "the product." And what does she look like without a wig on? And who did the production on Jolene, anyway? Cause it's great.) Tomorrow: gotta make some music, I hate it when days get away from me when I don't make any. Gotta do some planning. Exercise. Before then: chilllllll!
http://www.nessmp3.com/music/bands/761/
in appreciation of my band
When both of my backup singers showed up in spite of having almost voice-debilitating head colds at last Saturday's band gig at the Bowery Poetry Club, it occurred to me that perhaps I needed to talk them up a bit more than just mentioning their names while onstage--these people are not only talented, sexy AND have great personalities, but they're also DEDICATED! So let me tell you a bit more about these musical beings.
The most dedicated of the band members, hands down, is Sarah Ogden (she's the red-haired backup singer.) I've known Sarah since school at the Cleveland Institute of Music; in fact, she was the one who enabled me to move to NYC in the first place. Sarah lived here first (albeit on Staten Island, but thankfully that was a short stint) and even let me share a bedroom with her for a few months until I got my bearings--THAT is a good friend! I recall a few gigs back in the beginning where she duetted with me, and at one of those first gigs, she was my only audience member. :) ha! All of these things are aside from the fact that she's a fabulous singer and musician. Sarah is a good woman to have on your side.
Two other fabulous musicians share the second backup singer role, depending on their availability. Kari Swenson Riely has also been around since the days of the Cleveland Institute of Music, and she's another invaluable friend (it's hard to sum up friendships in blogs!) The duo of Kari and Sarah have named themselves "The Foxies", they're the ones in the live shots in my gallery here (yes, under the pink wigs). Kari is as equally talented an actress as she is a musician (which is saying quite a lot), check her out at http://imdb.com/name/nm2350994/.
Jessica Tivens (the other rotating backup singer) and I met because it is a small world. We actually met on this very vehicle of obsession, MySpace, but through hookup of a mutual real-life friend. All four of us singers are classically trained (yikes!) which makes for some good music (some of the stuff I write isn't easy!) The combo of Sarah and Jessica have named themselves "The Sugar Bowls", and Jessica is shown in the YouTube clip I've posted on my profile. Jessica is a sweetheart, she's in my top friends here (check out her own music, it's great!)
The bassist and drummer positions have been filled lately by a few different ones, again, depending on who's available. All of these guys are just fantastic musicians, I'm so glad to have them around. Jordan Perlson has played with me for the longest time, and he's the drummer on Spare Key. Joel Arnow and Bennett Miller were introduced to me through my friend Julian Velard (they play in the U. S. version of his band) and they played the Spare Key release show with me. Chris Tarry and Brian Wolfe have been the most recent additions, and what a pleasure it's been getting to know them and getting to play with them. They're all really a blast to make music with, check them out in my top friends here.
Lisa Bianco is a fellow singer/songwriter in her own right, she's got a band and she rocks--but lo and behold, she also plays flute! I think I'm the only one that is currently graced with her flautist talents, and I'm so grateful for that. I've known Lisa for a long time, we kicked around open mics together and hung out before we started making music together. She's such an awesome presence, a spunky girl to have with you onstage (and a great musician--and friend!) She's in my top friends here.
Last but not least at all, Timothy Dark is a rapper with his own band who does guest spots with me. I tell you the truth when I say that every time I've witnessed Timothy performing onstage, he steals the show! This is a very talented dude, another really awesome friend (I've got great people around me, what can I say.) I actually performed with Timothy's band first, I recorded a song with him a couple of years ago called "Dance on My Grave" (very hot track) and eventually he's gotten the chance to return the favor. I'd say that, by virtue of being the most surprising component of my band, he ups my hipness quotient by about 75%. ;) Again, in my top friends here.
Basic gist of this lengthy diatribe: thanks, guys. I have a ball when I'm onstage with you!
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
obscuresound.com review Kathy Zimmer Uses a Spare Key
The transition from serene rurality to urban skyscrapers can be quite traumatic, especially in regard to first-time visitors of New York City. Public transportation, swelling streets with numbered names, the ceaseless commute… what is considered overwhelming to visitors is a natural way of life for natives. For artists, the change of scenery can be a make-or-break affair. Many either find it a struggle to adapt to the swift change of life or scenery, but others embrace it and consider it to be a new experience that will guide them in their upcoming work. As her songwriting shows, Kathy Zimmer can certainly prove in appliance to the latter. Raised in rural Nebraska, Zimmer's childhood seems more like a singer/songwriter stereotype than anything. She grew up admiring folk music, impressing the eager townsfolk with her powerful voice and melodic adeptness. She learned guitar early in her life, singing at a variety of Nebraskan-based functions like rodeos and county fairs. After attending the University of Nebraska as a music major, she relocated to New York City, a place where the word "rodeo" is even more foreign than sushi or Pad Thai. Though her name has yet to reach a significant stage of popularity, those who have known Kathy Zimmer's music since her teenage years should not be surprised to know that she is prospering in New York City. Her musical sophistication and lyrical aptitude makes Zimmer perfect for the city's thriving folk scene, with her occasional implementation of jazz and soul being additional sparks of life that makes her presence even more fulfilling. While her childhood influences based in "wash tub bass-style folk music" can still be recognized under layers of acoustical and brass instruments, Zimmer has become an artist where no specific genre is wholesomely applicable. Zimmer's desire to express herself in a pressured but abundantly talented environment like New York City shows her courage, even attempting to summarize the city and its inhabiting "hipsters" in the soulful "Whatever Gets U Thru the Day". No worries though. Seeing that it would not be wise to insult your prime fan base, she instead focuses on realistic analogies "Like a cowboy feels his freedom, and a hipster needs his thrills," she sings softly over an inviting saxophone, "Like New Yorkers need their pace, and a murderer needs his kills." Hipsters looking for a thrill? That seems to be an endless adventure, though one is viable to come close while listening to Kathy Zimmer's third and latest release, Spare Key. Zimmer's constant analysis spread throughout the lyrical content in Spare Key is one of witty observance and experience. You can thank her bravery to relocate to a thriving atmosphere for that one; many other artists are either reluctant or fearful to adapt to other lifestyles. Since she released her debut album, Under Your Spell, in 2003, Zimmer has built a reputation for building her songs around such aforementioned points of analysis, romanticized innocence, and amiable folk melodies. Spare Key is Zimmer's first release since her 4-song EP, Dreamin', in 2005. Featuring 6 memorable songs, it is displays a remarkable progression of maturity and growth from her earlier works. Though her lyrics have always been thought-provoking and generally amusing, her melodic capabilities throughout Spare Key are undoubtedly an improvement. Whether it be her own backing vocal accompaniments in the brisk "Arms Crossed" or the sensational brass-led chorus in the opening "In the Park with George", moments of instrumental elegance now are intertwined cohesively with Zimmer's seemingly natural use of story-led lyrical intricacy. It makes Spare Key something of a breakout album, both stylistically and commercially. The last aspect, of course, depends on whether or not audiences give Kathy Zimmer the well-deserved recognition. With the majority of the release being enjoyable, it is not a hard task to accomplish. Another component of Zimmer's charm is that she presents her lyrics in a form that is instantly realistic and comparable to real-life circumstances. "In the Park with George" details the "perfect date". Describing a simple but pleasant day date at the park, Zimmer portrays the emotions involved when two people mutually connect. With analogies being a clear interest of hers, it is no surprise when she sings, "In the park, some people were laying in the sun while others sought out the shade, just like some people like to lay it all out on the line and others keep under cover cause they're just too afraid." A bit too analytical? Perhaps, but the infectious chorus uplifted by a sassy saxophone makes it all worthwhile. Her vocals quiver with emotional strain, though dramaticism is genuine in the sentiment that her lyrics portray such humane affairs. While its chorus features an instrumental build-up similar to "In the Park with George", the lyrics in the enjoyable "Arms Crossed" reflects the task of forgetting a recent lover. "If it were winter I'd build a wall of snow, blockade you out of sight and mind," she sings, "Shield from the ice you throw, I'd lie alone in the shape of an angel flying." Her poetic prowess is admirable and the topics, while hardly innovative, are honestly presented. Such sentimental reflections make Spare Key quite an enjoyable listen.
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
questions I was contacted by this magazine in Zurich called Fingermag, and asked to contribute to their next issue. Apparently the magazine is all lists, with artists answering questions in list form--kind of a cool concept. Since this magazine isn't available online, I figured it'd be ok if I published my answers to their list here (but I think you can order the magazine by subscription, so you may wanna check that out. They're at www.fingermag.com.) Questionnaire for fingermag.com
LIST 2: Songs To Remember
(if possible with a short explanation) first record you remember--Elvis Presley Comeback Special (my mom had it. I remember listening to the record and looking into the speakers of our big furniture tv/radio/record player, pretending I could see Elvis stripping inside the speakers. ;) Ah if you could only see inside my mind...) a song that reminds you of school--"Smoking in the Boys Room" by Alice Cooper (sometimes in band class our teacher would let us play a 70s compilation CD he had, and that song was on there. Listening to it made me feel relatively badass.) a record you fell in love to--oh God, the cheese, the horror--"Everything I Do (I Do It for You)" by Bryan Adams. From the Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves soundtrack. Come on, I was really young, give me a break, ok? your ultimate heartbreak song--"Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinead O'Connor a record that evokes the greatest summer of your life--why does Bryan Adams keep popping up here? I'm not sure that I ever had a summer that matches up to this song, but "Summer of '69" seems to evoke great summer feelings. Also "Caroline, No" by the Beach Boys. first record you bought--again, people, come on, I was young. The only vinyl I ever bought and also the first piece of music I bought for myself was Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, "Head to Toe". It was a single. your boozed-up anthem--"Shook Me All Night Long" by AC/DC. Nebraska's all about AC/DC and parties on country roads. a song you wish you wrote yourself--wow, there are so many. "Raspberry Beret" by Prince, any song off of Pet Sounds, "Elvis Presley Blues" by Gillian Welch, "Visions of Johanna" by Bob Dylan... those are a few. song that reminds your friends of you--hmm. Not sure. I once had someone tell me that the Meatloaf song "I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)" reminded them of me, ha! I have no idea what that says about me... a record that will make everybody dance--"Twist and Shout" by the Beatles. best concert you ever attended--I just saw the Police at Madison Square Garden on Halloween, and they knocked my socks off, Stewart Copeland is now officially my favorite drummer. Other than that, I'd have to say, I saw Bob Dylan for the first time right when Time Out of Mind came out, and that was sort of my introduction to Dylan, after which there is no looking back and no direction home. a song guaranteed to make you feel depressed--Bright Eyes, "A Spindle, a Darkness, A Fever and a Necklace", first song off of Fevers and Mirrors. your sunday morning song--what's that old hymn from Davey & Goliath? I think it's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God". best Beatles song--tough to choose. I guess for me it's hard to top "In My Life". the perfect anthem for New York--"Back in the New York Groove" by Kiss, also "Back in New York City" by Genesis. the song to be played at your funeral--wow. First I'd rather pick out music to be played at my wedding... let's see, maybe "Sonata Pathetique" by Beethoven, or the Richard Strauss song "Befreit" or "Du Bist Die Ruh" by Franz Schubert... or maybe "Beautiful Dreamer" by Stephen Foster. My death seems like it'll be a solemn occasion, so classical music seems fitting. Then after the funeral everyone should get drunk and sing "O Danny Boy", even though I'm not Irish. ;) Or at least just get drunk.
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
under arrest, happily Hi my friends! It's been awhile. :) First I should say, thanks so much to those who came out to the CD release and also to those who have bought CDs or downloaded tracks, I appreciate your support and I hope you've enjoyed the music! It seems as though I'm often inspired to write blogs regarding someone else's music as my subject matter. Don't exactly know why this is, but at least you should understand, then, that I am a true fan of music, all kinds--mine, other people's and maybe yours too! Halloween night I had the nicest bit of luck via a dear friend, here's the story--I think I've mentioned I have other music-related employment here in NYC besides my lovely singer/songwriter self, and one of those jobs involves singing at a church across from Madison Square Garden (this job makes use of my classical music incarnation. If you don't use it, you lose it--plus, it's great to get paid to sing, what can I say.) Anyway, I was sitting in the music office at the church waiting to sing for the 6:30 p.m. service when my phone rang, on the other end was a friend WHO OFFERED ME HER 2 TICKETS TO SEE THE POLICE for that night, concert at 8:00, at Madison Square Garden. dude. I mean, I admit I just had extremely low-key plans for this Hallow's Eve 2007, and that upped my plans by about 300%. SO, elatedly I sang for that service ("Pie Jesu", from the Faure Requiem) and then scampered across the street to the concert. I don't know how much the rest of the house paid for their tix, but these were listed at $250--seriously more than I would've ever been able to pay to see, like, um, anyone. I'd called a friend who has done me many favors in the past (I was so glad to be able to pay her back somewhat) and she and I sailed into MSG. A couple of years back I'd gotten another random free ticket to see Sting live in Central Park (don't know why I get hooked up with Sting tix always) and, you know, I mean... it was FINE and all, but Sting as a solo artist is A TOTALLY DIFFERENT STORY than Sting with the Police! (I'm sure I didn't need to tell you that.) Anyway--this band was so tight, wow. What an awesome opportunity to see some world-class musicians in a world-class venue, performing on a holiday, no less! All three members of the Police were in costume, Sting was a harlequin/court jester, Andy Sumner was Charlie Chaplin (wiggled his fingers while playing guitar) and Stewart Copeland was an Egyptian mummy, complete with garish, bloody face makeup that complemented his facial expressions while he played drums. (And may I just take this moment to comment on the hotness of Stewart Copeland? His drumming prowess might now just make him my favorite drummer, besides the fact that, honestly, this dude is just hot. :)) ANYWAY, the whole point of this lengthy story is that, while listening to the Police, realizing the virtuosic skills of each person on their instrument, not to mention the killer songs they were playing, etc., I realized that something just might be lacking in popular bands of right now, and that's musicianship. Honestly, I feel as though a lot of bands who are hot right now, though their songs may be well written, they're not exactly masters of their instruments, to put it mildly. I'm not sure, but maybe that's partly an aesthetic of punk music--the idea that you don't have to be fantastic on your instrument, you just have to play it with feeling (real or manufactured). I mean, I appreciate that point of view too, the idea that anyone can make music--that's how it should be, every music lover regardless of skill level or musical education should be allowed the joy of making music. That's actually quite a beautiful sentiment and I do feel we've lost that in our present day-to-day life (remember, in the old days before tv, people used to sit around and make music for their evening activity. That definitely does not happen anymore.) However, I also appreciate someone who's a master of their instrument, and I rail against the aesthetic in popular music right now that doesn't necessarily reward that. I appreciate the breed of musician who is a musician's musician. Just wanted to put that out there. ;) As much as I can, I'll always play with musicians like that in my bands. Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
loca-promotion So, the release show for Spare Key is this coming Thursday, Sept. 27. I have been, and still am, deeply in the trenches of promoting it, the CD and the show--which, for me, is the hardest thing to do with this music! Making the music is, you know, a joy, and definitely why I got involved with all of this in the first place--but the name of the game is MAKING PEOPLE AWARE, getting your music out there to people's ears, etc. Now, I'm doing my best, but this is coming from a girl who's essentially pretty shy (yes, my current profile picture tells the story!) I mean, I love meeting new people and making friends, truly, but I'm also the girl who hid behind her mother's skirt (literally!) on the first day back to school. And this promotion stuff doesn't just cover meeting people, it's also more, like... SELLING your product (your music, even "yourself") and convincing people that you're worthwhile. I do think I'm worthwhile, I mean... I know I'm creating music that's a bit time-out-of-mind, to quote a famous poet--for some reason I've always been drawn to making music that, essentially, was in its heyday before I was even born. I don't know why I'm drawn to make that kind of music, but that's just what speaks to me. And in the honest artist fashion, I think in order to create something that's your best work, you have to be honest to yourself. So that's what I do. So basically, I do recognize the fact that not very many people sound like me, and because people aren't used to hearing this sound in a contemporary setting, that's gonna throw some setbacks my way. I know this, and that's ok. But that doesn't in any way diminish the quality of the music that I think I'm putting out into the world. I do believe in my music--but SELLING it to someone else is another story! Or maybe it shouldn't be... actually, as I write this, putting the thought down in words makes me a bit more confident. :) Cool. Hopefully that bit o'confidence will carry me through the next few days... so, um... (*ahem*, draws line in sand with toe) come on out on Thursday!
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
BUY THIS MUSIC NOW! yippee skippee here it is. :) feel free to wear it out. and forward it too! digital download link: Apple iTunes, http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=261971918 the "buy the CD" link on CD Baby is: http://cdbaby.com/cd/kathyzimmer3 also, via the wonders of MySpace, I got my first review! Here you go: To say that Kathy Zimmer is only a folk singer would be doing her a great disservice, for she is that and much more. She continues that well-established tradition of artist-as-storyteller, but differs with a vocal style that is steeped in church music and irregular phrasing—a style more reminiscent of European folk music than American folk music. Her songs display elements of folk, pop, jazz and gospel with simple uncluttered arrangements and imaginative use of backing vocal harmonies. The subject matters of the songs are bittersweet tales of human relationships. Kathy has incorporated all of the above elements and presented a set of songs that on the surface may be simple, but are almost cinematic in their lyrical imagery. This no doubt is a tip of her musical hat to someone who used to go by the name of Zimmerman. There is a lot to enjoy here and I hope it achieves the broad exposure it deserves. www.myspace.com/ericsegerstrom, Australia
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
CD IS DONE!!! All right, well, I'm on a roll! Why stop now! (see previous blog) OH MY GOSH SPARE KEY IS FINISHED!!! I have a copy next to my computer right now. I'm so happy with the finished product I can't even tell you. Four of the songs are here on my page right now, check 'em out! Also, the CD is for sale on CD Baby and will be (if it's not already) on iTunes and other internet distributors soon. Buy a copy or two, for heaven's sake. I hope you enjoy it. And come to the CD release performance/party! We're doing it at Crash Mansion in NYC on Sept. 27 (details in the gig listing on this page.) There's an open bourbon bar and we're gonna sell the CD at live gigs with a radical pay-what-you-want method... my whole point for making this CD was simply to get the music out there, and I'd like you to own it. So either 1) pay according to what money you have to give for it, or 2) pay according to what you think the disc is worth. For real. Bring friends, let's make it a great time! All right, I have to give a bunch of thanks to people who should have been noted in the CD credits, but I didn't have space to fit 'em all in, so here we go now: My friend Julian Velard produced this CD. It's always neat to see friends in situations where you haven't previously seen them, especially situations where they're completely in their element. JV was in his element, to say the least, in this situation, and it was impressive. :) Also, this guy ended up putting in wayyyyy more time than he ever anticipated he would, I know, so extra thanks, JV. I felt like a very lucky lady indeed to have the attentions of not one, not two, but THREE talented engineers! How all three were involved is a long and winding road of a story, you'd need something like a Cliff's Notes Guide to the Wagnerian Ring Cycle to get everything straight, but at multiple junctures, Brian Bender, Michael Trepagnier and Lowell Thompson really came through for me. Thanks, guys, I so appreciate it. Everybody go check out Jojo's artwork right now (SicArt, in my top friends). Her amazingly cool artwork speaks for itself. Thanks girl! Alan Carroll has been taking awesomely creative and great pics for me for a little bit now... go check out his pics too (Alan, in my top friends). I mean, for one photo shoot we went all the way to Canada, and not only was it great fun but the pics were seriously worth it. Thanks Alan. Nachi Gutierrez revised the graphic design for this CD like, what, I don't know, 574321029348756473322 times? The design looks fabulous and Nachi was such a calm, easygoing presence the whole time. Not bad for a guy I first met wearing a Speedo onstage with a python wrapped around his neck. Thank you Nachi! Jim Saxa, Lisa Bianco and Tamara Hey are three great musician friends who lent their ears to provide valuable feedback on the rough mixes of these tracks. Thanks guys! Tamara Hey also updates my website continually with an unflappable yet artistic aplomb. (I'm not sure what that means but it's appropriate.) She rocks. Mark Pracht has been a friend for eons. Through the wonders of MySpace, we recently reconnected and he's been a really supportive presence, thanks Mark. I first met him when he was a dog. Jon Berger came up with the band name "KZ and the Sunshine Banned". It took me about three years to understand he meant "banned" and not "band", and thus, it took me about three years to truly recognize his genius once and for all. Thanks Jon. I have many incarnations of my musical self, one of those selves sings for her supper at a church in NYC. Thanks to St. John the Baptist Church and music director Laurence Rosania for the extra thoughtful publicity. Extra thanks to Vanessa Quick and Holly Moore, two friends who've been supportive in so many ways. I did mention them in the liner notes but they've done so much that they deserve another shout out. In conjunction with that, thanks to Mike Nolte for the awesome banner-o'-birds that he created for me, which is proudly displayed on this page. Ok. I feel like I'm forgetting someone, I'm sure I am, and when I remember them, I'll be back! THANKS FOR LISTENING, I HOPE YOU ENJOY!!!
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
Mr. Springsteen’s dreams All right. Well, I'd been resisting writing a new blog to draw attention to the fact that my new songs are up on the page and therefore the CD is DONE!!! (more about this in the next blog) until closer to the live CD release performance in NYC (Sept. 27), but something happened last night that inspired me. I am an ardent advocate of following inspiration when it happens (and I'm NOT an advocate for patience!) so I'm writing a blog! The inspiration for this blog comes from none other than The Boss himself, which I consider a bit ironic. You see, though I've always "appreciated" Mr. Springsteen's music, I'd always sort of considered him not-Bob Dylan--an unfair assessment, to be sure, but for some reason there was something in his music that made me run from it. I'm still not sure exactly what prejudice was in my mind, all I knew was that Springsteen music made me depressed in a strange way, and I always knew that it shouldn't--yet, it did. Then last night I went to see one of the Sugar Bowls (my backup singers), Jessica Tivens, perform in an opera at the Paramount Theater in New Jersey's Asbury Park. It didn't really register with me that this was THE Asbury Park until I drove past the most beautiful ghost of a building I've ever seen in the dark, the Metropolitan Hotel, on my way to the boardwalk... and immediately I was drawn into the most romantic memory I'd never experienced. Like a very old woman who doesn't deny her age but still takes great pride in her appearance; who puts herself together and commands dignity while holding up her head proudly in the face of time; this building retains all of the beauty I imagine it had in its heyday without denying that its heyday has passed--its paint is peeling, its windows are broken, its style is so outdated that it's a veritable time capsule of what once was, if only you can use your imagination. Lives were lived there, and how. It took my breath away. The really strange thing about this is, my reaction with seeing that hotel brought me back home. It gave me the same feeling that looking at a certain building in my hometown does. This building in my little hometown in Nebraska is referred to as the Mooney house. It's a sprawling mansion, really, the only one in the town. Its paint is all but gone, windows are broken--there's been a sign in an attic window for years that was probably put there by some prankster, it says "HELP!" ;) --and looking at it, you see the unlimited dreams of the person who built it, who expected it would be their legacy in the undoubtedly bright future of the town. However, the bright future of my hometown died long before I was born, and in fact the story about that house goes that the builder--a banker--faked their own death after the stock market crash. They had a funeral and everything, but old timers say there was no body. Shortly thereafter his family moved away, and then a large sum of funds came up missing in the bank. The house has remained vacant for years, the owner won't give it up and they also won't do anything to maintain it. Wow, that was a digression. ANYWAY, the point is... I saw Springsteen's world (although, perhaps it's a bit more of a ghost town now than it was a couple decades past... or maybe not? I'm not sure.) I saw what inspired his songs, and all of the sudden it was driven home to me WHAT A BEAUTIFUL VIEW he has of life. He dreams the dreams and knows that, as they're being dreamt, they're folly; yet he dreams them anyway. And you know what? Replace the boardwalk with Nebraska State Highway 2 and the Paramount Theater with our opera house that's now buried beneath the Beechville Band grandstand, and on a smaller, less theatrical scale, the ghost of Asbury Park is my hometown. I shouldn't say on a smaller scale, though, because (and forgive this grandiose statement) who is to judge the capacity of dreams? I think it's pretty plausible that I've been running from Springsteen's vision because it hit too close to home, but last night, seeing his setting in the flesh made it ok, somehow. Kind of like looking in the mirror and for the first time being ok with the reflection looking back at you, because you saw someone else who has a big nose like you do also being ok with their reflection. ;) Kinda. It's hard to describe.
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
a taste ok my friends, here's just a little taste (since I've been a tease about it for, oh, about a year now.. !) here's an unmastered song from Spare Key (unmastered basically means, you'll have to turn up the volume.) I'm proud of this! I think my favorite moment in the song happens at a moment that can only be described as "Bacharach"... you'll have to listen and see if you can figure out what I'm talking about! The completed (mastered) rest of the tracks will be coming along shortly. In the meantime, since I had something to share, I basically couldn't get my cursor on the "browse" box soon enough! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this (but be gentle! The baby hasn't even been born yet!) also, I should say, the artwork you're seeing next to the song is an alternate cover for Spare Key done by none other than Sickart (in my top friends). Thanks chickadee. We ended up using this lovely keyhole elsewhere in the graphic design, but not on the cover. I feel good about things right now. This is the first time in my life I can honestly say that I'm making my entire living off of being a musician, which makes me feel very independent in a great Mary Tyler Moore kind of way. I'm making a go of things with a combination of teaching and performing, and that combined with the lovely spring sunshine on my shoulders is making me sickeningly happy. :) I hope that didn't just make you gag. ;) love to you!
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
o happy day Hi. :) My life has been, for the past eight months (count them, EIGHT!!!) focused on, more or less, one goal: getting my newest CD recorded. It's been quite a process. Not saying that we were in the studio for 24 hours of every day (that might have been something like a complete dream come true... well, not entirely, but it does sound comparatively pretty fun) but instead it was more about MAKING THE MONEY to fund this independent project. I'm sure most of you dear readers (yes, this is you, dear) are aware that it's a costly venture, living in New York City, and an even more costly venture making a go of being an artist in NYC, and what's more, insisting on being an artist that's not necessarily of the most commercial nature... and so in order to produce proof of your artistic force (in this case, a CD!), unless you've found the pot o'gold at the end lf the rainbow, you have to focus your creativity on ways to make money to put towards making your dream project a reality. Enter my life for the past eight months. :) And now, my friends, we are nearing the end of the process. Sing with me now, O happy day... !!!!! Currently the CD is being mixed. After that, it'll be mastered and finally pressed into a CD. And then it will be released into the world like those cheesy doves some people release at weddings, or the hot air balloon at the end of The Wizard of Oz, or like you're supposed to do with something you love (set it free.) I can't tell you how happy I am to be at this stage of the process, mostly because making money is not my strongest talent in life :) and I'll be glad to have the pressure off. But already, in listening to the rough mixes of the songs and looking back at my efforts to be economically prosperous in the past few months, I know it's been worth it. I had great people working on this project with me, all of whom actually are worth far, far more than the dollars they were paid, but for some reason all of them were ready to put in their best efforts towards making the best music possible. I'm not sure why they were all ready to do this, perhaps it was because they, like me, believed in this music... I hope so! But whatever the reason, my heart pounds in gratitude. and now starts my process of being able to refocus my creativity from making money towards writing new music again. Maybe some people are able to divide their attentions better than I am and they wouldn't feel the need to completely turn off one faucet in order to turn on another... I, however, am and always have been one-track minded (I blame it on growing up in the country with relatively few diversions... I never grew the necessary blinders to be able to shut out some distraction in order to focus on another... there weren't any distractions to shut out! :)) Anyway, interestingly enough, it's gonna be a challenge for me to begin being creative again in a writing process, and to get to my soul's core again, enough to be able to expose it through my art (which is oh so necessary). but... I can't wait! CD will be ready soon. :) I'll keep you posted!
http://www.myspace.com/kathyzimmer
www.kathyzimmermusic.com Um... so, hey, what's happening? I actually normally really like writing my stream of consciousness down, but there's something sort of imposing about blogs... like, being- funny-on-cue expectations. I suck so bad at being funny on cue, but if nobody expects anything, I can sometimes be quite clever... it's like that. So if you don't pay too much attention to this whole little spiel, I might sneak up on you and getcha like Blondie. Or maybe not. :) We'll see.
http://www.last.fm