02/11/08 Auralgasms Playlist
Thanks to everyone who tuned in for the show on Auralgasms! Your support was greatly appreciated and I had such a great time! If you missed it, it will be replaying tomorrow, 02-12-08, from 1pm-2pm EST. Here is the playlist from the show:
01. Elsiane - Mend (Hybrid)
02. Tracey Thorn - Falling Off A Log (Out Of The Woods)
03. Lunik - Last Night (Preparing To Leave)
04. Club 8 - Leave The North (The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming)
05. Ruth Ann - You Talk Too Much (What About Us?)
06. Frost - Modesty (Love Revolution)
07. Tigerforest - Sunstrike (Daybreak)
08. Lustral - Many Years From Now (Deepest, Darkest Secrets)
09. Lovespirals - Treading The Water (Long Way From Home)
10. Tearwave - Under The Milkyway (Web Exclusive)
11. Genika - The Purity (The Purity)
12. Inga - Moonlit Path (Riding The Wind)
13. Jakki Jelene - Sweet Sally Lyn (Web Exclusive). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
01/15/08 Update
Hello! Just thought I would update you all on what's been going on in my world, musically. As I have mentioned before, I am currently working on an EP (actually it's more of a mini concept album) titled "Seasons". I plan to release it sometime this year, but it's hard to say exactly when that will happen. There have been a few delays, due to the holidays and other unexpected issues, but the process is moving forward and I am excited about the direction it is going in. I believe it will be well worth the wait and I don't want to rush something that I have so much heart into.
I have also begun work on my next album and should all go smoothly, that may see a 2008 release date as well. The working title of that album is "Luminous". I've been working hours on end preparing the musical tracks and I'm looking forward to recording the vocals once the music is finished. It's been a real time of growth and experiment for me, but it's going much smoother than with the last album because now I have a little better idea of what I'm doing! It certainly allows me to concentrate on the creative process a bit more.
Well, that's all for now. I will be sure to update you all again when I have more news to share. Thanks to everyone who has written kind emails and has been such a wonderful support to me. I appreciate every bit of love that's sent my way!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
07/03/07 Progress
I am currently moving forward on the completion an EP, which will be titled Seasons. I recently met with someone who will be bringing a very special element to the project, musically. It will be very exciting to see this project come together! More info to come.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
07/01/07 So Long, Old Pal
Sad to say, shortly after my last post our dear, sweet cat SnOoPy became increasingly worse and had to be put to sleep. It was a very painful experience for both Jess and I. It took days until I could be home without sobbing uncontrollably. It's been tough for our other cat, Willow, as well. She has been in need of more affection than usual, which is saying a lot. I have to admit though, it is a comfort to have her around. There have also been a lot of others things going on as well so I'll be sure to post some music news soon.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
06/09/07 Absence Makes The Heart Grow...
Well, as it turns out that 5 days turned into months. I've been around a little here and there but I've mostly been taking some time out to get some things done and checking my priorities. Unfortunately this came about just as the album was released and I have had little time to do anything in way of promoting. I am thankful to still hear from listeners who are enjoying the album. I'm glad some people have picked up on it, despite my absence.I can't say I really regret the time away though. It's been a season of change and growth. Some things that have come down the pike have been difficult and challenging. I have had some health issues over the past 6 months due to a Flu that turned into Pneumonia. The recovery has been slow, so I am very much looking forward to the Summer months!
Another situation that we've been dealing with is that my dear sweet cat, SnOoPy, has been experiencing health problems as well. I am sad to say it does not look good at this time. He was first diagnosed with Diabetes, but just as we were getting his blood sugar stabilized we found out he is also having heart failure. Anyone who has ever had to care for a dying pet that they felt especially close to understands how painful and stressful it is.
The good thing in all of this is that it has forced me to slow down and focus on the positive things and appreciate them all the more. Sometimes life throws a curve ball but you don't have to surrender. You can choose to get back up and realize that things could be much worse. There are too many things in life worth celebrating. I hope everyone has a great Summer and makes the most of it!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
03/05/07 The Vow
After a long talk with my brother about how life sucking the internet can be I have made a vow to fast the internet for 5 days, so I won't be around for a while. I really want to take this time to reflect and catch up on some reading and house chores. Hope everyone has a blessed week!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
02/02/07 Call
Finished writing another song tonight and I'm so pleased with how it came out. The working title is "Call" and it will most likely make the next album. The songwriting has been flowing lately but I really should be writing the remaining songs for the EP we're working on next. I have to say it's really nice to write again because I didn't have much time when I was working on production and graphics. It all goes in cycles I suppose and it definitely gave me a chance to rejuvenate.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
01/30/07 Reflecting
Even though I've been sick with pneumonia this month, I've still managed to update the website and get some promo materials together. I am very excited about the album release and hope that everyone will all enjoy it. It's been quite a road to ensure the album got made, but nothing is more rewarding than seeing that finished product. CustomFlix did a great job and I would recommend them to anyone who was looking to release an album independently. Thanks to all of you who have been such a wonderful support to me. I can't tell you how much it has meant to me! You'll most likely hear from me again soon if I have any more news to share. In the meantime, take care and I hope everyone enjoys the album!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
01/12/07 Update
Well, I found out that the proof will be here by next week so there will be news on the album release very soon! In the meantime, I've already begun working toward my next projects. This year I plan to open an Angelic Voices website and will start work on an EP for my new musical collaboration that includes Jess and I. We have even gotten a jump on the album we'll be working on after that. I have at least half of the songs picked out so far and even wrote one this evening. Of course it will take a while to see it all come to fruition but it's exciting to see the possibilities on the horizon. I guess for now though I will focus most of my attention on getting the album out there!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
07/12/06 Songs to Share
Just thought I would share some tracks I've been really enjoying lately. Always nice to kick back to some beautiful music.
Chandeen - Pink
Beauty's Confusion - Whirlwind
Venus Hum - Beautiful Spain
Carmen Rizzo - Travel In Time (ft. Kate Havnevik)
Invisible Ballet - You Are My Megaphone (ft. Rebecca Coseboom)
Conjure One - Forever Lost (ft. Chemda)
Acid House Kings - This Heart Is A Stone
Above & Beyond - Can't Sleep (ft. Ashley Tomberlin)
Nouvelle Vague - Love Will Tear Us Apart (ft. Eloisia)
Echostream - Just Kill Me
Oceanlab - Beautiful Together (ft. Justine Suissa)
Arrogants - I Want You
DJ Tiesto - Sweet Misery (ft. Joanne Lloyd)
Maria Taylor - Leap Year
Sepiamusic - Stone
Suisse Modular - Stay (ft. San.drine)
The Like - You Bring Me Down. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
06/02/06 Home From Vacation
Got back a few days from a week long vacation in North and South Carolina. We decided it would be fun to spend our time camping so it was quite the adventure. We stayed at 2 different campgrounds but the 2nd one was amazing because it was right off the ocean so we fell asleep to the sounds of the waves hitting the shore. I missed the ocean more than I could have imagined. We spent most of our time by the water but we also got to drive around and check out the areas we were visiting. Each had their own special qualities. Overall we had a wonderful time and it was nice to get away from some of the modern conveniences we come to rely on too much. Sometimes I just need to breakaway and experience life and this definitely did the trick. Funny how slow a week goes when you don't have TV, internet, phones etc to keep you occupied. Of course spending that kind of quality time with someone you love just helps to stengthen your bond. We really hadn't taken a vacation by ourselves in so many years where we weren't at least visiting family. Still, we met some very nice people on our trip that made it worthwhile as well. Looking forward to planning another trip like this soon!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
04/21/06 Spring!
There are few better things than the feeling of Spring and knowing that Summer is on the way. I just love the the smell of fresh flowers and the warm breezes that begin to stir up the ground. The grass is looking quite green already. It's definitely an inspiring time of year and I intend to take full advantage of it! I am really looking forward to Summer more than usual because I didn't feel like I had a chance to enjoy it fully last year. Normally I don't mind the Winter but this year it was tough for me to take, even though it was a fairly mild Winter. If all goes as planned, I'll be spending most of my days outside under the sun, and preferably near the water.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
04/13/06 Moving Forward
I know it has been quite a while since I've posted a true blog. You could say I've been laying low lately to renew my mind and work without distraction. The good news is, we are currently in the mixing process. I have to say, creating this album took a lot more out of me than I initially bargained for. Most of that has to do with unexpected setbacks and the fact that I have had to learn so much in such a short time. It makes it all the more rewarding though and I am so grateful that certain situations have forced me into learning things I never knew I was capable of. I am thankful to the friends who have helped me with this process along the way too. It is very liberating to know that Jess and I hold the power to create our own music and no longer have to depend on others. I realize now that there are few I would trust with my work as I have quickly seen how so many people in this business lack character. I want to learn from others' experience as well so I don't lose sight of the reason I started making music in the first place. Besides, there is no better person to work with than my own husband. That's not to say I would never collaborate with another artist in the future, because I have had positive experiences that I don't want to forget too. I guess I will just have to move with caution. My privacy is also very valuable to me and I won't compromise that for anything. I guess you could say I'm just a girl who loves music and would like to share it with the rest of the world, but not at any cost. I really despise what the music business has become and want no part of it whatsoever. I have hope that things will eventually change though. In the meantime, I have my favorite under-appreciated artists and would be greatly honored to be placed alongside them. I really can't express enough how thankful I am for the support I have received. Let me just end this by saying thank you once again to everyone who has been an encouragement. I love you all!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
01/02/06 Instrument
Jess and I just finished up the music to the last addition for the album. The name of the song is "Instrument" and I think it is coming together beautifully. I can't wait to lay the vocals down for it! Just when it feels like nothing is getting accomplished despite all the hours and hours of hard work, I'm beginning to see the fruits of our labor as everything comes together. There is a light at the end of the tunnel! It's very motivating to say the least. Well, back to work...
Jakki. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
01/01/06 Happy New Year!!!
I hope everyone had a great year and has a great one to come! In case you're interested, here are my top 10 Angelic Voices albums of 2005:
Kirsty Hawkshaw - Meta-Message
Leaves Eyes - Vinland Saga
Conjure One - Extraordinary Ways
Autumn's Grey Solace - Riverine
Imogen Heap - Speak For Yourself
Nicola Hitchcock - Passive Aggressive
Pole Folder - Zero Gold
Anneli Drecker - Frolic
Lovespirals - Free & Easy
Acid House Kings - Sing Along With
Mira - There I Go Daydreamer
Other Favorites Of 2005:
Ivy - In the Clear
Schiller - Tag Und Nacht
Carmen Rizzo - The Lost Art Of The Idle Moment
Telepopmusik - Angel Milk
Glow - The Years
Cardigans - Super Extra Gravity
Brazilian Girls - Brazilian Girls
Enya - Amarantine
Esthero - Wikked Lil Grrrls
Emiliana Torrini - Fisherman's Woman
The Like - Are You Thinking What I'm Thinking
ATB - Seven Years
Iio - Poetica
Armin Van Buuren - Shivers
Mediaeval Baebes - Mirabilis
Mylene Farmer - Avant Que L'ombre...
Harland - Sinking Shade
Maria Taylor - 11-11
Here's to another great year of releases in 2006!
Jakki. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12/28/05 Aural Bliss Radio
Just wanted to take a moment to say a special thanks to Laura for spinning "My Sanctuary" on her internet radio show last Sunday, Aural Bliss. I appreciate the shout out as well!
To listen to Aural Bliss and other Auralgasms radio shows, visit www.auralgasms.com. (listen to Aural Bliss live on Sunday nights from 10pm-12am)
To request "My Sanctuary", go here.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12/27/05 Home Sweet Home
Jess and I just got home from a trip to New Hampshire. We drove out there with 2 of my brothers to spend Christmas with one of my sisters and her family. It was a 12 hour trip each way but we had a great time seeing everyone so it was worth it in the long run. I can't lie though - I couldn't have been happier when we rolled into our driveway at 7:30am this morning. There is nothing like sleeping in your own bed!
One of the neatest things I got to experience at my sister's was the tradition of opening gifts on Christmas morning. In my family we always followed the German custom of opening gifts on Christmas Eve so this was the first time I had ever done it that way. It was fun to try something new but I probably still prefer doing the Christmas Eve thing because I am not much of a morning person. It also makes for better pictures and home video when everyone is dressed up all nice. Instead we went to a candle light service at their church and had guests over for treats on Christmas Eve, which was very nice.
As for gifts, I am so grateful for all the nice things I received. I especially love the couple pieces of jewelry Jess got me. That has become a new tradition, for Jess to buy me a special piece of jewelry at Christmas. He used to buy me a porcelain doll each year but the collection was getting too out of hand so he felt it was time to switch. I don't really collect a lot of jewelry throughout the year so I really look forward to it. It was also nice to get a few DVDs I had been wanting and an mp3 player. The best part about the mp3 player was the record function so I can get song ideas down quickly. It's too much of a pain to run to the computer because many times I lose ideas by the time I get a chance to. My sister got us a pop culture trivia game that I know we will be played in my family a lot.
I feel so blessed. I hope everyone else had a wonderful and blessed Christmas as well!
Much Love,
Jakki Jelene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
12/20/05 In the Christmas Mood
Well, I'm finally starting to get into the Christmas mood, especially after this past weekend. On Friday Jess and I went outside and played in the snow. We even made a little fort but the tunnel collapsed. Oh well, we have the rest of the winter to make something really grand! The snow wasn't quite right for building a snowman so we made snow angels instead.
We spent most of Saturday working on music and watching Christmas movies on TV. Overall we got a ton of work out of the way and pretty much finished the music for the final track on the upcoming album. I even got to lay down some vocals for a couple tracks as well so, it's moving along. We'll be able to focus much more after New Years though.
On Sunday our choir put on our Christmas performance and it was a great success! People seemed genuinely touched by the spirit of it all. Later that night we went to a big Christmas party and it was a blast. We finished the night by singing Christmas carols, and I even played along a bit with guitar. Now we're just really looking forward to seeing family this weekend.
I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Again I would like to thank everyone for your support over the past year. I truly appreciate it.
Much Love,
Jakki Jelene. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11/14/05 Finally!
And not a moment too soon! I got a new computer today so I have spent the entire evening installing programs, playing with settings etc. That means I should be back to work in no time!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11/03/05 Computer Shopping
I am in the market for a new computer...actually it's mandatory I find one in the near future. There's so much to choose from and for so many price ranges how can one decide which is the best deal? There is also the option of going refurbished, but I have to admit that makes me nervous. Of course you can also build from scratch but I'm not sure I trust my tech skills enough for that just yet. Anyway, if anyone knows of a good site or store to check out I will happily check it out. I hate to buy anything this important without doing my research first.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
10/21/05 Moving
Just an update for anyone who's interested. I am currently in the process of moving. It all happened unexpectedly, but on Monday I will be in a new home and I'm very excited. Of course the work of moving can be exhausting but it will be worth it in the end. Once I get situated I am hoping to get back to the business of making music. Many delays that I've faced have been out of my hands, but the album is not far from completion. Still, even under the best circumstances I don't think I'll be able to do much between now and Christmas. The good news is, if all goes smoothly from here on out I'll be aiming for a Spring release.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
09/18/05 Delays Delays
Due to some computer hassles it looks like there will be a delay with the album release. Needless to say, it's frustrating but I should be able to get the ball rolling again very soon. Overall I think it will enhance the quality of the work though, and that is what is most important. Thanks again for everyone's support! I'll try to update again soon.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
08/21/05 Brian Wilson Live
I went to see Brian Wilson in concert tonight and as expected, it was awesome! The first half of the show was mostly older Beach Boys hits, but I was most impressed with the second half where they played the entire "Smile" album live. Very dramatic and moving. He played at my favorite venue so that made it even better. It seems that outdoor venues always produce the best sound and atmosphere for a concert because the music just floats through the night air. In a building, often times the music is loud and muffled. Anyway, the show closed with a few more classics and a cover of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode". All in all a wonderful experience.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
07/27/05 Making Waves
I spent part of the past couple weeks getting a few more songs written and those are shaping up quite nicely. I am really looking forward to working on the music for them, though I am unsure of which ones will be on the album at this point. My husband, Jess, has volunteered to help me with some of the tracks so he is eager to get to work as well. It's been quite the process but everything is coming together.Other than that, just been taking a break from all the craziness and enjoying the beautiful weather. Jess and I took a long walk through the park this evening and it was heavenly. The ducks seemed to think so too. Lots of mamas and babies scurrying around. Maybe this weekend I'll go over to the creek and try my hand at fishing. It's about time I put my Snoopy fishing pole to use! If the weather calls for it, it would be great to pack a little picnic too and perhaps bring a little picnic for the ducks as well (ala breadcrumbs).
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
07/12/05 Web Design
I really love building websites, but after all the work that went into this new site, I am looking forward to getting back to the music. The last half of building any website is very tedious and there is very little creativity involved. Having said that, I am very pleased with the way it's all come together. There is still work to be done though. It's a never-ending project. I would really like to add more advanced features in the future, but one step at a time. For now I'm heading back to the studio!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
07/10/05 Bowling
Let me first say, I am not a bowler! I have got to be the worst bowler in the history of the world, but I enjoy going once in a while nonetheless. Recently my husband, my brothers and I went out bowling and some heavenly force granted me the ability to play a little more competitively. So here's the deal...my high score of all time thus far is 129. Woohoo! Now that may seem laughable to some, but the truly laughable part is my old high score, which is a bit too embarrassing to make public.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
07/07/05 London
My thoughts and prayers go out to those in London who are suffering from a similar tragedy to the one we experienced here in the US in 2001. May courage pull you through!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
06/29/05 Changes
Many changes have taken place recently, but it hasn't slowed down the progression of the album. If anything, it will more than likely speed it up! At any rate, there are still a few songs to pull together but I'm looking at a release date for sometime in the Fall with plans to have an EP follow sometime after that.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
06/15/05 New Guitar
I recently received the most amazing acoustic-electric guitar, many thanks to a wonderful friend! The name of it is "Midsummer Night's Eve" and is made by the new company (www.lunaguitars.com), that makes guitars especially for female musicians. It has gorgeous sound and a body to match. I am very much looking forward to recording with this baby!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
05/28/05 Want a free CD?
I have been getting requests for some of my tracks that do not have a home. As a result, I recently put together a CD-R entitled "Heaven Bound EP". For a limited time I will be giving these out for free, so if you are interested, email me and let me know! To hear clips from the EP, visit the "Music" page.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Welcome!
With the start of my new website, I have decided to start a new blog as well. I hope to post often!