I don't like this at all. Blogging the whole way back in December, and not keeping up with it. It's coming up on a YEAR now! But even if it hasn't been this online blog, I've definitely kept up with my journal. And I've written more songs.
So.
New pics up NOW. Credit to Jamie Hunt, 2009. Two new events posted NOW. And, hopefully new ORIGINAL tracks soon!
Ohmygosh. Can't believe it....is it really Christmas already?? Wow, what a busy semester I had. I just got done last Thursday - we got out late this year, but just in time for Christmas! haha I've been running through the stores the past couple of days trying to get gifts for my family and friends at the last minute! But I love Christmas shopping. I love trying to figure out what someone will like, and I love giving it to them and seeing the surprised look on their face. Hopefullyyyyy it's a happy surprised look though! :o) Coming back home from school is always a bit of transition for me. For one, I don't have to wear flip-flops in the shower, since it's my own shower. I don't have to share laundry machines with a whole hallway. I don't have a roommate (though I miss her dearly right now!). I don't have to swipe a college campus ID every time I want to buy food. I mean, I just walk into my kitchen and get some food, what could be greater?! :) And the biggest reason....no schoolwork, of course. For now. Just work. And music. What I actually want to do, really. Which leads me to some updates. I just posted a couple new things a few days ago that I'm excited about :)
I posted a new original Christmas song, "Christmas Without You". I wrote it about a month ago, and while every lyric is not entirely true to me, it IS based off of personal experience. It was funny... one night I was in the music dept. and I said to myself, okay, I kinda want to write a Christmas song. Sat down at the piano, starting messing around with the main riff and the inspiration just kinda hit right there. If only all songs could be that way! :p
Along with the song, I posted a video of me performing it at Sons of Italy in Perryopolis, PA. This was such a great show with some amazing people in the audience. My good friend Sara Zebley, who I go to college with, invited me to play between her band's sets. She's in the band "Girlz in Black Hats", an all-girl country band (well...except for the drummer haha). They have so many loyal fans that will follow them wherever they play, and make up dances to their songs! The girls are so talented, check them out: www.girlzinblackhats.com
And I finally got up some new pictures from the show in Perryopolis, and some from a show I played at my college, Westminster. I also got some video footage from the show at Westminster that I will post soon, too!
Thanks for sticking by me. Your support truly means the world. Hope everyone has a great holiday...a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! Stay warm! :)
I'm so excited that today is the day. I hope you guys are having a fabulous holiday and stuffing yourselves full! And end up in a long, deep turkey coma!! Haha I know I did! I ate so much food that I wanted to pass out after I was done. I hope I can soon revive myself. Today is a day to remember the things that we have - to count our blessings. I think sometimes we (and that is also including myself) get so caught up in what we DON'T have and trying to get our hands on what we want, that we forget everything we DO have already! Even waking up in the morning is a blessing. I am truly thankful to God that I am alive and well on this earth. Each person has a purpose for being here - don't ever think less of yourself!! :) I'm grateful that I'm on break until Sunday night, when I begin classes again on Monday. This break gives me a chance to take time to get some things done. Homework, obviously. But also recording my first demo, which I will be doing tomorrow! This is going to be a 5-track CD, but it won't be for sale. It's basically just to get my name out there and hopefully get myself some local shows. On Saturday I am going to be playing at Sons of Italy in Perryopolis, PA. My good friend Sara from Westminster is in a killer country band called "Girlz in Black Hats". She plays piano, guitar, fiddle, and writes mostly all of their songs! She's so awesome. They just put out their first CD this year. Sara wrote nearly every song on the CD by herself, and a couple she co-wrote with other people. I am very thrilled and grateful that I have the opportunity to play alongside these girls. They have so much talent! It's a Christmas show that will be from 7 - 10 pm. It's $5 cover charge, and all ages are welcomed! I would LOVE to see you guys out there..come on out for a good time! I'll be premiering my newly-written original Christmas song along with some others.
Thanks so much for all the support, and I'll update again soon! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, <3 Alayna
Waiting for my toenails to dry. Then a top coat. Seems like it takes foreverrrr ahhh! lol
Hmmm let's see. So this past Tuesday I sang with Westminster College's Faculty Jazz Quartet and that was really fun! They played at a local restaurant in Mercer called "Rachel's Roadhouse". They asked me to sing 2 songs with them, so I sang "Stars Fell on Alabama" and an original blues song with lyrics that I wrote for the jazz class of my Cluster. I call it..."Rainy Tuesday Blues". The video is up on my page for the blues song if you guys want to see the performance! It was really cool and I'm so glad I was given the opportunity! :)
Tomorrow I'm going to Bakerstown to check out a studio. I will (hopefully) be recording a demo soon and from what I've heard from a friend, the studio provides great quality. I'm excited for this project and hoping that it comes out well.
Gahh ever feel like you don't have enough time in the day? That's me pretty much all the time. I have a piano recital coming up this Monday, which means I will be madly practicing all weekend. But I also have to make time to check out this studio, do a case for Marketing class that's due Monday, and attend a couple mandatory events back at Westminster on Sunday. And this weekend isn't even that bad for me...that's actually pretty nice! Sometimes it's just really hard to sit back and be like, okay, I need a break. Because I'm so used to being busy (or wanting to be busy) all the time! But music makes me feel so much better, and so does writing. So as long as I sit down for 2 minutes, take a breather, and maybe write a bit, it's truly helpful. And that's also partially where this blog comes in :o)
Buuuut more updates soon - I'll keep ya posted.
Annnnnd my nails are now dry, so top coat here I come :) <3 Alayna
sick