Persian Gypsies Busking in Tehran

September 20, 2013

I asked my cousin to film gypsy buskers in Iran, and she did! These people and their music is ignored, but it is very important. I really want to go there and make a documentary about them. Here is the video, I put it up right away:

Sneak Preview Of New Song

January 9, 2013

Hello,

So like I mentioned before, I will be recording original songs for a new album.

Here is a preview of one of the songs I tried out on the crowd at Ye Olde Orchard Jam yesterday! And if any musicians are reading this, this pub is a great place to play. The host, Mike Hand, was very cheerful! Young crowd, nice location, and friendly people. And unlike most open mics in Montreal, there were no comedians! So I will be going there more often. : )

A Thought in the Music Creating Process – 2012

December 12, 2012

Only recently, I have been really empowered in the world of music. I am a million miles closer to bringing the melodies in my head to the world. Wow. Now I am closer to writing out the album of my dreams.

2012 has been about learning.

Jan – June

I improved my ability to “play by ear”. I learned 100 traditional tunes from just listening. I used a software to slow down recorded songs, and that made a world of difference! The great thing about traditional Celtic songs is that they are all in the same key, so that also helped.

July – Dec

I learned how to write scores on a software. Paper was tedious, especially for me, since my handwriting is like intricate scribbling. And sometimes I wanted to change the arrangement, and it took a long time to re-write some parts. So I got this transcribing software, Sibelius, that radically really changed my life. Actually, I would say that learning Sibelius is probably one of the most significant events in my life. With just a few clicks I can arrange songs in different time signatures, in different keys and different harmony parts. In fact they have a plugin that will write the harmonies for you in anyway you want. There are many crazy out of this world plugins. I experimented with so many music ideas. I can export them all as midi or pdf. It’s crazy man.

I learned new music production software. Reason. Logic Pro. Native Instruments. And some Ableton. I used Reason before, but I think Logic Pro will be the one I’ll stick with. ProTools can’t do nearly all the cool things Logic Pro can. I wish I knew about Logic Pro earlier!

I also did the weekly private lessons, workshops, video tutorials, books, concerts, & of course listening to endless amounts of CD’s.

Thanks to the musicians who give their knowledge freely on the internet. Thanks to years of studying theory. Thanks to this software called Sibelius. Thanks to this Mac book pro. Thanks to my bf who convinced me to buy the Mac book pro. The possibilities are infinite.

I recorded a few songs this year, but in 2013, I will focus more on creating audio with what I learned. I already transcribed 10 new original songs for my debut album. Watch out 2013.

Stop the Asbestos Industry!

July 21, 2012

I’ve spoken about asbestos in the past, but now is the time to really turn our attention to it because the industry has been revitalized by a $58 million dollar loan given by the Quebec government. Asbestos is used as a cheap insulator in walls but has recently been discovered to cause repiratory problems, like cancer. It’s illegal in Canada, but not in third world countries, like India where it is exported.

Many activists, including David Suzuki, have spoken out about this, so I decided to write a song! I included the fact that the town of Asbestos, QC actually celebrated at the news that the mine was re-opening. Also, when the owner of the mine was interviewed on Radio Canada by Jean-Sébastien Bernatchez, he said that everything causes cancer, even the sun.

For the lyrics of the song, I decided not to use any stylistic devices, like rhyming, metaphors, alliteration. Just put the problem out there in as simple terms as possible just to make sure that everyone gets the message. Because if everyone got the message, we wouldn’t be having this problem.

So here are the lyrics including chords & links:

Amin, D,
Amin, D, Emin,
Emin, Amin
Emin, D, Amin

There are many problems in this world
Let’s start with letter “a”
“A” for asbestos
A cause for respiratory problems in the lungs

It makes you feel like you’e suffocating to death
When indeed you actually are
It’s criminal possession in the west
But somehow okay in India

Asbestos is a working class killer
1000 tonnes for 1000 graves
Exported with Canada’s planes
For the economy at the end of the day

They clap, cheer and claim that its totally safe
But would they use it in their own house?
“A” is for assholes who cut corners regardless of how many human lives

Cocaine is harmful & illegal in the west
Especially to export it.
So how is this white powder any different?
Indeed it really isn’t

Asbestos is the working class killer
1000 tonnes for early graves
He actually said the sun is also to blame
Everything has cancer these days

Asbestos is a third world killer
1000 tonnes for 1000 graves
Exported in Canada’s planes
For money at the end of the day
For the economy at the end of the day

My Top 5 Whitney Houston Songs Of All Time

May 8, 2012

I’m a huge Whitney Houston fan! Always was! Always will be! Her songs were always in my humming/outdoor singing rotation. I was devastated from the news of her passing away. So I’m posting here some of the songs that really got to me.

Here are my top five Whitney Houston Songs! And yes, I know, they also all happen to be from The Bodyguard soundtrack.

1. Queen of the Night