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| HippieChic: In pursuit of a dream . . . |
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 When she's not selling Real Estate in Oakland County, one of our newest members, HippieChic, is scrawling lyrics on the back of napkins, overdue bills and scattered notebooks. Well, she's finally found the courage to join the ranks of performing songwriters and she's agreed to keep us informed of her progress. In this first installment, she takes the first two steps towards recovery: she admits she has a problem and she asks for help. Click "Read More" for Hippie Chic's Diary.
1-19-03 In Pursuit of a Dream
Hi everyone,
Let me start by saying the road to this day has been a long one, and anyone with my particular affliction can relate. The warning signs were clearly there: endless hours of vh1 behind the music, my somewhat dreamlike state, half humming through life. Then I hit rock bottom: realizing my most prized possessions were scribbled-on cocktail napkins, the back of overdue bills, and scattered notebooks. My name is hippiechic and I am an incurable songwriter.
So where do I start? I am a thirty-something Realtor in Oakland County, I am very confident and outgoing - except when it comes to the music thing. I was at a total loss and didn't know where to start. So I started on the web...
But my official quest for songwriting utopia really began last night at a little place called Xhedos Cafe in Ferndale. I went to listen to High Flyin' Bird with Jill Jack with a suprise appearance by Tim Diaz (who plays organ and pedal steel on Jill Jack's latest record, "The Love Hotel"). I was blown away and in absolute awe of the performance.
I finally worked up the nerve to approach Jill Jack to get a few CD's signed. Not wanting to appear as a total groupie, I didnt mention I was an aspiring songwriter. But when I snuck out the back door for a smoke ( No, Xhedos is not a bar ) I met Gary Rasmussen, the bass player. He seemed slightly amused by my reverence, and played it off like he's just the bass player doing his job (even though he's played with everyone who's anyone). He was very humble and very nice. I also talked to Tim Diaz, and he told me the story behind one of the songs he wrote and to come out to Hamlin Pub to hear his band. Again, I said nothing of my own aspirations...
Well folks, tonight Im going to Memphis Smoke, I really want to meet John Lamb and ask him about his songwriting retreat this fall (I can use all the fine tuning I can get). I also sent in my membership to Nashville songwriters association, and have been lurking on this board and DetroitCountryMusic.com. You may have recieved an email from me, maybe I liked the music on your site, or asked for some advice. I may even be at the next club you play at, trying to work up the courage to say "Hi". I could use all the help I can get. I mean I may be small now...but maybe .....someday....
Hippiechic
UPDATE: Last Sunday (1-19-03) I worked up the courage to go to Memphis Smoke for John Lambs writers showcase, I actually went alone- hippiechic at a bar alone (secretly clutching her pepperspray). I met John Lamb , a wonderful warm man who welcomed me into the the tight-knit family of detroit area songwriters (he even introduced me from the stage). But let me back up a moment and say when I first arrived the first person to sit and talk with me was, the humble bass player from xhedos. The evening ended for me sitting with Larry Garcia (DetroitCountryMusic.com) Gary Rasmussen the ever humble bass player, BillyBrandt, and Jill Jack. They were encouraging, helpful, and offered leads on what to do and who to see. I thought I was a nobody in the song-writing circle - I was wrong. There is a common bond that ties us all togather, the pure joy of writing and the emotionally charged way we live. Thankyou guys, you made this "chics" day!
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Re: HippieChic: In pursuit of a dream . . . (Score: 1)
by ibmonkey on Thursday, January 23, 2003 @ 15:05:25 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.justmoody.com | Right on HippieChic, I hope it all goes well for you.
If I can offer anything, check out this book I read called "How to turn a good song into a great song" or something like that. It's hard to teach good songwriting skills, but for me anyways, this book really helped me look at my lyrics in a different light, and all the songs written after I read that book have been a lot stronger. |
Re: HippieChic: In pursuit of a dream . . . (Score: 1)
by hippiechic on Thursday, January 23, 2003 @ 15:38:44 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.myspace.com/beachbreakbaby | | Thanks, I will see if I can find it. And for anyone reading, my toughest challenge is getting the music out of my head and writing it so any musician could pick it up and play it. any tips on this? |
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Re: HippieChic: In pursuit of a dream . . . (Score: 1)
by ibmonkey on Thursday, January 23, 2003 @ 15:45:31 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.justmoody.com | Well, first let me ask what kind of musical experience you have. What I have usually done is sung the parts into some sort of recording device, played it back and transcribed the parts, and then added the appropriate chords.
Now, if you don't have the ability to do that, the easiest way is to find someone who does. I used to play with a sax player in Lansing who couldn't transcribe stuff well, so he'd always come over to my place once a week and play me the parts, and I'd write them out for him. The advantage to this was that I could offer a couple different ideas as to how the chords would progress. |
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Re: HippieChic: In pursuit of a dream . . . (Score: 1)
by hippiechic on Thursday, January 23, 2003 @ 16:06:37 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.myspace.com/beachbreakbaby | | I play by ear, I dont have problems with the chords ( guitar), and the melody takes me awhile..I find the tune on the keyboard ( which lights up the display so I Know what note it is) It takes a painfully long time. I have a old yamaha four track that hates me and refuses to record my harmony vocals, Im sending it to therapy as we speak. I need to get these songs down on cd, but this will take some skilled musicians who can see my vision or rather hear it. All this too accomplish before anyone will even consider listening to it. |
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Re: HippieChic: In pursuit of a dream . . . (Score: 1)
by ibmonkey on Friday, January 24, 2003 @ 08:47:19 MST
(User Info | Send a Message) http://www.justmoody.com | Yeah, if you know anyone who you would consider a technically talented musician, you could always talk to them about doing this kind of stuff, to help you pick the melody up quicker, etc..
What we do in my band (Immigrant Blue) is when one of us brings in a new song, we give some ideas of groups, other songs that might have the vibe we are looking for. It provides, in the very least, a good starting point for the members.
For example, I brought in this very simple little song I wrote with a nice flowing melody in the chorus with a couple really cool jazz changes (as opposed to rock). I said I was thinking about this vibe:
Blink-182: "Carousel"
Offspring: "Want You Bad"
The singer, after hearing the song, suggested that it reminded him of more of a Foo Fighters type song. So, with this conversation, the entire band now had three very solid examples to draw ideas from. From there, it's all arrangement really. |
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Average Score: 4.90
Votes: 11
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