The way I see it, I probably know myself better than most people, and well, we've done the "fancy bio" thing and that was all well and good, but it just didn't feel like me. I could get you quotes from people saying nice, interesting things about me and my music, but I find all of that a little on the "contrived" side... really, as Gwen would say, "I'm just a girl in the world." So. New approach. Here goes nothing....
I've been singing for a long time. I'm not Mariah Carey. I'm not Pat Benatar. But I'm sure I fall in between there somewhere. I started writing songs in college and thought I was good at it for about 5 minutes. Surprisingly enough I kept writing anyway. I've got my share of unheard songs. Some of them are acceptable, some of them are crap and some of them make me proud.
"Avelut" was my first EP project. For those inquiring minds out there, it's a Hebrew word meaning "Mourning." No, I'm not Jewish, and no, neither of my parents are dead. The songs on the EP came in ebbs and flows. One was written in a day, One in a few weeks, and another was finished in the studio. There is obviously little method to my madness, but that's life sometimes I guess.
We recorded everything one week in late July of 2007. My producer, Andrew Osenga, and my band and I had some fun putting this music together. In the end, I walked away with a first project that was a proper starting point.. in my opinion anyway, obviously.
"What is it about?"
Well. I'd rather you decide what it means to you, because that's one of the things I love most about music: 10 different people can hear a song and get 10 different things from it. But that said, primarily it's a collection of songs that reflect my various attempts at song-writing. Not all of the songs are about me, but I can obviously relate to them, or else I wouldn't have wasted time with them in the first place. These songs are my attempt to honestly share what I see in myself, and in the world around me.
"What kind of music is it?"
I'm actually still figuring that out! Several people compare me to Norah Jones.. probably because I am female and use a piano now and then.. but that's fine. Norah is cool. So far most everything falls in the folky/bluesy/jazzy/rocky genre. I suppose that's completely unhelpful... I'll say this: I love Patty Griffin's songwriting. If I could be half the writer she is, then I will consider myself a success. I think Cat Steven's "Teaser and the Fire Cat" is timeless music to see the world with. I'm amazed at how U2 can take one sentence and turn it into a song that you just can't turn off. I believe Fiona Apple is inventive and fearless. Oddly enough, even though I may not be a fan of all of it, Jam Band and Jazz music continue to challenge my musical brain and remind me to take risks. There is a special place in my heart for most scores and instrumental soundtracks, and I respect Ringo Starr for making "Goodnight Vienna" and knowing how to have fun.
These being my influences, hopefully my music will model all of these things over time.
"What's next?"
Who knows? More music. More exploring. More musical exploration. More traveling. More writing. In short: MORE. How American of me! Really, if I can have anything out of life, it would be this: music, travel, helping people/changing the way people see the world and, if it exists: deep, honest, selfless love.
We'll see what happens. Stick around.
Are you a narcissist for writing all of this?
Possibly. Who isn't? Actually, I hope not. The way I see it, I wish I knew this much about everyone who cares to listen to my music and I wish I knew half this much about the musicians I admire. I suppose this makes me a curious person... Anyhow. Thank-you. Thank-you for stopping by. Thank-you for listening and thank-you for caring about any of this. It means much.
As the Beatles say:
love love love,
~Danica
(day-nick-uh)
You are AWESOME!!! Thank you so much for being a friend!!! Hope you had a Happy 4th of July!!!!! God Bless America!!!!!
Wrapped Up In Me is #38 on the New Music Weekly Country Main Chart!!!! I am also #18 on the top 30 Indie Chart this week!!! It is on radio stations across the nation, you can request it now!!!!! Also, If you are around Friday August 28th I'll be having a big show at Tumbleweed Texas in Houston Texas I really hope to see you there!!! Love ~Susan www.susanhickman.com
Hi, have a great day. If you have time, I have a strange gig story from way back, that has loosely inspired the title of my upcoming album "Bright Lights Big City".
Hey Danica! One more toime I took step to your page and i can say:"Nice to meet YOU!" Nice and creative week and a big pppuuuurrrhhh from Mi & Furrriends
Thanks! I'm day 4 now, and I'm a nice person again (all my friends hate when I quit coffee almost as much as I do). I quit sugar this week too!! Next week, I'll be cutting my air intake in half to help save the polar ice caps... OK, I made up the last part. Hope you're having a good week!
Hey, you know an interesting bit of trivia? I ordered your CD, and burned it on my MP3 player. It was the last full CD I was able to fit on there (good thing it was an EP!). The last partial CD I could fit was Disc 1 of The Essential Miles Davis. This isn't even an April Fools joke. I think I have a music addiction... and I should have held out for the 80 gig Zune.
The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship.
:) I just can't resist commenting again... you have the funnest statai, and none of my other friends ever update theirs! I'm grateful for moments of inspiration, too... after a five month dry spell, I wrote a song this week, and I'm happy with it; so that's way up there on the list. But I'm especially grateful for friends, today and every other; everyone needs people to walk alongside them, share their lives... 'cause being alone (or feeling alone anyway) really stinks. Profound, eh?
Happy St. Patrick's Day to you... I'm German/Irish, so I only get half as into it as I might otherwise. Hope you're getting over your musician's block!
I was kinda worried they'd jumped the shark when I heard that song (hopefully nobody throws anything at me for saying that). :) But the rest of the album was better than I'd hoped... my opinion is that it'll live up to your high hopes; it's quintessential U2. It was worth the wait...!
So, did you check out U2's new album? I think they still got it! Cept, I don't think I would have chosen "Get On Your Boots" as the first single from that album...
"Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much perfoms much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well." ~Vincent Van Gogh~
Sending Loving Thoughts and Energy Your Way! Cindy
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