It's early in the new year. I'm still getting used to writing/typing 2016. The holidays are over, and the calendar says it's time to "get back to it." But every year, I like to stretch things out a little, and spend some time at the beginning of the new year, reviewing last year. Looking back at everything that was just a thought at this time last year. And then look forward into the new year.
Even though sometimes it felt like I was slogging through waist-deep peanut butter, looking back I can see how much came into place in 2015. Here are some of the highlights:
Music On TV and the Big Screen:
Songs I wrote or co-wrote were licensed 10 times in 2015! A bunch of songs I wrote with the cool indie rock band Sleep Machine were on TV shows (Younger, Finding Carter, Switched at Birth, The Fosters) and promos (Younger, Quantico) and my original Happy Birthday is featured in the end-title credits of an indie film (The Rose Bowl).
SAVE your HEART CD
I released my full-length CD, SAVE your HEART. So much went into making that happen. The recording and mixing process was completed in 2014, so 2015 was about everything else. Mastering the recordings at Universal Mastering Studios, working with celebrity photographer Jeff Fasano to get the right pictures for the artwork, creating a design for the CD with art director Juliana Adhikari, and launching a brand new website on Bandzoogle.
Why We Walk
In September 2015 I released my anthem Why We Walk for ovarian cancer awareness month. It was played at fundraising walks all across the country and in Canada and the UK, and was widely reported on in print media and on TV and radio.
Nashville
I made two writing trips to Nashville, in June and September, where I attended a songwriting retreat with Mary Gauthier, went to NSAI (The Nashville Songwriters' Association International) Advanced Song Camp, and got to perform at the iconic Bluebird Cafe open mic.
On Stage
In 2015, I gave 23 performances/shows. Highlights include the full-band CD Release Shows at the iconic Hotel Cafe in Los Angeles, and the cool underground Monkey House Theater in Berkeley; guesting with the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, CA; and performing at the Multiple Myeloma conference in Florida.
Songwriting
I just went through my files and added up 24 songs written or co-written in 2015! That's two per month, which is halfway to my longstanding goal of a song a week. I'm getting there!
New Musical Additions
2015 had some great personal travel and family and friend times. One of the highlights was a trip Gregg and I took to the Big Island of Hawaii, where we spent several days off the grid, doing yoga, meditating, and hiking. One rainy day we went into town to get guitar strings at a local music store and came home with "Bella" a beautiful guitarlele (half guitar/half ukelele).
Feeling grateful for it all. And for you being part of this community. Wishing you the best for a happy healthy and abundant New Year! Peace and Blessings, Patricia