Nashvill "road trip" (yeah we flew...)

Nashville…the city of music.

WOW…what a weekend!!! Last Friday we flew as a group out of Providence, RI and landed in Nashville around 8:00 at night. We were together as a group till Wednesday morning. Now, we are on our short spring break…we have dispersed to our various homes and friends houses. Some have stayed in Nashville and others have flown home. Let me see if I can remember as far back as Friday to give you a run down of the weekend…

FRIDAY:

We started at around 9 in the morning…drove to the ferry and then once we were on the main land we drove to Providence to catch out 4:55 flight out. We were doing great until we were about to walk through the gate at which point I realized I didn’t have my phone on me. Now, for those of you who know me…a cell phone is still an exciting thing for me and I had just gotten a new one over Christmas break so I was kinda really upset that I couldn’t find it. I even had a friend call it and I couldn’t hear it…I knew I had turned up the sound on it (luckily) but I couldn’t hear it ringing. So, I went to the Enterprise desk and asked them if they could check in one of the 5 mini vans that was just returned for a red “chocolate” cell phone…they checked and couldn’t find it…until I gave them my number and they went in every van calling it…but it was found!!! YAY!!!

After getting to Nashville we got to our rooms went and got a very late dinner (at taco bell) and then went to a “Scratch Track” concert. Scratch Track is 2 guys that make the sound of a full band…they are so great. And both of them came to CMC a long time ago…now they are working on signing with a label…that is sooo cool!!! They had a great show. This is my third time seeing them, and I have to say love them every time! Check out their music at www.myspace.com/scratchtrack. After that we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep…we had to be up and ready to go at 6:15…yeah, early!!!

SATURDAY:

Like I said our day began at 6:15…we had a 7:00 appointment at Blackbird Recording Studios. This is like the heaven of all studios…I mean really; it is where the best work is done. Most of the award winning songs and albums are recorded there. Vance Powell, who is responsible for the sound of the new Jars of Clay album “Good Monsters” gave us a full tour and had many stories to tell us. We had to be in and out of there so early because some bands were coming into record and they didn’t really want us around…it was very surreal…

We basically had the day off after that…so I hung out at the pool (yeah, it was 85 out…haha!) and then at night we went to the Hard Rock Café. Amy, I thought of you…but I couldn’t get a shirt…they were a ton of money!!! Sorry! haha!

SUNDAY:

Sunday was a really relaxed day…we just went out to eat and hung out…no meetings or anything, which was nice…

I would say we needed this day in order to get ready to meet the monster of and industry on Monday….

MONDAY:

This day was probably the most frustrating and disheartening day we encountered…

We began the day at Creative Trust and learned about radio and what it takes to get your song played on the radio. I can tell you now that if I ever get one song on the radio…I’m throwing a big party!!! Haha!!!

Then we had a guy talk to us about…ummmmm….I think it was about how it works on the sales end of records…not quite sure, to be honest he was slightly confusing and just restated how we all felt about how messed up the music industry was…so we felt rather frustrated after that meeting. Then after lunch we had a meeting with a SWAG girl…(which is basically…“Stuff (or S***) We All Get”) It was interesting just to know some figures and how the merchandise(merch) side of things works.

Then came the real industry fun….or no fun. We went to EMI which is one of the big label groups that has smaller labels under it: “Tooth and Nail” “Rethink” “Sparrow” …….. just to name a few. It was interesting to sit in there and realize that though this is the Christian music industry…they are still just as deep in the machine as any other label. They still have to work the system…and they still need to make a living. We were told many times in an hour that we were a “sharp” group. To be honest…that word had a double meaning in that room…we were smart and we stabbed. We let them know that we knew they were trying to sell us something, we helped them see that we understood what was going on behind the scenes. There were many times where the person speaking would go to answer a question and the first words would be “I’m not sure.” or “I don’t know.” Our professor made a great statement that really made them think. I do think that they (the EMI people) were frustrated as we left…but part of me is okay because they need to understand that as Christians it is our responsibility to spread truth, and to not live like there is nothing wrong with the world. So, for them to stand there and say they let their artist do their second “Atrsy/Opinionated” record and hope it is out of their system….is really disturbing. It is as if the artist has no free liberties to be an artist…unless their “art” falls under what the label wants…and then their opinions can be voiced as long as it is “safely” done…SAFE!!! Right…basically they want it to be okay for a 10 year old to listen to…but the thing is if all music is safe then it is not addressing the real issues…the hardships and the crap of the world.

I should probably get off my soap box now….sorry…

Monday night we had a get together at the cabin of some CMC alum and I had the chance to meet an artist that is working here in Nashville trying to get her music under way….it was great just to chill with people and talk about the common interest in music.

TUESDAY:

What a great day to end with. We began with an amazing conversation with the guys, Steve and Dan, from Jars of Clay. It was great to hear from them their view of the “machine” as we affectionately call the music industry. They were really insightful. I really appreciated what they had to say about the ministry that they supported, “Blood Water.” They talked about how because they have experienced it themselves they are now able to write about it more accurately and they also now have a cause to fight for. I felt like that is my same thought behind my work with At-Risk Children…I have such a passion for them and it is mostly due to the fact that I have worked with them. I have seen the pain first hand and felt my heart fall as one of my campers told me of her thoughts of suicide. There is pain there that you and I can’t even begin to imagine. These children are often my inspiration for many of my songs. I want to share their story with the world. I just have to figure out how to do that.

After Jars we met with the ASCAP people…American Society of Composers, Artists, and Publishers. This is a company that works to protect the songwriters right to get paid for the use of their songs…it was really cool to talk with the guys from this company. They really are working simply for the artist/songwriter. They are a non-profit…so their goal is to make sure the songwriters make money so they can make money….which makes it work a lot better. At the top of the power level of this company is always a songwriter…so that the songwriters are always thought of first. GREAT!!!

Then, we had a barbeque with Brad Paisley…no big deal…HAHA!!! Right, I’m in Nashville. Though he wasn’t there for us…we were totally invited that afternoon…it was still cool to go see him get awarded by ASCAP and some other places for his new #1 single “She’s Everything.” Jars in the morning, Brad for dinner…and then Terry McBride to top off the evening.

Teri is the president of Network Management…one of, if not the, top management group in Nashville. Teri is probably one of the most intelligent people we met with. And we were talking with some very smart people this weekend…he just knows what he was talking about. The music industry is not doing well right now. Many artists are frustrated and are working independently…they are “Inde” artists (independent of a label). This is causing the labels to not do so well. But Teri is working hard to continue to make his artist money…he has a game plan, and though we are not sure if it will work, at least he is heading somewhere. It was really cool to see/hear what he had to say.

THE END:

And there you have it…Nashville…constant meetings and long talks. There is a lot to think about and evaluate. I still don’t know what to think for sure. But I know I enjoyed just being here…even on Monday. Though it was hard to sit there and know that I am being pitched something I don’t want to hear…it was really good to get a view of it before I am out on my own in this. I will let you know my thoughts as I think more on the industry. I realize that the people at EMI want to do what is right and want to help Christian artists….they have some great ideas with the “rethink” label…but it needs to be executed in order for it to make a difference. We will see what this all looks like in a year.

I know this is really long, sorry….Please check out my pics on my picasa page…I would really love for you to see where I have been for the past few days!!! I miss you all so much and I can’t wait to sit down with you to share stories and more pictures. Thank you all for your continued prayers and words of encouragement…if there is one thing I have realized this weekend it is that this world…the music industry…is brutal and very hard. But I continue to trust that God has opened doors simply for me to walk through. I know He is there guiding…it’s just that sometimes He is behind me encouraging and pushing me out of my comfort zone, not ahead of me clearing a path.

I hope you all are doing well. I would love to hear form you!

God bless,

~Kels

sorry it's been so long....

Wow, it has been a while…sorry to those of you who read my blog on a regular basis…

Let me catch you up.

The last few weeks have been very busy in anticipation of our upcoming trip to Nashville to meet with a few of the “top dogs” of the music industry. I am excited to be there for a few days before our spring break begins.

In prep for our trip we, as artist, have been working hard to get our masters (recorded songs) done and ready for CD manufacturing. Our professor told us that last week was the last official song writing week for us artists. We were all very relieved and feel like a HUGE burden has been lifted off our shoulders. It’s one thing to write a song, it’s another thing to have to get a song done by a specific time. Many of us ran into a rut while trying to write our songs for this last week. In a way I would say we are rather burnt out…

The managers and marketing team have been working hard to get our bio’s and epk’s (electronic press kits) together. We all had photo shoots last week and are now working on the art work for the rest of the page.

We continue to practice and prepare for our last round of shows…crazy to think that we are nearing the end…this semester has flown by!

I was just thinking about my time here and where I was at the beginning of all this. Lately I have really missed home and Taylor a lot. My friends and family mean so much to me and as my brother preps for his wedding I want to be able to be home to help. There are so many things in life that I feel we take for granted. I often won’t do something because I’m not in the mood or I am too tired, but then I miss out.

For example…This weekend I had the chance to go to an independent film festival…it was something I wanted to do, but none of my close friends had the time or wanted to go. It was expensive and I was tired. I almost didn’t go…but now, I am so happy I went. It was something I won’t get the chance to do again in this setting (hopefully one day as a director myself though). When I think of things like wedding showers or just sitting down and having a good talk with a close friend I realize I often overlook those times…but now that I have not been able to go to one of Nicole’s wedding showers and talking with friends from TU and home only happens when our phones are both working I realize that I do not place a high enough value on these things that mean so much to me.

I was talking to my little sister this week and she started crying on the phone because she missed me and my older brother Kevin who lives 13 hours away in the other direction. I wanted to cry as well. To be honest I am feeling really drained lately. The constant run of shows and writing songs is starting to eat at me I think. I am continuing to learn about who I am and what I think about things.

This last week has been one of many ups and downs. Feeling stressed and happy, fights, disagreements…you name it, it has probably happened around here this week. But we have gotten through it.

On the professional side I continue to record and make changes to my songs. I am also setting up a website and a music myspace page. I’ll be sure to post the addresses to those when I get them up and running. We are also creating a “one page” which is a paper that we give out with all our info on it…picture, bio, contact info…stuff like that. I’m kinda really excited about it.

I’m hoping that this week will be a little less stressful…but we shall see. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I love and miss you all. Please pray for our stress levels, we are all feeling a little lonely and down…spring break cannot come soon enough…

Love,

~Kelsey Mae

Birthdays, Boston, Burrrr....

Pics:
1. Lindsay laying her show at the bar I got carded to enter into on my 21st birthday
2. Me singing one of my originals "Feel Your Love"
3. Me and my birthday buddy Calen...I'm a year older and a head shorter...sweet! :)

Wow, it's been a long time...sorry about that. I do not intend for it to take me so long to post, I think it's just been a long busy week and then a weekend away, I feel like now is the time when I can finally sit down. So let's see what has happened since I last talked to you...

Well, I was on the schedule to perform last week so most of my week was spent getting everything together for that. I had to finish 2 songs writing chords and parts for both of them. I still can't say I did all that great a job but at least we got through the show with me singing 2 of my own original songs. Last Monday I sat at a keyboard for 3 hours plunking away on the notes and trying to come up with a melody as well as chords...I can say that I actually did it. I wrote chords for an entire song, the funny thing is how I did it. Follow me here...

I was sitting there at the keyboard in our main performance room. People were going in and out, working on lights and other aspects of the stage. I asked my prof for a bit of help...but he got me nowhere. He turned a sad/deep/angry song about one of my campers from this past summer into a Latin pop song...not the "stormy" look I was going for. So I sat back down and worked at it. Then as I was playing I realized I didn't know the name of all the chords I was playing...Eminor flat 5? WHAT? oh...that is actually E diminished. As if I am supposed to know that. So as I Was sitting there playing chords I didn't know the name of a piano player would walk in and I would simply play it and ask them what I was playing...so then 3 hours, a lot of D minors, a few F augmenteds and some G and E diminished chords later I had my song...haha! Believe me, for those of you with no music background as confused as you are now is how confused I was on Monday.

I practiced a lot all week and then performed on Thursday. I can't say it was the greatest, but a lot of people said it went really well. My band is so awesome we had a lot of fun with my set. I was really excited to perform my songs that I had written and then I also did "Girl Next Door" by Saving Jane. It is really nice to know that I am not performing for another few weeks. I think I am actually going to redo one of the songs I did last week. Today in class I brought it before the chopping block and I was told I had a really solid Broadway or Evanescence...I said lets lean towards the Evanescence (don't worry mom it's not a bad thing). He actually said that it could be a really cool song which makes me really happy! The song is about the struggles a child has with depression and thoughts of suicide that rage within them like a storm that never goes away. On of my campers this summer was feeling like she should not live, like she would help those around her if she just didn't exist any more. It was these brewing feelings within her that made her feel as though she should end her life. The song sounded almost like a storm with loud drum cracks and a low rumble on this thing called a mogg as well as a cool piano part that sounded like rain and then an electric guitar part that added a lot of color to it.

I just realized that I talked a lot about that song...sorry...

Well, yes...I am 21 now, and to top it off I got carded on my 21st birthday, but not for alcohol. One of the artists who is simply living here with us students had a show in Boston on Saturday night in a Bar and so we had to be 21 and up to enter. Funny part is as we were walking in my friend had to point out to the guy that it was my birthday...so the question we ask is, did he not care? or did he really not look that close and basically I could have been 20 and he still might have let me in...hummmmmm....who knows?

We had a great weekend though. After being couped up on an island for 1.5 months we didn't realize how good it felt to be in a city...crazy! haha (and I'm not a city girl at heart...I just like it) We spent most of the weekend shopping and eating. But it was fun just to hangout with each other and enjoy not doing music stuff. On the way home my friend goes, "This has been great...I haven't thought about song writing in 2 days." and I go, "Till now...thanks!" It was funny...and so true. We had a totally free weekend!

Now we are back and in the full swing of things...However it has been kinda fun around here because Monday morning we were greeted with a lovely blanket of 4 in of snow. So though it has been cold, it's been pretty.

Thank you all for your sweet messages on my birthday as well as cards and such. I love you all so much! I can't wait to show you all what I am learning and the many pictures that I do not have posted up here...if you want though you can see more pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/kelsduf so be sure to check that out! I love you all!!!

smile before bed...you'll sleep better,
~Kels

quote of the week: (not meant in a bad way...but totally funny taken out of context)
"She really needs to start doing drugs." ~Jake the Snake!
...10 minutes later...
Jake and I were sick and about to go to bed so in saying good night I said I might want to shoot something if I woke up with chills again and he said he would shoot something if he woke up coughing and then he turned to me and said...very seriously...
"I know, you want to just shoot each other?" ~Jake the Snake

I love this place!!! haha!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Won't you be mine?







How is everyone? It's kinda funny to think that I have friends snowed out of school, other friends in nice warm places, others that are getting covered with ice and others with rain. We are all so separated...but still connected..? haha I'm being too serious for my own good I think. Basically what I am trying to say is that I miss you all very much, I love you, and I thank you for the place you have had in my life. Thank you for your love, care, thoughts, encouragement, and prayer. I seriously wouldn't be on this cold, frozen, beautiful island if it were not for you. Thank you.


So, to answer the many questions...last week went well. I had an issue with on stage movement during my sound check on Thursday...basically my prof told me that I stood like a stiff church girl and I needed to move more. He told me to not be so stiff like. He made the comment that I am afraid to move from the hips down...so I looked silly singing a rock song. He said don't be such a "church performer" (in a not mean or bad way...just the fact that I looked like I was singing for a church congregation...) I was shocked for a few minutes(okay hours) but I snapped out of it and came through in the performance that night. I sang, walked, moved, and loved it all! No mom, I was not inappropriate...I simply moved to the beat of the song...so don't worry...you don't need to fly out here.

Wednesday in class we did "The Real School of Rock" (pictured above...). My prof picked 4 girls that don't play instruments and taught us how to play something kinda okay...basically I played 2 guitar chord progressions: "Wild Thing" and the other had something to do with rock and roll... It was funny really. But I had a good time. I'll be a metal rockstar soon mom, don't you worry!!!

The weekend was fun. We had a girls and guys night on Saturday night. All the girls went over to our prof's (Warren's) house at 4:30 in the afternoon for a 2 movie+dinner Jane Austin special. We watched "Emma" and "Pride and Prejudice." It was tons of fun just to chill with the girls...we even started a game of MASH...yes, that silly game we all played in the back of the bus to figure out our destiny. Needless to say we were very girly...haha!

It is such a relief to not have to perform this week. After 2 weeks of full blown stress I am a bit more relaxed...I'm working on 2 songs and then the lyrics of a few others. Song writing is hard and yet fun at times. It lets you get things out in a way you don't usually get to say them. I am excited to see where I am at after my 100 bad writes! haha (they say it takes 100 bad to get 1 good...I'm starting to feel like it will be 1000 bad...)

I am still loving the classes and the people. It is just strange to me that I "have to" watch movies and then I "have to" sit and listen to people sing for class. In the long run we will have a final that will take some time and be very thick...but we are told it can be done. The effort to put together a solid song and set for a performance is very draining and sometimes more exhausting than my classes at Taylor, but I am loving this.

The people never stop amazing me. I come closer and closer with them each and every day. It is so amazing to think that we are all here at this time...we are supposed to be here...I am learning so much from them and so much about myself. It is so great to know that I may be far away from home, but I am not far from those who care about me.

Next weekend (the 24-25) we will be in Boston. We are all ready to get off the island, so we are looking forward to that. It will be fun to get away. My friend Liz keeps asking me what food I want...yeah, we are antsy. I'm excited to go hang out in a city for a change of pace. We all can't wait!

Some of the CMC Alum came and performed a concert for us last night. It was really fun. I enjoyed listening to people who were in my shoes a year ago and are now touring throughout the east coast! Crazy!

Beyond that nothing much is happening around here...getting ready for another CMC Live on Thursday and writing more songs is the usual buzz around this place. I continue to learn "Kelsey Lessons" and miss my friends and family...but this place is becoming more and more like home for me. I told my mom last night it's kinda like Alaska for me...I can't simply go once...I'm sure I will be back here at some point, I'm slightly attached! haha!

Please know that I am thinking of you all often and I pray for you. Continue to keep me updated and let me know what I can be praying for. I love and miss you all so much!!! Thank you all for the continued support and encouragement.

with love,
~Kels
Prayer:
~my cousin went into brain surgery today, pray for her recovery...
~one of my friends here has just found out she has 4 small lumps of cancer in her throat...not fun for a singer to hear
~Confidence for myself...there are times I still wonder why I am here and if I am cut out to be a professional performer...I have the heart, not the confidence...
~health...everyone around here is getting sick!!!
~depression...we want sun, but get rain and sleet. Now I know that you all are dealing with 5 feet of snow...the problem is, all our songs are sounding very depressed...
~safety as we travel and as people leave and come back
THANK YOU!!!

I'M A ROCKSTAR!!!

Kyle teaching me to play the guitar.
Me singing at CMC Live.
Me and my manager Kristen.


Well, not quite...but I did play the electric guitar today! :) For our practicum we did something called "School of Rock" Where in one hour our prof had 4 of us girls who don't play an instrument up and playing some bits and pieces of songs. It was so great. I don't play any instrument, but the electric guitar is looking like a lot of fun at this point in time. :) I need to work on it a bit more though! haha

This last weekend was pretty nice. It has dropped a good 20 degrees, but we are still without snow. I found out on Friday afternoon that I am performing again this Thursday so I have been working hard on that. I am singing 2 cover songs because I haven't written enough songs...maybe by the end of the semester I will do a whole set with all original music!!! :) (plus the accordion! haha) This week I am performing "Carry Me" by Patty Griffin and "More Than You'll Ever Know" by Watermark. I am excited I really like both the songs so it should be good. I'll let you know later....

I continue to grow closer with people here. I was thinking about CRAM (Taylor's Summer Honors Program)...these first 3 weeks have felt kinda like that in a way. I mean we have been cramming a ton of information into a short time frame...the problem is, this is how it will be for the rest of the semester...INTENSE!!! As a group we have come so close in such a short period of time...amazing! I think about how one of my closest friends is someone I met at CRAM, and that was simply 3 weeks long. This semester I will be making friendships that will last forever, I feel it already. That is such a great feeling! We were saying today that we kinda feel like we are on survivor...like we have all these challenges and things we need to do in order to survive, yet we all work together to help each other with the challenges that we face each week (CMC Live).

I constantly have something I need to do...and if not that I should be writing lyrics. This week we need to write a song with a partner. I am also preparing my set and doing background vocals for one of the guys songs. I love how we all work together all the time. My friend Kyle (pictured above) is determined to turn me into a Rockstar...he was trying to teach me how to solo on an electric guitar...I think I need to practice a bit more! haha Warren (my prof) was laughing at me today when he was trying to teach me...but hey, it's my first time!!! COME ON! haha

So, needless to say I am enjoying myself. I miss my home and TU very much though. Living in a room with 4 other girls is very different from only one roommate! I hope that every one is doing well and loving this weather...right...

Thank you all for your prayers and support. I love and miss you all.

smile,
~Kels

Prayer Requests:
~our health...all the buildings are drafty and it is constantly cold...
~my cousin-in-law goes in for surgery next week to have a tumor removed
~My mind as I continue to work on songs and that I will not feel too overwhelmed with shows and things.

DONE!!!

...With the first performance...haha! I loved it! What a rush to stand before people and sing a song you wrote. It is a beautiful thing to have people clap for you after you put the hard work into putting a set together.

This week has for sure been very stressful. I had to figure out what 2 songs I was going to sing...once that was figured out then I had to sign up for practice times. I had to write lead sheets...which I found I am not very good at, and then I had to make sure I had the band I needed as well as back up singers and all. I sang an original I wrote called "Fooling the World" and then a song by Sixpence None the Richer "Kiss Me." It was so much fun to work from the ground up with people to get this together.

The crazy part was writing a chorus to my song in one afternoon. Wednesday in my song writing class I was told that I didn't have a chorus...funny, I thought I did...but Warren thought differently, so I needed to add a chorus. I wrote a chorus, came up with music for it, and had a new lead sheet for my band all in one afternoon...crazy! But we pulled it off...I only forgot a few words...(we know how I am with my own songs right Kev? hehe)

Well, I am tired and kinda on a rush from the show tonight...so I'm going to go. Sorry this is kinda silly/sporadic...

I hope you all are doing well and having a great time in school, at work, and at home! I love and miss you all so much!

Have a great weekend!!! (more updates and pics to come)

God Bless,
~Kels

p.s. smile...it's good for you

Good morning

Me filming, David Saw performing...

Good morning friends!

I hope you all are doing well and that life at home and school are treating you well. Please feel free to e-mail me updates on your life so I know how to pray for you and so I am not completely disconnected. I miss you all so much and wish each and everyone of you could be here to see what this place is really like. AMAZING! :)

As I sit here in this beautiful cafe with the sun rising outside, I find myself in awe of who our God is...the one who made this all. There are days when I still struggle a lot with why I am here...but then Warren Pettit, the artist's instructor, asks us the question, "What do you as an artist want to say?" And that is where it lies...what do we want to say? I don't know...but I am trying to figure that out. I write songs about my passions and heartache. I write about the feelings deep inside and the pain I see outside. My thoughts are flooded with those of this past spring and summer. The accident at TU, my month in Alaska, relationships, friends moving away, the list goes on and on. I simply struggle with how to put it all back into words. These concepts are so huge when you try to think of them all at once. Currently I am writing a song about one of my campers from this summer. It is about the pain in her life and how the world doesn't notice it. Kinda weird for me to say I am writing a song, much less one that is sad yet gripping. I give a lot of credit for my song writing to my roommates and to my friend Kyle. They have all helped me so much in working out words and a tune to the mess of stuff in my head...hey, I'll get this down some day...haha!

This week we had an artist visit us on Tuesday night. I had the opportunity to videotape him for this broadcast they will be putting together. I am excited that I was asked to continue to use my film skills. His name was David Saw. He is a really fun guy...great artist. It simply amazes me that I sat there and videotaped for him!!! I mean SWEET!

I continue to go through my days not believing I am really here...it feels like we won't be here any longer than 3 weeks. But I am, and I will be here for longer. ...weird! But I am excited to see how God continues to use this time here for His glory. I am so excited to see what happens at the end of April when all is said and done...:)

Thank you all for your continued prayers. They mean so much to me and I can truly feel them as I move throughout my day. May God bless you all in your many endeavors. :-P

Love,
~Kels