DOWNLOAD HELLO WORLD FOR FREE

Download my song Hello World for free here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ziyqj1iin3i

ENJOY and all I ask is that you pass the word on and check out the rest of my music!

Love, Amy

The Real Test Is...

The more you learn the more you know and I have been taking the time to learn more about the music business. It really is very fascinating. The music business is in such a flux right now and so many people are scrambling because they are not sure what to do next. I think there are two ways that an artist can look at the new avenues that technology has provided us. One they can think oh I am just an artist I do not need to bother with the business side and they are so wrong. If you are an independant artist you do need to worry about those things or your music will not get heard. Now if you are lucky to form a team around you or get signed to a label then yes you will not need to worry about the business side as much. However, even if you do have a team you will want to know what is going on and how you can contribute.

There are people out there that will help out others in the business and offer them advice. Even people who have been in the business for years say that they are still paying their dues. There is a reason why most people give up in this business lol its because it takes so much work and sometimes it does not pay off. There really is no guarantee however if you think about it there is really no guarantee with anything in life. Just because you go to school to become a lawyer does not mean that you will be set in life or successful. Yes you will have the tools to be successful but it is up to you with what you do with those tools.

"Making your mark on the world is hard. If it were easy, everybody would do it. But its not. It takes patience, it takes commitment and it comes with plenty of failure along the way. The real test is not whether you avoid this failure, because you won't. Its whether you let it hard you or shame you into inaction, or whether you learn from it; whether you chose to perservere." (Barack Obama)

Thanksgiving-A Time To Be Thankful

Thanksgiving is a time when we can reflect on the many things that we are thankful for. This year has brought in many good and bad things but I am going to talk about the good today. Sometimes what we think might be a bad thing can be a blessing in disguise. I sat watching everyone with their families and children yesterday at my sister's house and thought I am glad that I am where I am in my life right now. I am glad I am not married and I am glad that I do not have kids right now in my life. While I do not know what my life will have in store for me, what I do know is that I am stronger than ever before.

I am thankful for the trials that I have had in my life because without them I would not be as strong as I am today. I am also thankful for the many blessings that I have had this year. Some of these are: the people that I have been able to met in the music business, the courage that i have had to book all of my shows by myself, my family who have loved and supported me throughout this year in the good times and the bad etc etc.

What are you thankful for?

Having the faith to continue to pursue my dreams

I'm booking more and more shows and I'm learning as I'm going that most places book one to two months and even three months sometimes or more depending on the venue and if they are a high end popular venue then yes it is very possible.  So as I'm going I'm learning that I need to book way out in advance I'm booking for May and June and will start doing July soon too.  

I'm excited with the shows that I've gotten so far and I'm excited to book more!  I feel as giddy as a little school girl!  It feels so good to be pursuing what I love doing in life!  I trully believe that when you find something that your good at and that your really passionate about you can succeed as long as your proactive, a go getter and a hard worker!  Faith without works is dead.  So I am in a place right now where I am having to have faith that things will work out. But if you dont try you will never know!

I am excited for what will come later down the months and to see the response that people have for my music!  I didn't spend all of this time and work for nothing ha.  I now have to spread the word with performing blogging being on twitter myspace facebook etc.  But I really trully enjoy interacting with all different kinds of people!  Its all about developing relationships with people!  

Upcoming events for Amy Serrata

Ah its been a while since i've posted a blog on here.  I'll be performing starting March!  I'm excited and am in the process of memorizing all my lyrics.  Man its one thing to write songs and another to memorize all the lyrics.  Now its like when I write a song I think hmm is that too wordy and complicated?  A lot of my songs are kinda complicated with all the adlibs and the harmonies its like they are their own little symphonies and books.  They all tell a story.  I guess its just my style.  I just have so much to say what can I say?  hehe.  

I haven't been working much lately and its felt really great.  I love to be home and just have the flexibility to go out to a club in the middle of the week or hang out with my girl friends in the middle of the day how sweet is that?  My poor husband has to work a nine to five though i'm not really sure how he does it though.  I'd rather just do music full time.  I'm hoping that I will get to a point where I'll be able to gig more and eventually actually get paid for the gigs.  We all have to pay our dues in the beginning.  Often singers just sing for free or when they sing all of their money goes to their band.  Its common now a days.  Hoepfully there will come a time where it won't always be like that but like I said thats common when you start out.  Its all about promotion at this point and just getting the word out.

I plan on video taping every show so that we can put it up on my facebook, my myspace, maybe even twitter, my website and youtube!  Lets spread the word ladies and gentelemen!

My first gig in March is on March 13th at Club Otis in San Francisco with an amazing DJ named DJ Brigidope.  He'll be spinning for me while I sing Love Another and Skin off of my album!  All originals straight from my album!  My next show after that will be at the Karribean in Oakland with a full band on March 26th and then the other show will be at Spice Monkey in Oakland on March 28th which will be a big show.  There will be a swing band starting out, djs spinning out through out the show, an MC by the name of Namaj and then I'll be closing out the set with my band!  Yah!  I'm hoping that there will be a lot more gigs in April we'll just have to see!  Its always good to make a following in your home town first and in my case the bay area is a small scene.  So word does really spread fast.  

Anyways I'd love to see all of you there at my shows and i'll keep you updated with anymore things that happen in the next up coming weeks or months!  Hope all of you have a great week!

50 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME

Ha ok since I'm so dang bored I decided to post up 25 random things about myself so that you can get to know more about me.

1. I have two savannah cats that are semi wild yes I like semi wild and exotic things and anything thats leopard printed! I'm weird like that.

2. I have lived in Chile for three years and speak spanish.

3. I freaked out the first time that someone tried to kiss me on each cheek while I was living in Chile since its their custom to give a kiss on each side of the cheek- I thought the guy was going to kiss me on the lips ha!

4. I love to club hop yes i'm a night owl and never used to be this way until 2008.

5. I love hip hop and never got into this till later i'm a late bloomer.

6. I often twirl my hair no matter what length it is short, long straight or curly its just kinda a tick that I have.

7. I went to a private art school in San Francisco at the Academy of Art University and majored in Illustration but dabled in the fashion department doing textiles.

8. I'm a singer, songwriter and a poet and just came out with my album myspace.com/amyserrata www.amyserrata.com itunes, rhapsody, emusic, napster and amazon

9. I love to talk a lot and ask many questions I've always been a curious george ever since I was put on this earth!

10. I'm a total hustler I work at achieving what I want to get done when I really want it watch out!

11. I like to watch Dave Chappelle re runs and laugh my booty off with my hubby.

12. I kick in my sleep and sometimes even talk in my sleep.

13. I kiss and talk in baby talk with my cats and my dad did too growing up so maybe I'm not so weird or obsessed with my animals...

14. I grew up in the bay area in California.

15. I have a hard time not getting distracted.

16. I am vegetarian.

17. I hate cooking take out is my friend but my mom's a great cook so I just go over there some times and get my fill.

18. I have to have time with my girlfriends.

19. I'm an independant spirit and believe that its healthy to go out alone or with friends.

20. I dont really enjoy holding random babys except those that are from my immediate family never was a goo goo gaga kinda girl.

21. I like to save my money I got that habit from my mom who grew up on a pig farm.

22. I'm not afraid to cry.

23. I like to live a healthy life style.

24. I'm a total book nerd and always have been my mother's mom used to read two books a week!

25. I love NY and love to network, perform and club hop there!

26. I have three brothers and sisters.

27. I'm 25% Italian.

28. I have been singing in gospel choirs since I was 18.

29. I love different cultures.

30. I'm very social.

31. My nick name growing up was Ames, Amers and Little Cat.

32. I hold my cats like a baby and do nose kisses with them.

33. I ask my hubby to tuck me into bed every night haha!

34. I like to take such hot showers that when I come out my whole back is red!

35. I am obsessed with diet coke yes that is my own down fall!

36. I like to swear every now and then hehe its a nice release I must say!

37. I love to spend time with my family and friends.

38. I go to Hawaii usually once a year.

39. I grew up going to Capitola as a little girl which is right by Santa Cruz.

40. I mostly only listen to hip hop, soul, nu-jazz and only some of rnb since I'm picky.

41. I love to laugh and some people have told me that my laugh sounds like Julia Roberts its distinctive and full of emotion!

42. I talk with my hands.

43. I used to draw in the air as a kid.

44. I was bald as a billiard when I was little till I was 6 with only some blond peach fuzz ha!

45. I hate science and math!

46. I refuse to work a 9 to 5 I hate it with a passion!

47. My dream is to do music full time and never work a job again.

48. I'd like to get into the voice over industry.

49. I love craftsman and victorian homes because I love things with charachter.

50. The only shows I watch are The Office, HGTV I'm a design freak and Comedy Central.

Life is better when we are greatful for everything and we let others compliement us and acknowledge them for who they are in our lives!

Life is better when we remember how grateful we should be for everything in our life. I just want to acknowledge all of the amazing people I have in my life right now. They see me as bigger as I am and not as my faults and what I should be but as my possibility of who I can be. Its so powerful to have them in my life and I've grown so much in my life. They are supporting me in following my dreams and have shared openly with me what I special gift I have to contribute to the world, giving positivity and good vibes through my music. How refreshing.

I talked with a good friend of mine tonight and she said that when we do not accept someones compliments we are not giving them opportunity to feel complete. I didn't know that people even felt like that. But now I see why. I often have hard time accepting compliments because often I do not think I'm good enough. But I am really. When I doubt myself its a loss of power. What if we did not doubt ourself and we kept moving and progressing as human beings? How amazing would that be?? I have had my close friends two of them both girls tell me openly about what I need to improve on and when I hurt them they can be open with me and direct and I can be ok with that. I could not do that before and had a hard time being straight with people and being vulnerable. Lately when I do really share myself and I talk about things that are meaningful to me I cry. Especially when I get present to the fact of how they have had such a positive change in my life. Its amazing how we all effect each other in different ways. Words are so powerful and actions are also very powerful as well.

Anyways I just wanted to leave these thoughts with you guys. I'm not sure whos reading this blog but I'm hoping that people do!

The things we do to feel fulfilled when if we could just remember why we are successful and make sure we dont become prideful it would all work out..

So I'm listening tø a song right now its called When It All Falls Down by Kanye West and Lauren Hill. Its about a girl who dosen't finish college and she never finishes and gets resigned in life. Wow we all have our own issues huh? When it all falls down who are you going to call? We are all self concious and we tend to buy things that we don't need just to fulfill things that we really need inside but it never really lasts. That feeling of being fulfilled it never lasts. I was talking with my mom tonight and when it comes down to it when you make sure that you live a righteous life and you always remember why good things are happening in your life and you dont think its because your doing it its really God then you keep humble and you dont become prideful. I have really seen that when you do follow good things and you make sure that your always wanting to progress in all things in your life things will come into your life that you will have never even dreamed you could have done. Miracles will happen. Some people say its fate but I think it is something bigger than that.

In order to stay balanced in life we must refuse to stay in our make believe land where we think everything is fine

You know its funny. People can spew off the problems they are having in their life but until they are ready to hear what you are telling them they will probably just continue living in that suffering. Its sad how many people continue to live in their own fantasy land like oh everything is fine here but when in reality its really not. I think there are times when we do not prioritize things in our life that we should probably prioritize and take care of first so that everything else can stay in balance. I guess some people have to learn the hard way and they are too stubborn to get any help which is really sad to me. But in the end we all make our own choices in life and we can't 'save' anyone that does not want any 'saving' or help. So sometimes we have to step aside and let others do their own life when you see them really struggling. Its hard for me. I guess this is what a parent feels sometimes hehe with their own kids that are having a hard time in life.

Another year and another chance to accomplish what I have in mind for 2009

Well man another year and another chance to attack life and make my dreams come true. I was thinking today that if it takes me till my forties to make it big in the music industry then whatever I'll do it. If thats the sacrifice that I have to make then so be it. Thats the only way that people do make it in this biz they make dope music and work their behinds off and stay consistent with doing so. Basically my goals for this new year is to be open to change even it takes me to places I wouldn't normally go and make some major break throughs with my music. I have been thinking for the past week that there is no other real job that I want to do then making music and performing. If that means that I only do that well thats so great! I'd rather do that and I'm basically a night owl anyways. I love to sleep in and then I love to go out later in the day. I'm just kinda wired like that. Anyways I had a great new years and its always a time when I reflect what I've accomplished and what goals I want to accomplish this year. I feel like I did a lot in 2008. I wrote an album which I've been wanting to do for years but never thought I could do it. I'm living the life I've always dreamed of and I have faith that I will find a band so I can start performing. I also have faith that I will get signed by a label and that my music will get the press that it deserves. I worked really hard to make my music positive and uplifting. The whole time I was writing each song I had that in mind. Anyways hope you all are reflecting on what you'd like to accomplish this year and that you actually make it happen. Its one thing to talk about doing things and its another thing with actually acting on it!