This Is Just The Beginning...Hello World Here I Am Today What Do You Have For Me Today?

Hmm I can't seem to stop my mind from creating. Its always churning churning with new ideas and inspiration. When your a writer and someone says something even when your in mid conversation well I find myself stoping and saying oo thats interesting. I kept doing that when Willie Norwood was in town helping me on my final recordings for my first album. He'll say little sayings or inspirational things that trigger new thoughts and new songs for me. I've been so lucky to find really great people to help me on my way. I've been praying for a mentor and for someone to help me out because it can get so lonely out there. Its so scary doing everything on your own too when your a new comer to the music industry. Hell anything is scary at first.

I was listening to Jill Scott today and looking thru her website what a power house! I really can relate to her musically and as a writer. I've been a poet since I was a little girl and so has she. She really puts it out there in her songs as do I. I hate it when people compare me to people but damn if anyone wants to compare me to her sure go right ahead. He he I consider that a compliement in the highest form. Shes rooted in Jazz as am I and shes got curves too. I'm not a small little petite thing. I used to be but it wasn't healthy. I love learning from other artists and listening to their runs, adlibs and things they sing about. It gets my mind jogging about issues and topics I want to sing about. Again I can't stop creating.

As this album is coming to a close I find myself thinking I'm scared. Scared of the unknown. Scared of what people will think of my music. Scared that I might not come up with another hit. Feeling vulnerable with putting my most inner feelings and thoughts on to an album and having others listen and scrutinize it. Its a whole nother ball game when you write the songs and you sing them. I'm super critical of my material. hahaha. You just have to tell yourself to stop eventually. Thats what I'm experiencing with the mixing process. I'm listening to it and thinking dang I could have done that for a run etc. I just gotta let it go its hard tho.

After doing this album I realize how many more things I want to do in life. If I am able to be successful in my music I want to get involved with so many other things. Like starting a non profit company helping others in some way I'm not sure how but I want do something, publishing a book with my poetry, possibly doing some broadway shows, performing everywhere and touring, possibly starting my own label in the future. I just have so many things I want to do hehe. This is just the beginning.

Getting ready for my photo shoot

So today I decided to go shopping for my photo shoot for my album. All the while while I was shopping I was thinking what kind of style is my music? Is it trendy? Is it timeless? And its timeless. Its a mix of jazz and neo-soul. So I thought yeah I'm going to get some clothes that are clean and polished. I didn't want anything too frilly or feminine either. I'm really excited with what I got and am more excited when the photos will be finished to be put up on my myspace page!

I've been so focused on getting things done that I'm getting everything that I need to get done early. I couldn't sleep this morning until late like I usually do on Saturdays. I got up at 7:20am! When do I ever do that? Wierdo. The mall didn't open till 10 am so I decided to go to Starbucks and just read a newspaper and do some writing. I wrote some new possible songs today. The more I write the better I get. Its like riding a bicycle. The more you do it the faster and more agile you become. I loved just sitting there at Starbucks and resting. It felt so great.

I hung out with my friends last night and went up to San Francisco to get my hair done by my hair dresser. She did such a great job. I can even go for clean up for free in four or five weeks and then get my hair cut five weeks later. How cool is that talk about convenient!

I've been eating lunch late on most days and have been talking with some older men that are semi retired ha and have been having such a fun time talking to them! I love talking to older people they are so funny! Not always but well theres just a sense of honesty there usually because they dont care as much about what image they are projecting etc. I love learning from all different kinds of people. Its funny how the older you get too the age gap tends to not matter as much anymore. I have a friend thats 63! Shes always totally straight with me which is so great! I played my music the other day there and the owner loved it so much she wants to buy a copy from me. Most of the other people there want a copy too. Hopefully many more will!

Anyways have a great day guys!

How to keep centered and calm

How do we keep centered and calm amongst the storm of life? Thats my question for today. There are days when I just feel so overwhelmed and discouraged. Good friends and family are always a nice remedy for this. But also just being alone and recharging your battery. A good book always helps for me.

I make lists for myself re what I need to get accomplished during the week and check them off when I accomplish them so that I feel like I'm on top of things. That always helps. If you dont do it no one else will do it for you is what I constantly remind myself. Hope everyone has a good day!

Songwriting is such a healer

So I wrote a song today that felt so good to get out! I've learned that not always do songs have to have a resolution or be happy. My whole album does pretty much. But lately I've just been writing and letting things out really real things. Not that anything on my album isn't real. I dont know its hard to explain. Today I wrote a song that I just was laughing about. It was about someone that I dont like very much...we all have those kinds of people in our lives. Whenever I listen to the song Hate On Me by Jill Scott it makes me feel better. My song is pretty much the same talking about someone whos a total hater and will never change. Just a real bitch. Ha. I wrote it all out in literally ten minutes...just goes to show when you need to get somethin out you best get out of the way. Song writing is a great way to deal with issues in your life. Its been so great for me. I hope others can relate and really feel the songs that I've written so far. If someone is talking behind your back settle it then and there. If they deny it and act all sweet at least you did your part and frankly at least your being real. There will be haters your whole life unfortunately. Since i've been working on my album even close friends will say "Oh I dont have that talent" they mean they dont have the talent to write songs, arrange, sing etc. But how about being happy for me for once? Damn. I'm not saying everyone is like this but I can't tell you how many people have said this. I have not had an easy life. In fact i've gone thru some really incredible hard things. But I've always risen to the top because I'm a fighter. Keep it real guys!

All I can say is some of the key essentials that you need to be a musician and create an album is:

The ability to be able to voice your fears, your experiences and your life in a clever way and make those your songs. You want to be able to identify with what your singing and your fans will know if your sincere or not. When I no longer was searching for someone to write me songs I realized I had everything inside of me that I needed to write my own songs.

Once you decide that you want music come hell or high water you have to go after it and I mean really after it. You have to have a fire deep within your gut to go after it cuz its hard work. After you decide that people will come into your life.

Always be open to learning more about the music business and take classes to educate yourself about it. Theres nothing worse with feeling lost and naive. Knowledge is power.

Surround yourself with producers, engineers and people that you sincerely really respect musically and who understand and know how to deliver the style of music you want to create. They want you to succeed...and they dont want to mold you into something that your not.

Write your own music if you can. If you need to take song writing classes. I really wish that I stayed with playing an instrument that would of just added an extra element to my songs. Also, you need to get something up on myspace and record your music so that your fans can hear you.

Social networking is where its at! That means once you have your music you need to get it on myspace, cdbaby, i-tunes etc etc.

I've been in the studio recording for two days and will be going back into the studio in San Francisco today. I started doing the final recordings for my album on Friday. I did two months of pre-production. I think the key thing is really working out the song to the best of its ability before you even go into a nice and big fancy studio. I did all of the pre production with a producer in Oakland in his apartment. I wrote all of the lyrics and I arranged it and recorded it with him. I flew Willie Norwood who is Brandy's dad from LA to work with me on the final recordings because I knew I needed help on adding adlibs and extra little riffs to add that extra umph. I'm so glad that hes working with me. I can't tell you how much its helped me with my songs and how he just brings a positive engergy to the studio so it makes me work harder. Anyways hope everyone has a great day!

I'm so excited! I'm going to meet with Willie Norwood Brandy's dad yup thats right. I've known him for a couple of months and he agreed to fly out here and be there for my final recordings for my album. Hes such an amazing guy! Not only is he a vocal coach but hes also a producer. I wrote all of the songs but hes helping me make them great! We are going to review all of my songs and figure out how the songs can be better.

Tomorrow I'm heading into a nice studio in San Francisco to wrap out the final vocals for my album. I've been doing pre production for two months. You could say basically creating a road map for my songs. I'm so glad that i've done this because I've had time to really sit down and come up with some great songs. I wrote many others that I didn't decide to put a lot of time into because I was seeing that they didn't have as much potential as the others. I've been working with a producer in Oakland thats basically over seen this whole album and has done an amazing job. It is not easy to find producers that have an open mind when combining jazz, neo-soul and old school r&b. But i've been lucky to come into contact with some great people in the biz. I have a fire and determination like no other hhaa. I no longer wonder what my calling is in life. Theres no doubt about what I'm supposed to do. Inspiration has been flying faster than I can write!

Anyways I'm hoping that I can have enough strength to record hard core for the next four days and come out with a great product. If it takes longer then it takes longer i'm not going to rush it. I want this project to be dope!

Anyways just wanted to share my excitement and news with everyone!


Amy Serrata

I spent about six hours reviewing all of the songs that i've done and have decided on the final twelve songs that i'm going to use for my album. Its a long process. We had to brush up some songs and finish them off or add a few snippets here and there. I've been working for two months doing all of the pre production work so that I can know exactly what i"ll be doing in the studio for my final recordings. Not only is this a smart way to go but its also smart because it saves you money in the process too. That way i'm not going into an expensive studio and i'm not sure what the lay out of the song is. I kinda had to see that I needed to do this on my own and boy am I glad that I did it.

I'm going back up to Oakland to work for a while on one last song and then I'll be done! Then this Friday i'll be ready to lay down the final recordings for all twelve songs. Wow what a journey this has been I can't believe I've done it in two months. It takes most people a year or more to do an album. But I guess that makes sense when you have a full band and multiple scheudeles to take into consideration. Especially if your touring etc etc.

I copy righted all of my material last night and so after my final recordings are done I'll be having someone mix the songs and master them, set up a website, photography, packaging, posting my music on i-tunes, cdbaby, and other social network sites. I've been reading a great entertainment law book thats been really great to learn more about the industry. If your new to the biz it can be scary because there aren't a lot of people that will tell you what you need to do and the whole process of making an album. It can be a little like walking a plank of a ship or running blind folded. But I think after doing everything on your own theres a sense of accomplishment and confidence that comes. Wow I did this all by myself. Well of course I didn't do the instrumentals by myself I had some talented producers that did that. But I had to sign up with Ascap as a publisher and a writer, I had to learn how to copy right my material, I had to learn how to set up a myspace page, I had to learn how to compose songs and write them, and on and on! I live in an area where there aren't many musicians so I really am not a norm where I live. It only makes me work harder to acheive my dreams.