end of year musings. taking stock of 05

G'day everyone. Gilli here. Thought I'd send you all a newsletter to sink your teeth into as we head towards C day (you know, that apparent birthday of a prophet who seemed to spread his creativity, words and miracles far and wide.) Seems like this time of year is a great time to reflect about our own lives, where we've been, where we are going. Who we are, Who we want to become. I've landed in Australia for some good time out, holiday cheer, time with family and, of course, the usual end of year warrior girl think-tank for the new year.

It's been a terrific year, don't you think? We can all talk about the dramas, politics and natural disasters, but I would like to think that many of us have had the opportunity to really take stock of our lives through all this shenanegans this year, and achieved greatness within each of us. Because that's what it's about. Taking on whatever circumstances and being masters of our own destiny. For me, it's been an immensily creative year, with lots of travel. My life as an expressionist and an explorer has taken me far and wide across oceans and lands, with tours to Great Britain, the South West of U.S, East Coast and now I'm in Australia. I also have been blessed with being still, in the music studio, producing 3 albums that I'm terribly thrilled about. Of course, as you all know, I was in the studio for over a year on my latest album, extraOrdinary life, which was completed in July and we had an L.A and NY album launch for that. Being able to create an album filled with personal anecdotes of life, love and living in Los Angeles has been very satisfying, and it's also enhanced with video and photos. The musicians on the album are incredible. I'm really honored to have had them involved, as well as my engineers and all the people involved in putting it together and now promoting it. It's a finalist (top 5) in the Independent Music Awards and we'll know how it goes this month. The judges included Norah Jones, Melissa Ethridge and Jonatha Brooks. Good company don't you think? Anyway,.. I'll be spending the next year or so marketing this album with more touring and good stuff. The tours are called the "ordinary tour" and it looks like 2006 is already going to be full-on with travel. Yippee! Some details below on getting your copy of the CD and/or downloads. I do hope you can all get a CD and support it. The artwork and enhanced part (video) alone deserves more than just a download, let alone some good music that sounds way better off the CD itself than squashed mp3s ;) So scroll down below for how to get your copy.

As part of my Warrior Girl Music 05 endeavours, I also completed Dina Gathe's album Bother Me in October and we just released the album with a great launch at the Mint, Los Angeles early December. I performed a set with my band, J Walker did spoken word (wait till you hear his upcoming spoken-word and rap CD release Rhymecology, ...oh my!), Jennifer J hosted the night and Dina Gathe rocked with her band, which I played keyboards in for kicks. Dina's album is exceptional if I do say so myself, with over a year in the making of her and I in the studio, and you can get your copy at the Warrior Girl Music store... details below. It's very rock and modern in a sense, has a great retro feel that wouldn't give it justice if I compared her, but let's say Chrissie Hindles of 05 is along the lines, with a real Gomez edge. Also another produced album (I'm really LOVING producing and want to do more!!) is Holly Light's album, to be released April/May. Already seen as a Bob Dillon meets Sheryl Crow vibe, it is again way cooler to even compare. But it's totally in your face with hits and yet has a great blues, folk and rock vibe. We have a 3 song EP on the Store available and you can hear her music on our site too. http://www.warriorgirlmusic.com/ go Artists for all the artists. Then of course, we released the Females On Fire [double] CD Compilation in August with a stunning 18 artist launch at the Mint in Los Angeles. The media have already fallen in love with this 30 artist cd and more about it written below. Next year we are doing a second compilation plus some touring. It's very exciting.

I've been doing a lot of writing. My online blog is filled with feelings and motivations, and then I usually keep my articles and motivational food for thoughts flowing. http://www.gillimoon.com/prose for all of that. I try and keep the motivation flowing for other artists who seem to battle it out in the music biz front. The times are a changing and we all really need to tackle it differently to get noticed. I'm constantly looking at new ways to do and see things. Below is my new podcasting article, which is definitely a new phenomenon that I'm loving.

As for Songsalive!, it's been an incredible year for this non-profit songwriters organization that's now 8 year's old. Here's what I can remember of it briefly, and I think it's good to take stock at how MUCH we have accomplished as a unified team (over 30 volunteers I might add who give their time freely and with passion). In 2005, we have developed 4 new chapters - Nashville TN, Austin Texas, Calgary Canada, and Byron Bay Australia. We now have 17 chapters worldwide in all four corners of the globe! We have developed an amazing list of partners with Songsalive!, the most recent being Unisong Competition, performer.com, listrocket.com, cdbaby.com, itsaboutmusic.com... and more. We have had exhibition booths in 2005 at DIY Los Angeles Feb, SXSW Austin March, Call to Arts Los Angeles April, IMC Philly Sept, Neme CT Sept, Nemo Boston Oct, Taxi Road Rally L.A Nov, Rockrgrl Seattle Nov,.. all of which we had the Songsalive! CD Samplers on exhibition. I also traveled to London and introduced us there in July. Lot's of travelling. Our Showcases and Workshops continue to happen every month and if any artists are interested check them out at http://www.songsalive.org/events where we are always looking for performers and attendees around the globe.

Finally, as you know, I'm in Australia. So keep close to the Tour page on my website for details on what might transpire down-under. Time for rejuvination and reinvention, some writing (a new book coming out soon) and summertime! There is much to do in 06, lots of creativity, being the explorer that I am with travel, and just loving the journey. I hope you are loving yours wherever you may be.

Meanwhile I wish each and every one of you a wonderful christmas, happy hanukah, merry quansa, fun holidays and anything else that might kick start your new year's resolution thinking so that 2006 will be an extraOrdinary one for you as it will be for me. Thank you for all your support, words, friendships, joy of creativity and well... just thank you. Talk to you all in the new year.

gilli moon

http://www.gillimoon.com

Read the Warrior Girl Music newsletter

www.warriorgirlmusic.com/enew

dispossessing the old, unimportant, reinventing the new, the NOW

The sky is an incandescent glow of luminous grey of the clouds, mixed with the blue of today's Australian beauty of a day. The wind is up. Which is a good thing, because it would have been over 40 degrees Celsius (110 F) today. It's cooling down.

It's so green here. Bright green in fact. We've had rain. Abnormal for summer. Might even rain tonight, like a hot balmy summer's tropical rain storm. Usually, it comes quickly. We see the bolt of lightening, and then, a minute later, hear the thunder.. deep and guttural. It tells us that mother nature is indeed in control. As it approaches, the lightening crack and thunder are closer together. Sometimes we get a crack of light in the house and a huge thunder, the sky goes green, as we are in awe of the magnificence of nature. Sometimes we lose a computer or television. These are the things we put up with living in paradise... the occasional loss of a possession. It reminds us of what is truly important in life, and what isn't.

I've spent the last year or so learning the art of dis-possession. It's an interesting concept... to simplify the clutter in our lives. Gaylah Balter, the author of "Clean Your Clutter, Clear Your Life", says that "Getting rid of clutter is not about letting go of things that are meaningful to you, it's about letting go of the things that no longer contribute to your life so that you have the time and the energy and the space for the things that do."

So I've spent a lot of time, in the two places I call "home" (Los Angeles and Australia), going through my stuff. From old diaries, paperwork, clothes, collectibles and, yes, even music CDs, I have put aside what I felt are no longer part of my current life. I've either sold the good stuff at yard sales, or on Amazon marketplace, or given the treasures away to people in need, thrift stores and even friends.

I have realized, through this cathartic effort, which takes time and is ongoing, that I have been a collecta-holic. I've clung on to things for that "just in case" time. Maybe one day I'll need this? Maybe it will be useful. How can I let this go when it provided so much sentimentality. Well, the truth is, so much of my possessions are a blueprint of my past, of what I was and not who I am now. Sometimes I feel I cannot progress, become anew, if I continue to be attached to the very possessions that way me down. I am not saying I am getting rid of everything. No. But I certainly feel it is a huge weight off my shoulders and my mind if I SIMPLIFY my life, and dis-possessing is by far the best first step.

Dis-possessing works with any attachment we have to anything, and it's not only with objects. I started cleaning out old letter and diaries which harboured negative energy on past issues, past relationships and experiences that hurt. So then, by removing those pieces, I felt so much better. But then I also have used this methodology with people, with tasks, with food, with thoughts.

I've written in my book "I AM A Professional Artist", how people in our lives can be energy zappers, and create negative impact on our lives and our evolution. Dis-possessing any friend that no longer provides a positive impact, or gives back, is an amazing feeling. Why continue to allow someone to pull you down? Friends are not always lifelong. I know it's hard to believe that sometimes, but just because we label them a "friend" doesn't mean you need to take on all their crap. If you feel that the balance of give and take is not there, or you feel a heaviness in your dealings with this person, over and over again, you know it's time to dispossess. I don't mean to say you must cut off that person from your life, but certainly you can set parameters to only allow a certain relationship and certain communication in your life that empowers you, nurtures you as much as you've nurtured them. It's really hard for artists to acknowledge this, as we are usually very giving, and gullible (we are the innocent creatives on this planet... wanting to give so much.) Finding that barometer in reading people will be a first step in avoiding and dispossessing energy zappers.

I had a to-do list a mile long. I have gone from my Outlook Tasks list to huge scrapbooks of lists, to now a tiny notebook that fits in my purse. I have reduced my list. I have started to cross off what is no longer important to me. Being busy is not the goal. Achieving the task should be the goal. But if we have so many tasks, how on earth can we achieve them all? We are not super human. (Some of us think we can be though?!) So i've started to eliminate tasks that are superfluous, that just spin the wheels and don't accomplish anything of substance. I've learned that I can't do everything in life, in this month, this week, this day. I just have to do what I can and do it in the best way. So my task list is now in a tiny notebook, and even that has become too big. I want to bring it right down. Maybe, if I can't remember what to do, I shouldn't do it. The old timer down in the valley, who takes care of his farm, with his cattle and horses, doesn't have a task list. It's all about his memory.

I've been taking a strong look at food. My diet is usually good, but I know I slip now and then. I believe in "everything in moderation", but I also believe our world eats way too much. We consume so much food. Our society is filled with disease, overweight problems and lethargy. I go out to an American restaurant and my plate is so full that I could eat the same dish for the whole week and be satisfied. Most people discard so much food and it all gets thrown away. Do you know we could cure the entire world's hunger problem by feeding the hungry with what we leave over on our plates? It's totally messed up. So I am a vegetarian, with an enormous respect for animals and our plant life. I don't want to begin a discussion on that right now but pick up a copy of Vegan News in your local community and you'll get it reading one article. I am also learning, within my diet, to eat only what I need. When I'm full I think to myself - don't be gluttonous just because it tastes nice. Eat for need, and yes surely for taste. God I love food. I love the smells and taste sensations of cooking a beautiful pasta sauce or delicious guacamole. But Stop when you are full. Dis-possess the mind-set of needing to eat for survival, and needing to eat because your parents told you you had to finish everything on your plate. Cook less. Prepare less. Understand ecology and the lack of resources in the world. Enjoy eating with another. That's where it's truly at. Sharing a meal. A meal is all about sharing your life, in that little moment. Really appreciate that moment of eating, like it's the only meal you'll eat for the rest of your life. Don't rush it. Enjoy it. Savour it.

Moments are meant to be savoured. Each and everyone of them. Living in the moment is the largest lesson I've learned in these recent years. I used to look so far beyond into the future I didn't even know the present existed.

What a powerful thought - enjoying the current moment. It has a lot to do with our thoughts, how we perceive things. Being a born-again moment lover, I am really inspired by the idea of living in the NOW. Another wonderful author, Eckhard Tolle, lives by this motto. He has written a book called "The Power of Now" where he expounds on a simple notion. "Much of the fear, anxiety and guilt that all humans experience can be traced to our inability to live in the present." Really, the NOW is the only thing that is important. For me, time has stood still. I feel time is irrelevant in my journey. The past, present and future have become all one. I am who I am, ongoing, living my destiny, in a creative and communicative world. I work hard to keep my thoughts positive. When I have a negative thought, I meditate on it and work on - dispossessing - that thought, that reasoning, that logic, that reality. Any thoughts I think are real. Thoughts are creative, as Edward de Bono says. If you think something, it becomes reality. Therefore, any thoughts we have that are negative or take us away from who we really are, and who we want to become, we need to dispossess. Let go. Don't harbour them, or they will become us.

Remember that movie, "American Beauty"? The boy next door's favorite home video he made was about a plastic bag, blowing in the wind. "Be the Bag" was the voice over. I invite you to be the bag, go with the wind, enjoy the moment, however that flows, ... and keep life simple. Simplicity is the spice of life.

Chat later.... from down-under gilli moon

arriving in australia, time for regeneration and reinvention

I don't profess to know too much right now. I'm a little mind numb. All I know is I've been working steadily towards a date to get on a plane, and then got on the plane and arrived in Sydney, without expectations, plans or any consciousness of doing. I'm here. On top of my mountain. For now, that's all that matters. I'm normally a very head strong go-getter with many projects and plates spinning, lots of emails flowing, artists and interests surrounding me, plans, strategies, empires, creations, constant flow of in and out. Right now, I sit and contemplate nothing except a little bit of self-expression here on the blog.

I am knee deep in fog about who I am. Neale Donald Walshe (author of "Conversations with God") will probably send his newsletter to me that i get once a week, very soon. It will be timely. He poses the question constantly of Who We Are and knows how to deconstruct every piece of that so we can start anew. I am feeling like I need to start anew. I feel like I've lost part of my way and that's not because I haven't lost myself, it's because the "way" has changed.

We are living in times of enormous change, of revolution, and of growth. My personal growth used to be somewhat dependent on my circumstances, my creative path, the opportunities that came to me, doors that opened, or closed. But now my personal growth has become less dependent on the obvious, and more about my inner sanctum. I don't feel beholdent to outward distractions, modes or challenges right now. That all tires me.

For instance, when I normally planned a trip to Australia, I'd plan a tour, a media campaign, lots of gigs, lots of doing, lots of phone calls, lots... I was hungry for the exposure, breaking a new record, meeting new people, getting out there, getting noticed. I have always wanted to "make it" in Australia, my home land. Wouldn't you want to be accepted in your home? Everyone would. We travel far and wide and seek the holy grail, only to want to return it home and put it on the mantle piece right? Don't we want our old peers and family to pat us on the back and say "ya done good, luv". Or do we?

I am not in to self-flagulation. I can say that I've earned a modicum of "success" (whatever that is) down-under with some good press, radio play, even MTV video play. Cool gigs, a nice reputation for helping other artists. I'm in good stead here. But I also know that my music is not the Australia mainstream variety. I don't get JJJ radio play and the mainstream stations find it hard to find the single off my records. Even my new record "extraOrdinary life" while receiving lovely feedback on it's concept, musicality, songwriting, performance yaddayaddayadda, doesn't seem to fit into the Aussie mold of "let's try and break it within the first week". Doesn't have that about it.

And so I'm left with... well what now? Do I go into the studio and record pop hits just to satisfy the market here? I am kind of perplexed as to what "they" want. Who's "they" anyway? Why do I feel like I have something to prove here? I've established myself enough everywhere else to not have to impress. I shouldn't have to impress anyone.

ANY MORE.

And that's what I'm arriving at, in my contemplation. I've spent 9 years. Count them. 9 years pursuing the American market only to now realise that I have nothing to prove anymore. What for? The "way" that tantalized me in the first place, is no longer the same. When I first started my journey, I had Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, George Michael, Seal, Hot House Flowers, Elton John, even Alanis Morrissette... to guide me in making albums with concepts, strong songwriting and artist stories. Now I have digital downloads, the itunes frenzy, one hit singles, corporate mega-bucks, Clearchannel monopolies, merging Majors and a jaded mindset to contend with.. as i still try and make what I feel are great concept albums.

My music industry is not the industry I signed up for in the beginning. But then I also was in love with a glamorized version of it: I dreamed I could be on Top 5 radio, a non 1 song, MTV video play (yep that's me visualizing myself dancing in the videos and doing the whole thang), world tours with a full on stage and light show.. and more... let alone the money to produce great records, live in comfort blah blah blah. What is THAT? That is an illusion. That is not reality. Even back then in my dream land, what was really going on was payola, corruption and conflict. It reminds me of "Syriana". If you haven't seen that movie you should. It stars George Clooney and is about the oil deals in Iran in the eightees and nineties, and implicates the CIA and the U.S Government in all these behind the scene deals versus freedom of the people and liberation of the Iran government, all over satisfying the American demand for oil. This stuff might be in movies and in books, but it's also life, and we live it also in the music business. Oil, music, soap, whatever you are selling... it's all the same.

And I don't want any part of it.

I don't want any part of greed, corruption, corporations screwing the little people. I don't want creativity stifled by beaurocracy, stakeholders, industry. I just want to express myself in an artistic way, to create peaceful change, thought and process and live a peaceful personal life that is filled with laughter, joy, partnership, family, trust and, yes, art. I am a humanitarian. I'm not going to go saving rainforests by chaining myself to the trunks of trees. I'm not going to paint "No War" on the Sydney Opera House, although I commend Dave for doing that. I'm not going to encourage sending men and women in to foreign lands to fight the corporate wars. I'm not going to do that. I'm going to write songs. And I'm going to create concept albums. And I'm going to play meaningful parts in Film. And I'm going to write books that encourage healing, self-empowerment, education and community. I'm going to perform and entertain and take people's minds to a place of beauty, self-healing and joy.

But I cannot do all that if I get constant backlash and blocks. There are many road blocks on our journey of life, that's for sure, but sometimes you just know that some of them are SIGNS to lead us to a better "way". As Walshe would put it, it's time for me to "use my past to empower my future" to continue to be and become even more authentic and creative in Who I AM. Authenticity is the key here. So much of the music business is inauthentic. This creates a connundrum. How can we be true to our creativity and our purpose when we are surrounded by so many untruths, selfish, materialistic parasites and monopolies over the market?

I went to Los Angeles to create a career, to explore my talents, to be inspired by greatness in order to be great. I have an A + type personality. I seek the highest form of expression and believe we must always do our very best as human beings. It's my own path to so-called enlightenment. But I haven't had an easy path. In fact, it is constantly reminded to me by the universe that I am meant for the path least travelled, that warrior spirit to show the way. Well I can keep showing the way for others, but what about the way for me? Shouldn't I get some joy in it? I'm not here to matyr myself in order to make sure everyone else has fun.

None of my accomplishments were handed to me on a silver platter. I had to create them from scratch. There's no luck in this model, just sweat. But through the years I've managed to navigate pretty well, and end up smiling. But I smile today not because of an eighteen year old's grandeur of fame and success. But because I have understood that my "way' is no longer the way I originally sought. This "way" is far different, and not readily tangible or explained.

I spent the majority of this year developing things I thought I was going to cut down in so I could spend more time on me: Songsalive! (the non-profit organization supporting and promoting songwriters www.songsalive.org) with new chapters, presence at music conferences and programs and an impactful, educational website; speaking at music conferences to encourage and provide tips for other artists to get out there; producing music for other artists; putting on shows showcasing other artists; created several CD compilations of artists, and offering services, advice and counsel to more artists than ever before... But I do all that because the universe calls me to be this person, this humanitarian, as this is my path.

Amazingly, I still recorded my album, released it, toured 2 continents, landed a 4 page spread in Newsweek Magazine and kept my rank up as one of the most discussed independent music artist there is out there in the world today.

I am not complaining. I know I can do all of this. It's quite impressive to some. To me, this is all part of living life, the art of doing, the doing of art.

But I will not rest on my laurels. Because these laurels are all an illusion, to the real stuff... the Who I Really Am part of it all. It's in this part that I explore, deconstruct, reinvent. NOW. The time is Now. For all the stuff above is just stuff I do, have done, and can easily do again.

Here's my connundrum: I skirt around the borders of the music industry, below the radar, highly involved in what I constantly refer to as the new music revolution, receiving a modicum of success for sure, but I can't sit here and rattle off soundscan Cd sales to you, and record heights of radio play. I can't do that. I don't live in that tangible realm, although some feel that I still need to prove that with numbers. It's a numbers game, the music business, and I cannot reduce myself to numbers alone.

I live in the intangible world of lateral creativity, thinking outside the box and dabbling with human spirits. How can you quantify success based on how many souls you touch?

I am sitting here on top of my mountain in the Aussie bush lacking incentive to partake in anything associated to the music business. I have a beautiful album in my hands (extraOrdinary life) that is an opus, a gift, a wonderful year's worth of producing and a lifetime of stories, that deserves to be out in the world, playing in your radio and itunes headphones, on your CD racks at home.. and I can't even be bothered to contemplate what it means to market this album right now. I am already feeling resistance with various music reps here in Australia. It costs money for a media campaign, and worst still if they tell you radio won't play it even before you even try. I can't even get my agency excited about touring, because I'm not excited. I KNOW what needs to be done, and it's the KNOWING of what it REALLY means to push a record, ANYWHERE, that turns me off. I've been doing this for 9 years and I'm asking myself, "IS THIS MY "WAY"?

We know where I am. I know where I am. Again, I'm not complaining. I get people emailing me daily on how inspired they are, how they love my music. I sell records. Yes I do. And books, and downloads and and and. I'm a professional artist. I don't have a day job.

BUT WHAT DO I WANT NOW? WHO DO I WANT TO BECOME?

It's here that I vascillate, between the glories, the stories of my past, and now reinvent for my future. We are all in unchartered territories, and the mystery of it all is definitely where IT'S AT. So I leap empty-handed into the void, and wait for my own deliverance.

Come back soon.

Gilli Moon

Seattle WA: "do not block the intersection"

I was driving home last night in sherman oak california and i stopped at the stop sign and began to stare at the sign: "DO NOT BLOCK THE INTERSECTION" it said. I began to think about that. do not block. block. block what? then I saw a car number plate with NWT. What does that mean? Nought? nothing? No thing? Maybe, "know it" maybe "no way through". maybe all of the above.

I think it's time to unblock the road blocks. Being at the intersection of life, we have a road map of past travels, and so many choices to make for our future. The only way to make the right decision as to which way to go, is to let go, be open, and then the answer comes to us. I wrote a poem about frequency to that higher place, while i was in Seattle. It was 5 pages long and i wrote it while connected to my higher spirit watching amazing Songsalive! artists perform on stage... and then i gave my poem to a friend, because he needed it more than me. it was a nice gift to give. GIFTS comes to us and gifts we give. the ebb and flow of life. i read a little of my new york blog post from sept and this part of the poem catches my soul right now:

"the innocence of children reminds me that i must look at life through a child's eyes at all times to survive my own ambition. now what? NOW. Now is WHAT. i breathe in i submerge to dreamland to breathe some more and feel the blue sky beating it's heat reminding me of life and love and california and passion surging, coursing through me . i live an extraordinary life. give me another slice." (more at www.gillimoon.com/poetry)

SO,... I just got back from Seattle. A magical place, with rain and water and orange leaves falling for the winter. Mists rising, polite traffic and a creativity that hums across the city and opens my inner mind. Seattle was a really impactful weekend. The Rockgrl conference (www.rockrgrl.com) was full on and I couldn't get enough of it. I spoke on a songwriting panel with veteran's in the songwriting world, and I felt i was the lone ranger representing the new frontier of WHAT'S NEXT. It was empowering. Sue Ennis (songwriter for Heart), Wendy Waldman ("Save the Best for Last" Vanessa Williams), Harriet Schock (Helen Reddy) and Jenny Yates (writer for Garth Brooks). And then there was me. "How to write a hit song?" was the question of the day. What is a hit really? Is it the greatness of that piece of prose that touches our hearts and fills our minds with dreams and passion? Or is it how corporate conglomerates push and shake the apple tree that they grew and force consumers to like what they pay them to hear???? I say the latter. I say the music world has changed. We can no longer rest on our laurels of times forgot but be warriors, self-empowered all encompassing artists with a vision who can be business savvy and know where the real world is... now. I was alone in thought on this subject as my cohorts rattled off their success stories. Notwithstanding, i was inspired by them and their words and i learned something: songwriting, being a songwriter, hasn't changed over the years. we are all still creative spirits channelling the higher self and wanting reaction, an audience. finding that audience has changed now. that's all. the rest stays the same. inspiring..... thank you wonderful women.

I went to a few workshops at Rockrgrl. One was about podcasting. oh.my.god i'm so inspired to embrace this new technology. i have already developed 3 podcasts. one about my music which is at www.gillimoon.com/download. one for my warrior girl music and females on fire artists at www.warriorgirlmusic.com and one for Songsalive! elite members at www.songsalive.org. to think that each and every one of us can become a radio programmer and people can subscribe to our taste in music is just simply amazing.

One of the most beautiful gifts that i received was a Minarik Guitar. http://www.minarikguitars.com/. I was in the exhibition room and Bill Minarik came over and was enchanted that I was there. He had been a long time fan. He literally handed me an endorsement and asked me to choose an electric guitar. I naturally chose the most beautiful one, a honeyburst Minarik GODDESS that is 1 out of only 25 special edition honeybursts in the world, (4 were left handed) and they never will be made again. Ecstatic. I've always longed to incorporate electric guitar playing into my life and my live show. I think acoustics are too cumbersome for me and i want to experiment with the melodics of an electric that i have come to know and love so well when producing in the studio. so... it's time to embrace this dream!

I had many gifts this past weekend. And the most important gift was what was waiting for me when I got back to l.a. but i won't go into that yet because it's a secret... ;) for now, i leave you with this final mantra of the day: be open. be open. be open to the divine forces, for when you are, many gifts come to you. xxx gilli

back in los angeles and work to be done...

Back from an east coast tour, and getting ready to head up north for the Rockrgrl Seattle conference, I'm happily ensconced in Los Angeles developing these wonderful living room sessions @ The Mint, ., PLUS producing 3 more tracks with Holly Light for her upcoming album, and preparing for Dina Gathe's album on 2nd Dec. Both artists are extraordinary Females On Fire artists and I have had such a pleasure working with them. Check them out at . Welcome all the new fans from ITALY who joined my email list after the story was printed in La Republicca. Wow that was a cool day of receiving sudden enews sign ups! for the story in Italian. So, where to begin. Well coming off the road is kind of draining. One gets rather fragile being back in one's nest egg, because we tend to live on adrenalin from one city to the next. To be frank, when I got back to l.a, after 5 weeks on the road, i was sick as a dog, laid up in bed for at least 3 days and then another 7 to get over a cold and cough. weird. mind you, the weather has changed here in sunny california, to blistery, windy, and rainy. weird again! i've been working on this whole "freedom" thing and really enjoying wyne dyer's book "the sacred self". it's one of his earlier books where he's starting to delve into the idea of "removing the ego" and "becoming the observer". a lot about quantum physics, with a lot of spirituality and creativity mixed in. i noticed in my performance at the Mint last week that i had a total out of body experience, similar to what i'm reading, where i felt like i was observing myself from above, at a distance. the performance was way more energized, and completely left of center/quirky. don't know if that's a good thing, but i felt uplifted and the set became a performance happening in itself. we are at the Mint again Sunday night. i'm really enjoying this club, with the new decor, management, and awesome cuisine. the whole "living room" vibe works. very nice. well, more later...

from NY to Boston and over it: a life of freedom

"In my world, nothing ever goes wrong". This is a little ditty i learnt from a Wayne Dyer book, specifically "Your Sacred Self - Making the Decision to be Free". It's a wonderful read, and a timely one at that.

I have often wondered why I become lethargic. People comment to me often by saying that I have incredible energy, that I have the ability to spin so many plates, and do so many things. But I will acknowledge that all of that comes at a price. I get tired. I can get sick too. I have spent the first 3 days of returning home to Los Angeles, to home, in bed, completely sick with the flu. I have not seen sunlight since Boston, when I got on a plane to come home after 5 weeks on the road. I look within to discover what that is... getting a sore throat, sniffles, a head that won't let up with lots of banging. It's like my body is asking me to stop, slow down, and meditate. To go inward, find the silence and enjoy nothingness. Deconstruction.

Then, my first day out of the womb, I was resurrecting, re-constructing, celebrating and a week on I can now find clarity, reflecting over the last few weeks. It's time to write. It's time to write a lot. I'm going to write songs (I am half way finished a good one called "Freedom" which is in fact about breaking up with a lover... funny how that is ;). I'm going to write a second book about touring, about discovering the journey; I'm going to write articles. And writing online on this blog that has served me well for years... I'm going to write a film script. I'm going to write my diary!

Freedom is my new word in my consciousness. I wrote a new Food For Thought today at www.warriorgirlmusic.com/motivation. I write, "Being the observer doesn't mean we no longer care about the process. No, what it means is that we don't let our mind, our thoughts, our emotions or our worries get in the way."

freedom....

so back in my little room with a view, i look back on the tour and reflect. It was a magical time, nearly 5 weeks on the road, and so many wonderful and new people in my life. Hundreds of artists, songwriters, dreamers, sharing with me their visions and goals in workshops, at conferences, at gigs, on the street, on the phone, via email. I am so blessed to be part of the infrastructure that is the revolution.

Highlights? New York's Cutting Room with Coole High and Tah Phrum Dah Bush was an amazing happening, as a creative being. It wasn't hugely populated but I felt we were performing to a thousand people. They kicked off the night with some rapping about the realness of it all, where it's at as artists, doing it our way, The way. Then they lent their beatbox personalities to my first song on piano, Naked. It really felt naked, stripped to the essence of the beat, the vibe, the sensuality. I want to do more of these cross over shows, stretching the boundaries of style, thought, human consciousness. I'm planning on doing just that with J Walker here in L.A where he did some spoken word last night and brought quantum illumination to my mind and heart in our "living room sessions" at the Mint. This place is perfect for the environment we are creating, for all artists to gather and participate in conscious thought and flow. Plus the food is great!

Back to NY. It was a weird moment for me to be back in NY the second time within the month, and not really want to be "in" it so to speak. So I stayed out at Carol's place in NJ, sat in the spa and thought about the meaning of singlehood, and my private journey, and wondered why I loved touring so much. Loved may not be the operative word. I got a little road weary. Never too late to change direction, I say. But hey wait, Boston was coming.

Toni and I took the Fun Wah bus from China town and headed up to my favorite city of the month, Boston MA. Filled with students, artists, attorneys, people with always two dogs, cafe lattes and a nice fashion style. We stayed with Chris again, like I did last year, and enjoyed playing his piano, playing with His two dogs, and eating his Lindt chocolate balls he couldn't hide from me in the fridge. I talked at Berklee School of Music on the Tuesday and I just couldn't believe, once again (pinch me please) how inspired I was to share stories with the students and just talk at this hugely famous music school. Peter Spellman is a spirit man and apart from being a top notch music business author, he runs the Creative Development Center there, where he hosted my workshop. I have to thank Peter for the Newsweek story too. By the way, La Repubblica, Italy's top newspaper (like the NY Times I guess) has just republished their version of the Newsweek interview (in Italian of course) and oh my god in two days I've had almost a hundred new sign ups on my mailing list from Italian fans. That's just so impressive. There really is no end to the fabulousness of the Internet. My friend Jennifer, who I am currently staying with in Pismo Beach and about to go surfing with  her (my favorite) plus talk on her 101.3 Coast radio show on Friday (that's just so I can justify the trip ;), thinks its so extraordinary to be known worldwide and yet be completely under the radar. The dichotomy of fame,... no fame.

Boston to me was like living a Sydney life in the U.S. I didn't get to see beaches per se, but i saw the harbour and felt the culture and I really dug it. It was my third time there and this time I really got to know it and literally walked 5 miles a day going from A to B. We stayed in South End so it was a great walk through the backstreets of brownstones, up to Boylston Street where Berklee is, then down the fashionable Newbury Street for coffee and fashion, into town across the Commons and into the banking world, then back across to South End. I made circles every day and felt fit. We represented Songsalive! at Nemo Boston, which is a fine music conference, and I spoke on the women in music panel with Madalyn Sklar (Go Girls Music) and Ariel from Ariel Publicity and more. THAT was a great discussion. Women? Men? let's just be Artists! Leave the gender out of it!

By Oct 1, I had realized that I had been away since Sept 1 and it was time to go home. I had dispersed the extraOrdinary life, living an ordinary life in a non-ordinary way. I sold books, I sold a piece of my soul but I got a lot of soul food in return. The troubadour is simply that, a wandering creative soul. I expect nothing more, and certainly nothing less, than the opportunity to create and share my creativity.

tonight I am at peace. I'm about to go surfing. Now that's what I call creativity!

italy: la repubblica

go figure!! todays paper in italy! apin off from the newsweek article. some journalist has cottoned onto my interview and decided to make a new story for the repubblica, which is like the new york times!

responding to a comment on my diary

Today I received a comment on this online diary from an anonymous writer. I thought I'd respond to it. It's a pity this person didn't leave their name. At least I am open to who I am. I'd love to hear from this person directly. For now, I will publish my thoughts on the comments.

 

Firstly, I am perplexed by this kind of comment. Ego shift? Altruistic giver? I'm not sure if this person truly grasps the altruism I live by on a daily basis, with what I do for Songsalive! and by the free workshops I do for others. I am perplexed because this person is obviously reacting to a particular thing I wrote but doesn't write what that is. "Taking advantage?" Who am I taking advantage of? What relationships am I destroying? Please enlighten me so that I can perhaps put things in perspective. Finally, I am merely an artist expressing myself. I do a lot for others, more than most in this fickle music business. Where along the way am I allowed to enjoy the fruits of my labor or am I destined to be a matyr?

 

Show your face lovely commenter so I can discuss this with you. Gilli

 

"who is writing this? some stranger who knows Gilli or Gilli herself. Strange when people begin to promote oneself as if another where doing so...
when we have the ego shift that becomes one of taking, yet displaying a guise of "altruistic" giving. An altruistic giver - gives - less ego and more substance please. we all miss the humbe Gilli. what happened to her? this meant in the best way of constructive cricisism - because we love Gilli but feel she has lost her way and is taking advantage of those she claims to care about. SAD SAD SAD - please wake up before you destroy good relationships." Anonymous.

mystical wanderings in new england

what a week. i have learnt (that's real english for learned) many lessons this week. one is... don't take anything personally. two is, be impeccable with your word. three is, always do your best. four is, don't make any assumptions.

I am not one to ever be rocked by the petty stuff but i will elude to one incident that made me question every sane reason as to why I do things for others, why i spend copious amounts of time assisting and supporting other artists only to find that some just don't know how to accept with gratitude, give compassion, nor see beyond their own egos.

I notice, as i preside over this altruistic organization that is Songsalive!, that I expend energies that may never go unnoticed. And that, my friends, is one thing I have to accept. No one knows the undertaking I have done to create and grow this organization, the work, on a daily basis, that goes into maintaining, creating, building, executing a website, programs, partnerships, workshops, showcases, networking, memberships, correspondence, accounting, legalities. No one truly could possibly comprehend the undertaking i have. I have a solid team, of around 30, but about 4 or 5 who truly are like rocks for me as I am for them on the same cause and a considerable energy expenditure on their parts.

I have had one particular artist, once friend, who has now decided to throw stones. It is not the first time, and I'm sure it won't be the last. But I have learnt that no matter what, I am doing a great thing, in my ongoing journey and will continue to foster creativity, collaboration and positivity amongst the artist community at large, for this is just sheer example of how we need to behave as a human planet.

To that end, having performed 2 enlightening shows in New York and New Jersey, with firey energy (see poem below which says it all in a nutshell), I made my way up north to New England, to tranquil waters, to calm observers and open arms.

i conducted a great workshop last night to 40 songwriters for the connecticut songwriters association in Glastenbury CT, an hour horth of Hartford. This area is so historic and reminds me of Old England. There are a lot of names of towns from England. It reminds me of the British countryside too, with the mists, and waterways, the animals, the trees, the houses and the softness of the people.

i'm really getting into the philosophy of "owning one's own creativity" and "enjoying the journey" with my talks. i had all ages there many over 50 year old guys who write songs and who are into folk, and young artists and mothers as well. a motley of artists, writers, etc. i was very inspired to listen and critique their songs as well as speak for an hour about the contents of my book, which are selling out!

it's like i feel like i'm on this journey from town to town, inspiring and uplifting tired artistic souls who need some inspiration and nurturing to do good, and create magic in their lives, and use their talents and voice for bigger missions. interestingly enough, there were 4 songs out of the 7 (even though there were 40 there) who wrote songs about war. these people on the east coast have been highly affected by what's going on. some songs were about old english war and historic things in this area.but still, one can see where they are at. I'm touched that at my age that people of all ages come to hear me and feel some connection and learning from what i know. I'm really humbled by it. I received this note from one of the writers today:

"Thanks so much for your feedback at the CSA meeting last night. I've considered your comments and already have some solutions bouncing around in my head. I can't wait to get home this evening and see how they work out... Since most of my "performing" has been in my basement rec room with my dog as an audience(and he wags his tail whether I'm good or awful), it was a treat to share my music with people for whom music is a central portion of their lives. The work that you are doing sounds both exciting and uplifting, and I congratulate you for having both the courage and the character to pursue your own muse, both artistically and financially. Your willingness to share with and encourage others is all the more to your credit."

I needed to read something like this. Other letters have been coming in about my talks here on the East Coast:

"You have inspired me to intensely continue to pursue my dream. It is empowering to know that you are doing what I want to be doing "

"Gilli was amazing and has given me new hope and inspiration. Please pass on my compliments. Her beauty in her heart and writing matches her outward beauty! Simply gorgeous!"

And then a really cool one about the new album "extraOrdinary life":

"From the very first song your album spoke to my heart. It was like a story book had been opened and it contained bits and pieces of my life. Some of the songs spoke directly to my circumstances while others helped to put things into perspective. I am absolutely floored by your talent. I feel your giving of self in the music. I was extremely moved. Your album is wonderful. Know that it also served as a lift to a friend in need. The timing was perfect. Continue to bless the world with you beautiful songs."

So it needs to noted, for me right now, that my mission in filling people's cup up with positive motivation, in my MPWR workshops at these music conferences, my talks at songwriter groups, my performances on tour.... ALL HAVE A HIGHER PURPOSE. This is not about me. Never was about me and just isn't. It's about the message. It's about the change that can happen in people to SHINE, to feel uplifted, to be taken on a journey so that they can see their own journey as being AMAZING, EXTRAORDINARY. I have had to remind myself of the qualities in myself that are for goodness, and for collaboration, not competition, for education, not humiliation. I say all this because my organization has been knocked a bit around by the ego of an artist who cannot see the BIGGER PICTURE. For what it's worth, I wish her well. She does have a beautiful spirit too, but, ... alas, chooses anger over harmony, ... public humiliation over reconciliation.

So I have learnt some lessons. Who to be. Not what not to be or behave. What to believe in. Making the right choices in relationships. Always choosing compassion.

I lie here in this cool, quaint farmhouse in Mystic Connecticut, feeling the outdoors, seeing the mist and the sliver of a moon, hearing the crickets and frogs, loving the isolation... and knowing that my heart is warm and filled up. Thank you universe for allowing me to share my stories, through my music, lyrics, poems, writings, talks and gatherings. I learn 1000 times fold more than those who come hear me speak or sing. I am the student of life.

And to top it off, it was equally cool to have Newsweek come up and do a story on me today in this magical place called Mystic. I guess the karma does come around eventually... ;)

G

new york midnight express. Now is What.

chaos.

on the street

in my head

on the tv

in the room.

i stand innocent.

it swims around me.

i live the silent movie.

bam...fast

furious

fire

strong

midnight express.

sleeping in the bronx,

smelling deep history

race, creed, industrialized waste,

toxic to my system,

messy, grimy,

how do people live like this?

..fixing for a taste of home,

not going to come so easy

feeling queasy.

new york, new york, giant jungle

people fight to stay alive

dyin' inside but hungry like tigers

fast and furious they push

whoosh goes the train like

hunter and hunted,

subway speed and kids doing tricks street side.

do they know what's going on in the south?

nothing comes out of this boy's mouth but

"yeah, wanna buy my pet lizard

got no disease"

the dis-ease of our nation

is seen on these streets

exemplified thrice fold.

now what?

i am alone in my thought on this

how do i make it clear

without inciting fear.

while tears wash away in the floods of new orleans.

where do we all go from here?

fear is the one thing stopping.it.all.

i contemplate while i wait for my pizza slice

filled with cheese, grease and my god it's delicious,

down in alphabet city, with the sleaze and

cuban restaurants with melodic guitars and voices and drums

and beer and wine bars and young girls with tats

and black berets and striped socks.

sleeping on the street.

she sleeps. or dribbles not sure.

i eat. i look around and find i'm in hell

how ironic as i am in love with it all.

it drives my creative muse

and i refuse to be of it

but in it in any case.

alive and kicking i also am with it,loving it

performing in it, feeling it.

now what?

i find the keyboard and

feel the ivories at c-note,

a dive bar that

eases my mood.

i drink cheap beer.

magic of lower east side.

new york city has me by the hook, line and sinker

and i'm not fine with what i see,

the black concrete playgrounds,

and a city losing time.

no time, all the time, every time

people fast, forward

in your face.

..and hard truck sounds and taxi cabs that don't stop when you

put your hand up high and say "stop" i am crossing this god damn street.

"stop" with the cockroaches and the grit on my glass of water.

"stop" with the urine down on the L line

people live with this going to work and back

and they don't see this simple fact,

they live in tunnels on the way from here to there

tunnels under the roads, the labyrinth of codes.

"stop" the chatter inside my head of fear and 9/11 and clubs that don't pay

or leave it ambiguous like they don't know what an artist needs.

what does an artist need?

         the feeling of connection...

whispering my thoughts ....do they know,

...do they know what is really going on?

are we all so centrifugal to our own moment

our own journey?

was this book really created for me?

"go" with my heart, my pulse, the instinct to be alive, and enjoy this fast

journey,

the ploy, the entrancing feeling of living on the edge and feeling

history,.. on 42nd street.

where i stayed last year

in 5 star hell

and finally, finally

performed on broadway with a python at that.

new york city town hall.

i have done it.

now what?

how does it feel?

what's real to my heart my ambition to know

....to know i have grabbed what i wanted to do

in '92, as i rollerbladed through these steamy streets with Backstage mag in my hands

and dreams in my heart,

and naivety

in my lungs and all i felt was fun and cold and hot

and all the stuff that makes an artist alive, wanting, yearning, begging for a stage

to be heard.

living on adrenalin and hard dreams, ambitions to fruition

i want to be heard.. new york city. do you hear me? do you feel me? do you want me?

BUT i have done it.

already.

i have made it real

and lived broadway

and succeeded

for whatever that success means?  what does it really mean?

this constant fire in my belly that says

more more more

NOW WHAT?

i turn to the burbs

big houses, large windows

fancy mercedes SUVs and i sit here on the couch

wondering.

now what?

while... an old lady dies in a hospital and i'm left holding my friend's baby

so calm and soft

she smiles

with the innocence of mother nature

she calms my mind.

the innocence of children

reminds me that i must look at life through a child's eyes

at all times

to survive

my own ambition.

now what?

NOW. Now is WHAT.

i breathe in 

i submerge to dreamland to breathe some more

and feel the blue sky beating it's heat

reminding me of life and love and california and passion surging, coursing through me

. i live an extraordinary life.

give me another slice.

gilli moon . september 10. 2005. manhattan.

kicking off the ordinary tour in an extra-turbulent world. - philadelphia sept 5 2005

My life as an artist. road warrior. communicator. sponge.

I sit in Montclair NJ resting, reading, writing. Feeling... Watching CNN.... crying. being just me, laughing. Having played a multitude of hats these last 4 days through tumultous times, I see my role as chameleon, as poet, as artist, educator and entrepreneur, as traveler, as lover, as child, as adult, as woman with a mission.... i am on my mission now. Making extraordinary changes in an ordinary way.

I've been in the studio for over a year and embarking on a road trip (which will be over a month's journey) is such a liberating feeling. I love seeing new sights and sounds, touching new hearts, and being touched. This is very invigorating.

Arriving in Philadelphia was like arriving to freedom. In my own personal way. I have been hibernating for so long, and now i am really happy to be out in the world, communicating once again, feeling the travel bug, the spirit of the journey, and roman sandles on my feet. There is much to do, say, hear, feel and share.

I just completed the first weekend of work: the Independent Music Conference in Philadelphia. We just left Philly last night having been there for 4 days.

It's hard to get all excited about a music conference when we are seeing such tragedy on CNN and any tv station about what is currently happening in New Orleans. But let me deviate from this for a moment as I recount the journey I have traveled these last few days that has left me ALSO inspired, motivated and rejuvenated, .. because where there is dark there is light and where there is tragedy there is hope.

The IMC conference www.IMC2005.com has just finished and we have been fortunate enough, as Songsalive! team members, to be part of making this a huge success because we were involved in it to create change, be impactful, educate and inspire artists and i believe that we SUCCEEDED. It takes one person at a time to create change and music and the arts is a hugely impactful way to do that. I am blessed to be an artist and educator and I discovered such love, harmony and synergy amongst the artists who attended this conference. It has reminded me why I have chosen this path.

Toni Koch (Songsalive! artist coordinator/Warrior Girl Music promoter) and I arrived on Thurs evening and caught a cab from the airport into the Conference hotel - Sheraton Society Hill. First evening, a quick walk down South Street for a bite to eat, discover some interesting bars, one in particular had "live painting" to DJ music, which inspired my muse immediately. This city is filled with artistry, on the street, in the bars, on the walls, in my MIND.

Friday morning we got to work. We set up the Songsalive! booth, www.songsalive.org, with stacks of stuff, artist info, our organizational information, our banner flying proudly on the wall behind and various things to display and sell. There were several booths at the conference, including some partners we are involved with such as Oasiscd.com (Cd manufacturing). Toni organized 3 days of amazing Songsalive! Acoustic Roundabout performances, where we had songwriters perform acoustically in the main room, Hamilton Room, with grand piano. This brought a new light to the conference for this year because we were able to provide showcase opportunities for artists without having to leave the focus of the event. Normally, and still this year, showcases are around town in Philadelphia in the evenings only. We were able to offer a showcase environment daily, during the conference activities, and music industry folk came in to check out the talent. it was great.

We saw some great performances at Cavanaughs River Deck (on the river near the Ben Franklin bridge), and I performed there also. It was kind of the evening hub for the conference and a lot of fun! I had a blast performing this weekend. Every day I hopped on the piano and shared, like secrets, my new songs from the new album extraOrdinary life www.gillimoon.com/extraordinarylife, and some old ones that felt like coming out of the bag.

I spoke on many music panels this year, focusing mainly on touring, promoting and getting out there as an indie artist. I also conducted my MPWR Workshop (path to artist empowerment)  www.warriorgirlmusic.com/MPWR twice during the conference and i know from the feedback i received that this inspired those who attended to continue on their artist path with strength, gave them motivation and positivism. I believe in defining success on one's own terms, and enjoying the journey. That being artists in this era we need to also be smart business people, using the left and right brains. That we can use the internet to maximize our relationships building. Being at a conference, we all got to know each other well... it was a small conference and in my opinion this was way more effective than being a huge conference where no one truly gets to connect one on one. Other panels i spoke on included Women in Music and the Discourse panel, critiquing artists' demos.

Toni also spoke on panels, including merch, building revenue streams, street teaming and more. On the last day we conducted the Songsalive! Songcamp, which is really becoming one of our BEST programs. We had mentors to assist the full day Songcamp - Steven Memel (Hollywood's celebrated vocal and performance coach), Patti Wolf from SmartWomen.org radio, and Bill Pere, 14 album songwriter and president of the Connecticut Songwriters Association. The Songcamp started out with critiquing, like we do in a regular Songsalive! monthly workshop. We had about 12 songwriters from around the country: Philly, L.A, Texas, New York, even... New Orleans. One artist, Nabiyah, is this young spoken word / poet from Philly had never sung before. We allowed her to present a piece and she sung a little lullaby she wrote. She was softly spoken, but gazed at all of us with strength. Then, when it was our turn to provide feedback, she fell silent and began to weep. I softly spoke to her and realized that this beautiful soul was new at opening up her words to strangers. We gave her encouragement. she then turned to us and said she felt so wonderful to have the opportunity to sing, and speak. Others wept. It was very special.

After lunch we got into the cool part of the Songcamp - co-writing. I placed the artists in groups of 2 and 3 and gave them 1 hour to write a song. it was a huge challenge. And the groups were varied, with songwriters who didn't know each other, and who were from a varied background including geography, race, age and musical taste. By 3pm we had 5 new songs written, within a hour. And they were all fabulous! The artists thought the Songcamp was energizing and challenged them beyond anywhere they'd been on their own as writers. I felt, even in my first few days on the road, that this day made it ALL worthwhile and reminded me why Songsalive! exists. It all started with a workshop, in the round, sharing and writing songs, and here we are still today doing this, making an impact on a grand scale. www.songsalive.org/programs for details on our songcamps.)

Other parts of our work here at the IMC was to promote our Songsalive! Cd Sampler 7, a few members who had partaken in the "Get Promoted" program (www.songsalive.org/sponsoredevents for details). Plus we are promoting two new Songsalive! partners: Unisong - a fabulous songwriting competition we are presenting, and ListRocket.com, a unique email fanlist service. Both are at www.songsalive.org/partners. We have bundles of postcards on these two partners and happy to send some to any chapter who wants some.... We also were selling the IndieBible on our booth, which is a fantastic resource of media and press to promote your music to. www.indiebible.com/sa to get it online.

In summary, Songsalive! was an integral part in the success of the IMC conference this year. I'm very proud. We feel it's like having our own Expo but on the East Coast. Our booth was the hub for songwriters to hang and feel supported and promoted. I want everyone to try and come next September. It's worth it, it's educational, and very very powerful. www.IMC2005.com to see what it's all about. We made connections and relationships with artists, songwriters and music business executives from all around the country.

Next stop on our tour, New York for our Songsalive! Showcase this Thursday Sat 8th @ C-Note www.songsalive.org/newyork for details. Then Connecticut for the associations meeting on 13th Sept where I will be talking, then the New England Music in Hartford CT on 17/18 Sept. My album launch on Wed 21st Sept at the Cutting Room NY. Then up to Boston to speak at the Berklee School of Music on Tues 27th Sept and Nemo Music Conference on 30th Sept and 1st October. www.gillimoon.com/tours and www.songsalive.org/sponsoredevents have all the details.

Our work for Songsalive! is a busy one this month. We are out and about on the East Coast being proactive, educating, building the name, recruiting members, conducing workshops, building the New York and Boston Chapters and doing what we are here to do..... providing opportunities of support and promotion for songwriters.

I do hope this little email was inspiring to you all in your lives this week as we go through hardship and struggle, with the devastation of New Orleans. We have many members from Louisiana. Our home page www.songsalive.org has a link at the bottom to lend donations to this current catastrophe.  My part right now is building consciousness and awareness about COMING TOGETHER as a global community in every way.... whether it's amongst us in songwriting, building relationships in the music business, making lifelong friends on the road, enjoyinfg the journey everyday in everything you do, feeling inspired by the little things that make impact, or... even building finances to help others. Songsalive! is doing that. As a 501 (c) (3) our mission is to educate and support. Go online and support New Orleans. Talk to your neighbor, give them a smile. WRITE A GREAT SONG TODAY.

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART EVERY DAY.

Right now, I'm gearing up for a Manhattan show this Thursday, for gaining my strength again to go out into this world and be the warrior. I am truly blessed.

Thanks for reading

xx

gilli moon

SEE THE GILLI MOON "ORDINARY" TOUR SCHEDULE

http://www.gillimoon.com/tours 

 Buy the new album "extraOrdinary life" at www.warriorgirlmusic.com/store
www.cdbaby.com/gillimoon4
www.gillimoon.com/download for ringtones and downloads

..............................................

gilli moon  www.gillimoon.com

Warrior Girl Music www.warriorgirlmusic.com

Songsalive! www.songsalive.org

females on fire cd www.femalesonfire.com

artistlivingroom discussion group www.artistlivingroom.com

Join the email list http://www.warriorgirlmusic.com/enews

ADD ON to last email - Rustling the fire beneath to create magic

oh and what about that Neal Barbosa? Painting al night "live action SensuArt". He must have painted 15 canvases, splashing as we performing, ever ending. He was a constant art piece, moving and feeling the energy and fire of each artist all night long. the joy of the team, behind the stage too, that made it happen. Toni Koch who has completely out done herself as a promoter extraordinaire. You have arrived! Dennis Hoffman on merch, all night, who also drove us home at 3am when we lost our keys (long story). But what could possibly put a downer on such a magnificent night! The club, Todd the owner, Dina on door and tables, Mike the warrior sound man, Curtis back stage with musicians.. I mean, it was a powerhouse team. ... and again... the artists... you all just BLEW me away. See other email;) yay

 

gilli moon

 

http://www.femalesonfire.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Warrior Girl Music [mailto:warriorgirl@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2005 11:56 AM
Subject: Rustling the fire beneath to create magic

Is there such a thing as euphoria in this modern world? I am feeling on top of the world this sleepy Saturday morning as I recollect what an unbelievable night I just witnessed last night at The Mint in L.A

 

Rustling the fire beneath to create magic

Is there such a thing as euphoria in this modern world? I am feeling on top of the world this sleepy Saturday morning as I recollect what an unbelievable night I just witnessed last night at The Mint in L.A

 

We had not 20, but 21 fabulous artists performing to celebrate the launch of the Females On Fire  compilation Cd and I am just OVER the moon about it. Why? Because each and every artist just BLEW me away. Everyone was amazing. They touched me, my soul, my inner fire. They made me remember why I love music, why I love ENTERTAINMENT, why I love the magic of "putting on a show". This show was one of the best I was able to help create and I am so thankful to be surrounded by such amazing talent and wonderful lights.

 

When we went through the sea of artist submissions to be on the CD, we chose what we felt were the strongest of the artists that came through and also those who showed commitment in their own careers, who were ready to put their best foot forward, who were serious about taking their music, their art, to the next level. And they all invested into the project, with more than what is required. They invested their HEARTS. Every artist talked about the Females On Fire CD on stage last night as if it were their own babies, and IT IS. It's working. This feeling of ownership, of joy to be part of something that is bigger than ourselves, beyond our own four walls of ego-centric art making, is what ART is all about. SHARING. Being part of the bigger picture, the bigger world... and in this case a fabric interwoven of artists that are timeless, professional, exceptional, full of love and grace and style, and pizzazz and punk and rock, and sensitivity, and melancholy, and action and passion.... all of it. These artists were all of it.... from 7.30pm till 2am, WE ROCKED THE MINT.

 

The house was full. People stayed till the very end. They STILL wanted more?!!!!!!?! We had to ask them to leave at 2am. Oh my god. What a night!

 

Penelope Torribio, sensitive and fiery at the same time, opened the show. Kris Miller stirred my passions and she sang so strong. Kelen on percussion and singing, blonde hair, lovely voice. So unique. Laura, that amazing girl with a voice that soars, Jamie Green, got the groove going for us. She is a rock goddess. People started dancing and it wasn't even 8.30pm yet!! Harmonies, rocking band! Alpha Cat.. lovely Elizabeth all the way from NY, gave us her deep, sensitive songs. People were like, "who is THAT? Wow". Then a guest spoken word piece by Antoinette Valente. The house was silent. Riveted! Vertigo Moon with Dawnia and Kim and a full band I'd never heard. Sharon on the electric violin. The Mint was packed by now and no one could resist moving and grooving. I got up to perform as the second "moon" in the show and didn't know how to even compare to what i was witnessing. But I was swirled into the magic and I loved the energy up there. Didn't you?! Then came Cindy Alter, back from South Africa, a voice a punk rocker in my heart, she always touches my soul. Holly Light, so light, so soulful, with her bluesy voice and fabulous guitar playing. Songs just suck me in every time.

 

Then guest spoken work J Walker,our fiery male, just made sense of it all. Speaking of pop culture and following the true fire in our bellies, delivering real songs, real messages, he hit home that we were here for something bigger than just ourselves. This show was education, it was about clarity and about sharing our secrets to an audience that We were strong, We have a voice, We fight the mainstream, the lowest common denominator, that we express music and songs that Can and Will be heard. Wow I'm on a roll, and it's still early! I should be sleeping...

 

Dina Gathe, now she's a punk rocker and she shows it. Her songs are hot. The band was on. Our hands were all in the air. Then came Little Sista. 3 girls up front dancing, singing, harmonies, rocking, grooving. I was at my plateau by now. Willow, who began her set with a warrior girl anthem... she defined it all for us, our strengths, what we need to survive this business, how we go out there, with our beliefs in ourselves, with our inner strengths. Willow was spiritual, she was groovy and fantastic. Celeste Lear had that unique edge that just balanced it all. It was getting late, and we were getting into the midnight our. Celeste took us on that journey of dark, yet also light, musical magic. Kim Erin came out and her soaring, beautiful gorgeous voice just lifted me higher. I was now in heaven. tch,.... trippy, interesting, quirky, vibrant. Lizzie, glamour, white and silver, blonde hair, she brought the rock back in for the late night lovers who were Still here wanting wanting wanting More More! Then Jackie Bristow, guest from Australia, brought it down, to a nice finale, with her sweet, tender love songs. We started to relax and know the night was coming to a sweet, soulful end. And finally Aussie Matt Ellis, magnificent male as a book end for a fabulous female night, .. he gave us some great songs, so humble, and so perfect.

 

Perfect. this night was perfect. And I thank each and every one of the artists who made it happen, from promoting it, bringing their friends, leaving their egos at the door to just be part of the tapestry that was the Females On Fire night.

 

And now, we begin promoting the CD out to the wider world. We hope they feel the magic.

 

THANK YOU.

 

 

gilli moon

 

http://www.femalesonfire.com