Jayanti's Blog
The mundane is merely Magic in disguise…Archive for video
Hear, hear! Here’s to you! I hear you and you hear me too.
It’s been quite a year for me. Last August, I lost my apartment, not being able to afford it anymore with all the temp jobs I’ve been doing for years to have enough freedom and time to give music a real chance. I’ve hibernated most of winter, popping vitamin D to give my body some artificial sunshine, reading four books at a time and starting a fifth and sixth then changing my mind, watching entire seasons of tv shows on my laptop. During this time, I’ve been writing a lot, songs about losing my place, losing faith, that glimmer of hope at the horizon, loving me and loving you, finding me and losing you.
I thought it was about time to talk to you, even though I’ve written some blog posts about this and have kept you in the loop on facebook and twitter. YouTube has been a wonderful place to share my art, with full autonomy and whenever I wanted, whimsical as I can be. Throughout the year, I kept getting comments and messages from you, sometimes right at the point where I wanted to give up and disappear into the core of the earth (yes, I got a little dramatic sometimes, bless my friends). These messages truly kept me going, it reminded me that you were still listening, you still cared. Thank you so much for reaching out to me during these times. Your words of encouragement -knowing what I was going through or not at all- were the glue to mend my wings and make me fly again.
I have never been more inspired in my life, words, concepts, stories, ideas pour out like a waterfall and I feel blessed to be able to ride these waves of creativity with you, whether you’re the one I write my songs with, the one I write my songs for or the one I share my songs with. Here’s to you! Hear, hear! And hear me, you do. I hear you, too.
Giddy!
One more day of summer, and less than a month to go until I step into my moon boots, leave Mars and fly to the Moon: Los Angeles for one full Moon cycle (or, you know, a month…)!!
We’re finishing the Girl From Mars music video, shooting the last scene this week! Vinod and Winand Singh were like thunder and lightning at our brain storms, not only coming up with the craziest ideas, but actually finding ways to execute them. It is a no budget video with a rich premise: a different perspective, seeing things in a new way, what you see may not be what you get, peeling the layers to find your gem.
A new perspective on my face..
Besides the video shoot this weekend, I also have a music session for my song High on Life with Al Mar, to work on the ballad version of that song and I’m recording the final vocals for Nightlight with Rory next week. Brandon and I came up with a concept for a song we’ll write together when I’m in LA.
These past few weeks have been very inspiring. I saw Janelle Monáe live for the second time (third time will be next month in LA!), which was nothing less than mindblowing (she is currently on her US tour with Of Montreal: go witness the magic if you can!!) and met up with my friend Chuck. We listened to Simon & Garfunkel and their eerie take on the 7 o’clock news, dissected Airtight’s Revenge and strolled around Amsterdam in search of books (Freedom, Believer #73 & McSweeney’s #34: thanks Chuck!). Chuck taped me singing “Tape You” at a sports bar right before we were scarred for life by the display of a bunch of mad Agatha Trunchbull looking, non-blinking female rugby players singing their anthem on multiple tv screens. Scary.
I’m rambling. I tend to do that when I’m giddy and excited. I’m going to LA!!!!
Wooooooooooooo!!!
While July passed me by…
It’s been a while. It’s been quite a while, an eventful while, definitely worth the while!
I’ve been going through turbulent times, with extreme highs and lows. Leaving the secure path of becoming a psychologist to follow my passion does mean I struggle financially and get disappointed when people I work with seem to take it less seriously than I do. People I loved to work with, people I clicked with, people who inspired me to dive into the magic. I mourn lost songs and lost projects, adding them to the huge collection I built over the years of songs unheard, unfinished, unrecorded: Jayanti’s Double Album of Lost Songs. I hope and trust these songs will be given a rebirth and the right people will cross my path so that my lyrics, melodies and compositions will come alive as they are in my mind. But even through the lows, I feel this constant state of happiness, knowing there is no light without the dark. And the darker it gets, the brighter the light! Almost there!
Almost There
And the light is glorious! Skyrocketing highs, dazzling altitudes! This fall, I will be going to LA for a month!! A month!!! I am so excited, so happy, so thankful, so ecstatic, there is nothing that could pull down the corners of this continuous inner smile beaming from my soul. My first vacation in 10 years, this gives a new ring to work hard, play hard. And I will play hard! I’m meeting up with my friend, Brandon Brown, bass player extraordinaire and his band members and friends. We will jam in real life as we now do on Skype, sharing the deep love we both have for Michael Jackson (one thing we have in common is that as kids, he learned how to play the bass and I learned how to sing by doing Jackson 5 songs), Stevie Wonder and, well, MUSIC! We will go to Disneyland to see Captain EO!! I will see my cousin La Toya after almost 10 years, I can’t wait to watch her perform, she is a bad ass dancer and choreographer and we have always wanted to work together, and I believe that we will. Yes, I am incredibly excited and feel the blessings upon me. I am intensely grateful!!
At Vin’s house, while Win was sleeping…
Another celestial, Martian high: we started shooting my very first music video for the song Girl From Mars!! We will be shooting this month, and hopefully release the video in September. I got up at 3 am last night (Was it last night?? What day is it?!?), so we could shoot the opening scene at dawn. It was a one take guerilla shot, and one taxi driver even took pictures with his phone, while his colleagues stepped out of their cars to see what was going on, all with encouraging smiles. It was such a thrill!! Winand and Vinod Singh are shooting and directing the video (and doing a cameo in this first scene), and they also came up with the concept. We will shoot the rest of the scenes in two weeks and I can’t wait for you guys to see it! Yes! Almost there!!
Indulge (Part 2)
In July 2009, after having dinner with my friends, they asked me to sing something. We debated over the right song for me to sing: Baby Be Mine, The Way You Make Me Feel, Girl From Mars, even My Heart Will Go On (naw…) were thrown in there, until Cas asked me about the song I used to do back when we all met: Indulge.
This was my very first YouTube video (Life is a Musical!) and we even got featured on abduzeedo for the first time (Weak also got featured later on), a Brazilian inspirational website for artists. I did the first verse and chorus and promised to do the second verse when the time was right. Today was it! We’d had our eye on these colored columns for a minute, they seemed the perfect addition to the first Indulge video at the restaurant. I hope you will indulge in the lovely colors: peach & lavender…
I wrote this song when I was 15. I was sitting on my bed one afternoon and started singing it from beginning to end, the complete song came to me all at once. Funny thing about this song is, I met my closest friends during the days I performed with Indulge, including Win & Vin (my photos, videos, website) and Al Mar (my producer, co-writer, pianist). Al Mar has even done some vocal harmonies to this song at some of the shows, cause back then, he was a pianist and vocalist with a close harmony group and we were in a hip hop musical together. So Al Mar and I will definitely include Indulge in the Exotic Tinkerbell Music Tale, along with Girl from Mars, High on Life, Nightlight (with Kofi Anonymous) and a bunch of new songs that Al Mar and I are working on. Indulging in the lovely lovin’: inspiration galore!!
In case you missed it, here is Indulge (Part 1)
All Life is a Musical videos (a series of me singing anywhere: bookstore, subway, roof…)
Say Yes!!
Yes!! Almar and I -the Martian duo- got together to do a rendition of one of my favorite songs: Say Yes. Winand really captured the wonderful and magical musical chemistry between Al Mar aka Mr Almar Nooitmeer or the Man behind Girl From Mars (he’s my producer and co-writer and I adore him!) and myself. I am overjoyed!! Sooo happy!!! (and Mitch… I can’t wait to rock some songs with you, thank you so much for sharing your beautiful talented spirit with me… let’s make some magic!)
It is 5.25 am and I’m waiting for the video to upload. I’m at Win’s, who’s leaving for India tomorrow, attending some fancy media congress and shooting a pilot for a television series. I remember him conjuring up the idea for this tv show months ago and us thinking it would be the ultimate amazing perk for him to go to India and while we didn’t even know whether his pitch would make the cut (and of course it did!!) I think we were both convinced he would go. Win had already said yes to India, with bold determination, then having faith to let go and see where his stream would take him. As his twin Vin always says: it always works out. And now India is saying yes to Win.
I believe the universe will say yes to you once you decide to let go of your fear to fly and say yes to life. I say yes to life, I say yes to music, I say yes to singing and hope you will find it in your spirit to unfold your wings and say yes to your passion, too! Dare to be free!
Michael Jackson on Creating Magic
Michael Jackson is my mentor, that is how I feel. He inspires me like no other. I learned how to cultivate my voice, by listening to his early work, like Ben, Ain’t No Sunshine and I Wanna Be Where You Are when I was a little girl. I’d perform these songs with my afro wig on, at talent shows and weddings. After writing my first song “Starlight” when I was 7 and had just gotten back from a family visit in the States and was longing to go back, watching the tiny specks of light of airplanes moving across the sky, I studied Michael’s work on Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad and was amazed by the art of creating songs. The game of making up songs was called songwriting, and the melodies I hummed were compositions, the way I changed the melody when I found the right words were arrangements… How marvelous!!
My mom took me to his concerts and each time, we’d fly (that’s how I remember it, now I really don’t understand how she did it!) all the way to the front row, me and mama, nobody in front of us, just a clear view of The Master. She taught me one of my most valued life lessons: picture yourself already standing there, it is where you’re supposed to be! The security guards even placed me in front of the barrier when I was really young and even shorter than I am now (yeah..) so I was able to dance and run and feel like I was hanging out with Mike while he was performing… Amazing!
Part 1
On this full moon, I would like to share a rare interview my mom found (yes, mom, you were right…. it’s beautiful and I should have watched it right away and I didn’t and I’m an idiot…) which I think is so special, because he really talks about the process of creating and you can see little J5 Michael in his face, his gestures, his voice, his smile. His smile… :o)
Part 2
Thank you, Michael, and happy Full Moon to you, may your spirit be blessed and dance on the tides of the universe, as it always has!! I love you…
Nightlight: Layering the Chorus (draft)
So here’s a first draft of the backing vocals to Nightlight’s chorus. I basically recorded these vocals as a guideline which I will write the lead vocals to and Rory aka Kofi Anonymous will use to deepen the song musically.
First, I did the higher vocals which I doubled and then layered with lower vocals which I also doubled. Then you’ll see Mr Kofi aka Rory listening to all 4 voices on the basic beat (in the final version, the lower vocals will be much less prominent to mesh with the high vocals). Later on, when both Rory and I finish our parts (me: completing the lyrics and vocal arrangement for the verses, lead vocals and ad libs – Rory: completing the musical composition and arrangements), I will sing this all over again to make a perfect blend with the rest of the components of the song.
Next week, I’m seeing Al Mar and Mitchell again, the guys I made Girl From Mars with. We’re working on 5 new tracks (one at a time!! :o>) and will also do some acoustic videos in the coming weeks.
Flip Nightlight Electronica
Uhuh, now that’s a title!! :op
I’ve been awesomely busy these past few weeks, writing songs, doing the photo shoot selection, writing songs, reading the first Harry Potter for the 7th (?) time to relax before bed [vital!], writing songs, going to music sessions… Yeah. And writing songs.
Also, I am very excited to tell you that I just made my very first Flip video! Wooooo!! Yeah!!!! The idea is to bring my new lil friend with me wherever I go, so I’ll bring him (yes him, hush..) to my music session tomorrow and kind of have you tag along… In a good way! :o) So you can see what I do and how I write my songs, work with the producers and rehearse.
On this first flip vid, I was writing (am still writing) one of my new songs Nightlight. When, right in the middle of it, Win pings me to tell me about the awesome dopeness of tonight’s Jay Electronica concert. See I was supposed to go!!! But I forgot that it was on the same night that I had a session earlier and then I also had a session the day after, which is tomorrow. Anyway… this is me with the Flipman.
listen closely and hear the draft of Nightlight thru my headphones
Tell Ya Momma about Soundwaves & Red!
Just a quick rave about Soundwaves, an LA based radio show I’m adoring. Their playlists send me into a frenzy, it’s like being at your cool friend’s house.. You know the one who has rows upon rows of all the classic gems from way back and seems to be up to date to every fresh song that just popped out of the ground? Yes indeed, the two hosts know their music and I’m happy to know about their show, so I had to share!
I was listening to this show when I first heard this song, by Red: “I Should Tell Ya Momma On You”. Check this video to watch him simultaneously using his grimy voice for the catchy hook and his deep, funked up beat boxing while literally slamming the beat on his chest. Awesome!! Apparently, he was (I hope it’s past tense..??) homeless when they discovered him, so seriously, if you dig this like I do, get on iTunes and support this guy!
I especially love -and bought- the first two versions: the original beatbox version and the Dam Funk remix.
Seeing Sparks: Simply Beautiful
Wow, I feel soooo great!!! I had the most delightful birthday (Nov 17th) with my mom and my closest friends, with loving birthday wishes (Dumbledore even made an appearance courtesy of Dão!!) from family & friends here and abroad. Thank you all so much for thinking of me on the day my New Year started!
And now I’ve been working on 5 songs, different producers, different vibes, yet all very close to my spirit. There is so much love around and inside of me, it’s like watching and creating a dance.. It’s all coming together and it makes me so happy!!
But last night I also made some actual, factual, tangible moves at my friend Irina’s birthday bash. I ended up getting salsa dancing pointers from Jef the salsa pro… So much fun! I’m thinking I’ll have to join them on Thursdays shakin it, just my kind of thing!
Tomorrow I’m starting my new part time temp office job, exactly what I need right now to juggle the Passion and my rent.. I’ve been meeting up with people online and offline about my music, these are exciting times for me! There is so much magic in the mundane if you only open yourself up to see it! So I’m trying to pour those sparks into my songs every free second I get.
Keep an eye out for the sparks lighting up your day eager for you to see them!
And maybe Al can help… :o)
Thank you Greg, for pointing me to this magical song with your amazingly smoldering bass shining thru on the Al Green rendition Ms. Sexy… Keep playing as you are: I hear ya!
Performing my Martian anthem!
The showcase was wonderful!! I got to sing
Girl From Mars -my theme song- which I was really excited about and it felt amazing to see and feel people really digging it! Kudos to Gio and Dao for organizing such a beautiful night… Everything was on point and the vibe was just lovely! Thank you so much for allowing me to share part of my soul at Life One Stage…
And thank you Win, for leaving your own birthday party with me to make this video!!
Here’s a virtual hug to everyone who came out to see me and sent me love, whether at the venue or on youtube, in person or online (it really is a small world after all..) :o) (((((martianhug)))))
Reaching for Higher Ground
To me, the best feeling in the world, is to feel free. While immersed in music, my emotions go through the roof, up to the skies above and return to me covered in stardust, magically magnified…
In my latest Life is a Musical adventure, magic flowed into the concrete form of a rooftop and tickled my vocal chords into melody.
And I felt free!
I wrote a third verse to the song Fever about the epic love story Laila Majnu. I was inspired by the last act of the Bollywood movie Aaja Nachle, which amazed me with it’s use of color, narrative style and play-within-a-play portrayal of this beautiful tale. Click here if you’d like to watch the scene.
Creating Happy Human Beings
Beautiful, inspirational, and most of all: true!! If you have children; if you ever were one*; if at heart, you still are a kid: Sir Ken is speaking to you!
One of the most spellbinding lectures I have ever seen…
*send me a message if you’re the exception, I’d be most interested!
For more delicious bites of brain food: TED
Indulge (Part 1)
And so… Now that I’ve hopped on the Songstress plane, life is all song and praise! :op
I wrote this song, “Indulge”, when I was 15 and feeling romantic…
*This is the first verse and chorus, when the vibe is right and the Songstress plane is airborne again, I will do the rest of the song and post part 2. Any ideas for the setting…? Another restaurant? Up a tree?? Feel free to send me your ideas and if at all logistically possible, I will do it! Because, dammit: Yes We Can!!!*
