Nu Ingenue

What I know for sure:

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:23:04 -0400

If I don’t make music:
-no one will care
-my head will blow up
-I’ll live a normal life
-my existence will be dismally uneventful
-I’ll probably develop a passion for ebay
-my relationships will suck
-showers won’t be exciting anymore
-I’ll care a lot more about my grades
-I’ll stop dating musicians
-I’ll feel a lot like what I feel like right now, except longer and worse
-someone with a great voice will make it big at 23 and I’ll spend a week in bed thinking what if
-i’ll stop caring, living, feeling, creating, enjoying, laughing and making melodramic generalizations.

It’s just not an option.

oy

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 19:11:15 -0400

So, I’ve been at Stanford for what feels like years now, entirely neglecting my musical career. What have I become…

My producer nick says we need to get people hyped on my new album, coming out November the ?, 200?.

Yeah.

So, I’m 21 on Monday and having an existentialist crisis, but not really. I’m just kinda like, “where’s my music?” and “if I like music so much why am I not making more if it?” and “statistically haven’t I missed my chances of making it big?” and “if that’s true, why am I still putting out stuff? do I want to make it big? will i someday own a vineyard and make music all day? is that what I want to do?” and the answer is yes. Yes, that’s what I want to do with my life.

There are only two problems with that plan: I don’t know shit about vineyards and I haven’t put out any music.

Nu, welcome to the vast social group of aspiring artists.

revolutionary

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:58:33 -0400

Recap of my life.

There’s been a lull in the recording process of late, even though we’ve got some very promising songs in the making. First Carlos was out of town and now nick won’t be able to record till NEXT Thursday and thenhe leaves AGAIN. In conclusion, my nails are short.

On the bright side today I got a membership to a gym (to tone up before school…for two whole weeks), AND I got my hair colored without asking anyone’s permission (because I’m a rebel), AND there was a thunderstorm last night, AND I got a new phone that’s the coolest thing since frozen pizza, AND I’m really happy because I talked to a friend on the way home…and this is a run-on sentence.

Wow. I’m tired now. But my hair is other-worldly.

wee!

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:13:34 -0400

people like the song…isn’t that wonderful? i think it’s wonderful. so much good feedback and pleasantly surprised friends. i can’t wait to get our next song up…

yay!

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 18:12:17 -0400

public service announcement

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:38:14 -0400

public service announcement

advocating working on weekends

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 19:42:42 -0400

This blogging thing is becoming an addiction.

Nick left the office after editing “spell shop” and the drum track for our next hitoramee.

Now I’m here with Colin and he’s pimping my myspace, and doing a beautiful job of it. In the meantime I’m editing a video of one of our practices (which will soon be posted for all to see).

I can’t believe how productive these past two days have been. Wow. I made a rather large oil painting yesterday. Cleo laid on the bed behind me and commented occasionally. I’m pretty sure we both approve of the final product despite the arduous process and the fact that I did had to keep checking my brush for cat hairs.

Then, today we did all this music stuff (which I can’t actually take credit for) and I’m really excited about it, so have to let the world know.

Photo

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:55:16 -0400

edit THIS.

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:21:30 -0400

So I’m at the office right now, and we’re editing the last version of “lady in the spell shop.” It’s taking a long time. But that’s ok. Because it’s going to blow Antarctica out of the water…and you.

If any of you have ever heard someone editing music or video or something, you know that it sounds like musical aliens attacking the globe. It’s probably the most annoying and frightening sound in the world. Like mice singing along to Aqua while playing Doom.

Why that comparison? I wish I could tell you.

Today we’re going to try to get my myspace up and running. Is it me, or does “my myspace” sound really redundant? And also, why is it called myspace when it’s probably the farthest thing from being “my space” in the world? I mean, if it’s really MY space, then why do people look at it every day as if it were theirs? And more importantly, why are these people naked? If that’s modern day society’s definition of personal space…i like it.

Ok. Nick is almost done editing. I should post this and be on my merry way.

what you’ve missed out on…

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 21:24:06 -0400

what you’ve missed out on…

conversation with cleo

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 15:21:22 -0400

conversation with cleo

deep sorrow

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 21:41:46 -0400

but not really.

More like…frustration. And disappointment. “the lady in the spell shop” is still in need of vocals. Yes, this project that was only supposed to take a week per song has taken more than a month and we still have yet to produce one track.

And the masses are protesting.

Well, not really but they would if they knew what they were missing.

I don’t even know what I’m missing. Maybe I’m just impatient. And I have a pimple. The tiny curse that has the power to ruin an entire fortunate day. And to be honest, the day has been fortunate enough. I mean…I made music all day. It wasn’t MY music, but it was music. Music for little ads. Music that cannot go on a resume because it’s technically just musak.

Oh well…all in good time.

There's someone in my life who...

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 21:08:35 -0400

What if I had a series of blogs that all began with that? For example:

There’s someone in my life who has a boyfriend who doesn’t deserve her, but she thinks he does, but I think she’s wrong.

Would that be creepy? Would it be insulting? Or presumptuous? Because I don’t want to hurt feelings…but then again, if I’m not revealing any names, no one will know. Except for the people who think it’s them. And let’s be honest…just about any girl could read that statement and think, “Is she writing about me?” And the worst part is, if you think think that thought then it probably does apply to you whether I know you or not, which means that you should dump him or at least reevaluate your commitment level.

On that note, I dreamt of an ex last night. Not in a sexual way or anything. Well…I mean…he wanted to hook up with me. But I declined. As it turned out he was completely high and drunk off his ass, which wasn’t helping his dream-image. He asked me why not and I thought for a minute. Then I told him, “because I don’t want that to be the sum of my worth.” And he looked back at me earnestly and said, “I like that.”

I can see how that would be a really profound line for someone high in a dream, but looking back on it, it didn’t even really make sense. what the bejeesers is the sum of someone’s worth anyway? That’s just silly. But apparently, he liked it.

Good News...

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:54:16 -0400

…and I don’t mean the Bible…although in comparison this isn’t all that important.

But still. This is kind of important. Not in the scope of eternity. We haven’t saved any lives or cured any diseases. Yet. But we’re recording. Yep. It’s pretty insanely cool. We started out with drums and then did bass and then keyboard and then vocals and then more vocals. Well, actually that’s just wishful thinking. TOMORROW we’ll be recording more vocals.

And the day after that, if inspiration dawns on us, we shall write more beauteous songs.

Like I said, it’s no Genesis…but it feels pretty damn close.

Haze

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:04:04 -0400

Last night, something changed. I can’t tell you what, but I feel that it is extremely important. I’ve gone about my morning in a total haze. My alarm didn’t go off, so I slept extremely well till I flew out of my bed around 8:00. And I don’t mean like birds fly, I mean like projectiles fly off of an exploding car in one of those high speed movies.

…Long analogy. No wait, comparison. Gosh, I took English. I should know this.

Anyhow, back to the haze. I walk about in a complete haze. I suddenly look down at the table and realize that milk has been poured onto my frosted mini-wheats, and that there is a small glass of orange juice next to the bowl. Who did it? Probably me, seeing as I’m inquisitively staring at the carton of milk in my hand wondering just that. But I have no recollection of the events.

Kind of like everything that happened before my 10th birthday. It didn’t happen. But that’s another story.

Not Worrying

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 14:00:36 -0400

Functioning showers are a blessing—one that far too many people take overlook. Today, like yesterday, began with a bird bath: me frantically scooping water that was dripping from the faucet. I don’t know whether it’s water pressure or something in the pipes, or an underground plot contrived by genetically modified rats planning to take over the world, but one thing’s for sure: it’s a real bummer. And when I say “bummer” what I really mean is “fucking mess that inspires angry and irrational feelings.”

Whoo. Glad I got that out.

There’s not much in life that’s as irritating as a dripping faucet or an overdraft fee, and I got both today. These combined with my stagnant music career and lack of 4-year success plan naturally caused me to question my entire existence and purpose in this crazy world.

A friend of mine reminded me that I shouldn’t quit: not because if I persisted people would care, but rather because if I didn’t persist, no one would care. It was more encouraging than I make it sound. It’s pretty true. No one gives a damn if you quit.

So, here are the facts: I’m an art major, mastering in French Literature and my true passion is music. I’m eventually going to have a real job, because I’m not very lucky, and the chances of me winning the lottery or discovering a rich dead relative are slim to none. If that did happen, or better yet—if I actually became successful at something—I would buy a vineyard, read and make music.

If anyone steals my ingenious idea, I will hunt them down and steal their books and burn their grapes.

So, I was thinking, either I take control of my life and believe that I’m in control (which is a pretty but deceptive idea) or I let go. Either I become a business major and drop the whole artistic thing, or I let go, have fun and let life lead me where it will.

Ok, so it’s lame and hardly philosophical, but it essentially comes down to just that. And since worrying gets you absolutely nowhere, I don’t see why I should start now. It’s hard enough to get anywhere when you’re NOT worrying. But still, even if I decide not to worry…how does that affect my life practically speaking? Do I still major in art? Does it matter? Does anyone out there have the answers???

Grargrahagr…

Not. Worrying.

Video

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:04:55 -0400

Little Birdies

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:41:27 -0400

Blog by Nu Ingenue (musician/vocalist/songwriter)
Commentary by Colin Wright (designer)

So I’m really bad at all of this blogging stuff. It’s not that I don’t WANT to keep people updated on my thrilling life. It’s just that…well there’s nothing really thrilling about it for the moment.

I think you might be surprised what people find interesting about other people’s every day lives. What is mundane for you might be wildly interesting for someone else.

This means that I will have to entertain everyone (and by everyone I mean my currently nonexistent public) with my wit and general knowledge.

Well damn, I guess we’re done for, then. It was a nice try.

Or I could just tell you about what happened last night. (Don’t get excited, I’m not going to tell you THAT much.) A lot of stuff came up at our first practice. Basically, Nick/Vincent (I never know whether to call him by his producer name, Nick or his stage name, Vincent…how complicated the art world is…) told me that I needed to set down my bass for a while.

It was actually a lot more roundabout than this, but that was the long and short of it, I suppose. He seemed very hesitant to bring it up, and you were actually a lot more accepting of it than I thought you would be when I heard it.

This, as you can imagine—or perhaps cannot—came as a huge blow to me: for as long as I can remember I’ve been writing songs with the bass. Stripping the instrument from the songs therefore felt very unnatural and slightly insulting. After all, what do the songs have apart from vocals and a bass line?

Your music does, in it’s natural state (at this point), have a very coffeehouse feel to it…just a bass and beautiful vocals. It does make sense what he says, though, that once you are forced to change it up a bit, there will then be room for other sounds to enter the mix, hopefully ending up with a more mature and full sound.

Then he explained, and little birdies peeled open my overcast mind to reveal sunshine and happy thoughts. It wasn’t that he didn’t WANT the bass: it was just that he wanted to leave room for other instruments first and then work the bass back in.

I like the little birdy visual. Very creative.

Phew.

So now my question is: how does that work “practically”? How do I teach anyone the songs without the bass???

My question is: how did you intend to do so WITH it? You always say that you aren’t as up on the theory as just writing by sound and intuition…how do you teach someone else that?

I guess time will tell…