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For up to date entries please visit my new blog www.SingToMeMama.com January 27. 11 HAPPY 2011!  It’s another snowy day here in New Brunswick, schools are cancelled and the streets look very messy. Snow is piling up everywhere… Glad I have nowhere to go or be today. I have been concentrating on writing songs these days. One of my goals for this year is to write and record a new album. I had the pleasure of co-writing another song with my friend , - we met up in Toronto just before Christmas while I was there performing with Valdy at Hugh’s Room. I also wrote a song with the help of who was in Saint John not long ago performing at Imperial Theatre and had some time to spare to get together for a songwriting session. Both new songs are fun and I am looking forward to hearing them evolve in the studio and on stage. It’s getting more difficult to play guitar these days…my baby bump is getting in the way! YES, the rumors are true…I am expecting a baby boy this spring :) My husband and I are getting anxious to meet our new wee guy and to see his little face. With a new baby in my life I am sure it will bring a new found inspiration to my music and writing .  I plan to take a few months off from design work and music to get adjusted to being a mom and rested of course…I hear there is not much sleep involved with a new baby :/ I am, however, scheduled to sing at this year’s ECMA Socan Songwriter’s Circle with fellow east coast artists Jen Grant, Rose Cousins and Lennie Gallant - merely 2 weeks after my due date so I am hoping all goes well with the delivery and that I am able to take part. This is a prestigious event and one I have been looking forward to being a part of for some time now…baby will have to come along for the trip to PEI! I am also nominated for an ECMA - DVD of the Year! Below is the trailor for the DVD and you can learn more about the project on the website: www.JessicaRhayeDVD.com  We said goodbye to one of Saint John’s finest performance venues this year :( – the Blue Olive will be sadly missed. The band and I were grateful for being asked to play in the finale show along with . The place was packed with loyal fans and patrons who didn’t want the night to end. All the best to owners Chris and John on your new restaurant venture - and thanks for the great times and shows you brought us over the years. Looking back, 2010 was a very busy and satisfying year musically… the band and I were in Memphis for Folk Alliance, Vancouver for the Olympics, we showcased at Ontario Contact and Contact East and we played lots of fun summer festivals and in some really great music venues around the east coast. I was in Newfoundland for the Junos, in Ottawa for Canada Day and got to perform one of my songs with a string quartet for the first time, which was a dream come true. I am hoping 2011 brings lots more music opportunities, inspiration and a new album! Keep your eyes and ears peeled for me! My last show before the baby arrives is next week - Chris Braydon, my guitar player, and I are supporting on February 2nd at The Fredericton Playhouse. Should be a fun show! Now to find something to wear… looking forward to fitting into some of my dresses again soon! xo JRhaye November 1. 10 Here it is my day off and I still find myself sitting at my computer :/ I can’t seem to get away from it no matter how hard I try! Just got home from a great weekend at Ontario Contact. The band and I had a showcase at the Stockey Centre in Parry Sound. Poor Matt, my bandmate, had the worst flight day ever… he started out on a plane at 6am in the morning only to de-board that plane because of technical issues and had to be shuttled to an entirely different city and airport to catch the next available flight. On the way to the next airport, the speeding shuttle (160) blew a tire! Finally Matt was on a plane and heading to TO…I would have been thinking to myself, “Maybe I am not supposed to fly today…” Once he landed in Toronto to meet up with the rest of the band, his guitar was no where to be found :/… we almost had to ask Dave Carroll (United Breaks Guitars - YouTube Star), who was also showcasing at Ontario Contact, if we could borrow his guitar!!! Matt's guitar finally did arrive (rather late, but in one piece) and the band made it just in time for sound check. The showcase was fun and we made lots of contacts for potential shows in the new year. I got home yesterday evening just in time to hand out treats to trick-or-treaters. I was walking up my front steps with 2 ninjas in my tracks! I just hung my 4 Music New Brunswick awards on the wall today! So very happy to have been part of the MNB celebration and even more excited to walk away with Female Recording, Folk Recording, DVD and Graphic designer of the year awards! It was a fun night of music and celebration of New Brunswick musicians. So proud to be and NBer :) I am planning on taking some time away from graphics over the next couple of months and really concentrating on writing more material for another recording in the spring. I am feeling inspired these days as a result of some life changes and am hoping it will fuel my creativity and get the lyric and music juices flowing! I have a couple of fun upcoming shows - I will be in TO sharing the stage with Valdy at Hugh’s Room on November 24th and then flying home to join my good friend and musician Brent Mason, in Hampton at the Vintage Bistro on November 25th for a double bill night of entertainment. Brent and I will both have our bands with us. Should be a fun night and hope to see lots of hometown support! Well, I think I will pack away my Halloween decorations for another year and maybe start looking at what I have for Christmas décor….oh dear…that seems so weird to say! However it was snowing when we landed in Saint John yesterday :/ It’s not too far away really. Time is flying! xo JRhaye |
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