Tawny Ellis

Sunday morning coffee and reflection.

A monumental month this has been. The album was released on the 11th and we have played 3 shows in the last few weeks in L.A. and all have been incredibly fun. Some great reviews of the album have come in and that feels great.

Our record release show at Villains  was one of the best shows I can recall EVER! Playing with Cisco Deluna and Quinn is a revelation! They are so sensitive and textural and they seem to understand the way I hear and feel music and how I intend to present it live, and we are all smiles when we get together to play. Such good vibes. I feel extremely blessed to have this cosmic understanding that is almost impossible to come by and I do not take it for grated. Gio and I are very happy with them and want to play as many shows as possible with this band. Also Scarlet Rivera joined us on stage for 4 songs and it was insane fun! We played "One More Cup of Coffee" (our Dylan cover) and she sounds just like she did when she played on the original with Bob! Her gypsy soul and tone are stunning..I feel lucky to play with her. We have a video of it we will post soon.

We are excited to play the Bootleg in a few weeks!

I have been spending a lot of time sculpting, getting ready for an upcoming art show on Dec 1st downtown at Art Share. I was excited to sell my piece I donated to The Lance Armstrong foundation, Reese Witherspoon and her Husband bought it in the auction a few weeks ago. It was honor to know the money goes to such a great cause. Now I figure I best be producing more art! I am having fun creating a whole line of wire shoes for the upcoming show. So my life is blessed with making art and playing music, good friends and the wonderment that is life.

Do you want to know what my dream is?.....well it looks very close to what my life is now. I would like to play the Greek Theater! Next stop: The Greek! "Dream big...you will land close"....ha, it's just up the hill from here.

I welcome November with an open and fearless heart.

Thanks for your curiosity, come on back soon ...peace and love ox, T

It was a restful weekend and fun too. On Staurday nght we celebrated my dear friend Mark Schulmans (drummer for Pink and other spectacular artists), his lovely wife Lisa threw him a wonderful party and we played with many other of friends till weeee hours of the morning. He is such a lovely person! What a joy it was. I also sculpted a snare drum in wire for him as a gift...here's a pix!

Today we confirmed to venue for the c.d. pre-release listening party and confirmed to VJAY! I thinks it's going to be a really special night!! Sept 22nd just for friends! Can't wait!!!!

Also we nailed down the C.D release date: Oct 11th!!! Sounds like a pretty solid date!!!! Last October I was in France writing and recording these songs. I can't believe it's been a year already!

So much to do...thank God I have my friend Michelle to help me get it all ready!!! I luh her!

Tonight we rehearse with Cisco (lap steel) the newest addition to our live show..he is so amazing...how lucky I am to play with him and Gio too. !

love and more music for your ears and soul

ox

T

Wow. it is Monday the 15th of August and the moon was full in Aquarius on Saturday night. It looked completely full on Friday Saturday and Sunday night..

On Friday I sent the final master and the artwork for the album to the duplication house to print! Wow. I think we have been working on this album from the first song we wrote for it about 2 years ago. It is the end of a significant phase for me and for Gio my partner. It is also the beginning a a new phase, I am very excited about.

Also I must say on a personal level I had the strange and powerful experience of going to see a concert at California Plaza on Saturday night and I saw from the moment I walked in the venue I saw that my X husband was the percussionist with this most amazing band with an Iranian singer they were spectactular...music in this most beautiful setting with the full moon and my x husband who I havent seen in 10 years playing on stage.

My friend who I was with wanted to go say hello to her friend the singer after the show so I thought well there's no time like the present to come full circle and say hello to him. He was sweet and kind and very attentive (we didnt end on the best terms) anyway his new wife came to introduce herself and thier baby and it was so sweet. Just lovely really to have this moment and to see him in his new life. It was very good to give him my good strong and pure energy wishing him well.

But One thing was clear to me he had not changed much, I must have asked him 20 questions about what he's doing how's his family etc...he bought a house, he's going on tour ect....he was so happy to fill me in with lots of details and then he asked me nothing about my life or family... nothing at all! I offered a few things to a "oh that's cool' response but there was no cultivating or celebrating (just as it had been when I was with him). I am so blessed that fate had it that I would not remain married to someone who doesn't share and is not interested in me or probably not anyone else either. Long time has passed but it still brought up emotions...wow I have grown so much!

Life is in full color these days FULL COLOR!!!! I am blessed to have the supportive friends and family I have now in my life and I do not regret anything.

I love what I do. I am following my dream. I am amazed that I have to opportunity to share my music with the world.

Here's where it is today. The mastering of this record has brought it to another level of beauty that actually blows my mind...I have to give some serious props to Shelly Yaukus for taking time to make the songs come to life in a way that up until now I have only heard in my heart! What a gift!

So picking the order of the songs is what is at hand. The artwork is almost done! Goes to print sometime next week!

All of this takes so much concentration and you want to get it right ...once it goes to print well that's it!

Being independent is not an easy road for an artist. There are so many opportunities and web sites and companies that say they will place your stuff etc...I cannot tell if any of them are for real. A lot of them ask a fee as to listen...this is scary and could drain you of every penny you have and they may not even listen. How to sort through the scams?...Also what about the time involved...I hate wasting time! That's just one of my concerns...just thought I would share :)

Back to the empowered side of this....being in control is quite awesome also!!!!

OK back to work now, thanks for checking in.

Today the new website has been launched! A lot of work has gone in to the new look of it. Please let me know if the are any issues with it as you check it out. The record is on the hands of the most amazing Shelly Zakus, not only is he the nicest guy you would want to meet but talented too. He is responsible for the mixing and mastering of so many great albums i.e, Imagine by John Lennon and ...U2, Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks to name a few. I am blessed to have him on the team to make my record sound amazing!

I have been in the Ozarks in Arkansas visiting my Mom and it has bee a great place to just recharge after the push to get the album done. From here I am have been working on and approving Album artwork, website, playing my guitar, talking with Mom for hours and going for long walks. When I get back to L.A. It will be pretty hectic again so I am trying to take every moment as it comes. I watched Country Strong last night (which I thought I would hate, but it was good)...and I cried at the end! My mom has a crush on the lead guy Garret somebody, haha.

Today I am going to a glass church in the woods called the Thorn Temple Chapel to sing some songs for a few friends who live here. The acoustics are supposed to be out of this world. I have a few songs picked out: a few of my own but I'm going to sing halellujia, by Leonard Cohen, The Maker by Daniel Lanios to name a few....should be a great day! oxo

 The rest of the song wrote itself! We are recording it on friday with the talented Daniel Ahearn And Joj O (from Marcus Ordinanry). They are super talents and I am blessed to work with them. Hey now the album is on the way...I am debating if its an album or an EP ...what re the pro's and con's of this...I have 7 songs ready...do I run with this or do I wait for the rest??? They are written but in various stages of being ready for pressing.

I am off to mine up this verse now ! ox

April 18th is coming up! Have you registered for the Run/Walk? Please join us!

Learn everything you need to know at www.liveearth.org

See you there!!!

can't wait!

ox

T

Today is March 9th. Tomorrow is my birthday and we will be in Santa Fe NM. I am in the RV with Gio and Kemble. We just got to Pheonix!!!

Pulling over for lunch. SXSW should be a blast (never played it before)...

Very excited to play in Santa Fe on Thursday night!.... 

back soon