Contemplation on a comment...

Hi everyone :)

A good friend posted an interesting comment on my latest video...and it made me think...so I'm just going to write down a few of those thoughts...

The comment said that I must have lived a lot of life to be able to write the things I do. Which I thought was very interesting.

It's strange, but I really haven't in certain ways. I don't get out much, my idea of fun is just sat listening to Joni Mitchell on vinyl and watching the world go by from my bedroom window. Or sitting at the top of Tennyson Downs and just thinking.

It's a very innocent way to be I guess. People have commented (in real life...not that YouTube etc. isn't real life - but you know what I mean... :)) that I'm naive and quite innocent, and that it seems like I don't know what goes on in the real world. I'm living as if I were seven still...but I know what the 'real world' is like. Hang on, what is the 'real world'? Surely the phrase is defined by the individual...it has billions of different meanings.

It seems the definition according to teenagers living in England is going out, trying to fit in with those around you to seem 'cool' (whatever that means) - by (maybe) drinking and preferably looking like someone from a magazine. People have said to me (people my own age) - 'You're a teenager! Act like one.' Which I think is ridiculous...that's like saying...'You're an OAP! Act like one!' You'd get a lot more stick for saying that. It feels like they think you should fit into a certain box, and because you don't, it confuses them.

I am who I am. And I like living that way, and I'm not doing anyone any harm, so I'm not going to change. I like talking to people who are older than me because I find what they have to say is interesting and I feel I learn from them. I like reading poetry, because I find it interesting. I like learning about software, because it's interesting. I love music and the effect it has on us, because it's interesting. I find 'interesting' just as fun as (I expect) teenagers find normal teenager-esque things that I'm not inclined to...

Back to the comment...

On the surface...I guess the answer is no. I haven't really 'lived'. But mentally, I guess I have. From the situations and people I've encountered I've learnt to separate what I feel is important from the not so important. - And I guess I've decided on different things to people around me who are my age.

My songs are stories, thoughts and moments based around the things I find important.

The fact that my parents are slightly older parents might have something to do with it. As a child I remember being taught to have respect, good manners etc. and going through school I encountered people who hadn't been taught those things...and I didn't like the look of being shouted at in front of the class, so I decided to stick with my good manners and respect....of course, you make the decisions subconsciously though.

When I think back to my childhood, there are a few things that really stand out.

When it was time for me to go to bed, my Mum would come into my room and say goodnight to me, and sing bits of songs to me. Que Sera Sera, A Mouse Lived In A Windmill and Killing Me Softly. And every other night, my Dad would come in and tell me stories about when he was younger and the things that he and his friends used to do. I used to love that so much.

And I've carried that love of creativity with me. And I apply it to things I encounter everyday. I love how words sound when you put them together in a certain way, and I love making stories out of those sounds. I especially love it when someone else can also relate to what I've produced. Music is deeper than thought, it comes from the core of you and to connect with someone else's core is a wonderful feeling.

And I'm always making up stories in my head. I pretty much live in a fantasy world actually. It's not that I don't know about the 'real world' - it's just that I choose to live elsewhere. It suits me better.

I'm sorry for the long, contemplative, possibly slightly confusing post. (Well, I'M confused. :-S) I was trying to work out the answer as I was going along. But now I realise that there is no answer.

Should have known. ;)

A Thursday

Hello again. :)

There were about 13 at choir on Tuesday. That's a kind of middly amount really. Don't get me wrong, they're a lovely bunch. :) Choir is the highlight of my week, but it would also be lovely to see them all more regularly.

Today I've been practising for some of the gigs I've got coming up. - One this Saturday, and one next Saturday. :) Among the new songs are these two...

:)

Chelsea Morning is one that I've been wanting to learn for ages but have never quite mastered the guitar part. But I think I've nearly got it now. :D I'd love to be a lot better at the guitar than I am at the mo.

I hope everyone is groovy. :) I'm still waiting for my proofs from the printers. - Should be soon... :)

TTFN xxxxx

A Tuesday afternoon...

Hi everyone :)

I just wanted to say a big thankyou for your brilliant comments on my newest video. :) I'm really pleased that you like it. :)

I'm going into school to do choir this afternoon. Hopefully there will be a few people there. The number tends to vary quite a lot really...from 20 something to about 5. :-S I know what it's like after a day at school, you just want to go home and relax. But I can now sympathise greatly with the teachers too. If the students have committed to doing something then they should stick with it. If I can't make it to something I said I'd go to then I always let the person know that I won't be there before it starts. I consider that as just being polite. If they don't want to do it anymore, then that's fine too, they just have to say. That's all.

And that's all for my little rant too. Lol.

We're actually going to try to do a mini-concert thing soon, so we need everyone to be at rehearsals. I'll let you know when I get back. ;)

TTFN,

Hollyxx

Riddles and Rhymes - a Holly Kirby original. :)

I did a vid. :)

A matter of fancy dress... :)

Hello everyone :)

Just thought I'd do a bit of a blog for you. :)

The album artwork is currently at the manufacturers and I hope to be receiving the proofs next week. :) Then I need to send them back and say they're OK and then they make my CDs! :) Cool, huh? The manufacturers are very good and very helpful. They like everything to be just so, which is nice. :)

I have a question for you now... after a comment on my previous blog I had a thought... ;)

At stated in the previous blog, I'm playing at the Bestival later this year. :) And at the Bestival they always have a dressing up theme. In the past it has been 'space', and 'the sea' - but this year it's 'fantasy'...

Here's what Rob da Bank (Bestival organiser) has to say about it. :)

Rob da Bank says: "Roll up roll up tribe of the Bestivalites: descend from your starships, rise out of the seabed, fall from the stars, unleash the Magick and release your imagination into our 2010 world of FANTASY. Open the gates and welcome in Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Wonderful Wizard Of Oz, The Lord of the Rings, hobbits, trolls, elves, fairies, the Odyssey, King Arthur, Merlin, the Dong with the luminous nose, William Morris, A Midsummer Nights Dream, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Willy Wonka, Sir Gawain and The Green Knight, Harry Potter, Spirited Away, The Time Machine, Star Wars, the Incredible Hulk, Magick, the supernatural, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Lord Ganesh, Fantasy Island, Caractacus Potts, Tarzan, Veruca Salt, Zombies ... the only limit is how far your mind's eye can see!"

I was just wondering if you had any ideas as to what I should go as? :) I like dressing up as quirky things...but I can't think of anything at the mo! Lol. And I'm sure that you've got some ideas! :)

Please feel free to let me know in the comments box! :)

TTFN xxxxxxx

CD art and Bestivaaaaal!!!

Hi everyone. :)

Hope you're groovy. :) I hope you've had a good weekend. - I've been in Bournemouth and arrived home yesterday.

I thought I'd do a quick blog to let you know that I've sent off my artwork to the manufacturers! Hooraaaay!!! :D Hopefully everything will be in order. :-S *Fingers crossed* - ooh, also...

I'm going to be playing at the Bestival! On the bandstand. :) - Here's a link to the...

Really cool Bestival website. :)

Right, I'd best be off now - I'm going to do a bit of recording. :)

TTFN,

Lots of love.xxxxx

Spicy Tuna Cakes :)

I'm currently feeling very chuffed with myself after cooking lunch AND tea for myself! :-O

For lunch I cooked some 'Spicy Tuna Cakes' :) - I kind of made up the recipe a bit though. And it worked! WOO! :D I did have a guide recipe, but I didn't have stuff that was on it.

For 6 large(ish) cakes I used...

2 tins of tuna
2 and a half tablespoons of mayo
2 and a half teaspoons of curry powder
1 egg (partly beaten)
A sprinkling of garlic
A good squeeze of fresh lemon juice
1 and a half teaspoons of English Mustard
1/3 cup of breadcrumbs
1 small onion/half an onion - finely diced
A sprinkling of black pepper

Then I splooged them together to make 'patties'? (I think that's what American people say. Lol.) And then I dredged them in a mix made of...

1/4 cup of plain flour
1/3 cup of breadcrumbs
A pinch of salt

And then I put them in the frying pan and cooked them until they had a nice crispy, golden brown outside layer. :)

They didn't fall apart! :-O And they ACTUALLY tasted yummy!!! :-O :-O I couldn't believe it! Lol. I ate them (well some of them ;)) with a sweet chilli dipping sauce which was reeeeeeeeeally yummy. :)

Here they are...
:D Hehehehehe. :)

For tea I cooked Egg Drop Noodles. I didn't bother taking a picture because they didn't look very good. Lol. But they did taste yummy. :) Check out the skillzzzz. :)

Anyway, I'd better go now - I've got some washing up to do! :-P

TTFN xxxxx

Just a Thursday :)

Hello everyone :)

I thought I'd just do a quick blog. :)

On Tuesday I went to the Speech and Drama festival again - we did a Team Mime, which was really fun. :) We came 2nd out of...I'm not telling you. Lol. :)

After we'd done our performance a lady came up to me and told me that she really enjoyed my poems the other day (the ones I won the cup for :D). Which I thought was lovely. - I didn't know her, but she said she recognised me and wanted to tell me how much she enjoyed my performances. :) Cool, huh?

Yesterday I had my driving lesson...I'm getting there now! Lol. About time too. Karen has started to talk about taking my test! (EEK!) Scary stuff. I've managed to get over my fear of roundabouts now. I used to have this feeling of dread every time I approached one. Not mini ones, they were ok. Just big ones. If everyone used them properly it would be fine. But people cut you up and don't signal properly! :-O Which is very confusing. Especially for someone like me, where common sense is rarely present. ;) I do enjoy driving though. I look forward to each lesson.

Last night I packaged up my red book master, album art files, order form and a sample CD to send off to the manufacturers. Hopefully it's being posted off today. :D Then it'll be a couple of weeks (max) before I get the proofs back, then a couple more weeks before I get the CDs. :) I have to shift 1000 copies, which will be very tough! Lol. But hopefully I'll be able to do it in time. Hopefully I'll still be doing gigs when I'm at Surrey. Apparently Guildford is really good for live music.

I'd best get on now, got some musical stuff to do. :)

TTFN,

Lots of love xxxxxxxx

A few thoughts.

Hello everyone. :)

I thought I'd write a blog for you on this sunny Sunday afternoon. :)

Firstly I'd like to say a big thankyou to everyone who has commented on my preview song. And also, thankyou for your support. :)

A bit about the CD...

I can say now that I am 100% happy with the CD and how it has turned out. I have a few ideas for my songs on the next album (let's hope I'm able to do one! :)) - and indeed, improvements, but for my first album - I'm happy with how it has turned out. I've put a lot of work into it and I'm completely happy that it's ME. :)

The thing is that...if people don't like it now...then they don't like my style, or my way of doing things. And that's fine. I enjoy experimenting with lots of different styles, that's just me, and that is evident from the CD. I think this 'convention' they speak of sounds pretty boring. Sometimes I like BIG sounds, sometimes I like raw, acoustic sounds, sometimes I'm happy, sometimes I'm sad, just like everyone else, I like variation. I like writing songs that are from inside of me. And my feelings don't always go with an acoustic guitar, sometimes they go with a piano or big strings. My music is ME and I'm in all of my songs.

All that's required to write a song is inspiration. The feelings are already inside you, waiting to come to life. Inspiration is the trigger. A very wise person (called Joni Mitchell ;)) once said "Music without the muse is just 'ic'".

I'm not writing music to a formula. I'm not writing it to make money. - Though it would be a dream come true if I could make a living doing what I love - but I'm not changing to fit 'convention'. I write music to share my thoughts with people, and if they can relate to my music in some way, then that's wonderful. Sometimes we can get so caught up in our own feelings that we think we are alone, and it's such a great feeling when we find that we are not. Songwriting is a great comfort really. It's kind of saying 'do you ever feel like this?'

I love performing live too. I think it's the honesty that makes it so special. In real life we can hide our emotions. We, well...I...am the kind of person who jumbles her words up. I'm getting better, but I'm not quite there yet. And when you sing a song to someone, especially your own original song, it feels like you can look into the eyes of an audience member and sing straight to their heart. You don't stutter or stammer because all the words are already there for you, but you can give them a different meaning each time you perform them. And they have 10, 20, 50, 100, 1000 different meanings! - As each audience member takes the story differently.

Anyway. I'll leave you to ponder. I'm going to go and write a song. :)

Lots of love.xxxxx

:)