I've been such a bad blogger. I apologize. But, there are so much to tell you guys! So many great things are happening with my music (as I always say) and my band, THE MIDNIGHT SESSIONS. We have so many shows coming up that I can't even explain right now...mainly because I actually just got done with an intense work-out. Sorry haha. My mind is a little boggled from all the adrenaline and such haha. Anyways, I have to admit that I have been somewhat bottling up my anger and problems that it started to affect my health. So, I decided to take control of this matter. Starting today, I am going to try and live a healthier lifestyle, so my Diabetes can be controlled as well as be lean and fit come summer time. I just found out that I quite enjoy cardio kickboxing. It DOES help with releasing all these negative energies in my body and it is a definitely intense workout. My body is already feeling the soreness. And later on today, I actually have a job orientation for this catering hall. Perfect timing to be aching...but I can do it. I haven't had a job since last August (where I was a cashier and waitress at a local diner in Flushing, NY). I miss working and doing something, rather than stay at home and sleep all day. Mind you, I LOVE spending time with my son and he definitely is a bit of a workout as well! But, I must make a promise to myself that I will be committed into this healthy lifestyle. I have a weight goal that I would like to accomplish. Right now, I weigh about 126 (which has been pretty stagnant since after my pregnancy). I plan on perhaps dropping 10-16 lbs and hopefully reducing my pants size by 2. It's hard to go on a diet and be fully committed to it, especially with all the delicious food we are faced with everyday. But, I'm going to take it as a challenge. I mean, I love greens and salads and fruits. It's really the carbs I need to look out for and not just for getting leaner and whatnot...but for my Diabetes as well. From now on, I am going to try making it to the gym again. It's been a while...but I must make the effort to better myself. And if I can't somehow make it to the gym, I will do my 1-1 1/2 hour workouts at home. I already found 2 wonderful YOUTUBE videos online that targets specifically what I'm looking for. It's been a while since I've had that flat stomach that i had back in high school. Being a mom and a wife and stressing all the time, as well as staying at home, it definitely has taken a toll on my body. I used to weigh about 102 lbs. And I was a size 2. Now, I weigh about 126 and a size 5. It'd be nice to get that flat tummy once again (especially after giving birth). I think it would definitely help boost my self-esteem. And yes. I know I'm not fat...but I would like to have a leaner body that I can be confident in showing off during the summer time. Everyone can agree on that. You want to be healthy and lean and just confident in the way you look. Plus, working out and having a healthy lifestyle will definitely improve your energy and your soul. You will begin to feel more refreshed and not held back by all these negative emotions. Okay. Enough of me talking. I am going to go take a nice cold shower to soothe these inflamed muscles of mine. Have a nice day everyone and I will keep you in the loop.
Much love,
MD
P.S. It's nice to be back :)
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
#22 - To All My Family, Friends and Supporters
I grew up in a family who loved music. Had uncles and aunts who played guitar and my mom and her sister also grew up singing their hearts out. Basically, everyone knew how to sing. It started out generations and generations before me, so I think that it's a gift that is passed on to each generation, to remind us that music is everlasting. So with that, there was no doubt that I would've grown up to love music as well. I believe that my family really did have a big influence on me and my passion for music. And through that, I learned to love and appreciate all types of music and started to express my feelings through my own. And that's where it all began.
And now, I'm here. Bearing my soul through the lyrics of my music and letting my emotions out, in that exact moment, with the piece I write. My songs lets you inside the deepest part of me that I cannot express but through my music. There are times when I don't know the right words to say, or can't seem to let it out...but I can do so when I grab my guitar and a pen and paper. And there are times when I'm less than perfect and write a piece where it's all about negativity, but we're all human. We're allowed to feel all sorts of emotions and we're not restricted on just one. That's what I love about music. You can find any song that you can relate to at a certain moment of your life. And with my music, if I ever feel a strong emotion about something, whether it be angry or happy or sad...I let it all out on paper and the music just follows. And I'm telling you guys all this, because I really do appreciate all the support you have given me. I've never had so many people believe in me before. And with my family's 100% support in my dreams, it gives me that extra push that one day soon, I'll achieve that dream. I started out small, where I sat in my vocal training class when I was 16 years old, meek and had no confidence. And now, I have a voice that I know can be heard. Now, I feel like everyone can see the real me. So, I want to thank you all for your love and support with me and my music. I wouldn't be here without you all and that's all I need. Thank you, once again.
And I apologize for not keeping up with my blog lately. There has been so many things happening to me and my music lately, that I can barely even keep up with that. First of all, my photoshoot with the amazing visionary, SHARLOTTE FONDEUR-CASAS, and her amazing team (Marcela Henderson - Hair Stylist, Sasha Collins -Wardrobe Stylist, Christina Morgan - Make-up Artist), went amazing! We were outside doing the shoot in freezing temperatures, but we got some amazing shots, as I have been told by Sharlotte! Here are some pics for a little teaser (from the shoot and before the shoot)!
With Christina Morgan - Make-up Artist
\
With Sharlotte Fondeur-Casas (purple hat) - Photographer
& Sasha Collins (plaid shirt) - Wardrobe Stylist
& Sasha Collins (plaid shirt) - Wardrobe Stylist
With Marcela Henderson - Hair Stylist
PROMO SHOOT FOR MY SINGLE - "BURY ME"
Second, I have auditioned for America's Got Talent (Season 8), and awaiting results. No matter what happens, I'll take it as it is. And I've sent in my online audition video for The X-Factor and this coming Saturday (2/16), I will be auditioning quite early for THE VOICE. I am pretty stoked and nervous at the same time. But, for some reason...I feel like this might be it. This might be my chance. Who knows? Maybe I'll be at the right place, at the right time. Hopefully, it is.
And also, that night, starting at 7PM, me and my band will be performing at GUSSY'S BAR (2014 29th Street, Astoria, NY) alongside OUTLET for a fundraiser concert to help raise money to rebuild NYC after Hurricane Sandy. It's going to be a great night of music and all for a great cause! The cover is $10 and all proceeds will go to the fundraiser. We hope to see you all there on SATURDAY night!
Thank you, once again, for believing in me!
Much love,
- MD
Monday, January 14, 2013
#21 - My Love and Passion for What I Do
Have you ever wondered what the reason was that you were brought into this world? Well, I have. And I constantly think about that. What is my purpose in this world? For one, I know I was brought in to this world, to give birth to my beautiful musical prodigy, Noah, who is my 19 month old son. Whenever I wake up and see his face smiling back at me and saying, "mommy", my heart is filled with joy and happiness. And especially when he watches me sing and play the guitar in front of him, with such attention and enjoyment, and he decides to dance about or even try to sing using his baby language. I am so proud to be a mom to a 19 month old baby boy at the age of 22 years old. I am so much happier with my life with him in it, as well as my wonderful husband. My life wouldn't be complete without these two.
I decided to write a blog today, due to so many heartwarming comments from old friends and people I've only met for the first time, during my shows. Some of these comments really hit home and made me feel so appreciative for all the people in my life who continue to support me and my music. I would really like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for even just attempting to attend one of my shows, or actually making it...or even just voting for me for different contests I post up on my sites and sharing all my networking sites as well. Every little bit of what you do, helps me get closer to reaching my goals and dreams with my music career. I love music. I think you all know that. I appreciate all types of music and I don't discriminate. I enjoy other people's works and love hearing their soul come out through song. That's what I love. I love seeing and hearing each and every person's soul and their emotions through their work. I think we can all agree that the ones you can relate to, you can connect with in so many other levels.
These past shows I've been doing (one at my usual open mic & last night's show at The Alchemical Theater Laboratory), I've gotten so many great feedback that blew my mind. One person, in particular, mentioned how I can do better than some of the places I've performed at and that I deserve way more than that. He said that I should be playing at Madison Square Garden in front of thousands of people. I was so enlightened by that comment because I do hope to be up in front of thousands of people, doing what I love to do, and sharing my world with everyone there. I hope to make a difference in people's lives when they hear my songs. I hope to reach out to the ones who feel as if they can't go on anymore. I want to be their light in the darkness. I don't want to seem so over myself, I just really truly want to help people.
Another comment made last night by this beautiful girl who came up to me after the show, made me feel so good about myself and my songwriting. As every artist knows, your originals, are like a piece of your soul. Sometimes, I wonder if people would get what I was trying to say or if they could understand how I was feeling at that moment when I wrote my piece. And last night, her comment confirmed it all. She said, "Your songwriting is amazing. I can totally relate to them!" That's all I really want to do. I want to be able to be relatable to my audience and give them a sense of hope through it all.
Now, enough of that. Let me fill you up on what's going on this week. Tonight, I will be rehearsing with my band to perform at an OPEN MIC in ASTORIA, NY (THE SHILLELAGH TAVERN). We are going to be performing 3 of my originals...so if you'd like to come and check it out, we'll be there around 9pm tomorrow night. Now, I also mentioned I was having a photoshoot with the lovely, SHARLOTTE FONDEUR-CASAS, for my single "BURY ME". It's going to be interesting! I am so excited with working with her this Friday and I can't wait to see what the outcome will be! And finally, I have 2 shows coming up again. One in FEBRUARY 16 at GUSSY'S BAR in Astoria, Queens for a HURRICANE SANDY BENEFIT SHOW with my manager's band, OUTLET, and another great band called GREEN OR BLUE. This benefit show is to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Windows of Opportunity Inc. is hosting this event. I will also be doing another show at GUSSY's BAR with my band on March 1st/2nd. I will confirm all the details when I get them.
OH! I forgot to mention! I am also auditioning for the 2nd time, for THE VOICE on February 17th! I hope to get past the first round this time. If not, there's always more opportunities coming my way, I know for sure. Also, get ready for my album! Hopefully, I will get to start working at the studio on creating my full-length album. Exciting things for the year 2013. I cannot wait to share it all with you! Now, here are some pics that were taken at THE ALCHEMICAL THEATER LABORATORY by DAVISTON JEFFERS, and some videos taken by my friend, ISAAC LUCIANO-MALARET. Thank you, everyone, once again and hope to see you guys at my shows!
Much love,
- MD
.JPG)
I decided to write a blog today, due to so many heartwarming comments from old friends and people I've only met for the first time, during my shows. Some of these comments really hit home and made me feel so appreciative for all the people in my life who continue to support me and my music. I would really like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for even just attempting to attend one of my shows, or actually making it...or even just voting for me for different contests I post up on my sites and sharing all my networking sites as well. Every little bit of what you do, helps me get closer to reaching my goals and dreams with my music career. I love music. I think you all know that. I appreciate all types of music and I don't discriminate. I enjoy other people's works and love hearing their soul come out through song. That's what I love. I love seeing and hearing each and every person's soul and their emotions through their work. I think we can all agree that the ones you can relate to, you can connect with in so many other levels.
These past shows I've been doing (one at my usual open mic & last night's show at The Alchemical Theater Laboratory), I've gotten so many great feedback that blew my mind. One person, in particular, mentioned how I can do better than some of the places I've performed at and that I deserve way more than that. He said that I should be playing at Madison Square Garden in front of thousands of people. I was so enlightened by that comment because I do hope to be up in front of thousands of people, doing what I love to do, and sharing my world with everyone there. I hope to make a difference in people's lives when they hear my songs. I hope to reach out to the ones who feel as if they can't go on anymore. I want to be their light in the darkness. I don't want to seem so over myself, I just really truly want to help people.
Another comment made last night by this beautiful girl who came up to me after the show, made me feel so good about myself and my songwriting. As every artist knows, your originals, are like a piece of your soul. Sometimes, I wonder if people would get what I was trying to say or if they could understand how I was feeling at that moment when I wrote my piece. And last night, her comment confirmed it all. She said, "Your songwriting is amazing. I can totally relate to them!" That's all I really want to do. I want to be able to be relatable to my audience and give them a sense of hope through it all.
Now, enough of that. Let me fill you up on what's going on this week. Tonight, I will be rehearsing with my band to perform at an OPEN MIC in ASTORIA, NY (THE SHILLELAGH TAVERN). We are going to be performing 3 of my originals...so if you'd like to come and check it out, we'll be there around 9pm tomorrow night. Now, I also mentioned I was having a photoshoot with the lovely, SHARLOTTE FONDEUR-CASAS, for my single "BURY ME". It's going to be interesting! I am so excited with working with her this Friday and I can't wait to see what the outcome will be! And finally, I have 2 shows coming up again. One in FEBRUARY 16 at GUSSY'S BAR in Astoria, Queens for a HURRICANE SANDY BENEFIT SHOW with my manager's band, OUTLET, and another great band called GREEN OR BLUE. This benefit show is to raise money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Windows of Opportunity Inc. is hosting this event. I will also be doing another show at GUSSY's BAR with my band on March 1st/2nd. I will confirm all the details when I get them.
OH! I forgot to mention! I am also auditioning for the 2nd time, for THE VOICE on February 17th! I hope to get past the first round this time. If not, there's always more opportunities coming my way, I know for sure. Also, get ready for my album! Hopefully, I will get to start working at the studio on creating my full-length album. Exciting things for the year 2013. I cannot wait to share it all with you! Now, here are some pics that were taken at THE ALCHEMICAL THEATER LABORATORY by DAVISTON JEFFERS, and some videos taken by my friend, ISAAC LUCIANO-MALARET. Thank you, everyone, once again and hope to see you guys at my shows!
Much love,
- MD
.JPG)
My performance of my original song, "LEECH".
My performance of my original song, "WHO I AM".
Thursday, January 10, 2013
#20 - New Song/Shows/Photoshoot #2/Taylor Swift
Hello everyone! Once again, I have neglected to keep writing a new post every day or so. And I apologize for that. I have been busy writing new material for my full-length album, booking shows and collaborating with other musicians. But, I'm back! I hope everyone has been having a wonderful new year so far. I know I am! I was able to be inspired, sitting around in my room, on New Year's day and completed a new song. I entitled it, "LIFE, LOVE & BLUES". You may be wondering what it's about. Why don't you just take a listen for yourself and figure it out?
So, what did you think of it? I really liked it (for one of my shortest originals I've ever written). I believe it says a lot in just a short amount of time. I was inspired to write this song, the way it is, by the fact that it was the start of the new year and how people always say they want to do things for the new year, but don't do it, or at least don't try to. And what ends up happening is that they start complaining that their life isn't going anywhere, when in reality, they're just not doing anything at all, or they're doing it with wrong intentions. So, that is how "Life, Love & Blues" came to be. I'm very proud of it and you can bet that it will be in my full-length album.
Speaking about my full-length album, I am making plans on recording at Mama Coco's Funky Kitchen Studios for my full-length album (if not the whole album, a couple songs) with my awesome horns section (David DiTrapani - Trumpet & Darius Nazario - Trombone), thanks to my previous guitarist (for my NO DOUBT cover show), DERRICK RICE JR., who works there. I definitely know that the first single I will be recording at the studio, is going to be, "BURY ME", where you can hear a LIVE acoustic performance of it here:
Also! I think I mentioned about how I'm having another photoshoot this month? Well, yes! I am! And I'm super excited to work with this wonderful photographer, Sharlotte Fondeur-Casas. We are doing a promo photoshoot for "BURY ME" and it's going to be such an exciting photoshoot. All I know is that it will be great and that I have NO doubt that it'll catch a few eyes and hopefully help draw more people in to listen to my music as well! My 2nd photoshoot will be next FRIDAY (1/18/13). So, stay tuned for photos and news about that, as well as studio time.
OH! How can I forget! So, I did a cover to Taylor Swift's dub-step-y song, "I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE" and did home-made music video for it. Please check it out here and "LIKE", "SUBSCRIBE" & SHARE with everyone you know, if you enjoyed it:
I really enjoyed making this music video and recording the cover because the whole song was just so catchy! And my husband, Chris, is featured as the a**hole boyfriend (which he really isn't in real life haha). It was fun acting out these scenes with him. Plus, I played around with the lighting and camera angles when doing this video and it made me feel "professional" without using any of the super expensive equipment that I don't have. Let me just say, I used my mic stand, my Logitech HD Pro webcam and my bedroom lamp as my "expensive" equipment for this music video. You gotta do what you gotta do to get your vision tangible. And I did. I'm really proud of this and I hope you guys are too.
Anyways, enough of this talking. Hope you guys enjoyed reading my blog today and I am going to try and actually keep posting on my blog. I don't want my fans and readers to be deprived of news that are happening around me and my music. Thank you all for your support again and I hope to see you all at my next show THIS SUNDAY (1/13/13) at THE ALCHEMICAL LABORATORY THEATER (137 West 14th Street) at 7PM. Remember, it's ALL AGES and $10 at the door. Please don't forget to mention that you're there for me, "MARY DESIREE". I hope to see all your wonderful faces there and hope you all have a wonderful day!
Much love,
Much love,
- MD
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)