Home Recording Studio

As a part of my goal to write and record 1 song each week during my 30 Days of Hustle I also have been recording some of my old songs that never made their way to mp3.  Here are some images of my Home Recording Studio

A Book of Songs Written by Yours Truly, my Recording Condenser Microphone, In-Ear Headphones & Capo & Laptop

 My Baby - My Martin DCME <3>

I have just recorded one of my favorite songs I wrote "Coming Back to You".  I'm not too thrilled with the recording sound, but it's recorded!  As a part of my recording tasks I hope to master mixing - but that's for a different time.

Here's a photo of me recording a few weeks ago with awesome bangs!

 An Example of the Writing Process

Next song to write on my list is a song called Imprint - which I hope to be the title of my first album.  I also am in the midst of writing my first EVER worship song!  Let's hope something materializes out of this.

I Did Not Audition

So.  I was signed up for an audition to be on The Voice; a fantastic singing show on nbc.  I had my song selections picked out memorized and mastered and even did my hair.  I packed a bag of snacks and reading material and with my husband, drove to Los Angeles.  I wanted to make sure I got there before my 2:00pm audition, so we left early and arrived at the LA Convention Center around 1:00pm - an hour early.  Upon arrival we had to drive around the convention center and saw about 3,000 people in line outside, wrapping around the building, and in addition, people waiting in line on the second level: There were too many people everywhere.

I was behind a number of cars all eagerly waiting to park their cars and it dawned on me, parking was going to cost me $30 (I hate LA)!!  It was then I had a horrific Flash Back to my X-Factor audition experience and I made the decision to turn the car around and go home.

//////FLASH BACK\\\\\\

February 2011
X-Factor Audition
LA Sports Arena
All participants who were there to audition were told to be at the sports arena at 6:00am.  As a responsible person, I woke up at 4:00am, woke up my (then) Fiance picking him up at 4:30am, and arrived to a crowd of thousands at 5:00am.  It had rained that night and there was a bit of a drizzle, weather was a warm 55degrees.  >:\ and it was dark.  They packed us in like cattle headed in for the slaughter as we stood in the cold, wet parking lot for 5 1/2 hours!!  They had an entire section blocked off with porta-pottys, and by the time I gained the courage to use them, they were the most disgusting, horrible, dirty, wet, stinky, stained, slippery, out of toilet paper pieces of junk I ever in my life used!! GROSS - I hate LA

Eventually around 11:00am they guided everyone into the arena and we were sat in a section according to our number.  I was sat in the 3rd level at the end.  It took them a good hour to finally start auditions - which were just 20 voting booth sized sheeted off sections where people sang at people.  We got hungry and spend $24 on 2 hotdogs and a bag of chips!  This was incredibly ridiculous and made me angry as we were poor and planning a wedding.

by 4:00pm they had finally made their way through listening to the 1st row of singers...I started doing the math, I was not even going to be heard for another 5-6 hours if I was lucky.  So I thought about it, talked about it with my man, and decided, this isn't the way.  So we packed up our bags, said our goodbyes to those around us, stretched out our legs and went to Titos Tacos!



//////FLASH TO NOW\\\\\\

See.  I love to sing, I love to perform I love loving life!  It has always been a dream of mine to make a living doing what I'm passionate about - music.  As Americans, the modern frame of thought is "Immediate Satisfaction", the search for the "Quick Fix" in all things.  I know I can sing, I know I can play guitar and I know that only 1 person out of a crowd of 10,000 people will make it to the end - those are HORRIBLE odds!  I also am sound minded enough to know that "this" isn't my only or my last chance at a music career.

I'm reminded lovingly by my husnand that I can make my own EP at home on my computer, sell my music on itunes, Amazon, Google Play.  I could also post my songs & create videos and post them on YouTube.  We are in the era that anyone can be "found" anywhere!  How amazing that we have all these different venues to showcase ourselves, our talents and our dreams. I can do this on MY terms.

Another part of my thoughts that encouraged me to not even park my car and leave is that, my time is far more valuable to me at this point in my life.  I work 50+ hours a week, with a commute of 1 hour each way, each day!  That's 10 hours in drive time a week.  I have commitments to my church during the week, my friends and family during the week and myself (gym) each week.  My husband and I were kindly invited over for dinner to a friends house that evening and I knew we wouldn't make it when I saw that line.  Building relationships and nurturing friendships is more important to me than waiting in line behind 3,000 people, for just a chance to be heard, for just the chance of getting a call back, for a just a chance of making it to the group, for a just chance to be in the group they narrow down for TV.   Just for a chance.


We write our own future!
“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Still Dreaming

Well, here I am!


I auditioned to be a member of the worship band at a new church, which I wish to call my home church.  I played "I Will Go" by Desperation Band on my guitar and sang my heart out.  Well, they loved me!  They asked me to be a member of the band and that would soon be hearing from them regarding scheduling.  To put things into perspective; the church is very large and 2 services going on at the same time 2 times a day!  The band has many many members so scheduling & availability is everything!


My audition was the first weekend in April.  It is now the last week in July and I have not played with them one!  LOL.  I guess I understand that there are many musicians & singers who have been in the band before me but I just really want to play & sing and lead worship!  So, I am still waiting to be put into the schedule rotation. 


In the mean time, I'm still looking for a position in a church that me and my husband can call home and where I can play music, sing to the Lord and lead worship to a congregation that is driving by their love of Jesus.

"The Best Job in the World"

Okay, I know I haven't blogged here for...oh dear a year a half, but I've been actively pursuing a career in my dream job.

My day job is unique and provides me with the opportunities to meet new and different people. I meet and talk with fire fighters every now and then, and the same resounding comment comes every one of them, "We're fire fighters, we have the best job in the world". I smile and listen in on their joys of the job and even the challenges, but why they're worth it. This phrase got me thinking... I want "The Best Job in the World"!!!!

As I ponder what the best job in the world would be for me, I always end up in the place I originally dreamed I'd be: being a musician, singing, song writing and worshipping God!

I play my guitar as often as I can. I write songs when I feel the words flooding from my head. I dream of what it will be like to one day do music as my full time career! That would be my Best Job in the World.


www.melaniegracemusic.com

My Guitar

My first guitar was a beautiful Ibanez, acoustic electric. I remember going with my dad to buy it and was so excited to finally have, My own guitar! The guitar treated me well, I played on it for a good 7 years both at church, at friends houses, at bible studies and for writing my first songs. Well, one day, about 4 years ago, I was at church leading the worship band and just getting ready to have a good day! I set my guitar down on it's stand and went to the back of the room to fill my water bottle, yes I filled it with water, and I hear this huge "THUD" sound from the stage. I didn't think too much of it seeing how my band was always moving around and being loud. But when I finally approached the stage and looked up at what made the sound, my heart sank. There on the floor lay my guitar, face down; it had fallen on the ground. My back up singer had casually walked through and instead of walking over the guitar chord, she somehow knocked the guitar right off it's stand. I picked up and looked over it's wounds; the neck of my guitar had been sliced in half, a gash about 8 inches long, it looked horrible! The guitar was never again to be played. It now sits string-less in it's old case, or as now call it; it's coffin.

Well, it took a while to save up the money again to buy a new guitar. And this time, I thought to myself, this time, I'm going to do it right! I bought myself the most stunning, beautiful Martin DCME dreadnot, acoustic electric with the most amazing sound. I have now played on that guitar for over 3 years now and still get a little tingle of excitement when I play it! It has the wonderful aroma, a scent I completely associate with music, relaxation, fun and having a good time.

I love my guitar!