New CD project songs: Gone Native

I was just in a production meeting Friday night with Kevin Johnston at Orca Sound Studios. Kevin produced my first CD and did such an amazing job I feel he's the best man for the next project. We discussed the project, the songs we think would be best for it, the budget, and many other things in relation to music. I'm really looking forward getting started on the recording next Sunday, April 7th. I've attached the song demo I made on my iPad of "Gone Native," one of the songs that will be on the CD and possibly the name for the CD.

The song was inspired during one of my recent trips to Key West. I had this kind of jumpy jive in mind and the song is lively and fun. The song is about those individuals who make that leap and decide Key West is the place for them for whatever reason. There are three stories in the song: The first one was inspired by a musician friend who moved there later in life; the second story is a woman I met who grew up there and always longed to return, finally moving back with just a few dollars in her pocket. She told me," I wouldn't leave here if I could. This is paradise."

The last story is my summary of my own feelings about Key West and the Keys in general. If I could find a way to live there I would. Every time I visit a piece of my heart and some of my soul stays behind. It's hard to explain the way I feel so at home there, when I'm there. Maybe some day I'll take that leap…

 I'm going to be blogging about the CD as we work on the project so please follow me, if you would! Any comments, thoughts, jokes, whatever, are more than welcome.

Back to Key West

(Enjoy this frenetic demo inspired by just sitting on a plane and letting my mind wander.) 

My bags are mostly packed and I'll be off again, up into the air and setting down in Fort Lauderdale where I'll pick up a mid-size rental car and drive the Overseas Highway to Key West. The last time I was here was for Meeting of the Minds (MOTM)in October/November. This time I'm going for a few different reasons. 

The major reason I'm going is to play at the Southernmost Coconut Castaways Relay for Life Jump Up at Pearl's Patio on United St. on March 16 from 1-4pm.  Featuring the music of Key West Chris Rehm http://keywestmusic.blogspot.com/ as well as my own music, the event benefits the Castaways' Relay Team and will be a great time. There are lots of food and drink specials, as well as the Key West Bar Card. Pearl's is a fun place to hang out with a hot tub and swimming pool and a nice, intimate bar area.  http://www.southernmostcoconutcastaways.com/Default.aspx?pageId=1472497&eventId=608905&EventViewMode=EventDetails

Afterwards, Chris and I will be at Green World Gallery from 7-9pm. There will be drinks and, of course, beautiful art work and crafts plus Trop Rock CDs from your favorites. If you can't be there, watch the web cam! http://www.greenworldgallery.com/live-koz-cam/

Another reason is that I'll be appearing on US Radio 1 Friday, March 15 about 10:30am on the Biz Baz show with Leigha Fox. You can listen live here! http://us1radio.com/bizbaz.cfm

While I'm there, I'm going to visit a few places in advance of MOTM when I'll be back again. I figure I might as well introduce myself for "Parrot Head Week" shenanigans. 

The final reason for going? It's Key West! You know I like it there! I get a lot of great memories and song ideas when I'm there. I think I'll visit Fort Zach this time and you may see me on Duval in front of Sloppy Joe's.  I'll try to announce it! http://www.liveduvalstreet.com/

By the way, it's St. Patrick's Day weekend and there is a BIG bar crawl I won't be participating in because of playing music. Guaranteed it will be a wild weekend nonetheless. There are always tons of things going on in Key West on any given weekend, it seems. Hope you can make it down!

See you at the End of the Road,

Dani