DemoLishious

Wednesday, June 25

When we were in NY, one of my new band friends Jim recommended me purchasing a digital four track. All of these years (and I mean all of them) I have used one version or other of the Sony Shoebox Tape Recorder. I have a really old one that I still have on loan from my highschool drama department (it had a single orange button that I adore) and another that I bought a few years back (stealthy like Batman except large like Kung Fu Panda).

These jumbo tape decks serve me very well and I actually leave one on when I practice- in case something groovy should pop up. However, I am thinking more and more about the cost of visiting the studio just to lay down demos and flush out new ideas and frankly, I think it’s time to upgrade. I end up stuck with boxes and boxes of tapes that have half a song idea on each side and I am not the type to go through those on a rainy day.

Plus, I’m thinking I could start posting some works in progress for download. This may take a few months to really get going but I’m going to work on it. Maybe time to whip out the melodica and keytar!

Who knows?
Namaste

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Flight

Tuesday, June 10

It’s is a soggy chilly spring in Calgary which has had me hunkered down with some dvd’s and books as of late.

I have a major crush (school girl and harmless!) on The Flight Of The Conchords. And actually it’s more like a crush on the concepts, songs and ideas than on the boys themselves- damn funny and smart though…I know they are no longer a secret, but I advise you watch some episodes anyway! I think after we went to NY, I felt more akin to their New York-looking-to-be-discovered storylines. I keep hoping I’ll have a David Bowie dream (circa The “Let’s Dance” era for me thanks).

And I have just finished “Late Nights On Air” by Elizabeth Hay. An amazing book really- I felt like I was in the room with the radio station employees as they lived out their choices and intimate relationships with their egos, and between their loves. Plus I have yet to go more northern in Canada than Prince George, so I enjoyed the literary backdrop of sparse Yellowknife. This radio station theme also tied in nicely as I taped an interview for CBC in town, which should likely air in August…I’ll keep you posted.

These are the people and books on my mind lately. I hope we have some more music to send your way soon,
Namaste

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Change Of Plans

Wednesday, June 4

Hello summer, candy, and tanlines!
I am sorry to report that due to production errors that caused some havoc to our NXNE plans, we had to make the difficult decision to cancel our trip and show for Toronto next week. This is a disappointment for sure, but we will make efforts to book another show there as soon as we can.
Namaste

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Co-Ordinates

Monday, May 19

I am very much looking forward to my upcoming show in Toronto as part of the NXNE festival and the Taylor Mitsopulos Burshtein Showcase event. The date of the show is Friday June 13th 2008 and it’s at The Rivoli on Queen St W. I have played at the Rivoli before and actually met fellow songwriter Andrew Cash there. We were part of a songwriter’s night in March of 2002 and upon mutually enjoying each others musical style, writer-heros and hair, decided to try song crafting together at some point.

Later that year, I made some time to hang out with Andrew in Toronto and we worked on and completed a song idea that I had been spinning in my head. I had previously tape recorded some melody lines and lyrics while standing in my empty bathtub at home, and mailed them out ahead of my arrival hoping he might understand my idea. And he did. And we wrote “Modest Lovely” together. He said, “This is about loving someone who doesn’t fully love themselves just yet, right?”.
I haven’t seen Andrew since, but we keep in touch and I’m so grateful for the song and for the time we spent shooting the breeze.

And now, The Rivoli awaits again. New songs to come…
Namaste

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Times Squared

Thursday, May 1

I always like to believe I can find a few minutes to write a post online after each show, but rarely in the whirlwind do I ever get the chance…so here I am- back home, jet lagged and low on clean laundry to write a little note on how my trip to NY was…

The band and I spent our first few days in lovely Jersey (and I mean that) rehearsing and telling stories and tramping around. Jersey reminded me of my birthplace-Windsor, Ontario; industrial but lush somehow. Everyone was incredibly nice and must have picked up on the fact that I too think Springsteen is a music god.

In the first few days we also travelled into Manhattan a couple of times to at least get an idea of what the city is like and also to catch The Verve (awesome) at MSG and sneak a peak at the venue. I have never seen anywhere like New York City. I don’t think all the movies and tv shows I’ve seen really do it justice. It was busy and unrelenting and cool, cramped and intense and still fun and serene and bubbly all at the same time.

On Tuesday night we rocked out our show at Pianos and had a great night. Perhaps it was the first show I’ve played where I could actually breathe and steady myself right from the start. I was painfully anxious prior to the set; for months I’ve been acutely aware of how fortunate I am to even get the chance to pull a show like this off. My manager and I were both a little nervous I’m sure right up til it was over- but it was solid and well received and really a coup for us both.
The following morning (yesterday!) I was invited to perform for MTV offices in Times Square at 1515 Broadway, just before heading back to the airport to fly home…really we did everything we set our wee minds and hearts to in terms of music/NY/good people etc. If you like, check out a low bandwidth clip of our Soundcheck on YouTube.

APRIL 29th SET:
In Your World
Passing In The Dark
In The Noise
Hesitate
My Hour
Grace Is
Beast
South Pacific
Closure

As Always,
Namaste

This great shot was taken during the show by Russell Giffen- thanks Russell!

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New York New York

Tuesday, April 15

The first time I sang in a talent show, I sang (you guessed it) “New York, New York”. I was digging my dad’s Sinatra collection and thought it would be an awesome song to sing in costume and act out…yeah well, I was thirteen right? A little foreshadowing when I write my memoirs…

I feel just as excited now as we approach only a couple of weeks until the New York debut showcase. I have never been to NY before, although through hundreds of the movies I love, I feel like it’s part of the fabric of my consciousness. This has been a whirlwind 4-5 months, and I know we’re only really just getting started.

If you can make the show and live in the area please come out. We’d love to perform for you. If you know people in the lower east side of Manhattan who might enjoy my show, please let them know- we’ll happily perform for them as well.
Namaste
~a
Tuesday April 29th 2008
Anita Athavale 7pm sharp @ Pianos 158 Ludlow St. New York NY

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Junofest! Anita Live Saturday April 5th

Thursday, March 20

Due to an administrative error, Junofest promoters needed change the date and time of Anita’s performance in Calgary during the Juno Weekend.

Her showcase is now Saturday April 5th @ 10pm, Ironwood Stage, Calgary Alberta.

Junofest is a two day music festival featuring performances by many local and national Canadian acts as well as a number of JUNO nominees. JunoFest takes place April 4th and 5th, 2008- and is capped off by the internationally broadcast Canadian JUNO awards show on Sunday April 6th.

Catch Anita Athavale Live
Saturday April 5th 2008
Ironwood Stage
1429, 9th Ave SE Calgary, AB
Show: 10:00pm
Tickets: $10 at the door
On-sale: March 1/08

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Nights And Dragons

Tuesday, March 4

This city is buzzing with Juno hype and gossip…I am constantly overhearing people speculate on which parties are going to be THE parties worth going to, who hopes to bag (read:shag) a rocker and ultimately all sorts of sweet and goofy Juno anticipation. It’s kinda fun. Obviously it works well to tour the event around annually; Calgarians although depressingly apathetic about other pivotal national events (read: provincial elections) are stoked about hosting the Junos this year.

I hope we can resist the horrible crutch of cowboy garb and satin and just be ourselves. Keep our tiny gold cowboys boots on a thin chain hung off the nightstand, you know? These are costumes best kept hidden for one night stints on national television…just a thought….

Quickly too, wanted to make sure to ask you to check out Dragonette (who are nominated for the Junos). I totally love “Galore”, it’s a great pop dance album and I’m very pleased for Martina Sorbara who fronts the synthy sexy band with complete ease of character. I opened for her a couple of time a few years back and she is talented to the max. You can see a couple of videos from the album on Youtube and I hope they can wrangle some votes. They have mine.

Namaste

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My Piano Keeps Calling

Monday, February 25

I’ve had the chance to sit down and work on some new songs lately, and it’s been nice. With the intensity of attention poured into the business side of music recently, it felt like there was little or no time for the creation of the music which got me here in the first place. The piano keep drawing me back and even though I’m hardly a pianist, the keys are calling me and asking me to push on the them.

I have sometimes gone away, or left town to get into the right head space to complete songs or thoughts. I look forward to that and completely understand why some Canadian songwriters buy themselves cottages or country houses away from the white noise to get some peace. For some reason, nature and quiet can allow the space for the emotions and concepts to fully form and present themselves.

Printemps Bienvenu!
Namaste

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Golden Anniversary

Monday, February 11

Last night I took 3 and half hours in my pyjamas to watch, what I considered to be, a great Grammy show. I have tuned into the Grammy’s since I was a little kid; in my parent’s house, music was considered a semi-respectable profession and we were encouraged to watch and dream.  I was especially proud of Feist, who seemed a little nervous (no kidding!) and very genuine- she has a unique voice and style that we all can reminisce to.

I was also moved by the gospel performance and the beautiful performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody In Blue.
Perhaps there were more cool creative things they could have done ( a montage of moving acceptance speeches over the years?) to commemorate the occasion, but overall- still an awards ceremony I’d love to attend:)

Stay Warm and Dry,
Namaste

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