What a crazy few months ... am I dreaming?

Well, I just have to say that it's been a crazy few months! I haven't even been able to sit down and keep up this diary...sorry to be sooooo out of touch...but I've been overwhelmed with so many good things that I've just been trying to live in the moment as much as possible....and get everything done that I need to in order to just try and keep up!!

For starters, September was awesome. I don't know which was more fun, performing at the CCMA SOCAN Songwriter Cafe in Edmonton or doing a relatively impromptu set with the very cool - and sweet (thanks guys, and Charlie M. too!) - Poverty Plainsmen at the Cook County Saloon! I love doing acoustic shows, but I have to say that it was an addictive trip to perform songs from Lemonade with a full band for a change! And then there were all the great folks I met during CCMA Week (BTW, thank you Amanda, Bruce, Marni, Lynn, Dan and the folks from the Starmaker Fund - what a nice surprise - for the great opportunity)! I met some incredible songwriters, experienced a lot of great music, and even began some new collaborations and friendships. It's so hard to describe the experience in detail without sounding like I'm name dropping, so I'll just leave it at "wonderful."

And then there was this year's Creative Collective writing summit at Metal Works Recording Studio in Toronto. Thanks Justin and Brandon Gray for including me in the CC for a second year - you guys rock!! I only spent 3 days at the Collective this year due to previous commitments, but what a time it was! I reconnected with some folks from last year's CC, and also got work with Johnny Acosta, Rebecca Valadez, Curtis Richardson and Will Bowen for the first time. 2 totally different songs came out of the experience, a disco song called "Find the Freak," and an alt rock tune called "Get Me Out Alive," and I love love love them both! You never know what you're going to write when you get in a room with 2 other writers, and it's usually a wonderful surprise...I mean, who'd a thunk I'd have disco song co-write? Of course Johnny Acosta is the rhythm king and Rebecca can do - and sing!!! - anything...so it makes sense in hindsight, but what a fun ride!

And then there's "Get Me Out Alive." I'd wanted to write with Curtis Richardson for some time, but didn't figure when we'd finally sit down we'd end up with an alt-rock tune, considering that Curtis is best-known for co-writing the J.Lo/LL Cool J #1 smash "All I Have"! ...But then there's the WILL factor. Will Bowen has that organic rootsy musical approach that I love, and so once we started going in that direction, Curtis was all over it with those incredibly beautiful images he's known for... and voila, another tune for the repertoire. Although I can't imagine anyone singing it with more passion than Will himself (as you'll see if you check out www.willbowen.com).... In any case, it's amazing what you get when 3 people just allow themselves to be free: all that positive creative energy converges in strange and wonderful ways!

And then there are the MIANS award nominations! What can I say about that? I am so fortunate to have been able to work with the folks I got to work with on my debut album, and to have had such amazing support from my family and friends at every step...and to be recognized in this way by my home province means more to me than anyone will ever know. Just being included in those categories with such great songwriters and artists is...I'm speechless.

And on that note....

Until next time,
xo,
Andrea