Thursday, July 22, 2010

Joelle Maddyson

Today Anna and I drove to Murfreesboro to spend some time with our musician friend, Joelle Maddyson. We spent the day at her apartment chatting, drinking coffee, and sharing music.

She is a classically trained opera singer, but writes and sings the most beautiful songs in a completely different style. As a classically trained violinist, I understand how she feels. She has used her technical training as the groundwork to create music that really comes from her heart. That's exactly what I do with my violin when I perform with my sister, Anna Johnson! Joelle sings very passionately, and accompanies herself on the piano. Her lyrics reflect deep emotions that she has felt - real experiences that make her performances very sincere, heartfelt, and personal.

Anna and I are looking forward to sharing a show with her at JoZoara's in Murfreesboro. It's a nice coffee shop where we will take turns playing originals, and helping each other out. She's going to play piano with us, and we'll bring some harmonies and violin to her music. It's going to be a wonderful experience! (I'm not quite sure when the show will be yet, but I'll let you know!)


Random story: Toward the end of his life, Joelle's grandfather made beautiful fiddles for a hobby. Although none of her family plays the fiddle, they've kept all of them as a reminder of their loved one. (I'm glad they kept them! They have wonderful sound!) These fiddles have sortof become a family heirloom.

For the past few months, Joelle has been working on her album. She just finished six songs (I think...). They're quite fantastic! She worked with the same producer with which we recorded our album: Billy Smiley. Although she's done for now, Joelle would like to record a few more of her songs. She wanted to do a more acoustic set, and asked me to play one of these old, precious fiddles on the album! I am honored to be able to play! The fiddle needs a few repairs... It hasn't been played for about thirty years. But considering the situation, it has a wonderful sound! Such open, resonant sound. It'll be great to play on her album. Her family will be thrilled to know that one of their great-grandfather's fiddles is finally being played. I am honored to be the one to play it! Thanks Joelle!

If you'd like to hear some of Joelle's music, check out her myspace! Or any other site that she has. She's great at self-promotion! :)

(That was a great friend plug, wasn't it? Haha!)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Starting Over...again

Today I remembered that I have a blog. Yes, I had forgotten. Haha!

When I finally figured out my password and logged on, I changed the layout by accident. Ugh. Then, I couldn't find it again! It looked awful because whatever I selected, by accident of course, was ugly. Haha! So... I took forever to find this new background. It's not the greatest, but at least it's something!
This time, I hope I will stick with it and write steadily! Anna and I would love it if people actually read our blogs! As musicians, we want to be really real to our fans, and have a personal relationship with them. We want to stay connected to real life, and real people, even if our music brings us success. God has blessed us with a gift, and we want to share it with as many people as possible, on a personal level! We want our music to touch people, like it has touched us.

So, maybe this blog will be a way for you to get to know me... whoever you are! Haha... if anyone even reads this. Hopefully, someday, someone, somewhere will read this!

NEWS: Anna and I have more shows coming up! A big concert in Chippewa Falls, WI on July 31st at 7pm. We're bringing in a band, and it'll be great! It's a beautiful venue.

By the way, Anna and I saw Taylor Swift at this little frozen yogurt place in downtown Franklin, TN called Sweet Cece's! She is very beautiful, and seems very sweet. We were going to introduce ourselves, but an older man who was with her said they were in a hurry, and kinda shoved her out of the door! Yikes. Cool thing: On the way out, she told Anna - You're really pretty! It's nice to meet you! - Isn't that wonderful? How kind of her, even if they wouldn't let us actually chat with her.


Oh, and Anna chatted with Amy Grant on the phone today. They're getting coffee on Wednesday! :)

Praise the Lord for music, and all of the wonderful people we can meet because of it!