Bye for now...

Hello all~

I am closing the blog for a couple of months. As you notice - there have been very few posts lately. I am 'Under Construction' so to speak. Only positive progression of course. I hope you will visit me again once I re-launch. I won't be gone too long, I promise.

I'll leave with this quote:

‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond imagination. It is our light more than our darkness which scares us. We ask ourselves – who are we to be brilliant, beautiful, talented, and fabulous. But honestly, who are you to not be so?

You are a child of God, small games do not work in this world. For those around us to feel peace, it is not example to make ourselves small. We were born to express the glory of god that lives in us. It is not in some of us, it is in all of us. While we allow our light to shine, we unconsciously give permission for others to do the same. When we liberate ourselves from our own fears, simply our presence may liberate others.’

- Marianne Williamson in Return to Love: Reflections on a Course in Miracles

Peace.

Other places to check me:

www.elleb-music.com
www.myspace.com/mselleb
www.RedRibbonDr.com

I'm gonna be a Shirelle, I think...

I went on an audition yesterday for a play called, "The Shirelles." The Shirelles pre-date The Supremes and are credited with being the first of the black girl group trend. Some of the songs they made famous are: Momma Said, Tonight's The Night, Big John.

I say I think I got the gig because I audition by myself and not with a group of girls - which I thought was interesting. Either way, I've made it to the "next" phase, which is being called "rehearsal" but only the singers, not the rest of the cast. I'll keep yall posted.


Thanks to my friend DC for hooking me up with the audition.

Sup Yall...

I know it's been a while since I've really posted anything. That's partially because I haven't felt like blogging lately. So much has been going on in my music life that I feel as though there isn't enough time to recount all the details and share with you. For that, I'm sorry. I shouldn't neglect the blog.

Well if you've noticed, I added a new feature to the site - a calendar. In a previous post, I mentioned that I was considering moving to NYC. Well, a certain person has committed to moving with me in Spring 2007, so more or less, it's official. Well nothing is official until I'm there, but that's the plan.



So, from now on, I will be focusing on the blog on my regular goings-ons, but also, my progress as I head to NY. You'll see little dates on the calendar that will correspond with a specific goal.

I hope you enjoy and thanks for joining me for the journey. And as always - I'd love to hear from you.

Peace,
Elle.

Now THIS is the Beyonce I was waiting for...

I've Made Up My Mind...To Define My Own Destiny...

Thanks Brian for your comment on the last post about "risk." Thanks Stevie for reminding me that "greater risks yeild even greater rewards." Thank you to my friends who have listened to me sway back and forth between staying in corporate america or leaving. And most importantly, I thank God for answering my prayer. Because although I had faith that he has a plan for me, I prayed that he would give me the eyes to see, the ears to hear and the mind to understand (at least partially) the plan he'd ordained.

Finally, I've come to a decision...

I have decided that I will not pursue other job opportunities within my current organization, nor will I pursue (at the present time) a 40 hour-a-week desk job. I am finally making the leap to pursue music full-time.

This moment in my life has been in the making for at least a decade.

I'd been hesitant to come to this decision initially because simply "taking time off to do music" didn't really seem like the right course. But yesterday it occurred to me, there are some goals that I'd set for myself, in terms of music development, that weren't attainable because of my work schedule.

09.16.06 is Liberation Day...

At the end of my 60 days, I've decided to go back to school! Music School! Well, not quite. I am going to create an intensive program through the MGray Music Academy in North Hollywood.

It will consist of the following:
- Private Voice Lessons
- Sight Singing
- Guitar and/or Piano - I'd like to take both, but it depends on finances.
- Singwriting and Composition - I'd like to have a strong focus on melody development

These four areas will help me become a stronger songwriter and a more versatile singer. All of which are necessary to sing for a living....

And then....

I will pick up a job back at Crate and Barrell or ZGallerie or try my hand at waitressing. Either way, I'll need a job that provides me wages plus tip-share or commissions, especially since I am planning to move to NYC within the next 6-8 months. I need to save, save, save!

I've shared the news with my mom - she was speechless initially. She said that she and my father thought I would live a more "traditional life." And I'm sure everything to the point now has led them to believe that I would. But that's just a different generation talking...

More on this later, I need to head to work.

*ciao*

Driving In the Middle of the Road...

I have been. It's strange too. At first, I thought it was the car that I was driving. While on my trip in NY, I had several studio sessions in New Jersey. So after pulling a 24 hour day, I manned the wheel of my my hosts E-Class on the Jersey Turnpike, headed back to Long Island at 5am. I thought it was a mix of fatigue and fear of big rigs pummelling down the highway at 80mphs that was the root of the problem. Driving in the between the two lanes afforded me the security that I could quickly pick a lane were a trucker come to close. I didn't want to crash such a beautiful car.

But, I've been home for two days now and 2 outta 2 days I've found myself driving in the middle of the road. Unconsciously - but still somehow with a feeling of entitlement. The other drivers will have to go as fast or slow as I chose because I dominate the road.

A trip, right? Yeah - well I've finally realized what it is. Before I left on my vacation to NY, I found out that that I had lost my day-job and was put on 60 days notice. This is something that had been looming for a while and I had a feeling I'd get the axe (being so junior and have a position created for me less than a year prior). But the realization hit much harder than I had anticipated and I was kinda freaked.

I had speculated what I might do, as I knew I'd be given some type of severance package, because after all, I wasn't being fired - I was just "re-organized" out of my jobs. Such is life, right? So although mentally, I was prepared, emotionally I was lagging behind. Losing my job with eight weeks paid salary after my last day provides me with the window of opportunity I was looking for. But financially, it's extremly risky and I don't think I'm truly ready for the lifestyle change. Alternatively, I've been encouraged to apply to new positions within the organization which would give me a signifant pay increase and could provide the resources to save and pay down debt in order to make the leap.

I'm not yet sure what to do.

*what do you think*

Elle B's New York Vacation...

I didn't really publicize that I was going to be in New York. What started as a trip to visit one friend Michael turned into a birthday trip and then into a business trip, when my girl FLR (aka my East Coast Manager) started connecting with some new producers for me.

I am happy to say that, so far, my trip has not not only been enjoyable *I heart NY* but productive as well. Last night we met up with a producer, SJ, in Jersey and started working on a track called "Holla Back." Here is a clip of the first verse.



We ended up pulling a 24 day, but obviously it was worth it. Like Diddy said - Sleep is for the weak. And we skrong over here! Also, peep some gorgeous pictures of the sunrise on our way back to Long Island.




*Peace.*