Hello to the lovelies.

Hello kind folks,

Wow - it's so inviting on the other side of my window pane. You've gotta love those days when the warm, soft breeze constantly whispers in your ear to come outside. I think I may actually listen today... It's been awhile since I said hello to you all. Last time I wrote I mentioned that I'd been in a self-imposed cocoon, albeit it a weirdly timed one. It's certainly not the norm to finally finish an album, release it and then hibernate for half a year instead of promoting it, but hey - the norm is overrated. =) To be honest, there's been so much stress in other areas that I've had not a drop of emotional energy to give it what I believe it deserves. Stupid stress!!! They really need to whip up a cure for that in a lab somewhere.

It's amazing what can happen when you insulate yourself for several months... you start to do things that make you wonder if your brain has been abducted and replaced. Not only did I view and enjoy an entire three episodes of Desperate Housewives - which I swore I'd never watch, dear Lord - but I've also wept like a baby during every single episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition and developed what I'm sure is an unhealthy fascination with Celebrity Poker Showdown. I'm not sure what it all means.

It's a pensive week. Along with it being my lovely mom's birthday, it's also the first anniversary of the passing of my dear friend Ed Hutchison. God, I can't believe it's been a year. Reconciling death and celebrating life - what a mystifying cycle it all is. Very odd, visiting the cemetery and singing Happy Birthday in the same 48 hour period... Anyhoo, my bout with the blues hasn't quite ended yet (I guess you could call this my Blue Period?), but at least the sunshine is seeping through the cracks in the shell. I took in a few concerts recently, for the first time in ages. It was good soul candy but a tug at the heartstrings at the same time. It's strange to see other people doing what you love to do while you've made the conscious decision not to do it...

... So I've made the conscious decision to do it. I'll be performing for the first time this year - yikes - three weeks from today on Thursday June 23rd, opening for the beautiful Sara Kamin who is paying a visit to her hometown after a year away at school in Edinburgh, Scotland. This is a very meaningful show for me. Not only will it be a "hello Summer!" show and my first time onstage in seven months, but it's a return to my "performing roots" as I'll be accompanied by my dear friend, the wonderful Mark Alexander. Details are below.

I'm including in this email the writing demo of a song that'll be on the record I was making with Ed, a record that will definitely be completed. (In the meantime, I'll shamelessly say to order my album Overflow online!) We all go through our struggles in this crazy life. While many lines in this song are specific to my own experiences, the notion of finding your inner strength when the chips are down is a universal one. The album version has Eddie's glorious electric guitar replacing my lame piano playing, but for now you're stuck with my lame piano playing. =) Listen to Testament here.

Whew, that was long. Much love to everyone. Enjoy these gorgeous days and I hope to see you all on the 23rd.

Rest&Rejuvenation, Tanisha.

MOI (opening for Sara Kamin) THURSDAY JUNE 23RD ~ 9:30 PM ~ $5 CAMERON HOUSE ~ 408 QUEEN ST. (W of Spadina)