THE UNKNOWN-PART 2

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I love this image of a baby hummingbird imagining it will fly somewhere. That must be why I have song lyrics about finding wings and soaring free.

Click the blue link below to hear my song with a new arrangement:–

THE UNKNOWN #2-8/26/15 Copyright 2015 by Judy Unger

The lyrics above are new ones I wrote for a bridge that my latest arrangement carries. The touch I crave (I say this with completely honesty) is the one I feel when I touch other people with my music and stories.

This photo is from a recent performance of my song that I will share soon.

At this time, I can admit that I still go to places that heal me.

“The Unknown” is the song that doomed my marriage of 31 years. When it “erupted” in 2011, I was very distraught because I admitted feelings I had previously denied for years. I kept my song a secret until I found the courage to set myself free. But it took several more songs to prod me forward.

For this story, I’m not going to delve into the break-up of my marriage, even though it was responsible for the birth of this song.

I’d rather share more about the ways I am facing the unknown in my current life.

But if anyone is curious to know more about how this song began, I share links below:

#369 THE UNKNOWN-PART 1

#304 I’M READY TO LIVE ON MY OWN

#364 MY HEART WAS LIKE STONE

#365 THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT

#366 I’M READY – PART 2

#368 THIS FEELS SO WRONG

I painted this illustration of pies early in my art career. It was used on Pet Ritz frozen pie crust packaging.

I was at a pie shop waiting to meet Kiki. It was so ironic! This was the same pie shop that encouraged and advertised for musicians to perform. A month earlier I had submitted a request to play and was told, “Unfortunately, you are not quite what we’re looking to bring to our venue.”

When Kiki suggested we meet at this restaurant, I was glad because that day I needed to find a slice of pie as reference for an illustration assignment I was working on.

I ordered a slice of blueberry pie (to go) and some coffee. The cashier probably thought I was a little crazy when I said, “Please give me the best looking slice you can. The crust cannot be broken at all.”

As I waited for my coffee, I decided it probably wouldn’t have been a good place for me to perform anyway because it was very noisy.

While working on a blueberry pie illustration, I was dreaming of pie! Above are some of my photo reference shots. The one I ended up using  (on the bottom right), was from the pie shop in this story.

I wondered what Kiki looked like. Only a few months before, I had contacted a music agent named Chris and we met at a Starbucks near my house. It was such a funny experience waiting to meet Chris, because I thought she was going to be a man. Well it turned out she wasn’t.

Even though Chris gently told me she couldn’t “take me on,” I was very appreciative for all the information she generously shared with me on that day. Before we parted, Chris mentioned that at the music school where she taught there might be a student available who could help me with promotion. I told her I was definitely interested.

A month later, Chris emailed me and wrote: “I have someone for you. Her name is Kiki and she could help you find the right venues to perform at and organizations where you could participate in meetings as a speaker and a performer. Let me know what happens.”

I immediately contacted Kiki to introduce myself; I asked her about her background and she wrote:

From my management class, I noticed that I have a really great ability when it comes to research and booking gigs. I am relentless and like helping people.

Right now I am focusing on mainly freelance work. I graduated from Music Business as an A student. I would be more than happy to meet for a coffee/tea mid next week. I look forward to hearing more of what you do and how I could best assist you.

I replied and told her it would be great if she could help me! Kiki certainly sounded very accomplished and talented. We set up an appointment to meet.

I received her text message that she was in the pie shop at a table waiting for me. I looked across the room and saw her wave to me.

As soon as I sat down, we began to talk about music. Kiki was very relaxed as we chatted. I was very excited about her finding places for me to speak and perform. Because I didn’t have any CD’s available for sale yet, that would be the first thing on our agenda together.

Before we parted, I let her know that I was ready to hire her for a few hours a week.

She smiled and said, “With only a few hours a week, I won’t be able to get much accomplished. I hope you’ll consider more hours so that I can get a lot of things done for you.”

I came home and received a huge art project. It was a sign to me. I sent Kiki a message that I was ready to hire her for more than a few hours.

This charcoal drawing was an assignment I did in college for an album cover. Kiki had a wonderful idea that I could use it for the album cover of my early works compilation.

I was pleased how my new assistant was able to do so many things. She helped me with album cover design. She checked, uploaded and labeled music files. Her ability to research whatever I asked for was outstanding. I began to discover the joy of having someone to bounce ideas off of (and complain to). Kiki set up social media sites to promote my music.

I diligently continued to record, sing and compose. It made my life magical. I would share my vocals when I felt ready and wasn’t about to feel rushed or pressured.

My first manufactured CD’s were of instrumental music. Because of Kiki, I released 4 albums within a few months. My reasoning for that was then Kiki could approach music libraries where my music might be purchased for advertisements, television shows and/or movies with my published music.

When the first box of CD’s arrived, Kiki eagerly took pictures of them.

Kiki had many great ideas for me. She didn’t waver on any of them.

First off, with her encouragement I re-recorded a new audiobook. I had never released the one I created in 2012. I recorded 7 audio stories over a one-week period and it was fairly exhausting. Since air conditioning would create noise on the recording, the engineer and I scheduled our sessions in the morning or evening. It was still very warm in the room when I recorded. 

I began writing a second audiobook. This second audiobook would be specifically to help people in grief. Kiki’s idea was that I create an album of meditation music to go with the grief audiobook.

The first meditation song was strange and nothing like the arrangements I was used to creating with George. After that session, I didn’t want to waste any more time working on meditations songs. But then I decided try another approach. I asked George to change the parts that unsettled me. It worked! That first song improved and turned out to be beautiful.

As I began creating more meditation songs, each one of them overwhelmed me with their delicate tones. For hours the sweet notes would linger in my mind. It turned out that creating such comforting music was a blessing for me, too.

Below are two clips of my favorite meditation songs in progress:

My Shining Star Meditation Song excerpt-Copyright 2015 by Unger

Hang On Meditation Song excerpt-Copyright 2015 by Judy Unger

The project Kiki was most excited about was her idea that I record a completely acoustic guitar album. It sounded intriguing.

She placed an ad on a bulletin board at the music school where she had attended (and Chris, the agent, taught). Her idea was to find another guitarist who played nylon classical guitar.

Both of us were very excited when an extremely talented guitarist responded. His name was Ernesto and he came to my apartment so we could practice some songs together that I planned to record.

I was so appreciative that my new assistant, Kiki, had such terrific ideas. Because of her, my journey was definitely going to a wonderful place.

Amazingly, during the past few months while I was working on all of these projects – my art career picked up and I received several illustration assignments.

Working on so many exciting musical/audio projects while illustrating was definitely challenging. I was spending a lot of money on music, but with my art career going so well – I was able to justify it.

Following my dream was beautiful when I avoided the potholes of doubt and worry.

Plus, I loved knowing that Kiki had dreams for me, too. One day she handed me a brochure. It was about the Grammy application process.

I grinned and told her, “Ha! My kids told me some day I’d win a Granny!”

Yes, I’m soaring somewhere because I’m “hot stuff!” (This was a book cover I illustrated many years ago about chili peppers). Actually, the hot summer months have been fairly challenging.

A few weeks ago, there was an email message in my in-box made me gasp. It was from a music publisher whom Kiki had contacted in New York. His message read:

Hi Judy,

Just took a listen. Great quality music! I’d like to schedule a call for Monday or Tuesday to discuss further. What is your availability?

Best, Phil

Judy,

It’s important to carefully read the contract; so far it looks great. I’m also reviewing the other info Phil sent. I can’t wait to hear your music on TV and/or commercial and/or film…This is too cool of a start!

Kiki

Dreaming helps me to conquer fear. Once upon a time, it seemed like changing my life was insurmountable; the unknown was very scary.

I no longer worry about my future. Because at this moment – it’s feeling very beautiful for me!