face-slap

entry 7 or so

may 16th cont.

Current level of conviction in own genius (out of 10): 2 at most glum moments/10 when at most indignant and outraged.
Hours of creative activity achieved in last 24 hours: 1
Hair day: the back is curling. Am going to bite the bullet and go trashy blonde again.

Humph. Finally gave erstwhile prospective agent from high profile classical/crossover company another call, a follow-up after sending her sedna stories extracts on CD (which, I assumed, would make her realise juice’s general exquisiteness and my multi-faceted gifts of creation). She sounded surprised and a little fumbly at hearing my voice, and stumbled that, whilst what we were doing was exciting and fresh, well, the ‘quality’ just wasn’t there. Which wasn’t what she said in our face-to-face meeting after our big Radio 3 gig in December. I KNOW that she never promised anything, but she had seemed very keen and to backtrack so vastly is dispiriting at best. She said to stay in touch and I was as chirpy as a treeful of chickadees on the phone but dang! It’s just another slap in the face for Kerry in her Continuing Test of Confidence and Will and Unwavering Ambition.

Still, juice are now on the way to making our debut in Covent Garden in a couple of weeks. Busking, that is, ho ho. It's busking the business way though, with auditions and licenses and draws and sign-up sheets.... but we've got ourselves 4 slots in 2 weeks' time, which will be great. Plus we've been asked, provisionally, to take part in a recording of my tutor's piece for NMC. Which will also be nice. Slowly but surely.

Am trying to desperately to concentrate on future creative activity; need something to get my writing/musical/singing teeth into. Do feel semi-inspired by seeing the wondrous Laurie Anderson on the Culture Show (and managed to wangle last half-price ticket to see her on Wednesday!) and by browsing online for similar quirky gals – Joanna Newsom, CocoRosie, the fably-named Scout Niblett, Hanne Hukelberg – who are getting out there and doing lo-fi, raggedy-voiced, innovative stuff. Am thinking about future album project (hell! Might as well think positive!), as have done sea-themes to death and that was the last idea… might go with collection of modern takes on English folk stories ie reaching into my heritage in a wacky, avant-pop kinda way. Well, a girl can dream.