"These are gonna be hard times for you and I. We'll pay the price for this lovin'. I'll play fair if you'd do the same" -Hard times, yours truly
Recently I decide to give up alcohol for Lent. That was on Tuesday, when I spent the day so hungover that I couldn't even think of walking. I yelled to my sweetie, "I'm never drinking again". She said, "whatever". Does she have no faith in my abstaining? Apparently not.
Fast forward to the next day. I decided that I was in need of some Reiki.
Reiki, for those who don't know, is a form of energy work. It is moving energy around in your body that is stuck or not moving as thoroughly as you would like. Bad energy flow can cause depression,anxiety, tension and sickness. Anyway, while working on me, my Reiki master said "Do you drink?". I said yes. "A lot?" ummm, depends! "It seems like your liver is stressed."
How did he know? Fuck!
I didn't tell him anything about my horrible hangover or my sacrifice for Lent.. Than I realized that my diagnosis was like getting a "pink Slip". Though I didn't know I was being fired by my "stressed liver", the whole office knew! My reiki master, my sweetie, bartenders and most of all: the rest of my organs! They saw it coming after the numerous fall down on Monday night.."There she blows guys, we are getting a few days off..Finally".
So I decided to gracefully walk out the bars for 30 days~! I know Lent is for 40 days but I think that 40 days is a little excessive:) So, 30 days it is! In these 30 days,I will be: attending yoga classes frequently, taking Milk Thistle to rejuvenate my liver, making music, drinking O'Douls, going to museums, reading and volunteering at the Children's Hospital..Okay, that last one may happen but not necessary on the list. Anything can happen!
So if you are giving up something for Lent that will be good for your body please tell me all of the miserable details! :)
"may peace be with you"
Teneia Sanders
Friday, February 19, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Reality is always a phone call away
"Money, money makes the world go round. Money makes you change your sound if the price is right" -Jesca Hoop
After a few months of sending mixes back and forth (with my producer, Mauriece Hamilton and recording engineer, Brian Cronin) the phone call that most singer-songwriters are ECSTATIC about and DREAD all at once was received on yesterday. "Teneia your balance is.... and we still have a few more sessions left". My heart dropped and I smiled knowing that this record will be the record that makes me known!!! Hopefully. Otherwise, "McDonald's are you taking applications?" is "always a phone call away."
I have done a lot to try and raise awareness about what I do and how it takes money to make money to be in this business. You have to eat, travel, take gigs for "exposure" and plan. The money you do make goes to all of the necessities: gas, entry fees for festivals, food, travel expenses and etc.. The deal is though I would love for people to just sponsor me because they love me, my music or my pearly whites, I would much rather give you something back in return!! You know why? Cause that's how I roll:)
Well I have decided that when people donate to help out,I will give them something for their donations!!!!!!!!!!!!
You tell me what you think? Remember, though I am creative I do miss the bus on a few things sometimes so your opinions mean a lot. Unless they... suck! ;)
Something for your money:
$25
-signed poster of Teneia looking "fierce",
-free download of the upcoming record (before its released to anyone else)
$50
-signed poster of Teneia looking "fierce",
-free download of the upcoming record (before its released to anyone else),
-Teneia Sanders tote bag (unisex)
$75
-signed poster,
-free download (before any of the other slackers ;)
-tote bag
-t-shirt
$100-signed poster,
-free download (before its leaked on every free download site in the world ;)
-tote bag,
- t-shirt,
-and a live DVD)
$500 or more-
-have me write you a custom song for a special occasion. It could be for your partner's birthday, an anniversary, for your child, dog, cat or your gecko. And of course all of the other nic nacs!!
What do you think friends? I'm running all of this by you all first:) Feel free to comment!!
Radio show
On an unrelated note: A new friend of mine, James Clarke,is co-hosting a radio show called "Play it Forward" in London with Shashona on Valentine's day. Yours truly will be one of the talked about artists!! He's gonna play, "Stand" from, the HBO documentary, "Prom Night in Mississippi" and talk about what my music means to him and share it with the world.
Wanna learn more: of course you do!
tune into: indieshowcase.net at 4pm US, EST. 9pm UK, London. 8am EDT Sydney, AUS.
facebook event it @ http://tinyurl.com/ydf7pza
James Clarke, king of awesomeness,http://www.reverbnation.com/livepianoman
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
New adventures
Today is my first day blogging. I feel the best way to connect with my friends, fans and family is to keep you all updated about what is going on in my career and life. Things are getting more and more exciting every day and I wanna take you all along for the ride! Here we go!
I am finally starting to fall in-like with Arizona. For the first couple of months, I was exhausted. I was missing Louisville and eating leftovers at the bottom of the singer-songwriter food chain. It was hard being the new kid again. But Isn't that what I signed up for? Yes, a new horizon to educate myself about not having comfort zones. A time in my career to take a chance on other opportunities. A journey to find my music mojo again.
Ugh, so glad that is over! Now I'm finally making money again, appreciating my art and I love it!! Peanut Butter and Jelly FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where's the bacon?
As for now, I am doing a few things: blogging ( Rebecca's idea), adding songs to the new record (which I still haven't decided on a name for), writing custom songs, making magnets, and getting a summer tour booked!!
New songs: "always the bridesmaid" and "chains"
"Always the Bridesmaid" is a new addition to my song catalogue,. Its a song about never getting the opportunity to be the best, always being second to best. I had a professor once that said to me, "oh, so you're always the bridesmaid, never the bride" after I was picked over for a choir award. Of course, that phrase stuck with me and a few months ago I was having a "bridesmaid" moment here in Arizona and decided to write about it. What do ya know, I came up with a great song because of that asshole of a professor!! Thanks Dr. Kelly:)
"Chains" is about a couple of years old but it is being re-worked with a friend who is a poet named Apollo! He's is the most talented MC that I have heard in YEARS!!!!!!!!! Seriously, he's gonna change the world... Anyway, i feel like we are kindred souls and we will do a collaboration kinda like "Watchin' " from, "Soul Catcher" but more artistic and profound! It's gonna be hot!
Custom songs
Recently i began working with a company called 1800Hollywood.com where I write custom songs for people's anniversaries or birthdays. They have voicemails set up of family and friends of the "special person" for me to listen to and I write a song about what I gather about the person. It's a really cool thing! I feel like I tap into who this human being is without even meeting them, just by what others have to say about their personality and contributions in their lives. So far I've written 3 songs and looking to write more. This could be a good market for me, writing wedding songs, birthday songs or church hymns:)
Little Lefty Magnets
My new hobby and business, "Little Lefty Magnets" is available at Ear-xtacy Records (in Louisville). They are cute little refrigerator magnets that I started making as a fundraiser for my upcoming record. Instead of those flat, boring, magnets these are made out of marble glass and fun sayings like: "Oh My God Shoes", "Super Gay", "Believe" and some are of bands and singer-songwriters.. They are fun to make and all the cool kids need them;)
They will soon be available at Regalo on Barrett. Justin Lewis was my first musician-client to have magnets for a promotional tool. They are great to hand out to people at shows instead of wasting paper with handing out cards. If you want some custom made magnets for your site or organization! email me teneias@hotmail.com
plug, plug! out!
Anyway, that's all for today. IF there are misspelled words or fragments, SORRY! blame Jackson Public School, not me. At least I can read, that's an accomplishment being for Mississippi!
Love you all bunches and I am looking forward to this journey with you.
Thank you so much for reading.
Teneia Sanders.com
myspace.com/teneiasanders
facebook.com/teneiasandersmusic
Photo taken by Trevor Schmidt, Canada
I am finally starting to fall in-like with Arizona. For the first couple of months, I was exhausted. I was missing Louisville and eating leftovers at the bottom of the singer-songwriter food chain. It was hard being the new kid again. But Isn't that what I signed up for? Yes, a new horizon to educate myself about not having comfort zones. A time in my career to take a chance on other opportunities. A journey to find my music mojo again.
Ugh, so glad that is over! Now I'm finally making money again, appreciating my art and I love it!! Peanut Butter and Jelly FUCK OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where's the bacon?
As for now, I am doing a few things: blogging ( Rebecca's idea), adding songs to the new record (which I still haven't decided on a name for), writing custom songs, making magnets, and getting a summer tour booked!!
New songs: "always the bridesmaid" and "chains"
"Always the Bridesmaid" is a new addition to my song catalogue,. Its a song about never getting the opportunity to be the best, always being second to best. I had a professor once that said to me, "oh, so you're always the bridesmaid, never the bride" after I was picked over for a choir award. Of course, that phrase stuck with me and a few months ago I was having a "bridesmaid" moment here in Arizona and decided to write about it. What do ya know, I came up with a great song because of that asshole of a professor!! Thanks Dr. Kelly:)
"Chains" is about a couple of years old but it is being re-worked with a friend who is a poet named Apollo! He's is the most talented MC that I have heard in YEARS!!!!!!!!! Seriously, he's gonna change the world... Anyway, i feel like we are kindred souls and we will do a collaboration kinda like "Watchin' " from, "Soul Catcher" but more artistic and profound! It's gonna be hot!
Custom songs
Recently i began working with a company called 1800Hollywood.com where I write custom songs for people's anniversaries or birthdays. They have voicemails set up of family and friends of the "special person" for me to listen to and I write a song about what I gather about the person. It's a really cool thing! I feel like I tap into who this human being is without even meeting them, just by what others have to say about their personality and contributions in their lives. So far I've written 3 songs and looking to write more. This could be a good market for me, writing wedding songs, birthday songs or church hymns:)
Little Lefty Magnets
My new hobby and business, "Little Lefty Magnets" is available at Ear-xtacy Records (in Louisville). They are cute little refrigerator magnets that I started making as a fundraiser for my upcoming record. Instead of those flat, boring, magnets these are made out of marble glass and fun sayings like: "Oh My God Shoes", "Super Gay", "Believe" and some are of bands and singer-songwriters.. They are fun to make and all the cool kids need them;)
They will soon be available at Regalo on Barrett. Justin Lewis was my first musician-client to have magnets for a promotional tool. They are great to hand out to people at shows instead of wasting paper with handing out cards. If you want some custom made magnets for your site or organization! email me teneias@hotmail.com
plug, plug! out!
Anyway, that's all for today. IF there are misspelled words or fragments, SORRY! blame Jackson Public School, not me. At least I can read, that's an accomplishment being for Mississippi!
Love you all bunches and I am looking forward to this journey with you.
Thank you so much for reading.
Teneia Sanders.com
myspace.com/teneiasanders
facebook.com/teneiasandersmusic
Photo taken by Trevor Schmidt, Canada
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