Happy Summer Solstice and a Canadian Happy Aboriginal Day to you!

 

Today my video is officially released and online at http://norinebraun.com/bio.html  

 

An excerpt from the press release:

Vancouver BC, June 21, 2009 Norine Braun has released a music video for her new song "Ballad of Magic Man" which is taken from her 7^th independent album entitled "Acoustically Inclined". Norine says the song is about the magic of believing. "The magical man from the stories of our youth, the archetypal good man is always within us as we try and find our way in the mystery of life. We can carry that goodness, that innocence, that magic with us, always.”

 

In the video, directed and filmed by Julie Saragosa, the award winning singer-songwriter is followed on a journey through luscious west coast Canadian backdrops. The opening shot, we hear Norine’s footsteps, she enters wearing cowboy boots. The boots once belonging to her late father, a magical man himself would wear these boots on special occasions like attending the Calgary Stampede. Paralleling the message of the song, his spirit and the magic of his life continues on. Using hand held and traveling shots various images and sequences are split screened giving the viewer the ability to self edit by choosing which screen to watch. The video also presents scenes of live performance shots in various natural settings.

 

Julie Saragosa has shown work at festivals worldwide; including Milan, London, L.A., Chicago, Berlin, Vancouver and Toronto. In 2005, her film Amoré won the Best Canadian Film award at Toronto’s International One-minute Film Festival.

 

NYC

NYC was an AMAZING, amazing  time! NYC is HUGE in every way.. overwhelming really. Kind of like the PNE on steroids only it's regular life and not an exhibition! Stimulation central for all senses... zowie.  United For The Ride http://www.unitedfortheride.org  was truly an excellent gig, stellar line up, those artists have MAXIMUM CHOPS and mega stage presence they all filled the room with charisma and at sound check no less wowowow!! An honour to be among them for sure. I found my flow and was well received by a very welcoming audience. We were a success and have been invited back and another theatre in nyc has even shown interest too. Terry Christopher was an incredible host I felt at home and well taken care of! I took a zillion pics (ok just 300) made some new friends (New Yorkers are very friendly and helpful even though so busy) and saw as much as I could. Needless to say I look forward to returning soon. I posted some pics on http://www.facebook.com/norinebraun for you to have look and do become a friend if you are on FB.

 

GIGS

PRIDE season is almost here!

 

1. I am playing East Side Pride next Saturday June 27th my stage time is 1:30 the stage is 11am -5pm Come spend the afternoon at Grandview Park, Commercial Drive at Charles Street. This is an official Pride event.

 

2. We are back at St. Augustine's ( formerly The End)  2360 Commercial Drive where I held the Acoustically Inclined CD Release. We (Alice for a set, Sherri C and I) play 3 sets starting at 8pm Thursday July 16th and we will have a new PA to get superior sound that night too. No rules, no attitude, no worries and no cover.

 

3. Tuesday July 28th 6:30 pm I am the feature artist at Richmond Cambie Concert in the Park Series at the Gathering Place in King George Park, Cambie and No. 5 Road (east Richmond) Weather permitting.

4. WEDNESDAY, JULY 29TH, 2009 Pride In Art

Sugarbeach and friends. With special guests Norine Braun, Jenny Allen, and Armstrong Jr.  - 8:30 pm

Roundhouse Performance Centre

181 Roundhouse Mews
Vancouver bc

Price: $10  Official Pride Event.

5. SUNDAY, AUGUST 2ND, 2009 Vancouver Pride - 11 am -6 pm

Sunset Beach Festival English Bay
Vancouver

Celebrations continue after the Parade at Sunset Beach festival site. We have a crowd that reaches over 100,000 people in the park listening to the live music on the Festival Stage, viewing the diverse selection of products and services provided by vendors and drinking at the beer garden.  Official Pride Event.

 

Have a great summer, a happy pride and I hope to see you soon!

 

Love,

Norine

www.norinebraun.com

 

 

Some June gigs and news for you. I hope you are enjoying the spring. 

 

1. Tune in this Tuesday to hear some tunes. I am Feature Performer playing live for half hour June 2 at 8pm PST  on Melodies in Mind Host with Ryan Fletcher CJSF 90.1FM in the lower mainland or online at http://www.cjsf.ca/  The feature is followed by a song circle with 3 artists at 9pm for an hour. The second round of song is the 'myspace' round, which means the performances will go on the www.myspace.com/melodiesinmind for a week.

 

2. United For The Ride Vol. I CD Release and Benefit Concert

The Triad Theatre - www.triadnyc.com 212-362-2590

Saturday, June 6, 2009/7:00 - 8:30pm

158 W. 72nd St., NYC (Between Broadway & Columbus)

$20.00 donation + FREE CD 

2 drink minimum/ for tickets contact www.smarttix.com or call 212-868-4444

I can't wait to see and meet some of my NY and East coast friends and fans! It's going to be exciting!  

If you are not in NYC you can still support this great cause and pick up a cd at http://unitedfortheride.org/  or http://cdbaby.com/cd/uftr

 

3. ONLINE CD RELEASE PARTY

Be sure to catch the online cd release party for The "United For The Ride Volume 1" Online CD with interviews of all the artists by Len Rogers. The party premiered on May 23 on www.rainbowworldradio.com The show is available as podcast for one month.

 

 4. Bear Creek Park 2nd Annual Walk For ALS 

11 am Saturday June 13

13750 - 88 Avenue

Surrey BC

The walk will be held at Bear Creek Park in Surrey, BC again, with performances from 11am to 1pm (roughly). Last year Sherri and I had a great time playing and are happy to be invited back again.

The money raised at the walk will definitely be put to great use. Collectively, the 2008 Walk for ALS events raised over $2.2 million. The proceeds were used to fund ALS research as well as services for those living with ALS. 

 

5. The video is completed and will be released on summer solstice. Hurray!! Julie did an amazing job!! I found some great locations, the weather cooperated (no rain and sunshine just when we needed it) and the visuals she captured are truly west coast. Everything just flowed so effortlessly and creatively. She approached the video with the intention to be as interactive as possible using multiple split screens so that people can decide which one to watch thereby becoming their own editor making the video quite compelling...very, very kewl!! 

Best run now and start getting packed for ny ny! I have been lax on the blog but will try and post some details of my trip at http://norinebraun.blogspot.com/

 

Talk soon!

 

Love,

Norine

www.norinebraun.com

New York New York and Japan -

April 24, 2009

BIG BIG news and lots of news for you this email! I will be playing very soon in New York and Japan.

1.FIRST the secret alluded to in my last email is out. I was invited and my song Be Brave (Blaxcot Remix) is included on a new Braking The Cycle Fundraiser United For The Ride Vol. I an official release date in early May. 12 LGBT and LGBT supporting artists from across the United States and Canada have combined their musical offerings with their commitment to the LGBT community’s efforts in the continuing fight against HIV/AIDS. From the generosity of these gifted and talented singer-songwriters, 100% of the proceeds of the sale of United For The Ride Vol. I will go directly to the LGBT Center of New YorkCity's various HIV/AIDS based programs and community outreach initiatives.

The official CD release concert for United For The Ride Vol I. will be held at The Triad in NYC on Saturday, June 6, 2009 from 7:00 – 9:00. Thanks to the generosity of Terry Christopher the Executive Producer and friends, I will be there to sing Be Brave and I hope my New York and East coast friends can attend and that everyone can support this great cause. I am so beyond thrilled as this is my first time ever in the big apple.

The full press release is at the end of the email. I will send links once they are available.

2. This morning more thrills and congratulations from the Kansai Music Conference that I was selected to showcase at the first bilingual music conference in Japan. KMC 2009, will be held at Convention Centre Osaka on Sept. 19 & 20. This will be a 2 day 2 night international spectacular in downtown Osaka. Shalestone will be putting together a tour for me of Osaka and area prior to the showcase. Details to follow...I am very, very excited to meet some of my Japanese friends and radio stations that have supported my music over the past years.http://shalestonemusic.jp/kmc.htm

3. An online CD release party of Acoustically Inclined hosted by Len Rogers of Stonewall Society will premiere Monday, April 27 at 8 pm eastern and includes an hour interview. Len has an important part in the United For the Ride CD, he had suggested my music to Terry for consideration. So thank you for that Len!! Listen in at www.rainbowworldradio.com the show will be online 24 hours a day for at least 2 weeks following the premiere.

4. Music video is in the works. We are filming May 4th and Julie Saragosa is directing. Julie Saragosa is an interdisciplinary media and performance artist who, over the past decade, has shown work at festivals worldwide; including Milan, London, L.A., Chicago, Berlin, Vancouver and Toronto. In 2005, her film Amoré won the Best Canadian Film award at Toronto’s International One-minute Film Festival. Her work extends to the curatorial and educational, as a grassroots organizer and workshop leader of the Vancouver super8 festival Project8, and media arts instructor at SFU and UBC-O. An active community member, she’s taught media arts workshops at the Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto, VIVO Media Arts, mentored video artists through the Inside Out Film Festival, the Project8 Boot Camp and the CFC’s Venus Video program.

5. Amazon now has all my cds and mp3s available at

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RHQ2TO/ref=dm_sp_adp

Well I hope all is well your way and that I see you soon!

Love,

Norine

Acoustically Inclined cd release party gig and The End Cafe on 2360 Commercial Drive this Thursday Dec. 11, at 8 pm. There is no cover so no reason to not be there! Sherri joins on percussion and Alice may sit in for a few tunes on keys too. It's going to be a great evening!

The first review came in today from Stuart Derdeyn the Entertainment Editor at The Province. It was under the headline, A few gift ideas for that person who loves to hear something a bit different.
He said.
With her powerful voice and strong writing, this prolific indie singer/songwriter offers up 16 tracks including a cover of These Boots are Made for walking on her eighth full length album.

For those of you out of town you can now download a copy at cdbaby or order a copy from my site. I happily autograph if you like.

http://www.norinebraun.com/products.html
http://cdbaby.com/cd/norinebraun7

I should have all the lyrics and samples up of the new album by this weekend but you can hear a few on the listen page at my site or all of them at cdbaby.

I hope to see you on Thursday!

Cheers,
Norine
http://www.norinebraun.com

Here is the official cover and yes that is my handwriting to add that personal touch to the package. The manufacturing of the cd is in process yahoo! I have approved all the graphics and the tee shirts will be approved on Monday. I have been checking around to get a place for the cd release party gig and The End Pub on 2360 Commercial Drive has confirmed for Thursday Dec. 11, at 8 pm
This newly renovated pub is sure to become a new music venue for the area, it should be alot of fun. There is no cover so no reason to not be there!

I was one of several artists Music BC selected to promote at the Japan China Trade Mission currently happening this week. For the second year, the Canadian Independent Record Production Association is spearheading a "music trade mission" to Japan, with industry representatives from a host of Asian countries expected to take in performances by and meet with Canadian artists as well as a slate of record labels.

CJSF 90.1 FM or cjsf.ca has a show called Melodies in Mind and I will be one fo 4 songwriters performing live on air at 9pm Dec. 2, 2008 followed by a live show with the same group at Highland Pub at SFU Campus on Dec 8 also at 9pm (PST) cover is $5.

I am compiling media lists and roots based acoustic lists for the release so am busy as ever. Will let you know soon how that is going too.
Cheers,
Norine

Had a great conversation with A.T. my graphic designer about the images and he had found some new images in keeping with the feel and idea of the album ..acoustic, introspective and i like his new direction. He is keeping the moodiness but with simple elegance. The steel blue tones really draw me in and gives listeners an idea what to expect when they hear the album. Here is the new perspective.
Cheers! nb

Happy Thanksgiving!
The gigs last weekend went very well. The one called Family Fest near Seattle had a major windstorm arise while I and others were playing. At one point 3 people were holding down the stage tent legs while I played, the show must go on! A tree came crashing down during my second song to boot and no one was hurt, quite an adventure. A friend said I really blew them away ( ha ha).
The Drift festival here on Main in Vancouver last Sunday was good too, with lots of people coming in and the place had a good sound.

Well I have decided to go with cdwest a local company here in the lower mainland. they have a great promo this month and with the dollar declining wise to stay local.

They will doing the graphics this week andhere are some shots that may end up somewhere on the new album. Alice took the photos of me the other are from an online source.

Let me know what you think.

Cheers,
Norine

Brian Ball from Women’s Radio interviewed me yesterday and you can hear the podcast now online at
http://www.womensradio.com/content/templates/?a=3079&z=8
(copy and paste into your browser sorry I still haven’t figured out the link system here)
Cheers,
Norine

Well great news the recording of the album is complete and ready to roll! I had a wonderful time at Rear Window Studios with multi-talented Adam Popowitz on Wednesday afternoon. He has an amazing little studio with windows facing the lush green woods and protected habitat. A great spot to feel inspired. I came with a metronome of sorts to help me get that rhythm down which was eluding me in cross town studios. I dusted of my old Roland key board and grabbed an r and b drum loop for Truth and Dares and then a crazy cheesy 90s dance beat at 145 beats a minute for Christmas Bells and practiced with this for several days and was indeed the answer to my troubles. I did Truth and Dares in 2 takes and am very happy with the energy and vocals of this live track, my guitar is almost smokin. Christmas Bells took a few more attempts but it too surfaced with the feel I was after. Neither of theses tunes have the cheesy drum tracks of course on the final mix but sure helped immensely in the delivery. I did Take Back the Power in free form without the click and it worked well too. This song was harder to program a drum loop as there is a tempo change midway but I get the groove with this one pretty easily. Adam was a joy to work with and got into the groove of the tunes. I look forward to working with him again. He reminds me of James Bowers a producer and friend and I worked with for many years and who also recorded some of the songs on this album from prior releases. Adam approaches songs in a similar manner and intensity and is also a multi-instrumentalist which is always any singer-songwriter’s dream ...the all in one package. Alice joined me in the studio for her ears and input on the creative process. She enjoyed the experience and was impressed with the session as well.

SO here is the lineup for the album:
Acoustically Inclined Norine Braun
1.Truth and Dares 3:31

2.Another Man's Fate 4:03

3.Ballad Of Magic Man 2:36

4.Take Back The Power 3:03

5. Christmas Bells 3:11

6. Love & Not Fear 4:21

7. Miles To Go 3:54

8. Dreams 2:49

9.There_s A Long, Long Trail A Winding 2:02

10. Little Girl With Golden Hair 4:07

11. Junkie 3;00

12.Be Brave 2:39

13. persephone 3:50

14. human kindness 3:00

15. Climb The Mountain 3:53

16. These Boots Are Made For Walkin 2:21


Truth and Dares is the lead track and here is the link to have a listen.
http://www3.telus.net/norinebraun/TruthandDares%201.mp3

The lyrics...

Truth and Dares
Never needed anyone
She always did it on her own
Life seemed always black and white
People get there on their own
Willful youth she sacrificed
Her glass filled half way
In the night, in the night
She plays truth and dares

She wakes up living on the street
She’s hungry can’t find enough to eat
She’s lonely, drunks lie at her feet

Downtown, she lives downtown

She looks at me with vacant eyes
I worry that she might recognize
My interest or my empty lies

Downtown, she lives downtown

Garbage in her livingroom
She threw her pearls to the swine
World’s my oyster anyways
You see I manifest divine
Mystic visions watching me
I get connected all the time
In the night, in the night
She knows truth and dares

I walk past her most everyday
She asks for change I give away
I give my penance for the day
Downtown she lives downtown

I stand corrected in front of truth
My mind unravels the naked ruse
The spirit moves me into use
Downtown she lives downtown

Never needed anyone
She always did it on her own
Life seemed always black and white
People get there on their own
Willful youth she sacrificed
Her glass filled half way
In the night, in the night
She knows truth and dares

©Norine Braun August 27, 2008



I am very happy with this collection of acoustic tunes and I think the album demonstrates my live performance well and how songs begin in their purest form...vocal and guitar. I hope you enjoy them too.

I called Craig Waddell from Gotham City Studios and we met for coffee on the drive Friday. He is the master of mastering and has mastered thousands of albums from indies like me to the big well known artists like Sarah McLachlan, Fear Factory, Grateful Dead, Loverboy, Delerium...
An honour to have such an incredibly talented mastering artist work on this recording.

Here is the definition of Mastering for you from musicbiz academy. Mastering is the audio step that comes just before manufacturing a CD. Once you have finished recording and mixing your songs, the tracks are shaped, sculpted, scooped, equalized, compressed, and finessed into sonic splendor (well, you hope) through the audio process known as mastering. Mastering is what gives depth, punch, clarity and volume to your tracks. It is part science, part craft, and part alchemy. . . just like songwriting, singing, performing and recording. Mastering is the crucial, critical, and final creative step in the process of making an audio recording,


The photos are of Adam at the helm in Rear Window studios, Alice at Rear Window and myself in the isoation booth at Rear Window, Craig Waddell is holding the brand new Acoustcally Inclined album in the brown envelope along with a panini to go from the drive. You can’t visit the drive without a panini.

The mastering will be done next week! Now for the design work....stay tuned!
Cheers,
Norine

On sunny Saturday Alice and I ventured over to visit friendly Paul Wohlstetter at his home-work studio also know as Wohl of Sound. We spent about an hour an half running through several live takes to capture the right one which was the last one. The new live recording of Little Girl With Golden Hair is now complete. Alice sat in with me as co-producer and helped me get just what I was after. Here is a link to listen http://www3.telus.net/norinebraun/1%20Little%20Girl24.mp3
Next stop is Burnaby tomorrow afternoon to visit Adam Popowitz and his studio. The live sessions continue....

Let’s try this link once more for you to copy into your browser. Cheers, Norine
http://www3.telus.net/norinebraun/There_s%20A%20Long,%20Long%20Trail%20AWinding.mp3