Verity's Blog

Poem from a new fan...

I received this poem yesterday and it has made my week. I am so touched when people take the time to reach out like this and share with me how they experience what I do - it makes the journey that much more worthwhile...

"I made a new friend today, she is tiny but when she sang, she filled the hall.

Her voice bounced around like a huge beach ball.

The words of her song entered my ears and filled my heart

I understand her story and I am not even smart

My body was moving with the rhythm, I understood every words she sang,

at the end of her song it was not silence I heard, but rather a bang.

It was the beat of my own heart and I felt so alive 

I felt like a kid and not like a mother that is 55!

It's good to feel so happy and good,

music and words feed my sole like food

Yes, today I met Verity with a voice that lifted my spirit so high

I enjoyed this woman's day and was sad to say good bye!

But now I can visit her with modern technology when ever I can,

because my friend Verity, has a new fan!!!"

Thought for the week...

The deeper sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can absorb.   -   Jan Coleman

"All better now"...

Whenever I am giving a talk on my journey in the music industry I often ask people if they have a song that they love to play to get them up and going or if they have songs that they listen to when they are going through a difficult time that helps them to feel like they are not alone and that someone else has been there and they will get through it. Invariably everyone answers 'yes' to these questions, as that is power of music. It inspires and uplifts us and also comforts and consoles us and I always share with my audiences that as a songwriter it is my dream and hope that my songs & lyrics will go into people's homes & cars and hopefully become part of the soundtrack of their lives and that maybe just maybe they will choose one of my songs on a day when they want to celebrate or need some inspiration or hope.

The other day I got the email below that made my week and has inspired me to make sure that I don't wait too long before recording the next album because it is messages like these that make it all worth while - a dream come true indeed!!

"I fetched my son from school yesterday and he'd had a really horrid day... bad cricket practice where he kept dropping the ball and the guys ended up teasing him - first thing he did was slot in your CD. Listen to "Miracle" with his eyes closed and then moved forward to "Don't Look Back"... After that he smiled and said...all better now..."

Showbiz Report... footage from my first TV interview

I finally dug up this footage of the first time I was interviewed on TV about the Lucky Packet Project! Just posting it as a memory of how far I've come since then with so many awsome people joining me along the way! Thanks guys - you rock!!!

Thought for the week...

Create a life that is full with the things you love. Activity enriches you. Nature never stops growing so neither should you. People pass through our pictures but they aren’t the lines, they are the colours. Define your lines – make them bold and easy to colour in. Don’t wait for someone else’s colours to make sense of your picture.

Be sure that the people you choose bring colours that are worthy of the picture you would make. It is yours alone. Choose the frame and hang it well. Admire other people’s painting but don’t think theirs are where you need to be. You are all hanging in the same gallery. You are a complete work of art exactly the way you are. Don’t forget that.

Band Practice vs Business Practice...

This week we got back into serious rehearsal mode as we have a few shows back to back in November and with Helder being on tour in Denmark we have invited a fantastic bassist Sylvain to join us for the month. This obviously implies alot of ground work getting him up to speed with close on 18 songs and we met for the first time on Wednesday to get things going. As luck would have it, Tony was stuck at the airport and so we had to start the rehearsal without him. I felt confident that it would be too much of a problem as Nelson and Al were there to take Sylvain through the chord changes & get familiar with the songs - so we would be ok without our drummer for a bit right? Not the case!

It was amazing to hear the songs without Tony there and for the first time really appreciate how much he keeps each of them together with his timing and rhythm. It got me to thinking about how easy it is to not notice how much value a team/band member is adding until they are not there. It is human nature to just accept that things are working and not question or value the people who are responsible for it until they are gone. I know how talented Tony is and love working with him, but a simple thing like teaching a new band member our songs was just not the same without him. As it would not have been the same without Nelson or Al or me. We are not a band without each one of us being in the room and it was a beautiful wake-up call to really appreciate the magic each person adds to the whole.

Running a band is not that different to running a business and this week gave me a powerful realisation that I can only do what I do because of these fantastic guys who bring their talent, passion and commitment to my music. If we aren't celebrating our team and thanking them for what they each bring to the table then we are dangerously close to losing what makes us work and run the risk of losing it. So this is my chance to extend a HUGE thanks to 'The Shades' and other musicians I work with, for the incredible way in which they colour my music and this band. What a priviledge to be on this road together - you guys all ROCK!!!

             
                        Pic by Neill Le Roux, V&A Amphitheater Sept 19 2009

Weekend Live Interview (SABC News)

I was interviewed & performed live on SABC2's Weekend Live in March 2009 by a fantastic presenter Masechaba. Can't tell you how intimidating performing on live TV is - especially when they want you to sing your heart out to three cameras whizzing around on booms & no audience in sight except for the millions of people watching it at home. Quite a learning curve but awesome to have had such a great opportunity!!!

Top Billing gets my bag...

Yesterday was quite a day! I started off by rushing to Reto to have my hair and make-up done and managed to screech home just in time before the Top Billing team decended on the house in full force. It was awesome to have them spend the morning with me and to reconnect with Nico Panagio two years after we worked together on Ella Blue!

The insert they are featuring me in, is for the D&D Charity Auction to raise funds for Journey To Life - a charity aimed at building a research centre for cancer and other terminal diseases. The idea is that various celebs donate a handbag to be auctioned off and that Top Billing will cover the story behind each bag that has been donated. I chose a  beaded bag that I picked up for an absolute bargain at an Indian tradeshow at the CTICC a few years back and that has travelled with me around the world to London, Nashville & New York. We included an autographed copy of Journey as an added bonus to the bag so I hope it helps them raise a lot of money!

If that wasn't enough for one day, after the team had departed I had a quick telephone interview with Kathalijne Van Zutpen for an article that will be appearing on porfoliocollection and then rushed off to get ready for my speech at the opening of local artist Cathy Layzell's exhibition DUENDE. Her exhibition is breath-taking and it was great to stretch myself with something completely new by giving the opening address to a room full of art lovers! It seemed to go down really well and I had the curator of the gallery (Irma Stern) threatening me that I would be in great demand by artists needing a speech to open their exhibitions. Who would have thought!!!

By the time I got home I had a feeling of satisfied exhaustion at the end of a jampacked day doing what I love. Can't wait to see what the rest of the week brings!

 

 
 

Finding My Inspiration...

On Saturday I was up bright and early to make my way to the Old Mutual "Find Your Inspiration" Womens Day, where I was one of the speakers in a jam packed program. They gave me a stand to sell albums from and it made for a wonderfully busy day chatting to all the women who were there. After my talk and performance, my stand was inundated with people and we nearly ran out of albums - always a good problem to have! I was blown away by the over 400 women who stayed for the entire seminar and gave so much energy back to the speakers and were so clearly there because they wanted to be inspired and work on living their best life.

One of the highlights of the day for me has to be the talk by Donna McCallum (aka The Fairygodmother) who shared so honestly with the audience her own journey of having the courage to live the life of her dreams and now helps thousands of people to do the same. I was pretty much Donna's first 'Cinderella' when she helped manage the Lucky Packet Project from 2006-2007 and it felt very fitting to be sharing a stage together and seeing people walking away from her stand with her book (Getting What You Want) - ready to tackle their dreams head on! Nikki Jackman was another big wow of the day as she took the women on a journey of giggles and laughter with her awesome Joy Session presentation. After she finished her slot the audience was so revved up it was amazing to hear them giving each speaker 110% of their attention and energy!

And this is my day job... Bring it on!!!

    

 

Thought for the week...

The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up!   -   J. M. Power