hello, from sunny florida

Here at the Vanguard room it doesn't take long to warm up to producer Aaron Marsh's quirky personality. In fact I have now come to expect r&b/hip hop culture lessons, (we are still recording an indie/pop record aren't we Aaron?) beat boxing/whistling breakdowns, and interesting vocabulary i have never heard to be used on a daily basis. The cozy atmosphere, and warm Florida weather certainly isn't hurting this experience either! I couldn't ask for much more.

Now that the piano and vocal scratch tracks are all recorded, most of my time here these days is spent on a comfy couch observing all the madness involved in creating a great album. While Alex Bennett was working hard recording some rockin' drums, i managed to beat my high score on 'word pop' 3 times. :p But all jokes aside... its been nothing short of amazing to see Alex and Aaron turn my cryptic requests for "like...hit the snare drum really fast... ya know?" and "maybe a few less drums on this one?" into brilliant inventive drum parts.

Our current endeavor is tracking bass guitar... and who knew Aaron could kill at bass! And beyond just playing bass... he's created these pretty magical bass gloves... i can't talk too much about them in case someone tries to steal his tricks. I don't have much to say when it comes to bass....but so far it's sounding pretty BA!

The next steps will be guitar, strings, (suuuupperrr excited for strings!), and then finally my part, piano and vocals! Aaron has this amazzzinnggg white upright Weber (japanese weber) piano that I know is going to sound so great on the record! It has a distinct sound heard on tracks of "Felt" by Anchor&Braille and "Illuminate" by Lydia, two awesome records, so I'm prettty stoked. And of course vocals will be a total blast! working with in my opinion one of the most inventive current vocalists, I think to say I am eager to start recording would be a total understatement. can't wait!

I came here to Lakeland all the way from Portland Oregon specifically to work with Aaron Marsh, who's work in the band Copeland has been hugely inspiring to my music, and let me tell you... he has far exceeded my expectations already! It really is an honor to have such a talented guy produce my album. :) In this short time here, already I feel like I've grown as a musician. Being able to be involved in the production process is helping me become more well rounded musically, and I'm even learning great new musical terminology like 'flying brick'! Not to mention what a confidence booster it is to have Aaron Marsh jazzed about your compositions. :)

I'm really stoked to continue working on this record and share it with all of my friends and fans!!


Holly Ann

Hope's not giving up.

Don't forget what makes you happy; what you love.
because it really is the answer.

and don't forget where love comes from.
the only reason we have a concept of love is because our heavenly father loved us. And will continue to love us, no matter what.

so just... don't forget.

there is too much good to be enjoyed to get stuck in a rut.

much too much good. :)

and another day here across the country. There is no pretending I am in Oregon here, and it's not just the humidty. Every small shop you walk into is playing christian music, and even the movie theatres and large chain shops continue this trend. People really are as nice as you have heard they are here, and i'm finding myself talking slower every day and throwing a few more "ya'lls" into things. ha Apparently here in the Nashville/Franklin area there are more churches per capita than any other city. amazing. It must be different here. The feeling of being part of a movement, and believing in something that every one else around you also believes. In a sense, it makes me wish it was easy like it is here to live out my faith. But not enough to keep me from missing home, and the easiness of my small church.
I think its easy to get jaded in this town. So many people come here to persue their dreams, and then they fall in to the monotonous routine of networking at church, and schmoozing anyone who seems to know a note of music in case they may be an industry worker. And one day you wake up and realize that you aren't even living out your dream anymore. youre just pretending in a sense, going with the motions to get what everyone else around you wants. and all the sudden you realize you got so caught up in the bright lights that you forgot why YOU even want it anymore. I hope i never lose my love for true music.
keep me grounded ok? no matter what happens.
i dont want to forget that I have something good to say.

well, God is good. and I am amazed at how much he gives. This trip couldn't be a bigger blessing.

here are the lyrics to the song we(Rob Ghosh and I) Wrote today. its super folky 'The New Frontiers'y. haha im excited to get an awesome piano part together that compliments the simple acoustic guitar.

"See you Again"

v1
slow like winter days
i see it, i see it
it's on my window pane
but time keeps on moving and

this is the last time, i pray
i wish you would mean what you say

chorus
But i know your voice will keep me from breaking down
i just wish you'd save me from this town
though i don't know who i am
i'll see you again

v2
Rain keeps falling down
soft on the pavement
it makes a simple sound
but i can not hear it

i just get a little afraid
when the nights slip away from the day

chorus
but i know your voice will keep me from breaking down
i'd just wish you'd save me from this town
though i don't know who i am
i'll see you again

i'll see you, i'll see you, I'll see you again...

and this is the last time, i pray
i wish you would mean what you say

chorus

but dark days will come to an end
and we'll put all our feelings to pen
though i don't know who i am...

i'll see you again



<3 love.

its a hitt!

today was great! wrote with two amazing guys, and got some killer tunes i am very excited. i delved more into spiritual lyrics than i ever have and am excited to write even more. today was inspirational. and i pretty much owe a lot of my lyrics today to my muse, Donald Millers book "through painted desserts"



here are the lyrics to my new songs :)
this one is a poppy, bluesy piano driven song that im excited to mess with the piano a bit and see what i can make of it. could be a great song :)

Here with Me

v1
i walk through the valley

of the shadow of doubt

your words say your beside me

but i'm questioning now, im questioning now



chorus

i dont have to know where i'm going

just that you're with me now

i know i'll know when i get there

cause you're with me now



v2

this place that you're taking me

is there no other way?

cause these shadows, they get to me

and they're hiding your face

so i'm calling your name

i'm calling your name



chorus



bridge

one day i'll look back and see

why you were leading me through the dark



chorus x2

the second song is a mid tempo acoustic guitar song that i'm really excited about. its a fun one to sing, and i really got a chance to play with melodies and switching back and forth from head to chest voice.
its a little different for me, especially since i don't play the guitar. but its always nice to get away from the piano. im really excited to take this one to the studio and see what we can make of it!

closer to you

there is a mystery
deep down in my bones
its a part of me
but i can't call it home
it's much to deep
for me to reach

theres a song in my head
I'd like you to hear
it's the words that you said
and they're beccoming clear
but i don't know if i've got it right this time

chorus
will i find what i'm looking for
cause i've tried but i'm wanting more
than what they say what they say what they say is the truth
but all i want all i want is to be
closer to you

v2
i am your vessle
searching for peace
your love surrounds me
it is deep like the sea
with out your waves crashing over me
i am empty, i am empty

chorus

bridge
could you meet me right here
through the shadows i fear
through the battles that come my way
could you meet me right here
through the strife and the tears
could you come over me and shine like the sun

chorus


so the themes are pretty clearly similar, but i like it. if you find a good concept and inpirational theme i say run with it! i am looking forward to the next few days of writing. :)

good things. good people. good music. :)

tennesee, day 1.5

oh no!!! i just posted a long deatailed blog and it all got erased!!! as i was in the process of copy pasting to, so i could prevent that from happening!!! poooo
okey so take 2. i think this time i am going to make a list of all the experiences i have had so far...

. 4 30 am leave for aiport
. 12:30 arrive in chicago
. 1:15 goodbye chicago
.1:30 lady sitting next to me on plane starts life story
.2:30 lady sitting next to me on plane finishes life story; i arrive in nashville
.2:45 off the plane and realizing nashville really is alllll about music
.3:00 Rebekah picks me up and we meet and greet :)
3:30 get to absolutely ridiculously crowded mac store and Rebeka gets hit on by mac store guy hehe
4:00 get to Rebekahs apartment..i get my own room! and a futon that i keep thinking is air mattress...
5:00 walk around down town franklin during jazz festival
5:20 ate at the mellow mushroom
5:40 accidentally insulted man sitting next to me who does sound for emery, as i was talking to the other man sitting next to me and discussing how i don't like new emery as much as old emery. (no new tooth and nail friends today)
6:00 listen to a band play the franklin jazz festival
6:20 back to the apartment
6:30 meet Callie, the othe roomate
7:30 go to store to rent movie, and get groceries
7:45 attempt to rent Coroline... fail....
8:30 come home with groceries
9:00 while searching for a movie to watch, realize Rebekah is a pretty awesome, pretty nerdy girl who loves futurama, harry potter, and orson scott card :)
9:15 decide to watch xman as callie had not seen any of the x-man movies
9:30 i eat ice cream, and x-man starts
10ish i fall asleep
11:30 i wake up and second xman has already started... walk like a zombie to my room and crash

monday, labor day!
9:00 am call taxi
9:30 taxi comes
9:35 taxi air conditioning is not working...
9:45 taxi driver is still talking about how weird it is that the air conditioning isn't working..
10:00 get to cintricity, cab drivers tells me there is a 17 dollar minimum. WHOOPS.
10:15 seth comes out to tell me my writing session has been cancelled today, but i have 2 for tomorrow. another WHOOPS
10:30 get starbucks
11:00 Rebekah picks me up
12:00 i wittness the 5th layer being poured on a beautiful creation called rainbow jello. (pictures to come)
12:35 i sit here, blogging! getting ready for our labor day bbq :)

more to come!! tomorrow the real fun part starts! writing! can't wait! miss you all :)

The ponytail parades

who knows what I am.
I wander in circles through my collapsed grasp on mankind.
Why we coagulate like blood in small groups, searching for reassurance in the least of these,
impressionable worldly matters, is a mystery inside my wasted thoughts.
those that never make the paper glide unjustly through 1oth dimensions.
more space of which i do not recognize.
"I am but a garment out of fashion"
Shakespearian tongue of but 4 centuries old holds true to my personal meanderings.
You are overdue, and i am withering in the space of which you occupy, only twice a week, when i am lucky.
some days i am defiant of the world, but most days i am defined by what you say to me.

and i write it delicately. thoroughly.
so as to distract your eyes from what i really mean.


I am looking into a mirror. and i see no one.
I am looking at you. And i see everything.

I'm a sucker for a kind word

i am no fan of eloquent speeches, writings, etc... sometimes.
I like the raw heart stuff. or the heartless? thats slightly addicting.

I am confined to my room, and the stage, and my thoughts mostly these days.

but like warm bubbly water, the life is slowly creeping back into me.
and i am greatful.

I owe it mostly to Bethany this time.
God has brilliant taste when it comes to best friends.



well, i just wanted to let you know I'm not too busy for you.
and i like to criticize mostly anything on tv if you would like to come join me.
and i make a mean cup of Chai...

Simplecomplexity!
.... If my life had a title. :]



i'm just pulling things out of my pocket here to right.. like always you know?

but only from the left pocket, the right pocket is reserved for special occasions with a special someone who has a pairing pocket. ahhh, joy joy joy.


Today in Church (scary word.. we will have that conversation in person) we visited some of my favorite scripture.... Ephesians 4 and 5.

one of my favorite favorite verses...
ephesians 4:26 "..do not let the sun go down while you are angry"

so good. :]


but still i weaken somehow,
and it tears me apart.


i have aspirations to be a brilliant lyricist.
and to live a quaint life with 2 dogs, 1 cat, and some goats.
and i will always have dirty feet.... unless it's clean sheet day.


people take life to seriously, including me,
and some days... this blog is my cure.


just emptying my pocket,
singing like i always do. :]


life is kinda feeling like one of those reallly good songs, that you can't help but having a favorite part of, and even though you love the whole song.... your just really tempted to fast forward 2 minutes in to that sweet spot!!!

you are not the sunnnnnnnn.

I'm going to go eat corn dogs with my best friend now.


OUT!