“Another year over, and a new one just begun” – John Lennon
I hope you all enjoyed the 2017 holiday season! As we all tend to do around this time of year, I like to look back on the last 12 months and reflect… and what a year this was! Some of the highlights of my year include:
- Sightline EP Release – I finally released my long-anticipated EP, Sightline, a full-band, 6 song EP, produced by Ed Lee of Broken Spiral Studios and mastered by Craig Waddell of Gotham City Studios. I celebrated the release at Gorge-ous Coffee (a cafe venue, set up like a house concert, that I LOVE and support so much!) on June 9, 2017 with my friends Brad Hawkes on percussion and Lonnie Glass on bass. I am so excited to be able to finally share this EP with you. You can order your own copy here.
- Performances – In addition to the EP Release Party and other showcase performances at Gorge-ous Coffee, I was also able to lend my talents to the BC Fire Victims Fundraiser held at Logan’s Pub on August 31. Having driven the Gold Rush Trail many times in the last 10 years, it was really difficult to see the devastation the area experienced in last summer’s wildfires. When the opportunity came up for me to donate my time for the cause, I jumped on it. I am so proud of all of the performers who participated and everyone that donated to the cause.
- Personal – I was recently certified as a group choreography instructor through The YMCA-YWCA of Vancouver Island and taught some cardio dance classes throughout the summer and fall of this year. As much as I may not have been writing and performing music as much as I’d like to, I was still exercising my creative brain in picking the playlist and preparing choreography. The advantage to this is that I was able to study a new style of music in a new way – breaking down lyrics, arrangements, beats, dynamics, etc. Through this, I gained a new appreciation for songs and artists that I may not have previously exposed myself to. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of this new-found knowledge found its way into my own songwriting in the future… and, on an even more personal note, this summer I also got engaged to my long-time love, Dave Hannon. He’s an amazing singer-songwriter and I encourage you to check out his music!
For those of you that were not able to come out to the show last week at the Duncan Showroom, we have some video available below, courtesy of the Duncan Showroom’s live feed. Since the show was so close to Christmas, Schayde and I decided (last minute) to make it an “Ugly Sweater Party”… thus the interesting costume. It was really great to be a part of welcoming Schayde back home. Keep an eye out for when she’s playing next, you won’t be disappointed!
Thank you, as always, for your support – and I look forward to seeing what 2018 has in store for all of us!
~Nicola
