Well, it happened -- or rather it's happening (whether I'm ready or not)! The album is, at long last, out. And I am, at long last, returning to talk about it here (after many months' absence, for which I sincerely apologize), and give the full report (cue the chalkboard, notebook paper and dozing classmates)...
So, what's been happening, exactly?
Let's rewind about 8 weeks, and work our way here from there, shall we? In July, I returned to my alma mater, Sarah Lawrence College, with good friend/fellow alum Damani Baker (now a successful director -- so proud!) to shoot the video for my first single, "Wanna Be", which was, to say the least, an adventure of epic proportions. Basically, take one emerging artist, a talented director and crew, two days, a half-dozen friends, and a shoestring budget, and stir! You can see the results on www.maiysha.com, YouTube (leave comments - preferably kind ones!) or VH1 Soul, but here's a little tease...
Just when I'd recovered, I began a flurry of performances and appearances all over the NY/NJ/CT area, including hanging with the folks at KissFM, singing on The Weekend Today Show, rockin' two outrageous sets at the ultra-hip Tillman's in NYC (the mid-point of a 7-gig-in-6-days marathon), shooting for Lucky magazine, a road trip and radio appearance with Eusonia right-hand-man/resident comic Alex Bilowitz (of www.thebillablog.com), and having some serious girl talk with the crew from Seventeen magazine....and that's just the half of it! In short, it's been a whirlwind. We are apparently becoming the little album that could...and at the risk of channeling Obama (love him!) yes, we can!
There are a few major milestones for any musician trying to "break": the first time you hear your song on the radio, the first time you see your name in print, and the first time you see your actual CD/album on the shelves at a major retailer (a dying phenomenon, I'm afraid). In a rare superstitious streak, I joined my producer/label head Scott Jacoby, our friend and catalyst Arthur Everett and the Eusonia crew (of two) at Virgin Records at the stroke of midnight on August 26th to buy the first copies of "This Much Is True:" (it's supposedly good luck). Admittedly, after all the promotional copies I've handled and signed, I was expecting it to be a bit anti-climactic, but somehow, seeing it there, wrapped in cellophane with all the promotional stickers, it felt like seeing my newborn babe...which I guess it is, at least for the time being. Suffice to say, it is still (and will remain) wrapped in plastic, stickers intact. One day (likely sooner than we think), the CD may be such a rarity that it'll be quite a keepsake (or if I'm lucky, a collector's item).
In spite of the gorgeous flowers I received on the morning of the release (big love to the gracious senders!), the mostly favorable reviews, and the continually growing interest, the truth is, the real work begins now. In the indie game, we generally don't have big-money machines to fuel the fire, so the work primarily falls to the rag-tag crew that really believes in it, and is committed. I'm blessed to have such a crew... not so rag-tag, either. As for me, I'm painfully aware that this is just the beginning; since my focus isn't on short-term accolades (though they are greatly appreciated) but long-term relevance, that's what I'm focused on now: pacing myself, and periodically reminding myself to enjoy the ride...
So, what's next?
I'm taking over the legendary Joe's Pub on Sept. 11th for my record release -- yes, I know the date raises eyebrows, but what most don't realize is that "This Much Is True:" (the song, and by extension, the album) was actually written for and about NYC post 9/11. It's my love song to my adopted hometown and its resilience. With that in mind, in honor of all we lost, I can't think of a better date to celebrate both the survival of our city, and my own comparatively small accomplishment.
So there you have it: what I did on my summer vacation (minus the vacation part). I promise my next essay won't be so... essay-like, but then again, who knows what mood I'll be in that day? Maybe a series of Haiku? A monologue? Or maybe just a song...(speaking of which, my favorite song this week is "Lucky" by Lewis Taylor... check it out).
At any rate, I'll leave you with a few... personal revelations. Let's just say "this much is true:"
I'm absolutely mad about...
1. Dancing all night to non-stop Prince, MJ, or Stevie and not caring how sweaty I am, how late it is, the identity of my dance partner (or whether I have a partner), or how much my feet hurt.
2. My sister (who always has my back & sings all my songs off-key) and her new fiance!
3. My dear friend Justin, who went to the store to buy my album, and made a stranger photograph it so I could be there with him.
4. The dog days of summer...and dining outdoors at every available opportunity.
5. A good hug. I mean, a surprisingly good, strong, genuine, full-body hug.
I'm seriously mad AT...
1. Anyone who gets coveted front-row tickets to a sold-out show, and calls/texts you to gloat.
2. The auto-correct on my iPhone.
3. The "new" Facebook. What was wrong with the old one?
4. Anyone who "drops by" my home unannounced, or calls obscenely early or late.
5. The fact that U-Haul has a runaway slave promoting Ontario on one of their trucks - for real!
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