Man, I Wanna Be a Rock Star

So the other day I was browsing one of the 70 sites we've got our music on, and I discovered we'd entered a contest called 'Promote Me Like A Rock Star' on this awesome new music site called WhoTune.

Normally, I wouldn't give any contest another look. I never win anything. (I guess that's 'cuz I'm lucky in love... ) So when I saw that we were actually on the first page of the list of competitors, I just about fell off my chair! Were we really in second place?! I couldn't believe it. I logged out, refreshed the site, looked again. Yup, there we were with 'Won't Give Up', right at the top of the list. On page one of the competition! Page one!

So I got Facebooking. In no time, my friends and family stepped up and voted for us. I have been watching WhoTune like a hawk to see if we would suddenly drop down, but that didn't happen.
No.
You would not believe what did happen...
When I looked this afternoon, we had actually moved to first place!

Omg! Is this really happening?




The contest ends on August 31st, which is only a few days away. If we make the top three, we have to perform live via WhoTune's 'Live Stage' at midnight PST on August 31st (9am our time...Heaven help me.) If we win, we get a free 6-month global marketing campaign! This is exactly what we need to get our music out into the world, all we need is your vote!

Go here: http://www.whotune.com/#page=competitions
Then register by connecting to your FB account (or Twitter or MySpace).
Click the 'competitions' link at the top and cast your vote for 'Won't Give Up'!

Fingers crossed. And toes. And eyes.

Thanks everyone!

Culture Shock

We've been back in Holland for three days now, and talk about culture shock! I was sure getting used to life in the States, after almost five months! But it's good to be back, and we're excited about all the new projects we've got planned...

So what to do while you're getting over jet-lag...? How about: write a Christmas song?! I've always wanted to write one, a cool one, not one of these sappy, corny, cheesy ones that make you nauseous. An awesome one, with strong melodies and mind-blowing harmonies and NO chimes. We'll probably include one on the new EP, due for release this Christmas. Although it's a challenge to think about Christmas stuff while I'm wearing sandals, batting mosquitos and watching the kids run around in their undies all day, I think we'll be able to pull it off.

I've been car-listening to the new album and really like what I hear so far. It's sometimes tough to listen to your own voice objectively, but these tunes are so genuine, I actually catch myself getting goose-bumps now and then! That's crazy! But I can only share with the world what rocks my own world - it wouldn't be real otherwise...

Next to the album, we're planning on performing again - just as soon as the jet-lag is over that is... If you know any good venues you'd like us to come play at, let us know! Also, I am going to start vocal coaching to people of any age who have a desire to find their voice. Let me know if you're interested - I can coach via internet as well! I've developed a method to not only help improve singing abilities, but also public speaking - it's all about control and presence. Control and presence. My mantra.

Finally got the latest newsletter finished and am in the process of sending it out over the next few days - if you can't wait for it to arrive in your mailbox, check it out here!

Ok, now this Mama singer is ready for a nap...

Adieu, Adieu, to You and You and You

In exactly one week, Roland and I will be hauling ourselves, our kids and our multitude of suitcases back to Holland. After an amazing 4 1/2 months in the US, it's time to go back home.

This trip was all about exploration, performance and promotion, and I think we managed to achieve all three of those objectives. We explored avenues for our music and developed a new sound with our good friend Gene, the result of which will be the acoustic EP, due for release this Christmas!

We performed till we were weak in the knees in and around Orcas Island, in new venues and in familiar ones. We reached new people with our music, and touched their hearts.

We released the album in June and are already being broadcast on various national radio, featured on blogs and working with folks on music liscencing.

So all in all, it's been a very productive few months.

It still remains a sort of mystery, as to whether or not our music and words are reaching the ears of everyone we want it to. All we can do is continue the 'mission' of sharing 'Won't Give Up as well as writing lots of new music, or breathing new life into older songs we've written (I think my little lyric book has about 40 songs in it!) Either way, we've got lots of music still in us, just dying to come out!

The next week will be a whirlwind of performing, organizing, celebrating and saying goodbye. This place is our home away from home, and it always will be, but I am looking forward to getting back to Europe and trying to get our music on the airwaves over there! Curious what the folks on 'the Continent' will think...

So while we're here, we'll treasure every minute of the sea, the air, the people and the vibe. It's a very very good one, you see. One we'll miss like crazy when we're gone. But hey, I figure, it's all good stuff to write music about.

The Awe-coustic Sessions

Roland, Gene and I are recording an acoustic EP, due for release this Christmas! It'll be six tracks of acoustic songs, lots of awesome intertwining guitar licks and close harmonies. It'll be just awe-coustic.
While it's 75 degrees outside, we've got a white Christmas on our minds...

Here are a few shots of recording in progress...

 Roland tuning up...

 Gene setting up the system for the first track.

 Gene checking the levels.

 Liz listening to the guys' awesome intro.

 Waiting for a plane to fly by...

 Gene and Roland sipping the musician's nectar of life.

Liz lubicrating her vocal chords.













If you'd like to be kept in the loop about the new album, send an e-mail to thisislizzard@hotmail.com and we'll add you to the mailing list. We promise we won't spam you!