Katie Mariah's Blog

Lovely night cap

An eventful day really. Looked through tons of photographs of myself from the album cover shoot (not eventful, but more painful I would probably have to say)

I also got some good practice time in and then made my way to "the city" (OKC here in Oklahoma... : ) just a lovely twenty minutes away and stopped by this health food place in Mustang, got some chocolate almond milk, my new fav then headed to my brother and sister-in-laws house to meet the hub's side of the fam to go out for brother-in-law's birthday din din. Wade, is a big music fan and is really into the Kings of Leon and Band of Horses at the moment. But, I got to introduce him to Brandi Carlile tonight! It is very rare I get to introduce him to music-- it's usually the other way around. He was familiar with "the Story" but I had her live ep in my car stereo and he was blown away. I was so proud. 

 Brandi and the twins are also the common thread the new drummer I've been working with, Nate and I shared.  

The nightwas a fabulous time of great Italian food, wine and general conviviality's. Then the sober ones (aka the wives) got to drive home. I never really mind that though... although sometimes I admit I act like I do so they don't expect it. : ) We also decided to all go to Ireland together sometime this year. Hopefully that wasn't just the wine talking! I think I also agreed to give a private concert for the fam whenever the album is finished... We shall see how much of all this was just the wine talking.

That's a great song title or hook... just the wine talking. I'll work on it.

Here's a night cap of Brandi for you

< br>

Get some sleep,

KM

Eventually all things merge into one... and a river runs through it

Taken with blackberry... obviously.

It's becoming a nightly ritual when I get to be home. I blog and my husband, Will  plays video games...

So, if I seem a little bit on edge in any of these entries it's because I'm listening to rapid machine gun fire at decibels way louder actually needed "but just right for the effect." : )

It was funny tonight, after a long day computer headaches, I raked leaves outside and Will practiced his fly fishing cast. He's going to the White River this weekend on a business men's retreat. Three or four men in their pick up trucks drove by really slowly a few times to watch his cast... I guess he's not bad. He promised to teach me someday... like Brad Pitt in "A River Runs Through It." Ah, love that one. Hence, the title-- now that's a great line.

I've been practicing the new songs a ton since I've been home to be ready for all the rehearsals coming up with the band. I'm getting more and more confident in the album. Can't wait to play them for you all soon.

Later,

KM

Pic support

Will and I just watched Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin!

I have been checking each night to make sure I didn't miss it this year. It was just as good as it always was. I like waiting until things are in season... it's like fruit. When strawberries are in season they are alway the best, and always worth the wait.

Here's a pic of me at Cary Pierce's recording for the album. I have this problem. I am totally apathetic about taking pictures of myself. I have been married for two years and have yet to order any of the wedding photos. This creates an even bigger delima when trying to blog and post relevant pictures, and when I want any pictures of myself with other people.  Especially with others like CP, whom I don't have a good picture with.  I can't believe I never snapped a picture of the two of us together! I vow to start taking more relevant photos for all of you amazing people that read my blog. You just deserve better.

In order to make up for my serious lack of photography skill (and to make my dad very happy) I've included these river dancing monkeys.

Goodnight wonderful people,

KM

Dubious pup

Twas a busy last few days. Vocals are finished... at least on my end. Poor CP's got tons of vocal tracks and harmonies to go through. Kind of a fun "job" though, if you ask me.

Back in Oklahoma. It's cold here. Woke up this morning to frost on the ground. It's funny in our little town. We get woken up each morning by the fantastic renditions of the High School marching band's fight songs. They practice just a few blocks away at 7am sharp every morning. The music was particularly... energetic this morning , so I peaked out the window only to find frost on the ground! I then caught a glance at my yet-to-be-unpacked suitcase from this week. All my tank tops and sandals were on top. I guess winter showed up while I was gone. Man, it's good to be home, no matter how cold it gets. 

Gus was very angry I had been gone so long. He told me so by chewing up my favorite fleece jacket I had gotten out of storage today, the only CD of rough tracks of our progress thus far on the album (I had  yet to download it to my computer!) and my husband's favorite hat.

My husband said I should be proud of him for not chewing up anything because I was gone. : )

Don't be fooled by by his peaceful demeanor. He is a dubious pup. He will ransack your favorite things the moment yo turn your back.

Oh but he is cute, isn't he. : )

KM

Open House

Played live with the band we've put together for the first time tonight. It went splendidly, I've got to invest in a good monitor for and a couple of good speakers for when venues don't have sound systems though... it's a must. The guys played great.  If any of you reading this are privy to any good tips about all that kind of yummy technical stuff, post a comment... please.  I've got to do some research, but I'd love some pointers in the right direction.

Recording week is wrapping up. We've got a couple more songs to lay down. Things are shaping up quite nicely, but I'm super critical of myself. The tracks sound fantastic, but I always think I can get a better vocal. My friend Charlie gave me some good advice the other day:

 "Katie, an album is never finished it is  abandoned."

I guess there's always something you could add, take away, tweak, etc.

Tons of photos were taken and video was shot tonight... so I'll be able to post some good stuff soon on myspace.

Thanks for reading! Hope everyone has a great Friday.

KM

Sooo Old

I'm sitting in my 15-year-old cousin's bedroom typing on her computer while she tells me all about her favorite tv shows, actors and high school going ons which is making me feel really old. Who is Blake Lively and why does everyone want to be like her...?

Vocals went great today. We got finished with two songs and added a bunch of harmonies to "Peace Inside." I'm so pumped about that song.

This is Drew, Nate myself and Toby at our last practice... the guys I've been playing with. So much fun, I can't wait to have a few shows under our belt together. My cousin thinks they're "totally cute," so I think we've got the 15-year-old fan base covered... : )

Later,

KM

Back in the Saddle

Had a great 2nd rehearsal with the band tonight. Hilarious dudes.

I'm in Dallas for the week recording vocals for the album!

Seems like light years ago we went to Nashville (just a few weeks ago). Finally get to put a voice to these great tracks we've got so far. Can't wait! I'll let you know how it goes

KM

An Opry day

Sitting here watching SNL for the first time in a while... hot and cold as usual. Funny is spots though.

All in all, it shaped up to be a fabulous day. OSU Cowboys won their homecoming game. I saw my grandpa (aka Bompa) for the first time in what seems like years and played him a few of my new songs from the album. I sang at the Oklahoma Opry and had a blast... yep, good day.

Here's some photos from the day.

 

 

 

Night,

Katie

P.S. The Oklahoma Opry has the best root beer float I've ever had...

Photo shoots and Opry time

Seems like autumn really kicked in over the last couple of days here (Oklahoma). Where ever you may be reading this... California to Tokyo... I hope you are enjoying the changing of the seasons. I have to stop and remind myself every year to take this in... it's my favorite time of year and and is usually so fleeting sometimes it's gone before I remember to enjoy it.

I was in Dallas the last few days of this week. We had my album cover photo shoot yesterday and I think my idea is going to turn out! We filmed a bunch of footage for the behind the scenes video too. I love people filming while I'm eating. : )

This weekend I play at the Oklahoma Opry... performing some of the new stuff on the album, so very pumped about that.I've wanted to play with these folks for a long time and I'm sacrificing the Oklahoma State Homecoming game for this performance so I'm bound and determined to make it darn good. : )  It should be really fun and is after the game anyway, so come out afterward!

Later friends,

KM

Splendid Auditions

I Played with a bunch of cool guys yesterday. We've been working on putting a band together for the last few months, and I think things are finally starting to come together. It's weird to say "auditioning," but I guess that's kind of what we are doing. Gotta make sure the band likes each other, can travel, play, and doesn't reek or something... you know?

Well, the guys I played with last night were great. They (Nate, Toby and Drew)  were solid players, they had the music prepared we had given them, amiable, and it smelled like roses from where I was standing. : )

Drew, a hilarious bass/guitar player I've been playing with for the last few months hooked me up with these cool cats and we even have a show lined up on the 23rd in Dallas. If it goes anything like our first rehearsal. It shall be a blast.

It was really fun to play a few of these new songs that are on the album with a live band. It's going to flipping rock.

 

Well, got the photo shoot lined up for the album cover tomorrow. So I must get some non-ugly sleep.

Goodnight,

KM