Cerulean Jade Update 12-03-2012

(Showing the size of my Guitalele next to a regular guitar.)

My brothers and I have made a decision in regards to Cerulean Jade: We're no longer going to do cover songs (unless the songs are in the public domain).  It was a big decision we made last night after a long talk.  From the beginning I was nervous doing cover songs, but we went ahead with it because it's the best way to get noticed as independent musicians.  The covers we've done have been great practice in learning to create and master music, and in finding our sound.  Thing is we don't want to be a cover band.  We want to produce original music and make that our focus.

It's a little nerve wrecking.  Will anyone find us?  Will our music get lost and buried in the emptiness that is the intergalactic web?  There's risk here, but then risks must be taken, right?  There's so much music within us that we want to share, both vocal music and instrumentals.  And we're excited to share what we're creating. Our next original song, which I haven't announced the title of, will be released before years end.  It's an important goal of ours.  I'm going to start sharing pictures of the process on the Cerulean Jade fan page and on my twitter feed.  

That means, then, that I wont be putting up a cover to Jason Mraz's "Living in the Moment," though I love the song and it's a lot of fun to sing.  I've learned a lot practicing the song on the Guitalele, which has such a lovely tone, and the lyrics to the song have become my personal mantra.

"I will not waste my days making up all kinds of ways

 to worry 'bout all the things that will not happen to me." 

and

"I'm letting go of the thoughts that do not make me strong."

It's a great song and worth a listen. 

So that is the path we're on.  Exciting things are around the corner :0)

Cerulean Jade Update 10-23-2012

(An old picture of Steven working on Dream Maze)

I hope everyone has had a chance to hear Steven and my cover song "Someone Like You" on Youtube; we're so close to getting 200 views.  I can't remember how fast it took "Payphone" to hit that mark, but Payphone is inching closer to 1,000.  That's exciting!

We've decided that our next major song is going to be original, complete with a snazzy music video.  We're hoping to have two original songs out by the end of the year.  The first, an Electric Pop style song, is a definite.  The second is a more jazz/pop like song I wrote a little while back that just happens to be my Grandma's favorite song I've written.  The second is going to be interesting, because even though there's a jazz influence, we're going to have the base of the arrangement be the guitalele/ukalele.  Thing is, these are new instruments to the both of us!  So I'm working through the chords now.

And to help me get comfortable with the guitalele I'm doing a Jason Mraz cover song to "Living in the Moment."  I picked that song for two reasons: one, it helps me learn the instrument, and two, the lyrics are helping me stay focused!  It's a great song.

Also, Steven, Robbie (my brother who just got home from his mission), and I are going to start a movie review web series!  We're all obsessed with going to, and then analyzing, movies.  My brother Robbie is getting his degree in Digital Media: T.V. and Film from UVU.  Steven got his degree in Digital Media: Gaming and Animation.  So movies are something we're all passionate about.  It's going to be a lot of fun.  

Sarah

Cerulean Jade Update: 10-06-2012

(Image Info)

As the Cover song "Someone Like You" from Adele goes, the plan is to record it this Monday.  During the progress of the Studio my family has been working on, the music room suddenly got switched up as well.  Needless to say, we're putting it back together again, but the new layout is more efficient.  The end is near!!!  What should have taken a month has taken two, because of unforseen things that have popped up, and so forth, but it's all coming together :0)

Yesterday we picked up a Guitalele from layaway at Bert Murdock Music.  What is a Guitalele?  It's 1/4 the size of a guitar (they're so small when you compare the sizes) and is a cross between and guitar and a Ukalele.  A Guitalele is played with nylon strings, so it's more similar to a classical guitar then a steal, and sounds similar to a lute.  I love it!  

Yamaha invented it back in 1997, so it's a really new instrument.  The sound and tone of the Guitalele GL-1 is really nice.  You have to rethink the chords (it's a Perfect 4th up from the Guitar, as if you're playing the guitar on the 5th fret, but it's not that bad).  And it's perfect for my small hands . . . and it's only $100.  Super great price for a great instrument.  

A video of a Guitalele being played.

A video of what a lute sounds like.

Not the same, of course, but it's fun.

Have a great day!!     

Sarah