OMG! SOLD OUT!!!

I have packaged up the last physical copy of Goddess Mandala that I am going to sell and it's going to the post office tomorrow.

(I actually have one more still in shrink wrap, but I'm keeping that for myself).

It's been a long haul selling those CDs, but from what I understand, most unsigned bands only sell about 200 or so copies of their physical CD (basically to family and friends). True, that statistic is at least 10 years old (as is Goddess Mandala), but it makes my selling 1000 units all the more impressive. Sales weren't steady or even - I sold most of the run in the first 5 years, and the last 50 took a while to move.

so I guess the question then becomes, What's next?

The future of Goddess Mandala is going to be all-digital. I had researched a non-iTunes micropayment music website where I can upload albums of MP3s and sell tracks individually or as entire albums. Since I was planning on marketing my new music that way, it makes sense to start up that account and service. So keep watching this space and the Music for the Goddess website for more information about how to get the new music that's on the way!

An unsolicited review!

I was at a loss as to what to talk about this week, as work has been keeping me from the keyboards and the DAW (digital audio workstation - the industry term for audio editing software these days), and then I saw this email from Facing North, a neoPagan review site. They have posted a review of Dancing With Hecate, and I couldn't be happier.

I'd like to tell the reviewer that, yes, I will be doing more music, and it probably won't be in CD form. I plan to release individual digital downloads as I complete each song.

Will they all be neoPagan? I can't say at the moment. I have ideas for things, many ideas. But time seems to be eluding me right now.

Anyway, thanks KatSai for the terrific review!

Here's an oldie for you

We've been working really hard to finish our new bedroom, and I haven't had 2 seconds to work on anything musical or artistic this week, so I don't have any new music for you.

However, I will post a link to a live performance of this cover band I was in a couple of years ago. I'm singing a Bessie Smith song, Lost Your Head Blues. Of course, the camcorder decided to cut out right at the start of the last verse, which has the best singing in it.  I have not had any luck with live recordings. Either someone in the band really screws up so badly the entire song is unusable, or, if we ARE playing it well, there is a problem with the recording and we don't get the entire thing.

So, without further ado, here is Lost Your Head Blues

Sexlexia

I was fooling around with some nice, funky groove loops, and decided to have a bit of fun by adding a few sound clips from 2 of my favorite animated cartoons: The Simpsons and Futurama. This song is a bit more suggestive than my typical outing. And since I was in a "playful" mood, shall we say, the MP3 file has the following tags embedded (if your player won't show them):

Song: Sexlexia
Artist: Johnson & Vagoo
Album: Unknown

Anyway, here's the link to Sexlexia. Enjoy. (By the way, you probably want to right-click and download)

Composing While You're Angry

Composing while you are angry leads to some "interesting finds" later, say after a year or so when you've imported a large folder full of MP3 files into your iTunes library.

You may still see the Acid Loop file named "Dateless" but it's a big surprise when you are scrolling down through your song list and you see a song called Everyone Else Goes Out and I Get To Do Laundry, from the artist Put On Your Burqa And Shut Up, from their album What Are You Doing Out of The House?

I may just be too old to front such a band, but you never know. Since I can't seem to automagically post an MP3 file here, but I can post a video, here is the first minute of Everyone Else Goes Out and I Get To Do Laundry.

EDIT: In case the video is unavailable (it's not showing up on my youtube account, but I can play it from here apparently, but not earlier this morning so I don't know what's going on) here is a link to an MP3 from a website I control: Everyone Else Goes Out and I Get To Do Laundry

Gearing Up

I've been going through all my unreleased recordings that are sitting on my hard drive. There are some gems in there, and some good ideas that can be expanded upon. And some things that made me go "eh" and others that are all What was I thinking?! I sent a couple of the gems to my friend and co-writer, Bob, but he hasn't got back to me yet. I'm hoping it's because he's busy and not because he hates them. This self-doubt and paranoia won't do anyone any good.

In the meantime, someone posted a link to a quasi-acapella group Van Canto (I say "quasi" because they employ a drummer), but I like the way they get around not having a guitar player. I played their Nightwish cover that's on YouTube to my daughter, and her mouth just hung open. I'm guessing that she may attempt this with her friends, and I'll encourage the hell out of that.

And lastly, my dear friend and sister-of-the-heart Robin Renee is playing a benefit for Haiti on Sunday. Go and see her.

My first post

Hi. My name is Wendy, and I'm a musician. I created Music for the Goddess in 1998 with my husband and two of our friends and in the intervening dozen years have toured the US and Canada, and produced 2 CDs. That's pretty good for people who also have full time day jobs and families. At least, I think so.

Anyway, things have been pretty quiet on the music front for me for the past couple of years, because Life Happens. But all of that is about to change. And I thought you might be interested in coming along with me as I write lyrics, compose music, collaborate with other musicians and produce finished songs.

If you came here from my band's website, or our facebook page, then you probably know about me and my music. If not, go check us out.