I’m back! Was that a meat dress?

Has it really almost been 8 months since you have heard from me? Well, my life has certainly been a whirlwind, with a new 9-5, renovating my house, and… another baby on the way. Can you say my life has been extremely busy? I am so ready to get back to my music and living my passion. I actually got back into the studio with a new vocal producer during the time you didn’t hear from me, but he is 30 miles from me so it’s been way to difficult to make it out to his studio.

But, I have ben writing new songs, lots of lyrics, and I am so ready to sing, sing, sing.  I have also been brushing up on the keyboards. I’ve gotta say that I’m not yet ready to play in front of crowds but working on it, so that I don’t have to search for someone to accompany for me when you want me to sing for you.

You are going to start seeing some new things (at least that’s what I’m anticipating), with this website, my newsletter, and I vow to be more active on facebook, as my APS (“accountability partner sista”) keeps inspiring me to do so, so that I can really keep in better touch with my friends and fans.

So, I’m going to call this a new beginning. I’m scheduled to be welcoming my new little bundle of joy at the beginnign of March, all the while enjoying my current bundle of joy, my little rambunctious, 2 year old daughter, who just amazes me everyday.  She’s got quite the personality, and she is a non-stop ball of energy.  She is already trying bang out tunes on the keyboard and singing her own songs as she does, lol. Man, I hope she can sing when she gets older, but I know she is going to be able to play an instrument.  Music is in her blood. I guess that’s it for now.

No, no,…wait, I have to comment on Lady Gaga’s meat dress. I guess that answers the question “Where’s the beef?”  I know that was corny, lol!!!!

I’m so on it!

I have been singing all night long.  It feels so awesome to really be fully plunged into my passion!  I videod 2 songs.  We’ll be loading them this week night so be on the look out!  I’ll also include a link to them on my email newsletter.

Back To The Grind

Sometimes I feel like I totally go off course and that I’ve been off course for a long time.  Thank God I am writing these blogs because it just proves to me that my little detours have only been for short periods as opposed to lifetimes.  I have so many things that I want to accomplish that I am not finding the time for and also getting held up in road blocks.  A couple of days ago I talked about not being able to actually upload my video content and not really knowing how to insert video from other sites…videos that I really liked and would recommend seeing.  So I need to give myself a little pat on the back for actually getting that help that I needed to be able to move forward. 

I have got to admit that that road block also transferred to my exercise time and my practice.  Its been about a week and half since I have a really good workout, a really good singing practice, and a guitar practice.  I wonder if the crazy weather attributed to it.   I know that the traffic to the city has been wearing me out, so I have made  a point to try and take the train a couple of time per week.  It is so much better for me stress wise.  I am not freaking out in traffic for and hour and half to go a distance that would regularly take me 20 minutes if there was no traffic at all.  AAAArrrggg!  It is so frustrating.

For a moment, my mind veared away from my singing and thoughts of another passion of mine, helping and motivating other women to live their dreams too, creeped in and took over for while.  I am formulating my plans to share with other women business owners how to utitlize the internet to take their dream business to the next level, especially mom’s, who feel like there is not enough time in the day for themselves nor their dreams.  I am going to keep developing on that plan but stay the course as far as my plans for my music career.

Nichole Ayanna, where are you?

I have no idea where all the time went.  I can’t believe it has almost been a whole week since I have blogged.  I am really falling off in that area in my 90 day Challenge.  Well, that just means I have to dust myself off and recommit.  I have been trying to decide if I want to take on another business venture, one that has a very intriguing business model and staying power, BUT I am wondering how would I fit it into all of the things that I already do in my life.  My dedication and passion has to be in the direction of my family and music.  But this other piece just fits into my life so easily…uuuugggghhh!  Indecision!  I’ll keep you posted.

6 Steps to Stay Motivated with Your Music

I’ve got to admit, I did get discouraged at one time with my life in the music industry, and I just couldn’t keep going. Mentally and emotionally drained, I left for years, ignoring that music was my passion and I was my authentic self only when I was performing or doing anything that surrounded music. I’ve learned how to stay motivated to keep on going, which seems to me to be easier, with internet, because I have a sense of having my life in music in my own hands. Here are some tips on How To Stay Motivated and Focused in Your Music Career.

1. What Are Your Goals. Are you a singer and just want to get out there and sing. Do you want to be a solo artist or a background singer and travel the world with a big named act. Things to think about right? Figure out what is truly important to you, in your heart, and write it down. Then stop at noghting to achieve them. For me this takes some “time blocking” and life balance because I want to spend quality time with my family too. Write down your goals and focus on getting them done.
2. Dream Big – I am now always of the mentality that if something good or miracle like should happen to somebody, why not me. It’s like the saying, you have to be in it to win it. Well, you have to dream big, the dream that you really hold in your heart, and believe that could even happen to you. Your dreams kind of go hand in hand with goal setting and putting those goals into action and not just words.
3. Daily Action – Some days I am able to accomplish a ton of things that move me closer towards my goals and my dreams and other days I can barely get a thing done, but If I do even the smallest, thing, like making a phone call to a new producer I’ve met and want to cut a track with, I feel like I am still moving closer to my goals. I recommend even stead strides forward…yo’ll hit that mile mark faster than you think.
4. Don’t pile too many projects on your plate at once- Now I am a culprit for this…and you know what…it leads to procrastination and I don’t get anything done. Choose one to three things (three things IF you are a good multi-tasker which a lot of my music mama’s are) that you want to focus on completing.
5. Focus on Priority Items – OK…stop checking your email every two seconds, and responding and uploading your new status on facebook. Set those things aside for a specific time in the day to do them and knowck it out all in that on or 2 hours. That way you can concentrate on the things that really bring you the results you are looking for with your music.
6. Don’t let the Nay-sayers knock the wind out of you – You can do it.. You just have to keep making good music, great songs, getting them up on your site so that the world can experience the passion and the music within you.

Hey…it may not be easy, but playing music, marketing your music to the world, performing your music to an audience, can be the most rewarding life you can live as a musician. Remind yourself everyday that you are bringing emotional joy to your fans, by filling there sould with your music. You can do it…just remember the steps above and keep it going.