tag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:/blogs/log?p=9Blog2023-04-05T16:23:18-04:00Robin Yukikofalsetag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/71846882023-04-05T16:23:18-04:002023-10-16T10:44:16-04:00I'm a GASC Finalist (again)!<p>Remember my single "(My) Heart's in Your Bag"? I just found out that it is one of the finalists chosen in the 2022 Great American Song Contest! Now, I didn't *win* but I'm feeling like a winner right now. (Do you remember when "Ocean Floor" made the finals in 2019?)</p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/69721542022-05-16T10:08:19-04:002022-05-16T10:10:41-04:00Snippet of a new song!<p>Snippet of a new song. This is a new kind of vulnerable for me. Maybe it'll resonate with you too.</p>
<p><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTheRobinYukikoBand%2Fvideos%2F692617315293631%2F&show_text=false&width=219&t=0" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="219"></iframe></p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/68598312022-01-05T11:42:03-05:002022-01-05T11:48:57-05:00I did an impromptu Xmas show on FB Live!<p><iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Frobinyukiko%2Fvideos%2F1579956029013696%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="267"></iframe></p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/68585512022-01-03T22:08:32-05:002022-01-03T23:43:28-05:00Maybe this time I'll keep up with my blog. Well, here's what you've missed.<p>"There is too much. Let me sum up."<br><br>Let's just say a lot has happened. I'm sure that's true for you too. After all, we're all living in a different world now, right?</p>
<p>I have two children and live with my incredible girlfriend and two delightful cats. That's Xena (Furrier Princess) in the picture.</p>
<p>In a few days it will be two years since my mom died, just before the pandemic. It took several trips to Florida but my dad and I managed to sell my childhood home and get him moved here, half a mile from me. It means everything to have him so close.</p>
<p>I took a strings class back in 2015 and about a year ago I acquired a cello. I've put a lot of time into it and I'm proud of the progress I've made.<br><br>And of course, I'm making art fairly regularly. I never know what kind of art I'll be in the mood to make--and it's not always good--but I'm doing it! I'm enjoying the process of making and learning and just <em>playing</em>.<br><br>If you're still around, I hope you're going easy on yourself. My facebook persona has gotten a lot less aggressive since I realized how much of a toll the stress was taking on me. Don't worry, I still let people know when they are wrong (politely and concisely when possible), but I don't let them drag me into arguments anymore.<br><br>I'm sure the stress contributed to my developing silent reflux (LPR) last spring, which caused me swallowing difficulty and vocal fatigue, eventually leading to vocal cord atrophy. It was incredibly scary. I've since gone on the Acid Watcher Diet and, with the help of medication and voice therapy, made a decent recovery. Now to tackle the next set of health problems...</p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/43100022016-08-04T15:08:53-04:002022-01-03T21:22:30-05:00A Review of Iron Heart by Manic Pixi<p>I finally took an hour to take off my blinders to recognize that the amazing drummer, Marshall Biever, is actually an even better guitarist for another band called Manic Pixi. Until now, I have ignored this fact for my own selfish reasons and due to being honest-to-God busy.. </p>
<p>A week ago Manic Pixi released their second album, <strong><a contents="Iron Heart" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://manicpixi.bandcamp.com/album/iron-heart" target="_blank">Iron Heart</a></strong>, and only when the link was *right* in front of my face did I bother to click. Oh, the regret. I could have been a fan for YEARS. The album is ridiculously cohesive despite, or due to, it’s eclectic style. It hit so many nostalgic trigger points that my only wish is that I had lived with these songs long enough for them to have their own layer of memory. I guess that will have to come in the future.<br><a contents="" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://manicpixi.bandcamp.com/album/iron-heart" target="_blank"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/77cff0a38d50f70a1f15b9a0260dc55313db41a4/medium/iron-heart.jpg?1470337605" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></a></p>
<p><br>The first couple tracks of Iron Heart gave me an Alkaline Trio vibe (Chicago punk rock with super catchy melodies -- one of my all-time favorites). Manic Pixi brought the crunch, the simplicity, and the instant evocation of the careless drama of my youth combined with desire to jump around...all from the first bass lick. I was held in my early twenties for seven solid minutes, occasionally hearing Marshall’s tonal shifts that warped like memory. </p>
<p>It made sense, then, as Kat Hamilton created a kind of alternate time line with her voice. She travelled back to the experiences they had summoned and rewrote them with my own voice, through hers. And before I realized the chorus was singing “letters to my Childhood Self” I could already feel her breaking the rules of time travel and delivering messages to my youth. </p>
<p>I was startled out of that decade by the beautiful guitar of Finding Water on Mars which, morphing into Laughing, sent me into my teens with an Incubus throwback. It was easy to bury myself in the song. And when it got to the bridge, it pushed even farther back to the time when I had listened to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon nonstop. </p>
<p>While My Parents Are Sleeping began and I immediately felt like I had been invited to witness something intimate. It felt significant, like one of those moments where you make a decision that sets you on a certain path. Like you wouldn't be who you are if it wasn't for that moment. Those moments so often go unnoticed if it weren’t for music. And this one carried a lot of weight. </p>
<p>I was immediately chided with “You can’t be seventeen forever” in Your Poetry is Failure. </p>
<p>I almost laughed. Kat knew. She had given me a gift, taking me through the story of my past. But now it was time to snap out of it. I suddenly realized, without looking at song titles, that the album had grown up. Once I did I felt almost foolish, for there it was: Adult Self. As the songs went on, digging farther into my past, the music itself became more mature. The story Kat had told--my story--went from fresh-eyed enthusiasm and angst through all the steps needed to come out the other side. The present. Where all of those feelings still exist but now tinged with regret or scars, success and failure. I wondered, how is my present so similar to hers? How, when I have been alive for nearly a decade longer than her? </p>
<p>I have to remind myself that this is the special power of music. Mindreading. Time Travel. Evocation. I should not be surprised. This is my job, after all. But it is so easy to take music for granted as an academic exercise and forget that it is magic. As a child, I would tell people my daddy was a magician. I didn’t know the word was musician. Maybe I was right the first time.</p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/30680742014-07-10T11:48:40-04:002022-01-03T22:38:58-05:00Want to Know What I Think? (Warning: Political)<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular">Decade by decade, our definition of happiness evolves. Our image of liberty changes. And people are discovering how far they can go in the pursuit of happiness.</span><br><span class="font_regular">For some, happiness is having a job and providing for their families. For others, it means being acknowledged. Heard. Listened to.<br><br>This Fourth of July, I was angry. It's hard to celebrate the hard-fought freedom of our independence when our country is so divided. </span><span style="font-size: 1em;">Our beautiful [2022 edit: flawed] Constitution, like the Bible, is held aloft, glorified. Some take it literally; others cherry-pick the passages they want to apply to themselves or others. Still others try to interpret the spirit of the thing, to mixed results.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular">Here is my interpretation on a few things:</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular">Freedom of religion: I am allowed to practice my religion as long as it is not hurting anyone. My religion does not trump law. I can try to convert others, if an appropriate situation arises, but the existence of other religions should not be considered an affront to my own.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular">Freedom of speech: I have opinions. So do other people. We are equally entitled to say them. However, when facts are proven, one should avoid perpetuating lies. They are harmful. </span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular">Equality: Bit by bit, issues like racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, and class warfare are tackled. They go in stages (order may vary): anger, rationalization, denial, positive profiling, and micro aggressions (and others I am probably forgetting). Just because we have moved to a different stage does not mean we have solved the problem. And dealing with smaller issues does not take away from injustices that happen elsewhere. They are all part of the same problem.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular">Big government vs. small government: I feel that help should be available when it is needed. Many politicians that complain about handouts are often the recipients of subsidies themselves (or their states are). This is hypocritical. Perhaps we should embrace the help that is there for many, for we may need it next.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular">If it is not hurting someone, there does not need to be a law against it. If a person is in danger of harm, the government is not there to stand in the way of help or care. Corporations are not there to restrict medical access, make healthcare more difficult or expensive, or give their "corporate opinion". After all, a corporation is a fictional entity comprised of individuals. It can do good by giving to charity from its profits, but it cannot have a religion itself. Any ideals expressed by the company are actually that of individuals and should hold no more weight than that of actual people. In fact, religion falls under the category of topics that are illegal to inquire about at a job interview. Therefore, apart from regular law and human decency, religion issues should never arise at work (except voluntarily, like in the case of time off for observances). If a for-profit company has a worker that is a different religion than “its own”, will it allow that worker to observe different holiday, or would that offend its religious sensibilities?</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular">Whether corporations have religion should not be a question. But, as it has been deemed they do (for now) we must look at the next step, which is the question of "What is oppression?" Oppression is not the inability to oppress others. It is not the existence of those who disagree with you. It is not liberties granted to others which you already have. These things are mistakenly being taken for oppression. When those in power lose some privilege so that marginalized groups can have liberties that others have, that is not oppression. That is one small step toward equality. And people will complain. Powerful people do not want to share power (Gandalf had it right). They will hold onto their privilege like a vise and claim any attempt to deprive them of their advantage is oppression. But it has happened time and again, and history has shown that this is the course of liberty.</span></p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/29331402014-05-09T14:07:20-04:002022-01-03T21:19:37-05:00Cliches You Need to Stop Using Now<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.15;">It happens to the best of us. We’re writing the next great song, and Oops! A cliche slips out. One of these things happens next:</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A) We don’t notice it.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">B) We think, “Well, it sounds good, so I’ll keep it.”</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">C) We notice it, then forget to change it/get used to it the way it is.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">D) Actually fix it.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;margin-left: 36pt;"> </p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most of us are probably guilty of A through C. But it’s never too late!</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, you may be asking, “</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do I know if something is cliche?</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you heard it done before?</span></p> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Could someone who has never heard it guess the next line?</span></p> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you use something solely for the purpose of rhyming?</span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Especially with the last one, you are in a dubious position. Using filler for the sake of a rhyme puts you in danger of using a cliche as well as not making sense. Always reread your lyrics to check for silliness, predictability, and awkwardness.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still not sure if you are treading the same old lyrical paths? Here are some examples that never need to be put to music again:</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calls to “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wave your hands in the air...like you just dont care</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.” (Thank you, Lorde, for pointing that one out.)</span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rhyming “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">love</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” with “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">thinking of</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. Obviously, if you love someone, you are thinking about them.</span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Requests to “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be my baby</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” and not to “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">say maybe</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. In real life, “maybe” is a great response!</span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Referring to “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">blue sky</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. But if you do, please don’t rhyme it with “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">why</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”</span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Waiting</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”, immediately followed by “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">anticipating</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. It was clever 50 years ago, but no longer.</span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calling anything or anyone “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">cold as ice</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. We get it, but there are about twenty other ways to say cold.</span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Any call to “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">be mine</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. People are not possessions.</span></p> </li> <li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rhyming “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">fire</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” with “</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">desire</span><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">”. It was cliche BEFORE the Backstreet Boys did it. Now it can never, ever be used again. Ever.</span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"> </p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So, if you find yourself writing these lines, don’t feel married to your lyrics. Feel free to change one or two words to spice it up. Ask yourself what you are trying to convey by using those words. Often, your explanation will yield better lyrics than your first try.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, off with ye! Go write something clever!</span><br><br>See the post <span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://musicclout.com/contents/article-420-cliches-you-need-to-stop-using-now.aspx" target="_blank">here</a> on Music Clout here.</span></p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/29030162014-04-28T00:16:19-04:002021-12-23T06:26:18-05:00What Needs Does your Music Fill?<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whether we admit it or not, music exists to serve a need. We may write for ourselves, but if we want strangers to listen, we must address that need. No one </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">needs</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> to hear you croon about your latest breakup, but maybe someone with a broken heart needs to hear his own feelings through music.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why do you listen to music?</span></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To relax</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To fall asleep</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To wake up</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To study/work to</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To party</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To dance</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To feel</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To cry</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To forget</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To remember</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be validated or understood</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To get pumped up</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To work out</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To drown out noise</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To get in a romantic mood</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To sing along to</span></p> </li></ul>
<ul style="margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><li dir="ltr" style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; margin-left: 96px;"> <p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be educated</span></p> </li></ul>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When someone says that music is non-essential to human survival, remember this list (and the many other ways we use music)!</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now, why does anyone need YOUR music?</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The next time you are trying to get someone to listen to your song, figure out which need it might be filling and approach it that way. The world has had enough of “Hey check out my music. Click here.” We tune that out.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tell us how your songs </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">serve</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> us.</span></p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/27611652014-03-17T14:52:58-04:002022-01-03T20:59:35-05:00"No, I'm not pregnant"<p>I have always had a belly. Since my pre-teen years, what little fat I had was collected in my middle. As I got older, it got more prominent. Regardless of diet and exercise (even when I was going to the gym 4 times a week), my middle was always the largest part of me. People I knew would say, "You know, if you worked on your tummy you'd be really hot." People I didn't know would ask, "Are you pregnant?" or, my favorite, "When are you due?"<br><br>I never saw anyone on TV or in movies that had my shape. Even in magazines articles about women with different sizes and shapes, I NEVER saw a woman with a belly. Plus-size models were hourglasses and the text would say "It doesn't matter what size you are because you are proportional." But I WASN'T proportional. I was the WRONG shape. I didn't even know how to dress for my body type because it wasn't just invalid, it was non-existent.<br><br>Occasionally I would meet someone my age who also had a belly and I would tell myself how cute they were. "Look! Other people have my shape!" It was rare. Then, when that person lost weight a few years later, I was part sad, part jealous, and asking what their secret was.<br><br>I only started feeling validated when I became pregnant. People would ask and I could proudly say "Yes!" Then they would guess I was much farther along than I was. But at least I had responses for them. I have a short torso which makes my belly stick out more. Some people show more quickly than others.<br><br>I am currently four months post-partum and have now been asked twice if I am pregnant. I find that I care less than I once did, but the twinge of annoyance is still there. There is a great hype over "getting your body back" after a baby, and after a C-section it takes even longer. And that's okay. My body is exactly what it needs to be right now.<br><br>There are plenty of advice articles and mom forums out there to make anyone feel better about their body. But where was that validation 10, 15 years ago? It was only recently, after reading about diversity in entertainment, that I understood why I had been feeling this way:<br><br>Lack of representation.<br><br>Not seeing my body type even acknowledged gave me a kind of complex. Once I put it together, I began to see the importance of representation. There are plenty of other arguments for diversity, and I'm sure it's not the same for everyone, but this was my experience with self-image and the media. It's not going out of their way for casting directors and magazine editors to find a variety of skin colors and body types to portray. It's not for the sake of being "politically correct". And it's certainly not pity to show what different people look like. Seeing thin bodies didn't flatten my tummy. Only portraying whites in media doesn't mean minorities don't exist. Unless we're watching Star Trek, why can't we represent our reality?</p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/24513532014-01-22T23:48:30-05:002014-02-09T14:02:31-05:00Review of "Love War"An awesome <span class="font_regular"><strong><a contents="review" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://t.co/sPxDicP2MT" target="_blank">review</a></strong></span> of "Love War' with some neat interpretations of my lyrics. What an honor!Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/24343422014-01-20T15:11:16-05:002014-01-20T15:11:16-05:00Why You Might Need a Producer<span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">You’ve got the songs. You’ve got the talent. Thinking about self-producing your album? Here are a few reasons you might want to consider working with a producer.</span><br> <p dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(56, 64, 74); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">You need someone who knows your potential</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;"> who can push you. You might be happy with the first take, but you need someone to say, “You can do better.”</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(56, 64, 74); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">An outside perspective helps</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">. Maybe your voice sounds tired. Maybe you come across as sad during your happy, peppy song. Sometimes we need fresh ears to get the best take.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(56, 64, 74); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">You need a signature sound.</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;"> Unless your engineer is taking a lot of creative liberties, your record will be similar to his or her other projects. And while this is completely benign, it’s probably not what you’re going for. Think about the voices of Phil Collins, Adele, Florence and the Machine, etc. It’s not only their voices and stand out, but the </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">treatment</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;"> of their voices. This can be reverb, doubling, or another combination of effects. But it’s not just a matter of slapping on some flange and calling it good. The trick is finding the right treatment that brings out the uniqueness that is already there.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(56, 64, 74); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">Arrangement is its own instrument.</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;"> It’s possible that you are adept at writing string quartets and horn sections but most artists aren’t. In fact, for many, it might not be apparent that a song could use an extra something. A good producer can hear the gaps and know how to fill them without overflowing the song. The right instrumentation can bring a song--and its vocals--to life. (*Arrangement is a job in itself and includes notating the music, but with today’s technology, depending on the instrumentation, it is possible to skip that step.) Additionally, a producer will know which players to hire to get the best sound.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(56, 64, 74); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">You need someone to believe in you.</span><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;"> It sounds simple, but knowing there is someone else who loves your music and is willing to work to help make it happen can give you the energy and motivation you need to get it done. And in a discipline like music--its players so often riddled with doubt--that simple thing is invaluable.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(56, 64, 74); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">There are other things that a producer might do for you. These are some I learned first-hand working with Cori Jacobs (</span><a href="http://www.themasterfader.com/" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(5, 106, 220);"><span style="font-size: 15px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">Master Fader Music</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">) on my second album. I had lucked out and found the perfect fit, creativity- and personality-wise. Without him, I couldn't have created the record I dreamed of making.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(56, 64, 74); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: arial;">Now, to find the right producer…<br><br>(View the published article on <a contents="Music Clout" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://musicclout.com/contents/article-374-why-you-might-need-a-producer.aspx" target="_blank">Music Clout</a>.)</span></p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/16585932013-09-19T11:53:09-04:002013-09-19T11:53:09-04:00Transformations<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.15; ">Without going into intimate details, let’s just say that, 7 weeks away from my due date, I’ve gone through some dramatic physical changes in the last few months. I used to fear these changes; they meant my body would never be the same--that my life would never be the same. But today, as I inspect these changes in the mirror, I’m fascinated. And for some reason it reminds me of the path I’ve taken in music and my decision to teach.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Some say that those who can’t do teach. This is absolutely wrong. Teaching is a different kind of doing. The ability to get someone else to do almost feels like a superpower.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">I started noticing the change when I was in Japan teaching English. At the time I saw changes in my professionalism. I gained respect from other adults as I took them through the ins and outs of the language. My pacing got better. I changed the way I spoke to make sure everyone understood me. When I returned to the US a few years later, I was a different person.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">But I didn’t see teaching in my future. I set aside that skill set and focused on music. I had an album in my head that needed to come out. The next few years felt like I was sewing Cinderella’s dress using actual mice. Not the efficient, magical mice that can get it done in a night. Regular mice.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">My return to teaching was almost an accident. A good friend of mine kept encouraging me to teach at the music store she worked at. I was resistant at first, but eventually I realized I needed to supplement my income and gigs weren’t doing it. I began teaching again.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Almost without my realizing it, teaching became a huge part of my career. I left the store and began working from students’ homes, and started a singer-songwriters’ workshop. I marvelled at the communities that began to form, both in the group and among my students’ families.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">And as I taught, I changed even more. I began to understand the vast diversity and potential of children. And with each new challenge, I felt a part of myself being bolstered: patience.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">Where did this newfound ability come from? I had never had it before. Not with myself, not with others. I had always been plagued with only-child syndrome. I want something, I want it my way, and I want it now. But now, as I taught kids as young as four, I could wait. I could sneak the knowledge in, laugh with the kids and reel them back in. After a while, I realized I had changed on a fundamental level. I could </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">give</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">. And I found myself being not only teacher, but mentor.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">As I look in the mirror, I can’t see these changes. But I see others. I see my stomach balloon out and know that inside is someone I will attempt to be patient with. Someone I will sneak knowledge into, laugh with, and reel back to me. Someone I will give to, and mentor.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.15;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">The change is subtle. I still make music, of course. I finally managed to get that album out of my head and into the world. But it stopped being about </span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; ">me</span><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap; "> and became about the music. It took on a life of its own and I couldn’t be prouder. And I am just as proud of my students who learned how to play Old MacDonald, or Adele. When I put out my album it was no longer my voice, but the voice on the CD, fixed into existence. Because when I transformed, I gained this superpower. I put the work in and--poof! Magic came out. And though my body is carrying this thing inside me, I can already tell by its kicks and punches that it is a life of its own. And in a couple months, he will come out and transform me all over again.</span></p>
<div> </div>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/12541652013-07-03T07:05:00-04:002022-05-18T07:15:59-04:00Deborah Crooks interviewed me :) http://deborahcrooks.blogspot.com/2013/07/artist-interview-its-all-happening-for.htmlRobin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/10293462013-06-21T10:55:00-04:002013-08-20T13:05:06-04:00Knowing the Rules I just received my first hate mail. After reading all my songwriting articles, the gentleman said I was trying to put every songwriter into the same box. He called me the master of the formulaic approach. This actually made me chuckle a little, since my music has been referred to as “avant garde with elements of pop”. But I took it as a compliment.<br><br>Yes, I teach formula. I believe in knowing the rules, theory, everything. Why? Because he who has never known boundaries is more lost than free. Only if you know the rules can you truly rebel against them.<br><br>I remember when I wrote my first piano song using the chords A minor, G, and F. I thought I was so cool! Surely, no one had ever discovered this magical combination of notes before! And then I heard that progression in half the pop songs written since. Sound familiar?<br><br>If you don’t train yourself and expose yourself to as much information as possible, you won’t know when you are being cliche. I know it sounds like a contradiction to use formula as a tool against cliche, but it’s not.<br><br>By learning the tricks and devices, you know what works and, more importantly, WHY it works. Then you can make it your own. Do the exact opposite! But do it deliberately.<br><br>I know I should feel hurt that this guy hates everything I’ve written. He even told me to stop writing (Ha!). But if my advice makes someone so mad that they purposely go against what I’ve said and it leads them to finding their own sound-- Then my work here is done.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/8570412013-06-01T02:00:00-04:002014-01-20T15:11:30-05:00Letting Go of Perfection <br>
As I come to the end of a four-year recording project, I look back on vocal tracks I did two years ago versus a month ago. The difference is striking. After trying so many versions of the same song, I have come to understand something so fundamental but which has eluded me for years:<br><div style="text-align: center; ">
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A good vocal track is not about being perfect.</div>
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I am a classically trained chorus girl ‘til the end. I’ve spent my entire musical career aiming to sound as perfect as possible. And while I have managed to make an impression on many, I know now that this attitude held me back from truly finding my voice and delivering my message.<br><div style="text-align: center; "><i><br>
To let go of perfection is to let go of fear.</i></div>
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I recently played at a friend’s <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blackbirdflymusicvideo" target="_new">music video</a> release party (you remember Volary, yes?). Keeping in mind the things I had learned during the recording process, I didn’t push my voice too hard, but instead let it settle into its “sweet spot”. I used my eyes to communicate with the audience, which instantly translated through my voice. I playfully played with dynamics, which kept my listeners’ interest.<br><br>
Enveloping myself in the song’s message, my voice became expressive in a way that it never could if I simply thought “sing expressively”. I don’t know if I sang any wrong notes because there were no wrong notes.<br><br>
The biggest difference though, was how firmly I now believed in the songs. In the past, I have often rushed through my tunes with the mindset that I have to fit in as many as possible before people get bored. But after recording them and hearing them with lush string arrangements, I knew that, as long as I hear those parts in my mind, the pared down versions would hold up. And they did! The trick was to not be impatient with them and to give them room to breathe.<br><br>
True, many other factors came together to help create this magical set. The audience was extremely receptive and patient (there were plenty of technical delays which they happily drank through), and I had received a great introduction. But I would like to think that, should circumstances not be so forgiving, I would be just as confident in my delivery having learned these lessons.<br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/7486012013-05-15T07:00:00-04:002022-01-03T21:07:16-05:00The Seedy Side of Portland, OR<div style="text-align: center; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/a3d7cd926767e57b0139830e956e83e2956a496d/medium/IMG_0659.JPG?1368641393" class="size_orig justify_top border_thin" alt="" height="136" width="300" /><br><span style="font-size: smaller; ">Mount Something, OR</span>
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<p><br>I spent a long weekend in Portland with my husband who was competing in the Magic: The Gathering Grand Prix. We stayed with our good friend Joe Streckert (who had officiated our wedding). Apart from getting a nasty stomach flu on the second day, the trip was splendid. I made new friends and spent time with a good friend I hadn't seen since living in Japan. We rounded off the trip with a Game of Thrones viewing and brunch before our flight back.</p>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/bdc240e110cdd8d179558a86968a61f20a3c0699/medium/IMG_0676.JPG?1368643830" class="size_orig justify_inline border_thin" alt="" height="179" width="200" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/5e958222c45c1f5e2eaf09982c7b3fe27c18cb4d/medium/IMG_0670.jpg?1368643838" class="size_orig justify_inline border_thin" alt="" height="200" width="149" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/58789bd50d71038ecd4f861370523db19844119b/medium/IMG_0691.jpg?1368643839" class="size_orig justify_inline border_thin" alt="" height="149" width="200" /></div>
<p><br>During my stay, our host treated me to one of his <a href="http://www.portlandwalkingtours.com/news/newsletter-2011-summer.php" target="_new">walking tours about the seedier side of Portland</a>. Joe is incredibly charming and entertaining (and the tour is fantastic) and so the last thing I expected was to have an emotional response.<br><br>The tour covered exciting things like speakeasies and Shanghaiing, and other fun facts like laws against black people written right into the constitution until the 1920s(!!!).<br><br>But the thing that hit home for me, was Portland’s then-pride at herding the Japanese-Americans into camps in 1942. The city was so efficient that it boasted being the nation’s second “Jap-free” city.<br><br>This hit me hard because my grandmother, Mistuye, was interned at age 18 with the rest of her family. Though she never spoke about it, I could see the effect it had on her in the way she and her family never let my mom learn Japanese, used American/Christian names, and eventually retired to to middle of nowhere, away from any semblance of a crowd. (There were more, but I think that’s as personal as I’ll get here.)<br><br>The part that scares me the most is when I look at the climate today, I have to push away such naive thoughts as “That could never happen again,” because it absolutely could. I hear about experiences like <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/seema-jilani/racism-white-house-correspondents-dinner_b_3231561.html" target="_new">“My Racist Encounter at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner”</a> and feel a sense of foreboding. It is so easy to point at someone and say “That’s what my enemy looks like,” that we forget there is a human being on the other end. When we let fear and ignorance get the best of us, we invite such horrors into our world as profiling, blacklists, internment, and genocide. Don’t scoff, because it has happened--and recently. And desensitizing yourself to it is the worst thing you can do.</p>
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<p> </p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/7707932013-04-29T05:45:00-04:002013-04-29T05:45:00-04:00The Why and How of Busking Busking, or street performing for tips, is not for everyone long term. But trying it can yield fantastic results on many levels.<br><br>
1. <b>Good practice.</b> You were going to practice anyway, right?<br><br>
2. <b>Tips</b>. Depending on the time of day, it can be worth your while. It'll at least cover gas money.<br><br>
3. <b>Exposure</b>. This word gets tossed around a lot, but in the case of busking, you expose your music to ALL kinds of people, many of whom would never heard your music otherwise. I've gotten gigs through people just walking by. Made fans who stopped to listen for a half hour and tipped me a $20. AND came back to see me the next day.<br><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
What you’ll need:</span><br><br>
Check with your city about whether you need a <b>permit</b>. In some, like San Francisco, you only need one if you plan to amplify.<br><br><b>Seed money</b>. People need a visual cue for where to put their money. Use a guitar case or a hat but keep an eye so no one snatches it from you. Also keep the right amount in. Have too little and you seem a little sad. Too much, and people might think you need anymore. People want to support an underdog, but not a loser.<br><br>
Have a <b>sign</b>. Most people won't come up and ask your name so make it visible and professional looking.<br><br>
Have <b>CDs</b> for sale. If someone can take your music home, they have more reason to put money in the hat.<br><br><b>Flyers</b>. Let people know where you are playing next in case they love you enough to follow you.<br><br>
And the most important..<br><br><b>Mailing list.</b> Encourage every person who tips you or shows a remote interest in you to join. Give them a reason to, such as a free song or other exciting thing you send people. Like in any situation, every person who likes you but doesn't join your list is a wasted opportunity, but especially in a transient audience situation.<br><span style="font-size: medium; "><br>
Now, here are a few tips on etiquette:</span><br><br><b>Know the regulars.</b> If you don’t, wait for them to finish a song before approaching them, especially if you are asking how much longer they’ll be--a question I hated getting. It’s best to soften them up with a few compliments first.<br><b><br>
Be mindful of the time.</b> In a busy station where everyone is vying for a spot, an hour is an appropriate period of time. If no one else wants to play, stay as long as you like.<br><br><b>Pick</b> a spot (if you can) that is out of hearing range of another musician.<br><br>
And this one should go without saying, but <b>BE NICE TO EVERYONE</b> (vendors, other musicians, random people)! If you are rude, it is only a matter of time before a good busking experience goes south.<br><br><i>Got any more tips? Add a comment!</i><br><br>
Happy Busking!<br><br>
See the published article at <a href="http://www.musicclout.com/contents/article-253-the-why-and-how-of-busking.aspx" target="_new">MusicClout.com</a>.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300532013-03-07T20:32:35-05:002013-03-07T20:32:35-05:00March 7 workshop was awesome! Ha! It was a fabulous workshop tonight. A night of firsts, as well: The eloquent and knowledgable <a href="http://www.unrelentingmonkey.com" target="_new">Tony Asaro</a> joined as a special guest (or first!) and shared some great insights with everyone. Tonight was also our first time streaming the workshop. It wasn't widely publicised as it was a trial run, but it meant that a couple of our members got to watch from afar and even type in some comments. I think this will open up whole new vistas for future workshops. Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300072013-03-04T20:15:00-05:002013-06-17T14:15:23-04:00Lessons from an Ice Cream ScooperI worked part time at an ice cream booth on the pier when I first moved to the city. It was fun work for the most part, meeting tourists from all over the world and either thrilling or disappointing them with my sundaes.<br><br>
There was a co-worker I loved to work with because he was friendly, helpful, and fun. I didn't even know that he was technically my superior because he didn't think it mattered. <br><br>
After work he always took some leftover coffee to the homeless busker who sat outside drumming for change.<br><br>
At one point he told me that he knew people at all the restaurants on the pier and they gave him free food because they liked him (only he could sound humble while saying this). I was impressed and wished he would introduce me to these people so I could cash in.<br><br>
He never got around to it before I left the ice cream business. Nor did I understand his secret at the time. <br><br>
But as I went on to my next job and started my new routine, I realized I had picked something up. I wasn't asking for free food, but I was making friends. I told people where I worked and we would start talking. I wasn't treating them like my servants because I was one of them, a fellow worker on the strip. Soon they started giving me discounts, free coffee, etc.<br><br>
I had become my former co-worker. I wasn't doing anything expecting something extra in return (okay, sometimes I asked for the merchant discount, but that usually started a conversation). I was getting to know people, trying to make life more pleasant--for myself and those around me. But it had the side effect of people knowing my name and treating me like I was special.<br><br>
Most people treat service workers like nonentities. Often, working musicians get treated the same way (you know the old joke that musicians who play benefits get into heaven but have to go through the kitchen?). We should know better. I had to see it in action before internalizing what should have been obvious: treat people with respect and they will remember you, like you, and treat you well.<br><br>
Make them feel like they made your day and you will make theirs.<br><br>
In the music business, that kind of attitude is what will make people want to work with you. I would bet my Guild that it's more important than how you sound. <br><br>
So wherever you go, ask how people's day is going. Put yourself in their shoes and be considerate. Because when you see everyone as human, they will see you too.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300452013-02-28T08:31:15-05:002017-02-01T14:28:58-05:00Week in L.A. This post is a little late in posting (I had to recover, after all), but here is my experience in Los Angelos from the past week.<br><br>
Day #1 I took megabus (supercheap, you should try it) for the 7 hour trip from SF. I even had a little righteous moment where I helped "wake up" the girl pretending to sleep so she could spread out on two seats while a family struggled to find any free ones. (I normally don't approve of bullying, but there's an exception to every rule). I arrived at 6:30am, got on another bus, and landed at my friend Elissa's place<br><br>
After an unplanned nap, I got to work. I headed over to Master Fader Music where Cori Jacobs and I dropped in some tracks for "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQq9waqEU4A" target="_new">Feigning Empathy</a>", and decided to redo some harmonies. What amazed me was how a song can go from being my least favorite to MY FAVORITE in a short space of time.<br><br>
Day #2 started with me and Elissa at a greasy-spoon diner (my weakness). Around 1, Cori picked me up and we began tracking "Fix This" from scratch. Here, I have to be honest. I have been working on this album for nearly four years now (::gasp::) and I had been feeling really chained by this project. So many things had gone wrong and it was such a challenge that I had almost forgotten why I was doing it (almost). But being locked in the studio with a friend, the music, and all the gear in the world doused me with inspiration that I hadn't felt in years. We <i>produced</i>. We <i>created</i>. It was incredibly freeing.<br><br>
Day #3 I got to be a tourist! One of my favorite things. My friend Seph took me around Abbot Kinney, to Intelligentsia (the trendiest of coffee spots), and Venice Beach. We checked out the attractions, briefly became an attraction (what? You never see a girl give a dude a piggy-back ride?), and had an utterly relaxing time in the sun.<br><br><img src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/421470_861498418309_659988660_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="149" width="200" /> <img src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/533181_861542400169_1783309597_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="149" width="200" /> <img src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/225258_861545818319_1333112477_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="149" width="200" /><br><br>
When the morning was over, it was back to the studio with me where--shockingly--we managed to work on three songs (How to Love Better, One & Two, and Losing Orbit). The day had its challenges, but the marathon high was ON and we managed to get the background vocals, harpsichord, and bells right where we wanted them. Oh, and the tiniest bit of guitar (but don't tell anyone).<br><br><img src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/285747_861867274119_782326284_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="200" width="150" /><br><br>
Day #4 (Final Day!) began with IHOP, as every day should. Cori approved of my ability to EAT. I do love food, oh so much.<br><br>
The last track, "Ocean Floor", presented some new challenges. I was feeling incredibly proud of my string arrangement, but the instruments weren't quite meshing with each other correctly. We did what we could and in the end it came out decently, but things were looking scary for a minute there.<br><br>
We did one final listen to all the pieces we had done that week and felt rather accomplished. I know I made some sort of sound between a sigh and a squeal. It put the "love" back in "labor of love" when, for a couple years now, it was mostly the "labor". We hugged and called it a wrap.<br><br><img src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/58869_861867304059_1556899965_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="149" width="200" /><br><br>
And yes, I managed to eat an awesome burger and get back in time to watch the Oscars. :) No wondering I always feel like anything is possible whenever I come to L.A. (my birthplace, by the way).<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300382013-02-28T05:06:51-05:002022-05-23T11:55:35-04:009 Secrets to Writing a Great Chorus One of the main tools in your songwriting arsenal is the almighty Chorus. Sometimes it comes naturally, sometimes it is elusive. Oftentimes, it gets lost in the other sections and needs a way to stand apart. Here are nine unabashed ways to make a chorus sound more like a chorus.<br><br><b>Use your hook</b> at the beginning AND end of the chorus. Bookending it gives the listener a chance to hear it again and makes it clear that it’s important.<br><br><b>Place a solid I (one) chord</b> at the beginning. Example: if you are in the key of C, give us a nice big C chord (or A minor) for that sense of <i>arrival</i> that marks a chorus. Bookend it for a classic chorus, or make it the second chord, but the ear wants it in there somewhere, especially at the start of the section. Avoid it, and your song will sound like it’s in a constant state of transition.<br><br><b>Write big sweeping melodies</b> (wide intervals, long tones) or short rhythms. Whatever you have in your verse, make it the opposite in the chorus--and make it extreme. These are often the most memorable.<br><br><b>Change the feel.</b> It doesn't have to be as dramatic as Alex Clare going into dubstep in “Too Close”. No Doubt did it in Sunday Morning to smokin' effect going from half-time reggae to four-on-the-floor(ish).<br><br><b>Keep the chorus's melody in a different range</b> to differentiate it even more. Typically the chorus is higher in pitch, but not always.<br><br><b>Get vague.</b> The time for lyrical specifics is usually in your verses. Let your choruses generalize/label, say how you feel, or have a catch phrase that will mesh with your entire song.<br><br><b>Add a pre-chorus or transitional bridge.</b> Taking a few bars before the chorus to set up the change can make all the difference in defining your sections. (There are lots of ways to use this section, including making phrases twice as long or twice as short to highlight that something different is coming, especially<i> if your chorus is similar to your verses</i>.)<br><br><b>Color</b>. This one is a little trickier but, if you can manage it, adds extra finesse to your lyrics. Create line in your chorus which, when repeated after each verse, takes on a new meaning. This is advanced stuff!<br><br>
And finally...<br><br><b>Know when you need a chorus</b>. Sometimes, when you have a rocking verse, all you need is a refrain (a short hook that gets tacked on like "Come Together right now over me"). Sometimes the song calls for AABA and all you need is a <a href="http://robinyukiko.com/news.cfm?feature=632748&postid=3375733" target="_new">bridge</a>.<br><br>
Serve the song and she will serve you. Happy writing!Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300302013-02-20T07:25:00-05:002020-10-10T03:27:07-04:00If I Never Made a Dime I understand how frustrating the music industry can seem at times. Sometimes it's like you are shouting into a void and you hear no reply except your own echo. But you have to ask yourself something and then decide:<br><div style="text-align: center; "><b>If I never made a dime from my music, would I still do it?</b></div>
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I asked myself rather recently and decided yes. Nothing will make me stop (permanently), even if I never become rich, famous, etc. A lot of people get into music because of how others make them feel when they play. I know I had a moment like that when I was 17. I was onstage, in a band, and fans (okay, my classmates) were screaming my name. That's when I knew for sure that that's what I wanted to do. <br><br>
But as I continued on the path, I found so many other rewarding things that kept me in music. It’s different for everyone. For me, the challenge of writing a song that is different from all the others, and then delivering that song to unsuspecting ears (regardless of their reaction) is worth it.<br><br>
When you know that you would choose it no matter the outcome, then you have taken a step toward success. That’s when you <b>stop chasing your tail</b>--and other people’s ideas of perfection--and <b>do what you love</b>. People love seeing that genuine passion and are drawn to it.<br><br>
And if the answer is no, that’s okay too.<br><br>
But here is what you have to accept:<br><br><b>It’s a two-way street. </b>No one is making you choose music. Likewise, you can’t make them choose YOUR music.<br><br>
You are not entitled to fans, fame, riches, etc. No one is obligated to like your music, come to your shows, or buy your CD.<br><br>
The flipside is that it is in your power to <b>make a plan</b> that is <b>within your abilities</b> and is <b>sustainable</b> so that you can continue to do what you love. Everyone’s skill set, attention span, natural aptitude, attitude, education, and determination is different, and therefore so is every path. Luckily, most of these things are completely within your control.<br><br><div style="text-align: center; ">The question becomes... Are you doing it for you?</div>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300102013-02-08T16:30:45-05:002013-02-08T16:30:45-05:00The Female Disadvantage(?) I recently came across <a href="http://bittergertrude.com/2013/01/22/a-common-problem-i-see-in-plays-by-women-playwrights-its-not-what-you-think/" target="_new">Bitter Gertrude’s blog post</a> about a common problem made by beginning female playwrights. Being a gal who creates things, I thought this could apply to more than writing plays. Boy, was I right (pardon the expression).<br><br>
The problem that she saw over and over, to put it simply, was that new female writers were creating main female characters who were reactive. Essentially, everything she did would be in reaction to a man’s (or or other active characters’) opinions and actions. Bitter Gertrude pointed out that men did not do this much in their writing, even when writing women, because males are taught to be active, so it’s normal to them. Women are taught to be concerned with other people’s needs, to empathize and react, and their main female characters reflect that.<br><br><b>What does this have to do with music?<br></b><br>
I have been wondering for some time now why so many famous composers, instrumentalists, chefs, you name it--are men. I’ve heard women’s compositions (love Clara Schumann), heard them shred on guitar, etc. I know women can do it! But so few do by comparison. I also noticed that while I was at Berklee College of Music, the women to men ratio was about 1:7. And maybe 9 out of 10 of those women were vocalists (and the men, guitarists). Such a cliche! And, alas, I was also the only girl in Advanced Ear Training and Advanced Harmonic Concepts.<br><br>
Outside of school, too, so many bands are a <b>boys club</b>, with women added on as<b> eye candy</b>, dancing and playing tambourine when they aren’t singing.<br><br>
As Bitter Gertrude points out, girls are taught from a very early age to be reactive. We max out our empathy skills. Singers have a direct line to the emotional center of the brain. Somehow, the voice actually pours empathy into the listener. Could this be why so many women make successful vocalists? (This, of course, happens with instrumental music as well, but I’m making a point, here.) Could it also be that the voice is the most reactive of musical instruments?<br><br>
Conversely, boys are brought up to be active and tough (not uncaring, mind you, but not emotional either). Cue shredding guitar solo. And while so many male musicians spend hours in their room practicing, many women are cultivating relationships (familial, romantic, communal). This is not to say that men don’t cultivate relationships and that women do not practice. But different priorities are taught to each gender and are therefore more noticeable in each. How else do you explain the male-dominated working field? Not all women are just getting too pregnant to have a career (like some people would have everyone believe).<br><br>
Bitter Gertrude shouts to emerging women playwrights, “YOUR STORIES ARE IMPORTANT [...] YOU ARE IMPORTANT [...] YOU ARE MORE THAN YOUR REACTIONS TO SOMEONE ELSE.”<br><br>
I would similarly like to call female musicians (and this includes singers because SINGERS ARE MUSICIANS!) to action. PRACTICE, CREATE, and be ACTIVE in carving your path. Be BOSS at your instrument (whatever it is) and know your stuff. Don’t wait for someone to tell you your worth, to discover you, or make you their headliner. <b>Your life is not</b> a <b>series of events</b> that <b>happens</b> to you. It should consist of<b> choices you make</b> that propel you on your path. Make it your own. <br><br>
See the published article <a href="https://musicclout.com/contents/article-195-the-female-disadvantage.aspx" target="_new">here</a>.<br><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300292013-01-29T08:45:00-05:002013-01-29T08:45:00-05:00Call Me Maybe When You Write a Bridge<a href="http://www.volarymusic.com" target="_new">Volary</a>, a good friend and brilliant singer-songrocker, told me once to always write a bridge. I have since perpetuated this advice in my <a href="http://www.meetup.com/sfsingersongwritersworkshop/" target="_new">songwriting workshops</a> is that you should always try to write a bridge because you never know what amazing thing you will write. So when Brian Hazard wrote <a href="https://musicclout.com/contents/article-183-the-death-of-the-bridge.aspx" target="_new">The Death of the Bridge</a>, I felt obligated to point out that the bridge is very much alive--if underutilized.<br><br>
He says, “Until you’ve got a substantial following, two sections – a verse and a chorus – is plenty.”<br><br>
We musicians are lazy enough without someone telling us we can be even lazier! (Okay, a half joke.) But you don't have to wait for fame before writing solid songs. In fact, people will fall in love with the whole experience of the song, not just a chorus. If there isn't another section to a really catchy chorus-strong song, I get sick of the song faster (especially when played ad nauseam on Pandora). His argument is that a bridge takes away from time that could be spent on the chorus and verse. But has anyone ever eaten too much candy?<br><br>
Let’s take a look at an extremely successful example: Call Me Maybe (Carly Rae Jepsen).<br><br>
At first glance, this is a repetitive and simple song. Even the chords are similar throughout. But you can distinguish the different sections through her melodic rhythm.<br><br>
Verse - “I threw a wish in the well...”<br>
Pre-chorus - “Your stare was holding...”<br>
Chorus - “Hey, I just met you...”<br>
Chorus (with slighty different lyrics)<br>
Verse<br>
Pre-Chorus<br>
Chorus<br>
Chorus<br><b>Bridge</b>! - “Before you came into my life, I missed you so bad”<br>
Instrumental break<br>
Second half of Chorus<br>
Chorus<br><b>Bridge</b>!<br>
Hook only - “So call me, maybe?”<br><br>
If you listen, you’ll notice there was almost no difference in arrangement between the chorus and the bridge, and yet they are very different sections.<br><br>
If it does its job right, which Call Me Maybe’s bridge does, it will break up the repetition nicely. Usually it will also build up to the last or penultimate chorus. In this particular case, they didn’t even have to come back to the chorus, only the title line (and it was extremely effective). Here, the writers managed to give the listener one more thing to fall in love with and latch onto (they even repeated the bridge). But we never forgot for a second what the hook was.<br><br>
Getting back to Hazard’s article, he gives some interesting arrangement ideas: break up the groove, add a new element, layer the vocals, and vary the lead vocal treatment.<br><br>
While these can be great ideas, a) they can also be done with a bridge in place and is made better for it, and b) half of these suggestions can only be done in recordings or if you have special gear or a full band. How does one superimpose the verse melody on top of the chorus if you are a solo player? (Not to mention, if it’s that easy to superimpose those two melodies they probably aren’t different enough and you might want to think about adding another section anyway.) But it doesn’t matter how fancy your arrangement is if your song is lacking. You can’t polish a turd, as they say.<br><br>
Hazard makes the case “Don’t equate sophistication with quality”, which to me, is a confusing sentiment. How does one have poor-quality sophistication? I believe if you have a great song with a solid structure, it stands alone. Ask yourself this: Do you want a song that is only good if you have a produced version of it or play it only in certain setups? Or, do you want a song that sounds great solo, live, with a band, in a recording, in a house or with a mouse? I would choose the latter, and adding production would only make it stronger.<br><br>
My suggestion is <b>always write a bridge</b>, and if you find that the song really doesn't need it, you can take it out. When I do this just to see what happens, I ALWAYS end up using it because it just makes the song more interesting, i.e. better. Even if you don’t use it, it will improve your songwriting skills just to try. Don't wait until a day when it matters before you start developing your craft. Your song should speak for itself.<br><br>
See the published article <a href="https://musicclout.com/contents/article-194-call-me-maybe-when-you-write-a-bridge.aspx?utm_source=Potential+Members&utm_campaign=c42e3bd00e-5_Ways_to_Get_Media_Attention1_29_2013&utm_medium=email" target="_new">here</a>.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300082012-12-16T18:56:08-05:002012-12-16T18:56:08-05:00 The Hobbit: An Expectedly Awesome MovieLet me preface this by explaining that I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan. I have read the books at least twice, own the Extended Edition of all three, have seen all the appendices, and kick most people's ass at Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit. I have also read the Hobbit three times and was ridiculously excited about seeing this movie.<br><br>
I was not disappointed.<br><br>
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was a fabulous cinematic experience (though a little slow at the beginning, perhaps containing too much action towards the end, and was a little too dramatized in places). Visually, it was stunning, of course (though I could tell it was made for 3D as the camera spun around for effect). I got the feeling I was already seeing the extended edition (which I will still be buying when it comes out).<br><br><b>Elves</b><br><br>
An Unexpected Journey captured the whimsy of the book, but also reconciled the disparities between The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings (books). I mainly refer to the Elves. Tolkien himself admitted that the elves of LOTR were extremely different than those of The Hobbit. This is due to the fact that The Hobbit was written first, as a children's story, and only afterwards did Tolkien expand Middle Earth to include the volumes of feigned history (LOTR, Unfinished Tales, The Silmarillion, etc). And so the merry Elves we see in the Hobbit book do not cross over into LOTR. I was pleased to see that Peter Jackson managed to capture the mischievous quality of the Elves through the use of music, dialogue, and that twinkle in the eye. What's more, in Jackson's representation, it's easy to imagine that the Elves we know and are awed by in the LOTR movies are the very same as the lighthearted ones in the Hobbit, but at the beginning of their downfall and colored with melancholy and age.<br><br><b>Dwarves</b><br><br>
The costuming department really outdid themselves this time. Somehow they managed to make the Dwarves completely badass, and not a little punk, while being completely, plausibly, Dwarvish. Their hair, "beard jewelry", and even tattoos, mimicked their architecture style and gave the distinct impression of rich culture. Only Thorin Oakenshield was distinctly Mannish (but so fabulous that I couldn't bring myself to care. This is not to say that I was thrilled with all the plot points involving Thorin, but he's still quite the catch). I was also impressed that, with thirteen Dwarves, the storytellers managed to differentiate them and not confuse the audience. Their numbers are comical, not distracting.<br><br><b>Music</b><br><br>
As a musician (and one who obsessively listened to the LOTR soundtracks), I was able to tell when music was borrowed from LOTR. Let me start this part by saying that my favorite parts (in all the movies) were when characters sang in context (Pippin's song "Edge of Night", Aragorn's "Song of Beren and Lúthien", Pippin & Merry's drinking song). I feel that these instances bring the spirit of the books to life in the truest way. Therefore, when I first saw the Hobbit trailer, I was immediately taken in by the Song of the Dwarves. Appropriately, this melody was used as their "fellowship" theme throughout the movie. An unexpected surprise was that the movie included "Blunt the Knives" (aka "That's What Bilbo Baggins Hates") which was completely natural and non-contrived as a kind of Dwarvish drinking song and was absolutely delightful (I beamed giddily for a full five minutes).<br><br><b>Homage or Laziness?</b><br><br>
There were places in the movie that I felt were direct parallels with LOTR, visually and musically (where the music was actually copied exactly from the previous soundtrack). I cannot decide if this is fitting or if it is a cop-out. Such scenes like the first wearing of the ring or the summoning of the Eagles felt like they lined up a little too cleanly with what we had seen before. And hearing the exact orchestration made me wonder whether Howard Shore wanted to bother with writing a different arrangement or if this was an appropriate stylistic choice. (It is well known, at least in my field, that certain characters or places have their own theme music, but at least at the beginning during the Shire scenes, Shore used different instrumentation than in LOTR.)<br><br>
Overall, I am extremely pleased with The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. If I had my way, I would slip into Avid and cut out a few seconds here and there, trim up the battles and extraneous dialogue, and add in another song or two. But we can't have everything, and I would rather have this version of The Hobbit (at least the first third), than none at all. Peter Jackson is more successful at consistency from the Hobbit to LOTR than Tolkien was in this particular instance (don't hate me, I said in THIS instance), and it feels right that, though not perfect, these movies exist. I am thrilled to be back in Middle Earth and can't wait for the next installment.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300262012-11-22T08:38:22-05:002012-11-22T08:38:22-05:00Thankful to have made it this far... Greetings, one and all! And Happy Thanksgiving!<br><br>
This year, like my years in Japan, I will be not be with family. So I wanted to share the other things I am grateful for:<br><br><b>My family.</b> Though they are scattered across the U.S., I can always call them when I need them. My parents and aunt in particular have been a constant source of support my whole life, and I am lucky to have them.<br><br><b>My friends.</b> They, too, are scattered, but the fact that, when I see them, we pick up where we left off means the world.<br><br><b>My past.</b> It hasn't always been easy (in fact, some of it has been bafflingly difficult and painful), but that has only given me perspective and compassion for other people's struggles.<br><br><b>My husband.</b> He is a constant source of laughter, comfort, and companionship.<br><br>
The fact that <b>I am allowed</b> to be married to the one I love. Because, for some reason, not everyone is. I will never understand why. We are all families, or trying to be. We are people. And, for a country that proudly claims that all are "created equal", not all are treated as equal. So, today I will be thankful for what I have, that, in another century, or in another country, I wouldn't. Like the <b>right to vote</b>. <b>To own land</b> (not that that's made easy in San Francisco). <b>To be seen on the street without a chaperone</b>.<br><br>
And hopefully, by this time next year, everyone in the world will have the same things to be thankful for.<br><br>
Much love and Happy Thanksgiving,<br><br>
~Robin<br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300502012-10-04T06:18:08-04:002017-02-01T14:28:59-05:00How to Do a Great Cover Song<b>Work with what you’ve got.</b> Play to your strengths (literally). If you have a great range, showcase it with big sweeping melodies (Queen, Mariah Carey, and other non-cheesy artists as well!). If your tone is average but you have a great sense of groove, cover more rhythmic songs that highlight that. Choose a song that could have been written for you.<br><br><b>Find your key.</b> Just because the original singer can hit that low G doesn’t mean that’s what is best for you. Find your best range and make sure you are hitting your sweet spots. There are plenty of apps that can transpose your favorite song to your perfect key if you don’t want to do it yourself (or, there are people like me that can help you).<br><br><b>Do it your way. </b>Unless you are playing a wedding and it’s the couple’s special song, don’t feel married to the original version. Try different embellishments. Find your voice and treat the tune like you wrote it.<br><br><b>Experiment with arrangement.</b> Try changing the time signature/feel. (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpfUNcmyGsM&feature=g-user-u" target="_new">Here </a>is my rendition of Outkast’s “Hey Ya” as a waltz, for example.) Make a rock song into a ballad, or vice versa. Put jazz chords to a simple pop song. Turn a heavily produced number into a minimalist piece (this is also a good way to go if you are still struggling with self-accompaniment).<br><br><b>Get permission.</b> If you’re playing an open mic, this isn’t such a big issue. But if you plan on recording a cover and sending it out into the world, check out the info on licensing at the <a href="http://www.harryfox.com">Harry Fox Agency</a>.<br><br>
See the published aricle <a href="http://musicclout.com/contents/article-148-how-to-do-a-great-cover-song.aspx?utm_source=Potential+Members&utm_campaign=85f1f47da7-How_to_Do_a_Great_Cover_Song10_4_2012&utm_medium=email" target="_new">here</a>.<br><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300392012-09-25T18:29:29-04:002020-10-13T00:35:16-04:00Band Leading 202 In Band Leading 101, we talked about how to run a rehearsal to get your band tight. We discussed having the appropriate charts for the musicians, running through a piece and breaking it down, and constructive criticism.<br><br>
Once you land a gig, your professionalism really has to shine. Here are some must-dos to remember.<br><br><b>Always have a contract.</b> This can be as simple as an email saying how long you’ll be playing, how much you get paid (and when), and what food/drink provisions you are entitled to. I can’t stress this enough. If it’s not in writing, the bartender may come to you at the end of the night and tell you that you owe THEM money (this recently happened to me).<br><br>
On a big gig like a wedding or corporate event, it’s a good idea to ask for a 50% deposit upfront. That way, even if the event is canceled, all the work you put into preparing for it (and the work you turned down because you were booked) won’t be a waste. Again, have a contract for everyone’s protection.<br><br><b>Stay on top of things.</b> If you are the one who booked the gig, make sure everyone knows what to wear, what time to be there, where to park, and what time your first note is played (AKA the “downbeat”), etc.<br><br><b>Delegate, if you can.</b> If your group is, more or less, an equal partnership, make sure everyone is pulling their weight. Someone can update the website, someone can design flyers, someone can do the social media, etc. If you are doing all of these things <i>and </i>booking the gigs, build that into your cut of the pay. As I mentioned in Band Leading 101, not all bands are the same. Be mindful of your particular arrangement with the band members when asking them to help out.<br><br>
At gigs (particular of the club variety) make sure you have someone running the merch table and collecting emails. It sounds sexist, but if a woman is able to do these things, your chances of collecting are higher. If he or she is devoting the whole night to this, be sure to slip them some cash in thanks.<br><br><b>Have a set list and give everyone copies.</b> If you’ve been playing a steady gig for ages it’s possible to call out the tunes, but otherwise write the key next to the song name. You can also learn the hand symbols for different keys (e.g., two fingers pointing up = two sharps = key of D).<br><br><b>Keep things moving.</b> Dead air is the killer of excitement. If you are the frontman/woman don’t ramble on. The more people there are, the more important this is. Speak slowly, clearly, and briefly.<br><br><b>Introduce the band.</b> It’s always nice to be recognized, so, assuming it’s appropriate in the venue, give a shoutout to each member (leaving room for applause), introduce yourself, then say the band’s name nice and clearly. Cases where it’s <i>not </i>appropriate: funeral bands, wedding ceremonies (i.e. when it’s not about the band).<br><br><b>Thank the venue, tear down, collect, and pay out.</b><br><br>
It’s important to love what you do, but it’s essential to treat a gig, even a low- or no-paying one, as a real job, because it is. <a href="http://www.tomrhodesmusic.com/" target="_new">Tom Rhodes</a>, a Bay Area performer, recently said in an interview that he can tell within 30 seconds of seeing someone play at an open mic if they are professional or not. It doesn’t have to do with getting paid (although that is technically the definition of professional). When it’s your gig, be organized, play well, and carry yourself like a pro. It won’t go unnoticed.<br><br>
See the published article <a href="http://musicclout.com/contents/article-145-band-leading-202-gigs.aspx" target="_new">here</a>.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300422012-09-17T07:34:46-04:002012-09-17T07:34:46-04:00Revamped: Amanda Palmer's Mistake Here is the revamped article (with more angles taken into account):<br><br><b>Amanda Palmer's Mistake (and Why it Will Hurt Working Class Musicians)</b> - by Robin Yukiko<br><br>
I am a big fan of Amanda Palmer. I contributed to her Kickstarter campaign (which broke records at $1.2 million) and think she is leading the way of the future of the indie artist. That is why it is so upsetting to me that she is using her fame and influence to damage that future by exploiting her fellow musicians.<br><br>
Beer, hugs, and merch. Oh, and a “thank you”. That is what Amanda Palmer, champion of the working artist, has offered to pay trained orchestra members to play for her Theater is Evil tour. When I went to her website to see if it was true, her blog post was reminiscent of a Craigslist ad.<br><br>
Don’t we all hope for a big break? For the chance to play for someone huge, because that’s where the money is? Amanda Palmer is now just like that bar manager that says “Play for free. It’s good exposure.” We expect it from club owners that don’t understand that some of us go to school for music. We get degrees in this stuff. We’ve invested many thousands of dollars in lessons, gear, and R&D. We expect these people to be ignorant and not respect the years and money we’ve put into this so that we can make music a career.<br><br>
We don’t expect it from one of us.<br><br>
We don’t expect that someone with a background in busking and asking for tips would be stingy the other way around. In 2009, Palmer wrote a blog called “<a href="http://therumpus.net/2009/10/why-i-am-not-afraid-to-take-your-money-by-amanda-fucking-palmer/" target="_new">Why I am Not Afraid to Take Your Money</a>”. In it, she says, “artists need to make money to eat and to continue to make art.” We thought this meant she supported artists like herself. Now it’s clear that she only supports herself.<br><br>
Many people have brought up the fact that Palmer often plays for free herself and gives away her music. It is her music and that is her choice, just as it is every musician’s choice. But as many people have pointed out, asking for favors, especially in the wake of collecting such an amount, is a little crass at this point, regardless of where the money went.<br><br>
Don’t get me wrong, I completely understand why she did it. Crowdfunding and crowdsourcing are the way things are being done now, but the repercussions for the working class musician could be detrimental. I applaud her chutzpah (it got us all talking about her), but maybe she should run her ideas by a few people (like a Musicians Union rep) to suss out the consequences before posting. <br><br>
She claimed, after we raised a stink, that this is just a jam. But that’s not how she approached it. She said she NEEDED players, asked people to “apply” and send in resumes or video performances to prove they can play. If this is just a jam, for fun, then what does she care? She already called the desired result “a big noise”. Instead she’s asking for professional-ish level players to devote time for rehearsal and the show. She says, “basically, you get to BE the opening ACT”. It’s not just fun, it’s an honor! Yes, I would open for Amanda Palmer for free if I were playing my own material. But in this context, musicians would be SERVING the opening act. Instead of an semi-open invitation (which I’m sure was her intention), it came across as begging for favors. It doesn’t help either that she shames those who might want to come but might not be good enough by telling them how embarrassed they’ll be.<br><br>
One of her supporters made the argument that musicians play the “unfun” gigs for money so that someday they can play the good ones for free. Having done this for about 15 years, I was under the impression that it was the “unfun” gigs that don’t pay. That’s what paying your dues are. So where are these magical paying gigs? Amanda said she does have a core of paid players. But at what point does our talent warrant payment? When we cross over into the elite? There are the starving artists, then there are the rock stars. The group she is exploiting is the working middle class, mid-level musician that she WOULD have hired, if only she had $35k.<br><br>
Yes, music is a labor of love. We don’t do it for the money, we do it because we are called to. But if no one got paid for a job they loved, then no one would bother raising themselves to a professional level.<br><br>
What is there to look forward to as a career musician? Soon, other successful artists and bands will be crowdsourcing their tour musicians as well as their tracks because there will always be people willing to do it for free. Rivers Cuomo (Weezer) also did this, never paying the “volunteers” for the performance, nor paying residuals for the released recording. We should have made a fuss then.<br><br>
When everyone has paid their dues, there will still only be a small amount of paid work for the elite. And not even at elite wages. The “viable career” that so many of us hope to attain is becoming even more difficult. <br><br>
But we can combat it. The positive things we should take from Amanda Palmer’s actions are her innovativeness, her boldness, and her inclusiveness. But we always need to consider our actions and our work ethic. We musicians must be incredibly professional, incredibly good, and start standing up for ourselves as working musicians. We’re swimming upstream and the current just got stronger. <br type="_moz"><br>
See the published post <a href="http://musicclout.com/contents/article-137-amanda-palmers-mistake-and-why-it-will-hurt-working-class-musicians.aspx" target="_new">here</a>.<br><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300092012-09-13T20:40:00-04:002012-09-13T20:40:00-04:00A further note on Grand Theft Orchestra... After much pondering and debate on the volunteer orchestra question, I would like to say that this could have been handled differently. <b>What Amanda Palmer could have said</b><b>: </b>I have a small string/horn section that I've hired. If you can sight read, you are welcome to join us (re: <i>invitation</i>). <b>What she said was:</b> I can't afford to pay a string/horn section so we need people to work for beer and hugs (re: <i>begging for freebies</i>). The first comes across as fan interaction. The second, a scam, a lie, and an insult. I understand both sides of the arguement, but I still have to say that if she really needed the players, she could pay some pros (or even semi-pros) and done a great deal more good by hiring local (not just a select few) than perpetuating the already ubiquitous belief that musicians *only* play for fun.<br><br>
Yes, I play for fun. But I decided to pursue it as a career and went to college for it. Hugs aren't going to pay those student loans.<br><br>
What Palmer did was innovative, inclusive, and fun. But because she came off as greedy, stingy, and disrespectful, she will lose a lot of fans. And it might cost a lot of musicians a lot of work.<br><br>
The lesson, ALWAYS pay those who work for you. Even if it's five bucks. Especially if you're Amanda "F***ing" Palmer.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300122012-09-13T08:00:00-04:002012-09-13T08:00:00-04:00Why Amanda Palmer is WrongI am a big fan of Amanda Palmer. I contributed to her Kickstarter campaign (which broke records at $1.2 million) and think she is leading the way of the future of the indie artist. That is why it is so upsetting to me that she is using her fame and influence to damage that future by exploiting her fellow musicians.<br><br>
Beer, hugs, and merch. Oh, and a “thank you”. That is what Amanda Palmer, champion of the working artist, has offered to pay trained orchestra members to play for her Theater is Evil tour. When I went to her website to see if it was true, her blog post was reminiscent of a Craigslist ad.<br><br>
Don’t we all hope for a big break? For the chance to play for someone huge, because that’s where the money is? Amanda Palmer is now just like that bar manager that says “Play for free. It’s good exposure.” We expect it from club owners that don’t understand that some of us <i>go to school</i> for music. We get degrees in this stuff. We’ve invested many thousands of dollars in lessons, gear, and R&D. We expect these people to be ignorant and not respect the years and money we’ve put into this so that we can make music a career.<br><br>
We don’t expect it from one of us.<br><br>
We don’t expect that someone with a background in busking and asking for tips would be stingy the other way around. In 2009, Palmer wrote a blog called “<a href="http://therumpus.net/2009/10/why-i-am-not-afraid-to-take-your-money-by-amanda-fucking-palmer/" target="_new">Why I am Not Afraid to Take Your Money</a>”. In it, she says, “artists need to make money to eat and to continue to make art.” We thought this meant she supported artists like herself. Now it’s clear that she only supports herself.<br><br>
And if Amanda Palmer is the top, what is there to look forward to as a career musician? Soon, other successful artists and bands will be crowdsourcing their tour musicians as well as their tracks, and the “viable career” that so many of us hope to attain will be laughably impossible.<br><br>
We gave Amanda Palmer $1.2 million. She is now the 1%, and acting like it.<br><br>
EDIT: Here is AP's response to the flak she's been getting: http://www.amandapalmer.net/blog/20120913/. Apparently some people are paid, others volunteer, but there's something of a scale. I'll accept that she has the choice to do it this way, but I won't recant that her way of asking for volunteers is damaging to the future of the industry. It's hard enough getting paid work as a musician without it being broadcast that volunteering is now acceptable for big names.<br><br><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300282012-09-12T07:09:33-04:002012-09-12T07:09:33-04:00Band Leading 101 While there are many bands that share credit equally among their members, there is usually a person who stands out as a leader. This is a good thing since it helps get things done. Often the singer, lead soloist, or the person who writes or arranges the songs takes charge. Whether playing with seasoned professionals, or in a garage band, it’s good to know how to lead a band.<br><br><b>Running Rehearsals</b><br><br><b>Have charts</b> if you are playing with cats who can sight read (if they need them). Always ask a new member of the group what they prefer.
<ul>
<li>Drummers tend to only need a recording and the sections (including number of measures) and any special rhythms written out.</li>
<li>Violinists or more classically trained players will want sheet music written out in their preferred clef(s).</li>
<li>Many horns and woodwinds transpose so make sure their key is correct.</li>
<li>Most guitarists and pianists will want chord charts, preferably with the melody (lead sheet).</li>
</ul>
There are a number of services and individuals (including yours truly) who can help you with this for a fee if you’re too busy or a just little rusty on your notation.<br><br>
If you don’t have parts worked out yet and you are relying on the ears of your bandmates, be sure you can execute your ideas through singing, playing, or mouth percussion. This is why it helps to have some theory terms under your belt.<br><br><b>Talk the band through</b> the form of the song, making sure everyone is (literally) on the same page, then play it through. Once you make it to the end, pick out problem spots. One mistake I see a lot of bands make it simply running through the song from beginning to end every time. That’s fine if you’ve already rehearsed it 300 times, but it’s more helpful in the beginning to <b>do small sections at a time.</b><br><br><i>Tip: start with the ending and work backwards</i> (last chorus, then last verse and chorus, etc.); it also helps with memorization. Get transitions smooth. Clean up tricky spots, especially if you have <b>stop time</b> (or tutti, where all members play the same rhythm together; it’s very dramatic if done right). If the band keeps snagging at a particularly difficult spot, try it slower than usual (be sure to count off), then once that bit is mastered, try it again a tempo (at normal speed).<br><br><b>Don’t be afraid</b> to point out if a musician is sharp/flat/rushing/dragging or if their dynamic is off. (Hint: Some drummers tend to rush, some singers tend to be flat, everyone tends to be too loud!) <b>Be constructive</b>. Leaders exist to guide and produce results, not have a power trip. And be open to others’ critiques about you.<br><br>
Of course, not all bands are structured the same. Sometimes leadership is temporary and changes to whomever booked the next gig. But if you are calling the tunes and the band members are looking to you, be sure you’re ready to step up and get it done.<br><br>
P.S. If there were any terms in this article that you did not understand, banish your ignorance and google it! It’s not hard.<br><br>
See the published article <a href="http://musicclout.com/contents/article-135-band-leading-101-rehearsal.aspx" target="_new">here</a>.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300252012-09-04T07:45:00-04:002021-04-01T04:04:28-04:008 Tell-tale Signs You Should Keep Your Day Job <br>
1. <b>You don’t see music as a job.</b>
<ul>
<li>
<b>You don’t think people need to be paid for doing what they love.</b> If you don’t take music as a job seriously, no one else will. And not only does that attitude hinder earning money through music, but it hurts other musicians who ARE serious.</li>
<li>
<b>You’re fine with being paid in drinks.</b> In no other business is this okay. If you are a house painter, that cold glass of lemonade is a perk, not payment.</li>
</ul>
2. <b>You are complacent.</b>
<ul>
<li>
<b>You’re happy with your current level. </b>Unless you are already a world-class player, you probably shouldn’t be settling. And world-class players got to be where they are through hours and hours of dedicated practice.</li>
<li>
<b>You don’t feel you need to learn theory.</b> Again, unless you are extraordinarily talented, people love you, AND you’re a gig magnet, it couldn’t hurt to bone up on the nerdy side of music. If you can articulate your ideas in an educated manner, it goes a long way toward i.) being taken seriously, ii.) getting better results, and iii.) not looking like an idiot. You will also be able to attract better musicians to surround yourself with.</li>
</ul>
3. <b>You’re not comfortable with self-promotion.</b> Yes, it’s icky at first. Yes, most musicians are actually introverted. But if you want to people to know about your music, you have to use your words like a big person. I am NOT saying to spam your friends. But give them a reason to see you play. And don’t be afraid to casually mention it (when appropriate) to everyone you meet. (I know when someone’s not a good listener when I’ve met them several times and they still don’t know I’m a musician.)<br><br>
4. <b>You won’t do anything to compromise your art. </b>Then you probably won’t get paid. The exception is probably busking, where you can do your thing and don’t have to answer to anyone (except the cops). But for most people, we have to take gigs that aren’t exactly our dream scenario. Hopefully though, the side jobs get closer and closer to your goal until eventually how you spend your time is in full alignment with your goals. (And I’ll be honest, it’s easier to <a href="http://musicclout.com/contents/article-126-service-and-the-power-of-positivity.aspx" target="_new">be happy about a gig</a> that isn’t perfect than to land the perfect gig.)<br><br>
5. <b>You refuse to pigeon-hole your genre.</b><br><ul>
<li>
<b>Musicians who say they play everything</b> -- unfortunately -- have to actually LIST every genre they play before someone believes them. “I play everything: Jazz, punk, classical, classic rock, pop, latin, you name it.” Only saying “I play everything” makes you sound like you haven’t actually found your style yet and comes across as amatuer. TRUST ME.</li>
<li>
<b>If you have a genre and simply refuse to describe it</b>, you will immediately alienate (or at least lose the interest of) the person you’re talking to. You may think you are intriguing them with your mysterious music, but you’re really just showing off your ego. It says, I’m too good for genres. My music is impossible to describe. I can’t be categorized. A lot of great players can be categorized (even if they started a new genre!). You can too. If you need help with your elevator pitch, ask your friends -- but you need one. If you don’t accept you have a niche, you will never be able to take advantage of it.</li>
</ul>
6. <b>Only your close friends and family come to your shows.</b> Let’s face it, if you aren’t engaging people who don’t have a vested interest in you, you aren’t going to make it professionally. This isn’t to say that you can’t turn things around. Try videotaping your shows so you can see what you are doing (or not doing), make sure your songs are well-crafted and well-executed, and get outside opinions. You know the old quote about doing the same thing but expecting different results? It might be time to try something different.<br><br>
7. <b>You’re waiting to be discovered.</b> This is why I hate shows like the X-Factor and American Idol. They keep perpetuating the myth that one day someone will realize how great you are and do all the work for you. It’s like not getting a job because you’re waiting to win the lottery. Listen, you can’t control other people, the economy, or chance, but the one thing you have complete control over is you: your actions, how hard you work, the choices you make. So make cold calls. Follow-up. Get yourself on the path you want and don’t sit around waiting for others. Don’t wait for the phone to ring. As the old Chinese proverb goes, “No one who can rise before dawn 360 days a year fails to make his family rich.”<br><br>
8. <b>You love your day job. </b>God forbid this happens to you! If you actually manage to find a job you enjoy, that allows you to keep music as a hobby, DO THAT. If, as your music grows more successful, you are able to cut back your hours, even better. But think about the lifestyle you want. If you are ready to live gig to gig without security, that’s one thing. But if you want to take care of your future, use the steady day job to keep the income flowing so you can support your music habits.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300362012-08-27T06:10:00-04:002012-08-27T06:10:00-04:003 Things I Learned about the Music Business from Sports Before I begin, I’d like to preface this by saying that I am not athletic. I was the last to be picked in kickball and the only afterschool activity I did was chamber choir. That being said, there are a lot of things to be learned from sports that yield immediate results.<br><br>
Activity: <b>Volleyball</b>.<br>
Lesson: <b>Go for it</b>.<br><br>
My coach in my Volleyball 101 made a good point. If the ball comes at you, <b>hit it</b>. If it’s far away, run to it and <b>hit it</b>. If you think you won’t make it because it’s too far, run anyway because you <b>MIGHT HIT IT</b>. If you don’t run, guess what? You <b>won’t </b>hit it.<br><br>
It only took a couple tries before I realized the truth of this. I started running for every ball that was even remotely near me and, ‘lo and behold, I hit some! Me, the non-athlete.<br><br>
Soon, I discovered I could apply this to other areas in life, mainly music. Sometimes this manifests itself in just showing up. Cold-calling. Asking a question, like “Can I book my band here?” or “Do you mind if I put you on my mailing list?” Like my <a href="http://www.howardherman.com" target="_new">dad</a>, a pro pianist, always says, “You never know what can happen when you show up for work,” and in this business, going to a club could be part of your job. So go for it!<br><br>
Activity: <b>Cycling</b>.<br>
Lesson: <b>Choose your course, choose your speed</b>.<br><br>
While I was teaching in Japan near Tokyo, I was temporarily sent to a small town on Shikouku where I was given a bike to get to my classes. I went from taking the train twice a day to not going near a station for two months. Every day I rode by a koi pond that paralleled the sidewalk. I purposely built my route around it. On Sunday I rode to the next town over just to see what was there (the answer was nothing. What do I regret? Same answer). And I didn’t spend a lick of gas to satisfy my curiosity, only my own energy.<br><br>
I realized that the amount of beauty I see in my life is up to me, as it how long I want to spend on it. On that bike, I’m in complete control of where I’m going. I rest when I need to, and, if I get lost, I find my way back.<br><br>
I feel the same way about <b>busking</b>. How long I play is up to me, how intensely, how personal. Where do I put myself? Sell CDs, have an email signup list. Or just use it as practice time.<br><br>
So, <b>choose a destination</b> or <b>just enjoy the ride</b>. <br><br>
Activity: <b>Walking</b>.<br>
Lesson: <b>Don’t wait for a bus that won’t come</b>.<br><br>
Have you ever been waiting for a bus for too long only to discover it was cancelled? <b>Just start walking</b>.<br><br>
I have let so many projects stall out because I was waiting for someone who kept flaking out. Let’s be honest--we usually know who they are before they disappoint us. And even more brutal honesty--it’s most people.<br><br>
The lesson I truly learned by walking is that, in the music industry, you have to keep moving. Even slow progress is better than sitting still. As long as you’re headed in the right direction, building resilience, you’re doing something right. Keep playing, keep writing, keep networking.<br><br><b>Keep walking</b>.<br><br>
Bonus tip: If you see a bus along the way, flag that sucker down!<br><br>
P.S. Walking is totally a sport.<br><br>
See the published article <a href="http://musicclout.com/contents/article-131-3-lessons-i-learned-about-the-music-business-from-sports.aspx" target="_new">here</a>.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300272012-08-20T07:30:00-04:002017-02-01T14:28:55-05:00Service and the Power of Positivity I ran into an acquaintance who has been out of work for some time. He complains that the market is terrible and how he is sick of this town. He blames politics and says the dating scene sucks here. Then he hands me his card and says if I hear anyone who’s hiring that I should pass along his info.<br><br>
I knew immediately that I would not.<br><br>
Now, I’m a nice person. But, even if I met someone in his field, why would I stake my reputation on someone who doesn’t enjoy a single thing about life, where he lives, or anyone he meets? Why would he treat a job any differently?<br><br>
As my friend and colleague <a href="https://www.reverbnation.com/donovanplant" target="_new">Donovan Plant</a> so eloquently sings, <b>the universe is a yes machine</b>. When you input yeses, it makes more yes. Likewise, when you fuel it with negativity, it malfunctions and serves you sludge.<br><br><b>The music industry is no different</b>. Musicians, whether we acknowledge it or not, are in the service industry. It is a happy circumstance that we enjoy our work (if you don’t, get out while you still can). It is both humbling and empowering that we should serve others with our music.<br><br>
When you <b>play a wedding</b>, you are providing the soundtrack to the most important day of someone’s life. When you <b>play a piano bar</b>, you are giving someone a reason to get out of their house, making a lonely drink less lonely. When you <b>teach a music lesson</b> to make ends meet, you are providing someone with the knowledge and motivation to make music for himself, empowering him. Even <b>playing in a cover band</b> gives people the experience of hearing their favorite songs live, reminiscing about their youth, or just escaping to something they know the words to.<br><br>
And when you accept and enjoy the act of giving through your art, you open the doors--in a very real way--to receiving.<br><br>
In a similar way that pheromones attract others, yes attracts yes. Giving begets giving. And sincere <b>willingness to serve attracts work</b>. Don’t hold grudges. The world has no pity for sour grapes or resentment. Share with others. Don’t be that guy. Be the guy (or gal) that people want to be around.<br><br><b>The universe is a yes machine.<br><br></b>See the published article at <a href="http://musicclout.com/contents/article-126-service-and-the-power-of-positivity.aspx" target="_new">musicclout.com</a>.<b><br type="_moz"></b>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300342012-08-15T11:37:48-04:002021-04-12T04:04:41-04:00Album progress, life stuff... I recently mentioned my latest news through my Kickstarter campaign that the mixing has begun for my long-awaited album, <i>Love War</i>. Cori Jacobs, a grammy nominated bundle of talent, is currently tackling this project. Meanwhile my dad, <a href="http://howardherman.com/" target="_new">Howard Herman</a>, is writing some lovely horn parts to sit on top of at least one of my tunes. Exciting things are coming up and I am so grateful for everyone's patience.<br><br>
I've also been teaching a lot more and I find it really satisfying. These kids are so smart!<br><br>
Also, did I mention I got a kitten?<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/8e1668ebc1232ba54ed98a77ebfa1145bc79d98d/medium/98_815302645003_144867325_n.jpg?1375795897" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="195" width="260" /><br>
Her name is Meme and she enjoys feathers, destroying, and feels threatened by downward dog.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300332012-08-14T07:10:00-04:002012-08-14T07:10:00-04:0010 Tips for Better Lyric Writing There are as many lyric-writing styles as there are genres. From conversational and literal to poetic, abstract, and even nonsensical. Whatever style you embody, you can always improve your craft. Here are some tips on how to do that.<br><br>
1. <b>Have a theme.</b> Themes don’t make your lyrics boring, they make them cohesive. Think of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and its whimsical sky references (clouds, birds, stars, chimney tops). It’s about world-building that sweeps the listener away.<br><br>
2. <b>Try to stay away from perfect rhymes.</b> Day and way. Run, fun, sun. They sometimes ring as childish, especially if the context is not interesting enough. Be more adventurous and less strict (fade and wait, mine and kind, crazy and maybe, etc.).<br><br>
3. <b>Make the context interesting.</b> If you are singing the same old love song, say it in a different way. Build from real memories, real conversation, or unusual metaphors.<br><br>
4. <b>Put the rhymes in unusual places</b> (internal rhymes, in the middle of phrases). It adds meat to the bones of your song.<br><br>
5. <b>Change up the rhyme scheme.</b> An example from Pat Pattison, “Mary had a little lamb, fleece was white as snow. And everywhere that Mary went, she sold the fleece to pay the rent.”<br><br>
6. <b>Put the emphasis on the right syllable.</b> As much as I love Alanis Morissette, she has an annoying habit of misplacing accents, making it incredibly awkward and difficult to understand (“an un-for-TU-nate slight,” instead of “un-FOR-tu-nate” in Uninvited). If you are dead-set on a lyric that stresses the wrong syllable, don’t be afraid to change the rhythm to set it right. You can also add or take away unimportant words like “that” or separating contractions. Personally, I know a lyric is right when it sounds as if I could speak it naturally.<br><br>
7. <b>Make your choruses more general than your verses</b>. This is not a hard rule, but it helps to “change scenes” after your verse.<br><br>
8. <b>Be ruthless about clichés</b>. Speak your lyrics aloud to spot them. When you find them (and you probably will), try changing only one word to something unexpected.<br><br>
9. <b>Keep writing different versions </b>of the same section. You can always go back to the original, but you never know what you’ll come up with on try #5.<br><br>
10. <b>Don’t be afraid of the tools in your arsenal</b>. Get a thesaurus. And a rhyming dictionary. Even if you don’t use the words you find, they can sometimes inspire other ideas. So can novels, newspapers, facebook updates, and people-watching.<br><br>
You may have sensed a theme by now. Always ask yourself if you can do better. You usually can. But eventually, like a new car, you have to take it for a drive and see if it gets you there. Play it live, get honest opinions from your peers and mentors, and revise. You can play it for friends and family, but don’t expect much more than general praise. Ultimately it’s up to you, as writer Neil Gaiman would say, to <i>make good art</i>. And know when it’s done.<br><br>
See the published article at <a href="http://musicclout.com/contents/article-124-10-tips-for-better-lyric-writing.aspx" target="_new">musicclout.com</a>.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300402012-08-03T17:30:00-04:002014-06-21T14:43:15-04:0013 Dos and Don'ts Of Performing At Open MicsI'm very excited that the following article was just published on <a href="http://www.musicclout.com/contents/article-121-13-dos-and-donts-of-performing-at-open-mics.aspx" target="_new">Music Clout</a>!<br><br><b>13 Dos and Don'ts Of Performing At Open Mics</b><br><br>
DON’T play and leave.<br><br>
DO talk to EVERYONE and remember their names. You can even write their name and description and review it at the end of the night. They will be so impressed the next week.<br><br>
DON’T expect to be discovered. This is a networking opportunity with other musicians. Open mics only lead to gigs if you work your contacts and follow up.<br><br>
DON'T just say "Good job". Be specific and <i>sincere </i>like "I really liked your hook" or "Your low range sounds great!" so they know you were paying attention.<br><br>
DO introduce others. Even if you aren't interested in collaborating with someone, maybe you can give someone a good lead.<br><br>
DON’T heckle. No one wants you to request Free Bird.<br><br>
DO be gracious. If only one person is listening, play just for that person, and yourself.<br><br>
DON’T talk loudly over a ballad. Everyone chats, just be respectful about it.<br><br>
DO play contrasting songs. (One slow, one fast, one in major, one in minor, etc.)<br><br>
Similarly, DON’T play two songs in the same key back-to-back. Even if an audience doesn't know, their ears will start to get bored.<br><br>
DON’T apologize before you play a song. People want you to be excited about your song, not hear excuses for why it's going to suck.<br><br>
DO make friends with the host, bartenders, and all staff. People like to work with their friends, so be a friend to everyone you meet.<br><br>
DO have fun! If it's not fun, what's the point? <br><br>
Robin Yukiko is a Berklee College of Music grad, singer-songwriter, pianist, and music educator in San Francisco. She hosts the SF Singer-Songwriters’ Workshop at the Musicians Union Local 6. Learn more at www.robinyukiko.com.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300482012-07-03T20:19:30-04:002022-05-18T04:31:28-04:00There's help to be had Woot! "Kick Cancer's Ass: Extravaganza for Samantha" was a huge success raising $2000 for the lovely songstress. It was amazing to see so many people rally together like that...not to mention the awesome acts that came out, including Samantha herself (and me!).<br><br>
The other bit of news is that I finally got a chance to record Ocean Floor properly. It may sound silly, but recording makes me feel alive like few things do. (Actually, a lot of things make me feel alive: mountains, cats, North Beach, Indian food...but recording is up there.) Most of the tracks for <i>Love War</i> are done and just need a few more layers on top. Then it's off to be mixed and mastered! This is the longest project I've ever done and I can't wait to finally finish it and get it out to you.<br><br>
And as an indie artist, I wish you all a Happy Independence Day!<br><br><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300512012-03-30T04:31:30-04:002017-01-13T08:41:38-05:00Ultra Update: Videos, progress, and a plea for help<div><span style="font-size: large; "><br></span></div>
<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/fa54fd7a8a0cd5b2ae699e0519dda6ea7434219e/medium/robin-on-radio.jpg?1375795897" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="300" style="font-size: large; " width="300" /><div>
<font size="4"><br><br></font><span style="font-size: large; ">In this Issue:</span><br><div>
<br><span style="font-family: Verdana; ">1. What's Robin doing?</span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana; ">2. Please help my friend, Samantha!<br>
3. Video of me doing a pop cover on the radio<br></span> <br>
March is recklessly speeding into the past and the only way to make sense of the blur is to tell you about it.<br><div style="text-align: justify; ">
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Teaching is going great. My 13-year-old voice student just got accepted to the School of the Arts! So proud of her. Also, my 6th <a target="_new" href="http://www.meetup.com/sfsingersongwritersworkshop/">SF Singer-Songwriters' Workshop</a> is coming up next Thursday!<br><br><br>
And just so you know...<br><br>
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<div style="text-align: center; "><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/be6cf2bf3f6a0d4227b1ef3a38e98cea5f7ac44e/large/progress-bar.JPG?1375795897" class="size_orig justify_middle border_" alt="" height="184" width="475" /></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify; "> But not everything is so fabulous. My good friend and bandmate Samantha (of <a target="_new" href="http://www.volarymusic.com/"><b>Volary</b></a>), was recently diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer after two years of remission. The cancer is now in her vertabrae, pelvis, and femur. If you haven't heard her music, she is a seriously talented woman that I am proud to know and sing with. If you are able to help, please consider making a donation toward her medical bills and essential items that will increase her comfort immensely (meds, slip on shoes, body pillow, etc.). You can also follow her experiences on <a target="_new" href="http://unfamousblog.tumblr.com/">Sam's blog</a>.</div>
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<form action="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr" method="post">
<span style="font-size: large; "><b>Please help out Samantha!</b></span><br><br><input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="_s-xclick"><input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="4EJRXS5DWBHT8"><input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donateCC_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" alt="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!"><img src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="1" width="1" />
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<p> And to end on a light note, here are <a target="_new" href="http://robinyukiko.com/video.cfm"><span style="font-size: medium; "><b>videos</b></span></a> of me doing a Britney Spears cover and my new song on KSFS Radio! (A recording of the Radiettes' Variety Hour will be available in the next week or two.)<br><br>
Until next time...<br><br>
Much love,<br><br>
<a target="_new" href="http://robinyukiko.com/home.cfm"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/c1113020d2064180b4b38ff5cf91a47115784dc6/medium/sig003.jpg?1375795897" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="" height="80" width="260" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center; ">www.robinyukiko.com<br>
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<p style="text-align: left; ">P.S. Like me on <a target="_new" href="http://www.facebook.com/theRobinYukikoBand">Facebook</a>!</p>
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</div>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300322012-03-25T06:42:36-04:002012-03-25T06:42:36-04:00Certified Creeper There are few things I am really afraid of: lizards, black holes, and most seafood. Add to that list the guy on the 49 in the track suit and full knit mask covering his entire head except ONE EYE. It's hard to describe how terrifying this is without alluding to sci-fi monsters and Jurassic Park (which also terrified me). This dude was either recording the street traffic out the window, or watching previously recorded traffic on his duct taped phone. After elbowing the person next to him a few times and giving me THE EYE, he changed seats and continued to be creepy nearer the front. His pant legs were rubber-banded.<br><br>
I've asked myself why someone would wear such a thing. Perhaps he was a burn victim. Maybe he was really cold. Maybe he could only stand to see the harshness of this life through one eye. Or maybe he really is on the Most Wanted list. Whatever the reason, I just hope the next time someone has their eye on me, that it comes in a pair.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300492012-03-20T10:54:15-04:002012-03-20T10:54:15-04:00That's cold, babyI hope everyone had a good St. Patrick's Day. I must admit something: I am only rarely a big partyer. My idea of a good time on a day off usually involves staying home, eating vegetables, and watching old Star Trek: Voyager episodes. So when I finally made it out of downtown on said green holiday, I settled into my husband's Physics & Astronomy Club room and played some Magic with the guys. Yes! This is a party. Toss in some exploding frozen beers and some fruit snacks and I've got it made.<br><br>
Really, anywhere I can get out of the wind and cold is fine by me at this point. I blame my Florida blood, but I also blame San Francisco ridiculousness. A city in California really has no right to a serious winter (the worst of which is that it repeats in the summer). Meanwhile, I've been getting comments on my ankle-length black peacoat. Some include:
<ul>
<li>"I used to have a coat like that, back when I was a youngster!"</li>
<li>"Nice coat. You look like you're ready to f*** someone up."</li>
<li>"Wow, that's like the Matrix. But in wool."</li>
</ul>
And my favorite:<br type="_moz"><ul>
<li>"That's really East Coast."</li>
</ul>
Now, that last one is a comment I've been getting a lot about myself. I've been interviewing some of my friends about what they think the difference is between east and west coasters. All agree that I'm very east coast. Apparently east coasters are (in general) more sarcastic, more strict, and know how to dress for cold weather. Does anyone else have any other ideas about what seperates us (besides a few thousand miles)? Not that I believe any of it.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300542011-12-01T20:00:17-05:002011-12-01T20:00:17-05:00I'm adding "Educator" to my business card Just hosted my second SF Singer-Songwriters' Workshop a few hours ago. Small group, especially due to the last minute change in venue (thank you <a target="_new" href="http://www.russomusicsf.com">Russo Music </a> for accomodating us on such short notice!) But I got to hear some great songs (and even sang some harmonies) by some up-and-comers.<br><br>
Apart from that, I've been teaching at the above mentioned music store. I've forgotten how fulfilling teaching can be. I feel incredibly lucky. Not only that, but putting in long hours editing my tracks for <i>Love War</i> is oddly satisfying. I still haven't got a clue what I'm doing, but I seem to be making progress.<br><br>
In other news, I'm currently reading Jonathan Strange & Mr Norell which I'm enjoying despite the small print (and even smaller footnotes*).<br><br>
*<span style="font-size: smaller; ">Incidentally the footnotes are quite interesting and add a great deal of depth to the world in which these two characters inhabit.</span><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300522011-11-24T14:45:00-05:002011-11-24T14:45:00-05:009 Things I'm thankful for. Mainly YOU.<div style="text-align: center; "> </div>
<div style="text-align: center; "><span style="font-size: medium; "><b><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); ">~</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0); "> Happy Thanksgiving! </span><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0); ">~</span></b></span></div>
<br>
Last night, just before midnight, you helped me raise $2,600 so that I can complete my album. You read my newsletters. You answer my call. You guys are my heros.<br><br><div style="text-align: center; ">Here are the things I am grateful for, in no particular order:</div>
<div style="text-align: left; ">
<b><br>
1.</b> I have friends and family that support me, even if they aren't necessarily into my music (is this you?)<br><b>2.</b> I have friends, family, and people who ARE into it (I hope this is you!)<br><b>3.</b> I have a wonderful husband who keeps me laughing all the time (and can truss a turkey)<br><b>4.</b> I live in a city (San Francisco) that has opened my eyes to so many issues in the world<br><b>5.</b> I have been given an opportunity to teach others what I know about music<br><b>6.</b> I have a warm coat for when it gets cold<br><b>7.</b> I am no longer afraid of ice skating (though still not good at it)<br><b>8.</b> People forgive me for complaining a lot<br><b>9.</b> I have the day off today</div>
<br>
So that's just 9 things off the top of my head. What about you?<br><br>
May you and yours have safety, comfort, and the love of each other.<br><br>
Much love,<br><br>
~Robin<br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300472011-10-21T17:40:00-04:002011-10-21T17:40:00-04:00I can't keep it a secret any longer... Dear friends...I just launched my <a target="_new" href="http://tinyurl.com/kickstartrobin">Kickstarter project</a>!<br><br>
What does this mean?<br><br>
I can finally get the funding to complete my long-overdue album, Love War--with your help!<br><br>
I know some of you have pre-ordered, and you will still be getting everything you were promised (and more). This, and everything else is explained on this page:<br><br><div style="text-align: center; "><a target="_new" href="http://tinyurl.com/kickstartrobin"><b>http://tinyurl.com/kickstartrobin</b></a></div>
<br>
There are lots of other nifty rewards that you should definitely check out (if only for your entertainment).<br><br>
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this and hopefully clicking on that link. Your support means the world to me! And please, if you think your friends would enjoy the music I make, pass this along!<br><br>
Much love to you all,<br><br>
~RobinRobin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300112011-10-20T14:12:51-04:002021-12-23T04:52:13-05:00Open Mic Wow. I hadn't done an open mic in a while (one where I actually got to play, at least). Gotta say, Rockit Room knows how it's done.<br><br>
True, it started a little late, but there was a first-come first-serve sign-up sheet (there was actually a choice of when to play!). Kanoa is probably the most talented bartender I've ever met. And I don't necessarily mean as a bartender. That man can SING! If there had been more women in the room there might have been swooning. And amazing, that can be said of a lot of the talent I saw last night. And that's what I love seeing at an open mic.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300462011-09-21T17:44:43-04:002011-09-21T17:44:43-04:00Note about Berklee... Just made a facebook note about my experience/regrets at Berklee College of music. Go to <a target="_new" href="http://www.facebook.com/therobinyukikoband">www.facebook.com/TheRobinYukikoBand</a> and "Like". I hope you like it in real life, too.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300442011-09-15T12:45:00-04:002017-01-13T08:41:38-05:00Oh, good lord...I'm pretty sure today qualifies as the worst morning ever. Luckily, the gig started right at noon, which saved the day. It was my first time using a zipcar (the uber-convenient rent a car by the hour service) so I could get my sound system to the Embarcadero Center. It's all nifty and high tech. And apparently won't let you start the car if it thinks you are someone else (so I spent about 10 minutes thinking the battery was dead).<br><br>
Once on the road, I missed the 280N ramp and somehow ended up in another town. I happened to spot another ramp but needed to turn around to get to it, so I found a nice safe place to do it: right through a parking lot exit-only. Of a police station. 40 minutes to downbeat. After some frantic begging, the officer who had immediately pulled up behind me said he would pass on the $300 ticket and gave me directions to 280 (but only after a stern "And what did we learn?"). Thank you, officer.<br><br>
At some point while on 280, I realized I forgot my heels and was still wearing sneakers. Oops. Finally made it to the gig at 10 minutes to downbeat, set up the speakers (forget the stands!) and started crooning into the mic with all the angst the morning had giving me. So I guess it sounded pretty good.<br><br>
It was one of those moments when I realized, it doesn't matter how crappy your day is; music can always make it better. I looked around at the band and thought, <i>Damn, I'm lucky.<br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/8546f25faab7f5554e8f934c402f3995e949f4fa/medium/me-and-keiko.jpg?1375795897" class="size_orig justify_middle border_" alt="Me and Keiko Takamura, who graciously showed up to support Spoonbill" height="225" width="300" /> <img 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" class="size_orig justify_middle border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br>
Top: Me and <a target="_new" href="http://www.keikotakamura.com">Keiko Takamura</a>, who graciously turned up to support <a target="_new" href="http://www.facebook.com/Spoonbill">Spoonbill</a>. Bottom: Spoonbill: (left to right) Rick Rivera, Colin Williams, Robin Yukiko, Jon Monahan.<br><br type="_moz"></i><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300432011-09-12T05:06:56-04:002017-02-01T14:28:57-05:00music and books Sadly, the music teaching position was filled before I even got my application out. Probably before I even saw the listing. But apparently there will be later opportunities with them. They seem cool.<br><br>
I just finished A Dance with Dragons, the fifth installment of George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire (the first one being A Game of Thrones). Now it looks like I'll have to wait for years like everyone else had to for the fourth one. Yea. I'll try not to give away any important deaths.<br><br>
And speaking of books, it breaks my heart to walk by a darkened ex-Borders and see their sign that says "Borders is gone forever! Bye-bye!!" <a target="_new" href="https://www.youtube.com/user/robinyukiko?feature=mhee#p/u/2/1uRVRft8q1c">I used to play there</a> (and the staff was SO nice) and now it's no more. But we will live on. I'm thinking about getting a library card.<br><br>
Just curious, is one new song per week too much for everyone? I can cut back... :P<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300412011-09-08T20:15:48-04:002021-08-23T20:30:36-04:00new songs, new friends You may have noticed that I've been writing a few new songs. My only wish at this point is that my plans and life could line up a little more. My brain is already on the next album after <a href="./store.cfm">Love War</a>, but life is still stuck on bass and guitar tracks. Meanwhile my style is getting more and more romantic and the edge is coming off the angst. I guess that's to be expected.<br><br>
I went to Red Devil Lounge for the 1 year anniversary of their open mic. Apparently they went til 1:30am (I didn't play but was on the waitlist). There were some great performers (<a target="_new" href="https://www.facebook.com/13enjamin13rown">Benjamin Brown</a> for one) and I got to make a few friends and taste delicious beers. I'm thinking maybe I should go down there more often.<br><br>
And on that note, I am going to go to bed thinking of ships and mermaids.<br><br><img src="//www.webtraj.com/img/sea-odyssey.jpg" class="size_orig justify_baseline border_" alt="" height="68" width="90" /><br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300372011-08-23T18:55:00-04:002017-02-01T14:28:56-05:00Teaching and Busking I've just applied to www.musicnationalservice.org to teach music to inner-city kids. I'm really hoping I get this gig. I've missed teaching a lot since leaving Japan. Granted, I've done clinics at the SF Bay School, and that's kept me going, but I miss the long-term connections I used to make.<br><br>
In other news, I've been busking lately. Last week while playing in Powell, this awesome guy, <a target="_new" href="http://www.bartmusicians.com">Peter Taylor</a>, came up with serious lights claiming to be an "amatuer photographer" and took <a target="_new" href="./photos.cfm">some shots</a>. I also ran into some awesome fans of Keiko Takamura who recognized me from the acoustic video of <a target="_new" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1h2bdSPy2ls">Grayscale</a>. They totally tipped me.<br><img src="//s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com/tumblr_lq5qshLKFL1qi11dxo1_1280.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=AKIAJ6IHWSU3BX3X7X3Q&Expires=1314251530&Signature=m%2F0Fprz6oHlIu4h1GeQXaNf3Ajw%3D" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="197" width="400" /><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300352011-08-04T11:10:57-04:002017-02-01T14:28:56-05:00Pop Songs and Particle PhysicsA while ago I started doing the 50 songs in 90 days challenge. I'm actually not sure how many days ago that was, or how many songs I've written, but let's just say it got the ball rolling again. For my birthday, my dad got me the Harmony-M (a great harmonizing device that Imogen Heap uses in her song <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYIAfiVGluk" target="_new">Hide and Seek</a>). I can't get enough of this thing! I'll have samples for you shortly. Here's a heads up: romantic pop songs are coming out.<br><br>
I am currently in the computer lab at SFSU after watching my friend's thesis defense on particle physics. Yeah. Quark bondage is hot, if a little strange.<br><br>
Hoping for lunchtime celebrations...<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300242011-05-18T18:35:00-04:002020-06-30T01:53:22-04:00Just another day...Good evening all. I'm hoping that you are less exhausted than I. Or, if you are exhausted, that you feel a sense of satisfaction. For me, it's a combination of day job working and frustration that simple technology eludes me ofttimes. That, and I seemed to have really bad luck today.<br><br>
Sometime during my commute whilst reading <a target="_new" href="http://www.georgerrmartin.com/">A Clash of Kings</a>, my cell phone fell out of my pocket and escaped. I spent the whole day worrying about its whereabouts and possible kidnap. To add insult to injury, I discovered a mysterious stickiness in my hair(?!?). Complements of the 49 bus, I assume.<br><br>
I came home after a good 8.5 hours of work to continue my *head*desk* ritual of trying to import video from miniDV so I can perhaps get some content out there in the world. No avail, no cigar, nothing.<br><br>
Big, exciting things are happening in my life. I have huge plans. But at the moment I seem stuck in a holding pattern until I can get my arse in gear, a phone in my pocket, and a vid in my comp. Hopefully I'll have things squared away before I go to NY to be a bridesmaid!<br><br>
Until next time...<br><br>
~R<br><br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300312011-04-29T02:05:00-04:002021-04-21T13:00:15-04:00I made this for you!Good morning friends!<br><br>
I know it has been a long while since you've heard from me. Alas, I've been secreted away by the music spirits leaving me mentally incapable of delivering news that is not in song form. Luckily, I have emerged from the Lair long enough to relate a few very important things.<br><br>
As you may know, Love War has been in the works for over a year now. There have been setbacks, challenges, and general life events that have pushed back its release date (relocation, marriage, etc). But I am pleased to say that the bulk of it is done and as proof, I have made a little medley for you and included a download code at the bottom! (If you like what you hear, keep an eye out for the next newlsetter to find out how you can help!--And those of you who have PRE-ORDERED, you will be getting a special digital EP before the album release for your patience and support!)<br><br>
In other news, I have been having a blast with Spoonbill. If you haven't heard us yet, here's the perfect opportunity!<br>
Spoonbill ~ New Orleans inspired blues/rock<br>
Pier 23 Cafe (on the Embarcadero, SF)<br>
Sun, May 8 (4-8pm) - Right after the Giants game!<br>
$10, all ages<br><br>
I hope to see some of you there! (We'll even be doing a couple RY originals!)<br><br>
Much love,<br><br>
~Robin<br><br>
P.S. I highly recommend Moonstar in Daly City for all you can eat sushi!<br><br>1:48Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300132010-10-17T18:20:00-04:002017-01-13T08:41:36-05:00Camping on Angel Island (complete with pictures!)Last weekend I went camping with some very good friends of mine who are to expatriate in a few months. It involved getting through San Francisco weekend traffic to the ferry on Pier 41. Once on the ferry, there was the tedious task of enjoying the Bay breeze with good company and shimmery water, all the way to Angel Island, whose majestic beauty I had to endure.<br><br>
After lunch at the cafe, we hoisted our packs onto our backs and trotted along trails for a few miles until we reached the campsite. We stowed our rations in the racoon-proof cupboard and set up camp. Luckily we had enough food to last us for several days should <img src="//lh4.googleusercontent.com/_6y5OvSWUkTQ/TLhywE5ZSYI/AAAAAAAACCI/W7xFUVEZOlc/s800/111.JPG" class="size_orig justify_left border_" alt="" height="158" width="210" />disaster strike.<br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>
As many San Franciscans know, the past week had been <a href="http://www.fleetweek.us">Fleet Week</a>, causing even jaded ears to cringe with noisy delight. From Angel Island, it was truly a sight seeing the jets flying in ridiculously close formation and, at times, ridiculously close to our vantage point from the side of Mt. Livermore. Even the field mice trembled.<br><br>
That night, after the miracle of fire was created on our grill (it was a long, arduous miracle), we feasted on veggie dogs, s'mores, and mac and cheese that tasted delightfully of hose water. More s'mores were had. Games were played. We watched the sunset and enjoyed the city lights of SF from afar. There was even some constellation spectulation which turned to identification once the Droid was produced (cheating, in my opinion). Milky Way was spotted. Ghost stories were told. A racoon watched jealously from afar.<br><br>
In the morning, we awoke just before dawn to share the sunrise together in our dishelved states after a night of tent sleeping. (If you don't know anything about tent sleeping, it involves shifting restlessly, a hard ground, and in this case, foghorns and buoys beeping all the night.)<br><br>
Breakfast was granola and soy milk, more s'mores, and, since we had mastered fire, hot tea. These things were important, as we had a long day ahead of us.<br><br>
After being tempted by the slopes of Mt. Caroline Livermore the day before, we knew we had to conquer her or else be conquered ourselves, in our hearts. We left all behind but our water and made it to the top where we acted very triumphant and, in my case, took a short nap.<br><img src="//lh6.googleusercontent.com/_6y5OvSWUkTQ/TLhy-ZHXFPI/AAAAAAAACDs/Uju-mWEMW6c/s800/174.JPG" class="size_orig justify_right border_" alt="" height="203" width="270" /><br>
We went on to see mysterious graffitied ruins and fallen-down buildings. I briefly considered renting.<br><br>
When we discovered the beach, our hearts lifted and our feet rejoiced. Then hunger came upon us like a pouncing beast and we made for the campsite with as much haste as we could muster, cursing ourselves for not bringing any of the various snacks now sitting uselessly in our racoon-proof cupboard. When we reached our base and unburdened the cupboard, we descended on the food like vultures. Pretzels and peanut butter. Potato chips. More s'mores. Buffalo jerky. Cucumber. It was all ours. We had earned it.<br><br>
Eventually we came to our senses and packed up. It was time to return to civilization. We made our way back to the cafe (where more food was had) and racoons roamed without fear, and no cupboards kept them from their prize. We boarded the ferry but, even as we did so, we knew we had changed. We had camped. We had made fire. We had feasted.<br><br><br><br>
We were men.<br><br>
Even the women.<br><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/52522/0b32a99b226b04e92709abf4152c797d828a67a6/medium/126.JPG?1375795896" class="size_orig justify_middle border_" alt="" height="225" width="300" /><br><br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300062010-05-25T11:25:32-04:002010-05-25T11:25:32-04:00Special secret recording GO! (exclusive download) Hi folks!<br><br>
I wanted to share this with you because I'm very excited about it. I recently joined a project with the amazing bassist Colin Williams, the project being a (pseudo) New Orleans jazz band. He was gracious enough to let me bring one of my own pieces to rehearsal, which you may know as "Chronicles of a Kidney Thief". The stroke of brilliance was that he recorded the entire session and now I can share it with you. So please download this free track and enjoy it!<br><br>
Robin Yukiko - vocals<br>
Michael Finnican - guitar<br>
O. Andrew Schreiber - drums<br>
Colin Williams - bass<br><br>
This version of Chronicles of a Kidney Thief<br>
was written by Robin Yukiko<br>
and arranged by Colin Williams.<br><br>
Much love,<br><br>
~Robin<br><br><b>P.S. Don't forget, San Franciscans, this Sunday is the FREE show at <a target="_new" href="http://www.brainwash.com">Brainwash Cafe</a>, 6pm!</b>4:42Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300052010-03-08T15:47:13-05:002010-03-08T15:47:13-05:00Video, MUNI poems and show dates<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">In this issue:<br><br>
1. Video in my living room<br>
2. "Ode to MUNI" - a poem<br>
3. Show me the shows!<br><br>
Hello pretty people,<br><br>
Thanks for those of you who came to the Borders show! Also, I just did a <a target="_new" href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5196423">live show with Keiko Takamura</a> (the Shebangs) in my living room! It's very silly and was streamed through her iPhone so the video quality is pretty terrible, but it was still a super-fun time. We traded off doing Shebangs songs (by Keiko) and my originals (with a couple covers splashed in at the end). View it<a target="_new" href="http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5196423">here</a> (http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/5196423).<br><br>
And here is something you may have seen if you <a target="_new" href="http://twitter.com/robinyukiko">follow me on Twitter</a>:<br><br><u>Ode to MUNI</u> (San Francisco's light rail system)<br><br>
Muni O Muni, your breaks exude noise.<br>
A pain in both ears you give all girls and boys.<br>
Muni O Muni, your sign at the top <br>
does not always tell me when we've reached my stop.<br><br>
Muni O Muni and your proposed cuts,<br>
you already leave us to wait on cold butts<br>
Muni O Muni, our fare be increased,<br>
and ere my bus comes I may well be deceased.<br>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~fin~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br><br>
That said, here are my <a target="_new" href="http://robinyukiko.com/events.cfm">upcoming shows</a>:<br><br>
This Sunday, 3/14 @ <a target="_new" href="http://www.bazaarcafe.com">Bazaar Cafe</a> (6-8:30pm)<br>
5927 California St., SF 94121<br>
Free, all ages!<br><br>
Thursday, 3/18 <a target="_new" href="http://www.myspace.com/theshebangsband">The Shebangs</a> (9:30pm) w/My Monster, Robots of Fury<br>
@ <a target="_new" href="http://www.kimosbarsf.com">Kimo's</a><br>
1351 Polk Street, SF 94109<br>
$6, 21+<br><br>
And MAYBE<br>
Friday, 3/19 The Shebangs (9pm) w/<a target="_new" href="http://www.myspace.com/lettersmakewords">Letters Make Words</a><br type="_moz">
@ <a target="_new" href="http://www.thebluemacawsf.com">The Blue Macaw</a><br>
2565 Mission St., SF 94110<br>
Cost: tba, 21+<br>
(This show is tentative, check back <a href="http://robinyukiko.com/events.cfm">here</a>)<br><br>
Of course, after that I will be busy getting married! So expect a brief break before shows start up again in April (and more with the whole band).<br><br>
Much love,<br><br>
~Robin<br><br>
www.robinyukiko.com<br>
www.myspace.com/therobinyukikoband</div>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300042010-02-18T10:21:45-05:002010-02-18T10:21:45-05:00Happy February!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; ">I hope everyone had a good St. Valentine's Day (or Singles Awareness Day)! I spent the day with my future hubby (did I really just use the word "hubby"??) wandering around downtown San Francisco until we ran into a flash mob pillow fight (video at www.pillowfight.info). From up on his shoulders I could see the whole thing! It was like in Lord of the Rings when the Ents start attacking the Orcs...<br><br>
Anyway, I also wanted to let you know about my upcoming show this Saturday in SF. If you're around, you should come out because it's going to rock (Warning: loud music)! I'm playing back-to-back with the Shebangs. Here's the info:<br><br>
THIS Saturday (2/20/10)! Door opens @8pm<br><br><a target="_new" style="color: rgb(158, 69, 69); text-decoration: underline; " href="http://anu-bar.com/">Anu</a><br>
43 Sixth St.<br>
SF, CA 94103<br><br>
$5 cover, 21+<br><br>
8:30 <a target="_new" style="color: rgb(158, 69, 69); text-decoration: underline; " href="http://www.myspace.com/therobinyukikoband">The Robin Yukiko Band</a> <--me, of course, but with bass & drums!<br>
9:30 <a target="_new" style="color: rgb(158, 69, 69); text-decoration: underline; " href="http://www.myspace.com/theshebangsband">The Shebangs</a> <--I'm singing with these guys too!<br>
10:30 <a target="_new" style="color: rgb(158, 69, 69); text-decoration: underline; " href="http://www.myspace.com/cornerlaughers">The Corner Laughers</a><br>
11:30 <a target="_new" style="color: rgb(158, 69, 69); text-decoration: underline; " href="http://www.myspace.com/lettersmakewords">Letters Make Words</a></span>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300032010-01-03T20:34:39-05:002010-01-03T20:34:39-05:00January 2010: A look back, a look forward (and this week's show) In this issue:<br><br>
1. Looking back on 2009, possibly the most eventful year of my life<br>
2. What's in store for January<br><br>
Happy New Year, friends. I started 2009 off with a <a target="_new" href="http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=22303944&blogId=460980733">meandering adventure in Choshi</a>, the easternmost point of Japan, to watch the first sunrise of the year with my partner, Greg. There is a belief that how you spend the new year will set the tone for the rest of the year. I must say, it did.<br><br>
In April, Greg and I left Japan (after 2.5 years) and returned to the US. After a brief stop in Denver, I spent most of the spring/summer in L.A. recording my album "<a target="_new" href="./lovewar2009.cfm">Love War</a>" (and getting to record with the world famous Will Kennedy!). Oh, and the album is overdue but still in production. Along with visits to New York and Boston, my long weekend in D.C. in July resulted in me and Greg getting engaged! I then saw my hometown of Orlando and made my way to Las Vegas and Reno (visiting family and future family).<br><br>
After a few months of struggling with getting settled in San Francisco (and a lot of busking), I spent those amazing 10 days in Israel (after a pit stop in Dallas and NY again). Then, of course, came more resettling.<br><br>
I joined the band <a target="_new" href="http://www.myspace.com/theshebangsband">The Shebangs</a> and have started to make friends and meet other musicians here. It's always hard in a new city, but I'm hopeful that 2010 will bring good fortune. :)<br><br>
This <b>Saturday, January 9</b>, I'll be making an appearance at <a target="_new" href="http://www.borders.com/online/store/StoreDetailView_258?schid=GLBC%7CSan+Francisco+CA%7C258"><b>Borders Bookstore</b></a> in Stonestown Galleria. I'll be there from<b> 4-7pm</b> playing solo and signing <a target="_new" href="./audio.cfm">CDs</a>.<br><br>
Borders<br>
Stonestown Galleria<br>
233 Winston Dr.<br>
San Francisco, CA 94132<br>
415.731.0665<br><br>
On various other days, you will find me busking in Powell Station and loving every minute of it.<br><br>
I wish everyone a fantastic 2010, and I hope to see you soon!<br><br>
Much love,<br><br>
~Robin<br><br>
www.robinyukiko.comRobin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300022009-10-08T19:57:51-04:002009-10-08T19:57:51-04:00Alert: Nerds in Texas increased by 1I really feel the need to add a drawl to my words 'cause I'm sure in Texas. Of course, the only thing stereotypically Texan about the place is the vast expanses and land, and the cows. But other than that, my good friend and host made Nabe (Japanese hot-pot) and took me to Olive Garden. I've also done a good deal of nerding out, from quoting Big Bang Theory to explaining the differences and similarities of The Lord of the Rings books versus the movies.<br><br>
To make matters even geekier, my fiance informed me that NASA was bombing to moon in order to analyze the dust particles in the hopes of finding evidence of water. I responded "They must have figured it worked with the comet, so..." He was surprised I knew about it because many of the physics students he was with hadn't heard about the comet. Oh, the strange things I feel proud of for no reason at all...<br><br>
Traveling always gets my mind reeling. My friend I'm staying with is an avid gamer and decided to play me the soundtrack to Silent Hill 5 (which I've never played). I was blown away by the vocalist, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. It rekindled my long-standing dream of someday singing for a video game.<br><br>
On a sillier note, while in the bathroom of Einstein Brothers' Bagels, I spotted a poster of one of the infamous (and fictitious) brothers holding some papers and saying "The acoustics are great in here."<br><br>
And yes, yes they were.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300012009-09-29T20:54:30-04:002009-09-29T20:54:30-04:009 Things I have done and would recommend to anyone (in no particular order)<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">9. Live Abroad</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">I'm not going to pretend living in Japan was an easy time for 2.5 years. But being perpetually out of place is amazingly refreshing when you've grown up feeling a bit out of place. The friends I made there--and the memories--sometimes make me wish I had never left.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">8. Experiment with Cooking</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Go on. Use the cinnamon in your marinara. Put chili pepper in the brownie mix. I'm serious.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">7. Be a Tourist</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">I grew up in Orlando. And let me tell you, there is great value in going to a theme park on an off day. Doing something touristy in your own town really gives you a sense of ownership of the place. You had also better know your own city when someone comes to visit.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">6. Join the Club</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">...or form one. I still miss my frisbee group from Japan. Great exercise, great company, and free.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">5. Keep in Touch</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">What are these connections if we just let them fall apart? True, you may not want to be best friends with everyone you've ever met, but once you establish a foundation for friendship, why not nurture it? Call someone and remind him/her of your existence. I have rekindled many good friendships this way.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">4. Read a Party</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">Know when to stay out all night and know when to go home. And always have a way to do it safely. (I have both done these and not done these.)</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">3. Get on a boat</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">One of the only times I've been on a small boat (not a canoe), it was one of the most exhilarating experiences: ocean air rushing at you, bouncing on the waves--very nifty. If you have a friend with a boat, be extra nice to them.</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">2. Acupuncture</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">It just feels really cool and doesn't hurt at all. (Disclaimer: I don't recommend it to hemophiliacs, of course.)</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">1. Long-distance biking</p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"> </p>
<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica">My partner and I did it the hard way and took a couple of granny bikes across the Shimanami Bridge and back (about 37 miles). We crossed three or four islands, over steep hills, and stopped for well-earned salt ice cream. Afterwards we gorged ourselves on delicious Indian food and hobbled home. Why was this good? At one point, pushing the pedals was so hard I thought I wasn't going to make it. Then something happened. At some primal level, I knew I had to go on. My worries and insecurities vanished, I forgot about the pain and became solely focussed on that horizon. I have never been an athlete but, on that day, I was a survivor.<br><br>
What have you done?</p>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300002009-09-17T09:23:37-04:002021-04-21T13:00:29-04:00Adventures in BuskingToday's Word: Busk (Verb) <br>
Pronunciation: ['bêsk] <br>
Definition 1: To play music or entertain on the street for money. <br><br>
I have often walked the streets of Boston, New York, Tokyo, and now San Francisco and found talent within earshot. For years I admired those who could play for strangers passing by and fleetingly thought "I could do that...nah." I always came up with a reason why NOT to do it--until now. <br><br>
So the busking has begun. I packed up a guitar, CDs, and a hat and hit the streets to bring my music to the very general public. On my very first day after my very first song in Powell Station, I was asked to take a break. Disheartening? No! He merely needed to use the pay phone and could not hear over my impressive volume. <br><br>
But after that, I got into it and started getting people's attention (with my sound, not loudness). I did this for two days, at the end of which I inevitably got sick and was forced to stay home and cancel a rehearsal today. But anyway, once I recover I'll be out and about again bringing music to the masses. <br><br>
Everyone, take your vitamins.<br><br>
Much love, <br><br>
~Robin <br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299992009-08-27T15:19:43-04:002021-12-24T05:10:42-05:00Goodbye August, Hello San Francisco! (new video link!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Tahoma; ">In this issue:<br><br>
1. Where is Robin and what's she doing?<br>
2. <a target="_new" href="http://robinyukiko.com/live.cfm" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline; "><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192); "><b>A (patriotic) video of Robin from Japanese TV!</b></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "></span></a><br><br>
Good afternoon my good friends,<br><br>
My August issue is a little late. This tardiness is due to the super-exciting event of my moving. My fiance and I have finally settled in in San Francisco and we're loving the city (not to mention our awesome view from the balcony). Yesterday we spent a night on the town seeing Colin Williams' jazz trio at Sheba Lounge. He kindly let me sit it and sing some of my old favorites (Autumn Leaves, My Funny Valentine, and Summertime). Those guys were smokin'!<br><br>
In other news, I have a "new" video online. Some of you may remember back in September 2007 while I was in Japan, that I had the great privilege of representing my country on national television. A former student of mine was able to record it and send it round the world so that I may finally share that with all of you. So here it is, <a target="_new" href="http://robinyukiko.com/live.cfm" style="color: rgb(128, 0, 0); text-decoration: underline; "><span style="color: rgb(192, 192, 192); "><b>me singing the Star Spangled Banner</b></span></a>.<br><br>
Now, I'm going to assemble my new keyboard stand.<br><br>
Have a beautiful evening!<br><br>
Much love,<br><br>
~Robin<br><br><img src="//i7.photobucket.com/albums/y286/robinyukiko/robinpicture.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Me on the Golden Gate Bridge" style="border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; " /></span><br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299982009-07-31T19:29:57-04:002009-07-31T19:29:57-04:00The apartment WHAT? The guy who showed me the apartment Greg and I are about to move into calls me today and says, "Sorry, the people in the apartment have decided to extend their lease so it won't be ready by the move-in day."<br><br>
Me: "Wha??"<br><br>
"But we can put you in one with the same size, dimensions and direction but in a different building and on the 3rd floor."<br><br>
(Backstory: I had originally looked at one like that and loved it but they had to put us in one on the ground floor which we weren't happy about)<br><br>
Me: "What's the number?"<br><br>
Him: "xxxx"<br><br>
Me: "Wait, isn't that the one I saw? That's perfect!"<br><br>
Him: "Good!"<br><br>
Me: "I mean, I'm really upset. Can you give us a discount?"<br><br>
Him: "Too late."Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300142009-07-15T20:00:00-04:002009-07-15T20:00:00-04:00Show update and personal news!In this Issue:1. Show update/reminder2. Big news!Hello all!I hope everyone is staying cool this steamy July. I wanted to give the Orlando folks a reminder about the show this Friday. Update:The open...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299732009-07-15T20:00:00-04:002009-07-15T20:00:00-04:00Show update and personal news!In this Issue:1. Show update/reminder2. Big news!Hello all!I hope everyone is staying cool this steamy July. I wanted to give the Orlando folks a reminder about the show this Friday. Update:The open...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299972009-07-01T11:57:44-04:002017-01-13T08:41:35-05:00Happy July from your friendly songbird!<div style="background-color: rgb(96, 133, 102); color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "> In this Issue:<br><br>
1. Where's Robin?<br>
2. Recording update<br>
3. In Orlando? I need your help!<br><br>
Good afternoon, my good friends!<br><br>
I hope you had a lovely month of June. I had a great birthday with friends and music (and chocolate cake). Some of you were able to take advantage of the birthday downloads but because many of you had internet problems or were too busy, I've decided to leave them available until I replace the tracks.<br><br><b>So where am I?</b> Still L.A. The past couple Mondays I've been going to open mic at <a target="_new" href="http://www.vermontrestaurantonline.com/">Restaurant Vermont</a> (a posh little place with piano and a fetish for theater). Next Monday (<span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); ">July 6</span>) will be my last time there so if you're in the area, come on out! (Sign-up is at 8:30).<br><br>
My previous plan to go to San Francisco to apartment hunt failed brilliantly! But tomorrow, I shan't be thwarted! Ryan and I are taking the road trip together and will be listening to some good tunes on the way (and probably chatting up a storm cause that man can talk!).<br><br>
On July 10 I am flying out to <b>Washington DC</b> to see two of my good friends wed (Congratulations Kevin and Melissa)! On July 14, I will arrive in <b>Orlando</b>. More on that later (yes, I'm playing a gig).<br type="_moz"><br><b>The Recording.</b> Ahh, yes. The most exciting part. By an interesting coincidence, I have had the great pleasure of enlisting <a target="_new" href="http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/William_Kennedy.html">Will Kennedy</a>, former drummer of the Yellow Jackets! He picked me up and we spent all day Monday (and Tuesday) recording some of my hardest songs. With amazing grace, he knocked out most of the tunes with ease. And when they were less easy, he called the music insane and did it anyway with a smile on his face. (Truth be told, some of the music IS insane.) Apart from being a major talent, he is also a cool guy to be around. We spent a lot of time laughing (sometimes at my lyrics--yes, I used the word <i>apotropaic</i><i>!</i>). All in all, working with Will has been a great experience and I'm honored that he could join the project.<br><img src="//photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs115.snc1/4843_538047197149_20802849_31406908_1880039_n.jpg" class="size_orig justify_middle border_" alt="Me and Will Kennedy" /><br>
By the way, <i>apotropaic</i> means supposedly having the power to avert evil influences or bad luck. So as a <a target="_new" href="http://robinyukiko.com/audio.cfm">kidney thief</a>, I ask you: Don't be <i>apotropaic</i>.<br><br>
Alright, <b>Orlando</b>! It's been almost 3 years since I've seen my hometown and I've missed it and its people dearly. Now here's where I need your help:<br><br>
I am returning to my favorite venue <a target="_new" href="http://www.myspace.com/austincoffeeandfilm">Austin Coffee & Film</a> for a show on <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 0); "><i>Friday, July 17 </i><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">at</span><i> 9PM</i></span>.<br><br>
Problem is, I'm getting there 3 days before! <b>If every one of you in Orlando could spread the word (and post/give out some flyers) we can maximize this reunion.</b> If you are able to help out, send me an email and I will send you the flyer in JPG form with all my love.<br><br>
In case you aren't sure why you should come, here's a summary:<br><ul>
<li>You haven't seen me in forever.</li>
<li>I have a bunch of new songs!</li>
<li>Um...my hair looks different!</li>
<li>I will bring Japanese candy :)</li>
</ul>
Okay, well perhaps that wasn't the most convincing argument (except for my hair, which is awesome). Either way, I hope to see you there.<br type="_moz"><br>
Have a great month of July!<br><br>
Much love,<br><br>
~Robin</div>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300152009-06-30T20:00:00-04:002009-06-30T20:00:00-04:00Happy July from your friendly songbird! In this Issue:
1. Where's Robin?
2. Recording update
3. In Orlando? I need your help!
Good afternoon, my good friends!
I hope you had a lovely month of June. I had a great birthday with fr...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299742009-06-30T20:00:00-04:002009-06-30T20:00:00-04:00Happy July from your friendly songbird! In this Issue:
1. Where's Robin?
2. Recording update
3. In Orlando? I need your help!
Good afternoon, my good friends!
I hope you had a lovely month of June. I had a great birthday with fr...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299962009-06-25T18:51:05-04:002021-04-16T05:42:49-04:00Three names we will never forget<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: 'Lucida Grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15px; ">It comes in threes: Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and Michael Jackson. Not immortal, but immortalized and so we'll remember them forever. RIP.</span>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299952009-06-12T14:52:28-04:002020-12-07T01:00:23-05:00June is Busting out with Mad Rhymes (newsletter)<div style="background-color: rgb(255, 237, 173); color: rgb(110, 0, 65); font-family: Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">Gemini: Happy Birthday, your month will be insane. Look to your friends for support.<br><br>
In This Issue:<br><br>
1. New Email<br>
2. Where's Robin?<br>
3. Love War Presale<br>
4. Reminders<br><br>
Hello my friends! Another June is here! Hoorah! To celebrate, I'll be using<b>news@robinyukiko.com</b> for all my future emails so be sure to save that (or mark as "not spam") in the future. Remember, you can always unsubscribe if you decide you don't like me anymore. Also, I thought the pink was festive.<br><br>
"<b>Where am I?</b>" is a question I must ask myself daily. Years ago, when I decided I liked to travel, I didn't foresee this Spring at all. Last month was spent almost entirely in L.A. I am in L.A. now! What happened in the middle? Boston, NYC (for which my love has newly kindled), and Boston again. That's what. It was a time to see friends and family (and meet some other music folks as well). Overall, I'm feeling like every stay is too short. Anyway, tomorrow I'll be in San Francisco doing the almighty apartment hunt! [<i>my apartment: must be able to withstand sonic blasts, glass-breaking frequencies and plunkity piano plunks.</i>]<br><br><b><a href="http://robinyukiko.com/lovewar2009.cfm">Love War!</a></b> What does that even mean? It means an album that is now available for <a href="http://robinyukiko.com/lovewar2009.cfm">pre-order</a>. (It'll be out in Fall '09!) If you do it now, there's free shipping in the US. You will even get a personal 'thank you' in the liner notes for your support. There are other options as well, such as an autograph, buying this and my <a target="_new" href="http://robinyukiko.com/audio.cfm">first CD</a> together, CD plus house concert, CD plus producer credit (you know you want it!), etc. Whether you want the thrill of seeing your name in lights (er, on insert paper), or you just want to support the project, there are lots of ways of making your mark on this album. Heck, if instead of an autograph you ask me to draw you a portrait, I can do that too. But maybe not very well.<br><br>
So, in conclusion--wait, <b>Reminders</b>! Why didn't someone <b>remind</b> me? (Okay, bad joke.) I usually update my <a href="http://robinyukiko.com/journal.cfm">Journal</a> (aka blog) about once a week and I don't always email about it so if you want the super-scoop (is that a kitty litter brand?), check it out, add it to RSS, set a weekly alarm clock--whatever it takes! And please sign the <a href="http://robinyukiko.com/guestbook.cfm">Guestbook</a>! I want to hear from you guys. Do you have opinions? I love opinions.<br><br>
June, happened so soon, better than Dune (the book), needs its own rune.<br><br>
And there you have it.<br><br>
Much love to you all,<br><br>
~Robin<br><br>
P.S. July brings me to Orlando.<br><br>
over&out</div>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300162009-06-05T20:00:00-04:002009-06-05T20:00:00-04:00How my ass broke my fall--and my camera.Did I ever tell you about how I broke my camera? Funny story: The boy and I were walking in the middle of the night New Years Eve/New Years on an unlit road in Choshi to see the first sunrise of the y...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299942009-06-05T20:00:00-04:002009-06-05T20:00:00-04:00How my ass broke my fall--and my camera.Did I ever tell you about how I broke my camera? Funny story: The boy and I were walking in the middle of the night New Years Eve/New Years on an unlit road in Choshi to see the first sunrise of the y...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299882009-05-28T20:18:22-04:002009-05-28T20:18:22-04:00On several (beautifully harmonic) personal notes... I am in Boston. Home of the...bean. Or something.<br><br>
Okay, it's obviously been a long day! I slept for about 10 hours last night after my flight from L.A. Apart from traveling, I've been feeling a little beat up. I had a great game of basketball the other day with Ryan and some kids and I must be out of shape because I am quite sore. To top it off, I got hit in the face by a rebounding basketball and my glasses felt especially affronted and took it out on my nose.<br><br>
The night before that, I was off to a comedy club and, as I was calling a friend, I slipped on the uneven sidewalk (scraped my knee and foot) and nearly got attacked by a pit-bull. It ran up to me growling but I was so annoyed at falling that I shouted at it: "What?! I'm already on the ground, whatcha gonna do?" and it backed off a little.<br><br>
So needless to say, I've been needing a little rest. Tonight I got to have dinner with my aunt, cousins, and great-aunt and -uncle. It's been nearly three years since I've seen them because I hadn't been back to the States since I moved to Japan. T'was a happy reunion. I get to see them again on Saturday for my cousin's graduation party. Congratulations, Diana!<br><br>
As we discussed past events in our family history, we all realized (and not for the first or last time) that people's perspectives can be so different but can still all be true. And what I realized is that <b>we can empathize, but we can't read minds.</b> And some things that our impressionable minds have clung onto may not have even been thought of by others, or had been nothing more than passing things of no real meaning to anyone else. So to the sensitive (like myself) I say: <b>Let go</b>. To those less sensitive, I ask: <b>Be careful what you say, especially to youth, for they may remember it always and let it alter their perception from then on.</b>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299872009-05-22T10:51:49-04:002009-05-22T10:51:49-04:00Night on the town Howdy campers!<br><br>
I am just loving life right now. Life is a feast. Last night I went out with my good friend (and excellent musician) Cori Jacobs. After some delicious Thai food (mint beef and Quan pasta), we headed out to Hollywood and stopped at the Hotel Cafe and saw the amazing singer-songwriter Susie Suh (she can work a delay pedal like nobody's business!) and Danny Malone's band. Great music all around and good times were had. And best of all? No parking tickets!<br><br>
I hope everyone is enjoying life as much as I am. For those of you who aren't, my thoughts are with you and I hope your luck turns around.<br><br>
The past few days have been so productive musically. Here's the song list and what we've completed so far:<br><br>
How to Love Better - (drums, lead and bg vocals, scratch piano)<br>
Chronicles of a Kidney Thief - (drums, upright bass, piano, vocals)<br>
One & Two - (drums, backup vocals, scratch lead, scratch piano)<br>
Feigning Empathy - (drums, vocals, piano)<br>
Safety Net [The Trapeze] - (piano, vocals, SPECIAL GUEST VOCALS)<br>
Fix This [The Color] - (drums, lead and bg vocals, scratch piano)<br>
Death of a Salesgirl - (lead and bg vocals, scratch piano)<br>
Losing Orbit - (piano, scratch vocals)<br>
Fool Who Left - (drums, scratch piano/vocals<br>
Dreaming - (scratch piano/vocals)<br>
Waging a War - (scratch piano/vocals)<br>
I'll Tell You - (scratch piano/vocals)<br>
The Contract - (last 3 from previously unreleased album, so "scratch" everything)<br>Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299852009-05-13T11:52:27-04:002021-12-25T14:25:50-05:00Progress is my middle name. Actually "Yukiko" is my middle name...<div style="margin-top: 8px; margin-right: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; margin-left: 8px; font: normal normal normal small/normal arial; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; ">
<div>Nothing makes me happier than feeling productive and making music. And red velvet cake (that stuff's good). Yesterday, John (Wagner) and I spent all day on drums and the evening on piano and vocals. It's a great feeling when you go to sing a scratch take and John says "That was great. Let's keep it!" Mmm, red vocal cake. I mean "take".</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The main tracks to "How to Love Better" and "Chronicles of a Kidney Thief" are nearly done and things are looking up.<br><br>
Some of you might remember the song "I'll Tell You", which was supposed to go on the previous album (before the corrupted file calamity). Funny story about that song: I wrote it back in 2003 and played it with the band a few times before completely forgetting it existed. About a year later, we were brainstorming for out next set-list when John said "What was that song about getting pale?"</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Me: "Getting pale?"</div>
<div>John: "Yeah, you wrote a song about getting pale."</div>
<div>Me: "Did I?" - one hour later- "That's right! It went..."</div>
<div> </div>
<div>And a few minutes later, "I'll Tell You" was completely and perfectly reconstructed, never to be forgotten again. Especially now that it's been recorded with red velvet vocals. Thank you, John. For the record, here are the lyrics:</div>
<div> </div>
<hr>
<div>I'll Tell You (by Robin Yukiko)</div>
<div> </div>
I’ll tell you if ever I find the right words to use<br>
I’ll tell you you should go if I find the words to use<br><br>
A little sun finds our basement apartment window<br>
and by now we should get some sleep, don’t you think?<br>
You can’t really find our arguments that interesting<br>
6A.M. tells me, tells me to let it go, but I don’t think you will<br><br>
I’ll tell you if ever I find the right words to use<br>
I’ll tell you you should go if I find the right words to use<br><br>
While I’m here I’ll never stop hurting you<br>
And by now we should heal our wounds, don’t you think<br>
You can’t really find a torturing that interesting<br>
6 a.m. tells me, tells me to let it go, but I don’t think you will<br><br>
I’ll tell you if ever I find the right words to use<br>
I’ll tell you you should go if I find the right words to use<br>
And I don’t think I will<br><br>
Something's keeping us together<br>
But the tether’s wearing through<br>
As bits of rope run our apartment<br>
And our hope is shedding<br>
You were someone better<br>
But ever since I locked you in<br>
You’ve been <b>getting pale</b><br><br>
I’ll tell you if ever I find the right words to use<br>
I’ll tell you you should go if I find the right words to use<br>
and I don’t think I will<br><br>
We’re out of ideas to try and record<br>
I love you, but I’m not in love with you anymore<br type="_moz"></span></div>
<hr><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; ">Okay, time for cake. <3</span><br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300172009-05-08T20:00:00-04:002020-07-11T07:51:46-04:00PRE-ORDER "Love War"- coming Fall 2009So, the PRE-ORDER for my new album, Love War, is ready. Check out the options. They're a little ridiculous.
It's also free shipping if you order in May. Plus your name in the acknowledgments.
ww...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299892009-05-08T20:00:00-04:002020-10-09T03:35:19-04:00PRE-ORDER "Love War"- coming Fall 2009So, the PRE-ORDER for my new album, Love War, is ready. Check out the options. They're a little ridiculous.
It's also free shipping if you order in May. Plus your name in the acknowledgments.
ww...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299842009-04-30T19:38:40-04:002009-04-30T19:38:40-04:00Decisions and Reversed Decisions The past few days have incredible and incredibly exhausting--in a good way. Tuesday I sat down with <a target="_new" href="http://www.myspace.com/williamryanfritch">Ryan Fritch</a> (multi-instrumentalist) and played nearly every song I have--okay, not exactly, but 2 albums worth of music--and played around with them. Made some decisions: Go for quirky.<br><br>
Yesterday, I sat down with John Wagner (drummer) and did the same thing. Only a lot louder. And reversed the decisions of the previous day: Go for awesome.<br><br>
Today, I played with both of them (and potentially a new bassist) and finalized some things. We start recording "How to Love Better" and "Chronicles of a Kidney Thief" tomorrow. John's drums are seriously hot on Kidney Thief.<br><br>
I can't begin to describe how it feels to be back with these guys and rocking out like nothing in the world matters except putting your entire life force into every note, every chord. And just knowing that I am finally making this album gives me new life. Finally, there's nowhere else I'd rather be.<br><br>
So...now you know what the singles are going to be. Stay tuned for the album title and song list!Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299832009-04-27T16:09:10-04:002009-04-27T16:09:10-04:00Where it's "at"Thrill: In the past week, I've met two Star Trek actors (Brent Spiner--Data, and Walter Koenig--Chekov).<br><br>
But apart from that, I attended the ASCAP "I Create Music" EXPO this week and met some amazing people (not in any science fiction show). I had the pleasure of watching renowned songwriters perform the songs that shaped my concept of music: Richard Marx ("Right Here Waiting"), Dan Wilson ("Closing Time"), Rob Hyman ("Time After Time"), and more. And having 300-some professional singers chanting the choruses in perfect harmony was pretty electrifying too.<br><br>
Seeing these greats was humbling and energizing at the same time. This is the perfect time to get together with my old band and make music again. Tomorrow, it begins.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299802009-04-12T11:30:10-04:002009-04-12T11:30:10-04:00I have returned!I have officially repatriated. My week in Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo) was utterly exhausting. Beautiful, but exhausting. Cherry blossom season is definitely worth seeing. I arrived here in Denver after 3 back-to-back flights. They were smooth but my sleep was periodically interrupted by oddly timed meals (breakfast at 2:30am). Luckily my jetlag only lasted a day or two. Went to a friend's wedding yesterday and a Catholic Easter Mass today which, as a Jew, was enlightening. Shout-out to my people! Oh, wait...<br><br>
On another note! The guys in LA are prepping for my arrival and getting ideas for the upcoming recording. There is also talk of a show while I am there.<br><br>
In the meantime, I will be spending my time in Denver with families and new friends, as this city holds some amazing people, and a lovely out-of-tune piano.<br><br>
I promise, pictures are coming.<br type="_moz">Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299792009-03-25T00:00:22-04:002020-07-11T06:44:33-04:00Gigs, guitars, and getting out of townI am so grateful to those who came to the Last Show in Japan. It was so much fun playing there for the last time. John was rocking as always and Rowena...Rowena added this amazing feminine beauty with her voice and flute. I'm really going to miss playing with those two. Solid musicians as well as friends.<br><br>
I hate having to leave everyone here but I'm glad I could give them one last performance. Brett, the manager at Ocean Deep even did me the great favor of buying my guitar! I have at least 6 others waiting for me in the States...Oh! Les Paul, I'll be there soon!<br><br>
I have a week left in Tokyo and I'm spending it like a train ride: just get on and let time do all the work. It's amazing how one can make a decision for oneself but then all the events that lead up to or spawn from it seem out of one's control.<br><br>
I ramble. Pictures of the 3/22 gig will be up soon. Look forward to formalwear! Much love.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299782009-03-17T21:05:00-04:002009-03-17T21:05:00-04:00New links, new challenges, new lifeYou may have noticed (I hope), I've posted a great many new <a href="./links.cfm"><span style="color: #c0c0c0">links</span></a>. I have a lot of friends who are brilliant musicians, or just brilliant minds in general. I urge you to check them out. Your life will be better for it.<br><br>
I've started selling off some of my <a target="_new" href="http://tokyo.craigslist.jp/gms/1077242729.html"><span style="color: #c0c0c0">possessions</span></a>. For some reason my apartment has to be completely empty before I move out (in 13 days). So long TV, giant cupboard, furnature, etc. It's been nice sitting on you, watching you, taking food out of you. Yes, in that order.<br><br>
Meanwhile, the boyfriend and I are trying to find reasonable apartments in San Francisco. Ha! People always told me I'm a dreamer...<br><br>
If I owned any ducks, they would most certainly be in any position except a row. Some would be swimming, some flying, some in a lovely hectogonal formation. Quack.<br><br>
Apart from the disarray of ducks, I've finished off the last flute parts for the band's final show in Japan. I'm sure Rowena will be thrilled about the surprise song. I hope people bring cameras.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300182009-03-14T20:00:00-04:002009-03-14T20:00:00-04:00Big March UpdateIn this issue:1. New website2. Show dates3. Departure4. Recording plansHello friends, family, countrymen! I have much news. First of all, my long-silent website www.robinyukiko.com is now active again...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299862009-03-14T20:00:00-04:002009-03-14T20:00:00-04:00Big March UpdateIn this issue:1. New website2. Show dates3. Departure4. Recording plansHello friends, family, countrymen! I have much news. First of all, my long-silent website www.robinyukiko.com is now active again...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299762009-03-07T06:04:51-05:002009-03-07T06:04:51-05:00This is the beginning of a beautiful website... If Japan has taught me anything, it's the power of independence. Really, that's an odd thing to learn from a country with a deep-seated sense of unity. But perhaps it was merely the years I have been here. The triumphs. The disappointments.<br><br>
With a multitude of mixed feelings I will soon leave this country. In the unfamiliar waters of being a foreigner, I had found safety. In the confusion of culture, I had found peace. But as long as I never forget the lessons I have learned here, Japan will never be lost to me.Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300192009-01-02T19:00:00-05:002009-01-02T19:00:00-05:00New Year Adventures!Happy New Year and Merry Hanukkah everyone!I hope everyone had a great time finishing up 2008. As for me, I didn't have to work on Christmas only because I got sick and had an earache and couldn't wor...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299812009-01-02T19:00:00-05:002020-10-09T06:07:27-04:00New Year Adventures!Happy New Year and Merry Hanukkah everyone!I hope everyone had a great time finishing up 2008. As for me, I didn't have to work on Christmas only because I got sick and had an earache and couldn't wor...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300202008-03-22T20:00:00-04:002008-03-22T20:00:00-04:00Father-Daughter Jazz Gig GO!For the first time ever, Robin Yukiko is singing in Japan with her all-time favorite jazz music--her Dad! Howard Herman is a virtuoso pianist, brilliant composer and master arranger, so don’t&nb...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299822008-03-22T20:00:00-04:002008-03-22T20:00:00-04:00Father-Daughter Jazz Gig GO!For the first time ever, Robin Yukiko is singing in Japan with her all-time favorite jazz music--her Dad! Howard Herman is a virtuoso pianist, brilliant composer and master arranger, so don’t&nb...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300212007-09-26T20:00:00-04:002007-09-26T20:00:00-04:00Me: National Anthem on national television!
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I, Robin Yukiko, will be on Japanese national television singing the American national anthem for the International Counter Match of the World Figure Skating Championships! I will be g...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299772007-09-26T20:00:00-04:002007-09-26T20:00:00-04:00Me: National Anthem on national television!
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I, Robin Yukiko, will be on Japanese national television singing the American national anthem for the International Counter Match of the World Figure Skating Championships! I will be g...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300222007-09-06T20:00:00-04:002007-09-06T20:00:00-04:00Getting Semi-Naked and Screaming With Pleasure!Hosted By: tiernanWhen: Sunday Sep 30, 2007 at 9:00 PMWhere: Oppa-la???????, 1-12-17, ??????4FEnoshima, KN JapanDescription:tiernan band and the Robin Yukiko Band rock out! With their bands! Click Her...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299752007-09-06T20:00:00-04:002007-09-06T20:00:00-04:00Getting Semi-Naked and Screaming With Pleasure!Hosted By: tiernanWhen: Sunday Sep 30, 2007 at 9:00 PMWhere: Oppa-la???????, 1-12-17, ??????4FEnoshima, KN JapanDescription:tiernan band and the Robin Yukiko Band rock out! With their bands! Click Her...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/300232007-02-09T19:00:00-05:002007-02-09T19:00:00-05:00early Robin Yukiko on iTunes!Hey Everyone! My first ever album is now available on iTunes!I recorded it when I was 18 and it's all pop/rocky with a hint of folk. Most of it is with a band but there's some that's just voice and pi...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299902007-02-09T19:00:00-05:002007-02-09T19:00:00-05:00early Robin Yukiko on iTunes!Hey Everyone! My first ever album is now available on iTunes!I recorded it when I was 18 and it's all pop/rocky with a hint of folk. Most of it is with a band but there's some that's just voice and pi...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299912007-02-07T19:00:00-05:002007-02-07T19:00:00-05:00Thank you + news!Hey all,Thank you to everyone who made it to my show on Sunday! I hope everyone had a good time (in spite of my wrong notes). :)The manager at Ocean Deep was happy and asked me to come back and play e...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299922007-01-24T19:00:00-05:002007-01-24T19:00:00-05:00Please come to my first show in Japan!This is my first gig in Japan! I'm busting out the keyboard tunes andI need your friendly faces there! Here are the details:Sunday, Feb 47-10pmOcean Deep (international-style club)30 second walk from ...Robin Yukikotag:www.robinyukiko.com,2005:Post/299932006-08-28T20:00:00-04:002006-08-28T20:00:00-04:00Leaving the country!I, Robin Yukiko, am hereby giving two weeks notice of voluntary leaving of the country to teach English in Japan.Yes, you read that right.I'll be living in Funabashi, a suburb of Tokyo, and hopefully ...Robin Yukiko