This Too Shall Pass

Things do change over time. I remember a friend of mine once told me that I shouldn’t be too concerned about what I believe in today because that could change. It confused me because I thought I would always believe in what I thought was true, right and correct. My moral fiber depended on it, so I thought. Now I don’t know what I believe today.

It’s hard for me to differentiate fact in my perception. My recollection and experience of something can be completely different from someone experiencing the exact same thing. And usually the circumstance of a situation is fleeting and evolving, so I can’t hang onto anything in particular. I do find when I feel comfortable I think everything is “right”.

I do my best not to think too much these days because even if I do understand something for a moment, that moment will pass as soon as I understand it and something else will show up that is beyond my understanding yet again. I heard someone say that the secret to happiness is not minding whatever happens in life. It won’t last anyway, so why mind?

Blessings!
Laura

Do you download? Check out the songs you can download on my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

The Sabbath

A few years ago I discovered new meaning in the Sabbath. There haven’t been many periods in my life when I have observed the Sabbath, mainly because I wasn’t raised in a home where that was a part of the week for my family. A day of rest is nice to have on a regular basis, but what I learned about the Sabbath day has even deeper meaning.

On the Sabbath, people get to have an additional piece soul inside of them. After the Sabbath that extra soul leaves again. I do my best to be open to having that extra soul come into my heart on a daily basis, but I do find I feel it more on the Sabbath. That may be because I live in the heart of an Orthodox community. Collectively it’s around.

I’m not a big participant in organized religion or religious practices but I do love God completely. My agreement with God happens for me on a daily basis, not from my heritage. God wakes me up in the morning for something, so I ask God what God needs me to do for Him each day. I don’t know why I was woken up but I figure God knows.

Blessings!
Laura

Sign up for my weekly newsletter at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Inner Knowing

Sometimes it’s hard for me to listen to people talk to me about what their position is when I’m dealing with them in a negotiation. When a person starts telling me about facts and figures I find that a lot of times what I’m being told has no basis in fact. It tires me after awhile. I’m just not that into being sold. Some people like the game. I don’t really.

There’s an inner knowing that comes into my whole being when I’m supposed to do something, buy something, or go somewhere. And there isn’t anything that will change my position once that inner knowing kicks into gear. It’s like a switch that goes off in me and auto pilot takes over. Some might take that as being stubborn or strong. I’m not.

I’m just guided by an inner radar system. When it locks in there isn’t anything that will take me off course. I still may listen to a lot of talk, I may not make any sudden moves, and someone may get the impression that they’ve sold me whatever it is they want me to buy into, but that perception usually disappears when my radar changes course.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Getting Advice

Whenever I find myself on new ground, I like to seek the advice of people who have been around for awhile and get their input on things. Mainly because when I’m involved in a business situation where I don’t have much experience, I don’t really know what I should be asking for or insisting on. It helps to talk to people who know what those things are.

What I’ve found in that process is that I tend to be taken seriously, even if it does take me some time to learn what is going on. I also wind up with better deals than I would have gotten myself into if I hadn’t taken the time to get the right advice. And sometimes that means a deal takes longer to put together. I’ve found it’s worth it to put in the extra time.

Having a great lawyer is very important for me because I’m usually kind of a push over and my lawyer doesn’t let me be one in a contract. He knows when to tell me to say “no”. And I have to be willing to walk away on a deal if it isn’t set up right. My lawyer said, “You’re going to live with what you sign your name to, not what someone told you”.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Beauty

I’ve found that outer beauty gets magnified by someone’s inner beauty. I’ve met some people who I thought were okay looking and then found them to be incredibly beautiful when their inner beauty started to shine in their personality. I’ve also met some people whose outer beauty diminished when they didn’t have much inner beauty to speak of.

I guess some attractions are chemical. You either click with someone or you don’t. But true beauty in a person is in a person. When someone is connected to their soul an entirely different radiance shines through. I haven’t met a lot of people who are connected to their souls. That’s probably part of the awakening that’s happening now.

Soul beauty is magical. It would be great if more people tapped into that part of themselves. Then they could realize how magnificent they are and could start behaving that way. As a race we seem to sell ourselves short. It’s easy to buy into what we’re taught when we’re little, we need to fit in. But we could do so much more than we think.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Quality Problems

My little concerns that show up in my day do need attending to, but for the most part, I have quality problems. All I have to do is read the news to get a sense of how much I have in my life and how lucky I am to live in the place that I do. I just read about a top pro soccer player who had part of his leg amputated after a car accident. That is so sad.

I’m humbled in this world. I truly get a sense that no one who is alive on this planet has it “easy”. We all have feelings inside. We all have things that happen to us that we weren’t expecting and some things don’t quite turn out the way we would have liked them to. In some ways, things have turned out better for me than what I was hoping for.

It’s taken a lot of time and perseverance to get to the point where I think my life is better, though. Some of my road was harsh and very difficult for me. I’ve been told that it gives a person depth and character. I think it’s given me tolerance, acceptance and a different perspective on things. What used to bother me doesn’t even impact my energy anymore.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Days Off

It’s nice to take a break from working so much and taking some days off can really help. I still find myself doing things, but getting time to just relax is important for me. I can get into a state of perpetual motion sometimes. I’m used to being productive and I like what I do, so it’s easy to keep going without much down time.

I also like taking advantage of new opportunities when they come my way. It’s fun to be involved with people and learning about things I didn’t know before. I’m curious by nature, so exploring different ideas and ways of being alive intrigues me. There’s so much to discover in a day. People are doing so many interesting things.

Ever since I was little the world has been a fascinating place to me. And there was so much going on I didn’t feel like I would ever catch up. Now I know there isn’t anything to catch up with. I’m just supposed to do what’s in front of me to do each day. And I don’t really know what I’m really accomplishing. Today I’m just taking a day off to relax.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

The Fall Equinox

This is from www.religioustolerance.org:

When and why the fall equinox happens:

The seasons of the year are caused by the 23.5º tilt of the earth's axis. Because the earth is rotating like a top or gyroscope, it points in a fixed direction continuously -- towards a point in space near the North Star. But the earth is also revolving around the sun. During half of the year, the southern hemisphere is more exposed to the sun than is the northern hemisphere. During the rest of the year, the reverse is true. At noontime in the Northern Hemisphere the sun appears high in the sky during summertime and low in the sky during winter. It is highest at the summer solstice (about June-21) and lowest at the winter solstice (about December-21). The half-way points in the year are called the equinoxes. It is time of the year when the sun rises exactly in the east, travels through the sky for 12 hours, and sets exactly in the west. Everywhere on earth experiences close to 12 hours of daylight, and 12 hours of nighttime.

In case you were wondering…

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Happy Rosh Hashana!

It’s the Jewish New Year and today I was helping a friend deliver honey bears to people she’s done business with over the years. Then we had ice cream. Apples and honey are traditionally eaten to bring in a good and sweet year as part of the holiday. Other than Yom Kippur, which is coming up, most Jewish holidays have a big focus on food.

She told me that Rosh Hashana is the time when God judges the world and decides who will get what, who will live and who will die this coming year. The week between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is the time when people are supposed to apologize for things they have done wrong and forgive others so that the year starts out clear of resentments.

Then on Yom Kippur everything is sealed in the book of life. I was told once that the reason people don’t eat or drink on Yom Kippur is so that they can be like the angels in Heaven for a day. (Angels don’t eat or drink anything). It’s a part of standing before God, asking God for forgiveness and being given another chance at life. That’s pretty cool.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

New Style

Carl Strand, the guitarist who is recording on my album, was wearing a clip-on tie on a cotton shirt that had a collar, only he didn’t have the shirt buttoned up to his neck. The top few buttons were open and the tie was clipped on over the top closed button. It was hip and looked a lot more comfortable than if he had all the buttons closed.

I love the look and I’d like to see that one catch on. It was much sexier than seeing a guy in a normal buttoned up shirt and tie. Put Carl’s look with the right sport jacket and boots, GQ baby. I don’t normally comment on guy’s fashion. And sometimes it takes a certain kind of guy to pull off a look that’s goes out of the box on conventional.

Innovation is hot when it’s done with style. It’s nice when a guy dresses in a way that suits his personality. When a guy takes time to care about how he looks and the impact he has on others that makes him more charismatic. Carl is incredibly talented, too. If Carl isn’t going to be available to a play a show for me, I’ll have to hire Paco de Lucia.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Recipe for A Hit Record

It helps to have a little bit of talent going into the studio, some playing chops and a song that people can relate to, but the recipe for a hit record starts to happen with the team of people you record with. A producer/engineer that knows the gear, how to get the sound that’s needed and has a great ear for what sound is needed is the first main ingredient.

Having a producer that can get the vocal performance from the artist that makes the song come alive is crucial and not something everyone with a bunch of gear knows how to do. And a great vocal coach can get a singer ready for the studio, so be willing to do the prep work. It’s worth it. The difference in the sound quality of the raw tracks is noticeable.

The next main ingredients are the players adding instrumentation to the song. Recording with a studio that has world class musicians working on their projects makes your song world class. The better the players are on your record the better your record is, and the easier it is for your producer to make the song amazing. It’s a very cool process.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Oil Of Oregano

When I was online recently, I was looking up natural alternatives to anti-biotics. My throat wasn’t feeling great and I wanted to avoid going the Western Medicine route. What I found was oil of oregano. It’s considered to be stronger and more effective than most of the anti-biotics that doctors prescribe for strept throat and other things.

I had already been taking garlic gel caps and apple cider vinegar in water, but wanted to take oil of oregano as well. I was really glad I had it in the house on Sunday night when my throat suddenly felt like it had been set on fire. I was a little stunned at how much it was burning. So I hit the oil of oregano, garlic, apple cider vinegar and vitamin C hard.

The good news is within a short amount of time the burning was gone. And while I needed to stay home and rest, I wasn’t horribly sick. The other even better news is using natural food supplements doesn’t cause any side affects (I’m not allergic to these foods), and I can take as much as I need to. I did feel a bit like I was taking Italian salad dressing.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Press Release

Thank You For Praying For Those Who Would Kill You

In her Be Kind to Strangers section of her newsletter, Los Angeles based singer/songwriter, Laura Cohn, asked her subscribers to pray for the children and families of the fajadeen Muslim groups that are living under the belief that anyone who is not of their race and religious culture must be killed. Cohn wrote, “It is a mindset that has been handed down for generations and does not allow them to be at peace with other nations. It creates difficulty for them to be in the world as it is now…Please pray for these people to receive a moment of clarity, a spark of Divine Loving Kindness, and the ability to see a new choice in their culture.”

(PRWEB) September 18, 2006 -- Laura Cohn first responded to the new Iranian law requiring Jews and Christians to wear identifying bands on their clothing by adding the Muslim name for God, Allah, to her spiritual song, "Wakantanka".

"Religions are in the habit of separating people from each other and, historically, that trend has led to violence," said Cohn, "I wanted to use the name Allah in my song so that people of the Muslim faith would have their relationship with God related to other people's relationship with God in music, which is universal." Cohn is currently recording her new version of "Wakantanka" for inclusion in a 10 song CD with producer Robert Eibach at Del Oro Music in Studio City, CA.

Cohn said that her reason for asking her subscribers to pray for these people was her way of addressing the situation with a new approach to the conflict. In November, 2005, Laura Cohn responded to domestic turmoil in France with a reference to Albert Einstein.

"Einstein noted that the solution for a problem could not be found using the same thinking that created the problem in the first place," Cohn said. "As a society, we need to start thinking differently." In suggesting a different view of the fajadeen, Cohn told her subscribers, "It must be very painful to be expected to carry on this tradition of hatred and to be taught this from birth."

Laura Cohn presented a statement to acknowledge that many people who are in this situation are in it regardless of their choices. "Many innocent lives stand in the wake of what this conflict between the fajadeen and other nations represents," Cohn wrote. Cohn said that she sees the impact prayer has on people's lives through her column. Cohn ended her prayer request with a determined and challenging message, "You're prayers of understanding, peace, compassion and patience are very precious and important now. Thank you for praying for those who would kill you. There is something very powerful in that".

For information, visit www.LauraCohnMusic.com.

About Laura Cohn:
Laura Cohn is an advocate of social kindness. She became a private pilot at 17. Cohn began writing music after she graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Political Science. Laura Cohn writes a daily blog at www.lacohnzone.blogspot.com. She is currently performing around LA.

Contact:
Michael Levine
Levine Communications Office
310-300-0950 x230
www.lcoonline.com

Thanks Mom!

Something happened recently that really changed things in how I feel about my life. It was subtle but powerful in how it has taken hold and made an impact. I’m sharing this because I don’t think that parents realize the impact they have on their children with what they say to them. And the change in how my parents talk to me now has helped me a lot.

Lately, my mom has been telling me that she finds who I am and how I show up in a room with people really wonderful and that most people never achieve that in their life. Aside from myself, my mom used to be my harshest critic. I was always hearing about what I wasn’t, what I didn’t have and that maybe I should be doing something else.

The change in focus with my mom from what I don’t have to finding value in what I do have started with me acknowledging that for myself, although sometimes it takes determination for me to able to do that. And it wasn’t like I was looking for my mom’s approval. But it did make me feel a lot better knowing that my mom thinks I’m okay.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Mounted Police in NoHo

I was driving to a party at Higher Ground, a new organic juice bar/raw food restaurant in North Hollywood, www.highergroundnoho.com, and saw 2 police officers on horseback. I hadn’t seen mounted police since I lived in Chicago. It brought back memories. If the city brings in horse drawn carriage rides, I’ll know that my roots are following me.

There must be advantages to patrolling on horseback rather than on foot. Being on a horse certainly puts a person on a higher level than just walking on a sidewalk. And a horse can run a lot faster than a person. The horses seemed pretty happy and I was impressed with how poised they were with traffic on the road next to them.

It’s probably a lot nicer to be a horse on patrol in Southern California than in Chicago. The winters in Chicago can be brutal. The humidity makes the cold bone chilling and the wind is harsh. I wasn’t a fan of the windy city in the winter because there was hardly ever any sunshine or blue skies for months. I like the blue skies and sunshine in California.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

It's What They Know

My mom and I were talking tonight and the subject of the Muslim’s current use of Nazi propaganda came up in conversation. My mom had seen a documentary about Muslim TV which showed how Muslim leaders are using Hitler’s regime as a model for their cause. Apparently there are even instances where some of Hitler’s speeches are used.

It’s smart that they’re using a model that was fairly effective in accomplishing something they have similar aspirations to achieve. I’m wondering how they’ll seek to resolve the demise of Hitler and his 3rd Reich as they are embarking on this journey of genocide. They already have some of the basic components in place. So far they’re on track.

What I see that saddens me is the amount of anger and hatred these people live with everyday. It’s what their purpose in life is based on. It’s what they were taught, what they know, and what they are teaching their children. It’s what they believe in and they have a right to that. I wonder how my right to live in this world will be at peace with them.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Pick Up Gigs

I’m playing a pick up gig at Universal Bar & Grill before I go over to the studio to work on my CD. I’m looking forward to getting some french fries before my set and catching with my friend, Sheena Metal, who books me there. Pick up gigs are fun for me. They keep my chops fresh and make the week a little more interesting.

Usually pick up gigs come in when I’m feeling discouraged. A lot of what I do as an artist is just what I need to do and isn’t in the mainstream of anything. With all the bombardment of people in the news, being an artist at my level sometimes seems futile. The entertainment industry isn’t for the faint at heart and it has torn people apart.

That doesn’t change what I need to do. It just makes doing it more daunting than I’d like it to be. A comic friend of mine said that he didn’t know how people manage to make it in the business. I heard one media expert say “Somehow” is how they do it. I guess it’s about not giving up and not knowing where things will come from when they do.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Apple Cider Vinegar Drink

Recently I started drinking apple cider vinegar in water with honey to de-tox my system. Fasting is also good for that, but I wasn’t up for it. My body likes having food and my diet wasn’t the problem. I can tell when I’ve been around too many chemicals and it’s not something I fool around with or ignore. One chemical injury in my life was enough.

The recipe for this drink increases energy. It cleans out your system and that will usually result in better body function. Bragg’s in the brand of apple cider vinegar that I buy. Paul C. Bragg’s started the company. He is considered by many to be the father of health food. He died in his 90’s from a surfing accident. The autopsy showed he was in great health.

I’ve noticed that since I added the drink to my daily routine my skin looks a lot better and my mind is clearer. It takes a few days for the de-tox effect to really kick in. Chemical exposures and EMF exposures can hamper normal brain cognition. Nothing can turn a brilliant person into a hamburger quicker than highly toxic chemical exposures.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Walking In The World

Sometimes it doesn’t seem like I will ever understand much of anything and in some ways that’s a relief. My brother once told me that he has a “need to know relationship with God”. If he needs to know something, God will tell him. If he doesn’t need to know something he doesn’t bother trying to figure it out. I thought that was smart.

He also told me that he doesn’t ask God for anything anymore. He had a hard time when God gave him what he asked for. I guess God already knows what we need, so asking for stuff may just create confusion. I know that there are a lot of people who are focused on creating their life and would have lots to say about asking for things and visualizing.

One of my friends told me that when she writes out daily goals, she considers them to be a wish list of what she would like to be able to do. And she doesn’t worry about how the day goes. She just does what comes up for her to do. I don’t know what the answer is for me when it comes to my life. I know I love God and God knows what’s best for me.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Demo Recording

I recorded a song demo for a songwriter named Don Coyne. Don joined TAXI and had a quick deadline for a song. He emailed me early Saturday morning and needed the song turned in Tuesday at noon. It took some maneuvering to work out a time to get together with him and then get in the studio. My days are pretty booked with work.

But when there is a will there is a way and I was excited for the opportunity to have my first paid session gig. I also really respect another songwriter’s need to get something recorded in the studio in a short amount of time. The song wasn't finished when we got together on Sunday, so we worked on the chorus and he gave me other lyrics.

Monday, when I got to Electric Eel Productions in North Hollywood, Don and Costa had all the parts figured out. Then Costa got to work on a piano track for me to sing with. I truly appreciated my vocal recording time with my producer, Robert Eibach. During our session today, I could sing parts over and over and over again and feel good about it.

Blessings!
Laura

Check out my website at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Green Tea Ice Cream

I wasn’t eating ice cream for a number of years, even though I like it, so I recently decided that I was going to eat ice cream once a month to celebrate whatever is going on. It’s good for me to find reasons to have fun and kick back. I’m one of those people who can stay busy without even trying. And with so much to do, I need to take breaks.

I was out for dinner at a Chinese restaurant with a group of friends. It was my friend’s birthday. So we had a little party. When we celebrate at a restaurant, we all order a dish and share everything. It’s a lot of fun. I get to eat a lot of things that I wouldn’t order on my own when I eat out with my friends. It gets me to be more adventurous.

After dinner, the waitress brought out a bowl of green tea ice cream with a candle in it. We sang “Happy Birthday”, which is always nice and then I got to try some. It tasted really good. It wasn’t too sweet and was even refreshing. I’ll have to remember to order green tea ice cream when I’m at that Chinese restaurant again, maybe next month.

Blessings!
Laura

Sign up for my weekly newsletter at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Remedies

I’m very grateful for all the remedies I’ve learned about over the years. It helps when I wake up with a minor health thing to deal with. A friend of mine once suggested that when I needed certain vitamins I should look on the internet to see what foods naturally have those nutrients in them so I can get what I need from the source, real food.

Another friend of mine mentioned that a lot of prescriptions drugs were formulated from remedies that pharmaceutical company people learned about from indigenous people in places like the Rain Forest. So I usually do my best to find out what is in medications and look to find the natural ingredients so I can take them. Synthetic drugs aren’t my thing.

Nutritional medicine is one of the things that helped restore my health when I had been chemically injured. I learned from that experience that most of the common illnesses that people get are from chemical exposures and the body needs proper nutrition to re-build itself and recover from those things. It’s nice to have a health arsenal in my kitchen.

Blessings!
Laura

Sign up for my weekly newsletter at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

LAMN Jam

So what was cool about performing at LAMN Jam is the format of the show. Each artist plays 2 songs and afterwards gets feedback from industry pros. I was on the bill with fellow troubadours, Richard Preske, John Rivitte, Aaron Wolfson, and Jody Whitesides. Jody Whitesides won the overall “competition” so he’ll be back for the “Best Of” night.

LAMN Jam is the Anti-American Idol. The panel of industry folks included music publisher Robert Walls, songwriter/producer Dick Wagner, and producer Jan Linder-Coda. Jan got caught in traffic, so Dick’s producing partner Suzie Michaelson stepped in. I was the first performer, so Suzie was on the panel for me. Jan arrived for my 2nd song.

It was really helpful to hear what these very successful and talented people had to say to each one of us writers/performers and what we could do to improve. They were able to focus in and tell us what was working well for us and what wasn’t. Most of all, they were encouraging in a constructive way. It was a wonderful experience and lots of fun.

Blessings!
Laura

If you’d like to submit your material for an upcoming LAMN Jam, email me at Laura@LauraCohnMusic.com and I’ll get you the info so you can get your shot in the hot seat. You’ll be glad you did.

Momentum

A friend of mine told me awhile ago that if you do at least one thing toward your goal everyday that you’ll keep the momentum going and you will eventually get there. It’s like that law in science: a body in motion stays in motion. It’s easier to keep moving when you’re already moving, so don’t give up doing what you can do each day, no matter what.

I like to keep that stuff in mind while I’m doing seemingly mundane things in my life. Those things do add up and I find myself having more opportunities because I continue working toward my goal: Like how performing on a regular basis got me an invitation to play at LAMN Jam. And that got me heard by a publisher and some producers.

I’m going to write more about LAMN Jam in my next blog. LAMN is the sister organization to NARIP. If you’re in LA and haven’t checked these organizations out for networking, I can highly recommend that you do. I’ve learned so much in their programs about the music, TV and film industries and I’ve met people I never had access to.

Blessings!
Laura

Sign up for my weekly newsletter to get more at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

NARIP: Independent Record Distribution

Clay Pasternack is considered to be the foremost expert in independent record distribution in the United States. I had never heard of him before NARIP had scheduled him to be the speaker for an indie record event. Clay gave one of the most informative practical discussions I’ve ever heard about the distribution side of the music business.

It was like Clay opened the mysterious door to who the players are, what they will and should expect, and how to approach the prospect of working with a CD distribution company in order to be successful. His hand-out outlined everything a record label or artist needs to know in order to do business with physical product distribution channels.

Because I was at Clay’s presentation, I now have the tools I need to put together a great marketing plan for my new CD. I’ll also know when someone is offering me a good deal or not because of what I learned tonight from Clay Pasternack. It’s really a wonderful thing when I get in the flow of what I am being created for. Everything I need shows up.

Blessings!
Laura

Sign up for my weekly newsletter at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Himalayan Salt Lamps

A friend of mine gave me a Himalayan Salt Lamp tonight. This one is heart shaped and has a place to put one of those candle votives with a metal base. I’d never heard of salt lamps before, but these things are way cool. They’re made from salt crystal rocks from the foothills of the Himalayas. Colors range from off-white to apricot and warm pink.

As the salt rock heats up, healthful negative ions lift off from the surface and help to cleanse and improve the quality and freshness of the air. I put a votive in when I got home to check it out. It looks really pretty with the light inside of it. I’m curious to see if I’ll sleep better at night or if I’ll have more energy from using it.

Negative ions are electrically-charged particles that remove airborne contaminants and have a rejuvenating effect when interacting with the physiological systems in the human body, such as the respiratory system. Maybe it will improve my singing. Regardless of what it does, it makes me happy because it’s a gift from my friend and it looks pretty.

Blessings!
Laura

Sign up for my weekly newsletter at:
http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry

Happy Labor Day!

I love Monday holidays! It’s just so nice to have an extra day off with the weekend. It’s easy to get around because the normal traffic isn’t on the road. That’s a treat in LA. One thing I like about living in LA is being with a lot of different people. If I didn’t like people I might not like this place so much, but driving with less traffic is wonderful.

The pace of the day is slow when people are off work. Most people I know have very full lives. They’re working and pursuing their dreams. Many of them are working 14 hour days. It’s hectic fitting everything in. And it seems to be the thing to do; be busy, have a life, work hard, and don’t give up no matter what, and have fun, too.

There’s a reason we get so motivated to work on things. It gives us a purpose in life which is really important. If we didn’t have something of importance to do then we probably wouldn’t be here. Not that I know all the time what is important about what I do. I find the love in my life that I share in my relationships with people is the best.

Blessings!
Laura

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Harmonies

Now that I have a rough mix on the vocal and guitar for “Wakantanka” I’m working on vocal harmonies for the song. It’s always interesting to me how the creative process flows and the way things come in when they come in. I’ve had raw demo recordings of “Wakantanka” before, but this is the first time I’m hearing harmonies for the song.

It’s a good thing I did vocal training with April Diamond. Her coaching opened up a high range in my voice that I never knew I had before, which might have something to do with me never hearing the harmony up there before. Now my main challenge is strengthening my breath to sustain the notes I need to carry. It’s cool to discover things.

The lower harmony parts are pretty easy for me to get. I’m used to singing in my alto range. This soprano thing is a different deal. I like the freedom having the high notes gives me as a singer, although it’s taking some getting used to. That’s what makes being an artist so interesting to me. There’s always something new to work on in my craft.

Blessings!
Laura

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Daily Goals

A friend told me that she writes out daily goals every morning and it helps her do well in her life. So I started writing goals to see how I like it. My schedule has been really busy, so I’m finding that writing out goals and checking in with my list is helping me stay focused on certain tasks. It also is cool to see how my goals turn out at the end of the day.

Today when I started my list, the first thing I wrote on it was “Rest”. I didn’t really want to write anything else on the list because I needed to rest today. There have been a lot of things happening in my life, which are all good, but I don’t always get enough sleep. And some of what I’m working on requires a great deal of energy and time.

I did add some other things to my list today because I feel better when I get things done and I won’t have time to do them tomorrow. I can say that I’ve done well resting and will be getting back to that shortly after I finish writing this blog. I never imagined that scheduling rest into my calendar was going to be necessary in my life.

Blessings!
Laura

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http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
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Editing Tracks

Working with the right producer brings out the best in everything for me. Robert Eibach and I were in the B Studio editing vocal tracks earlier tonight. It was fun to watch him fly through Pro Tools. I sat in amazement as Robert put things together. Screens were popping up, sound waves were being moved around and then I heard my vocals in a whole new way.

When we were recording the lead vocal tracks and Robert was giving me direction, I didn’t always know what he was going for and some of the things he asked me to do were a lot different than what I was used to doing when I sang certain phrases. In our editing session tonight, I could hear how right on he was in how he directed me.

It’s really cool to have my recording project in the hands of a producer who really understands what my songs are about, what I need to do to improve what I do as an artist, and who has the ability to explain how to make things better than how I did them on my own. I’m really lucky to be recording at Del Oro Music, Thank you, Robert.

Blessings!
Laura

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http://www.LauraCohnMusic.com
Where Music Meets Artistry