Music is Bliss

There was a lot going on this week and I’m lucky that music has been a big part of that. I was invited to play a gig in August at a benefit concert for a horse rescue in Fairplay, CO, http://www.flyingah.com/. My friends from the Boulder area are going to come up for it so it will be a great hang for the weekend being with friends in the mountains.

I’m also really excited because I used to play gigs for the owner of the horse rescue when she owned a bar in St.Mary’s Glacier and it will be a fun reunion for us. I love being in the mountains in Colorado. I found my soul there when I lived in Telluride. It will be good to see a gazillion stars at night again. The mountains are special.

This week, I also got to play a pick up gig at Universal Bar & Grill in addition to being in the studio and playing a show at CAP Theater. I played a couple of my brother’s songs at my shows and that felt good. I love his music. My family lives out of town and singing his songs reminded me of being with them in a wonderful way. I love when that happens.

Blessings!Laura

You can check out my stuff at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Power of the Cross

My friend told me that the cross is a powerful symbol and that’s why it’s used for exorcisms. I’d seen that in movies but I didn’t know the basis of its use. I thought the dramatic effect was cool. I also laughed when I watched Dracula movies and the vampires would run from the cross. It just cracked me up for some reason.

Now that I’m a new Christian, (I guess that could be considered Born Again), I decided to order myself a cross to wear. I was excited to get it because it seemed like it would be fun to wear it and it felt good to think about it. I found a really pretty one, called the harmony cross at www.applesofgold.com and ordered it for myself.

For the last year or so, I’ve been dealing with an individual who isn’t, let’s say, big on integrity. I’ve learned a lot from this woman and my experience in working with her has propelled my growth. My cross arrived yesterday and within 10 minutes of me putting it on she contacted me to tell me she needs me out of her life. That’s one powerful cross.

Blessings!Laura

Check out my songs on:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Coffee Shops

I’m meeting a friend at Starbuck’s later and it’s really nice that we can meet at a coffee shop rather than a bar or restaurant. I love being able to just hang for a bit and have something healthy to drink. I’m not one to hang in bars, unless I happen to be playing a gig at one, so it’s nice to have an alternative and I don’t always eat out.

There are a bunch of coffee shops around where I live. They’re all pretty good. I think I just get used to certain places and that’s where I go. Coffee shops are quieter than bars and it’s better for my voice not to have to talk at loud volumes to have a conversation. When I want to unwind and get together to chat, I like the coffee shop vibe.

The atmosphere is different when people are on caffeine and sugar rather than alcohol. I know a lot of people drink herbal teas and don’t eat sugar, but you get my drift. In LA, I see quite a few writers at coffee shops working on their scripts or books. So maybe there’s a creative energy that I gravitate towards and that’s why I dig the scene.

Blessings!Laura

Check out my artist page at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Macey

I haven’t written about my cat, Macey, in awhile. She’s such a sweet little girl. Since she’s an adult cat now, she’s been trying new flavors of food and with all the pet food recalls that have been happening this year, she’s getting used to eating wet food without gravy. She’s a gravy girl and likes those cans of food the best.

When she was a kitten, there weren’t as many choices to get for her. Most of the kitten food is turkey, chicken, fish and seafood flavors. Now she also gets to have duck, venison, beef and salmon. She doesn’t care for lamb or sardines; maybe because she’s only a year old and that’s better suited for an older cat’s taste buds.

Since the gravy flavors aren’t available these days, I’ve been giving her canned turkey meat, grilled albacore and cod to supplement her diet. She liked how the gravy made her dry food moist and added more flavor to it. She gets other cat treats, too, but I’ll be happy when I can get her the gravy food again. I like giving her what she likes best.

Blessings!Laura

Check out my artist page at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

My Brother's Songs

My sister-in-law sent me a CD of my older brother, Steve’s, songs that he recorded some years back. I grew up with my brother’s songs and when I was younger I thought that writing songs was the coolest thing ever. I was in awe of my brother and didn’t think I would ever be able to write a song. I was 23 when I wrote my first song.

Listening to this CD is bringing me back to how much I love my brother’s music, how incredibly gifted he is, and how sensitive he is about people. I’m so glad I have this collection of his songs in my life again. I remember listening to Steve play guitar and sing his songs when I was little and how we would all sing together as a family.

When people ask me who my influences are in music, I don’t usually tell them my brother, Steve, because his songs were never recorded for commercial release and they wouldn’t understand it. My brother, Steve, told my parents to buy me a guitar when I was 11 and he drove me to guitar lessons. I’m an artist because of my brother, Steve Cohn.

Blessings!Laura

You can hear his influence in my songs at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Song Production

Robert Eibach and I were in the studio again this week. We finished the rough mix on “Our Love”. I’m learning a lot working with Robert. My ear is becoming better in hearing what works and what doesn’t. I’m appreciating his talent as a producer more and more as we spend time on my songs.

It’s going to be interesting to hear what the final product sounds like. We still have quite a bit of production to do on the remaining songs for the full length CD. What I like so far is that each song has its own vibe and still sound like my songs. Some producers loose the heart of the artist when they produce a song for commercial release.

Robert keeps the integrity of the music together in his work and brings the soul out in songs. My song “Our Love” has even more depth and range because of his production on the recording. I’m lucky with that. I don’t have any talent in arrangements or engineering. It’s nice to be working with a producer who does.

Blessings!Laura

You can hear 4 songs of mine that Robert produced at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

I'm A New Christian

Last week when I was at church I decided to invite Jesus into my heart because there was something striking that the minister said about how God will not barge in, He needs to be invited. Something in my heart told me that inviting Jesus into my life would be a good thing, so that’s what I did. I’ve tried so many spiritual things, this one seemed intriguing.

I have a number of friends who love Jesus and we’ve had numerous conversations about Him, His teachings, and the beauty of Christ Consciousness. I had been doing a lot of inner heart work prior to going to church, so I was pretty open. I didn’t realize that this simple invitation was going to change everything in my life for me. And I’m happy for it.

Part of the prayer invitation to Jesus asked for the Holy Spirit to fill my body and it did do that. Something changed in my cells. I don’t think I look any different, but there is something profoundly different about everything in me. It’s a personal thing I can’t explain but the feeling is much better. I like being Christian because now I know peace.

Blessings!Laura

You can hear my spiritual song, “Wankantanka” at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Video & Recording

My videographer/director, Eddie Rouse, and I finished shooting the raw footage for my “Wakantanka” music video yesterday evening. It was an amazing 2 days of shooting. We actually skipped the swimming pool shot, but got in some other interesting things. When we were shooting me playing the guitar outside, I did get some sun and needed the tan.

Eddie is also a very talented actor, so he was able to teach me a lot. Eddie is playing percussion on my album, so it was really cool to work with him in a director’s capacity. Multi-talented people jazz me and it’s great to collaborate with artists in LA. I’m privileged to work with so many gifted people. I’ve grown so much as a result.

My producer, Robert Eibach, and I were in the studio tonight with Scott Riedle recording bass parts for my songs. We laughed a lot and Scott did a great job. Before Scott arrived, Robert and I recorded the rest of the harmony parts for “I Am”. It’s sounding like a very retro 60s thing to me now. This CD is becoming very eclectic. It’s pretty cool.

Blessings!Laura

You can hear “Wakantanka” at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Video Shoot

This morning we were shooting footage for the music video of my song, “Wakantanka”. My videographer was calling the song, “All of the Beauty Is One” when he was slating the takes. I have a feeling name of the song is about to change. I like the sound of it. Wakantanka isn’t a well known name and a Brit told me the name wasn’t spiritual to him.

We have a fabulous location and my videographer is totally into the whole project as a result. I really thought we were just going to be shooting some background footage for the green screen and maybe a few silhouettes, but after we got to the house he got inspired. So we’re going back tonight to get a lot more footage. He’s got a vision.

It’s really wonderful to have a location for the music video that works so well. I’m taking a break to gather more wardrobe and get some rest before a long night of shooting. His make-up artist is meeting us at the location around 5:30p and I don’t know how late we’ll go. I know there’s a shot with me in the pool that we’ll be doing at the end of the night.

Blessings!
Laura

You can hear “Wakantanka” at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Loving Jesus

I was at church with some friends of mine for Easter. I’m not a big religion girl, but a deal is a deal. They watched “The Secret” with me so I went to church with them. I don’t know why I thought The Secret was something they should see. I thought the production value alone would be interesting to them. But I know why they suggested church.

I know that not all churches are the same, but this one in Woodland Hills had a great energy about it. Everyone was very loving and happy to be there. The pastor drove the point home that God loves all His children and every one of us is precious to God. It felt good to hear the pastor talk about Jesus and what Jesus wants to do for all of us.

I was raised Jewish so I find I have to look past my upbringing to keep an open mind and hear a blessing in the words of a preacher talking about Jesus. Some very close friends of mine totally love Jesus and we’ve had great conversations about God, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and humanity. It’s wonderful that Jesus inspires people in such loving ways.

Blessings!Laura

You can hear my spiritual song, “Wakanktanka” at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohmmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Inner Heart

I have a song called, “I Am”, that will be on my new CD. I’m working on more harmony parts for it. I was talking with my friend, Sharon Plache, the founder of Peace Flags By Kids, www.peaceflagsbykids.org, about some workshops that she’s been taking lately. The next one is about going to the inner heart. She thought it would interest me.

The lyric to my song starts out, “My heart is my destiny. It’s what life means to me.” Sharon was working with me on inner heart stuff and I realized that my heart really is my destiny, not just in a metaphorical sense. It’s important for me to live from my heart and be connected to my inner heart because that’s where my true joy and happiness are.

It was like a moment of clarity to discover the place inside of my heart that holds infinity. That may sound strange but it’s the only way I can describe it. It was really wonderful to feel that expansion when I was taken there and even more amazing to go through my day today living from that place. I don’t ever remember being as peaceful as I am now.

Blessings!Laura

Check out my artist page at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Recording & A Screening

It was a wonderful time in the studio this week with my producer, Robert Eibach. We recorded harmony vocals for 2 of my songs. It takes some time for me to warm up in a vocal track when I’m recording a harmony part. What makes a harmony work so well is when the inflection in the phrasing is totally matched up. That takes a few takes to get.

I’ve noticed that with every creative project that seems to have a natural flow and rhythm in the final production that there’s quite a bit of fine tuning and redefining that goes on behind the scenes whether it’s in music or film. I was at a screening for a film that’s being released in August and we were watching the 2nd edit with temporary music.

My friend who invited me went over some questions the editor had after we had viewed the film. She wanted to know details about things that we got or didn’t get that were important for us to know in the story. Without knowing what footage is available that was left out, it was a little tough to make suggestions, but I did my best to be constructive.

Blessings!Laura

You can hear harmonies in the songs at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry

Abraham-Hicks

I went to a seminar with Esther and Jerry Hicks. Esther shares information with people from a group of non-physical beings that call themselves Abraham. She was featured in the original version of The Secret and then was taken out of it. I don’t know the details of that, but after I got the version with her in it, I was curious to learn more about her work.

I went to their website, www.abraham-hicks.com, and started reading what was on there about the law of attraction and the science of deliberate creation. I saw that they had a seminar scheduled in LA this weekend so I signed up and went. It was really fascinating and I appreciated the candidness with how Abraham spoke through Esther.

Esther has been doing this for over 20 years. There were people at the seminar that had been coming to their workshops for years. Many of them have subscriptions to receive Abraham’s weekly CDs that they listen to all the time. They seemed very happy and shiny in their energy. It was wonderful to be in the present of so much well-being.

Blessings!Laura

Check out my songs at:
www.myspace.com/lauracohnmusic
Where Music Meets Artistry