I have to say

“I feel the room swayin’ while the band keeps on playin’
one of your old favorite songs from way back when
so, golly gee, fellas, find her a vacant knee, fellas
and dolly will never go away again.”

Just had to get that out of my system. The lyrics of “Hello, Dolly” are on my WordPress Dashboard. It’s distracting and delightful all at once.

I’ve always been a big fan of jazz standards, and wished to be a lounge singer at some point. I mean, if I could just find an act that needed my skills, I’d be golden. It’s the organizational part I struggle with. That, and I don’t think anyone looks at Audrey Lee Johnson the folk singer as a saucy, cocktail-dress-wearing lounge singer. They don’t know my secret skills.

At family dinners, I always put on a jazz standard playlist for us to listen to. It just seems like music we can all enjoy, and music that has a sense of nostalgia about it.

Also, I love to dance, so jazz tunes are much more inspiring for that reason than many folk or rock tunes. That’s also a reason I’m a big fan of Motown. Nothing makes my feet start tapping faster than some Motown. Okay, my feet don’t tap so much as move… me.

I want to write more playful, positive songs, but I guess I have a fear of feeling silly. I am well acquainted with feelings of sadness, anger, depression, longing, etc. And I can keep those up for extended periods of time. It’s the feelings of happiness and excitement that I feel in small bursts, and I hold them so sacred, I’m afraid to let them be seen. Then someone will know I really am vulnerable. They’ll know I have something to lose. How lame.

This is why I need to take more risks in my life. Be a little vulnerable. Fumble around in view of everyone, with the goal of challenging myself as a musician and sentient being.

In other news, I have this awesome sunburn down my front. It’s got little white creases from sitting up to read. I think it’ll catch on as the next cool thing. Always a plus to accentuate your natural folds…

Walking Away

this is a common theme amongst my favorite songs. And I’ve got songs about it, too. But, I think artists walk away a lot. We’ve got places to go. Quickly:

“It’s so hard to do, and so easy to say,
but sometimes you just have to walk away”
-Ben Harper, “Walk Away”
“It only feels worse when I stay in one place,
so I’m always pacing around, or walking away”
-Bright Eyes, “Land-Locked Blues”
“I’ve got way better places to go…”
-Ani DiFranco, “Alla This”

That’s what I’m thinking of. That, and the fact that I won’t have good writing material if I don’t take risks. And I am too safe here. Let’s go!

So Excited!

The site is looking better and better!

Also, I’m making arrangements to get some photos taken so I have some to upload on this site… so you know what I look like.

It’s not easy to plan these things. I am not very fashionable, or even aware of how to brand myself. That’s why I enlist the assistance of my talented and inspiring friends.

Thank you for all you do.