- Lily Wilson - Blog

I wrote a hit song!

Sun, 01 Aug 2010 13:32:08 -0700

"This camp was built to music, therefor built forever."

I'm so happy to be back here in this beautiful place that shaped so much of my musical life.

AND, I'm getting a taste of what it would be like to have a hit song! When I was a counselor at a summer camp in the San Juan Islands years ago, I wrote a song called "Set Out" with 2 friends, Jon Georgitis, and Doug Archibald, who led sailing and canoe trips with the kids.

Early this year, a friend from camp contacted me and told me that the kids are still singing our song! I wrote to the director, one thing led to another, and now I'm up here at summer camp, writing and singing with the kids. Whenever I'm introduced, "She wrote 'Set Out'" follows my name. YOU wrote "Set Out???" The campers/ staff say in awe. I LOVE that song!"

I am so amazed by the power of music. A song I wrote with some friends in one inspired moment has lived on in the voices and hearts of so many kids over the years. I heard them sing the song this morning and it brought tears to my eyes. I'm so grateful for this gift of song. I'm thankful to life for showing this to me, right now, as I'm finishing the recording my 5th CD, unsure of where all of these new songs will end up. Every song has a life of it's own, and continues to teach me as it grows.

Set Out

Set out on the road yesterday

Brought my guitar along

Two weeks now I've been traveling

Trying to find me a song

And I can't find the words to write it down, but I'm found

Met a man on the road yesterday

Asked him which way to go

He said it doesn't matter which way you turn

As long as you take it slow

And I can't find the words to write it down, but I'm found

Set out on the ocean yesterday

Trying to find me a breeze

Who knows when I'll come home again

Blowing in from the seas

And I can't find the words to write it down, but I'm free

Walking on the road the other night, I thought I lost my way

But I found my soul again when I heard the children play

The comfort of the gypsy voices, singing sweet harmony

The songs that will always bring us to the place we want to be

And I can't fins the words to write it down, but I'm free

singing "To Be Someone."

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 19:06:23 -0700

I wrote this song, "To Be Someone" with my good friend Kelly Fitzgerald. It's turning into SUCH a fun track with lots of gritty guitars. It reminds me a little bit of Tom Petty, who I love. I just put down a vocal, and Mark is now adding more guitars. Nick Kirgo came over last week and played some amazing stuff on it. Tomorrow, Kelly's going to come sing the harmony part.

I'm super excited about this song! It's a slightly different flavor than the rest of the record. I feel like I'm getting back to my country roots a little with this one.

Photo shoots and rehearsals and mixing and recording...

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 20:42:06 -0700

This is my life! Music and all the things that come with it. Ahh, when it rains, it pours.

I'm so happy that the photo shoot for the new CD went so well. Taking the pictures for an album has such an interesting effect on the whole project. All of a sudden, I understand it much better as a whole. It's a thrill to have a vision and have it come to fruition. I feel grateful for the sweet souls around me that help me create these things. Andria Sato is helping me with the album design again. She's the best. We had a great day in the Malibu sun shooting for the CD.

This week is packed with rehearsals with the band, recording sessions, mixing sessions, and our super special show on Sunday night in Santa Monica. Life is good.

Home Sweet Home

Mon, 31 May 2010 23:52:46 -0700

Tonight is my first night home in two weeks, and it feels great! We made quesadillas and quacamole and watched Glee! Ahhhh...

Mark Browne and I had a truly wonderful time on the road. Every show was such a treat. We met some amazing people, and reconnected with great old friends. I loved playing some of the new songs to an audience for the first time. I'm happy to say, I only forgot the lyrics ONCE!!! (I don't think anyone but Mark noticed....)

We traveled through rain, wind, hail, snow, and sunshine- all the way up through Bend, Oregon and back.

So, now it's time to get back in the studio. We're getting so close!!! We have to have some real instruments replace the synthesizers, and I have to sing about 3 more songs (!!!) I am getting really excited about finishing this project.

Lilith Fair

Sun, 16 May 2010 22:18:37 -0700

So, I know this sounds like a lot, but I did just register as a fan ;-) to see how to do it, and it will take about 15 minutes. I appreciate it!!!

First go to www.ourstage.com and click on Join in the top right-hand corner.
Then click on the left box that says "Register as a Fan". After registering, you'll get a thank you message. Close the box. Then check your email account for the confirmation. After you receive your email confirmation message, click on the link they give to activate your account.

If you want to complete your Profile, great. If not, Click on "Discover New Music". It may take you right to Lilith Standings page or not. Go to the top right-hand corner to Search and type in "Lily Wilson", which should take you either to my songs or to my profile. There should be a green tab on the top right-hand corner that says, "Join Fan Club". Click on that and after the thank you, close the box.
Then, and this is most important, click on the tab at the top of the page on the left that says "Overview" and click. It should take you to my profile page. Then click on the green tab on the right-hand side that says "Make this my favorite artist". This will ensure that my song will come up in the rotation within the first 20 artists. If you don't do this, my song, "Meet Me in the Middle" may never pop up!

Still with me?

Then click on "Judge" at the top, then on the right side click on Lilith Fair Channels. On that page, scroll down on the right-hand column and select "Lilith Local Talent Search: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego". Voila! You made it to the judging!

There will be 4 artists at a time that come up to listen to. You have to listen to at least 15 seconds of each and vote for them in the order you like them best. My song should be in the grouping within 5 tries, maximum.

Please vote as often as possible. We have only 10 days of judging to go!

Thanks for your support (& patience)!!

Lily

Time to hit the road

Sun, 16 May 2010 22:15:15 -0700

We leave in 2 days to tour up the coast and in to Oregon. I am so excited to play these new songs! It's going to be a great way to perform some of them for the first time. Mark and I have been so busy in the studio that we haven't really had much time to just play music! Tonight, we're going through our set list.

It's May!!!

Mon, 10 May 2010 01:12:54 -0700

Everything is in bloom, and the birds are singing to me through the window. I love this time of year.

Mark Browne and I have been living in the studio lately, recording songs for my new CD. We've both been so inspired by the way the pieces are falling together. We're very blessed to have our dear friends and wonderful musicians like James Harrah, Dave Beyer, Bernie Barlow, Fritz Lewak, Paul Trudeau, Nick Kirgo, and Mark Goldenberg come over and add their magic to the songs.

I have a lot of people to thank fo helping make our recording process a reality (thank you, thank you, thank you!) We've been taking pre-orders since January, and have raised enough money to pay for everything so far. We're about two thirds of the way through recording, and are still raising money through pre-orders. You can just go to my home page to check it out and order your copy. Every time a new order comes though, it means we get to put a little more into this project, and I am so grateful for that. I really cannot wait to get this CD to all of you!

In June, we'll be playing a really special show in Santa Monica, CA with the band. We'll be opening up this beautiful yoga/ meditation/ music space before the show for a private party to honor the people who have pre-ordered CDs. I promise, it will be a night to remember! Please mark your calendars. I will have more details in the coming weeks, and I hope to see you there.

In a few weeks Mark and I will be hitting the road to play for our friends in Northern California and Oregon. We have a lot of new tunes to play for you!

Thanks again for all of your support. I couldn't do it without you! Now, I'm off to sing another vocal...

Falling in love with each song...

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:33:24 -0700

From the writing process to the recording process is such an interesting journey. Putting the songs down permanently... It can be daunting to lock them into one kind of expression. I know by now how they grow and change with time. And right now, it's taking me some time to get to know each of these gems that has come to me for this CD. I have to get inside them, kick around in the corners of them, and try to tame them. Try to capture them to be put on display for the world to hear.

I know that a year from now, after I've played these songs with the band a thousand times, they'll be like comfy old shoes; but for now, I'm still getting acquainted. It's exciting. It's like falling in love.

Back in L.A.

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 23:19:14 -0700

I went up north to visit with family and soak up some peace and quiet. I needed that! I unplugged for a few days, and reconnected with my deepest voice. The countryside is so incredibly green right now. We had more rain while I was there. Everything is regenerating...

I have has such a crazy few months with my voice! The start of spring has brought me a new case of allergies, and I'm still not in recording form. But, I am getting to know these new songs better every day.

James Harrah came in and played some brilliant guitar parts on a few songs last week. I'm so excited to see how it all comes together. Mark Browne is adding his special magic to "Good Rain" as I type...

Bigger Than Life

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 13:40:00 -0700

I love this new song that Debra Davis and I wrote called "Bigger Than Life." It's a sweet, light-hearted love song. Mark is playing mandolin on it, which is pretty exciting. His mandolin's name is Rose, and this will be her debut on my recorded music.

We had Debra and Nick Kirgo over the other day to put down the guitar and piano part, and I'll be posting some fun footage from that session soon.

Here's the session with Bernie Barlow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMQ0po4JNnE from a few days ago. That was a blast. She sang on "still," the song that we wrote together, and on a new one called "Good Rain."

We're steadily recording all of my new songs, and it's going really well! It's always a little daunting to realize how much work is in front of us when we start a new project, but at this point, I feel like I can see the shape it's taking, and how everything fits together.

In other news, I'm at #26 on the ReverbNation Pop charts for L.A.! I'm happy about that! And I made this little TunePak: http://www.reverbnation.com/tunepak/2492676 that you can post anywhere (blog, website, Facebook...) to help spread the word about my music. Thanks for your support!