Astronaut music video, podcast interview, and blog news below (no joke), but first, something SUPER important:
Tweet #freeinternet #stopsopa #stoppipa @freepress @moveon
On Thurs. 12/14, Congress could give corporations the power to censor and shut down websites for "piracy." Under the guise of protecting copyrights held by creatives like myself, this legislation is a sneaky way to censor content on sites where expression thrives -- even sites like YouTube or Facebook that are key to indie musicians and people everywhere who learn, share, connect, listen, watch, read, get inspired, explore, protest, and more online...
Companies from Google to Twitter to Kickstarter (where I funded my album and find endless innovation) have already spoken out against the legislation.Let's use the very spaces corporations want to control to knock this down!
Sign, Tweet, Facebook, email, call now: Petition at Avaaz / Info and ██████ ██████ visual protest ███████ █████ ████████ blackout tools (that look like that) at AmericanCensorship.org.
/// OK, back to REGULAR NEWS. The latest.
H A P P Y H O L I E V E R Y D A Y S
- I can't tell you how many blogposts, emails, webcasts, and whatnot I've gotten advocating that I go into holiday-time CD-selling mania. I'm not on board. Last year I thought ok, I'm not into this sell sell sell buy buy buy mentality, but maybe people really would like to give indie music instead of ugly reindeer sweaters and Wiis. As it turns out, I just felt cheesy and pushy, and didn't sell more than any regular ol' everyday day. And every day is worth celebrating! So this season, I want to wish you HAPPY EVERYDAYS, and share with you *free* goodies, shows, inspirational and funny things, and projects to look forward to.
(Caveat: In the spring I might ask for Kickstarter donations for my music video, since the whole world isn't quite on board with my #occupycreativity type of #neweconomy yet and I will have to rent an astronaut suit.)W A T C H
- Wait, did she just say astronaut suit? Yep. My music video, slated for storyboarding in January and shooting in Feb/March, will center around the metaphorical relationship between an astronaut and his wife. (Probably both played by me. This will be beautiful and fun, I can't wait!) See also, funny vintage:
- Item #2 in the W A T C H category is new live video on YouTube: New jazz trio on "Everything is Perfect," and super-into-it-guy clapping to my new gospel-ish song, "Last Request." (Wait for it.)
- Hooray, a new podcast! We talk about everything from prioritizing creativity to the astronaut music video plans. (And I love how my voice gets an echo on it right at that point. Maybe I was phonin' it in from outer space? We'll never know...) You can hear it on ThisOrdinaryGuy.com or download for free on iTunes.
- And as always, my album is streaming for free on my website.
L O O K
- I made a Tumblr! (Yeah yeah I know, way to jump on the bandwagon 800 years later.) Still, I'm super excited about sharing short snippets and snapshots of the cuckoo, wonderful New York I experience every day. Sometimes directly related to music, sometimes just creative fodder, sometimes important items, like standing up for free internet.
- I've recently gotten into house shows which have been so rewarding and good for the soul -- thank you so much! This is what music is all about. Here are pictures from November and December. Definitely check out the spectacular Amaryllis plant someone even brought. !! (Also, if you're the person who's "good for $14.50," no worries, we'll catch our ice cream cones with ya later.)
/// PLACES I'LL BE With other musicians or solo, via imaginary rocketship.
- New York
- 1/4 8pm // With California songwriter-pianist Zach Zaitlin. Caffe Vivaldi, 32 Jones St. [Sidenote: Donate to help keep Caffe Vivaldi and its beautiful grand piano open!]
- 1/28 or 2/11 (TBA, hang tight!) 8pm // WAM-NYC Feminism Rules Lineup w. songwriter Rebe Scarlett and burlesque dancer Janna Zinzi. Private Location (rsvp email to follow)
- 2/3 or 2/11 (TBA, hang tight! again!) 8pm // That Party Was So Good, We're Doing It Again w. Owen Beverly (French Camp) and The Handsome Man Band. RSVP@juliabarry.com to get the secret address.
- 2/24 6:30pm // Solo at Free Music Fridays, American Folk Art Museum, 45 West 53rd Street
- And the northeast spring tour is still very much on. More on that as it gets closer. For now just keep that bee in your bonnet if you live en route from Washington D.C. to Maine.
/// RANDOM ENJOYABLES I love this part almost as much as I love late-night snacks.
- Have we talked about RadioLab's "Loops" episode yet?! I won't say anything (spoiler). Just listen to it. Like frosting for your spirit. (If your spirit were a cake--)
- Also, one of their shorts, "Slow," is all about the sound of voices and has the most touching, music-related, story culmination ever. (Fellow iPod subway listeners, I just had something in my eye. Really.)
- Which oh wow, speaking of, I'm Not Crying" is an oldie but goodie from Flight of the Conchords.
- And for a fun reminder gone full circle, here's a Colbert video about standing up for #openinternet. (Just a case in point: For this newsletter, I used MailChimp, a free/uncensored enews site to send you a message full of creative commons and personal images pulled off of the free/uncensored sites, Google, Flickr, and Facebook; sounds from free/uncensored podcasts on iTunes and individual project sites; free/uncensored videos on YouTube of free/uncensored shows promoted using ArtistData, a free/uncensored tool for musicians...I think you get where I'm going with this. :) Today's our chance, good people. See you on the front internet-lines!
And now, it's time for some late-night snacks. Yessss.
Happy Everydays,
Julia
