Since returning to Toronto I've been trying my best to maintain my travelers spirit and stay open to anything, especially when it comes to music.
It seems to be paying off so far...
At the end of September I've been accepted to perform on the train from Toronto to Vancouver, return. This is a program open to artists who are Canadian citizens, so, lucky for me, I was born here so even though I have a thick Aussie twang when I speak, I still get to be considered.
It's such a great idea to provide entertainment for the passengers, something the Australian rail system should consider for sure. I personally love catching the train and meeting new people, so the fact I can play music for them as well is just an added bonus. The only thing I'm a little worried about is that I have a tendency towards motion sickness and usually have to take medication that completely stones me, so I'm not sure how I will go singing under those circumstances!
I think the trip takes 4 days. It's going to be quite intense because I have to play 3 x 45 minute sets a day and they expect your performance to be different every time. This means I have A LOT of work to do over the next couple of months. For the first time in my life I am spending time learning cover songs - I don't have enough original material to cover that amount of playing time, especially if I take out all of the sad depressing love songs :)
So this is a great challenge for me, but it's not easy for my brain. Reading tab, learning the names of chords (I taught my self to play by ear and never learnt the names of chords!) watching youtube guitar tutorials, trying to remember other peoples lyrics - this is all new to me and it's hard! I'm using muscles in my brain that have been lying dormant for a very long time. But I feel like this experience is helping me to become a better musician, so it's all good.
So far, I've been getting back to my roots and trying to learn songs by artists who first inspired me to start writing - Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor, Carol King, Nick Drake, Rickie Lee Jones... But I'm planning to mix it up with all sorts of stuff, so if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to send them my way :)
Ok I better go and get back to rehearsing, time is slipping away!
xx
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