The Talented Ones

Once upon a time, I was living at home with my parents and working for free at a record label and also working retail to try to save whatever money I could.  In general, I tried to be pretty and trendy while still being, you know, me, and mostly it worked.

I was also in this I Don’t Know What My Hair Is Supposed To Be Netherworld.  It’s a fun Netherworld to inhabit from time to time.

I showed up to the retail job one day in a decent outfit, and I’d straightened my hair and my bangs were pretty grown out so I’d sort of braided them back and pinned them to the side of my head.  I was working behind the register and somebody commented on the ‘do, asking, “Is that a braid?”

I smiled and nodded.

She shook her head, looked at her friend, and sighed.  “Oh, man.  The pretty ones.”

Weird, and slightly uncomfortable, but flattering.

(this video is also weird and slightly uncomfortable, however, it was filmed on the day in question and displays the ‘do nicely.)

I don’t really know what made me think of that moment other than… I don’t really know.

BUT THE POINT IS — maybe, according to the random girl shopping at Guess, I was (or am) a pretty one, but my friend Erin is a TALENTED one.

And it’s kind of fitting that I bring up this moment and find this video because in the video I’m all, “I’M MOVING TO TENNESSEE. “  And if I hadn’t moved to Tennessee (hello WHOA I’ve been here forever now) I wouldn’t know Erin and wouldn’t be doing all this fun stuff that is SO Tennessee like, um, letting her take pretty pictures of me and eating pancakes afterwards.

SNEAK PEAK.

That’s all.

I love her.  She is a talented one.  AND a pretty one.

The Way It Always Goes

I have to say,  two things are really, really great at getting good songs out of me:

Really, really long letters that spark just one moment of true inspiration.

Painful, if not completely messy, break-ups.

More later, I promise.

Things are still settling.

The Update On This Thing I Call A Website

I’m sitting here listening to Dave Barnes’ latest album, What We Want, What We Get.  I’ve heard of Dave Barnes but it wasn’t until about 4 days ago while listening to Nashville’s independent radio station, Lightning 100, that I heard his song “Little Lies,” and decided I must hear more.  Not a life changing song by any means.  A catchy little ditty.  On an album full of wonderful music.

By the way, if your city has an independent station (like I said, around here we have Lightning 100, which does much to alleviate the void left in my life when I moved from Minneapolis and The Current) I really, really recommend tuning your radio to that frequency.  There’s so much more variety and while you’re still going to hear the better of the music that’s popular at the moment (and some older stuff too), you’re also going to hear stuff that’s out on the fringes, that may very well shape the direction popular music will take (god willing!) if the right people up sit up and take notice.

I digress.

Dave Barnes is setting the tone for today.

I’m sitting at my computer this morning turned afternoon taking care of housekeeping-y things, something I put off and then put off again more often than I care to admit because, well, I sit at a computer 40 hours a week taking care of other people’s housekeeping-y things and even though I find value in doing this stuff for myself, most of the time I’d rather not even glance sideways at my computer anymore.  It doesn’t help that it refuses to run 75% of the time.  I need a new one.

But that’s where this whole update comes in because I’ve had a direction in mind for this space for quite awhile and there are a few things getting in the way, mainly the fact that I really need a newer computer that runs, and while I’ve got the cash to buy one, I don’t have the cash to buy the one I want.

So this is where I tell you that I’m putting the donation button back up on the side bar.  (If you don’t see it yet it’s because I’m writing the post before making any actual changes… but it’s coming.)

I’m not going to beg you for cash and I’m not desperate for it.  But the fact is that I’ve got some good music up here, free for the taking, and while my expenses around here aren’t huge, it would be nice to offset them just a little.  If you’ve downloaded or if you want to poke around and decide you like something you hear, that is when I’d ask you to consider dropping a few pennies in the pot.  Why?

Because I want this website to become a place for my music.  I want, if I never do anything more with my music in this life, to be able to have the means to sit down and write and record and just post stuff to share.  I’m not concerned with fame or fortune.  I don’t want the job I have now forever, but I don’t think what I NEED in my life is to make my living from writing or singing.  I wouldn’t hate it if that happened, but it’s not something I’m actively seeking at this  point.  That, however, does not change the fact that when looked at scientifically, 1 Courtney Olson = 1 part caffiene, 3 parts sunshine and 4 parts music.  It’s something I do and I want to share it.

The fundage would go toward a Macbook (maybe a pro), a microphone, and the programming to make it all work together.  The built in webcam won’t hurt my feelings any either, as it will make fun youtube videos MUCH more frequent.

I don’t want you, at all, to feel obligated.  The music is free to take because for the most part, it was free to make.  But if you do help me out, it will be an investment.  And I will appreciate it greatly.

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So, if I’m taking this site to a fully music kind of level, will all of the personal writing you’ve come to know and (maybe) love disappear?

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I don’t even do much of that around here anymore.  I can’t say it will go away completely, but just judging on the way it has been lately, I’d say we’ll have more music.  It’ll still be personal.  Just more… audible.

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Has your life ever taken a new direction that caused your blog to completely change along with you?  How did that transition work out for you?  Let me know.

The Magnetic Zeros (And Edward Sharpe)

I could listen to this song over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

And over.

The Momma’s Boy

Painfully awesome or painful true?

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Originally by Chromeo.