Electroluminescent Excitations

Dream beings are human beings.

2011-12-02T00:28:00.006-05:00

Every once & awhile you meet someone who is truly iridescent. And then no one else, nothing else, can compare.

Maybe you meet them in a dream. In your head. Maybe this person isn't even real.

Perhaps this person is inspired by a human being you've met before.

But maybe he's only a made up person... a dream version - taking up the space in your brain,

replacing the empty, echoing halls of your head.

Sometimes I meet them when I'm asleep. In that dusty, little corner of my subconscious self.

The place where worlds collide. Dream beings become human beings

& the things I thought were real turn into dream scenes.

I don't know if they're alive or dead... but they're in my head. Living their lives & dreaming their dreams.

Moving, breathing people, held together by stories & sticks, and wishes & bones.

Maybe he's only a hope or a half-concocted fantasy, a phantom - wandering the melancholic, hollow halls of my veins, born within the echoing walls that house the lazy, hazy yearnings of my slowly dying heart.

All I know is that they are real to me. And that I know them. They know me.

Sometimes they know me better than myself.

(or maybe I'm just sleeping.)

Troubled is my middle name.

2011-08-24T15:51:00.003-05:00

My room is a mess.
My head is a mess.
My life is a mess.

Too much clutter.
Too much confusion.
Too much chaos.

Cacophony.

Troubled is my middle name.
Failure follows far too closely.
Negativity, nipping at my heels &
doubts just envelope me.

Dark clouds & dark thoughts are my closest friends.
Shadows & lies... and black nights, and sighs.

Looking towards the light --- with clouds in these eyes,
dreaming of the day this darkness will end.

I want to remember!
I want to rediscover!
To remix. To recreate. To realize. To revolutionize.

I want to rip off this disguise...
start again, be someone else: be someone new.

But I can't.

My life is a mess.
My head is a mess.
My room is a mess.

Everything about me is a mess.

(But maybe you can change the ending to this tragic story.)

Sometimes I wish I could blend in with these walls.

2011-06-28T00:20:00.002-05:00

I'm tired of myself. I want to be someone else.

I used to be inspired. I used to be inspiring. Now I just feel useless & foolish.
A wasted, empty, broken failure.
Cracked, crushed, smashed.
Waiting to be put back together again.

I don't even know who I am anymore.
I don't belong anywhere anymore.

Empty & purposeless.
Aimless. Apathetic.
Crushed spirit. Broken body.
Stagnant.
Praying for change.
Hoping for revolution & renewal.

I'm tired of false starts. I'm tired of dead ends.
I need less drowning & more land.
More light & more air.
I need to breathe! I need to live!

Don't you know I need you?
I need you.
The End.

Sometimes, I wish I could just blend in with these walls.

Off to work I go & To Narnia & the North!

2011-03-19T15:34:00.005-05:00

Two new things:

1. I am starting a new job on Monday.

2. I just created a Tumblr page.

After nine months of hoping & praying, I'm finally starting a temporary, full time job this week. I've spent months working on my photography, assisting other photographers with shoots every once & awhile, babysitting more than I have ever babysat in my life, & volunteering at The Current, the radio station where I did my internship.

This new adventure is not a dream job, but it's a start! I'll be working for a company that score standardized testing... I'll be grading reading comprehension to be exact. What comes after the end of April... we shall see, but for now... off to work I go!

Speaking of new adventures, I'll still be posting here on this lovely little blog when I have significant things to say, but I just started a Tumblr page. (As if I need another website to live on in internetland.) For a daily dose of inspiration - in the form of photographs & art, film & television, sound & colors, stories & words, thoughts & dreams, join me here at: To Narnia & The North!

If you're on tumblr too... send me your link & follow me so we can inspire each other! <3

Come further up, come further in!

CEE

Last Night's Daydream.

2010-12-20T23:47:00.003-05:00

_______________________
Sometimes I'm tired of being me.

Tired of being caught in the in-between.

Partly numb, but partly living... living only because I'm still breathing.

A whisper of breath left inside, life is a sliver in my soul... shrinking smaller & smaller; now the size of a splinter, cold and frozen like ice, chilling my veins-- coursing through my arteries, a frosty, frigid rushing winter river.

Penetrating, piercing ice.

I can feel it seeping through my soul, filling up my lungs with snow, stolen life encased in a clear, glass house between my bones.

So why can't I wake up?

Why can't I smash the glass & melt the ice, to take back what belongs to me?

Stuck in a dream that I just can't get out of-- knowing that I'm on the edge of dying,

but clinging to the hope that one day I'll open my eyes

& find out that my bones have been thawed out after all.

I want to tear off this mask, the face that pretends to be me, but really isn't anyone at all.

I don't even know who I am anymore.

Inspiration in Pictorial form.

2010-12-09T00:09:00.005-05:00

I want to be a part of something soul shifting.

Something that moves people to their inner cores.

I'm just not sure what that is yet.

______________________________________

Just a few delicious photos from Vogue & American Photo Booth, an amazing book chronicling the history of the photobooth in Europe and America.

I'm always dreaming about glorious fashion shoots & owning a vintage photobooth some day. I can't wait until I can stop dreaming & start doing something innovative & remarkable. I want to leave something beautiful behind in this world when I leave this land.

The Wonders of Washington: Seattle's Lovely Landscapes.

2010-11-14T18:55:00.009-05:00

Seattle is made up of so many intriguing lines, colors, angles, and architecture. Here are a few bonus shots of some of my favorite buildings & landscapes that caught my attention while wandering around the city!

And this concludes The Wonders of Washington!

The Wonders of Washington: Sleepless in Seattle.

2010-11-14T15:54:00.009-05:00

Our trip came to a close with another two & a half day dose of Seattle before jetted back to the East Coast. We packed up the cabin... our snug little hobbit hole for almost two weeks of neverending comraderie & adventure. We made a little stop at a farm, a home belonging to some of Rachel's friends, where we saw turkeys, pups, fancy chickens, and bunnies, and said our goodbyes to Mrs. Bradley & dear Gena!

We ended up back at Pike Place Market where we hung out with the golden pig (also named Rachel). We soaked up the sunshine from a waterfront viewing window while we waited to meet our friend Brittney & her boyfriend for a delicious dinner at The Spaghetti Factory.

We drove around the city as the sun was setting & finally after an hour of hunting, we tracked down the ominous Fremont Troll under the Fremont Bridge. (The same troll from the film 10 Things I Hate About You.)

We spent the next two nights at a hotel right outside of the city & rode the bus back into Seattle (along with quite a few interesting characters) the next morning for even more exploration & sight seeing. My favorite part of the entire day was the hours of conversation about life, love, and the future in Espresso Vivace... where I had the best coffee EVER, the White Velvet Mocha, recommended by Jason Gray the great!

We traipsed everywhichway stopping in little shops & photgraphing everything in sight for the rest of the afternoon & then had a glorious goodbye feast at The Cheesecake Factory.

And then... the ultimate tourist event! We visited the top of the Space Needle & watched the sun set hundreds of feet above the city, staring at Seattle until thousands of twinkly lights took the place of the daytime bustle down below.

CHEESY!

Our last night together was a good old fashioned sleepover, filled with laughter & little bit o' sadness because we would once again be sent to different corners of the Earth. Life just makes so much more sense when we're together! (or perhaps it makes less sense, but that's the way we like it.)

On June 28th, 2010 we followed the yellow paint road to the airport & said our tearful farewell to our favorite Japanese-tipped Singaporean Indian Abby & sent her off to Japanland. We spent the ENTIRE day at the mall where we shopped, played in the Apple Store, shopped, ate Thai food, shopped some more, saw Iron Man 2 at the movies, ate Ben & Jerry's Icecream, & then a final stop at Starbucks before we had to part with our dear Rachel. We cried. Yes, again. Tears of sorrow for the impending seperation, tears of joy for the jolly good time we had together. And then we flew away into the sky & back home to Virginia Beach.

The End.

(The end is not the end. Ending is beginning.)

The Wonders of Washington: Shenanigans in Seattle.

2010-11-05T11:20:00.009-05:00

One of the highlights of our trip was spending three & a half days in the beautiful city of Seattle. I've grown up watching movies & television that give you glimpses of the Seattle skyline, but to truly experience the beauty of the colors, landscapes, & feelings you must explore this lovely city for yourself.

To finally arrive at Pike Place market, this familiar scene that has been captured by tourists and films for years, is surreal. The sights, the smells, the sounds, the people: overwhelming & wonderful all at once.

We spent the first day in Seattle galavanting around the city with Will Foster & the lovely Gena joined us in the afternoon. Our first stop was fish & chips for lunch on the waterfront. (But I had a hamburger because I am not a seafood fan.) And then we immersed ourselves in the Seattle sights.

We discovered Post Alley & added our DNA in the form of Big Red cinnamon gum to the famous gum wall. This is probably the most germ infested place on Earth.

We stumbled upon this magnificent parking garage & had a miniature photoshoot. Five photographers = hundreds of photos. All day... everyday.

We stopped at Caffe D'Arte for some mocha & then trekked a couple miles to see the Space Needle. (Rachel, Abby, Monika, & I went to the top of the Space Needle before the trip was over as our last hurrah.)

Funniest part of the day? Will told us to meet him on the skybridge at Macy's. He was nowhere to be found. Then we spotted him... on the roof of the parking lot. Next thing you know, he's down on the street looking up at us. Kind of like a tricky game of "Where's Waldo?". Can you spot him?!

The result: my absolute favorite photo from the whole trip & probably the funniest photo I've ever been in.

Team Seattle.

And this concludes Day 1 of shenanigans in Seattle!

The Wonders of Washington: Friday Harbor, The Ferry, & other fun festivities.

2010-10-26T22:22:00.014-05:00

One of my favorite days in Washington was spent exploring Friday Harbor: a cute little town on San Juan Island. Despite being exhausted & ill we woke up early & drove to Anacortes to catch the ferry. We weren't going to let anything keep us from being adventurous!

And thus began our three day sleepover with one of Rachel's best friends: the great & glorious Gena!

After a lovely little lunch at a crowded diner we walked around the town, got some delicious ice cream, did a little people-watching, and found a stone wall with a perfect view of the harbor where we basked in the sun for an hour or two!

After our splendid time soaking in the sunshine, we hopped from coffee shop to tea shop and stopped inside little tourist spots along the way!

We took the ferry back to Anacortes as the sun was setting (a few of us fell asleep on the way!) and drove back to the cabin for a festive fajita fiesta!

Coming up next: Shenanigans in Seattle!

The Wonders of Washington: Adventures in Marysville with Will Foster.

2010-10-17T15:08:00.030-05:00

One of the things I love the most about my friends is that we can have fun anytime, anywhere, doing absolutely anything at all, as long as we're together! We can find beauty & amusement in everything. Our afternoon in Marysville Washington is proof of this! (Most of the photos below were taken by me, but I threw in a few of Abby & Rachel's too!)

Our friend Will Foster, who is also a photographer (check out his work here: Will Foster Photo) just happened to be in Seattle while we were visiting. We met him halfway between the cabin in La Conner & where he was staying.... and ended up in Marysville.

We had some tasty Mexican food at Las Margaritas & then some delicious coffee at Vinaccio Coffee where we had some fab camera talk & Abby played with Will's nifty fifty lens.

We drove around town aimlessly, drinking tea and jamming to tunes in the car, including the Dora the Explorer song. Video proof that this is Will's favorite song ever: HERE!

And Will put gasoline in his car for the first time ever! Apparently gas pumps aren't self-serve in Oregon. How peculiar.

SUCCESS!

We stumbled upon a random field, complete with a taco truck, a swing set, and a stream! So we took photographs, obviously!

Our last stop in Marysville was a parking lot behind Don's Lounge where two hours of photo fun ensued! Only we could find such joy in such a seemingly worthless location!

Abby captured (and captioned) this ridiculousness. "Cherylyn trips over Will's foot. This causes Will to morph into a raptor. Cherylyn also turns into a raptor. The end."

The Wonders of Washington: The fab four reunited!

2010-10-13T21:52:00.016-05:00

Let's rewind back to June. Oh, what a magical month. The month I finally made my return back to the wondrous west coast, the side of the country I was made for. And the month that I spent two beautiful weeks with my dearest friends in the world. The friends that understand me in a way that no one else does... the friends that love me despite knowing all of my secrets, my weakness, my quirks, my ridiculousness, and lived through fourteen days of incessant hangout time with me!

Welcome to part one of The Wonders of Washington!

Meet the Fab Four:

This trip was made possible by the great & glorious Guna family. I don't think they will ever understand how dreadfully thankful I am and how forever indebted I am to their kindness and their love for their daughter & her BFFs. I am still in awe today when I think about the phenomenal gift that they gave us & will never forget it. Ever.

We flew through miles of gray, ominous clouds and then emerged into clear skies above Seattle just as radiant rays of sunshine burst into view and sparkled over the water. The Pacific Ocean. Oh, how I missed you! Excited to be reunited with our very own Washingtonian Wonder, Rachel, & our Japanese-Indian-Singaporean, Abby G., we drove the two hours to La Conner, where we spent most of our trip in a cozy cabin at Snee-oosh Beach!

And this is where the adventures began. Days full of exploration, frolicking on the shore of Snee-oosh, enjoying coffee & tea at Ristretto while making plans for our weekend in Seattle, and walking around downtown La Conner.

Neverending nights of storytelling, laughing until we cried, crying until we laughed again, heart to heart conversations into the wee hours of the morning. We were brought together by an unexplainable bond, but oh how our hearts were united more than ever.

Grocery shopping shenanigans ensued & every meal was an adventure: Many pizza, much pasta, & ocean creature shaped chick nuggs were devoured & teatime was all day, everyday. The sunset spaghetti picnic by the river with new friends & our blazing bonfire complete with hotdogs & s'mores are just two of the highlights of our fun with food.

Pretty much my favorite thing about Washington, was brushing my teeth with my roomie Rachey every night... I still miss her when I'm brushing my pearly whites to this day.

And I miss dance parties in the kitchen to Plus One tunes.

The thousands of photos snapped will never tell the whole story, but they most definitely help me remember the wonders of Washington.

Love,

CEE.

Coming soon: Shenanigans in Seattle, Mt. Vernon, Marysville, and our journey on the ferry to Friday Harbor.

October again.

2010-10-04T00:29:00.003-05:00

It's October again.

The trees are abandoning their leaves &

You have abandoned me.

Okay, so maybe that isn't true...

Maybe I abandoned you.

All I know is that I'm alone &

broken open.

Half empty.

Life & blood slowly spilling through the cracks.

The cracks I tried to seal with glue.

Over & over... and over.

Nothing works.

NOTHING.

Trying is useless.

I am useless.

I am nothing.

Nothing without you, that is.

I don't understand who I am anymore.

I don't understand why I'm here anymore.

I don't understand.

And sometimes I don't want to.

Oh, but I want.

I want so much, I want to want, I need to want.

And how I need to be needed.

Does anyone want me?

Does anyone need me?

NO.

So why is there still a hint of life flowing through my veins?

If there is no one, than I am nothing.

I am nothing, absolutely nothing, if there is no one.

Maybe it's my fault that I'm broken,

but the only thing I know is that I need you to fix me.

Please come for me!

Put me back together before my life is poured out.

- CEE

Escape, restart, reboot, shout for joy, be free.

2010-09-29T16:20:00.003-05:00

I wish I was built with a restart button.

I'm so tired. I'm so sick... I'm so tired of being sick & tired.

Forever stuck in the same place. Waiting. Always waiting.

Suspended in space... hoping for change, praying for progress.

Wishing I could explode before I implode.

I want to escape. I want to create. I want to be free. I want to shine.

I want to live before I die.

Please, please, please let me get what I want!

(I just want to be part of something galaxy moving... & earth-shatteringly important. That is all I want, really.)

Love,

CEE.

Vintage Family Photos.

2010-09-04T02:01:00.005-05:00

I have an obsession!

I spend hours & hours marveling at old, vintage photos.

Like this one:

Tight Rope Biker

And this one:

Borrowed from Flickr.

I stare at old photos for hours & wonder what these people, forever immortalized in photograph form, were like. I wish I could talk to them & I make up my own stories about them in my dreams.

Borrowed from Flickr.

Last week, I visited my grandparents in Florida. I spent one evening immersed in vintage family photos starting from the beginning of the 1900s. To know that you exist because these people existed before you one hundred years ago makes the photos even more intriguing. These people are in my blood, or I guess their blood is in me, coursing through my own veins, passed down from generation to generation.

My grandfather showed me a photo of his grandparents, Stephan & Susanne. Susanne was born on July 29th, 1887. I was born on July 28th, 1987. She came into this world almost exactly one hundred years before me.

This photo was taken sometime between 1914 & 1918.

Almost a century old, The photograph is extremely cracked & faded and almost falling off of the cardboard that supports it's frail photo paper. I decided to scan & edit it to preserve it for my grandfather. This was the finished result.

Oh, a photograph is a powerful thing!

I want my spark back, PLEASE!

2010-07-15T01:06:00.005-05:00

"I used to feel as if there was an insuperable wall surrounding me completely and there was no chance of ever scaling its height. Sometimes I imagined that I had been dragged out into the ocean, waves pounding on me furiously, and I was slipping below the surface. Other times, I felt like I was falling into a deep chasm and that there would be no escape. I thought I was garbage, so in return I received garbage. The negative messages inside my head were soon visible on the outside, as my confidence slowly deflated like a balloon and nothing that I was reaping was positive."

This is an excerpt of a letter that I wrote to myself seven or eight years ago. I stumbled upon this narrative written my young, fifteen-year-old self tonight, on a night where I am feeling stuck. Literally stuck in a moment that I just can't get out of. I think I wrote this back then, for my future self... which just happens to be my present self right now. As a recent college graduate who has not yet found the perfect job and has no idea, really, which career path to follow, I've been drowning in a sea of doubts. Doubts that whisper to me in the middle of night, "You don't have any skills!", "You're not talented!", "You'll never go anywhere!", and "Your dreams will never come true."

When did I start listening to doubts, fear, & negativity again? What happened to my ability to drive the negative out of my heart and let the positivity, light, and love creep back into the dark crevices of my soul?! I ended this note-to-self with this observation [I think I was wiser back then]:

"When my thoughts are contaminated by negative thoughts and I am visualizing the opposite outcome of what I wish to occur, Satan has a way of making it happen. I have learned that when we worry and verbalize fear, we are just one step closer to reality. Therefore, what we think literally translates our actions, and what happens is a direct result from our innermost thoughts, whether they are conscious or even subconscious. I’ve learned to guard carefully the words that pass through my mouth, as well as the messages I’m sending to myself, because I know that they can permanently hurt others or become lodged in my heart. Unguarded, hurtful words pursue a course of damage wherever they go like an arrow which cannot be brought back to the bow once it has been fired."

"I didn’t realize the importance of building a ladder to our dreams so that they can become realities, and not just a cloud floating in the sky out of our reach. We are guided towards success and failure in everything we do by the pictures, produced by words, in our minds. These images are imprinted on the screens of our almost computer-like subconscious and if we are bombarded with negative thoughts we will be locked in a dungeon of bondage. Positive thinking will always produce a good outcome. Spectacular success is always preceded by unspectacular preparation. If I hadn’t learned the tremendous amount of power that positive and negative words have on our lives, I would still be stuck in my spider web of confusion, doubt, and fear, trying to extricate myself from its sticky entanglements. I now know that God expects us to be determined, lunging one step further than we feel we can bear, and to never give up. “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he”(Proverbs 23:7)".

I want my spark back!

And my determination...

and faith! and expectation of success and prosperity!

I will overcome the fear and invite the courage back into my life!

Cast your cares on the Lord & He will sustain you.

He will never let the righteous fall.

Love,

CEE.

Nathan Morris: Live Love - The Interview

2010-06-11T15:55:00.006-05:00

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing my dear friend Nathan Morris. Not only is he one of my personal favorites in the music world, he has a golden heart and is one of the kindest people I've ever met.

Read the full story here: Nathan Morris: Live Love.

Cherylyn Ebertz: When did you realize that singing was your passion?

Nathan Morris: When I was 16, driving 2 hours every week to record silly demos that I did nothing with. I enjoyed the process of writing a song, recording a song and showing people. I enjoyed sharing that art and realized that I would work as hard as necessary to make it a full-time job.

CEE: If you weren't pursuing your musical career what do you think you'd be doing now?

NM: I probably would have attended Full Sail University for video production, perhaps even married. Geez, what a scary thought.

CEE: What is the defining element that sets you apart from other musicians or artists?

NM: I think it's so easy to be caught up in this industry. In all the attention, "things" and whatever else it throws at you. I feel called to do this. I feel as people, we were put here to love each other to the best of our ability. For me, doing this is about sharing how I feel, think, hope, hurt, care for others. If I relate to one person, then my job is done.

I want people to know they're important. I've made sure to surround myself with a solid group of individuals who'd never leave me stranded or hanging, and will hold me accountable with the decisions I make. A defining element is my foundation and the people who make up this machine. They're more than business partners. They're brothers and sisters who believe in the same Truth that I believe in and know my roles and goals.

CEE: You inspire people with your music. What inspires you?

NM: Thank you so much for that. Life and the people who fill it. The things that happen on a daily basis; the simple thing. My mother and her willingness to love us boys unconditionally. My brothers who rally behind me and efforts to keep doing what I love.

CEE: What is your favorite song that you've ever written or recorded? Is there one song that is more meaningful than all the others?

NM: I think every song becomes my "favorite" at one time or another. As people, we go through seasons in life; ups and downs. "Just Me, Just You" is a favorite right now. Right now things are uncertain, but I have hope. That song talks about taking life one day at a time, letting someone know you're right there to take life on with.

CEE: How would you describe your own sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

NM: Pop, hooky pop, with some substance.

CEE: Define success for you personally. What are your ultimate goals as musician? What are your life goals?

NM: Success is simply finding contentment and happiness in what you're doing on a daily basis. My ultimate goals are selling records, meeting and encouraging people with songs I create, playing hundreds of dates a year and just finding enjoyment through the process. Life goals consist of finding a wife who can handle this schedule, continue to enjoy the process, buy my mom a new house, send my brothers on a vacation, give my manager more vacations and die a happy man.

CEE: Do you enjoy either the songwriting/recording process or traveling & playing live shows more than the other? Or do you love both equally?

NM: It's a toss up. I love the "shaking hands" aspect of the live show, but I love writing and creating something in the studio.

CEE: What have you been working on lately?

NM: Lately, it's been a lot of traveling. I've been playing a lot of shows, getting out in front of people and shaking hands. I'm always writing music amidst all that as well. I'm promoting the new EP "Just Me, Just You." That's been taking up a lot of time.

CEE: Where do you get most of your song ideas?

NM: From the life I live; the second, third, twentieth chances I get and the lessons learned. I get ideas from loving people and loved in return.

CEE: What have you been listening to lately?

NM: John Mayer's "Battle Studies" and Brett Dennan.

CEE: What is the best place you've visited during your travels so far?

NM: I always enjoy going out to LA. There's something so creative about that place. I really enjoyed Tampa Bay as well. Beautiful buildings and coast lines.

CEE: How do you balance life on the road and at home. What is your favorite thing about sharing your music with the world? What is your least favorite thing about your job?

NM: I don't, really. It's a learning process always. When I get off the road, it always takes a few days to get back in to what little routine I have when not on the road. The least favorite thing is just trying find a routine that is hard to develop and/or maintain.

CEE: What has been the biggest adventure of your life so far? What surprises you the most about life?

NM: Biggest adventure is learning more and more as time passes. The biggest surprise; it flies by. I used to wish so many moments away. "I can't wait until next week" or "I can't wait until senior year is over." Now I am surprised by how much I miss being young. I don't wish it away so much now.

CEE: What's your advice for aspiring musicians?

NM: Don't stop. Don't give up. Never settle.

CEE: Do you have a favorite quote?

NM: Live Love!

CEE: Any last words? Anything you want to share with the world?

NM: Thank you for being supportive of the music I'm so passionate about making. I look forward to meeting those who I have yet to have the opportunity to shake hands with. We'll have a party and have Denny's afterwards!

"Just Me, Just You" - Nathan Morris

____

Find Nathan Morris on:

Twitter

Facebook

Myspace

Nathan Morris Online

NEEDTOBREATHE: Interview with Joe Stillwell

2010-04-17T19:00:00.006-05:00

Last Sunday, stellar southern rock band, NEEDTOBREATHE was in town & played a spectacular show at The NorVA with fellow Atlantic Records singer songwriter, Matt Hires, and Will Hoge. The "Won't Turn Back" tour featured new songs from their record The Outsiders & other fan favorites from their previous records, Daylight and The Heat.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Joe Stillwell, drummer of NEEDTOBREATHE, for my college newspaper, The Marlin Chronicle & Examiner.com. Read the full story on the Arts & Entertainment page here: NEEDTOBREATHE: Inside "The Outsiders".

Photo by: Cherylyn Ebertz

Cherylyn: What inspires you to make music?

Joe Stillwell:We're inspired by random events. Our song "Something Beautiful" was written by Bear and Bo when Bo was going through a dry spell. As far as song writing goes, we're moved by inspiring moments, maybe a lyric in a song, something aweinspiring we see driving down the road. We like to write songs that are creative and simple, songs that cut to the core.

I'm inspired by the energy from fans during live shows. It's my favorite part of what we do. Getting that direct connection and seeing the fans reacting to the joy and energy you bring. They give it back to you.

Cherylyn: What is it that makes NEEDTOBREATHE work as a band?

Joe Stillwell: I think what makes us work as a band, is the fact that we've known each other for so many years. I mean Bear and Bo are brothers, so they've known each other their whole lives. I've known the brothers since I was 12 years old. We didn't start the band until Bear and I went off to college & roomed together, but we had a bond from the time we were in highschool.

I think we have an advantage, having been close together before we were in a band together. Other bands have to really get to know each other and learn each other's quirks as they are developing musically. We already knew what we were getting into before we started.

Cherylyn: How would you describe your music if you could put it into words?

Joe Stillwell: I usually say we're a rock and roll band. Of course we have the Southern element too and that plays into the sound. There are so many elements that contribute to our sound and a broad range of influences make their way into our songs. It's hard to put into words what it is, but we just play honest rock and roll.

Cherylyn: What is your ultimate goal as a band? Have you been successful at reaching your goals so far?

Joe Stillwell :For us, making music and being in a band is success. Being able to do what we love and make enough money to put us in the position to keep making music as a band is what makes us happy. We are so blessed with the success that we've had, but we still have to make ends meet. Since we're on the road so much, I decided to move out of my apartment so I don't have to pay rent. I've been crashing at Bo's house. I've never been happier in my life. We love that people have been connecting and responding to the music and that people get what we do. Without this, we wouldn't have the chance to financially keep doing what we're doing.

Cherylyn: Is it easy for you to balance life on the road and life at home?

Joe Stillwell: It gets hard. Especially for the guys who are married. They really miss their wives, but they are lucky to have wives that support them. Bear and Bo have both been married for awhile and their wives understand that if they weren't doing this, something huge would be missing from their lives. If we weren't playing music, I think we'd all just be shadows of ourselves.

Cherylyn: What is the songwriting process like for NEEDTOBREATHE?

Joe Stillwell: Bear and Bo are the songwriters of the band. They write some parts seperately, some together. They'll get a solid idea, a riff, a whole song sometimes and bring it to us. If we're on the road during rehearsals or soundcheck, we'll work through it together until it evolves, takes different shapes and turns into something we can put our stamp on. Because they are brothers, there is a brutal honesty between all of us. There is a certain dynamic, when you're in a band with brothers, and we're not worried about hurting each other's feelings. If we don't like something, we'll tell each other. Sometimes it's frustrating, but that's how the best art is created.

Cherylyn: Do you have a theme, anthem, or one common purpose as a band? Is there one song that you would say sums you up or defines you as a band?

Joe Stillwell: Well, we don't have a mission statement or anything. We do everything together as a band. We don't get together and write a list of specific things that we want to accomplish, that's not what our band is about. It's knowing that we are in this together. It's about relationships. Because we have poured our entire lives into music and this band, there is no way we could ever sum it up. That's not an easy thing to do. That would be like trying to sum up and define your entire life. We are just so blessed to be able to do this together.

Cherylyn: What has been the biggest adventure or challenge for you as a band so far?

Joe Stillwell: Transportation. We've gone through four or five vans during our career so far. We were just able to buy a bus type thing, with bunks and a lounge, but it still breaks down and runs off the road into ditches. Everything else seems to go pretty smoothly, but the one thing we've always struggled with is transportation, which is obviously important to keep getting us where we need to be.

Cherylyn: If you could collaborate or tour with anyone in the world who would it be? Who have been your favorite people to collaborate with so far?

Joe Stillwell: Well, I think we'd definitely all want to collaborate with Tom Petty. We're huge fans, as a band. Bruce Springsteen would also be really cool. I love working with other people. You never know how things are going to work out musically until you actually take a stab at it. Who knows, maybe we'll be collaborating with Kanye or Jay-Z next.

It was amazing working with Jim Scott, one of our engineers on The Outsiders. He's been around forever. He worked on Tom Petty's album, Wildflowers and on Sting's first solo record. He's worked with so many great people. We went about recording in a really old school way. Usually we'd say, "Let's record vocals, okay let's record guitar next, and then drums," but with Jim, we all gathered in one room and played together at the same time. It was different, but it was like we were capturing our live sound, and like I said, that's what it's about to me, playing live shows is my favorite part.

Cherylyn: What is something that most people don't know about you? Do you have interesting hobbies or passions besides music?

Joe Stillwell: We're all sports nuts. Everyone in the band, except for me, is really into golf, they're all huge golfers. We're huge fans of the Atlanta Braves and apparently some of them are fans of our band. They came out to see a show when we were at the House of Blues in Orlando. They were doing spring training and came to see us so we all got to hang out backstage after the show. Rock stars want to be athletes and athletes want to be rock stars, I guess!

When we're at home, we usually use the time to just relax and reconnect with our families. Seth has his own studio so he records other bands there. Some of the guys work on home improvement when we're off the road and we all just spend time with our loved ones.

Cherylyn: When did you realize music was your passion? Did you know then that you wanted to play music for a living?

Joe Stillwell: Always. I've kind of always had a passion for music. I started playing drums when I was 12 and it just felt right. I've had the passion and a natural talent since I was a kid, but it wasn't until college that I realized that I could actually play music as a career. It was when I was a sophomore in college and passion met reality, that I knew being in a band was something I could do for the rest of my life.

Cherylyn: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? If you had to change everything about yourself, but could keep one quality... what would it be?

Joe Stillwell: I think I would want to be more athletically coordinated. The other guys are amazed at how coordinated I am when I'm playing the drums. All my limbs work together and do so many different things at once, but I'm awful at basketball. I'm just a rock star wanting to be athletically talented, I guess!

If I could keep one quality about myself, it would be my natural talent and love for music. Music is the most fulfilling thing in my life. That's why I was created and put on the earth, to make music. I literally can't imagine not playing.

Cherylyn: Who are your musical influences? Who are your favorite bands & musicians to listen to?

Joe Stillwell: There are too many to name. But as a whole, we all really love Tom Petty. Pearl Jam is another big influence. We all grew up singing in church, so Gospel music is a deeply ingrained element in our music. For me, I was really into a lot of the Grunge bands when I was younger. There was a band from South Carolina that I really loved, Jump Little Children. I listened to them throughout high school and college. Peter Gabriel and ZZ Top. There are so many different bands and musicians that have influenced me, even if it was just for a moment. We really try to remain open to different things and so many different things influence us at different moments.

Cherylyn: Your music videos are very innovative and creative. Have you had a role in coming up with music video concepts? I know you made one of your videos, "Washed By the Water", here in Virginia. How was that experience?

Joe Stillwell: Yes! For "Washed By The Water".

It was interesting! And cold! It was colder than we thought it was going to be in Virginia. There is a part where we were drenched with water so I definitely left that video shoot with a cough, but it was great and lots of fun. We had someone helping us out, which was really nice, but we're all so hands on it's really hard for us to relinquish all control to someone else. We had to turn the reins over. We do most of the planning when it comes to concepts and themes for our videos, and really anything visually, album covers, photo shoots. For out latest video, "Hurricane", Bear and Bo directed the video and edited the footage. We built a set in this big, open garage, and hung these red movie theater curtains up and made the video!

Cherylyn: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

Joe Stillwell: I don't want to sound discouraging, but unless music is something you HAVE to do, if you wouldn't be the same person without music and without performing, than I would discourage it. It's just not what you expect. The music industry is so hard to break into. I mean, I've had friends that have made it and then their label drops them. There is so much hard work and heart break in the industry. If you are going to pursue a career in music, put everything you've got into it. Play as many shows as you can. No show is too small. Get in front of people so they can hear you and build your art.

Cherylyn: I met David at when you played here in Virginia with Lifehouse last year. How has he influenced and shaped the chemistry and dynamics of the band so far?

Joe Stillwell: It's been GREAT! David is an amazing, amazing singer. He has made all the harmonies we sing live sound so awesome. He's such a good singer. He has this energy on stage. He's always moving, even though he's shielded by his organ, he's dancing and moving the whole time. He fits in perfectly. Sometimes we'll be mad after a show because we over analyze everything. The crowd might think it's the greatest show ever, and we think it was the worst, and we nit pick all of our little mistakes, and he's just been great about it. He's acclimating well and is just part of the family now.

Cherylyn: Any last words? Or anything you want to tell the world? What's next for Needtobreathe?

Touring! Lots of touring! The show at the Norva is going to be awesome. This tour has absolutely been surpassing our expectations! The reactions and interaction has been amazing. I can't wait to keep sharing the music and see how much it grows!

____________________________

Find NEEDTOBREATHE on:

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Follow me on twitter: @Electro_CEE

Mat Kearney's Musical Journey: The Interview

2010-03-25T19:38:00.005-05:00

Mat Kearney, a Columbia Records, Oregon-orginated, Nashville-based singer-songwriter is currently on tour with the marvelous Ingrid Michaelson & Angel Taylor. Not only did I get to bask in the glow of their magical music when they stopped at the Norva last Sunday, I also got to do a sweet little interview with Mat. Read the full story here: Mat Kearney's Musical Journey on Examiner.com.

Photo by: Cherylyn Ebertz

Cherylyn: What inspires you?

Mat Kearney: Lately? Authors... like Wendell Berry. He's a writer, part theologian. Books, essays, movies really inspire me. Family and friends inspire me to write and make music.

Cherylyn: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before?

Mat Kearney: My sound is kind of difficult to pin down. There are so many textures that I use. At the heart of it, I'm definitely a song writer and a story teller. I think my hip-hop, spoken word sets me apart from other musicians, but I'm a singer-songwriter.

Cherylyn: How is your tour with Ingrid Michaelson going so far?

Mat Kearney: AWESOME! She's hilarious! We're all doing different things every night and having so much fun. I watch her from the side of the stage and just think, "She's so good!". I think it's a really diverse show for the fans.

Cherylyn: What defining element do you think makes you special and sets you apart from other musicians?

Mat Kearney: I've spent nights sleepless, debating this with myself. I think

my spoken word in my songs is a defining element. I just tell stories, about struggle an

d finding hope in difficult times.

Cherylyn: Define success. What is your ultimate life goal?

Mat Kearney: On a good day? Just being content with the journey I find myself on. Success is writing a song a I truly believe in. That is when I really feel at ease.

I can't compare myself to other musicians. There are probably others out there comparing themselves to me. I am just really grateful and thankful for this journey.

Cherylyn: How do you balance life on the road and life at home?

Mat Kearney: It's definitely a challenge. You miss the people you love, your community, the friends that give you life, except for my band members that are with me on the road. Being on the road is almost like living in a crystal snowball. You have to get used to it. It's the people behind the scenes, the band member's miss their wives.

Cherylyn: Do you enjoy the songwriting/recording process or traveling/playing live shows more than the other? Or do you love both equally?

Mat Kearney: Nothing is more satisfying than writing songs you love. I write for myself. I started out writing on the porch in college. There is nothing like walking off the stage after a show, knowing that you connected to the crowd. It's something bigger than a song, bigger than yourself.

Cherylyn: What has been the biggest adventure for you since you started pursuing your music career?

Mat Kearney: This whole thing is an exciting adventure. I moved across the country ten years ago. I was only supposed to be there for a month. It's exciting and I have no idea what the future holds.

Cherylyn: What do you like the best about traveling the world and sharing your music?

Mat Kearney: There is nothing I love more than exploring. I think I would have been an explorer if I was born 200 years ago. I'm the kind of guy that gets off the bus and scours the city for coffee shops, bookstores, and music stores. I love traveling. I think I should write a travel manual or something. If I wasn't pursuing my musical career, I think I would be doing something that has to do with writing. I just love putting things and feelings into words. I was

put on this earth for that.

Cherylyn: If you could collaborate or tour with anyone in the world who would it be?

Mat Kearney: ANYONE in the world? I think I would collaborate with Björk, because I think she's cute. And Springsteen. He's someone that I've always looked to for inspiration.

Cherylyn: Do you have interesting hobbies or passions besides music?

Mat Kearney: Furniture. I just love everything about it. I like mid-century, age-inspired furniture. I have subscriptions to a few furniture magazines. There is just something about design that I love. The historical aspect is part of it. Most of my pieces are older things.

Cherylyn: How old were you when you started singing and playing the guitar & (piano)? When did you realize it was your passion?

Mat Kearney: Well, I stole my roommate's guitar when I was a sophomore in college. I used to drive to the racquet ball courts and play music until 4 am. It didn't start out as wanting a

music career. It was about pouring my heart out into the songs.

I made some demos, but it was just fun.

Of course in the music business you need to learn how to balance things. You have to count how many people are showing up to the shows, how many people you can afford to bring on the bus, you have to be able to pay your bills, heating, lights, and be able to buy sneakers every once and awhile.

The business side came pretty easily to me. I come from a family of lawyers so I know how to crunch numbers when I need to, but at the end of the day, I'd still be doing this whether anyone was paying me to do it or not.

Mat Kearney & Tyler Burkum - Photo by: Cherylyn Ebertz

Cherylyn: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? If you had to change everything about yourself, but could keep one quality... what would it be?

Mat Kearney: I would try not to overthink everything... I think. Just kidding. If I could keep one quality, I would keep my eyebrows. They're pretty good. I don't even have to trim them. They're really sleek.

Cherylyn: I read somewhere that you were listening to U2 & Tom Petty while writing your latest cd. Who are your musical influences? Who else have you been listening to lately?

Mat Kearney: I've been listening to Spoon's latest record. I love them a lot. I've also been listening to the new Johnny Cash record. I think that's pretty cool. Recently I got to play songs for Rick Rubin. He's an amazing producer and has worked with people like Jay-Z and Tom Petty. He's been a big influence.

I've been listening to old 90s hip-hop and old time country lately too. Is that too diverse?

Cherylyn: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

Mat Kearney: 1. Everything is about the song. Focus on writing with the best songwriters and writing the best songs that you could ever dream of writing.

2. Stay out of debt. It took me three years to get off the ground... I lived on $2,000 for a whole year.

Cherylyn: What's next for Mat Kearney? Any last words you want to share with the world?

Mat Kearney: I'm working on a new EP. There will be friends, guest appearances, and surprises. That's pretty exciting. I really appreciate everyone who comes out to the shows and listens to my music. I don't take it for granted. I really appreciate it.

Cherylyn: Thank you, Mat! See you on Sunday!

Mat Kearney: We had an extremely small crowd at the last Norva show... I guess we just keep coming at weird times, right before the summer. I really look forward to meeting you in a week... on Sunday! Thanks, Cherylyn, goodbye!

------

Check Mat out at:

Mat Kearney . com

Mat on Myspace

Mat on Facebook

Mat on Twitter

Become a fan of my photography page: Electrophotography

2010-01-13T00:17:00.004-05:00

"A photograph is memory in the raw."

"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again."

If you know me, you have probably noticed my passion for photography. To me photographs are not simply just pictures; they are a moment of time, paused forever, that we can remember for eternity. When I look at photos, feelings swell inside of me, emotions rise up, or I smile and laugh at the memories locked inside the image. I believe that it is our job is to record, each in his or her own way, this world of light and shadow and time that will never come again exactly as it is today. The heart and mind are the true lens of the camera and I adore capturing life & love through photographs. That's why I started a fan page for my

photography on Facebook. I just want to share some of my work & hopefully inspire others with my photos. So, if you haven't already, I'd love if you would join me & become a fan of my page here:

The Photographs of Cherylyn Ebertz [Electrophotography].

I appreciate your feedback, comments, messages, questions, and critique! I want to make my page as interactive as possible, so feel free to share your own photography or any art that you find inspiring! If you'd like me to take photographs for you, you can contact me on my page or email me at electroluminescence.e@gmail.com.

I look forward to hearing from you & I hope 2010 has had a stellar start for you so far!

Love,

Cherylyn

Interview with Paul Meany: Lead Singer of MUTEMATH. [11.12.09]

2010-01-03T14:51:00.017-05:00

Mutemath, known for their colorfully creative, hypnotic music and brilliantly energetic live shows is a grammy award nominated rock band from New Orleans, and have been described as as everything from electro-alternative-rock to psychedelic-gospel to experimental-pop. They are best known for their single and innovative music video, "Typical", where the band performed their whole song backwards from end to beginning. The band's version of the "Transformer's Theme" was on the Transformer's movie soundtrack. Their new album, Armistice was released in August with their first single, "Spotlight", featured on the Twilight motion picture soundtrack.

I had the opportunity to interview Paul Meany, Mutemath's lead singer, after their show at the Norva in November. Paul was an absolute gem, answering my questions thoroughly & cheerfully chatting about anything & everything in between my inquiries for almost an hour on the telephone!

You can read the full story here: Reinventing Mutemath: Behind the scenes with Paul Meany

Interview with Paul Meany: 11.12.09.

Cherylyn Ebertz: Your show at the Norva was phenomenal. Your music is brilliantly creative and magical.

Paul Meany: "I think the show went great the other night! I love the Norva. We've played there quite a few times now and I think out of all them, that one was my favorite. The crowd was amazing and we had so much fun."

CE: You inspire people with your music. What inspires you?

PM:

"This is probably the most boring answer, but I'm inspired by anything new. It sounds cliché, but I get musically charged up to get things happening when new things happen. We find avenues to express experiences, visions, new ideas, an

d sounds. I am inspired and compelled to create after listening back through the speakers. We keep arranging music and ideas until we have a Mutemath song."

CE: It sounds like the writing and recording process for Armistice was difficult, but you turned the chaos into something beautiful. Do you feel like you made the record you were dreaming of?

PM:

"No. Absolutely not. I had an idea in my head of exactly what this record was going to be and it's not that. That's a good thing, I should specify. It's a good thing we didn't make the record I dreamed of. I had a specific idea of what it was going to say, what it was going to sound like, but it wasn't working. We had to redefine what the record was going to be. I can listen to it now, and I love it, but it's not the one that I dreamed of. The only thing I didn't want, was for it to sound like first record B-sides. That's the only thing I knew I didn't want.

There were some uncomfortable moments, but the record is a snapshot of the band and the music is a picture of what we felt like during the process."

CE: What is your favorite song on the new album?

PM:

"At the moment? My favorite song right now is Burden, the last song on the record. It's very sentimental."

CE: My favorite song is Backfire right now.

PM:

"Really?! We JUST finished the music video for Backfire today, so keep your eyes peeled for that! It's very different than our other videos. The idea is pretty simple. We filmed in August, but it's an animated video. It takes forever to put together. I mean, just to render it takes forever.

Animation is serious! It's a process. All of our other videos were one take videos, filmed with a single camera."

CE: How do you come up with new ideas for your music videos?

PM:

"There's a lot of daydreaming, throwing ideas against the wall, and waiting for things to stick. We have to sift through a lot of data to come up with ideas, which takes a degree of patience!

We like working with up and coming directors that don't have preconceived ideas of the way something should be done and throw all templates out the window. It's a more time consuming process, but definitely more rewarding in the end."

CE: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before? I've heard it described in so many different ways!

PM:

"You know what? I have too! What do we sound like? Mutemath. As far as genres and categories, I guess we're an offshoot of a rock band. We write pop songs, with a few liberties, in interesting ways that work for us. It's the music, the sounds that we make, our brain power. We are what we are... just come see it! I have a new found appreciation for our fans that want to bring their friends to our shows, and try to describe what we sound like when they ask, "Well, who is Mutemath? How do I know I'm going to like it?" I just want to fall in the category of "Good music". That's as far as I can go with categories and limitations without getting a headache. The whole genre label thing kind of freaks me out!"

CE: What is the dynamic force that holds Mutemath together? What defining element do you think makes you special and sets you apart from other bands?

PM:

"It would be kind of presumptuous for me to answer this about about ourselves, but I don't think there can be a preconceived way to set yourself apart from other bands. I think just being yourself, or at least searching for yourself, is how it starts and you continue in that direction. We all start off imitating someone or something, but as time goes on, bits of you start to shine through."

CE: Define success. What is your ultimate life goal?

PM:

"Oh, you're getting all motivational speaker on me now, huh? Define success. If you find something about yourself and what you've done that you can find happiness in, then I think you're flirting with success. Whatever success even means. There is not one hallmark or one defining thing. That was my diplomatic, roundabout way of answering that question, so you can thank me for that!"

CE: How do you balance life on the road and life at home?

PM:

"It balances itself in a way. I always enjoy going home after a tour, but after awhile I get stir crazy and ready to get back on the road. They both balance each other. It's how I'm programmed to function, to live. It's an acquired lifestyle. We've had people come out on the road and they think it's going to be so much fun, but they have to get used to it. You have to get used to sharing and tight quarters with other people. I couldn't think of a better life for me."

CE: Do you enjoy the songwriting/recording process or traveling/playing live shows more than the other? Or do you love both equally?

PM:

"It's all about balance, I'm realizing as we're talking. It's about both sides, and writing songs about the yin and the yang of the musical experience."

CE: What has been the biggest adventure for the band so far? What has surprised you the most about life since you have started Mutemath?

PM:

"The biggest adventure? Oh, you're getting deep now! Doing the second record. I learned a lot about myself, learned a lot about life, like you said, and about how things work. Finishing this record just seemed like an impossibility. I thought we weren't going to get to the end. We had to start over from the beginning and we blew about five deadlines. It was like a carrot dangling in front of a horse, aimless, but we just kept working.

Getting over that hump and finishing it, was the greatest accomplishment we've had as a band. We'd already learned a lot about ourselves as a touring band. The first record was still coming together when we started touring as Mutemath. This time we learned about ourselves as a recording band. Two completely different experiences. How do songs come together when we're all interjecting ideas? The songs worked when all four of us were contributing universal ideas. We were in a very experimental mindset, searching for songs in a new way and finding the things that moved us."

CE: What do you like the best about traveling the world and sharing your music? What is your least favorite thing about your job?

PM:

"Easily the two hours on stage that we get to spend playing music for the crowd. My least favorite part is all the waiting around, by far. Waiting to play a show, waiting backstage, there's a lot of waiting."

CE: If you could collaborate or tour with anyone in the world who would it be? Who have been your favorite people to collaborate with so far?

PM:

"Anyone? I would collaborate with Wayne Coyne. (The Flaming Lips.) Do they have to be alive? Okay, I'm going for the most mismatched tour of the year! James Brown. I just think about what could be learned from being around him and seeing how music was made back then.

As far as collaboration, we don't really do any of that. It's just us four dysfunctional guys. We don't need to bring anyone else into this mess! I'd love to do it more often. We're just a baby band. The more records we make, the more we will collaborate and have the chance to work with other people."

CE: I know your song Spotlight is on the Twilight soundtrack and you did the Transformers Theme for the Transformers movie.

PM:

"Spotlight is on the Twilight movie soundtrack. Warner Brothers got the license and were pulling themes out of some of the songs from bands on their roster. Spotlight worked for them and it was just kind of convenient. We were working on the record and we weren't sure when it was going to be done. We finished Spotlight really quickly and wanted to get some new music out. It was kind of a win win for us. We put out our EP, and they put the song on the soundtrack. Typically we get a phone call and put stuff together if we're asked or they use something that we have laying around."

CE: What is something that most people don't know about you? Do any of you have interesting hobbies or quirks, hidden talents, or passions besides music?

PM:

"No. We're single track guys, born musicians. We eat, sleep, drink music. It's what we do. We kind of obsess over the things we're working on. Maybe I need to find a hobby. We'd probably get our music done faster if we had other things to think about and pull ideas from. Okay. I'm going to find a hobby. I'm announcing my new hobby right here in this interview: My hobby is going to be finding a hobby."

CE: Your stage antics are wildly beautiful, but have any of you gotten hurt while playing a show?

PM:

"Absolutely. Nothing bad enough to ever stop a tour or cancel a show, but there have been moments. You can't always win the bets. You take a risk and every once awhile, something is bound to go wrong! Darren cut his head once. Have you seen the video on youtube called "Darren King Nearly Dies?"

We have a blast on stage and I think it shows. It's all just a sweaty blur, enjoying the music.

CE: How do you get ideas for your homemade instruments and crazy contraptions?

PM:

"I'm sure for someone seeing the show for the first time, it's lots of little things like that, to take in! It's a visual, musical show.

It's not really something we just sit down and think about. We've been touring for four years now, and things get added in over time. We just say, "What if we added this, or that?" It's a product of the evolution of one idea. It's just part of playing show after show. We just want to let this Mutemath thing become something more. We think about the different ways things can be arranged to make the show more enjoyable and interesting. I'm sure we'll have lots of crazy ideas in the future, if we can stay out of the hospital long enough!"

CE: What's next for Mutemath?

PM:

"The tour ends tomorrow. Then we go to Japan for a week. After that, we'll go home and take it easy. We are going to start writing, no pressure this time, and just enjoy the writing process for a few months. We're just going to go and reinvent songs. That's how the cycle goes!"

CE: Any last words that you want the world to know?

PM:

"Not really! I just want to say thank you for giving our music a chance. I hope to come see you guys again soon. We had a blast at the Norva and all the shows we've played in the Virginia Beach area. Thank you so much for giving us coverage. It was so nice to meet you! Take care of yourself! Bye!"

Mutemath

Mutemath on Twitter

Flight: A Short Film.

2009-12-30T22:04:00.004-05:00

Inspired by my lifelong dream to fly... I wrote a screenplay for my Advanced Video Production class this fall. My screenplay was chosen to be made into a short film. The final product is millions of miles away from the way I pictured it in my head... but we worked very hard in a super short amount of time. Here it is! I'd love to hear your feedback.... whether your response is positive or negative. :]

Someday, I'm going to fly...

Behind The Scenes with Kate Voegele: The Interview.

2009-11-07T00:12:00.004-05:00

After seeing Kate Voegele & Green River Ordinance at the Norva earlier this month, I had the pleasure of interviewing both Kate, and Jamey Ice from GRO. See my previous post for my interview with Jamey. I interviewed Kate over the phone the next morning while she was on the bus heading to the next city. For the full story check out my article here on Examiner.com!

The vivacious Voegele is not simply a singer. She is also an actress. She plays the part of Mia, a musician, on the popular show One Tree Hill and is able perform her own music on almost every episode. As if full time musician and part time actress isn't enough, that isn't all Kate is. She's also a college student, enrolled in The University of Phoenix's program, taking online classes while she's on the road sharing her tunes. Her latest album, A Fine Mess, features the emotionally gritty song "99 times" and the soothing "Sweet Silver Lining".

Cherylyn: How old were you when you started singing and playing the guitar?

Kate Voegele: "I've been singing for my whole life. I've always enjoyed it. I really started writing songs and playing guitar when I was 15. My freshman year of highschool."

C: Did you know then that you wanted to play music for a living?

KV: "I never thought then I'd be doing what I'm doing now. At my highschool, being on the girls soccer time was the cool thing to do, but that was definitely never going to happen for me. So I played music, not because everyone thought it was awesome, but for the love of it. It was a release, a way of dealing with life because everything's a big deal when you're 15. School, clothes, boys. So I channeled all these things into writing and singing. I kind of realized then that this is what I was going to be doing for the rest of my life."

C: If you weren't pursuing your musical career what do you think you'd be doing?

KV: "I'm in the back lounge of my bus now and I have a couple of canvases I'm working on. I went to college for two years for fine arts, so I think I would be doing something artistic if I wasn't singing or acting. Everything I do comes from my artistic background."

C: What inspires you?

KV: "Everything inspires me, Everyday life. Touring, traveling and meeting people. Touring is not always glamorous. It's so cool, you're not always playing in big cities and a lot of times you're in these hole in the wall places. The every day adventures are inspiring, not just the crazy, earth shattering ones."

C: How do you balance life as a musician, an actress, and a college student?

KV: "It wasn't easy to manage at first. I like to challenge myself. It's not that I would get bored, if I wasn't doing all these things, but there are just so many things that I'm curious about. It's cool to have 3, 4, 5 things you love that are in your life."

C: What degree are you working on right now?

KV: "I'm working on my psychology degree right now with the University of Phoenix. Psychology is perfect. I'm studying the same things I write about as a song writer, human emotions and behavior. University of Phoenix has been so supportive. I've been taking one class at a time, slowly working on it. We help each other out. I tell their story and in turn they sponsor my tours. Things are crazy and I'm so busy, but I'm still able to manage taking classes. That's what the University of Phoenix is for!"

C: Do you enjoy the songwriting/recording process or the touring and performing live more than the other?

KV: "The songwriting/recording process and performing and touring are both intriguing in different ways. Being on the road is like campout. I'm the only girl. The guys in my band are like my big brothers. It's definitely an adventure, but it can be a nomadic lifestyle. It's good to get in the studio to write songs and build the projects that you are going to tour around. Songwriting is what I love."

C: Tell me about your experience on One Tree Hill!

KV: "I never thought acting was something I would do. My manager told me that I should try out for the part of a musician. It was only supposed to be a few episodes, but the character stuck. I said, "I'll do it. I'll try anything." I think that's why I got the part. I wasn't nervous because I didn't think I had a shot. One Tree Hill is the paramount reason that I can play big crowds like I do now. They have just been amazing at exposing my music."

C: Are you friends with the rest of the cast? How do you like working with them?

KV: "The cast is so cool. I'm really lucky. All my preconceived notions were completely shattered. Nobody's too "hollywood". Everyone is friends. Everyone is really cool. I work mostly with Bethany & Hilarie at the record label. Stephen Colletti is my boyfriend on the show. He's a really great guy!"

C: Do you think One Tree Hill will lead to more acting in the future?

KV: "I would love to do more acting in the future, but I won't just take any role. If I connect with a role that I'm offered, I'd love to do more acting. I want to be in front of people no matter what the avenue, but I think primarily I'll just always be a songwriter and a musician. But who knows!"

C: Do you have any hidden talents or quirks?

KV: "Do I have any quirks? That's a good question. I can lick my elbow. I know that's supposed to be impossible, but I can do it!"

C: What is your main goal as a musician?

KV: "My main goal as a songwriter is to make something that inspires people. To write things about my life that people can relate to. Whether it's a whole record or just one song for someone, I hope it can do that for them. Knowing that I have the ability to do that is inspiring to me!"

____________________________________________

Interview with Jamey Ice [guitarist of Green River Ordinance].

2009-10-25T17:33:00.005-05:00

Texas rockband Green River Ordinance made a stop at the Norva this October on their tour with Kate Voegele. Green River Ordinance (GRO) has been charming crowds with their mesmerizing melodies and honest lyrics since they were in highschool. Since then they've opened for Bon Jovi, Mutemath, David Cook, Needtobreathe, Collective Soul, Hanson, and many other well known bands. Their debut album, "Out of My Hands" released in February 2009 and reached #10 on Billboard's Heatseeker's chart.

I met their guitarist, Jamey Ice & interviewed him for an article I wrote for my college newspaper. I posted the story on my Examiner page. Read the full story here.

1. When did you start playing music? When did you realize that singing was your passion?

Jamey: Started playing music in middle school. We played sweet home alabama for our middle school talent show. I am tone deaf and can't sing. : )

2. You mentioned meeting at school. Did you all meet at college? How did the band start?

Jamey: Geoff and I are brothers. Josh and Joshua, we all met and started playing together in Highschool when we were 15. We met Denton our freshman year of college.

3. If you weren't playing in Green River Ordinance (or pursuing your musical career) what do you think you'd be doing now?

Jamey: Would probably be back in school. I am 18 hours short of a philosophy degree. Or living on an island treasure hunting.

4. Do you have any other hobbies or passions?

Jamey: Love reading, studying, theology, & Philosophy.

5. What inspires you?

Jamey:God, beauty, life, love.

6. Do you enjoy the songwriting/recording process or the traveling/touring/perfoming more than the other? Or do you love both equally?

Jamey: Love different aspects of each. Recording because its stationary and creative. Touring because you get to meet people and play shows.

7. What has surprised you most about life? How has life changed most drastically for you since your music career has started?

Jamey: That a bunch of friends from highschool get to play music for a living. That God constantly opens doors and has always taken care of and provided for our band. You make a lot of sacrifices being constantly on the road. It's hard to keep up with friends and family. You miss out on alot at home, but you are getting to do something beautiful and exciting.

8. If you could collaborate or tour with any other musician in the world who would it be? Who has been your favorite to work with so far?

Jamey: U2!! It's been fun touring with David Cook and Collective Soul!

9. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Jamey: Wish I didnt always think about myself. Would love to be less selfish.

10. Do you have any hidden talents, interesting quirks, or something that most people don't know about you?

Jamey: I want to wrestle an alligator.

11. What is your advice for aspiring musicians?

Jamey: It's a buisness. You have to work hard. Its not just about the music. You have to be just as on top of the business and marketing side as the music.

12. How do you get most of your song ideas?

Jamey: Life.

13. Do you have a favorite quote?

Jamey: "If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world." - C. S. Lewis

"You have made us, O Lord, for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." – Augustine

14. How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard of you before?

Jamey: If Tom Petty and U2 had a baby.

15. What's next for you? More touring? New album?

Jamey: Lots more touring!

________________
Stay tuned for more interviews & articles & check out Green River Ordinance's music!

Interview with Felicia Barton: Local American Idol [9.22.09]

2009-10-18T00:05:00.007-05:00

Felicia Barton was a top 36 contestant on this year's American Idol. She's captivating on stage & even sweeter off the stage. She lives here in Virginia Beach & I recently interviewed her for my college newspaper, The Marlin Chronicle.

You can read the full story here:

Examiner.com/CherylynEbertz

1. Cherylyn: How old were you when you started singing and when did you write your first song? Do you play any instruments?

Felicia: My brother says I probably came out singing. In other words, I don’t remember when singing and music in general wasn’t a part of my life! I took piano lessons for about a year and can pick around on a guitar, but only enough to get myself in trouble!

2. Cherylyn: If you weren't singing what other career or interests would you pursue?

Felicia: Probably songwriting...which I think is something I will be pursuing along side being an artist. I think writing for other people is a challenge and a lot of fun!

3. Cherylyn: Who are your musical influences? Who are your favorite bands/musicians to listen to?

Felicia: I grew up listening to a lot of gospel music so early on that was my influence. CeCe Winans but since then it has been a lot of different styles...The Fray, Natasha Bedingfield, Alicia Keys, Israel Houghton, Celine dion.

4. Cherylyn: How would you describe your music/sound to someone who has never heard you sing before?

Felicia: Organic pop...kinda a Natasha Bedingfield with some Alicia Keys, however I love all styles so you will hear a little Motown in some songs and a little rock in others.

5. Cherylyn: What ultimately sparked your decision to audition for American Idol?

Felicia: I want to pursue this as a career and American Idol is the largest stage and an outlet for a lot of people to get in front of some of the biggest people in the industry. In other words, why not? I didn’t want to be 40 and look back and say I wish I had!

6. Cherylyn: How has your life changed most drastically since your American Idol journey? What has surprised you the most?

Felicia: The biggest surprise was having fans all over the world! I think being recognized has changed my life, also, just making a decision to pursue this full time. It has meant a lot of traveling and being on the road so much is a definite change!

7. Cherylyn: What or who inspires you the most?

Felicia: My family. I want to teach malachi (my 2 year old) how to chase his dreams, and the best way for him to learn is to see mommy chasing her dreams!

8. Cherylyn: If you could collaborate with any other musician in the world who would it be? Who has been your favorite person to collaborate with so far?

Felicia: I have a dream to do a few duets...Celine Dion, Cece Winans, and Josh Groban. I would love to collaborate with Justin Timberlake. This answer is endless.

9. Cherylyn: How do you balance life as a wife, mother, and a musician as you're traveling back and forth between Nashville and Virginia Beach working on your record?

Felicia: I try to bring everyone with me as often as possible! This is a journey and it wouldn’t be worth it if I did it by myself!

10. Cherylyn: Have you sensed (or planned) any reoccurring themes in the songs you've been writing? Do you have an idea of when you will release your first album or does it depend on a record deal?

Felicia: As of right now that depends on a record deal. I just want all of my songs to speak to people where they are and be positive!. I am pretty exhausted by negative lyrics.

11. Cherylyn: What is your ultimate goal? Define "Success" for you.

Felicia: Success in life has to do with happiness, family, and living your dreams! I am also a big believer in faith and know that without it, life on earth is eternally not going to matter much, so keeping faith, keeping family together, and living my passions!

12. Cherylyn: Are you more passionate about performing live or the songwriting and recording process? Or do you love both equally?

Felicia: Loving both pretty equally right now.

13. Cherylyn: Do you have any hobbies, passions, hidden talents, or something interesting that most people don't know about you?

Felicia: Ha!!! Not really. I mean I like to shop, watch movies, and take lots of family days!

14. Cherylyn: What has been your favorite thing about growing up and living in Virginia Beach?

Felicia: I love this city! Everything about it.

15. Cherylyn: If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? If you had to change everything about yourself, but were able to keep one quality that you possess, what would it be?

Felicia: Well, Im not going to cop out on this question. I think if I had to pick one thing to change it would be my sloppiness...i hate cleaning. I do it because I have to. In fact, when I finally have extra money, I will be hiring a house cleaner! On the other side, if I had to change everything about me but could keep one quality, it would be my love for music. Music speaks to people on so many levels and with this love I believe you can help people through whatever they may be going through.

16. Cherylyn: Do you have any advice for aspiring musicians?

Felicia: Don’t give up! Take every gig possible. Don’t think that the industry big wigs of the world are going to find you...go find them! Practice practice practice! It's what the professionals do.

17. Cherylyn: Is there anything else that you want the world to know? Any last words?

Felicia: My favorite quote is “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, and do that. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and do that, because the world needs people who have come alive!”- John Eldridge

Buy Felicia's Limited Edition EP.

Felicia's myspace

Felicia's Facebook

Felicia's Twitter

"Flying"- Help me re-write my screenplay treatment.

2009-09-05T14:40:00.005-05:00

For those of you who don't know, I am majoring in communications/media at Virginia Wesleyan College. Two semesters ago, I took my first moviemaking class. I wrote a script about a girl who uses a magical map to travel across the country. She folds the map so that the city & the ocean, & the countryside are next to each other. Eventually she reunites with her boyfriend. My screenplay was picked & we made the movie.

This semester I'm in advanced video production. Once again we were asked to write an idea for a screenplay. Because I was already buried in an avalanche of academics last week, I spent about ten minutes writing my treatment. Inspired by my lifelong dream of being able to fly, being close to all of my friends & family across the country & around the world, and the two photos below, I wrote a silly little story about a girl who tries to fly.

After turning in my idea, I received this email from my professor:

"Oy oy oy. This is really frustrating. I thought the first half was

great. I also love the second half. But here's a problem: the second half is completely unfilmable. When I read the bit with her trying to

catch the birds, I thought, "It won't work, but it will be easy enough

to come up with an alternative." But then I read the the last scene

of the film. It really is a nice ending, but how on earth are you

going to shoot it?! If you can think of some alternative ending that

can actually be shot, I'll be really happy because I love the core

idea of the story, and I think there is a lot of great visual

potential."

This is where YOU come in. I need you to help me re-write the parts of my screenplay that are unrealistic to film. [If i had an unlimited budget, a couple of years, could hire stunt doubles, and was skilled in special effects, i could probably pull all of my ideas off.]

I am posting my treatment below. The parts in BOLD are the things that need to be changed. PLEASE, friends, if you have any advice, suggestions, or ideas leave me a comment... i don't care how off the wall your ideas are... i know i have creative, imaginative comrades out there who could help turn this ridiculous story into something magical. THANK YOU, in advance.

Flying

A young girl with a vivid imagination wants to see the world and visit all of her friends and family scattered around the globe. She has always secretly dreamed of flying. She closes her eyes, her arms out to the side, and pictures herself flying through the clouds. Then she begins to get creative.

She makes her own wings. Running near the shore at the beach she leaps in the air, hoping the feathery appendages will help her to defeat gravity. Dejected because her attempt to fly is a failure, she devises another plan.

She scrambles up into the branches of a tall tree, carrying a white sheet with her as she ascends to the top. Perched on on a branch like an oversized bird, she adjusts her helmet, takes a deep breath, and then takes the plunge. Despite holding the sheet above her head like a parachute, she quickly hurtles towards the ground. Before she falls to her demise, the sheet is caught on a branch near the ground. She dismantles the faulty parachute, examines her scrapes, and dreams up a less dangerous scheme.

She trudges up a green, grassy hill, holding a kite. She runs across the hill, and sends the kite up into the blue sky. Excited by the strong breeze she sprints even faster as the kite whips wildly in the wind. She is swept off of her feet and lifted into the air for a few sweet seconds, but as the wind dies down, she is dragged across the grass. The kite dives to the ground, and she is tangled hopelessly in it's string, laying at the bottom of the hill.

Bedraggled, she extricates herself and tugs the torn kite all the way back home. Feeling hopeless, she comes to the conclusion that she will never be able to fly. As she walks along the path, she stumbles upon a large flock of birds taking a break from their migratory travels. In a frenzy of spontaneity, she lures several of the birds to her with food from her pockets. With swift movement she ties the kite string to the birds' ankles, holding on tightly and waiting for them to take flight. As they furiously flap their wings in frustration, trying to catch up with the rest of their flock, they manage to lift the little girl a few feet off the ground. She is thrilled to the core, but soon tumbles to the ground below. She is left tightly grasping the string, forlorn, as the birds disappear into the sky above, free.

With a bruised body and a broken spirit she wanders into her backyard. To distract herself from her disappointing day she offers to help her mother decorate for a garden party. She volunteers to blow up balloons; using all the breath she can muster, she makes the colorful balloons as gargantuan as possible. Feeling lightheaded and woozy, she begins to tie the balloons to the arm of her lawn chair and sits down to rest. She feels even more dizzy as she closes her eyes, hoping that the world is no longer topsy-turvy when she opens them. She shrieks, first with fear, but then with glee as she takes in the scene before her eyes. She is hovering above her backyard. As the wind carries the chair and the balloons away she waves to her mother, who is carrying a cake. The lanterns in the yard become tiny, twinkling lights below and she floats farther away. Carried by the breeze, the chair passes the tree, the grassy hill, and soon drifts above the ocean and out to sea.

The End.