Johanna And The Dusty Floor

inspiration for a monday

2011-02-21T07:46:00.000-08:00

and last but certainly not least and my favorite of this bunch

http://www.philmucci.com/

my friend Phill is a genius!

Oh ....

2011-02-13T18:19:00.000-08:00

Oh Grammys... Oh....

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Little dragon

2011-01-25T06:28:00.001-08:00

Just love this band . I think they are from japan?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yedD4JsZyT0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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LA LA LAND

2011-01-24T12:27:00.001-08:00

Just loving the warmth of Los Angeles! I am unhappily preparing myself for the return to the cold tomorrow. Yesterday I went on a pampering mission with my girls @danielliottmusic and @jeaneenlund which included Mani , pedi and eye lash extensions!!!! Then we went to my favorite market stall lady Christine for some rad vintage finds . I have been going to her for years at the fairfax market! Here are some photos of LA

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WOW! THANKS FOR THE GREAT REVIEW POP MATTERS!!!

2011-01-12T20:28:00.001-08:00

check out this lovely review written about the Forest EP! go get your copy here....

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-forest-ep/id404387320

‎7 0utta 10!!! WOOHOOO thanks @popmatters!

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/1349..92-johanna-and-the-dusty-floor-the-fores..t-ep/

for anyone who missed the Lunar Eclipse last ngiht, here is a video of it! x

2010-12-21T12:55:00.000-08:00

http://www.vimeo.com/18046748

Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse from William Castleman on Vimeo.

So happy!

2010-12-19T12:16:00.001-08:00

I spent this week doing tons of Christmas type things. I went to the rockerfeller center to see the tree, ice skating in central park, Christmas window gazing at bergdorf goodman and the nutcracker ballet at the Lincoln center! I LOVE New York this time of year. It reminds me of what I thought NY was like allthe time base on all the movies I watched as a kid. I finished off the year of shows last week with a show At Spike hill, and I couldn't have been more happier ending the year that way! 6 months ago, I didn't even have the EP pressed ! And now, I am full steam ahead. I am so grateful to everyone who made this year possible! Thank you so much for supporting Johanna And The Dusty Floor and don't forget to buy the EP here : www johannaandthedustyfloor.com

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new EP Launch Photos!

2010-11-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

So happy after Tuesday's EP launch show! you can buy it officially in Itunes round the world now! it makes me so happy to see something i worked so hard on and is so much a part of myself, be born and created and given to the universe!

thank you to all who support me and the music i am making!

i leave you with a link to the itunes site and a photo of Kate Bush who is getting me through this recording studio week (i am finishing the full length record!)

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-forest-ep/id404387320?v0=FB_SSFeatGet&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

it's all happening part deux

2010-11-18T11:15:00.000-08:00

I AM SOOO THRILLED to announce that the Forest EP is now available online!!!

here is the link to buy and if you have a moment, write a review!!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-forest-ep/id404387320?v0=FB_SSFeatGet&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

if you wanna take a listen... go to spinner here to preview the whole EP streaming LIVE for one week!

http://music.aol.com/new-releases-full-cds/#/12

GO BUY AND LISTEN AND REVIEW!!!

xxxx yay and happy days!

It's all happening! The Release of The Forest EP.

2010-10-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

It has been such a journey! so long coming and now, it's finally here and it's all happening. throughout the last year, i have been a nomad of sorts, traveling, writing, exploring. I drove across the country twice in 10 months. The first time was all the way from NY, down south and across to Los Angeles and the second time was all the way up the pacific coast highway to Portland and then back to NY! it was such an amazing time and i saw so much of this huge and magnificent country that is America. During this past year (well, you know really it's been longer but only a year that i have been seriously working on these songs) i have been recording and preparing my record. I have written about 75 songs and about 13 of them are in the running to make the final cut. 5 songs however, earned their place on the EP i decided to release this November 16th,2010. I needed to get something out there, to see it be born and to see it grow. While i work on finishing the final record for the spring release of 2011, i wanted to share some of what i have spent all this time working on. wow! i am so thrilled that one week from today, i will be doing the first show of my November Residency at Rockwood Music Hall stage one, in NY on allen street!!!

November 16th will be the release show but i am playing the 2nd and the 30th too at 7 pm!!!

i can't wait to see you all there and please bring your friends! i will have lots of goodies! there will be drinks, and fun and most of all , MUSIC!!!!!!

i am looking forward to seeing you all there and playing some music for you! hope you enjoy it as much as i have enjoyed working on it! xx

clothes clothes clothes

2010-10-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

gosh i can't believe how quickly the weather can change here. In a way, it makes me miss Australia.

i have been trying out new outfits for shows recently, i love to dress up and my mother always says that's half the reason i chose a career on the stage. That way, i can still justify dressing up in odd clothes. I think art, fashion and ,music really do go together.... you have to have a kind of persona. A thing which is just you that helps you to visually express the music and feeling you are trying to convey to your audience. I am so heavily influenced by the fantastic. Sparkles and magical things. Witches and woods and fairies and animals that speak! OH MY!

here is a video of me climbing out of my massive and bursting closet at home! some of those dresses i have had for 7 years. Am i a closet hoarder? like literally?

Good things happening!!!

2010-09-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Good things happening!!!

This last week marked the first working with the amazing Press Here Publicity to promote my new EP called "The Forest EP" to be released this fall on Red Valise Records.

i also looked back over the last year of some footage and pasted together this video with a rough demo i did of a song i wrote whilst i was driving across the country in 2009. This journey took me a lot of places mentally and physically and i have my friend Jeaneen to thank for being my driving companion and muse for the trip.

hope you all like it and stay tuned for more and LOTS of upcoming shows!!!

some new music i have been listening to

2010-09-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

check out DARK DARK DARK at
http://www.myspace.com/darkdarkdarkband

they are super folky and amazing... beautiful moody strings etc. My friend Rose introduced me to them and i am officially in love

also,

my boyfriend introduced me to Glasser and Still Corners this week. AMAZING
http://www.myspace.com/glasssser

http://www.myspace.com/stillcorners

that is all... have a great saturday! i am super lucky as i am being taken to the great jones spa for a little R and R with my man.

xx

ORLY!

2010-08-25T09:53:00.000-07:00

my friend Nadia Ackerman made this awesome video of our friend Orly.... how amazing is her voice!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt7P7oOuzgs

HOLY HELL HOW GOOD ARE THESE BANDS?

2010-08-22T16:07:00.000-07:00

it has been such a long time since i have written. I am sitting at my favorite place to ponder on the computer in Seattle. It's called Oddfellows and they serve the most delicious bloody mary's and amazing food.

I wanted to write this blog because for a while now, i have been thinking about all the amazing musicians that i know and how much i genuinely LOVE their music. I thought it might be a good idea to list them here for you all to check out when you get some free time. I know i LOVE hearing about new music so here goes....

EGO PUPPETS My good friend Eric sent me his music a while back and i can't stop listening.. boppy and dark all at the same time!!! http://www.myspace.com/egopuppets

KATE TUCKER.... I play keys and sing backup for this southern rock sweatheart! http://www.myspace.com/katetuckermusic

EDISON WOODS.... i play keys and sing in this mini rock orchestra. Julia's music makes my heart soar http://www.myspace.com/edisonwoods

KAISER CARTEL.... i played piano and sang backup for their album release show and i am BUSTING to do mroe... their new record is out now and i promise you wont be sorry if you buy it http://www.myspace.com/kaisercartel

DANI ELLIOTT..... this girl has some pipes! she sings with me on my own band project and also with the likes of Wheatus and MIA. i cant wait for her new music to be available. it is AMAZING http://www.myspace.com/danielleelliottmusic

EL MAY... I have been a big fan of this Aussie's music for quite some time. Last year, i had the pleasure of working under the same roof as her for a music house and we became friends. Her music is just as friendly and beautiful as her soul
http://www.myspace.com/el_may

ORLY..... This Aussie has some serious soul and often plays at Rockwood msuic hall to a packed audience. buy her EP!
http://www.myspace.com/orlymusic

NADIA ACKERMAN.... AUSTRALIAN!!!! need i say more? ok i will say one more thing "LIGHTHOUSE" best song ever . go see for yourself
http://nadiaackerman.com/

THE HIPSTONES... TOO MUCH SOUL FOR MY LITTLE BOOTS! AMAZING! http://www.myspace.com/thehipstones

GEORGIA HAEGE.... this girl has so much versatility and can sing anything. she has a few bands in the workshttp://www.myspace.com/georgiahaegemusic

STEVVI ALEXANDER.... her music is uplifting and soulful. buy her record at CD baby http://www.myspace.com/stevvialexander

THE MADISON SQUARE GARDENERS.... my favorite NYC/southern band http://www.myspace.com/madisonsquaregardeners

TAURUS.... Chris Morrisey plays with many people i know. I knew he was good but i was blown away when i saw his show recently at the Rockwood. Honestly, this is the next Jeff Buckley/Rufus Wainright songwriting genius. i only wish he would hurry up with mixing his record so we could have something to listen to
http://www.facebook.com/taurusmusic

FINDLAY BROWN .... um was Roy Orbison born again in this guy? AMAZING http://www.myspace.com/findlaybrown

KATRINA BLACKSTONE.... SO LUCKY i get to call her a friend. http://www.myspace.com/katrinablackstone

BRIANNA SAGE.... can she hurry up with more gigs and records? http://www.myspace.com/briannasage

KELLY JONES... best pop record ever http://www.myspace.com/kellyjones

MARK WATROUS..... plays with some amazing musicians but a genius in his own right http://www.myspace.com/markwatrousmusic

RED LETTER AGENT..... yes yes yes http://www.redletteragent.com/

ROB GENTRY... sounds like Prince..... need i say more?
http://www.myspace.com/robgentry

JOHN BALICANTA.... my producer and co writer. he is pure genius. as far as i know, there is a solo record in the works as well as maybe another project for his band Lola Ray. watch that space. like for reals.
http://www.myspace.com/johnbalicanta

all of these people are my friends and i am so lucky to be able to say that they are. I can't believe i have such amazingly creative folk in my life...

please check them out... support them by buying their records and attending their shows... keep live music alive and help us do so...

xx johanna and the dusty floor

www.myspace.com/joahnnaandthedustyfloor

Los Angeles Hiking!

2010-03-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

I am in LA for about another week. Packing.... again! this time i am moving back to NY! i feel like my whole life is scattered across the country! it has been such an interesting year though so i can't complain.

i am including some pictures of my hike that i do. I live in Los Feliz right below the Griffith Park observatory and i tell you, that hike is amazing!

the best part about my hike yesterday however, is that at the top, i discovered a man with a pet cockatoo named Alice who talks and everything! she just perched while he hiked and enjoyed the scenery.

Cockatoo's are native to Australia. It was interesting timing seeing as i am moving yet again. Seems like no matter how far away you are, home is always in your heart

one of my all time favourite poems

2010-03-09T15:42:00.000-08:00

Alfred Noyes (1880-1958)

The Highwayman

PART ONE

I

THE wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

II

He'd a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,
A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin;
They fitted with never a wrinkle: his boots were up to the thigh!
And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,
His pistol butts a-twinkle,
His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.

III

Over the cobbles he clattered and clashed in the dark inn-yard,
And he tapped with his whip on the shutters, but all was locked and barred;
He whistled a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

IV

And dark in the dark old inn-yard a stable-wicket creaked
Where Tim the ostler listened; his face was white and peaked;
His eyes were hollows of madness, his hair like mouldy hay,
But he loved the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's red-lipped daughter,
Dumb as a dog he listened, and he heard the robber say—

V

"One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night,
But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light;
Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day,
Then look for me by moonlight,
Watch for me by moonlight,
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way."

VI

He rose upright in the stirrups; he scarce could reach her hand,
But she loosened her hair i' the casement! His face burnt like a brand
As the black cascade of perfume came tumbling over his breast;
And he kissed its waves in the moonlight,
(Oh, sweet, black waves in the moonlight!)
Then he tugged at his rein in the moonliglt, and galloped away to the West.

PART TWO

I

He did not come in the dawning; he did not come at noon;
And out o' the tawny sunset, before the rise o' the moon,
When the road was a gypsy's ribbon, looping the purple moor,
A red-coat troop came marching—
Marching—marching—
King George's men came matching, up to the old inn-door.

II

They said no word to the landlord, they drank his ale instead,
But they gagged his daughter and bound her to the foot of her narrow bed;
Two of them knelt at her casement, with muskets at their side!
There was death at every window;
And hell at one dark window;
For Bess could see, through her casement, the road that he would ride.

III

They had tied her up to attention, with many a sniggering jest;
They had bound a musket beside her, with the barrel beneath her breast!
"Now, keep good watch!" and they kissed her.
She heard the dead man say—
Look for me by moonlight;
Watch for me by moonlight;
I'll come to thee by moonlight, though hell should bar the way!

IV

She twisted her hands behind her; but all the knots held good!
She writhed her hands till her fingers were wet with sweat or blood!
They stretched and strained in the darkness, and the hours crawled by like years,
Till, now, on the stroke of midnight,
Cold, on the stroke of midnight,
The tip of one finger touched it! The trigger at least was hers!

V

The tip of one finger touched it; she strove no more for the rest!
Up, she stood up to attention, with the barrel beneath her breast,
She would not risk their hearing; she would not strive again;
For the road lay bare in the moonlight;
Blank and bare in the moonlight;
And the blood of her veins in the moonlight throbbed to her love's refrain .

VI

Tlot-tlot; tlot-tlot! Had they heard it? The horse-hoofs ringing clear;
Tlot-tlot, tlot-tlot, in the distance? Were they deaf that they did not hear?
Down the ribbon of moonlight, over the brow of the hill,
The highwayman came riding,
Riding, riding!
The red-coats looked to their priming! She stood up, straight and still!

VII

Tlot-tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot-tlot, in the echoing night!
Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!
Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,
Then her finger moved in the moonlight,
Her musket shattered the moonlight,
Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him—with her death.

VIII

He turned; he spurred to the West; he did not know who stood
Bowed, with her head o'er the musket, drenched with her own red blood!
Not till the dawn he heard it, his face grew grey to hear
How Bess, the landlord's daughter,
The landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Had watched for her love in the moonlight, and died in the darkness there.

IX

Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were his spurs i' the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat,
When they shot him down on the highway,
Down like a dog on the highway,
And he lay in his blood on the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.

* * * * * *

X

And still of a winter's night, they say, when the wind is in the trees,
When the moon is a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
When the road is a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
A highwayman comes riding—
Riding—riding—
A highwayman comes riding, up to the old inn-door.

XI

Over the cobbles he clatters and clangs in the dark inn-yard;
He taps with his whip on the shutters, but all is locked and barred;
He whistles a tune to the window, and who should be waiting there
But the landlord's black-eyed daughter,
Bess, the landlord's daughter,
Plaiting a dark red love-knot into her long black hair.

Sad music and I

2009-12-26T11:26:00.000-08:00

It's the day after Christmas and i have to say i had a pretty good day. I spent it learning new music For the band Edison Woods that i play for in NY. we have a show coming up in Jan and you should def check it out www.edisonwoods.net

I wrote music, learned more music again for Kate Tucker www.katetucker.com, ate some food, watched the hangover (funniest movie of 09) all in all, a pretty good day.

It was the first i didn't see my folks and it felt weird. not bad weird, just a little more lighter. I am sure one day they will read this.... but i guess the point of a blog is to be honest right?

We don't really have christmas anymore since my sister died in '94.

we usually try to have a tree and forge laughter in the saftey of whomever we have managed to convince to spend christmas with us. As much as i am so grateful to my parents for always keeping things as normal as possible, It always felt very strained. I could see the frown in my mothers eyes, and the sadness and meloncholy in my father's face.

No matter how much you try to cover up sorrow and pain of that magnitude, it always comes out some way or another.

yesterday, i went about my day quietly reflecting on Alexa (my sister)
It has been so many years and this is just another time marking to let me know that she is moving further and further out of my life. Gone, but certainly not forgotten.

Which, brings me to the reason for this post. My friend J.R introduced me to a profound and brutally honest record. The Antlers. Heard of them? me too but i always thought they were scuzzy rock. however, this effort blinded me completely. The song 'Kettering' reminded me so much of the times my sister was in and out of hospitals and medical institutions. it sent shivers up my spine in a way i have not felt in a long time.

Sometimes it is comforting to be brought back to a particular moment, even if it was a traumatic one.

The album called 'Hospice' (clever and DUH) is amazing and i highly suggest you pick up a copy. here is a link to the pitchfork article. Please read about ti as you will understand how personal this album was to make

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13196-hospice/

change

2009-05-03T21:05:00.000-07:00

infinity is forevor. forevor is such a long time. forevor is how long i will ride this out.

sometimes i think i am rthe only person in the world who feels this as intensely as i do.

2009-03-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

not even tax time

2009-03-02T10:48:00.001-08:00

the remnants of a relationship. the only proof now lies in piles of receipts. As i sit here whilst a blizzard attacks the outside world, i am forced to re live the last year of ours through the dubious process of tax time. trips to the vet.... expensive dinners at vegan restaurants where we held eachother's hands across tables.... tickets to shows....movie stubs from date nights.....

how could i not feel sad and melancholy? what has happened is unchangeable. The past is the past and our futures lie so far apart. But it does not change the way i feel about it. I want happiness for us both, i want to feel the love of another... but nothing changes the fact that i loved you.

Not even tax time will let me forget it.

the confusion

2009-02-19T08:06:00.001-08:00

to stay, to go, to love to not.... geeze life feels utterly exhausting right now.
For some reason i am in a constant state of disarray. I thought 2009 was going to be the best year ever and it's not bad don't get me wrong.... but i am being forced to make really big decisions i am not ready to make.

i want to take a road trip somewhere. just get in the car and listen to rad tunes and not have any responsibility for a while. When i am in NY, i am always playing catch up and always thinking about all the things i have not done yet but should.

When i am in LA, i feel like i am running away from all the things that trouble me in NY.

I'M SO CONFUSED!

2009-02-17T11:52:00.001-08:00

all-encompassing heart-enriching mind-expanding on-going never-ending love.

“And I want to play hide-and-seek and give you my clothes and tell you I like your shoes and sit on the steps while you take a bath and massage your neck and kiss your feet and hold your hand and go for a meal and not mind when you eat my food and meet you at Rudy’s and talk about the day and type your letters and carry your boxes and laugh at your paranoia and give you tapes you don’t listen to and watch great films and watch terrible films and complain about the radio and take pictures of you when you’re sleeping and get up to fetch you coffee and bagels and Danish and go to Florent and drink coffee at midnight and have you steal my cigarettes and never be able to find a match and tell you about the the programme I saw the night before and take you to the eye hospital and not laugh at your jokes and want you in the morning but let you sleep for a while and kiss your back and stroke your skin and tell you how much I love your hair your eyes your lips your neck your breasts your arse your
and sit on the steps smoking till your neighbour comes home and sit on the steps smoking till you come home and worry when you’re late and be amazed when you’re early and give you sunflowers and go to your party and dance till I’m black and be sorry when I’m wrong and happy when you forgive me and look at your photos and wish I’d known you forever and hear your voice in my ear and feel your skin on my skin and get scared when you’re angry and your eye has gone red and the other eye blue and your hair to the left and your face oriental and tell you you’re gorgeous and hug you when you’re anxious and hold you when you hurt and want you when I smell you and offend you when I touch you and whimper when I’m next to you and whimper when I’m not and dribble on your breast and smother you in the night and get cold when you take the blanket and hot when you don’t and melt when you smile and dissolve when you laugh and not understand why you think I’m rejecting you when I’m not rejecting you and wonder how you could think I’d ever reject you and wonder who you are but accept you anyway and tell you about the tree angel enchanted forest boy who flew across the ocean because he loved you and write poems for you and wonder why you don’t believe me and have a feeling so deep I can’t find words for it and want to buy you a kitten I’d get jealous of because it would get more attention than me and keep you in bed when you have to go and cry like a baby when you finally do and get rid of the roaches and buy you presents you don’t want and take them away again and ask you to marry me and you say no again but keep on asking because though you think I don’t mean it I do always have from the first time I asked you and wander the city thinking it’s empty without you and want what you want and think I’m losing myself but know I’m safe with you and tell you the worst of me and try to give you the best of me because you don’t deserve any less and answer your questions when I’d rather not and tell you the truth when I really don’t want to and try to be honest because I know you prefer it and think it’s all over but hang on in for just ten more minutes before you throw me out of your life and forget who I am and try to get closer to you because it’s a beautiful learning to know you and well worth the effort and speak German to you badly and Hebrew to you worse and make love with you at three in the morning and somehow somehow somehow communicate some of the overwhelming undying overpowering unconditional all-encompassing heart-enriching mind-expanding on-going never-ending love I have for you.”

Sarah Kane
Crave

third post today woa!

2009-02-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

this is what i did when Obama took over

RECORDING IN CALI!

2009-02-07T09:15:00.000-08:00

we did some rad new songs (we being John balicanta from Lola Ray and i. here are some recent pics from the studio and a rad video)

pictures of the last week or so

2009-02-07T09:12:00.001-08:00

dark days and sweet music

2009-01-31T11:37:00.000-08:00

Sydney in December was a really bad time, and a really good time. I fhad some pretty crappy stuff happen but through that, came some rad new material with one of my favorite engineers and producers, Richie B of Free Energy device in Sydney. We have been friends for a long time, and when it was all falling apart, he said "right, we better go make some music out of this"

one of the songs called "all the things" is up on the myspace (www.myspace.com/johannaandthedustyfloor) so go check it out if you can

we used three ingredients and that's it. A linn drum, a Juno and a toy piano. I wanted a real retro feel. And retro feel i got. The Linn drum is the leader of the retro drum machines. All those cool sounds on Kate bush's records are created by this wondrous machine.

here are some pics and even though they are super blurry, you kind of get the idea.

also, when i moved to NY, Richie became the foster parent to my beautiful Welmar grand piano as my folks had nowhere to put it. Here is a little pic of it. I miss it so much. It was a great joy to go play it again.

black phoenix alchemy lab

2008-07-19T09:51:00.000-07:00

this is the most marvelous thing i have discovered in a while.

potions.... lots of them in heavenly scents with heavenly names. I of course, am quite partial to the Alice in wonderland series.
go check it out

http://www.blackphoenixalchemylab.com/welcome.html

words

2008-07-19T06:37:00.001-07:00

Words. I have them.... i eat and breathe them.
Sometimes i have no need for them, other times they come spilling out with no regard for consequence.
I am a singer and a songwriter. In some ways, words are my business. Not as severely as a writer of books, But enough to make it troubling when i find myself in a wordless desert.