Pieces of a Dream

LOVE

2011-06-23T22:09:00.000+01:00

may or may not-start as a thought or an idea of someone or something, a portion of your brain that turns on to the fact you might appreciate the person/object and the interest is born. This is your head. This is the thought.

The feeling, rises up from your body. The lower portions perhaps, this is the essence of our physical being. This feeling may start to flow when thinking about person/object, or when in contact with them.

When the feeling from the lower half of your body, meets with the thinking of the top part of your body-the head, they meet in the middle- the heart. This is the birth of love.

To Kings of Leon - from a London fan (me) x

2011-06-18T04:01:00.003+01:00

Thoughts on Love

2011-06-13T02:42:00.001+01:00

Maybe we have evolved & growing up a bit means having relationships that are more functional. But underneath I am still the same person I always was. The passion matters. Someone that knows the depths of you is not the same as someone that understands the depths of you.

Double Rainbow

2011-06-13T02:32:00.006+01:00

Double Rainbow in my garden this week, followed by a shooting star that same night. The place to be.

Hole cover - For Once In Your Life

2011-06-08T20:20:00.002+01:00

2011-05-27T16:22:00.001+01:00

new technology sucks. Your lack of replies are exasperating. If I asked you a question face to face would you stand expressionless? I don't partake in fwd mails or click on banal gossip links but I do bother to answer my messages.

Retuned from Seattle

2011-04-27T00:45:00.003+01:00

And so I have lots to report, but first, here's a making of video for my Winter EP!

You can now download The Winter EP!

2011-03-01T04:36:00.002Z

The Winter EP was released a month ago to an intimate crowd who gathered for cake, art and beautiful live music.

For those who didn't make it and are still waiting to buy the EP, you can now purchase it online & download individual tracks here - http://queenofuncool.bandcamp.com/

I'm pretty pleased with this progress. My happy fans across the world can now get my music onto their ipods without need of a postman or cd player.

And now spring is coming..time for a new dawn to rise!xx

2011-02-21T12:17:00.001Z

Last night..

2011-01-28T20:20:00.008Z

I walked into the pub and Waynes World was playing on the projector screen. Good start.

You came out glammed up and didn't disappoint. You all smelled and looked wonderful and delicious, and ate all the cake and bought cds and t shirts.

I wore myself thin, but managed to channel Queen of Uncool in order to perform the songs to the awesome ability you were expecting.

I really enjoyed starting with some oldies, as much as I did inviting a full band up to play the second half with me. The EP in its full glory.

I may have spent awhile talking. A lot. You know how sometimes you make a phonecall and get the answering machine, and you leave a long rambling message, maybe going off topic a bit, and then wish you hadn't left one at all. This was me in between songs. I blame lack of sleep.

There was more I wanted to say though, that I did not get the opportunity to. I wanted to tell you what the EP was about, directly, as well as in the grand scheme of things. By that point though (just before we performed 'winter') the pub had accumulated a number of stragglers (I had released the door lady to run riot with cake) who were making a level of noise loud enough to disable me from discussing such subjects with the delicacy required. So I didn't. But trust that there is enough purpose behind the concept of the EP and enough meaning in the music to sum up a few months of my life with some accuracy, and that I hope it goes on, spreads out, and heals. Then it will have achieved its purpose.

The Winter EP is available to download here.

Why we must save the physical format of MUSIC.

2011-01-22T04:13:00.003Z

In a way, those people who write books, and make art (hard-to-make-ends-meet creative jobs, sometimes involving selling your dreams..) are very lucky.

People may read, or look at art on their computers, but it doesn't stop them wanting a magazine for their train journey, or to hang art on their walls at home.

Perfume, hair, food..all mediums offering creative work that people still need for physically, tangible products. But music?

Essence, mood, captured, for you.

Music is ESSENTIAL to enhance so many of these other elements; hair salons, fashion shows, high street retailers, soft candlelit dinner.. So much art & written word is inspired and indeed created while listening to music. Yet music is being overlooked. Cheapened.

Film has also suffered, but if you're watching a film you downloaded for free, those actors and actresses are going to remind you that real people made this movie happen, and you have not made your contribution to it. Music stays in some far reaching place in your mind, in your soul.

My EP.

I bought my music equipment from scratch to record. I didn't just write songs. I wrote, performed, produced, recorded, engineered, edited and promoted them, I sought other people to make their musical contributions in performance, I took time, spent money, made effort, many late nights staring at a computer screen, and though I am very glad I did it, should I have to sell these songs through an online company for 50p?

Let me say again, music is ESSENTIAL to so many other jobs, not just creative jobs, people in factories, long haul drivers, the health industry, it's therapeutic uses are widely recognised and of course it helps keep millions of bars, venues and night clubs in business, every day and night of the week.

"The fashion industry hijacked the Oscars" I heard someone say the other day. True. (And they have their hands in music's pockets too).

But now the musicians, are expected to make money from the clothing sold at gigs, from the cult of personality ("celebrity") that makes you want to attend our shows, be associated with us, and all of the merchandise that represents us.

Except the actual music.

The music now lives in your computer, in your ipod, in your HEAD.

It's true and fair to say, we do all all like to share creative ideas; books, films, clothes, music.

But it's not the labels killing the music industry.

It's you.

PS I may or may not make my music available digitally, and while I do believe in a non-eco friendly-let's-buy-the-physical-album approach to music in general, I affirm that people should be free to purchase music as a download.

I think it's great (and very "convenient") but the value of music is being lost, and while people would like to argue that labels have driven the price of music into the ground whilst focussing on artists hair, apparel, and interview skills, I think that only we, the people, can decide how much a song means to us, how much we really value music, and I know that my friends and I truly do, and my music, is worth much more than 50p, I thank you.

Friends.

2011-01-16T23:19:00.004Z

Hey,

So I was thinking about this time when I was about 10, and I was in a singing class. This new girl joined us, it was her first day. I'd offered to help her out, excited by a new face.

WE'd not been singing long, when I realised that although she was making a noise, it was constantly a semi-tone or two lower than what the rest of us were singing.

I asked her outright "Are you tone deaf?"

She got very upset and left the room, crying I think.

Thing is no one really got angry at me, cos they knew me..they knew, I meant no harm. And after that incident-she knew.

I was just being honest, just being me, and just asking, if she had an issue she knew about, that prevented her from hearing the correct pitch to sing-as obviously this would impede her progress?

I didn't mean anything by it, I was interested and concerned.

We talked and she shrugged it off. We grew to be best friends.

I've never lost this part of me. I will always be that honest. But these days when I say those things that I mean to say-that I mean no harm in saying, there's not always someone around who knows me that well, to know that what I'm saying has no malicious intent, or maybe some people take me the wrong way because they have their own issues.

Either way, I still am who I was then. A faithful friend.

2010-12-28T01:39:00.001Z

Merry Christmas!x

2010-12-25T02:41:00.002Z

To one and all! :) If you ever need an excuse to be happy, Christmas is one. Aren't we fortunate-all the people I know-can afford/have presents, electricity, shelter, food, clean water, music, friends, family, health, relationships, creative ideas, heating, time to cuddle, pets, transport, opinions, emotions, art, and a world where peoples basic needs are the same but everyone wants theirs just a little bit differently. Bless us.

Yes we are. Blessed.

Don't you know me?

2010-12-06T01:11:00.004Z

Some girls are like hot chocolate, sweet, warm, smooth and creamy.
I'm more like cheap lemonade. Sweet, but sometimes bitter, bubbly, but sometimes flat, and though you think you can see through me, you can't.

Do you know me?

2010-11-30T20:32:00.000Z

"If you don't know who I am from listening to my music, then you're not going to figure it out from me talking to you, either." Joan Jett talking to Seattle Times.

My thoughts exactly x

First gig in a year...

2010-11-21T05:43:00.002Z

The Antifolk festival is an unpretentious handful of nuts. I like it because I fit in here just about as well as anywhere else-in that I don't, but nobody really minds. So that kind of openness makes me feel as warm and accepting of the folk around me. The grimy floors of the 12 Bar are not really where you want to be sitting for someones acoustic set. But during my set, several people did, and I liked their hippy vibes so close to the stage.

So, no one came that I knew, except my personal roadie. But that was ok. Fresh people is always nice to play with, the anti folk. Knowing I'm more recently less anti-and more folk, I anticipated that my set might be drowned in other sound.
As if to demonstrate the point I started with my quietest song "Something you should know". Actually they shushed each other, and though there was still a continual rabble from the balcony the core downstairs stayed silent, and their number grew, throughout the set.

I gave them what I thought they'd enjoy in the second tune. "Fine". I gave them fire to fight fire, to shut them up. It was playground stuff. Like they were children. Like I'm going "listen to me, I've got the fucking mic-and I can make more noise than all of you put together. Shut the fuck up." And amazingly, they did. It made me laugh, I'm so loud now-and they've gone quiet. It also got the loudest applause. Not that it hurt, but I suddenly sympathised with how a lot of old bands must feel when they tour now-I felt they were applauding me for who I was 6 years ago. Not where I'm at now.

I played the next two songs that are going on the EP. That was ok. They still got quieter when I got louder but I think they were hoping for more screaming. They are not screamy songs. Sorry. Where were you 3 years ago?

I was asked for an upbeat tune to finish off (I had nothing left to say..) I don't usually do crowd requests..but I pulled another old one out the bag. They kind of didn't know how to take that. That's ok. It was a mixed bag. But fucking hell if I had a schtick that stayed the same all the time it would be fucking dull wouldn't it?

2010-11-18T12:41:00.003Z

Mewzik.

2010-11-15T01:13:00.007Z

So... here's a new track for you.
http://soundcloud.com/queenofuncool/fall
And when you're done with that, you can come see me play at the 12 bar on Saturday night. details on the myspace xxx

From the student protest that became a riot..

2010-11-11T12:04:00.001Z

http://news.uk.msn.com//photos/special-photo-galleries/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=155216945&page=7

2010-10-25T01:07:00.000+01:00

You

2010-10-15T13:06:00.000+01:00

To be as cool as Kings of Leon. To have a voice that reminded me of you. x

Catch it while it's hot.

2010-10-02T14:36:00.001+01:00

For one day only, I'm making this song available to the masses - http://soundcloud.com/queenofuncool/winter

Winter © 2010 Dee James

2010-09-24T12:00:00.003+01:00

Another petal falls from the stem
In the morning you can collect
No response at the weekend
Clear your inbox a bomb is coming

Wish my eyes were shielded
To the anger within
It's taken it's toll
and he's taken offence to everything
Struggle for connection
I lay down my weapons
and I find myself in Winter
so dark and cold

So this is how it escalated
She uses me like a crutch
In the past I've been stronger
But right now this is just too much

He's just getting wasted
and I can feel this lover
with nowhere to go
oh what I would give right now
to be swept up in your arms
my happiness returns
our love burst through the wall that I built to protect me

Would you let go of his love
as you bleed down at his feet?
Where's the safety in need?
The safety in need, this is damaging me.

Would you love if he was cursed?
Did not know it would be worse
But I thought I could feel it
I thought I could feel him in me

So flood me with your love
I live like an Island
would you swim out to me, swim out to me
in Winter?

In case you didn't know..

2010-09-18T13:52:00.003+01:00

I am now on soundcloud- http://soundcloud.com/queenofuncool which is far better than some other unmentionables due to the fact that there are next to NO adverts. How wonderful. Go listen x

2010-09-18T01:53:00.001+01:00

Saying you only like one type of music is like saying all your friends have the same personality.

Love

2010-09-14T01:14:00.004+01:00

So, just as it works for you it does for me. The braver face you put on, the harder it is for me to give love to you, my friend. And so the universe with me. Me within myself. You have to let it go. Let it come to you, break down if you have to, let it GO. Only then can you let the good stuff in.

and other thoughts..in a new song.

I will post soon x

Something You Should Know

2010-09-10T16:03:00.001+01:00

The Kindness Of Strangers.

2010-09-05T01:44:00.002+01:00

Some days, for whatever reason, you lack drive and self belief. Something is seeping out of you, and you are the only one around to remind yourself to stitch it back up.

Today I had such a day, but I've a broken needle, and ran out of thread.

So it was a much greater surprise when a stranger (you know who you are if you're reading this) extended their gratitude to me, in such a way that I was made to feel intelligible, blessed, and truly replenished in my self belief.

What an amazing feeling.

I'd like to say-to that stranger, (to please mind my grammer as I have no editor) that as soon as that happened, I felt like you were handing my belief right back to me. Like "Here, get on, this is your calling." like I had been begging the universe to confirm to me. And I felt in no way weird about it.

I knew you as soon as I saw you in the room, and our conversation proved my intuition valid. It's a one off. You recognise something, and you let it be known. I absolutely hold on to that.

I want you to know that my doubts were prompted by others, and not for a second my own. I apologise for making you think I had doubt. I never did. You wanted me to run with it, and I would have. You said ..for whatever.. but you and I both know that I am here to make music. And that is exactly what I will do.

Thank You.

x

Judy Fights Back

Joanni

2010-08-30T00:48:00.001+01:00

2010-08-27T02:22:00.000+01:00

LOVE

2010-08-25T02:39:00.000+01:00

I wrote a new happy song today too.

2010-08-25T02:29:00.003+01:00

Some Paintings I did last night/tonight..

2010-08-25T02:27:00.001+01:00

2010-08-22T12:21:00.014+01:00

So, the new recordings are up at-www.myspace.com/judyfightsback and www.myspace.com/queenofuncool
'Sky' has the legendary Dan See on drums. 'Fine' and 'Storm' are like really nice demos, with Dan Godfrey on drums on Storm, sounding Bonham like..

Now, see this beautiful Launderette sign?

well the shop is now under orders from the bailiffs, so I asked about it..

...and now it lives with me! We are very happy together :)

Solo Artist?

2010-08-11T01:22:00.004+01:00

So I never wanted to be a solo artist-but look at it now, I have the freedom to work with some seriously talented people, who I want to work with, when I want, completely on my terms. It's pretty cool y'all. I shall be posting the wonderful results of my random hook ups shortly....:D

2010-08-01T23:58:00.002+01:00

If fame is a process of isolation where you surround yourself only in people you know from work, and lose any sense of a private life, then I am half way there.

2010-08-01T20:03:00.000+01:00

"..individuals may keep going over the event again and again so that it takes up valuable thinking time. It is as if the mind has been temporarily taken over with no headspace for normal daily function.
They may experience a sense of overwhelming fear, intrusive images, thoughts, colours, smells and memories connected with the incident. Avoidance plays a part with some people – carefully avoiding talking, thinking or allowing triggers into their life to remind them of the trauma. This acts as a short-term safety mechanism but can lead to isolation from others.

This can lead to ruptured relationships while the individual stays trapped with a sense of numbness and prolonged shock. Having a continuous startled response is another common symptom causing the individual to jump at every noise or sound.
Often individuals trapped in this way may seem as if their personality has changed, as they become irritable, have bouts of increased moodiness and episodes of ‘flying off the handle’. An inability to sleep properly or waking up regularly in the early hours may affect concentration and memory.

All symptoms are normal reactions to an abnormal situation; it is the body’s response for keeping the individual safe from further danger, a primeval instinct, more profound and highly developed than any of us give it credit for."

I picked myself some wild flowers x

2010-07-28T03:16:00.001+01:00

2010-07-25T02:07:00.000+01:00

2010-07-25T01:57:00.000+01:00

2010-07-22T02:11:00.005+01:00

There are some things that make us feel more alive. Closer to god. We cling to these things. Some of us are used to pain, others, pleasure. Whatever it is we crave it, when it's not there. We seek for things to bring out our passion-life, love, death, destruction, orgasm, speaking to angels, spiritual bliss.
We also seek numbness.

Feelings can be so raw, and without proper avenues, expression is void. Useless. We are talking to the deaf. Therefore we seek the numbness to prevent the feeling of helplessness. How vulnerable we truly are.

It's all about the cups eh...

2010-07-13T22:42:00.005+01:00

"On a divinatory level, the Ace of Cups heralds an outpouring of feeling, although this feeling has not yet differentiated and emerges as raw, vital and often overwhelming. The potential is implied of a relationship, although often this has not yet been manifested. The individual is ready to embark on the journey of love."

For clarity on that see my earlier post! Psychic eh..

The 4 of cups says "...they are whispering to her that the bridegroom must be a dreadful monster; otherwise why would he conceal himself from the light of the sun and visit her only at night? On her face Psyche wears a look of discontent.." (psyche....as in psychic...)

By the way no one visits me in the night...only certain people I read about...and my dreams ;)

RahRah-OohLaLa

2010-07-13T05:47:00.004+01:00

Average Monday night..find an empty stage set up in the middle of a field, get your mate to film you go for it. (With a cameo from passing cars)

Inspire

2010-07-12T06:39:00.003+01:00

When will I sleep? How come the first "cool" day coming in weeks has kept me awake at night feeling the heat? My mind is so full of things...things that are not of this world. Things that didn't happen to me during the day. And though I am not dreaming, I can not shake this feeling. Like something is about to happen. Like something is happening, a relationship, that provokes, astounds, inspires. A vivid, striking, life changing, earth shattering, relationship, but there's nobody here.

2010-07-07T12:33:00.001+01:00

So, my first blog... A lot on my mind right now, but nothing I can really share. Here's a picture instead :P

A few months back I attempted to write for someone else, but being edited makes me sound-not myself, so I decided to start this page in an attempt to get my thoughts out there-out my head...it helps.