Adrien Reju's Blog

News, Updates and Musings from Adrien Reju
9 TED TALKS WORTH SPREADING 1) Virtual Choir 2000 Voices Strong This one speaks, or rather sings, for itself. http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html 2) Building a Park in the Sky This is my favorite park in New York City. Go see it if you haven’t already! http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_hammond_building_a_park_in_the_sky.html 3) Turning Dunes into Architecture How we might live if our world became a desert. http://www.ted.com/talks/magnus_larsson_turning_dunes_into_architecture.html 4) Creative Houses from Reclaimed Stuff One person’s trash is this man’s housing project.  http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_phillips_creative_houses_from_reclaimed_stuff.html 5) The Power of Introverts I’d consider myself an introvert, not because I’m shy or anti-social, but because I really enjoy my alone time. The time I spend alone is when I write songs, practice my instruments and come up with ideas for projects. Other well-known introverts: Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Steven Spielberg, Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt.  http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html 6) Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders A feminist viewpoint that doesn’t blame the other gender. This is not just for women, but also for men who want to understand the complexities of the women in their lives. http://www.ted.com/talks/sheryl_sandberg_why_we_have_too_few_women_leaders.html 7) My Green School Dream This is an amazing school in Bali. Dreams can become reality. http://www.ted.com/talks/john_hardy_my_green_school_dream.html 8) Gaming for Understanding If only my teachers had thought of this approach for understanding important events in our history. http://www.ted.com/talks/brenda_brathwaite_gaming_for_understanding.html 9) Wrangling Midi I may be biased since I’m in a relationship with one of the guys in this video, but this is one of the sickest things I’ve seen in a while.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uLKqYsZU9LM

9 TED TALKS WORTH SPREADING

1) Virtual Choir 2000 Voices Strong

This one speaks, or rather sings, for itself.

http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_whitacre_a_virtual_choir_2_000_voices_strong.html

2) Building a Park in the Sky

This is my favorite park in New York City. Go see it if you haven’t already!

http://www.ted.com/talks/robert_hammond_building_a_park_in_the_sky.html

3) Turning Dunes into Architecture

How we might live if our world became a desert.

http://www.ted.com/talks/magnus_larsson_turning_dunes_into_architecture.html

4) Creative Houses from Reclaimed Stuff

One person’s trash is this man’s housing project. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_phillips_creative_houses_from_reclaimed_stuff.html

5) The Power of Introverts

I’d consider myself an introvert, not because I’m shy or anti-social, but because I really enjoy my alone time. The time I spend alone is when I write songs, practice my instruments and come up with ideas for projects. Other well-known introverts: Albert Einstein, Mahatma Gandhi, Steven Spielberg, Rosa Parks and Eleanor Roosevelt. 

http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html

6) Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders

A feminist viewpoint that doesn’t blame the other gender. This is not just for women, but also for men who want to understand the complexities of the women in their lives.

http://www.ted.com/talks/sheryl_sandberg_why_we_have_too_few_women_leaders.html

7) My Green School Dream

This is an amazing school in Bali. Dreams can become reality.

http://www.ted.com/talks/john_hardy_my_green_school_dream.html

8) Gaming for Understanding

If only my teachers had thought of this approach for understanding important events in our history.

http://www.ted.com/talks/brenda_brathwaite_gaming_for_understanding.html

9) Wrangling Midi
I may be biased since I’m in a relationship with one of the guys in this video, but this is one of the sickest things I’ve seen in a while. 

Photo Credit: Mark Stehle I am saddened and humbled by the news that my friend, Philadelphia-based guitarist and session musician, Jef Lee Johnson passed away last night.   I can still see his smiling face walking through the door at Morning Star Studios in Bethlehem, PA where I had one of my first day jobs as assistant studio manager back in the mid 2000’s. We had many conversations about music and life between sessions and when giving him rides to and from the train station. He was soft spoken, light hearted, generous and wise and he was always genuinely interested and intrigued about what I was up to musically.    He gave me a tall stack of his own albums once, two copies of each (a total of 12 CDs I think) and told me to give the duplicate copies to a friend. I was blown away by the amount of original music this guy had put out and was too overwhelmed to go home and listen to it all in one sitting, but I eventually did overtime.  The thing that struck me most about his music was his unique voice and approach to playing the guitar.  He did not overcomplicate his playing, it was understated in the all the right places, and then almost unexpectedly he would turn up the gain and surprise you with a nasty and oh so funky guitar solo.  Today, I found his most recent album on iTunes, a tribute to Bob Dylan called The Zimmerman Shadow.  ”One More Cup of ‘Coffey’” is almost unrecognizable in typical Jef Lee fashion, but funky in a Joni Mitchell a la “The Jungle Line” sort of way. His playing and singing echo both Hendrix and Dylan on “Highway 61 Revisited” and “From a Buick 6”, and his version of “Blind Willie McTell” is dark and achingly beautiful.  And only Jef would think of turning “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” into a 3-part recurring interlude throughout the album. Definitely worth a listen. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-zimmerman-shadow/id352182823 I could talk more about Jef’s accomplishments and credits, but you can google him and find out all that stuff if you want. For now, I’d like to remember him for who he was and for the music he really loved to make.  Here’s a little video to give you a glimpse of his playing, his humor and his spirit.  (The bass player is other noted and loved Philly bass/session player, and one of Jef’s close friends, Chico Huff). http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZMw4Pt0NKpE An inspiration and a great loss for the Philly music community, but we are better for having had him around for as much time as we did.  RIP, Jef. We miss and love you!

Photo Credit: Mark Stehle

I am saddened and humbled by the news that my friend, Philadelphia-based guitarist and session musician, Jef Lee Johnson passed away last night.  

I can still see his smiling face walking through the door at Morning Star Studios in Bethlehem, PA where I had one of my first day jobs as assistant studio manager back in the mid 2000’s. We had many conversations about music and life between sessions and when giving him rides to and from the train station. He was soft spoken, light hearted, generous and wise and he was always genuinely interested and intrigued about what I was up to musically.   

He gave me a tall stack of his own albums once, two copies of each (a total of 12 CDs I think) and told me to give the duplicate copies to a friend. I was blown away by the amount of original music this guy had put out and was too overwhelmed to go home and listen to it all in one sitting, but I eventually did overtime.  The thing that struck me most about his music was his unique voice and approach to playing the guitar.  He did not overcomplicate his playing, it was understated in the all the right places, and then almost unexpectedly he would turn up the gain and surprise you with a nasty and oh so funky guitar solo. 

Today, I found his most recent album on iTunes, a tribute to Bob Dylan called The Zimmerman Shadow.  ”One More Cup of ‘Coffey’” is almost unrecognizable in typical Jef Lee fashion, but funky in a Joni Mitchell a la “The Jungle Line” sort of way. His playing and singing echo both Hendrix and Dylan on “Highway 61 Revisited” and “From a Buick 6”, and his version of “Blind Willie McTell” is dark and achingly beautiful.  And only Jef would think of turning “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” into a 3-part recurring interlude throughout the album. Definitely worth a listen. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/the-zimmerman-shadow/id352182823

I could talk more about Jef’s accomplishments and credits, but you can google him and find out all that stuff if you want. For now, I’d like to remember him for who he was and for the music he really loved to make.  Here’s a little video to give you a glimpse of his playing, his humor and his spirit.  (The bass player is other noted and loved Philly bass/session player, and one of Jef’s close friends, Chico Huff).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ZMw4Pt0NKpE

An inspiration and a great loss for the Philly music community, but we are better for having had him around for as much time as we did.  RIP, Jef. We miss and love you!

12 Lessons Learned on My First US Tour

This is slightly overdue, but better late than never. A behind-the-scenes look at life on the road, here is a little list of touring do’s and don’ts I gathered during my first US tour last Fall. 

1) Bring your own pre-show playlist, or else you might end up following the Rocky soundtrack theme song. 

2) Learn how to use the pre-show Rocky theme song to tell a joke to the audience. (This especially worked well for me.)

3) Keep track of your personal belongings… like your glasses, coat, and boots. “These boots were made for… ” You catch my drift?

4) Have one or maybe two drinks before the show, but not much more than that. 

5) Say “hi” and introduce yourself to the audience, even if you are in your “hometown”, unless you want to eat a big slice of humble pie. “You’re great, but what’s your name?!” yelled a bold audience member in Philly as I was walking off the stage.

6) Playing in your hometown can be intimidating and make you do interesting things like ask the audience to play a mouth trumpet solo during one of your songs. You may discover that 2 out of the 500 people in the room are willing to try it and all you can do is grin and nod your head along to encourage those lovely brave souls. 

7) Eat roughage (fruits, vegetables, etc) whenever possible. You will thank me when all you have are truck stops with aisles full of beef jerky for miles and miles through Wyoming. 

8) Stop in Vegas on Thanksgiving for some Japanese grilled squid at Ichiza. It will satisfy your craving for Turkey. 

9) Don’t stay in a hotel in Vegas.

10) Help out the tour manager/roadie/sound tech load the van at the end of the night. He/she will have your back and tell others you are “awesome”. 

11) Ladies - don’t attempt to wear that great vintage dress you bought just before the show without making sure it’ll cover your “girls” up properly. If you want your audience to become more intimately acquainted with you, then by all means. 

And last, and most important…

12) Touring is fun and liberating, but it always ends and home is where your bed is. 

Happy T-day everyone! Or as I like to say “Unhappy Turkey Day”! While you are all enjoying delicious feasts with your families, we are on the road driving from San Diego to Salt Lake City. But pity not, for we are having a blast out here on our little road trip and will surely have a delicious feast of our own at some yummy Chinese restaurant on the side of the road. Pictures to come! I’ve been in a very thankful mood today, thinking about how much of a gift it is to be able to do what feeds my soul every day, playing music for people who love music and good songs as much as I do. So, in the spirit of thanks giving, I want to send you all a big warm T H A N K * Y O U for listening and sharing in this wonderful experience. Without the support of Record Labels, Agents, Managers, etc that we musicians and songwriters used to have in the past, we rely so much on our fans to keep us going. You are the best!!! I love you all! XO, Adrien Reju

Happy T-day everyone! Or as I like to say “Unhappy Turkey Day”! While you are all enjoying delicious feasts with your families, we are on the road driving from San Diego to Salt Lake City. But pity not, for we are having a blast out here on our little road trip and will surely have a delicious feast of our own at some yummy Chinese restaurant on the side of the road. Pictures to come!

I’ve been in a very thankful mood today, thinking about how much of a gift it is to be able to do what feeds my soul every day, playing music for people who love music and good songs as much as I do. So, in the spirit of thanks giving, I want to send you all a big warm T H A N K * Y O U for listening and sharing in this wonderful experience. Without the support of Record Labels, Agents, Managers, etc that we musicians and songwriters used to have in the past, we rely so much on our fans to keep us going. You are the best!!! I love you all!

XO,

Adrien Reju

I’ve been hooked on Dr. Seuss lately, mostly because for the past year or so I’ve been babysitting as a side job and Dr. Seuss is often the author of choice.  Dr. Seuss once said, “you know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”   For the past week I’ve had trouble falling and staying asleep, partly because I’ve been thinking about all the little things I have to prepare for going on this month long tour, but mostly because I am so giddy about finally doing what I’ve been dreaming of doing for as long as I can remember.  I remember going to see Ani Difranco in concert at the Beacon Theatre when I was a teenager, and she was playing a song called “Hour After Hour”, just her and the guitar filling the entire space. There’s just something very special and vulnerable about one solitary person sharing their truth through their art. And I remember that moment being the first time I really wanted to do that.  And ever since then I’ve been working at it. For some it comes easy, and for others it takes years, but the reward always feels greater when you are given the time to develop and grow.  Feels good.  Love to you all! XO, Adrien

I’ve been hooked on Dr. Seuss lately, mostly because for the past year or so I’ve been babysitting as a side job and Dr. Seuss is often the author of choice.  Dr. Seuss once said, “you know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”   For the past week I’ve had trouble falling and staying asleep, partly because I’ve been thinking about all the little things I have to prepare for going on this month long tour, but mostly because I am so giddy about finally doing what I’ve been dreaming of doing for as long as I can remember. 

I remember going to see Ani Difranco in concert at the Beacon Theatre when I was a teenager, and she was playing a song called “Hour After Hour”, just her and the guitar filling the entire space. There’s just something very special and vulnerable about one solitary person sharing their truth through their art. And I remember that moment being the first time I really wanted to do that.  And ever since then I’ve been working at it. For some it comes easy, and for others it takes years, but the reward always feels greater when you are given the time to develop and grow.  Feels good.  Love to you all! XO, Adrien

Things I miss about Philadelphia #1: Rittenhouse Square after Sunday brunch.

Sitting by the fire and designing my own website. Life is pretty good.

Sitting by the fire and designing my own website. Life is pretty good.

8/7/2012 - NEW TOUR DATES!

I’m excited to announce some tour dates coming up including a Lowlands Reunion in Philadelphia and a show with the illustrious Rachael Yamagata in NYC! 

Aug 16 - The Lowlands Reunion @ Underground Arts - Philadelphia, PA (w/ The Fractals and Modern Inventors)

Aug 17 - Philadelphia Folk Festival (w/ Chris Kasper and The Lowlands)

Aug 18 - Bennett Farm Concert Series - Rochester, MA (w/ Rebecca Correia and Matt Cusson)

Aug 19 - Bearsville Theatre - Woodstock, NY (Full band show w/ Tom Benton Band)

Sept 4 - Democratic Convention for WV - Charlotte, NC

Sept 13 - House Concert - Redding, CA

Sept 26 - Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2 (w/ Rachael Yamagata)

Stay tuned for updates! It’s gonna be a fun and eventful year! 

XO,

~ Adrien

7/29/2012 - GOAL REACHED + NEW ALBUM DIGITAL RELEASE AUG 1st! 

I’m excited to announce that we raised a total of 123% of the Pledge Music campaign target! Oodles of thanks to everyone who pledged and spread the word! This was indeed a joint effort and I will do my best to reciprocate your investments with new music and all the lovely little gifts you pledged for. I’ve posted updates with videos, photos and album track sneak peaks for your enjoyment: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/adrienreju/updates

More exciting news, I will be releasing a Digital Download of the new album, Lucky Ones on Wed, Aug 1st on the Pledge Music page. If you made a pledge you can access the content, and if you haven’t, you still have a chance to make your pledge here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/adrienreju

Any funds raised from now on go to the wonderful charity Art Start, Tour Support and helping me make my first Official Music Video! 

Now onto booking tour dates… more on that later.

XO,

~ Adrien

7/15/2012 - 3 DAYS LEFT MAKE A PLEDGE FOR THE NEW ALBUM! 

Hey everyone! 

We’ve raised 99% of the Pledge Music campaign target! Woohoo! Only 1% to go and 3 days left!  

Once the target is reached, 15% of the funds raised beyond that go to the charity ART START, an amazing organization in NYC that is dedicated to nurturing and developing the artistic skills and talents of youth-at-risk who live in city shelters, on the streets, or who are surviving with parents in crisis. This is such a worthy cause, and I hope that we are able to support them. 

The remainder of the funds will go towards Tour Support and helping me make my first Official Music Video. I already have someone in the wings waiting to do it! 

The record is mixed and mastered and we’re in the midst of choosing an album cover design, and you can see the design options in the Pledger-Only updates.  I’ve also posted TWO NEW TRACKS from the album there and a little home video to say ‘Thanks’. If you don’t already have it, you can gain access to the Pledger-only updates when you make your pledge. Here’s the link:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/adrienreju/updates

Your pledges to this campaign so far will make the following possible:

1) Photography

2) Album cover design 

3) CD duplication & Packaging

4) Merch & Publicity

5) Reimbursing loans for Mixing and Mastering

Yay!! Thank you, thank you!!

XO,

~ Adrien Reju

6/30/2012 - MASTERING COMPLETE, NEW TRACK, OVER 50% RAISED!

Hey everyone! 

We’ve raised over 50% of the target on the Pledge Music campaign for the new album and there are 19 days left!  

The record is now mixed and was mastered this week with Fred Kavorkian at Avatar Studios in NYC.  I’m so psyched for you guys to hear these tracks! 

I’ve posted a NEW TRACK in the latest Pledger Only Update, and you will have access to it as soon as you make your pledge. Here’s the link:

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/adrienreju

Remember, a $10 Pledge gets you a Digital Download of the album BEFORE anyone else in the world + private updates.  

What’s left on the list of things to do?

1) Mixing & Mastering - DONE!

2) Photography & album cover graphic design

3) CD duplication & packaging

4) Merch & Publicity

- and if funds allow -

5) US Tour Support & a Music Video!

We can do this!!

XO,

~ Adrien Reju

6/20/2012 - PRE-ORDER THE NEW EP BY MAKING A PLEDGE!

I’m finally coming up for air, to announce that I have just launched a Pledge Music campaign to help release my new EP! YAY!  I’m in the midst of mixing the songs now in NYC with producer/songwriter Jack Dishel (www.onlysonmusic.com) and I want to invite you to be a part of the fun process of finishing and releasing the album! 

FYI - A $10 Pledge gets you an advanced Digital Download of the EP + private updates. And there are additional exclusives and Limited Edition gifts for higher giving levels. 

I’m raising funds for:

1) Mixing & mastering

2) Photography & graphic design

3) CD duplication & packaging

4) Merch & Publicity

- and if funds allow -

5) US Tour Support & a Music Video!

And speaking of video, make sure to watch the short film I made with Jack Dishel and Owen Biddle for your enjoyment! My first venture into the world of film-making.

There are only 29 days left to reach our target, so we better get crackin’!

http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/adrienreju

XO,

~ Adrien Reju

12/15/2011  NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW w/ MUTLU, NEW PROJECTS & NEW RECORD!

Well, I haven’t posted a blog in a while because I’ve been pretty busy doing fun and exciting things!  

First, I’ll be ringing in the New Year playing a super fun show with the soulful and hilarious Mutlu at Puck in Doylestown, PA. Tickets will most likely sell out, so make sure you get them ASAP here! 

Since I’ve moved to upstate NY I’ve jumped into the world of theatre and am music directing a production of the Wizard of Oz starring kids aged 8 to 14. It’s quite the challenge, but totally fun and adorable! The show opens Jan 27th at BSP (Backstage Productions) in Kingston, NY and runs every weekend day until Feb 5. So if you’re planning to venture to the catskills/Hudson Valley area around then, stop in!  : ) 

Lastly and the most exciting, I’ve started recording my new record! I’ve spent a lot of time writing songs over the past 2 years and in search of the right producer to work with, and I’ve finally found someone. The exceptionally talented and visionary songwriter/producer/comedian Jack Dishel has generously offered his expertise, creativity and his home studio to do this record with me. For a taste of what he can do, check out this video for the song “Magic” from his record Searchlight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxlRPhEyjDE&feature=related.

More good news to come, I promise! Talk to you soon!

~ Adrien


10/25/2011  SLOW RUNNER & JOEL T HAMILTON TOUR AND UPCOMING SHOWS

I had so much fun playing, singing and tagging along with Slow Runner  and Joel T Hamilton on their mini CMJ week tour through Philly, NYC, and Boston. Kicking off the tour we all played at The Grape Room in Philly and had a blast of a good time.  

In case you missed the show, here’s a little recap:

I opened the show with a short set backed by Josh Kaler (drums) and Michael Flynn (keys) of Slow Runner and Owen Biddle on bass. The highlight was our cover version of “Everybody’s Got to Learn Sometime” by the Korgis which Michael and I sang as a duet.  Video coming soon… so stay tuned.

Then Joel T floored us all with his wailing indie rocker voice, handmade box guitar, and casio.  His song “Never Loved” has been stuck in my head ever since and he performed it almost exactly the way he did in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqHXEuMyUTs&feature=related

Slow Runner ended the night on a high note with a set of their best songs to date.  They invited me up to sing one of my fave tunes of theirs “Trying to Put Your Heart Back Together”. Here’s a cute little music video of the song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rccMvUUCBvc&feature=related   They just released an amazing new record called Damage Points and I urge you all to pick it up! Here’s the beautiful song “Devil Moon” to give you a little tasty morsel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwZC-WMd4d4&feature=related

All this amazing music and there’s still more to come! This Wednesday 10/26 at 8pm I’m playing at Pianos (NYC) with three of my favorite bands in NYC: Spacecamp, Only Son, and Mister Barrington! We’re all sharing the night together as part of Spacecamp’s October residency at the venue. They just signed a record deal with Modern Records and I suppose this is a celebration of that little victory! 

Other than that, I am enjoying my new home in Woodstock, NY where I can breathe fresh air, look at the stars at night, and come face to face with a big black bear while out for a bike ride… yup, it happened! 

Hope to see you all soon!

Adrien Reju