This One-Woman Steampunk Fantasy Musical? What's the music like? Is there a video? What kind of show is it?

When folks ask me what I do or what I play or what kind of style it is, it's not an easy question to answer.    It's something like this:

 

Just a note:  Perhaps one day, I'll have the animations at the live show...not quite yet...

I'm so happy I jumped down the Ableton Live and midi rabbit hole. 'Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof' (Pharrell Williams.)

 

Buttons all set up for showtime (can't reveal it all though, can I?)

I eventually succumbed and jumped down the whole midi and Ableton live rabbit hole.   For ages it was hell.   That's the truth.  

Then, after what seemed like a very long time, it began to come together.  

I found Drumdrops, a sublime source of drum tracks which are just perfect for me.  

Now I have my show all set up on Ableton.  

It's all set up with pre-recorded parts and space for the live playing and for smooth running of the the whole shebang.  

All my buttons on my keyboard help me to find my place.   

What joy!  Now I can be happy I jumped.

As Pharrell Williams says:  'Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof.
(Because I'm happy.)'

The Hirsuite Hippopotomus and the Dip Pen Inked Poster

I've been having fun working on a poster for my show, Roost Arcanum.

I was debating whether to have a hairy riverhorse (it just seems funnier) when I discovered (from Andrew) the word 'hirsuite', meaning hairy. It's such a fabulous word, I couldn't resist having a hirsuite riverhorse, so hirsuite he will be.

Talking of hairyness, I had the (very possibly) crazy idea to ink my poster with as large a dollop of Edward Gorey influence as I could muster. I read that he used Gillotts crow quill and I managed to find some vintage ones and bought some (yummy) iron gall ink from Meticulous inks. I had some ancient (still stinky) scented turquoise and purple inks and have spent the past few days trying to get the hang of crow quilling. Tricky...but I must be getting there...it's become fun!

Black Crow Blues the improvised Amazonian Rainforest Version

What a sublime way to start 2024 - we went on a wild adventure in the Peruvian Amazon. 

Even sublime adventures come to an end and what better way to say goodbye than with a blues.

Do crows interfere with our lives behind the scenes (like the Greek gods of old)? No matter where you go, there are crows.   They always got there first.   

Even in the Peruvian Amazon...

(Antares Lodge near the Reserva Nacional Pacaya Samir)