Blog for IZZABELLA & IZsongworks

August 2011 LinerNotes to fans -- adding "Cry Angel Cry"

2011-08-01T11:55:40-04:00

August 1, 2011

Dearest Izzabelistas --

Happy dog days of August to all -- I've always wondered as to the why of "dog days" -- and here again another rich backstory of the sort words and phrases all carry with them beneath the surface of their familiarity -- the star Sirious, brightest star in the constellation Canis Major rising with the sun, back then, at this time of year prompted the Romans to speak of canine days -- dies caniculares -- yep, yelp! I'm Sirious, doggone it!

I know, tough to take anything serious this time of year -- except maybe vacations -- if you find your vacation thoroughly exhausting, just think of those unable to take one...so, as we all look forward to getting back to the welcome routine of work and study come September, we've actually got a pretty serious song for you this month -- called Cry Angel Cry.

As always, my sincerest wish is that you'll like it. This is another one of the songs for which I wrote the melody and Shenandoah Slim wrote the lyrics. The recording we're adding to our playlists also makes it another of the songs so ably showcased by the vocal art of the incomparable Brittany Allyn -- one of Nashville's best.

The dog days of summer -- they may be a time with time to spare, spare for thinking while listening to songs...as what this song's about remains pretty opaque to me, but Shenandoah insists listeners are all going to get it with no problem at all -- looking forward to your comments...

And come September...come September, we're not too sure what we're going to do as we're currently projecting our releases etc. for the coming September through August "artistic working year," as I like to think of it. Beyond working on songs -- my art and work -- I'm also going to be working on trying to better adapt what I do to the way listening to recorded music is becoming for more and more people an internet-based activity. One result is going to be an effort to raise the profile of my "brand" of songs, IZsongworks.

Thank ever so much for listening to my songs during the past Fall-through-Summer creative year. Whether at http://www.jango.com/music/Izzabella or at http://www.vibedeck.com/izzabella, I hope you'll keep listening through the artistic working year to come -- and...see you in September!

Yours Very Truly,

IZZABELLA

July 2011 newsletter adding "Hills of Oklahoma" to Jango internet radio playlist

2011-07-01T00:35:55-04:00

July 1, 2011

Dearest Izzabelistas --

As always, to begin, thank you for all your encouraging comments -- makes more of a difference than you might think to hear positively from people who know you only from how your songs may have "sung" for them.

And for this month, July -- month of the Glorious Fourth -- the song I'm adding to my Jango internet radio airplay list is dedicated to all who have served our country in uniform -- it's my salute to them on this Independence Day.

"Hills of Oklahoma" is, more particularly, my tribute to "the Greatest Generation." For some of us it's the generation of our parents, for others it's the generation of our grandparents -- the men and women who grew up in the Depression, fought in WWII, and brought up their children in the "post-war era."

The song also evokes one of the great internal migrations of recent American history, that of the people who left their homes in the Dust Bowl of the Southern Midwest for Southern California. These folks -- to get back to Country Music -- took their traditional music with them, and in time, in their new home, they nurtured the Bakersfield sound…I don't have to tell you how its great masters -- Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, Dwight Yoakam -- remain so distinctively unmatched in Country Music artistry.

This recording of "Hills of Oklahoma" is sung by Paul Pace. I think he's a stellar vocalist in every way, and I hope you'll agree with me. I wrote the melody of "Hills of Oklahoma," and Shenandoah Slim and I both worked on the lyrics. I hope you like the song, and would welcome hearing any comments you may have about it.

For next month, August, I think we're going to be "heading back East" -- adding a song to my Jango airplaylist that's not quite Bluegrass, but sort of is…evocative of what I think of that "mandolin music" tradition in Country Music. It's called "Cry Angel Cry."

Until next month then -- thank you again for listening to my songs. Whether at jango.com/music/Izzabella or at vibedeck.com/izzabella, I hope you'll keep listening to them.

…and may you and your families celebrate a happy and highly civic-minded Fourth of July this year…

Yours Very Truly,

IZZABELLA

June 2011 email to Jango fans -- adding "If Words Could Only" to playlist

2011-05-29T02:45:06-04:00

June 1, 2011

Dear Izzabella fan and new music internaut,

I have to begin this month's first-of-the-month letter to you by announcing -- what to me anyway -- is a most meaningful moment:

Sometime during May one of you graciously became my 1000th fan.  Thank you to you -- since the way I see it is that each and every one of you is my 1000th fan on Jango radio.   May each of you someday be my 10000th fan.

Please keep listening and we'll get there together.  Like all singer-songwriters, I've got plenty of songs (that's what singer-songwriters do after all), and I'll be continuing to add a new one the first of every month to my Jango radio airplay list for as long as I can ride this wave of the internet music revolution created by services such as Jango, My Major Company, ReverbNation, OurStage, Zimbalam and others.  As you know, these websites have transformed the audience-reaching possibilities of all musical artists.  (Because of it, I sometimes feel as I should adopt as my motto one of those businessny-like slogans "Play locally, reach globally.")

The thrill in it all is reaching you with my music -- even if for just the three minutes of one song -- the rest is commentary.  As I look at all the countries represented among the 1000 of you who clicked up as "I'm a fan" (maybe not a big deal to you, but a big deal to me)...well, let's just say I got no plans to go to Iraq or Sudan anytime soon -- and as much as I might like to go to the Phillipines or Australia, they're on the diametrically opposite place on the planet from my home in east Virginia!

For those of you who may have visited my website at izzasongs.com, in the blurb about the influences on my music, I mention Latin American music.  I think you'll clearly recognize that influence in the song I'm adding to my Jango airplay list this month, "If Words Could Only." As with the new song for last month, the IZrecords commissioned demonstration recording of this months's song is also sung by Brittany Allyn -- in my view, up there with Dawn Sears as the most intelligently lyrical vocalists working in Nashville today.  Listen carefully, and I bet you'll agree.  (And incidentally, if you're looking for classic greatness in Country Music today, check out the You Tube videos of The Time Jumpers -- listen carefully, and you'll agree there too.)

So, for this month, June, I've got a song for you about the regret, the finality ...love that's gone -- and futility of trying to talk it back to life.  I wrote both the melody and lyrics of "If Words Could Only."  For next month, July -- month of the Fourth of July -- I'll be adding a song that's my tribute to "the greatest generation," the one that came of age during the depression and fought WWII. Next month's new addition to my Jango airplay list is called "Hills of Oklahoma" -- but more about that song in my next first-of-the month letter to you, on July 1.  And until then, keep listening to and keep sharing new music.

Yours Very Truly,

IZZABELLA

May 2011 email -- adding "For My Eyes Can See the Blue Ridge Mountains"

2011-05-15T00:02:40-04:00

May 1, 2011

Dear IZZABELLA fan and fellow Jangster for new music,

…a merry, merry, super-merry -- as the lovers' season, Spring, is fully here -- month of May to you.

For this month, as I mentioned in my last e-mail to you on April 1, I'm adding to my Jango airplay list a song that is personally very special to me, "For My Eyes Can See the Blue Ridge Mountains."

Before I say a word or two about our new airplay song for May though, I have to express my thanks to you for your comments on our April Fools Day song for last month. "This New Machine" drew comments running the gamut from "Brilliant" to "I really don't care for this -- please don't do it again." And we won't do it again…until next April….

So, until next April Fools Day, we promise we'll stick to the real McCoy -- no frills, straight-up new Country Music -- that's our core competence and we're not forgetting it, and we what want to make sure you don't forget it.

Listening to "For My Eyes Can See the Blue Ridge Mountains" -- here in a wonderful rendition sung by the incomparable Brittany Allyn -- we hope you'll agree that this song is solid, solidly new, roots music. As we put it in our last month's email, for the merry month of May, month of Spring and renewal, we're going back to our roots -- 'way back to our roots -- drinking deep from the mountain spring of the music that evolved in the isolation of the Appalachians and is the upstream source of our country music river -- even today.

Izzabella composed the melody and Shenandoah Slim wrote the lyrics of "For My Eyes Can See the Blue Ridge Mountains." Both of us hope you'll all enjoy the song.
In June, when we'll be going into the Summer season of Summer fun, we'll be adding a pop-country ballad called "If Words Could Only" to the IZZABELLA Jango internet radio airplay list.

Until then, keep on keeping your mind and heart alive to music.

Yours Very Truly,

IZZABELLA

April 2011 email to Jango fans -- adding "This New Machine" to playlist

2011-05-15T00:00:17-04:00

April 1, 2011

Dear IZZABELLA fan -- and fellow new-music Jango-radio-listener,

To begin…a merry and madcap April Fools' Day to you and yours!

As always, my thanks and welcome to all who -- since my last email to you and monthly addition to my Jango airplay list -- clicked the "I'm a fan" button, joining the others who have expressed a liking for my music.

Your reaction to my Jango song for March, "Where Heartbreak Begins," has been most gratifying. Thank you for your attention -- and for all your comments.

As I mentioned in my last month's email to you, this month -- for April, month of April Fools' Day -- we're adding to our Jango airplay list an…April Fools' Day song. We hope to add, every April, for however many years this Jango airplay adventure may last for us, a humorous song…which we hope will fit your humor.

Our April Fools' Day song for this year is called "This New Machine." After you hear it, I hope you'll recall it -- every time you're in the gym fighting some @!!&#*!!@#&!! new machine!

I wrote both the melody and lyrics of this song, and this recording of it is sung by me -- sung especially for all us backsliders out there who, no matter how much the hucksters and marketeers keep hollerin', we just can't take all this hype and pressure seriously.

And next month, for the merry month of May, month of Spring and renewal, we're going back to our roots -- 'way back to our roots -- drinking deep from the mountain spring of the music that evolved in the isolation of the Appalachians and is the upstream source of our country music river -- even today. Our addition to our Jango airplay list for May is a bluegrass hymn to our relationship with the land called "My Eyes Can See the Blue Ridge Mountains."

Until then, keep singing and keep listening -- the two are as inseparable as the dancer from the dance.

Yours Very Truly,

IZZABELLA

March 2011 email to Jango fans -- adding "Where Heartbreak Begins" to playlist

2011-05-14T23:58:51-04:00

March 1, 2011

Dear IZZABELLA fan -- and fellow adventurer in the brave new world of indie country music,

Since I first put a song up onto the IZZABELLA Jango airplay list December 16, 2010, over four hundred of you (four hundred and forty eight to be exact) have done me the honor of "becoming a fan" -- a small matter to many of you, but to me, each and every one if you is a very big deal. I am truly gratified by your liking for my music. Thank you.

I only have my music to give back to you. I sincerely hope you'll keep listening to it -- and enjoying it.

As I mentioned in my last month's email to you, this month -- for March, month of stormy…relationships -- I'm adding a song called "Where Heartbreak Begins" to my Jango airplay list. It's a song about that moment -- ever so dreaded by any who've lived it, ever so sung about because so searing -- when lovers come out of denial and admit to themselves it's over. I sometimes think a core motivator -- why so many songs are love songs of one kind or another -- is our constant anxiety about losing love. This recording of "Where Heartbreak Begins" is sung by Tania Hancheroff and Paul Pace.

And for next month, April -- the month of April Fool's Day (gotta getaway from all this deep meaning anxiety and heartbreak stuff) -- I've got a funny song lined up for you. It's called "This New Machine" -- and it's sung by me.

Thank you so very much again for whatever time and attention you give my songworks. I really do love creating my songs, and I really do sincerely hope you enjoy listening to them.

My best to you all…in new love or in old love renewed, and in all your new music adventures..

Sincerely,

IZZABELLA

February 2011 email to Jango fans -- adding "Time to Know" to playlist

2011-05-14T23:57:13-04:00

February 1, 2011

Dear IZZABELLA fan -- and fellow adventurer in the world of new county music,

First, my thanks to all of you who "clicked up" as IZZABELLA fans on Jango e-radio since my last monthly email -- welcome to this group of people who, simply, share a liking for my Izzasongs.

Like every artist, I am honored by your attention to my work. In my songs, I will always strive to meet your highest expectations for poetic honesty and melodic beauty. (That's my New Year's resolution -- and I hope you'll keep listening for IZ songs during the coming year on Jango…and let's see how well I can keep my resolution.)

Second, as I mentioned in last month's email to you, this month -- for February, month of Valentines -- I'm adding a song called "Time to Know" to my Jango airplay list. It's a song about that moment -- ever so longed for -- when we think we might be falling in love and wonder…wonder in exhilarated anguish if, this time, it's going to be real. May your Valentine, whether the one still with you since long ago or the one about to crash into your life, prove real.

This recording of "Time to Know" is sung by Lisa Gregg. The song has a bit of that "Nashville pop-rock thang" to it which, as a country music traditionalist, I sometimes feel a little guilty about composing, but…maybe you'll like it. My core competence (as they say in the business world) is what I think of "straight-up country music" -- songs like "Somewhere in Nowhere" -- and like the song I'll be adding to my Jango airplay list next month, a duet in the classic style called "Where Heartbreak Begins."

Third, I cordially invite to attend one of my performances during February if you should happen to be in vicinity of Northern Virginia. In particular, I'll be playing at the Epicure Café in Fairfax, Virginia on February 12. I'll be accompanying myself on guitar, singing all the songs on my Jango airplay list and others too. Venue directions and other details are available on the IZZABELLA page at reverbnation.com.

Thank you so very much again for whatever time and attention you give my songworks. I love creating my songs, and I sincerely hope you enjoy listening to them.

Sincerely,

IZZABELLA

January 2011 email to Jango fans -- adding "Rainmaker Love" to playlist

2011-05-14T23:55:28-04:00

January 2, 2011

Dear IZZABELLA fan and fellow jangster --

First, our best wishes to you for a most musical coming year -- may, in the music-listening dimension of your life, the music you listen to deliver to your highest expectations of this art…

And second, our sincerest thanks to you for your interest in our songs -- for your reaching out and digitally touching us by signing on as a fan of IZZABELLA on Jango Radio.

And third and last, we hope you'll keep listening for IZ songs during the coming year. "Somewhere in Nowhere" was our first song on Jango. This month we've added a recording of "Rainmaker Love" to our Jango airplay list. And next month -- for February, month of Valentines -- we'll be adding a song called "Time to Know."

Thank you very much -- like all artists we are much obliged to you for whatever time and attention you give our work. We make our songs for your listening pleasure, and nothing could please us more than their pleasing you.

All the best to you in all your music discovery adventures,

Sincerely,

IZZABELLA