DiGiTaL OvErDoSe Musical Productions: News

As the year draws to a close and another Thanksgiving and Christmas have come and gone, I relish in the peace that seems to cover the nation around this time of year. In spite of the recession and the world crises, I hold tight to the wonder of the birth of Christ and the miracles I experience daily. May Peace find you and hold you during this season.

All music drastically reduced.

Yes, we did break a leg! Thanks to everyone who made the Concert of The Autumn Women a success!
I had a blast. I was up most of Friday night preparing. I had to move my drum tracks from my sequencer to my 4 track digital for purposes of convenience, so my sound man could work off my board versus manually wrestling with changing my sequencer. As a result, I revamped my play list. I locked my keys in my car last night and ended up being an hour behind schedule. I had to drop off family in Bridgeport, then I had to go to the grocery store to shop for food for today. Then had to rehearse and burn cd's. I didn't get into bed until 3:30. I was amped all day right up until the time I played. Special thanks to eveyone who staffed this event, you know who you are, the food, the merchandise, the tickets, the sound man. I wasn't there, but I heard Moonshine Kellie shined. Congratulations to all! Peace. See you at The BeanHouse Coffee House at UNH.

After having a week to reflect, I am now able to share. The opening date of the Road Trip was a learning experience. After driving 3 hours to upstate New York, I arrived to find that an art exhibit had been scheduled into the time of my performance, to end at 8, when I was supposed to start at 8pm. I was already late arriving at 7:30. Althought the lady was very nice, she didn't relinquish the space on time and as a result, by the time I started it was 9:30. Main Street in Catskill, New York rolls up at dusk, so needless to say, by 9pm, everything was closed except for the coffee house and the pizza place next door. By 10pm, it was only the coffee house. On a Saturday night, at a fabulous coffee house from 9 to 11, there were maybe 4 customers, one of whom was a real piece of woirk, who came into the spacw where I was performing and apparently did not like what he saw or heard, so he decided to go to the seating area next to where I was playing and talk on his Nextel for 35 minutes. Finally the Barista asked him to leave. On the way home, after playing for an hour and a half non stop and no tips at all... oh did I mention, the painter wanted to trade me goat Cheese for a CD, without even knowing how much I was charging for a CD. So, I then had to drive home in the dark for 2 and a half hours before arriving in CT. The Hills have no street lights. I wa a nervous wreak by the time we got to CT and then I had to drive another 35 minutes throug the Valley in the dark with rude, dangerous drivers tailgating me and cutting around me because I wasn't driving 50 in a 35 mile an hour zone. My freind and I stopped to get some food and try to put it all in perspective. "We had a glorified, practice session and got a chance to use my new viceo cam." It was another opportunity to play." Yea, yea, yea, yea! I was frustrated and felt that the booker of the coffee house could have told me how things were and maybe suggested a different night, just as the Barista did. Its no ones fault, it was just bad timing, but I could have saved time energy and stress, if I had only known. I see this as a good lesson learned; next time I will ask what is the best time to play, instead of just picking a time cuz this was definitely the New York City or even New Haven.

I am playing at The Muddy Cup at 410 Main Street in Catskill NY today. I think I am ready. I am introducing a new show with new concepts and I hope people vibe to it. the premise of the Road Trip Tour is that I am a stranger in a strange land. An alien observing people and sharing about my experiences through song, poems and stories. I will be playing one cover, "Let It Be" by John Lennon, but with a Tracy Chapman rhythm. I plan to show up around 5 or 6, pass out flyers, grab a bite to eat and set up early. I hope to see you there.

Its 3 weeks to the first Road Trip Tour date and I am somewhat anxious. I have been planning away and look forward to returning to the Muddy Cup in Catskill. I love the venue. The last time I played there it was raining cats and dogs. There were a few people in and out. The weather was warm. There was one girl who appeared to be about 21 or so and she stayed the entire evening. I think she even brought a cd. She talked to me after the show and told me how much she related to my music and poetry. I think it was the sister power aspect of my stuff that struck her. My friend Jon travelled with me that evening and he recoreded most of the show although I can only seem to find a short piece of it. Out of that show came the video for "Margaret". GO TO MY LINKS TO OTHERS SIDE BAR.
Let me know what you think.
So this year, I will be taking pictures and videos and putting together a scrap book. Maybe you'll be in it. See you on the Road. Peace.

We have started to produce a video newsletter and it is available on www.google.com

Just a few words on a day when things have not quite gone my way.
No, its not that things are so bad or life is so rough. Just having a few moments when enough is enough.
Too much stupid behavior, people dancing on my last nerves. Too much crap getting dumped down that I just don't deserve. Too many piss poor excuses about why things don't get done. Too many reasons keep piling up to go play hooky and have fun.
If the day seems like it can't get any worse and you feel like you're targeted, forgotten or cursed. Take a deep breath and get on your knees and take a moment to think about how much worse it could be. If you are able to follow this through, believe me someone else out there has it worse than me and you.
Peace. Love Shadow

Friday, June 29th
It was a straight drive and we only got lost once. We being my husband and I. This is our first road trip. We arrived in Troy and as we got closer to our bed and breakfast, the streets became increasingly urban. I thought this must be a mistake! The internet ad said it was a mansion. How could there be a mansion here? We thought that this was a bad joke. Within a four block radius, we saw a catholic church, a charter school, a motercycle club and a car dealer. We actually went by the building. I was so overcome, I stopped the car and my husband smoked a cigarette. After I stopped laughing, we both took a deep breathe and I turned the car around. We parked in front of a big, brick, brownstone and went up the four stairs into the hallway, where there sat a phone on a table and a note. Before we could read it, our Inn Keeper opened the door. she had been expecting us because we called to say we were running late. She greeted us enthusiastically and we followed her into the lobby of an authentic mansion, complete with shiny, carved, wood ceilings, masterfully crafted sculptures and a huge persian rug covered the floor. My mouth dropped open as she led us into the great room complete with upright piano, fireplace and tifanny lamps. The diningroom table was set for royalty with ruby colored goblets, placesetting and rose colored, cloth napkins in matching glass napkin holders. We shared a bathroom with one other guest, which had a jacuzzi tub, handcrafted fixtures and tile floors. Our room was impeccable. Comfortabel, warm and inviting. Each room had a name. Ours was the Oltman Room. There were assigned parking spots in the huge, parking lot behind the mansion, which also beared a sign with the room name on it. The waiting area was off to the right and sported a huge bay window with a chaise lounge that looked as if it were right out of the 40's or 50's. Our room had a walk in closet with matching white terrycloth bathrobes. Two single beds with matching floral comforters, white nitestand and a huge white dresser with mirror. We also had what initally looked like an authentic, black, rotary dial phone, until I used it and found the buttons were push buttons. It was a nice touch though. We also had an air conditioner, alarm clock, cable tv with vcr, a wide bodied, wicker lounge chair and a little, round, glass covered display table by the window. We were in awe! But had little time to relish because we had to go and check out the venue and prepare for the show in 2 hours.

When is it time to make a big life change? When you're sick of the way things are and feel stressed and trapped? When you feel useless and unappreciated? When you feel like life is passing you by? When you feel afraid that if you don't make a change you will regret it for the rest of your life? Or all of the above?
Feeling unfulfilled sucks! Working a deadend job sucks! Being in a loveless marriage sucks! Having to work two jobs sucks! Especially when you know that you could be and should be doing so much more. Being snubbed by egomaniacs with inferiority complexes sucks! Being underpaid and underappreciated sucks! Feeling like what you do in your life is meaningless can suck too! Being lonely sucks!
Does anybody know what time it is? Does anybody really care?

This month, we reached al milestone. 50,000 hits. I am so pleased and excited. Thank all of you for your support. I hope you like the new look and you can look forward to some new features within the next month or so.
Poem of the month, a recorded spoken word piece with lyrics available free for downloading.
New pics and a new album, as well as video from the "Rockathon" tour. Thanks again. Peace. PS. I am playing this Sunday May 20th at The Low Key Cafe, a free really cool open mike with a feature, at The Berean Christian Center at 989 New Haven Avenue in Milford, Connecticut at 6pm. Come out and support new talent and have free starbucks coffee and Entemanns. This event is hosted by renowned, Christian Contemporary artist, John Ciambriello.

Shadow and Company are planning a summer tour to promote the new cd "DEEP". "The Rockathon" Tour will be in 3 to 4 states, a state a weekend and play as many shows as possible from Friday to Sunday.
We want to play and we want you to help us! We will play coffee houses, theatres, libraries, festivals, even your house!
If you wan tto book u or know of someone who does, email me at shadow@d-o-music.com. Maybe we can get into the Guinness Book for the most shows played in 72 hours!

Well 2006 is gone and for those of us who make lists of goals for each new year, the pressure is on. I am still in the midst of compiling my to-do list for 2007. My goals, my hopes, my dreams for the New Year. On this list, I often included ways to improve myself and become a better person, as well as financial and educational things, spiritual and family things, career things, etc. Well one of the things I hope to work on this year is the way I interact with others. Unfortunately 2006 was a year when I encountered quite a few unscrupulous, uncaring people and it would have been real easy for me to become jaded, but I didn't.
I believe that my word is my bond and at the end of the day that is all I really have, so I value mine and the word of others, Say what you mean, mean what you say. Don't get me wrong, I have not always kept my word for a variety of different reasons, but at the end of the day, I ask myself if I did the best I could and then I have to live with it. So I plan to be more honest and upright and considerate of others, not because I want them to be considerate to me, but because it is the right thing for me to do. I hope to be a better friend, family member and co-worker, well a better entity on this planet Earth, so that I am part of the solution, not part of the problem. As we approach the middle of January, I also plan to better to myself this year than I was last year. Not to say that I wasn't good to myself, but I wasn't as good as I could have been. I deserve the best. I think we all deserve the best and I should expect and share the best of myself and and all that I have to offer. And if all this weren't enough, I plan to shoot for the moon because I know that if I miss I will land among the stars. Peace and Happy New Year!

Yes, I know I am a few hours early, as I am writing this on Sunday morning at 10am, but I am excited! I love the Holidays and New Years Eve and New Years Day are like the whipped creme and sprinkles, on the cherry, on the icing on the cake. I will be in my disguise working as mild mannered RGE, Case Manager. At 11pm, when I get off I might swing by my frineds house and hang out with my crew for a minute or I may just go home and hug my little boy and bring in the New Year with a glass of non-alcoholic grape cider, while watching the ball drop in Times Square. I'm not corny, just square. Either way, I won't be drinking and driving and I plan to stay safe. I want to thank all of you for all your support. Every month, more of you visit my site, listen to and share my music and poetry, sign my guestbook and send good vibes my way.
In 2007, you can look for monthly poems, songs by not just me, but by other artists in my crew, new links, a new release "DEEP" in its entirety, new photos and new videos and possibly a web/pod cast from my new studio.
I wish you much love, peace with a capital P, and lots of happiness in 2007.
Love Shadow, modern rockand spoken word Songstress.

I recently seen a program on ABC that stated that Black Women in America have the highest rates of AIDsS case in the country. Haven't had a chance to confirm this, but I would like some feedback from anyone who knows. Was I the only one to see this and how come no one seems to be talking about it?
Where were you when the Towers fell? I was at work and I wa slitening to the radio, or I should say I had it on and then I heard the announcers get real serious, but I still didn't quite get it. I thought it was jus tanother plan crash. then my area got really quiet. Unusually so. I got up and went into the hallway and it was so quiet, it was deadining. I went upstairs to the group rooms and found people gathered aroudn the tv and as if there was a parting of the Red Sea, as I approached the doorway, people seemed to move aside and I saw a plane hitting one of the Towers. My co-workers were gasping and talking anxiously and as if in slow mo, I went closer to the tv and all of a sudden it hit me. We were under attack and people were dying right in front of our eyes.
Since that day, I have written and performed songs about it, tlaked about it, cried about it and prayed about it. WE MUST NOT FORGET. .

Digital OverDose
Artists Combat Tragedy
Now!

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14TH 5-9PM
BE A PART OF HISTORY!
HELP CHANGE THE WORLD!

DO Music and CTV of New Haven, West Haven and Hamden have joined forces to present a 4 hour telethon to raise money and awareness for the victims of Katrina, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14 FROM 5-9PM. Live on Channel 29 on your Comcast Cable. This unprecedented event will run for the entire 4 hours with musical and poetic performances, commentary, call-in's interviews with community members and organization reps and viewers will be told how and where they can help.

FEATURED ARTISTS INCLUDE

Shadow
Talking To Walls
The Brotherhood
PapaWhite
Convegence
Melissa Mulligan
Lou Guarino
StyroCultural Antidote
Meg Hackette
Moonshine Kellie
Eric Buggey
Frank and Paula Panzarella
The Imani Models
The Neverending Family
Traciana


Artists, Volunteers and Certified Videographers are needed to help organize D.O. ACT Now! For info, call (203) 685-6031 or drop an email to shadow@d-o-music.com Peace.

On Friday, June 3, modern orck trio Us and modern rock/spoken word Diva, Shadow received the first ever, Street Performers Permit in New Haven. No other artists can claim this accomplishment. According to the Livable Cities Initiative office, who issues Street Vendor permits, several people have asked about what it takes to receive such a Permit. Although "busking" ( street performing for tips) is legal most everywhere, an artist can be asked to move on or cease the performance if the police deem it necessary. In light of heightened security due to 911, permits are now required for many things that at one time were not.
Digital OverDose Music is proud to announce that Shadow performed on Saturday, June 11th under the Yale British Art Museum entrance to locals and visitors to The International Festival of Arts and Ideas. Her performance of acoustic music and poetry was well received and she even made a few dollars. The idea behind the street performing is not so much to make money, but to let people know about Us and Shadow. The goal is to perform every Saturday between 7 and 10. Look for special guest performers and giveaways.