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Thursday 5 July 2012

How it feels to make a record when you're Sarah Humphreys


How it feels to make a record.

In less than two weeks I go into the studio to make my second full length record. It's been waiting for a long time, waiting for the right songs, waiting for me to be ready. I don't know if i've ever been 'ready' to make my records. But the time has come for me to step into this for two solid weeks and come out of it with a new baby to take care of and to share. Record number two, she's nearly here!

I remember writing songs for 'record number two' over five years ago in my Kincumber home. I was still married, i was still paying off my first record and I wasn't even close to becoming a mother. Life has changed dramatically. And i'm truly glad it has. There have been many dark moments, wandering through all the unknown. The artist in me doesn't mind what i need to go through in order to bare my soul and write the perfect song for that moment. But I mind very much!

I am not hungry for this world, for this industry, to MAKE IT.

Some (lovely people) have asked…
Do you even want to be famous?
Why don't you go on Australian Idol/The Voice/All the other ones
You'll make it one day.
Why aren't you famous yet?
You just need a manager/a big break/an interview with this person/to meet this person/to go to Paris/To do this show for nothing which is a wonderful opportunity/To go VIRAL *shudders*

After all of these years I can truly say that i am simply a Mother and an artist. I will not strive just so others believe i am deserving. I will make beautiful music out of thin air and I will share it with whoever wants to listen. I will give you my time, I will give you my heart. But this industry will not own me and I will always put my son and my self first, for without those two things - well… the art will just dry up like a drained and exhausted old river. And to have not one but TWO companies who get that, who support that, who love me and my life and my music and my personality for what it is - I am eternally grateful. ABC Music & Mushroom Music Publishing are the backbone to this album, this next phase of my musical career. 

Sometimes the hardest workers just keep working and striving and working til they're all worn out and they're somewhere up a river they didn't even know they were swimming up. It's kind of like me when i've had too much coffee, i'm going really fast but i'm not getting much done. Nothing real anyway. So I will just keep swimming, slowly and surely knowing my time will come. I will get to where I am going, I can't not. In fact, I'm very nearly almost there.

I felt very sad when Seal (yes i'm going to talk about The Voice again) handed his singers a piece of paper which said 
THERE IS NOTHING ELSE
Actually, there is. Balanced, normal, loving human beings know that they are not the centre of the universe. Your best? It's enough. It's more than enough. Success at all costs doesn't work out for anyone around you, not even you in the end.

Thankfully even though i'm a pretty peaceful homebody these days, I do love to share. Songs, emails, text messages, blogs, tweets, status updates… You name it. Except phone calls. Jude HATES me talking on the phone. And why shouldn't he? So add me on all of those thingies. Don't call. You'll just make a two year old cry. ANYWAY I'll be keeping in touch while i'm recording this new beautiful beast of an album. My new word is 'yes!' instead of 'no!' 
I am working with some of the most talented people in this country. Matt Fell. Josh Schuberth. Jeff McCormack. It's incredible. I trust them to know my soul and to know my music. And even when something sounds a bit odd, like 
'Let's record this outside! In a compost bin! With a sitar!' 
I'll be like, 'You know what you crazy old men*? Let's effing do just that!'

*Older than me. Not old ;)

x Sare

The boy getting squished. I love him so.



18 comments:

  1. God I loved this post, Sare. It's amazing to read this and see that elusive 'work life' balance thing in action in a passionate, creative woman like yourself. You know what - there IS nothing else, if you're talking about the right thing, and sorry, Seal. You got it wrong. There's nothing else that even comes close to the love of your family and the joy and satisfaction you get just by being with them. Nothing else comes close and nothing else is worth anything without it.

    You're an amazing artist, but you're an amazing person first and foremost.

    Enjoy the ride, hon.

    x

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    1. Oh you are a beautiful lady! Thank you so much for getting me. I get you too. This also reminded me i hadn't taken the captcha thing off my blog! I just did it. For you. For me. For everyone ;)

      Your's in the never-ending balancing act,
      Sare

      xx

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  2. I love you floss. I love that you read my blogs. I love your whole being. x

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  3. Yay Sare-poppet! Yay! Most awesome blog post my dear! :D Big LOVE, G x

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    1. Thanks fellow blog-lover, PS i love getting your messages, today's was especially wonderful. xx

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  4. Beautiful! Words from a beautiful soul. Your's and Jude's life will be forevering shining.

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    1. And what beautiful words i got right back, so funny how that happens! xx

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  5. Beautiful, Sara. Could not have said it better.

    Nick Rheinberger.

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    1. Oh i know you get it Nick. And i know you know more than I! So wonderful to be able to share a stage with people like yourself when i'm lucky enough. Still giggling... :)

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  6. How Blessed you are to understand the importance of balance and what TRUE SUCCESS is! I LOVE THIS POST, Sarah-bear! ♥Jxxx

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    1. Thanks beautiful Jane, I don't understand it always but mostly i really do. If i ever get lost i'll come back here and read these words, and the words of all these terrific women (and mens!) on here x

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  7. Lovely to read your wise words. Your best is always enough. I'm learning that too. To do my best and then detach and trust the Universe will do the rest.

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  8. I never thought it was, and now i truly know it is. It is such a relief. I hope i remember that forever and ever. I had a beautiful thought today and then saw a rainbow almost immediately, it was so instant, so real. The universe really is looking out for me always, but i felt it especially in that moment. Hope you have one of those moments tomorrow. x

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  9. You know Sare. When we were younger being around you and our many talented friends was always a constant source of inspiration and joy for me. The only thing that got in the way was my ego, and it dragged me to some horrible dark places taking away the things I thought mattered most in the world to me. Some light did peak through. Now my beautiful friends forgave me and I gained a wife who blessed me with 2 of the most beautiful little people I have ever met. My art may not have come back to me, but reading these beautiful words of yours, makes me think when the time is right someday maybe it will. Thanx Sare, luv ya xx

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    1. Chris you made me all teary!! What a beautiful thing to write and to read, ego is a little bitch. I'm over it. It comes and goes for me but is usually at bay, i work on my self esteem if it's rearing it's head a little too often for my liking.

      I hope to hear you playing and writing and singing someday too. It will come along again when there is time and when there is room, but there is no hurry. We really do have the rest of our lives to play music and to recognise that our little people are important and need us right now is very admirable. I don't play as much as i used to but when i do, it all comes flooding out. I love it and love you guys. Mwah xx

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  10. Very cool Saz. You write beautifully!

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    1. aw thanks Den, that means a lot :) I'm glad you read it. x o

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  11. I love that you make records even though you don't really feel 'ready'. I can't wait to hear your new baby- "him" is beautiful- tear inducing, even. Happy recording days to you x

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