3rd WEEK in L.A with NOAH

Hey there everybody, I know it's been too long since I've last updated my blog, but there's just too much going on here....!!!!!

Anyway.

How is everything going for you guys ? Back in Europe or here in the same continent as i am ? I hope as well as me for a change...hahaha

So where can i start ?! Okay, here's my 3rd week in Los Angeles:

Last week-end was enough resting, and it felt good i must say. A little break never hurt anybody right? So i spent my week-end by the pool and in my room re-writing some of my lyrics, and reading my book, which by the way i cannot say what is it otherwise you'll make fun....I'll give you one clew, it has 4 tomes, and it's so exciting and easy to read for my situation right now, like it's taking me instantly inside the story but also i can snap out very easily as soon as i hear something i like or dislike going on in the studio. It holds me patient and i fall asleep much faster than i used to, back in Paris. Can you believe that i haven't seen one single movie since I'm here ?! (OK except from Star Wars with Stephan's kid the first days i was here but that doesn't count), neither TV. Me that usually can watch 2 movies before to fall asleep.... It had been a long time since that happened to me, always to much anxiety and thoughts going on in my mind before closing my eyes, and i like that it has changed here. Probably because I'm doing what makes me happy, no?.... so i don't get to miss you all before i close my eyes, instead i put myself to sleep with some crazy vampire-werewolves stories.... Lol. I'm at the Tome 2, one tome per week here basically.

Let's get started on the real stuff here.

THE STUDIO

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were focused on Greg's drums and percussion because he was leaving on Thursday morning for a month in Mexico (bouhouhou) to find his darling and work on a new piano-project. But he played beautifully on all of my songs, I'm so so grateful !! Let's just say that the kid's got talent and that he and his New York band called « Priestbird » (www.myspace.com/priestbird) are the little favourite ones of « Pearl Jam » whose guitarist produces their album too. Isn't that a good proof?! That day, the weather was so shitty, that we seemed all a little down. But then Devendra showed up.

He came to the studio while we were fixing the drums on the chorus of « Full Moon Doll », so it was playing on & on, and he started singing the chorus at some point, “she will become this downtown girl...“ I was really proud and it showed me this song has a sticking-to-your-mind-kinda-melody. He was passing by to pick up Greg and go play an acoustic live performance to commemorate Jeff Buckley and the coming out of his Life-documentary to the Largo. When i heard, i so much wanted to go, so i pulled my sad-puppy-face to Noah so he could give me a couple of hours off, and thankfully he agreed and answered “but of course my dear, go and have fun!“ YEAH !!

Once again in the « El Camino » car, i went on my second concert here in L.A. Wowowowowoow!!! And it was worth it... arriving with the Artists is not the same thing, as you can imagine. And all those artists who performed there, Fiona Apple, Aimee Mann, from Tom Waits to Chuck Berry, wow!! Once again i was all moved, with shaky hands and heart bumping almost out of my chest, while they all looked so casual and used to this kind of situations by now. But i loved it.

Devendra had been asked, with a couple of others musicians of the L.A scene, to play after the projection of the new DVD-Documentary on Jeff Buckley's life. Talking about a great project! So he opened the show with Greg, it was a very private show, with only 50 people who had paid their tickets very expensive, coz it was a sort of charity event or something. Anyway, the show was incredible, i was blown away! As i had never seen Devendra playing live yet, he simply took my breath away. The voice, the melodies, the lyrics, it was all so so good god damn it!!! Plus he was being so funny on stage, that everyone was laughing in the audience and wanted more of him than any other performers of that evening i'm sure!! Greg sang perfectly on top of his voice and it made beautiful harmonies, plus the congas and the little bells and sand he was shaking. All this made me want to write better songs as soon as i got back to the studio. At the end it was great being able to approach them and hug them and congratulate them!

We spent some time outside with some very cool people, musicians, artists etc.... I got to meet this guy, Marc-Edouard, director of music-videos, check the last Devendra's « Carmencita » with Natalie Portman. He will pass by the studio one of these days to listen and see if we can do something together. Great!!

Next time you'll hear about the photo-shoot in the desert and the music-video project.....

bye guys,

love love xxx

tamara

I love recording with Noah & the guys in L.A !!

Hey there,

I take a chance on this free weekend i have to tell you a bit about my second week in L.A.

Fiona left us on Wednesday, and I miss her very much cause she was part of all this, and i could see she worked her ass off this project! Everyone liked her at the studio, she was quiet but always in a good mood and looking so cute, how can you resist!!! my baby sister wowowowo!! Can't wait to see what she filmed, she was so professional! Always filming, and very patient for once! Hahaha

Hope to see her soon again.

So, i was at the studio everyday this week, spending my only time there, 12 hours a day, seven days in a raw, doesn't leave so much time for other stuff, but i love it! It's true that to stay in touch with you guys back in Europe, it's a little hard to keep up! Specially since my baby is in Greece, those 10 hours difference are a real pain in the a#@! Like 9 hours wasn't already enough!! Anyway, this last Friday was a little hard and i was glad to rest for a couple of days and take some distance with the project. The only one who could still keep up, was Noah, as usual. By the way, he gave us, Greg and I, a little time off, just enough to go and see the « Little Joy » concert at the TROUBADOUR. « Little Joy » being one of his last produced album, in which you'll find the drummer of the Strokes singing and playing guitar, anyway, this place, the TROUBADOUR is such a mystical place here in Los Angeles. Most of the talents since the 60s' where discovered there, Dylan, Waits, Young, Cash & June Carter, Joni Mitchell and Tim Buckley! Actually this is where Janis Joplin spent her last night, the next day she was found dead from an O.D. Also Leonard Cohen, Rickie Lee Jones, first concert of Fiona Apple ever, and then the whole rock scene of the moment, Guns'roses, Metallica, Radiohead, Red Hot Chili Pepper, Pearl Jam...etc

Check this out : http://www.troubadour.com/

So, even though we missed out on half of the performance, it sounded really cool, and there was such a cool ambiance,that i wanted to enjoy every minute of it. On the last song they played « Brand New Start », Devendra came up on the stage with Fabrizio from The Strokes to dance and sing, it all looked pretty fun so i pushed Greg in front, so he could go and join them but he was shy. He plays the drums on my album, but he is essentially in Devendra's band and also in a duet album with him, a project and album under the name of « Megapuss » , and he also have another band back in New York called « Priestbird », that i actually happen to like very much, check it out on myspace if you want: www.myspace.com/priestbird and www.myspace.com/megapuss

So here you go for the promotion hahaha!!

So to come back to the concert, at the end of it, we went up to the backstage to say hello and introduce myself. It was all so exciting for me, since it was my first concert in L.A and i was getting to meet the artists. It was more than i could expected! And c'mon the Troubadour's Backstage?! Yeah! So Greg introduced me to Lauren Dukoff the photographer who follows them everywhere every time (www.laurendukoff.com), Devendra and the others musicians. I liked it because it wasn't like i was being a groupie trying to make her way through the backstage to be able to get some of the artists attention, trying to catch a word or a flirt. I was there because there was a real reason for me to be there. I'm a singer-song-writer and I'm here recording an album with a producer they all know, it calls for attention and curiosity i would say, no? So i got to talk a little bit with Devendra, and even joke a little bit... I invited him to come over to the studio to listen to the music and maybe sing with me on one of my songs. He seemed pleased and said he'd like to. We'll see about that. Then we spoke in Spanish a little bit, and i completely made a fool of myself, but that's not common news right? I told him how i liked one of his songs of the «cripple crow» album, and of course it was the only one he hadn't wrote. Him and Greg made such fun of me, gosh that was shameful and embarrassing, but again, I'm used to this....

Then it was time to go, so we left, but what i forgot to say is that we had taken Greg's car, the “El Camino“, and i was so proud to enter Hollywood Blvd and Sunset in that car, people were staring from their high 4X4 or even worst, Hummer, while we were in this vintage-3000$-on craigslist-car, listening to Venezuelan singer “Simon Diaz“!!! So classy, so cool, so unforgettable.

We didn't stay much longer at the studio that night, we just waited so Noah could give us the work we had recorded this past week, so we could listen to it during the week-end and see whatever needed to be changed or improved, or just enjoy it. It's hard because we do need to detach ourselves a little from the project during that weekend, to be able to come back fresher and renewed on Monday, but not so much. See what i mean? We have to stay still in the same vibe next week. We left with 8 tracks that night, it's good for my first week i guess!

Here you go for my second week in the city of lights. I mostly concentrated it on one night, but it's because I won't go in every details of the recording it would be way too long, should I ? Though i think I'm already describing enough, no?? It's simple, we spent the whole week recording drums with Greg and Bass with Luckey. We had fun, we work hard and good i think. Since Tuesday we did a song per day, “full moon doll“, “save your skin“, “i won't tell you“, “follow the crow“… I'm very happy about those songs, they're all different from one another but still there's a good homogeneous feeling int the end.

The guys like it, and it pleases me so so much that they consider my music a little bit... The favourite for the moment is « Full Moon Doll » i think. When we listened to it the other day, we were all so excited about it, the drums and percussion are perfect on it, and the bass is so special, Luckey is soooooo gooooood at it!!! It's a very dreamy song. Sort of psychedelic-poetic-folk rock-song. Might be the album's name,what do you think?.....hahahah

Love you guys

Take care,

Tamara

Xxx

First Days at the STUDIO !!!

01/06/2009

Hello Hello,

So, how was my first week in Los Angeles? Well GREAT.

Let me tell you what i did.

I met Noah almost everyday at the pool-studio at Stephane's, we made a nice clean plan about how we were going to proceed once we start the studio sessions, and of course we learned a bit more about each other, and we listened to the songs again.

We had some days off too, to visit the city. We went to visit some museums (the getty, the hammer) and to shop on Melrose avenue. We found some nice spots for Fiona's film-documentary, and then, the studio started on Saturday.

It's beyond what i was expecting.

I have to try to describe it to you so you can maybe picture it through my eyes...

The access of the studio from where i stay in Beverly Hills, is made through the hills all the way up until Mullholland Drive where we reach the other side of the Valley, where is situated Studio City. We follow Mullholland for 10 minutes, very Lyncheanne feeling, and it's 10 surreal minutes because this road is so strangely beautiful and scary, that it puts me in a creative mood right away, i enjoy it so so much!! Specially when we put good music in the car...

The view above the whole city is breath-taking, specially at night when the lights are sparkling like if it was plankton in the ocean of the Fiji's (Robert De Niro's line in « Heat » ), but it's totally true!!

Joke apart, when arriving above Studio City, once we can see the « NBC*UniversalStudios », here is where we make a left to Multiview Drive and we start going down til the middle of the hill where our studio is based.

In the day, this view is not that interesting, as Noah would say « we have a great view of something not so a great », but at night it all changes. No! As soon as the sun goes down basically! It's so exciting to watch the sunset from our studio, i always go outside at that time, on our big terrace where by the way, we have a jacuzzi, and i stare at the sunset behind the Palm trees of the hill and then the mountains behind the city, and i picture the desert ahead of me and the sea behind (or the contrary...lol) I close my eyes, i breath deep, and i feel more alive.

Then all the lights are on, and instead of dreaming i realise I'm living my actual dream.

Our schedule is simple,it should be 12pm til 12 am. But let see if we can keep up to that...

We have a great assistant called Matt, he's completely a part of the studio, literally, he understands when to be invisible when it's needed to be, but he is also so helpful, the nicest guy I've ever seen. We wouldn't do so good without him. He sets the microphones on but also orders our food... What would we do without him, tell me??!!

Noah is just so sweet to me, I couldn't ask for someone better to work with. He is always asking me if i like it or not, if I'm feeling good, he's so concerned by me and i love it! We're very honest with each other and i sense we'll always be. But anyway it's not that necessary considering that we both like each others work. So it's perfect.

I sit next to him sometimes when he works, i like to see all of the buttons and listen to this weird language that is sound-engineering. When he speaks to Matt it's like I'm in Stars Wars and he's a space-ship pilot or something, about to attack the Black-Star. Sorry about that reference, but staying at my managers and his kids who are fans of Stars Wars, I've already seen 3 since I'm here, and the youngest one has his birthday next week, so they're preparing a Stars Wars party with real guys coming disguised in Stars Wars heroes... But also fake ones, so we have Luke Skywalker in the living-room since 2 days, and also R2D2 and 6PO. We all had several heart-attacks coz he moved them around the house, so if you wander in the house, Luke Skywalker can be very scary! believe me...

Stephane is also very cool at the studio, i know he sits in his corner with his computer and sometimes closes one eye, but he always listens and pay attention to every little details. They can't stop joking around with Fiona, they already have their private jokes, silly kids...And we eat like crazy too. That's what happens a lot when you're in a studio apparently. We have no time to cook so we order all the time!! At least I'm surrounded by vegetarians and vegan non-smoker! Could i wish for more?! I'm actually getting thinner i think...

But let's go back to the music part.

Saturday we recorded 4 songs right away ready to put the drums the next day. So i played « some crazy things » and Noah played « deep inside the mind », « the fly & the ant », and « glass of wine ». He played some folk guitars that i really liked on them. Then i recorded some scratch vocals, not bad, but Noah thinks it's better we re-record them once the songs will be over, with all the over-dubbing on it, so i can sing with acknowledge of the song and true intention in my voice.

So my first day in the studio was pretty constructive I'd say, we worked well and enough, but when i left , Noah was still there... He always stays in until late.

Yesterday, Monday, we met the other 2 musicians of Devendra's band. The bass player is named Luckey Remington, and the drummer is Greg Rogove. They're both adorable, talented, funny and really really sweet! Ok they looked a little tired coz of the party they had made the night before, it was Devendra's birthday....But they worked very good for a first day. We first rehearsed « the fly & the ant » and « glass of wine » so they would find their marks before recording, but of course it happened in one take, they're professionals...

Greg has the car of my wildest dreams, an « El Camino » electric blue, open in the back, it's not « Thelma & Louise » here anymore, it's « Greg & Luckey » ...LOL...

We also talked about a duet or some backing vocals with some people here...we'll see about that, it's a surprise!!

Stephane wants to do a cover of Rod Stewart « Do ya think I'm sexy? », like a folk version of it, it could be a hit i guess....but I'm not so sure yet. We'll see i have other better songs in my head. But if you have an idea of a song you like, or you think is a bit old or cheesy, that maybe i could sing, let me now ok? I'll be glad to have your thoughts....

Here you go!! my first days of studio in L.A, exciting???

Are you waiting for the next chapter???? hahahah

See ya kids xxx

Tamara

First days in Los Angeles

21 may 2009

Los Angeles is great. 

Me and my sister Fiona, who is here to make a documentary out of this, are really being good taking care of.

Stephane, my manager, and his family, his wife Sunjoo Moon (cloths designer) and their 3 kids, are really sweet, angels actually. They're making everything for us to feel comfortable in their house. We live in the pool-house, independent from the house, we get there from the garden and have direct access to the swimming-pool. What else can we wish for?

It's an amazing house, up on Beverly Hills, we have the most perfect view over the city, with the ocean on the horizon where we can even see Catalina Island.

The weather is exactly how i like, sunny but not too hot, at least for now...

As we are very jet-lagged, we wake up at 7 or 8 a.m, and we're asleep before the kids. I like this rhythm, we follow the sun. And as it's not gonna be like that for long, i try to enjoy it as much as i can. 

So we wake up, we jump in the pool, sun-bath a little bit and there starts a beautiful day.

The first 3 days were pretty chill-out, meaning "holidays", except Fiona who started filming as soon as we got here. I think she's going to do a great job with this video.

For me, it's yesterday, Monday 25th of May, that everything started. When i met Noah Georgeson

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Georgeson and http://www.myspace.com/findshelter)

It was too good to be true, I'll never forget that day cause it was the beginning of my best adventure until now. 

This guy is just great.

He arrived at 1 p.m and held me strongly in his arms after having introduced himself. We talked a little bit with everyone, the polite way, and then we went in the little pool-house-studio where we stayed listening to all of my songs until 6 p.m. Fiona came filming a little later so i could ask him before if he was OK with that, and he was.

We basically peeled off every tiny bit of my songs, and eventually agreed on 16 songs to record, some with drums, some with percussion, some with electric guitars, other with acoustic guitars, but we still have to take off 2 songs. But we get on so well, it's crazy!! We understand each other right away and it feels so easy!!!

He's adorable, you can feel the generosity the simplicity and the talent in that man.

He liked my songs, and it really pleased me.

I was so relieved, and i think he was too, cause all those months of waiting were actually resuming to this particular moment, our meeting and if it was going to work out well. And it did.

I must say that even though Stephane was sure about this, i had my doubts of course, and this meeting was a real revelation to me. First it means i have a great manager that understands me more than i want to believe, and second that I'm about to have the time of my life recording this album with Noah.

When he left and after i thanked him a thousand times, he held me strong again and he said: " Thank you for having me here Tamara, and for trusting me with your songs. I know we're gonna make a great record together because it already feels so easy and natural to work with you. Thank you, and can't wait for tomorrow."

Isn't it amazing as a conclusion of our first meeting??? I swear i had tears in my eyes i didn't let out for not being laughed at, but it was near...

So anyway, he's gonna come here for the next 3 days to continue this sort of pre-prod, until Friday where he and Devendra Banhart (his very good friend, http://www.devendrabanhart.com/), have to remix one of Oasis's song. It's funny actually, they don't understand why they chose them, but i think they're gonna have loads of fun doing, it I'm sure... 

And Saturday, first day of studio, yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I CAN'T WAIT !!

He also loved the violin parts of Raphaël, and the way Martin plays guitar, so we're gonna make them come and record in half of the album. Can't wait to tell them, i hope they'll be happy to hear it. Stephane is calling them right now...

That's it for the moment, I'll keep you posted as soon as i have interesting news OK?

Fiona and I can't wait to meet the other musicians, and maybe slip the idea of a duet?...

Ah, and by the way, Noah is greek!!!!!!!!!!!! Georgeson comes from "Yorgopoulis" or "Yorgostopoulos" i don't remember exactly, but isn't it too funny???? Greece is always chasing me my god! it's everywhere! It's my soul country.

ahahahahahahahhahaahah

Kisses to you all,

TAMARA

my introducing...

My name's Tamara Kaboutchek, I'm a singer-musician-song-writer signed at EMI-Virgin in France and after some years of struggle to make my first record, I'm finally making it right now.

I'm recording my first album with Noah Georgeson, from the team of Devendra Banhart, in Los Angeles, with his incredible musicians.

Why here? Why Noah?

Well first because i write & compose all of my songs in English, it's my favourite language for singing what i like. Second, the very first music I listened to, came from the U.S, and still today i cannot think of a better place to record an album. It maybe not the better place to get inspired for some, but the people here are so musical, i just love being here with such real talented musicians.

Noah Georgeson is an exceptional producer,  and i just hoped at some point that our horizons would cross eventually to make a beautiful record together.

Why starting a blog?

Because I love to write, to keep a journal sometimes help me realizing I'm not dreaming,most necessarily when i travel. And being here right now is like a dream to me, so i write to my family and closest friends back home, to verify I'm still alive in this dream, and not actually dreaming it. 

Writing helps me realizing what's my reality. 

So as i was writing e-mails to my beloved ones back at home, they all answered me how much they'd liked it and how it made them want to hear more. So i started writing as if my story were a book with chapters, 1, 2, 3 and on and on the idea came clear. 

Why not sharing my thoughts to whoever else is interested in me and my music?

So if you wanna follow my steps into this crazy world of music, starting from now, here in L.A, 

WELCOME to my blog...