I was in the studio last night with Niamaj, a bay area local rapper.  We’ve done many shows together and he is working on a new album which he is hoping he can complete by the end of this year.  We have been talking about writing a song together for some time but we just sat down last night to go over some concepts.  I found something that I had already written but I have not used yet and he loved it.  I have so many songs actually over 180 that I have not completed.  I have been busy promoting my current album however going back into the studio and writing this song with Niamaj is making me want to write some new material for me!  This song will be released on Niamaj’s new album and I will be releasing this digitally for all of you!  I will keep you posted and let you know when it will be released!

I have been busy booking shows for November and am working on booking more for the upcoming months.  I have a few more potential gigs pending for November as well as some things that are in the works for December.  Literally when I wake up I think about music and when I go to sleep its on my mind too.  I love it to death!  Hehe.

I’m hoping I can release a few singles and also a mixtape.  I am looking for the right producers who can capture the sound that I’m going after.  Hopefully I will find them soon!  Until then I will keep performing my current material.

This year has brought about many new and interesting things.  Some good some bad.  But all in all I really have been very blessed.  I am astonished with everything that I have accomplished.  I think we all need to stop and remind ourselves at times of how much we have achieved.

I have been blessed to have a family of high achievers who set goals and follow through to complete them.  While I am the only one in my family who is a musician this has been to my benefit because it has given me an example to follow by.  While music is a very different feild to law or to business, making goals, achieving them, working hard and not giving up all go hand in hand towards being successful.  I am pushing myself beyond my boundaries right now and looking to create new goals to achieve as well.  I have learned that if I stay stagnant in life and I don’t take risks because I am too scared I will remain in the same place that I started at.

So heres to taking some time to thank yourself and all of the other people in your life who have helped you to where you are today in your life.

I’ve been having such a blast performing and meeting new musicians here in the bay area.  I would love to tour eventually we will see what happens.  I just performed with this massive band last night with a full string section at The Elbow Room in San Francisco last night wow it was amazing.  It made me really hunger for having my own band.  Right now I have had to have different people playing with me on different gigs so its been kinda crazy.

I am going to start working on some new material soon.  I have a couple of people that are wanting to write some songs with me right now rappers.  One of them is a personal friend who is looking to complete his album by the end of this year so that will be exciting to see what we come up with.  I will be writing a hook on his beat and he will be rapping on it.   I just wanted to write a short blog keeping you updated with whats going on with me music wise.  Hope all of you have a great Halloween!

Here are some of my upcoming shows for November keep your eye out on my myspace of course for more details!  myspace.com/amyserrata

November 7th @ 7pm A Typhoon Benefit Concert 5111 San Felipe Road San Jose, CA $10 goes to the the victims in the Filipines.

November 8th @ 5pm The Airlounge 492 9th Street Oakland, CA

November 20th @ 10pm The Bambuddah Lounge 601 Eddy Street San Francisco, CA

I am booking more shows so keep an eye out on my myspace and my blog!

I think there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to what its like for an artist in the music industry.  The business has changed so significantly that many successful artists have chosen to break away from major labels and start their own.  Luckily,  there are many social networks out there for us like myspace, facebook, twitter, going, fusciology and on and on.  I was turned on by this company from someone that I know and I could not be happier with my decision to join them.  That company is Tunecore.  You can easily decide what digital distribution outlets you would like to have your music on that would be available for your fans.  The fee is so low and to be truthful I dont even remember what I paid.  I think it was $50 or less for having my music on Itunes, Rhapsody, Emusic, Napster and Amazon.

Its easy to look at artists that are signed by major labels and think oh wow they are rollin in dough.  Who knows they might not be. The horrible thing about signing with major labels is that they loan you money for everything and if you don’t pay them back with your the sales of your albums, merchandise and everything else your in debt to them.   The bad thing about being independant is that it takes so much time to promote yourself, book gigs and on and on.  However, that is if you don’t have a team to support you.  What I have seen other independant artists do is essentially form their own label where they have a booking agent, a manager, a publicist, a band etc.  They only have the essentials and when that team is solid theres no limit as to what can be accomplished.  I personally think that even if your signed by a label or you have a team around you as an artist, you should still personally take the time to promote yourself and even book gigs for yourself.  Now a days as an artist it is essential to learn about the music business.  Frankly, if you take the point of view that your just a musician and you don’t bother with all of the other details you probably won’t go very far.  If you don’t learn the ropes who will when your starting out independantly?  It basically leaves you wide open for being taken advantage of.  Never assume anything about someone that your working with.  Its business in the end.

I have sat on the side lines watching certain groups here in the bay area who are independant who I am very inspired by.  One of these groups is Zion I.  They are completely independant and have formed their own team to help support them in succeeding and achieving their goals.  I am never afraid to talk to people or to introduce myself because it is a time that you can learn a lot from someone.  Especially those that have been in the business longer than you.  This just reminds me that it is so imparitive to network as an artist.  So that means going out to events and meeting people who are in your community who are in the business.  Going out to just perform is not enough.  You must also be active in going out and promoting yourself as an artist.

It’s been a lot of fun getting to know people here in the bay area because everyone seems to be connected to each other.  The bay area is such a small place which is such a great thing because it make networking very easy.  I have emersed myself in the scene and I have had such a fun time doing it!  I am looking forward to meeting more people not only in the bay area but all over the world.  People in the business and also people who appreciate good music.  I just wanted to share some of these thoughts with you since I am so entrenched in this daily thought process as a singer songwriter here in the bay area.  Every day I am inspired to reach farther to push myself even more.  The reality is you are the only person who will want it that bad…to suceed to achieve your dreams.  Sure, you might have a solid team around you but really everything depends on you.  Your drive, your musical ability, your songwriting abilities and on and on.  I hope this has inspired you to not give up and to act on the things that you have said you always wanted to achieve.

Wow the months keep taggin along.  I have been so busy I hardly have any time to sleep for reals!  I have been busy booking shows, performing and networking.  I love going out to events here in the bay area and meeting new people it has been really fun for me!

I have been getting a lot of reviews on my album lately almost a couple per week in the US and the UK.  Its a constant grind because I’m a one man shop right now.  So its up to me to basically do everything.  However, that dosen’t stop me and I just move forward like a little trouper LOL!

I am going into the studio tomorrow to sit down with a producer so that I can start working on new material.  Then on Thursday I will sit down with another producer to check out his material as well.  I have been writing a lot of lyrics and I really am so excited about working on new material.  My new material will not be the same it will have a slightly different twist to it but I know all of you will like it

I will be having a radio interview this Saturday so I will let you know more about all of the details are that.  I also have 3 shows so far in November.  For all of these details go to: myspace.com/amyserrata and of course I put my concerts up on my blog here as well.

Farewell my lovies.

I feel so greatful because things are starting to take fruit.  I have been getting reviews all over, radio play in the Netherlands, I’ll be in Curve Magazine in November and I just found out this week that Questlove from The Roots is spinning my music!  Looks like my hard work is starting to pay off!  I have some other projects that I will be coming out with soon.  I will be doing a mixtape that features all of my songs with snippets of them that will be available for free down load.  I am also thinking about working on an EP.  I have been writing a lot of new songs lately and I am so excited to share them with you!  Not to mention working with producers from all around the world.  I love creating and I love seeing and hearing people enjoy my music!

link: http://anomie1.com/blog2/?p=283

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Soul / Jazz Singer-Songwriter Amy Serrata Collaborates With Willie Norwood on Debut Album

Singer + Songwriter, Amy Serrata creates music intended to heal and bring people together. Amy’s interest in singing arose at an early age listening to the sounds of Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong to name a few. She sung in choir and started singing lessons at the age of 10 years old when she attended Nido De Aguilas, an international school in Santiago, Chile. As she got older she sung in several gospel choirs and through that experience continued to develop her vocal improvisational skills.

When she began creating her own music, she improvised by using poetry that she had previously written. The melodies started to naturally form and she then worked with producers Hyp, HMD & Nyambezi to round out the sound of her self -titled debut album, Amy Serrata.
Amy also collaborated with Willie Norwood, father of R&B star Brandy Norwood. He acted as Amy’s vocal coach and producer for the album. “The vibe between me and Willie is incredible, “ says Amy. “He helped me refine my harmonies and adlibs.  The music was good before but it was even better after I worked with him!  I look forward to working with him again.”

Amy Serrata features a seamless musical blend of soul, hip-hop and jazz, tied together with Amy’s signature vocals, and uplifting approach to songwriting. “I hope people can listen to my songs and relate to the messages or be touched by them. I wanted to give a message of confidence to others its ok to be scared by life sometimes.  But to let fear stop you in life is not ok.”

Amy leads by her own fearless example, drawing on her own struggles to provide material for the album, but always with a positive and inspiring twist. Her universal message and passion, combined with diverse musical influences creates a rich experience for the listener.  “My experience while making my album was amazing.  It was rocky and bumpy but the overall journey was sweet.  Nothing comes easily in life but I wanted this badly so I fought for it.”

Amy’s music is largely about personal growth and evolution. “My music is meant to heal and bring people together because the words are positive and they make us see that we are only human.  We all go through similar things but we can all be better and inspire each other to be our best.” She also tackles serious subject matter such as child abductions on “My Baby My Child.”
Look out for Amy performing various dates around California, including opening for Aloe Blacc, as well as collaborative performances with Bay Area MC Niamaj.

For more info:
http://www.amyserrata.com

Check out live clips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulD19g8C4DI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIe-ZZ77O3s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRfv221_8Ws

Here’s an introduction to Amy Serrata: she’s a singer-songwriter specializing in Soul, Hip-Hop and Jazz. According to her press bio, she’s been singing and performing in various choirs since she was 10. Last fall she released her self-titled debut album, which was created with the assistance of her producer and vocal coach, the Gospel singer Willie Norwood, who’s probably best known these days as the father of singers Brandy (Brandy Norwood) and Ray J (Willie Ray Norwood Jr.). Amy’s vocal style isn’t like either Brandy’s or Ray’s, though; it’s more sophisticated and soulful, as are her song lyrics, which are mostly about personal growth and evolution. You can stream or download her current single, “Rooted,” by clicking the link below.

• “Rooted” MP3 stream/download
• Buy/download the song

May 25th Marqs in Menlo Park 7pm I will be singing three jazz standards

May 30th Poleng San Francisco 10pm-? I will be performing with Naimaj doing a remix of Lets with him as he opens up for Kero1 for his album release party.

June 12th Headly Club at Hotel Deanza 8:30pm-midnight I will be performing with a band performing two sets singing songs from my album and jazz standards.  Come by and I promise to transport you into a wholenother time and place.

June 20th Summer Solstice Laurel Lounge Oakland 1pm-1:30pm I will be performing songs from my album come out East Bay!

June 20th Juneteenth Festival 10pm at the san jose rep theatre opening up for Aloe Blaac

July 8 Levende Lounge I will be singing a few songs with a DJ there this is a weekly open mic there with six open slots.  Usually there are only male MCs that perform not this night!  Boys watch out!

July 16th Voo Doo Lounge San Jose 9pm

July 18th Seventh Day Adventist Church Sunnyvale 11:45am I will be singing with a gospel choir!

July 23rd Radio Interview with The Pulse Of Entertainment MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON!

August 6th Voo Doo Lounge San Jose 9pm

August 11th The Element Lounge San Francisco 10pm

September 11th 111 Mina I will be performing with Oruaski a bay area MC this will be a benefit concert

September 12th Rasselas Jazz Club San Francisco 9pm I will be performing with other acts this will be a benefit concert

I’m about to perform at South Billiards tonight in SJ at 10pm-1am with Naimaj its going to be a great show!  I love performing with him.  I’m looking forward to performing with other people here in the bay area and beyond!

I had a great experience today.  I was able to talk to someone who has been in the music business for 22 years and they graciously gave some much needed insight and advice.  I would not have enough room to share with you everything that he told me.  But what I do want to share with you is how I felt during and after it.  During it I was asking many questions but this time I was really listening you know how sometimes when we ask questions and we dont really listen to what the person is saying to us after that.  Yes we all do it.  I was really paying attention this time and I was taking notes.  I really do feel less alone in this process.  I was feeling like I was stranded in a big ugly jungle.  All alone to fend for myself.  Not after I talked to him.  I have some of the answers now I just have to figure out how to implement them and carry them out that will not be easy.  But there are so few of us who are willing to really share with someone who is just starting out lets be honest its true.  But we all started out somewhere.  I was lucky because he saw something great in me which is why he wanted to share with me so that I can succeed.  He cared.  We need to do this more with each other.