Kristy Hanson :: Los Angeles Singer-Songwriter » Uncategorized

chorus of moi…

Kristy Hanson — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 01:44:11 +0000

I’m not sure if there’s anything more narcissistic than sitting around recording multiple tracks of your own voice and then listening to them, but there also might not be anything more FUN. That’s essentially what I did yesterday, with a song that I began writing a long time ago with the use of my looper pedal. There’s more, but here’s a 15-second snippet to give you a glimpse:

The looper allows me to create vocal lines, record them, and harmonize with them on the spot. This particular song – a baby song, I suppose, in its infancy – didn’t begin with a heavy vocal focus, but Mike really liked the harmonies I created and suggested I bring them forward a bit more. He offered up a couple different examples of vocal layering, including Elliott Smith’s “I Didn’t Understand.” Even though I don’t want to make this song a cappella, that was a really helpful point of inspiration, and after listening and thinking a bit, I started messing around with some vocal layering in GarageBand. From here I’ll keep working on more of a demo, getting a good skeleton of the song together until possibly doing a studio recording of it.

Today was spent more on personal things (read: doctor’s office visits) and other “extracurricular” activity. I went to see my dear friend Craig Ramsay speak about his book, The Anatomy of Muscle Building, at the Authors@Google series in Venice. And I’m shortly on my way to a volunteer/staff party for 826LA, an organization that I’m part of as a volunteer tutor. I usually try to take weekends off, at least when I’m not traveling or playing shows, but I’m on my own at home for a good chunk of tomorrow, so I’m hoping to make it a productive writing and/or demoing day. More to come then!

happy holidays!

Kristy Hanson — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:50:19 +0000

Hello my friends! My goodness. I haven’t posted on here since just a few days before I was put on a two-month long trial as a juror (I should write a book, people, I tell you. Someday). And after that, it was on to NACA (college entertainment booking) conferences in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. I met some incredible college students – you guys rule! – whom I hope to see again. And my agent is pinning down the details, but I should be visiting some colleges next spring and fall, as well as some additional NACA conferences in North Carolina, Minnesota, and more! Basically, this coming year promises to be action-packed!

In the meantime, in case you’re looking to round out your Christmas playlist, please check out my song “This Christmas,” released in 2010. It’s dedicated to the memory of my friend Brian Grimm, and since it’s about the importance of love, and of trying to be a better person with each passing year, I think it will always be applicable. I truly hope that during this holiday season, you have loved ones around you, and that you are warm and happy – whether it’s among the palm trees like me and my family in Florida or huddled by a fire up in Michigan or other points north. And then onward to 2012!

thank god it’s…well, you know!

Kristy Hanson — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 20:07:34 +0000

That’s right, FRIDAY! Specifically, this Friday, it’s “T.G.I. Alina & Friends Friday,” a new but already beloved songwriter night at Pi on Sunset. I’ll be playing songs in an “in-the round” format, along with hostess extraordinaire Alina Smith, Kim DiVine, and Ariana Hall, and I really can’t wait. Funnily enough I’ve just started working with Kim on some co-writes, and I actually recently co-wrote a song with Morgan Karr, who’s been working with Alina. The songwriter world keeps getting bigger and smaller at the same time, it would seem! Anyway, the show is free and you can find more details on my shows page – but I really recommend you check it out. These are some talented writer/performers, and you can’t beat free Friday entertainment to kick off your weekend. See you soon, I hope!

update: no march cafe muse show, back in april!

Kristy Hanson — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:08:10 +0000

Hey there! Just a very quick post for those who may have missed the udpates on Facebook – I will NOT be doing my usual Cafe Muse show on 3/31. We’ll be back on 4/28 with some as-yet-unannounced special guests to finish up the residency.

updates on the rpm challenge so far

Kristy Hanson — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 05:33:50 +0000

I set up a blog on the RPM Challenge site to document the progress of our new side project, “East Paris” (newly christened so, as of today.) Check it out here. In the coming days, we’ll be sharing the sketches of the songs we’re working on, as well as fun pictures and stories. Thank you in advance for cheering us on. We will need the support!

that’ll do, kristy

Kristy Hanson — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 19:15:48 +0000

The fun and bizarre thing about playing-and even just living-in Los Angeles is that you cross paths with celebrities, inevitably. As well you should, given the fact that they are just normal people going about their lives like the rest of us. But it’s still somewhat shocking and amusing to me every time it happens.

Here’s an example – the other night, while I was playing at Genghis Cohen, I noticed a tall man in the back who seemed especially attentive (or maybe he just caught my eye because, he’s super tall and was standing up), but didn’t think anything of it. The duo “Town and Country” played next to me on stage (it was an in-the-round set-up), and after the show, as we were stowing our guitars, the tall man came backstage as well, and I heard the words, “Thanks so much for coming, Jamie…” When I looked up (and up and up) at the man, he said, “Well done!” to me.

It was only as I walked away that I realized it was James Cromwell, and all I could think of was the movie “Babe” as I made my way to join my friends. Meanwhile, Mike was thrilled to have spotted an actor from “LA Confidential,” one of his all-time favorite movies. I suppose I’m glad I didn’t realize it was him, so I didn’t have a chance to act foolish in any way – like, asking him to re-phrase his compliment as, “That’ll do, Kristy.” Here in LA, you just gotta play it cool…