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So we just filmed the 1st of 2 new music videos this Saturday—we filmed “mantra” at a hidden secret beach in Long Island, that we found by lucky accident.

Imagine: Sunset, deep pink grapefruit gold sky, a beautiful wind kicking your hair up.

For our final dramatic scene of “mantra”, Alana (the fabulous Swedish film maker), was to shoot me walking into the ocean until I disappeared underwater. We had 1 shot, 1 chance, to capture this on film, and I was scared s**tless I’d either a) drown b) stumble from the waves and mess up the take c) get eaten by a shark, as this was Long Island, dear friends, and Montauk is where Jaws took place!!

I conjured up a zen like superhero focus, and just kept walking with my eyes wide open into the ocean– further into the ocean– deeper into the ocean– now up to my eyeballs– then– swimming, swimming, swimming at sunset dusk underwater. It was so clear, so free under there!

Needless to say, I think we got a gorgeous take. Very dramatic. Almost reminded me of a poem by Edgar Allan Poe or Virginia Woolf; a girl walking, disappearing into the ocean.

Here are some photos…stay tuned for the video!

xoxo
sm

Empty wine bottles. Music video on Friday at sunset. Dilemma. Just need the 4 empty glass bottles for this video, and I honestly don’t have time in the next 3 days to get drunk on 4 bottles of Trader Joe’s Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay. Too much drunken revelry and bacchanalia during the week for one busy girl. Do I just spill out the wine in my thirsty little bath tub, watching it sadly swirl down the drain, or am I obligated to just drink the damn stuff, you know, to be an environmentally responsible and resourceful citizen? Jeez, too many options! Drunk vs. Unwastefully Responsible. Oh, the choices to ponder!

So…yes yes yes Music Video #1 we’re filming this Friday. Alana DaSilva (my super-uber- talented Swedish filmmaker collaborater) and I are like madwomen researching the web for deserted and secret hidden beaches in Long Island. to film “Mantra (I’m in Love).” I’ve already called around 8 Long Island beach tourism departments, and when I ask ridiculously specific questions like “how populated are the beaches are at 4 pm,” they totally think I’m cocoa for cocoa puffs. Craaaaazy (in high soprano). Maybe they’re right…

If anyone has any good Long Island beach suggestions, pls drop us a line here! I grew up by Jones Beach and Bar Beach (which had syringes washing up year-round, I kid you not), but I’m kindof a fish floundering in the dark now, looking for the perfect deserted beach at sunset.

Undrunkenly yours (for now)
but with love abounding,

Sheri

p.s. we’re shooting music video #2 for a new song called “Spoons” on Saturday…blog update on that soon! I mean spoon! (;

here’s what happened what i tried to make chocolate cupcakes for my friend emily’s birthday. there is definitely definitely definitely a reason why i am a musician and not a cake decorator.

Amazing. Speechless. I saw Leonard Cohen, the great poet, incomparable lyricist, legendary songwriter and superb artist, who wrote “Hallelujah” (Jeff Buckley’s version is gorgeous and epic), “Chelsea Hotel No. 2”, “Famous Blue Raincoat”, “Suzanne”, “Sisters of Mercy” “First we Take Manhattan, Then We Take Berlin”, “Bird On A Wire” and a million other classic songs…

OMG. seriously, witnessing Leonard Cohen perform, humbly kneeling on the ground, singing up in desperation and wonder to the heavens, and chuckling at his own lyrics in his Baritone sounding voice is just amazing. He’s 75. 75. And such a beautiful spirit, introducing his band twice during the show, paying them great homage…bowing deeply to them individually, and bowing deeply to the audience. He’s unbelievable. I had tears in my eyes, about 3 times, that I was too embarrassed to cry publicly (even though noone could see me in the pitch black concert space, of course), when he sang lines like

“I heard there was a secret chord, that David played and pleased the Lord
But you don’t really know much about music, do you?
It goes like this, the 4th, the 5th, the minor fall and the major lift, the baffled king composing Hallelujah. Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.”

and
“I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
You were famous, your heart was a legend
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception
and clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
You fixed yourself, you said, “Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music.”

Wow (deep inhale)

I was sitting next to Leonard’s producer for his first few records, and asked him if the story in “Famous Blue Raincoat” was a true story (where Leonard’s brother steals his wife, and thanks him in a letter). He said Leonard didnt’ have any living brothers, but you never know. So many mysteries untold.

Leonard’s music is a gift. please check out “Hallelujah” and “A Thousand Kisses Deep” if you’re a poet and lover at heart…even if you’re not, there’s poetry to be born in every soul.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttv5dyvtF4o “HALLELUJAH” LIVE IN LONDON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YygNf2PW2S4 “A THOUSAND KISSES DEEP” LIVE IN LONDON

with love,
xoxoxoxo
sheri