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The Music Diaries: The Goal of Harmony

Since I am about to release a new CD, a glimpse behind the scenes might be of interest. The few times I have done this on my website, I have been surprised at how much people enjoy hearing about the "process."
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Alamy: Andrew Paterson

When the Huffington Post invited me to write for them, I asked if I could use a pseudonym. Denied. They wanted me, Jane Siberry, the famous musician. OK!

Since I am about to release a new CD, a glimpse behind the scenes might be of interest. The few times I have done this on my website, I have been surprised at how much people enjoy hearing about the "process." Since the music industry cracked and fell apart, gasping for the cash flow it had come to expect, much re-thinking has been the order of the day. It is a fine time to be a musician. Like walking through Sodom and Gomorrah while it is still smoking, on your way to the next gig. Say, isn't that...?

The new music will be released Nov. 19 in the first few hours of morning. I am getting exact time later this week -- mathematically determined by an astrologer. When one works this way, it is with the goal of harmony. Harmony is when the sum is greater than the parts. A happy exaggeration. Three people who get along well, feel good upon parting. "Now, THAT was fun!" Disharmony is when the three people (or musical notes) cancel each other out, cross-talking themselves into listlessness, slinking back to their abodes afterward and achieving full deflation by the time they reach their bed. SSSSSSsssssst.

Music is all about training in harmony, training to understand and use musical energy for our greater pleasure by attuning to the natural laws of the universe. These natural laws are practical, efficient and very much like my mother. "Why would you get that kind of wallpaper in a kitchen when you have a small child?" When you have surgery, go fishing, plant crops, release music, make love to beget, die, start a company, one always has the option to choose the most harmonious time.

"I'm famous, aren't I?" I call to the bellman at the hotel where I'm staying. "Certainly, Miss Siberry!" Even so, the dog-walkers haven't heard of me. I'll start by telling you a bit about myself, since I hear that many of you are dog-walkers.

I have had the good fortune to experience both the limelight and the traffic light as a musician. I did my first recording on my own and it was available at concerts. The second to seventh were released on small and then large labels. My eighth to 14th were done under my own steam once again, but with the benefit of the Internet.

Look for the thrilling and harrowing bestseller The Sheeba Years down the road.

So, this is the lay of the land of my musical life in brief. Without words, it would perhaps look like a blue-green grove across the valley. One that wasn't there before.

I have a new recording coming out in five days. Must go. More tomorrow.

Wishing you well, reader.

Jane Siberry

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