Follow That Song
Did you ever notice there have been certain times in your life when you’re drawn to something so powerfully, and because you followed it good things happen? Not always of course, but perhaps times when you had the least amount of doubt?
Well about 2 years ago I was stirring some tomato sauce on a Sunday night, listening to the radio (yes, radio!) and on came a song that made me put down that spoon and pay attention.
I know you know what I’m talking about…you’re in your car and you pull over to the side of the road, etc…
This wasn’t just another hooky pop-song. They’re a dime a dozen. This was deeper. And it wasn’t just about the song, there was something about the way whoever-it-was singing the song sang it, and the way he played that bluesy guitar.
I Shazam’d the tune. It was called “U” as in “Shake U” — an obsession for someone that you can’t f*cking get out of your head. The artist had an unusual name — Hamish Anderson. I did a little digging and found that he
was from Melbourne Australian
had opened for the late B.B. King!
was in town playing at Hotel Cafe the following week
What?
I spent the next few days posting about him on social media. But you know, you can’t “describe” a song and expect ppl to get excited. They have to hear it. Music is a language that can’t be explained. Because it’s MUSIC!
I went to that show at Hotel Cafe of course. Hamish played most of the set with his eyes closed, which bothers some but not me. I get it. I do it too. It means you’re in it.
The next stream of events were quite kismet. But in hindsight, maybe I manifested the rest of the story as soon as I dropped the spoon.
I went to the merch. booth to buy a Hamish Anderson T-shirt and the gal selling them saw my face and said “oh, you’re the girl who’s been posting about Hamish! I’m his manager.”
Cool.
She took me over to meet him and we took this pic.
Cool.
She and I met for lunch. Because, why not?
She said she’d put Hamish and I together for a co-write and a few months later she did.
I went to more of his gigs. She was always there. Taking pictures, talking to his fans, doing what managers are supposed to do. Up close and personal. Kristin didn’t rep. tons of artists but the ones she repped she believed in all the way. Like Hamish.
And so…when I wanted to make my own album and knew I’d need a lot of HAAALP I reached out to Kristin and asked if she’d be interested in working with an artist of a certain age. She was like, hell yeah!
And when it came to recording “Notebook,” my current single, and I had no fingerpicking skills to speak of, she suggested we ask Hamish. I was like what? Really? Would he?
He would!
He came. He conquered. Producer Eve Nelson explained the sound we were going for and he nailed it first try. The blues it wasn’t but it was what it was and “it” was magical. (He also btw, contributed deliciousness — Wah Wahs and more, to my reinterpretation of “What A Girl Wants.”)
All because I stopped stirring the sauce.
Read The Alchemist. When you move toward something that makes you happy or believe in strongly the Universe jumps into a current and conspires with you to make it happen. Period. I believe it. I’ve felt it. This wasn’t the first time.
Of course, the Universe doesn’t respond in kind all the time. (What fun would that be? We’d take it for granted.) For example, I tried to extract from Christina Aguilera one Tweet about my release of “What A Girl Wants.” Crickets. But when I asked Chrissie Hynde if she’d sing some background vocals on my reinterpretation of “Human” (the song she made popular) she said yes without a second thought. Two out of three ain’t bad.
It pays to ask.
Anyway, Hamish is kinda shy. And that’s why Kristin and I thought it would be fun to put him on the spot and ask him (while he’s sheltering in Melbourne) to recall his recollection of my pursuit. See the conversation below.
And don’t forget to read The Alchemist for God sakes. Lord knows, you have the time!
You can listen to “Notebook” here. And you can see the official video here. You can hear Hamish’s work on What A Girl Wants here. But enough about me. Although Hamish has released much more incredible music after “U” that’s the song that stopped me in my tracks. So press play and close your eyes. See if you feel what I feel. Thanx Hamish! Love, Shelly