I've been on a bit of a hiatus since my last show, partly to recover from a medical procedure as well as take time out to write my vision for this year musically.  It's been really good.  Normally I would view this as an interruption, but I've been through enough interruptions in my life to know that you just got to work through it.  Never before have I been more hopeful though.  Somehow 2009 has a bit of a shiny glimmer to it that none of the previous years have had.  Maybe it's the intense inner journey I embarked on last year, maybe it's the deliberate choice to align myself with people that matter instead of flippantly hoping it'll work out with some music industry professional, so to speak.  Our intuitions are clear enough to tell us when there just isn't quite something right with someone.  It's like dating, in a way.

Sorry to have gone away for so long.  I'm slowly peering out from my little rock, working on new songs and getting my life in order...

Here are some pics from my last show.  Enjoy.

It seems about a million things have happened since my show at Vinyl last week. Oh too much to detail, but before too much time elapses I've included some photos from the gig.

Some highlights of the evening:

Seeing a wonderful crowd of peeps cheering loudly as my trademark wurly intro of "21st Century Creature" began. That's the closest I'll probably ever feel to a rock star - wasn't expecting that. Thanks guys!

Getting to meet some of the nicest people in these other bands, a diversity of musicians and such a sense of camaraderie.

Following my drummer Matt back to a friend's condo to have to somehow end up mashed in the back seat of his two door sedan holding a snare and tom in my hand to get in past the gate. I couldn't close the car door once in, so he shrugged, "Don't worry, I'll get it to close." He guns the engine and the door slams shut as we go screeching up the parking deck.

Famished like you wouldn't believe, eagerly ordering a chili burger (turkey patty of course) and tater tots with my hubby and friends at the Midtown Vortex at 1 AM. Can you believe Skid Row came on while we noshed? How many of you remember when they were big?

As fall teases us with some cooler morning temps (still giving way to a sultry afternoon), I'm reminded of the seasons and with it inevitably comes change.  I think a part of me has always been resistant to change, but it's been necessary to try to figure out the next step with music.  I'd always worn the songwriter/musician/vocalist hat before and left the production up to others.  But now I've finally decided to learn some of the software on my own just to have more control over how a song is produced.  It's a painstakingly slow process, with the most primitive software and loops but I'm learning.  Thankfully I'm working with several other songwriters who do have the production expertise.  I glean from their ideas as well as try to push songs for other endeavors and not just as a solo artist. 

The other big change awaiting us is the upcoming election season, with plenty of mud slinging and controversy to go around.  Certain topics have even made their way into the songs I co-write with people.  It's such a supercharged atmosphere with our nation right now, some good and some just annoyingly brutal.  I hope it goes quickly so we can move on and look forward to a new administration.  Always hopeful for the future...

I've been thinking a lot on this past year and the growing pains that have come with taking a break.  Seasons come and go, some with prolific activity and others with constant reassessment.  Thankfully the time of recovery from health issues, some good hard soul searching and just plain rest I'm glad to be making music again.  I'm excited about a new demo project I'm working on, along with some other collaborative co-writing projects. 

I'm also looking forward to putting some of these new tunes on display at my next show at Vinyl, (on Wed Sept. 17th) one of a trio of venues at Atlanta's burgeoning Midtown CW Midtown Music complex.  Across the street from Atlantic Station, it promises to be a wonderful show with my band.  Plus, I'm privileged to be an opening act for Nicholas Megalis, an upcoming MTV artist generating a lot of buzz for his piano crunk sound.

If you happen to be in the Atlanta area on this date, drop on by - I'd love to see you!  Tickets are $8 adv and $10 at the door.  Go to www.vinylatlanta.com for more info.

Hi Everyone!

Just wanted to shout out here on Alive not Dead.  Through some great folks I'm happy to be connected to the Asian as well as Asian-American community. 

Since releasing my first album "Roots" in 2006, I did a promotional run with Face2Face MEG (FYE in-stores) as well as did a small mini-tour on the east coast in addition to local band shows.   After taking a break this year, I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things with a new writing project.  I'd love to hear from you, so feel free to sign the guestbook or write a comment!  Check out the tracks at any of these outlets below:

www.janiechu.com/main.asp
www.myspace.com/janiechumusic
www.last.fm/music?m=all&q=Janie+Chu
www.cdbaby.com/cd/janiechu
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MusicisHere
Ruckus
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