on the sand of Fire Island's shore... - June 12, 2008
*hey ... so i can't post photos on this blog (yet). So read my blog HERE instead ...
www.haileywojcik.blogspot.com
www.haileywojcik.blogspot.com
Hailey Wojcik: Diary/News
Succubus in the City - May 30, 2008
Up to this point my pattern has been to post blogs only when I really have something to announce, but I suppose this could be considered a deviation from that ... (I'm just preparing you for what may be an anticlimactic entry).
Anyway, I promised myself I wouldn't be one of those People Who Blog About Their Personal Lives (I guess by personal lives I really mean relationships, since what isn't personal really?).
So I won't.
But I will say that it's been some fucked up bullshit beyond all comprehension for the past few weeks.
And I am clinging to the hope that it will all add up to my Magnum Opus.
I've been writing a lot and I have a couple songs actually finished. I can't wait to record. This finding-a-good-and-affordable-and-compatible-producer/engineer is harder than it looks. But I am still finishing this new crop of songs anyway, so that buys me a little time--and if any of you happen to know (or be) someone who fits the bill, please let me know.
On a random note ... like most subway riders (I assume), I take pleasure in being nosey about other people's reading materials on the train. I see a lot of really great looking pulp novels with really awful covers. I forget some of the best titles, but I just wanted to share one with you that I just saw. It definitely takes the cake. The title was (I kid you not): Succubus in the City. My next album title? I think so.
Anyway, I wonder if it just came out because of the Sex and the City movie debuting this weekend ... maybe the girl wanted background and was on her way to the movies ... or whatever. Anyway, it made me smile and think of how glad I am that this book exists. Oh wait, but you have to see the cover to get the full effect. (check out the blood cosmo!):
http://www.succubus.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/19707303.jpg
Anyway, it has been so warm and beautiful here the past couple days. Summer brings about a whole new set of senses it seems. I don't have AC, so my windows are always open and the sounds permeate the apartment. It's kind of like a beautiful John Cage piece or something. At least when it isn't just annoying fucking noise pollution. Tomato, TomAHto I guess. Ice cream truck music, skateboard wheels rolling on pavement, the quake of approaching subwoofers, alley cats in heat below my window, ambulance sirens, the squealing brakes of the elevated train, the rattle and hum of my neighbors' air conditioners. (I'd rather listen to the din of the neighborhood than have one of those obnoxious things clattering and whirring next to my head all day ... at least I say that now ...). Makes me wanna record it for the Magnum Opus.
Yeah.
So that's it I guess ... I told you it was anticlimactic. Unless of course, you are truly satisfied just by seeing the cover of Succubus in the City (as you should be).
'Til next time,
H. N. woiychieck
Anyway, I promised myself I wouldn't be one of those People Who Blog About Their Personal Lives (I guess by personal lives I really mean relationships, since what isn't personal really?).
So I won't.
But I will say that it's been some fucked up bullshit beyond all comprehension for the past few weeks.
And I am clinging to the hope that it will all add up to my Magnum Opus.
I've been writing a lot and I have a couple songs actually finished. I can't wait to record. This finding-a-good-and-affordable-and-compatible-producer/engineer is harder than it looks. But I am still finishing this new crop of songs anyway, so that buys me a little time--and if any of you happen to know (or be) someone who fits the bill, please let me know.
On a random note ... like most subway riders (I assume), I take pleasure in being nosey about other people's reading materials on the train. I see a lot of really great looking pulp novels with really awful covers. I forget some of the best titles, but I just wanted to share one with you that I just saw. It definitely takes the cake. The title was (I kid you not): Succubus in the City. My next album title? I think so.
Anyway, I wonder if it just came out because of the Sex and the City movie debuting this weekend ... maybe the girl wanted background and was on her way to the movies ... or whatever. Anyway, it made me smile and think of how glad I am that this book exists. Oh wait, but you have to see the cover to get the full effect. (check out the blood cosmo!):
http://www.succubus.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/19707303.jpg
Anyway, it has been so warm and beautiful here the past couple days. Summer brings about a whole new set of senses it seems. I don't have AC, so my windows are always open and the sounds permeate the apartment. It's kind of like a beautiful John Cage piece or something. At least when it isn't just annoying fucking noise pollution. Tomato, TomAHto I guess. Ice cream truck music, skateboard wheels rolling on pavement, the quake of approaching subwoofers, alley cats in heat below my window, ambulance sirens, the squealing brakes of the elevated train, the rattle and hum of my neighbors' air conditioners. (I'd rather listen to the din of the neighborhood than have one of those obnoxious things clattering and whirring next to my head all day ... at least I say that now ...). Makes me wanna record it for the Magnum Opus.
Yeah.
So that's it I guess ... I told you it was anticlimactic. Unless of course, you are truly satisfied just by seeing the cover of Succubus in the City (as you should be).
'Til next time,
H. N. woiychieck
AMAZING fan-directed video for "Luck"!! - April 18, 2008
I am completely speechless right now.
A phenomenally talented gentleman by the name of mister charles barton directed, created, conceptualized, animated, etc. this amazing video for my song "Luck"...It is so fantastic, I don't even know what to say, except check it out for yourselves (and tell your friends). And don't forget to leave comments telling mister barton how great it is, because it is... Ok, enough talk; go check it out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8EJXwd1d0jA
A phenomenally talented gentleman by the name of mister charles barton directed, created, conceptualized, animated, etc. this amazing video for my song "Luck"...It is so fantastic, I don't even know what to say, except check it out for yourselves (and tell your friends). And don't forget to leave comments telling mister barton how great it is, because it is... Ok, enough talk; go check it out:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=8EJXwd1d0jA
Canadian Debut! Dino Costume Creations! Ravings and Ramblings! - March 5, 2008
Hi there,
So, I’m making my Canadian Debut this weekend, eh? I am so excited! My video for “Dinosaur Bone” is being aired on national Canadian television show, Dave’s Indie Rock Talk (D.I.R.T.) this Sunday, March 9th (and again on the 16th.) D.I.R.T. Airs across Canada on StarChoice Satellite (ch. 323) and Express-Vu (ch. 258) Satellite Networks, and the Novus TV network (ch. 4) in Vancouver on Sundays at Midnight, Pacific Time. It’s an awesome show and I’m so excited to be a part of it! Check out the website at www.dirt-tv.com
And speaking of “Dinosaur Bone”... How much do i LOVE this?! Click the link below and just look at the fine craftsmanship... (You may have to scroll down a bit, there are 2 photos...)
http://www.haileywojcik.com/photos.html
This amazing, crafty, talented bloke, (also a member of the Certain Scientists Street Team...) made this dino costume after reading my foray-into-martha-stewart-living-how-to-blog, “On Making A Dino Hoodie.” He’s giving me a run for my money! Seriously, this rocks, and props on the teeth. Thank you so much for sending this in! Anyone else have dino costume pics? Send ‘em thisaway: dinohoodie@haileywojcik.com
In other news (please brace yourself for some rambling...)
I’ve been writing a lot of new songs. Which is good, because I was starting to think I’d forgotten how. I was feeling really blocked for a few months. I felt like I didn’t have my usual antennae out – or at least not being so thrilled by what they pick up. Am I getting old? I kept thinking of this blog post of Amanda Palmer’s (Dresden Dolls singer), whose blog I read obsessively... Anyway, the post was all about getting older and “learning to feel less,” and how “You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” Coupled with this ad I kept seeing on the train: “Do you forget about peanut butter when you get old? Or do you get old when you forget about peanut butter?” I don’t know.
I think living in New York, as stimulating/exciting as it is, presents an interesting, near-constant, catch-22. There is so much more to take in here, but people get to a point of having their jaded attitude and having their guard up too much to enjoy/absorb it. At least that’s how I was feeling. And so I started just forcing myself to write down every stupid thing I thought of, or disconnected thing that I noticed again. (This sounds so obvious, I know, but don’t underestimate the power of self-censorship.) Anyway, it seems to have done some good because I’ve got a few new songs going. And I guess that’s my point. So be on the lookout for some new recordings... And those of you in the NYC vicinity, I’ll be debuting them at my upcoming shows this month.
That is all for now.
pieces,
hailey
So, I’m making my Canadian Debut this weekend, eh? I am so excited! My video for “Dinosaur Bone” is being aired on national Canadian television show, Dave’s Indie Rock Talk (D.I.R.T.) this Sunday, March 9th (and again on the 16th.) D.I.R.T. Airs across Canada on StarChoice Satellite (ch. 323) and Express-Vu (ch. 258) Satellite Networks, and the Novus TV network (ch. 4) in Vancouver on Sundays at Midnight, Pacific Time. It’s an awesome show and I’m so excited to be a part of it! Check out the website at www.dirt-tv.com
And speaking of “Dinosaur Bone”... How much do i LOVE this?! Click the link below and just look at the fine craftsmanship... (You may have to scroll down a bit, there are 2 photos...)
http://www.haileywojcik.com/photos.html
This amazing, crafty, talented bloke, (also a member of the Certain Scientists Street Team...) made this dino costume after reading my foray-into-martha-stewart-living-how-to-blog, “On Making A Dino Hoodie.” He’s giving me a run for my money! Seriously, this rocks, and props on the teeth. Thank you so much for sending this in! Anyone else have dino costume pics? Send ‘em thisaway: dinohoodie@haileywojcik.com
In other news (please brace yourself for some rambling...)
I’ve been writing a lot of new songs. Which is good, because I was starting to think I’d forgotten how. I was feeling really blocked for a few months. I felt like I didn’t have my usual antennae out – or at least not being so thrilled by what they pick up. Am I getting old? I kept thinking of this blog post of Amanda Palmer’s (Dresden Dolls singer), whose blog I read obsessively... Anyway, the post was all about getting older and “learning to feel less,” and how “You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness.” Coupled with this ad I kept seeing on the train: “Do you forget about peanut butter when you get old? Or do you get old when you forget about peanut butter?” I don’t know.
I think living in New York, as stimulating/exciting as it is, presents an interesting, near-constant, catch-22. There is so much more to take in here, but people get to a point of having their jaded attitude and having their guard up too much to enjoy/absorb it. At least that’s how I was feeling. And so I started just forcing myself to write down every stupid thing I thought of, or disconnected thing that I noticed again. (This sounds so obvious, I know, but don’t underestimate the power of self-censorship.) Anyway, it seems to have done some good because I’ve got a few new songs going. And I guess that’s my point. So be on the lookout for some new recordings... And those of you in the NYC vicinity, I’ll be debuting them at my upcoming shows this month.
That is all for now.
pieces,
hailey
On Making a Dino Hoodie... - January 14, 2008
On Making a Dino Hoodie...
Over the past month I’ve gotten a lot of messages regarding my dinosaur costume/hoodie. A lot of people have asked where I got it and I’ve responded to most of you by now...but I just thought I should go ahead and post my dino costume secrets here anyway for all interested parties...
Said costume is the homemade creation of myself and my lovely & crafty girlfriend Faith. We spent a loooong time deciding how to make it; I did consider buying one, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for exactly (plus they’re hella expensive.) So we decided to make it instead (which was, of course, more fun), using... (I put this in extreme detail in case any of you are as craftingly challenged as I...)
1) Stretchy hoodie and leggings (mine are American Apparel)
2) Acrylic paint (i used yellow and green of course)
3) Needle & thread
4) 1 sheet of craft foam, (white) approx. 1/4” thick
5) 2 sheets (1 black, 1 white) of sticky-backed craft foam, approx. 1/8” thick
Faith is responsible for the awesome spikes, which she cut out, painted and sewed along the spine of the hoodie. Then she made a tail out of foam as well (painted,) and this was sewn to the leggings. So basically I made the eyes and nostrils out of the sticky back foam and stuck ‘em on the hood...just cuz I’m lazy like that and when it comes to crafts I like to think of myself more as an “ideas person”...
So there you have it... if/when you make your own dino hoodie all i ask is for you to please please PLEASE send me a picture! Either send a link via myspace or send me an email w/ attachment to dinohoodie[at]haileywojcik[dot]com. I have a dream of making a photo gallery of people in dino costumes and putting on my site...help me make it a reality, will you?
Love Always,
Hailey
Over the past month I’ve gotten a lot of messages regarding my dinosaur costume/hoodie. A lot of people have asked where I got it and I’ve responded to most of you by now...but I just thought I should go ahead and post my dino costume secrets here anyway for all interested parties...
Said costume is the homemade creation of myself and my lovely & crafty girlfriend Faith. We spent a loooong time deciding how to make it; I did consider buying one, but I couldn’t find what I was looking for exactly (plus they’re hella expensive.) So we decided to make it instead (which was, of course, more fun), using... (I put this in extreme detail in case any of you are as craftingly challenged as I...)
1) Stretchy hoodie and leggings (mine are American Apparel)
2) Acrylic paint (i used yellow and green of course)
3) Needle & thread
4) 1 sheet of craft foam, (white) approx. 1/4” thick
5) 2 sheets (1 black, 1 white) of sticky-backed craft foam, approx. 1/8” thick
Faith is responsible for the awesome spikes, which she cut out, painted and sewed along the spine of the hoodie. Then she made a tail out of foam as well (painted,) and this was sewn to the leggings. So basically I made the eyes and nostrils out of the sticky back foam and stuck ‘em on the hood...just cuz I’m lazy like that and when it comes to crafts I like to think of myself more as an “ideas person”...
So there you have it... if/when you make your own dino hoodie all i ask is for you to please please PLEASE send me a picture! Either send a link via myspace or send me an email w/ attachment to dinohoodie[at]haileywojcik[dot]com. I have a dream of making a photo gallery of people in dino costumes and putting on my site...help me make it a reality, will you?
Love Always,
Hailey
Check out my new songs... - December 12, 2007
Hiya,
I just wanted to draw all of your attention to my music page, which has three brand new songs of mine posted for your listening pleasure. ("Holden Caulfield" for all the J.D. Salinger fans, "Luck" featuring the coolest three-stringed instrument in the world, the strumstick, and my new ukulele tune "6th Avenue")
They were recorded live at Crash Mansion, NYC in November, and I'd love to hear your thoughts (I mean only if you love them... kidding, kidding...) I'm working on recording studio versions of these new songs and more for an upcoming EP, details to follow. Enjoy!
Love,
Hailey
I just wanted to draw all of your attention to my music page, which has three brand new songs of mine posted for your listening pleasure. ("Holden Caulfield" for all the J.D. Salinger fans, "Luck" featuring the coolest three-stringed instrument in the world, the strumstick, and my new ukulele tune "6th Avenue")
They were recorded live at Crash Mansion, NYC in November, and I'd love to hear your thoughts (I mean only if you love them... kidding, kidding...) I'm working on recording studio versions of these new songs and more for an upcoming EP, details to follow. Enjoy!
Love,
Hailey
VideoStatic.com Feature, YouTube views break 275,000, Ramona Forever! - December 4, 2007
Whew! It's been quite a record-breaking, exciting few days here at Wojcik HQ (read: my studio apartment and my laptop...)
Today the number of views of my video on YouTube broke 275,000... Woo-hoo! Thanks so much for watching and listening. You all have no idea how great all your positive messages, comments and support have been. :)
And the online love keeps coming; this week, I'm also featured on an awesome blog called VideoStatic! Just scroll down a wee bit on the homepage and you'll see the great review they wrote of my video. (Ramona Quimby forever! Wait isn't that actually one of the book titles? Er, Ramona Quimby in the house!- that should be one of the book titles...) Anyway, check it:
http://www.videostatic.com
til next time,
hailey
Today the number of views of my video on YouTube broke 275,000... Woo-hoo! Thanks so much for watching and listening. You all have no idea how great all your positive messages, comments and support have been. :)
And the online love keeps coming; this week, I'm also featured on an awesome blog called VideoStatic! Just scroll down a wee bit on the homepage and you'll see the great review they wrote of my video. (Ramona Quimby forever! Wait isn't that actually one of the book titles? Er, Ramona Quimby in the house!- that should be one of the book titles...) Anyway, check it:
http://www.videostatic.com
til next time,
hailey
YouTube update/ i love you!!! - December 2, 2007
Thanks so much to everyone for the positive feedback on "Dinosaur Bone" being featured on YouTube.com! The video has gone from under 3,000 to nearly 150,000 views within only 48 hours. It was a labor of love shooting it this past summer just after moving to Brooklyn. My girlfriend, Faith, made the outfit and shot it for me; it was a neat creative DIY adventure for the both of us. Almost no one turned a head at the sight of this dinosaur walking down the street. Ahhhh, New York.
On to a new season, I am taking this time to write some new songs for an EP I hope to release around Spring 2008. It is sure to feature more songs on ukulele, guitar, keyboard, and Strumstick. You can preview the newly-written and -performed "Sixth Avenue" (with me in Halloween costume) at ukulelecabaret.com/hailey, along with other tunes. Also, I have another video in the works for "Bad Modern Art." Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/haileywojcik) for newly added video. And check back here for more updates and songs!
Thanks again for the comments and messages of support. You're all so awesome!
ps... except the haters. You know who you are and y'all need to get a life.
But the rest of you, I LOVE you!
xoxoxo,
hailey
On to a new season, I am taking this time to write some new songs for an EP I hope to release around Spring 2008. It is sure to feature more songs on ukulele, guitar, keyboard, and Strumstick. You can preview the newly-written and -performed "Sixth Avenue" (with me in Halloween costume) at ukulelecabaret.com/hailey, along with other tunes. Also, I have another video in the works for "Bad Modern Art." Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/haileywojcik) for newly added video. And check back here for more updates and songs!
Thanks again for the comments and messages of support. You're all so awesome!
ps... except the haters. You know who you are and y'all need to get a life.
But the rest of you, I LOVE you!
xoxoxo,
hailey
"Dinosaur Bone" is a Featured Video on YouTube! - November 30, 2007
I am SO excited today! Why? Because my music video "Dinosaur Bone" is a Featured Video on YouTube - selected by YouTube Music Editors! They really like me! :) And I'm not gonna lie, it feels damn good. Here's what they say about "Dinosaur Bone":
"Indie-O-Saurus...
In a green dino suit with a colorful keyboard slung over her shoulder, singer-songwriter Hailey Wojcik cutens up the streets of Brooklyn (and the indie music scene)." - YouTube.com
Check it all out here today and *all weekend*!!!
http://www.youtube.com/categories_portal?c=10&e=1
Happy Friday!
xoxo,
Hailey
"Indie-O-Saurus...
In a green dino suit with a colorful keyboard slung over her shoulder, singer-songwriter Hailey Wojcik cutens up the streets of Brooklyn (and the indie music scene)." - YouTube.com
Check it all out here today and *all weekend*!!!
http://www.youtube.com/categories_portal?c=10&e=1
Happy Friday!
xoxo,
Hailey
Recap... Opening for Ingrid Michaelson, my car dies in Chinatown, i'm a ukulele disco queen... - November 4, 2007
PART I.
So I haven't written in a while. So much has happened though that I feel the need to recap. In September I had the amazing opportunity to open for Ingrid Michaelson, who in case you live under a rock, is totally fucking famous, & getting famous-ER by the minute it seems. Anyway, she was very good and fun to meet. I played with her 4 days before she was on Carson Daly's show, a week after the Grey's soundtrack (featuring her song) dropped, and also a week before her ubiquitous old navy commercial came out. It is kind of surreal and it all happened due to a random connection through my drama director from high school. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the show was at my high school alma mater, DeWitt H.S. in DeWitt, Michigan. On the stage that I used to spend most of my time on at drama practice. It was a total mindfuck. In the best possible way. And i've decided that I need to play more shows at high schools (high schoolers out there reading this, please book me at your school! I love you!) high schoolers are great, they actually buy cds!! Who knew??
Right now i'm on a train coming back to nyc from connecticut. I was on a Business Trip. That makes me sound so old. You can attribute any typos in this entry to the fact that this is the bumpiest train ride i've ever been on. Except the subway. The subway doesn't count. And the conductor just announced that there's actually alcohol being served on this train. Bar Car, two words i'm very fond of hearing...
PART II
Then I played this really amazing show in October at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. I was so glad for a weekend escape from the city not to mention FINALLY getting to make use of the car I keep in New York despite the fact that I can almost never drive it here. Of course it promptly died. In the middle of Canal St. near the entrance to the Holland Tunnel. In the middle of Chinatown, which if you’ve ever been to Chinatown you know it is like hell on Earth. So I’m sitting in the middle of morning rush hour traffic in New York City, blocking a lane of traffic. I’m not sure, but I think that’s grounds for murder here. It was certainly grounds for a hit and run apparently because a man in a white van hit me from behind and literally pushed my Jeep forward a little instead of backing up and going around me. And anyone who ever has been in a car with me knows that I was a little upset by this. And it just so happens that at the same moment, I was calling my parents in order to get my AAA number so I could get towed, and while I was waiting for their answering machine greeting to end, White Van Man hit me. So I flick him off and scream something to the effect of “What the fuck? Fuck you, motherfucker!!” (I’m paraphrasing) at which point I realize, Hmm I don’t hear their answering machine greeting playing anymore, I wonder if this is being recorded... “Mom?...” So it’s all on tape and my mom has saved it. I plan on listening to it when I go home for Thanksgiving and sampling it into a song. So anyway, eventually the car started, but I still didn’t trust it. I was about to just throw in the towel and forget about the paying gig and chance at a weekend escape. Then I just thought, Fuck It. So we drove back to Brooklyn, got a rental car and got back on the road (now having lost hours, but luckily we had left at 8 am so we were still ok.)
And it turned out to be one of the most fun and best shows I’ve been a part of in a while. The people were great and the campus was beautiful. I finally got to see the leaves changing color. For some reason everything is still green here (I mean the few trees that do exist in the parts of town I frequent) and according to some sources they never change, rather they just die one day and fall off the tree. Brilliant. Fall being my favorite season, I really miss driving down a back road and seeing all the colors on the trees.
I felt like a real musician, being put up in a nice, nice room for two nights and getting asked to play a second show at the campus while I was there. And the people were amazing. Amazing, amazing, amazing. We ate Indian food and talked about music and New York and everything. At the first show I played my rendition of Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” and everyone sang along after the first three notes. (this was not at all the response I got the first time I played it, at the September Ukulele Cabaret. No one knew the song and they all thought I wrote it. Anyway...) Ever since I heard the HORRIBLE original version sung by Sean K., it’s been calling to me to re-do it on ukulele and with some actual soul and feeling behind it (Could he possibly sound more vapid and brain-dead singing the words “Suicidal Suicidal” ?) But anyway, I digress. The people at the Chatham shows were wonderful and if any of you are reading this, I’ll come back any time. (thanks Liz!)
PART III.
Jason Tagg – the brains behind the Ukulele Cabaret here in NYC – also has a weekly public television show called Midnight Ukulele Disco, which I was on in October. It was really fun and I hope to make another appearance soon! (I'm thinking of trying to put my Dinosaur Bone music video on nyc public tv too.) Anyway, for Midnight Ukulele Disco I got to pre-tape some songs, standing on Jason's roof (my first nyc roof experience! We haven't gone on ours yet. They say they'll evict us if we do, plus our neighbor's always up there and I feel like it could be a rumble if we try invading the turf. I envision a dramatic fight scene. Those happen on roofs right? Maybe that's just Train roofs. Might explain the tumult of this particular train right now (bringin it all full circle...)) Anyway, check out the uke disco footage at the URL below, including a live recording in the studio of my rendition of Sean Kingston’s Beautiful Girls (see PART II).
http://ukuleledisco.com/haileycomplete
I guess that’s all the rambling I’ll subject you to for now. For those of you still reading, thanks for sticking it out til the end. I wish I had a prize for you or something.
xo,
h
So I haven't written in a while. So much has happened though that I feel the need to recap. In September I had the amazing opportunity to open for Ingrid Michaelson, who in case you live under a rock, is totally fucking famous, & getting famous-ER by the minute it seems. Anyway, she was very good and fun to meet. I played with her 4 days before she was on Carson Daly's show, a week after the Grey's soundtrack (featuring her song) dropped, and also a week before her ubiquitous old navy commercial came out. It is kind of surreal and it all happened due to a random connection through my drama director from high school. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the show was at my high school alma mater, DeWitt H.S. in DeWitt, Michigan. On the stage that I used to spend most of my time on at drama practice. It was a total mindfuck. In the best possible way. And i've decided that I need to play more shows at high schools (high schoolers out there reading this, please book me at your school! I love you!) high schoolers are great, they actually buy cds!! Who knew??
Right now i'm on a train coming back to nyc from connecticut. I was on a Business Trip. That makes me sound so old. You can attribute any typos in this entry to the fact that this is the bumpiest train ride i've ever been on. Except the subway. The subway doesn't count. And the conductor just announced that there's actually alcohol being served on this train. Bar Car, two words i'm very fond of hearing...
PART II
Then I played this really amazing show in October at Chatham University in Pittsburgh. I was so glad for a weekend escape from the city not to mention FINALLY getting to make use of the car I keep in New York despite the fact that I can almost never drive it here. Of course it promptly died. In the middle of Canal St. near the entrance to the Holland Tunnel. In the middle of Chinatown, which if you’ve ever been to Chinatown you know it is like hell on Earth. So I’m sitting in the middle of morning rush hour traffic in New York City, blocking a lane of traffic. I’m not sure, but I think that’s grounds for murder here. It was certainly grounds for a hit and run apparently because a man in a white van hit me from behind and literally pushed my Jeep forward a little instead of backing up and going around me. And anyone who ever has been in a car with me knows that I was a little upset by this. And it just so happens that at the same moment, I was calling my parents in order to get my AAA number so I could get towed, and while I was waiting for their answering machine greeting to end, White Van Man hit me. So I flick him off and scream something to the effect of “What the fuck? Fuck you, motherfucker!!” (I’m paraphrasing) at which point I realize, Hmm I don’t hear their answering machine greeting playing anymore, I wonder if this is being recorded... “Mom?...” So it’s all on tape and my mom has saved it. I plan on listening to it when I go home for Thanksgiving and sampling it into a song. So anyway, eventually the car started, but I still didn’t trust it. I was about to just throw in the towel and forget about the paying gig and chance at a weekend escape. Then I just thought, Fuck It. So we drove back to Brooklyn, got a rental car and got back on the road (now having lost hours, but luckily we had left at 8 am so we were still ok.)
And it turned out to be one of the most fun and best shows I’ve been a part of in a while. The people were great and the campus was beautiful. I finally got to see the leaves changing color. For some reason everything is still green here (I mean the few trees that do exist in the parts of town I frequent) and according to some sources they never change, rather they just die one day and fall off the tree. Brilliant. Fall being my favorite season, I really miss driving down a back road and seeing all the colors on the trees.
I felt like a real musician, being put up in a nice, nice room for two nights and getting asked to play a second show at the campus while I was there. And the people were amazing. Amazing, amazing, amazing. We ate Indian food and talked about music and New York and everything. At the first show I played my rendition of Sean Kingston’s “Beautiful Girls” and everyone sang along after the first three notes. (this was not at all the response I got the first time I played it, at the September Ukulele Cabaret. No one knew the song and they all thought I wrote it. Anyway...) Ever since I heard the HORRIBLE original version sung by Sean K., it’s been calling to me to re-do it on ukulele and with some actual soul and feeling behind it (Could he possibly sound more vapid and brain-dead singing the words “Suicidal Suicidal” ?) But anyway, I digress. The people at the Chatham shows were wonderful and if any of you are reading this, I’ll come back any time. (thanks Liz!)
PART III.
Jason Tagg – the brains behind the Ukulele Cabaret here in NYC – also has a weekly public television show called Midnight Ukulele Disco, which I was on in October. It was really fun and I hope to make another appearance soon! (I'm thinking of trying to put my Dinosaur Bone music video on nyc public tv too.) Anyway, for Midnight Ukulele Disco I got to pre-tape some songs, standing on Jason's roof (my first nyc roof experience! We haven't gone on ours yet. They say they'll evict us if we do, plus our neighbor's always up there and I feel like it could be a rumble if we try invading the turf. I envision a dramatic fight scene. Those happen on roofs right? Maybe that's just Train roofs. Might explain the tumult of this particular train right now (bringin it all full circle...)) Anyway, check out the uke disco footage at the URL below, including a live recording in the studio of my rendition of Sean Kingston’s Beautiful Girls (see PART II).
http://ukuleledisco.com/haileycomplete
I guess that’s all the rambling I’ll subject you to for now. For those of you still reading, thanks for sticking it out til the end. I wish I had a prize for you or something.
xo,
h
I'm on TV! Midnight Ukulele Disco to be precise... - October 22, 2007
Hello darlings!
I have some very fun news for you all... this Tuesday (10/23) I'll be
appearing live on the NYC public television show, "Midnight Ukulele
Disco" (despite the name it's actually on at 9 o'clock pm.) I would
say it's my public access debut, but as some of you know, in middle
school I enjoyed a short stint as the host of Kids Corner on a certain
public tv "nature show" which earned me many amusing and creative nicknames such as "trail mix"... but I digress.
If you live in the NYC area and have a boob tube, you can watch the
show live on MNN channel 56. BUT, if you don't live in New York or
have a TV, you can still watch the show streamed live online! Isn't
that something. So please go to http://www.ukuleledisco.com/live -- there's a quicktime stream or a windows media stream available there, and a live chat board. Possibly the best part is you can also ask me questions live on air! (After the fact, you can also visit
http://www.ukuleledisco.com/clips to view the show.)
In other Ukulele Hailey news, I'll be playing the very special Halloween Ukulele Cabaret this Saturday, details on my gigs page.
See you in TVLand...
loves and stuff,
Hailey
I have some very fun news for you all... this Tuesday (10/23) I'll be
appearing live on the NYC public television show, "Midnight Ukulele
Disco" (despite the name it's actually on at 9 o'clock pm.) I would
say it's my public access debut, but as some of you know, in middle
school I enjoyed a short stint as the host of Kids Corner on a certain
public tv "nature show" which earned me many amusing and creative nicknames such as "trail mix"... but I digress.
If you live in the NYC area and have a boob tube, you can watch the
show live on MNN channel 56. BUT, if you don't live in New York or
have a TV, you can still watch the show streamed live online! Isn't
that something. So please go to http://www.ukuleledisco.com/live -- there's a quicktime stream or a windows media stream available there, and a live chat board. Possibly the best part is you can also ask me questions live on air! (After the fact, you can also visit
http://www.ukuleledisco.com/clips to view the show.)
In other Ukulele Hailey news, I'll be playing the very special Halloween Ukulele Cabaret this Saturday, details on my gigs page.
See you in TVLand...
loves and stuff,
Hailey
Williamsburg Live Songwriting Competition! - October 10, 2007
I just found out I got into the Williamsburg Live Songwriting Competition (put on by Jezebel music: www.jezebelmusic.com) and I'll be performing on Nov 4th at Union Pool. Yee-hee!
Check out http://www.wlsc2007.com/performers.html and send good thoughts my way...
:)
Check out http://www.wlsc2007.com/performers.html and send good thoughts my way...
:)
Launch of CERTAIN SCIENTISTS (the official hailey wojcik street team!!!) - October 10, 2007
Today it is with great pleasure that I present to you: CERTAIN SCIENTISTS, the official Hailey Wojcik Street Team! I’ve been wanting to start this team for a while, collecting names and ideas... and now I have launched a MySpace page for it, & it seems it is finally becoming a reality! :) Check it out at http://www.myspace.com/certainscientists
What is a Street Team, you ask? Basically it’s a network of fans and supporters who help spread the word about music they love (like helping promote shows, telling MySpace friends about my music, organizing house shows and filling the streets with origami dinosaurs to promote “Dinosaur Bone.”) No amount of help is too small, and it is all so greatly appreciated! Your kindness will be rewarded with all kinds of insider perks like CERTAIN SCIENTIST parties, CDs, stickers & other goodies, exclusive tracks, and more! (Check out the Bio section on the CERTAIN SCIENTISTS MySpace for more details and ideas for how you can be a part of the team.)
I am so excited to finally have this started! Please contact me if you are interested in being a CERTAIN SCIENTIST, and also with any suggestions you may have...because CERTAIN SCIENTISTS is about you, not Tony Danza, you.
What is a Street Team, you ask? Basically it’s a network of fans and supporters who help spread the word about music they love (like helping promote shows, telling MySpace friends about my music, organizing house shows and filling the streets with origami dinosaurs to promote “Dinosaur Bone.”) No amount of help is too small, and it is all so greatly appreciated! Your kindness will be rewarded with all kinds of insider perks like CERTAIN SCIENTIST parties, CDs, stickers & other goodies, exclusive tracks, and more! (Check out the Bio section on the CERTAIN SCIENTISTS MySpace for more details and ideas for how you can be a part of the team.)
I am so excited to finally have this started! Please contact me if you are interested in being a CERTAIN SCIENTIST, and also with any suggestions you may have...because CERTAIN SCIENTISTS is about you, not Tony Danza, you.
Check out my MUSIC VIDEO "DINOSAUR BONE"!!! - August 14, 2007
CHECK OUT MY NEW MUSIC VIDEO "DINOSAUR BONE" here... http://www.youtube.com/v/pVkUG6XLItc
In which I don a homemade dino costume, play a toy keyboard, and stroll through the streets of brooklyn. Intrigued? You should be. After you watch it, grab the html code or the URL and pass it on to your friends...
love
hailey
In which I don a homemade dino costume, play a toy keyboard, and stroll through the streets of brooklyn. Intrigued? You should be. After you watch it, grab the html code or the URL and pass it on to your friends...
love
hailey
Cockroaches, Supermodels, and a Red-Headed Ukulele Player - June 6, 2007
As promised, here is my first blog entry about my experiences in NYC so far. As usual, I’m late in posting it…
So I have been in New York for roughly a month now. It feels like longer though because so much happens in any given day. There is too much to recount, and so instead of trying, I offer you this anecdote.
As a (somewhat) closeted reader of tabloids, one of the aspects of New York life I’ve been looking forward to is the celebrity sighting.
Last Friday night I went to a show at Piano’s upstairs (a couple of fellow uke players, Kelli Rae Powell and the Musical Proverbial Kneehighs) and I assumed that, since I could actually afford a sandwich at this bar, no celebrities would be found.
Since I moved here I have passed a magazine rack everyday on my way from the subway, and for the past month the same Vogue cover has popped out at me each time.(http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/deyn_ukvogue.jpg)
I had no idea who she was, and then during the day on Friday I happened to see a blog post about this new British top model. Her name is Agyness Deyn and I’m getting to my point.
As you’ve probably guessed, about halfway through the show at Piano’s, who should walk in? (I’ll give you a hint, she’s on the cover of Vogue) Yeah, it was Agyness Deyn. Sat right next to me. With about five of her closest supermodel friends. I didn’t know what to do. Naturally I wanted to grab my camera and ask if I could take a picture of the two of us together so that I could post it here and prove I saw her instead of just having to hope you take my word for it. Anyway, it seemed like it would be an embarrassing situation, so I tried to think of a plan B. I sat there, wondering what to do, googling pictures of Agyness and holding them up to compare. Yep. Definitely her. I tried to get her picture on the sly while she was standing at the bar, but it was hard to look natural holding my phone up (oh no this is how I always check my voicemail, holding it up and pointing it at people…) and not like a member of the paparazzi.
So I gave up and just decided to eavesdrop on their conversation. For about the first hour, listening to the group of models talking and carrying on was entertaining. It was exactly like an enhanced version of Celebrity Weekly. The highlight was when the lead singer from the Kneehighs announced over the microphone that I (the “red-headed uke-player”) am amazingly talented. Genius. Revolutionary. I don’t know, I’m paraphrasing. Anyway, the highlight of that highlight was that one of the supermodels clapped for me. I didn’t even care if it was an ironic clap, an inebriated clap, or an infectious clap, it was still coming from someone famous, beautiful and 7 feet tall.
That was how great it felt at first. But that didn’t last. Soon I just started to feel claustrophobic and dumpy and short. (Sidenote: try eating a sandwich next to a table fulla models. Really fun. And it didn’t help that the table was at my ankles and the insides of the sandwich kept slipping out all over my plate.) By the end of the Kneehighs’ set, I just wanted to get the fuck out of there and back to my claustrophobic, dumpy and roach-infested sublet.
I took the subway back to Brooklyn. Flipped the lights on in my sublet and watched all the cockroaches make a run for it.
This is New York. Supermodels and cockroaches. If nothing else it is a city of extremes.
Either you’re trying to eat a sandwich next to a famous supermodel, or you’re trying to make a sandwich in your shitty sublet when a cockroach runs up on you, tucks it under its arm and makes its getaway into a crack in the wall.
Afterward: Many of you may be glad to know that I have THANKFULLY now moved out of the aforementioned vermin-encrusted sublet and into a newly constructed building free of roaches and the like. This was only after thoroughly soaking practically everything in my possession with enough Raid to ensure the death of many, many, many of my brain cells. I am still keeping my eyes peeled for my next celebrity sighting and am practicing my paparazzi technique.
So I have been in New York for roughly a month now. It feels like longer though because so much happens in any given day. There is too much to recount, and so instead of trying, I offer you this anecdote.
As a (somewhat) closeted reader of tabloids, one of the aspects of New York life I’ve been looking forward to is the celebrity sighting.
Last Friday night I went to a show at Piano’s upstairs (a couple of fellow uke players, Kelli Rae Powell and the Musical Proverbial Kneehighs) and I assumed that, since I could actually afford a sandwich at this bar, no celebrities would be found.
Since I moved here I have passed a magazine rack everyday on my way from the subway, and for the past month the same Vogue cover has popped out at me each time.(http://www.catwalkqueen.tv/deyn_ukvogue.jpg)
I had no idea who she was, and then during the day on Friday I happened to see a blog post about this new British top model. Her name is Agyness Deyn and I’m getting to my point.
As you’ve probably guessed, about halfway through the show at Piano’s, who should walk in? (I’ll give you a hint, she’s on the cover of Vogue) Yeah, it was Agyness Deyn. Sat right next to me. With about five of her closest supermodel friends. I didn’t know what to do. Naturally I wanted to grab my camera and ask if I could take a picture of the two of us together so that I could post it here and prove I saw her instead of just having to hope you take my word for it. Anyway, it seemed like it would be an embarrassing situation, so I tried to think of a plan B. I sat there, wondering what to do, googling pictures of Agyness and holding them up to compare. Yep. Definitely her. I tried to get her picture on the sly while she was standing at the bar, but it was hard to look natural holding my phone up (oh no this is how I always check my voicemail, holding it up and pointing it at people…) and not like a member of the paparazzi.
So I gave up and just decided to eavesdrop on their conversation. For about the first hour, listening to the group of models talking and carrying on was entertaining. It was exactly like an enhanced version of Celebrity Weekly. The highlight was when the lead singer from the Kneehighs announced over the microphone that I (the “red-headed uke-player”) am amazingly talented. Genius. Revolutionary. I don’t know, I’m paraphrasing. Anyway, the highlight of that highlight was that one of the supermodels clapped for me. I didn’t even care if it was an ironic clap, an inebriated clap, or an infectious clap, it was still coming from someone famous, beautiful and 7 feet tall.
That was how great it felt at first. But that didn’t last. Soon I just started to feel claustrophobic and dumpy and short. (Sidenote: try eating a sandwich next to a table fulla models. Really fun. And it didn’t help that the table was at my ankles and the insides of the sandwich kept slipping out all over my plate.) By the end of the Kneehighs’ set, I just wanted to get the fuck out of there and back to my claustrophobic, dumpy and roach-infested sublet.
I took the subway back to Brooklyn. Flipped the lights on in my sublet and watched all the cockroaches make a run for it.
This is New York. Supermodels and cockroaches. If nothing else it is a city of extremes.
Either you’re trying to eat a sandwich next to a famous supermodel, or you’re trying to make a sandwich in your shitty sublet when a cockroach runs up on you, tucks it under its arm and makes its getaway into a crack in the wall.
Afterward: Many of you may be glad to know that I have THANKFULLY now moved out of the aforementioned vermin-encrusted sublet and into a newly constructed building free of roaches and the like. This was only after thoroughly soaking practically everything in my possession with enough Raid to ensure the death of many, many, many of my brain cells. I am still keeping my eyes peeled for my next celebrity sighting and am practicing my paparazzi technique.
No Sleep Til Brooklyn... - April 14, 2007
It's happening. The days are winding down before my move to New York City. Thanks to all of you well-wishers for your many well-wishes and kind words. I had a blast at the recent shows in Kazoo and Lansing--it was so great to see all of your beautiful shining faces! I am promising myself and everyone who reads this that I'll update it w/ great frequency and I'll recount for you my experiences in the new (york) city.
I'm going to jump right into booking as many shows as possible there too, so be sure and check my calendar for dates and updates.
I have a slew of new songs too that I'm really excited about! Thanks for all the feedback, those of you who got to hear some of them at my recent shows. They seem to be going over smashingly. And the strumstick is such a little ham. For more info on this cute sassy thing, check out: www.strumstick.com
And they aren't kidding when they say "no wrong notes." That's what I'm talking about.
i have one more show in MI before my move; it will be TOMORROW (Sun.) at the old smartshop in Kalamazoo at 432 E. Paterson. 8pm w/ a potluck starting at 7pm. Details on the calendar.
And I really think that's the last show I have before the move. Seriously this time. God I'm worse than Celine Dion with the "pseudo last show" fake outs.
Maybe someday I'll get my own stage at Cesar's Palace.
And on that note, there are no wrong notes. And on that note, that's all I got for now.
talk to you later
sincerely,
hailey
I'm going to jump right into booking as many shows as possible there too, so be sure and check my calendar for dates and updates.
I have a slew of new songs too that I'm really excited about! Thanks for all the feedback, those of you who got to hear some of them at my recent shows. They seem to be going over smashingly. And the strumstick is such a little ham. For more info on this cute sassy thing, check out: www.strumstick.com
And they aren't kidding when they say "no wrong notes." That's what I'm talking about.
i have one more show in MI before my move; it will be TOMORROW (Sun.) at the old smartshop in Kalamazoo at 432 E. Paterson. 8pm w/ a potluck starting at 7pm. Details on the calendar.
And I really think that's the last show I have before the move. Seriously this time. God I'm worse than Celine Dion with the "pseudo last show" fake outs.
Maybe someday I'll get my own stage at Cesar's Palace.
And on that note, there are no wrong notes. And on that note, that's all I got for now.
talk to you later
sincerely,
hailey
New Songs/New Recordings - February 28, 2007
After much...
I'm writing again. I feel like I need to have a catheter connecting my brain to a piece of paper at all times. It's pouring. I have finally compiled a slew of new material and I'm going to be venturing back into the studio and laying down some tracks as they say. So stay tuned for info on any new releases, MP3 action, etc.
xoxoxo
Hailey
I'm writing again. I feel like I need to have a catheter connecting my brain to a piece of paper at all times. It's pouring. I have finally compiled a slew of new material and I'm going to be venturing back into the studio and laying down some tracks as they say. So stay tuned for info on any new releases, MP3 action, etc.
xoxoxo
Hailey
On Not Winning the Mega Millions - February 24, 2007
I had never played the lotto before. Never gambled. Never even set foot in a casino. I was just sitting at my computer at my job and someone behind me said, "Hey do you want in?"
"What?" I pretended I hadn't heard every word they had said about their 10-person pool of lotto hopefullness. To my surprise I then heard myself say, "suuuure" and guiltily paw through my hole-y coat pocket for enough change. I was going to go to the laundromat after work, but fuck it. $190 million dollars is at stake, split between the 10 of us I mean.
The night came and I went to a gas station after dinner, dumbly holding up my wrinkly photocopy of the lotto ticket and saying, "Do you um can I get the numbers here?" I was told to come back after 11pm at which point I visited a different gas station only to be told by the attendant that they no longer did the lotto there.
The suspense was really building now. This was it, I could tell.
I drove halfway across town to another gas station and got my print out of the winning numbers. Took a deep breath and looked.
I only had one number right. Didn't even make my $2 back or get any clean underwear out of it. I found out that NO ONE actually won it, which just seems wrong to me. I resolve never to play again.
I figure I'm saving my gambling luck for this music venture of mine. Everyone always calls the indie music biz an "investment" and it always makes me laugh. The word investment conjures visions of bank accounts, security, 401Ks. Anything but the music business. So I suppose I am a gambler.
I came to this realization sitting at my desk at work (again,) and then almost immediately, it was reaffirmed for me.
For the past year, I've had a book sitting on my shelf called Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously. I bought it very ambitiously and then watched it collect dust on my shelf until the other day when I decided for some reason to take it to work to read on my lunch break.
I had gotten no more than a few pages in when I read the words: "One never knows whether one will be able to make it or not. It is gambling, but only the gamblers know what life is."
I have no idea what to think when things like this happen, but it's got to mean something right? The book isn't even about the music industry, but it definitely applies. I recommend it highly.
So I've found my gamble and I'm going to stick with it. No more lotto tickets for me. But at least it was only $2. And I got a song out of it.
until next time,
hailey
"What?" I pretended I hadn't heard every word they had said about their 10-person pool of lotto hopefullness. To my surprise I then heard myself say, "suuuure" and guiltily paw through my hole-y coat pocket for enough change. I was going to go to the laundromat after work, but fuck it. $190 million dollars is at stake, split between the 10 of us I mean.
The night came and I went to a gas station after dinner, dumbly holding up my wrinkly photocopy of the lotto ticket and saying, "Do you um can I get the numbers here?" I was told to come back after 11pm at which point I visited a different gas station only to be told by the attendant that they no longer did the lotto there.
The suspense was really building now. This was it, I could tell.
I drove halfway across town to another gas station and got my print out of the winning numbers. Took a deep breath and looked.
I only had one number right. Didn't even make my $2 back or get any clean underwear out of it. I found out that NO ONE actually won it, which just seems wrong to me. I resolve never to play again.
I figure I'm saving my gambling luck for this music venture of mine. Everyone always calls the indie music biz an "investment" and it always makes me laugh. The word investment conjures visions of bank accounts, security, 401Ks. Anything but the music business. So I suppose I am a gambler.
I came to this realization sitting at my desk at work (again,) and then almost immediately, it was reaffirmed for me.
For the past year, I've had a book sitting on my shelf called Courage: The Joy of Living Dangerously. I bought it very ambitiously and then watched it collect dust on my shelf until the other day when I decided for some reason to take it to work to read on my lunch break.
I had gotten no more than a few pages in when I read the words: "One never knows whether one will be able to make it or not. It is gambling, but only the gamblers know what life is."
I have no idea what to think when things like this happen, but it's got to mean something right? The book isn't even about the music industry, but it definitely applies. I recommend it highly.
So I've found my gamble and I'm going to stick with it. No more lotto tickets for me. But at least it was only $2. And I got a song out of it.
until next time,
hailey
This Journal - February 1, 2007
Famous people write blogs/journals to seem more normal. Normal people write blogs/journals to seem more famous. I am somewhere in between I think, but I figured hey, why not give this thing a try?
So it is here that I will record updates, musings and perhaps some randomness for you to read.
I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to comment back as I very much enjoy reading messages from fellow people.
Until next time...
xo
Hailey
So it is here that I will record updates, musings and perhaps some randomness for you to read.
I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to comment back as I very much enjoy reading messages from fellow people.
Until next time...
xo
Hailey
Welcome friends - January 1, 2007
Hello and Welcome to my new-and-improved website. I hope you enjoy your stay and come back again soon.
Feel free to sign up for the mailing list and leave a little hello in the guestbook. I like very much to read them. You can check out my links page for some other Hailey Wojcik on the webinternet action. (That means you, myspacers...)
And don't forget to check back often for tour dates and other stuff...
Enjoy!
Love,
Hailey
Feel free to sign up for the mailing list and leave a little hello in the guestbook. I like very much to read them. You can check out my links page for some other Hailey Wojcik on the webinternet action. (That means you, myspacers...)
And don't forget to check back often for tour dates and other stuff...
Enjoy!
Love,
Hailey