Pandora Internet Radio is one of the primary outlets and they just recently added California Kid to the roster! So please join up there and add me, Circe Link to a Radio Station of your making!

Also we got a great pick from The LA WEEKLY for our show on May 11th at Taix 321 Lounge. If you didn’t make the show fear not we are sure to make our way back there over the summer. Here is what The LA WEEKLY had to say:

Circe Link calls her music “cowboy jazz,” and while there’s more than a little bit of country in her music, the local singer also draws upon folk, blues and power-pop influences when she performs. No matter what style she engages in, Link’s hook-laden songs are always supremely melodic, with her yearning vocals crowned by her partner Christian Nesmith’s punchy guitar licks. And unlike so many country-pop divas, Link reveals genuinely subversive wit on tunes like  “Gettin’ High (On Your Own Supply),” where the radio-friendly chorus is juxtaposed with slyly chiding lyrics. Tramp for the Lord is a new band with former Hangmen bassist Doug Cox crooning moping, loping country-rock ballads in a world-weary growl as Gun Club slide guitar and spaghetti Western canyons open up behind him.

—Falling James
LA WEEKLY

Mark Zimmerman – Hi Circe, Which song that you have recorded stands out as most satisfying to you? Which one makes you say to yourself “I really nailed that one.”, everything from the band to the vocals,the song itself to the production etc. was just perfect?
Christian Nesmith – As Circe‘s partner, producer and co-writer I thought I’d jump in on this one. It’s the age old question for artists, isn’t it? And it prompts the age old response – which is your favorite child? Circe has always been emphatic about following her muse where it leads her. That can yield enormously varied results from haunting blues to playful jazz to straight up roots rock and roll. We’ve also been developing a couple of musicals which takes it in to a completely new area. It’s a joke among musicians that your latest work is “the best thing I’ve ever done!” And, if one is truly trying to grow in expression, that’s usually true even if the fans are off put by a change in genre and mood. Additionally, one is never completely satisfied with their art. It can always be tweaked until the end of time. But, as the adage goes, art it never finished only abandoned. So, if I were forced to give an answer (and I think I can safely speak for Circe here) there are a few examples that come to mind. The title track to California Kid for its long epic arc and great execution by the band. One Drop Of Poison for its lyrical playfulness, great upright bass work by Ian Walker and musical simplicity. You Are The Stars for its vocal arrangement. Hit Me, Paint The Town Red and Sorrow for Three are also among our favs. We also have been so fortunate enough to have outstanding guest players on the records (too many to mention) and they all have brought incredible life and uniqueness to their respective tracks. Overall, it is a discussion that could be had at length for each and every song on every album but I hope this answers your question to some degree of satisfaction.
Circe Link – I need to ruminate on this question, Christian Nesmith is right on with how it’s almost impossible to choose….I wonder if Debra Tala, Laura Drew, Christopher Allis, Jason Chesney, Michael Sherwood would be willing to chime in here..?
Mark Zimmerman – I think it’s a great response. Thanks.
Mark Zimmerman – I can only compare with photography, which is a hobby of mine. When asked which picture is my best, I can never seem to pick one. I can show you thousands that are not though.
Christian Nesmith – Don’t listen to Jason, Mark. He is one of the most outstanding, thoughtful and melodic bass players (let alone musicians) I’ve ever known.
Mark Zimmerman – If that’s him on Circe’s albums, I agree. Not having any hard copies (All bought digital at itunes and Amazon) I haven’t been able to read any credits. Also, I just discovered Circe through you Christian, a couple of months ago. I’m glad I did. Loving all the music you two, and whoever else is playing, have done so far!
Christian Nesmith – In response to your photography comparison, I’ve always felt that because performance – music, acting, musicals, movies, juggling – is a bit different because in a weird way it isn’t art or ANYTHING for that matter unless it is actually hap…pening, occurring. A picture or painting or other forms of “static” art remain art when they are hanging on your wall even if your not looking at it. Though that could be argued as well. If a painting hangs on a tree that falls in a forest and there’s nobody there to appreciate it does it still give forth the artist’s existential introspection and bold use of color?
Christian Nesmith – Boy, I worded THAT horribly but I think you get what I mean.
Debra Tala – I have favorites on each and every Circe Link album. It’s hard to choose. One of my favorite CDs of hers is “Live in Japan” because I love hearing the vibe of those live performances.
Christopher Allis – A more thoughtful response is forthcoming from this humble drummer… I’m thinking about which tact to take on this topic. : )
Michael Sherwood – It’s “Falling on Knives and you know it!.. ;
Laura Drew – How do you pick a favorite? There are all so different and wonderful in their own ways – and so fun to sing! There is no disputing that you are one badass songwriter, Circe. I will say that, if pressed, I am with Shecky. Falling on Knives may be my favorite.
Debra Tala -What about “Paper Dragon” and “Clemancy”? There’s two of my favorites from past CDs.
Michael Sherwood ‎- (In My Best John Cleese Voice)..”What you have here is something WE DOCTORS call An Embarrassment Of Riches”..
Michael Sherwood – Seriously, how do you pick? Ludvig’s Violin solo alone on Can’t Make The Rain…I could take that to a desert island and do just fine…
Michael Sherwood – And don’t get me started on the stuff in the hopper
Circe Link – Thanks Mark Zimmerman for asking such a wonderful question. For me I have to say Falling On Knives is of of my all time favorites but I’m not sure I knew it in the studio. Much of what happens in the process happens in the mixing/vocal arranging/post session and that’s where some of the finest aspects of a song can develop at the hands of one of the best ears I know, Christian Nesmith.
Circe Link – On Hobo, from California Kid, there was a magical moment when Christopher Allis heard something in his head and asked if he could take another pass which of course we agreed. The result is the evocative drum and bass relationship you hear t…hrough out the song, especially on the bridge where Jason Chesney on Bass met the match of what was being laid down by Christopher with a beautiful lyricism. I knew immediately that for me, that song was perfect.
Circe Link ‎- @ Debra Tala … Clemency has a special place in my heart because when Stanley Behrens came in and did his One Take Jake on the solo Christian and I were picking up our jaws of the ground for days!
Michael Sherwood – Falling on Knives made Audra Mae cry on first listening..And that was “after” the Doctors Without Heat Lamps gig! Ha…
Debra Tala – Which begs the question, wonder what’s next?? Circe, the mad scientist of song.
Mark Kascle – So perhaps there are two Mozarts in the sea of Salieris?
Mark Kascle – A little thanks to Lotus for that comment…
Kathy Hessler – Love this Post, It’s an AwEsOmE Read ♥
Stanley Behrens – I guess I have to say something here. First, I always felt honored just to be part of any songs Circe created. Second, I’m flattered that two of the songs mentioned I played on. Even though it was only a flute flutter on Falling On Knives. …Last, the song Hobo was inspired by my daughter Chloe who chose to live that life style. A very adventurous little girl my daughter is. I love all of Circe Link’s songs. Also Christian Nesmith is a fantastic producer.
Michael Sherwood – Don’t think for a minute that your Ian Andersonian flute trills wern’t on my mind..
Michael Sherwood – Trills Flutters whatevs..
Stanley Behrens – Thanks Michael………
Christopher Allis – So, it seems I finally have an opportunity to opine about this very interesting question. First off: Paul, thanks for asking. Second off: Circe, thanks for asking for my input!
Christopher Allis – Crap… let’s try that again… Paul, you mentioned photography as a hobby of yours, so let’s use that as the frame of reference. With photography you’re dealing with light and shade, color balance, framing, all things that make the pictu…re you take a little closer to what was in your mind’s eye originally. You’re also taking into consideration the camera and film that are being used. The tools as well as the inspiration and idea all feed that final result. The same holds true for music. When you look at a picture you’ve taken… sometimes you see something that you never saw or thought of before. The art shows itself anew to you when you look with open eyes. The same holds true for music. What you compose on informs the song in a particular way. Who you compose with informs the song in a particular way. What you’re feeling on that day also informs the song in a particular way. My feeling is that a favorite song IS a possibility to pick, but it is more ephemeral because it is based on a time and place and space that you are in. Sometimes you feel like song x really is the most inspiring thing you’ve ever heard or been part of, the next moment it’s song y. With Circe, I think that the writing process has a number of possible paths it can take given her natural inquisitive nature. Labels/genre classifications aside, what you have is someone that can shift from one style to the next and find a through line that connects with what she has done in the past. Even if the songs are vastly different in arc or subject matter, there are certain things innate in what Circe writes. Just as there are certain things innate in the pictures you create. While I did say earlier that it IS possible to pick a favorite song, it is also very hard to do because ours is not an objective position. We were there at a certain moment in the creation of the work. That said, there are songs that evoke certain memories or certain feelings that linger on the brain like a beautiful sunset you were able to capture on film. Those that I’ve been able to be part of with Circe include the following: “Falling on Knives” (off of Moody Girl). Most everyone has picked it and there’s good reason. That song has such a spirit and evokes such a wild set of emotions. For me personally, it was an opportunity to take this song and dress it up in a certain rhythmic and textural way to make it not just an album track, but the musical event that I think Circe knew it could be, even if it wasn’t known at the time. “Every Blessing’s A Curse In Disguise” (off of More Songs). I just love the dirgey grind of this song. You feel as if you are watching this being move slowly along the road. “Little Hobo” (off of California Kid). Circe referenced this in one of her comments. I had an idea that I wanted to follow and they let me go for it and I think it brought something else to that song. A certain rolling feel that made me think of being on a train… of movement. It was a beautiful moment in the studio. “Went and Fell In Love” (off of One Drop of Poison) was just pure fun to record and I remember being all smiles about how it turned out. It makes me happy whenever I hear it. “Armageddon” (off of Let’s Go Together). This was the last song of the session (literally) and I recall all of us being a bit exhausted… but this song just has a certain something that I still feel a pull toward. Finally, there is the entirety of the album “Vonnegut’s Wife”. I picked this whole album because it is kind of like when you get a new lens, or a new camera body, or you’re trying out new techniques and don’t necessarily know where things are going to go. I think the cycle of songs that made up “Vonnegut” really saw Circe trying different things and wanting to evoke certain vibes that may be well travelled, but stand the test of time because if there’s one thing that I think an inquisitive listening audience likes just as much as good songs, it’s a unique way of hearing/experiencing those songs. “Vonnegut” was all about taking a step away from what was done previously: of taking a left turn. The pre-production process was different. The recording process was different. The vibe was different from soup to nuts and you can tell when you listen that this is a departure and a lovely one at that. There’s my 3 cents. Dig?
Mark Zimmerman – Wow! What a great response this question has received. Thanks for the in-depth reply Christopher. All I know is when I hit play on a Circe album, I never hit skip. It’s a musical experience I’ve never been on before and I love it. So, What’s next and when is it coming out?
Michael Sherwood – Well I’m glad you asked…Circe and I have 12 songs in the hopper…Time to open that hopper finish recording and mix..All composition and most arrangement is done..The working title is Dystopia..It is a Jazzy Lemon Pie. Ok then
Circe Link ‎- @ Stanley Behrens…Thanks for joining in the conversation Stan! It’s always a treat to have you on anything we do, it’s just as much of an honor for us to be sure. And how cool that you are on quite a few of the songs mentioned! Guess I better get you in on the next record!
Circe Link ‎- @ Christopher Allis….Such an insightful and wonderful response, coming from you I expected nothing less. I read your blog ya know…;)
Circe Link – ‎@ Mark Zimmerman…Yes it’s true Michael Sherwood and I are working on a record that we wrote together while Christian was on the road and of course co writing with Michael was effortless, joyful, and produced some tunes that will probably be some of my best work.
Circe Link ‎- @ Mark Zimmerman…and thanks Lotus for me but it is I who is surrounded by a sea of Mozarts. Each of of these players are extraordinary artists.
Mark Zimmerman – You got that right. What a great sound you all make. I love almost all music, but haven’t heard anything real new or fresh sounding to me until Christian posted some of your videos. After seeing and listening to them, I bought all your albums and have been in music heaven. Let me know when the new album comes out. I’m ready for more!

Circe Link – Thanks everyone for such a wonderful discussion!

When you think of Anaheim CA you probably think of Tinker Bell on the Matterhorn, but I think of Guitars and Porn.
The annual NAMM show was just a week or so ago and I made the scene thanks to passes from the wonderful folks at Line6.

It’s no mystery that there are more male musicians than women.
Even more who actually play an instrument, and even more still who play that instrument at a virtuosic level in Rock n Roll. So I was not surprised by the sex ratio in attendance.
What did catch my attention were the other women there and how they allowed themselves to be regarded by their potential peers, fans, customers, partners and mates.

At the Daisy Rock booth I saw some cute tweens pink and sparkly in holy jeans and black nail polish amid colorful and unashamedly girly guitars. I get it, female empowerment though glitter, works for me but this was the ONLY booth where I saw a female endorser signing autographs and taking pictures.

Next I saw some dutiful Birkenstock wearing, and forgive me for saying it, “Frumpy” gals who either don’t care, or don’t care anymore (which I support either way) trailing behind their eager partners pulling them off to yet another Ukelele booth. And man I think the Ukes were breeding down there on the third floor!
Then more various types, Chinese saleswomen cutting through the crowds of black T-Shirts and Glen Danzigs, and some probable musicians in the form of garden variety Renaissance Faire Stevie Nicks types and an occasional Riot Grrrl as well.

But then, I see what can only be described as well…. porn stars, like sexual neon frighteningly reminding me of blow up dolls in their obviously awkward relationship to the tools of (or at) this trade show.
Some look a bit more WWF, and some look decidedly more fetish but Porn Star looks none the less.
(I was informed that the female version of the now called WWE is called GLOW, silly me, the things you don’t learn when you abandon mainstream TV)
Some were wives or girlfriends, but most of these porn types were actually show models.
I’m guessing most were not actual adult entertainers because the porn look, in Los Angeles at least, is ubiquitous and they all can’t be professionals can they?

Assembled with usually white cotton candy hair, tattoos only a mother can love, spray tans as orange as clementines and hooker heels these living ornaments have gone with Rock n Roll for as long as Rock n Roll has been around, each era having it’s own flavor of course. But don’t be fooled, these women were not groupies.
They did not appear to offer the adulation of fan to an artist, or muse to creator, these women were window dressing, or undressing in this case ….

Some of these ladies may have been musicians, but in this context they were accessories.
The women who seemed to be musicians dressed more, well…manly.
This brings to stark relief the unconscious conditioning I suspect we all share that men are musicians and women are rewards or trophies.
I can not count how many men did not introduce themselves to me while shaking the hand of my counterpart, Christian Nesmith, although in their defense I was greeted with many a smile.
But your average Rock n Roller who says he got into music without ever giving thought to sex is probably lying. And there’s nothing wrong with that as far as I’m concerned, but once puberty passes some actually realize music is a sublime language bearing a deeper potential then purely as an aphrodisiac.

Now lest you think I think I’m above all this, I’m not. I wore what I call my sensible heels because they have closed toes and are only about four inches high and a tight skirt. I had hoped to be appealing yes, but classy. But next to the porn star types however I felt like a Kir Royal in a room of cheap Tequila shots.
I’m not condescending here, I really felt sad for my sisters and fellow musicians.
And I’m not asking if we should ban T&A at NAMM, or for a solution to this gender imbalance, or if any of this is right or wrong.
I am asking did those tweens, on the way to the Daisy Rock booth, passing all that human eye candy displayed next to instruments but not playing them still want to pick up a guitar?

My partner in crime and all things wonderful, Christian Nesmith,  has taught himself Final Cut and here is his biggest achievement so far…we hope you enjoy, share and comment like mad.

And as our little gift to you, a free download of my Christmas song

All I Want For Christmas Is Candy by Circe Link (right click to save)

All I want from you is to please leave a comment HERE and or share it with a friend!

And tune in for our next house concert LIVE around 7pm on Thursday December 29th by clicking on this link

WWW.LIVESTREAM.COM/CIRCELINK

We did a new song, made new friends, and have a few new videos to share with you thanks to our fan club President Mr. Michael Bond!
Next time I tell ya it’s gonna be good, you better listen!

Photos by Nanette Gonzales at The LA WEEKLY

I can’t say I’m a card carrying feminist but I’ve read more feminist texts than most.
I’ve been known to quote Emma Goldman, and while not solely a feminist Emma was one bad ass mama jamma who might still be found on the reading lists of Gloria Steinem’s pals today.
I’ve read Simone de Beauvoir’s Second Sex, Andrea Dworkin’s pissed off rantings, Merlin Stone’s get back to the Goddess goodies, and of course the ever voluminous Backlash and other works of Susan Faludi.
Having named only a few, I think I have a pretty good understanding of feminism, but I’m still reluctant to wear any name tags, especially the one people want to call me the most, and that is GIRL.

Listening to a podcast of Slate’s DoubleX Gabfest  I was made aware of a new group of television shows starring women in their twenties this season, no eyebrows up there.
And seeing is I don’t suck on the glass teat (see Harlan Ellison) all that much, how would I know anyway?
Of the many things they so wonderfully pointed out one was the irony of a 34 year old Zooey Deschanel starring in a show called ‘The New Girl“.
Gone are the days of Mary Tyler Moore and Murphy Brown they noted wryly.
And me ever the optimist when I found out that they were remaking Charlie’s Angels  I was hoping it was with the original cast (RIP Farrah). I mean the Golden Girls is a fucking cult darling and Anglea Lansbury got no small ratings with Murder She Wrote, so why not?

I’ll tell you why not…
Because as sexy as Helen Mirren and her bath tub nipples are it’s supposedly still bad juju for a woman to get old. I guess ratings and rabid fans have no say.
And while men mature and grey with smoldering temples, we presumably wilt like little pansies in the rear window of a black hearse on the way to the no one wants to fuck you anymore graveyard.

While on the surface this issue may revolve around beauty, it’s really about power.
Girls are never the boss,  and girls are much easier to ignore when asking for the remote control, or equal pay among other things.
I don’t want you to pat me on the head while you pat me on the ass, as Susan Sarandon admonishes in Bull Durham “Baby ducks are cute, I HATE cute…!”

So in the name of ass kicking and fully gown women let us consider Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Lauren Bacall, Isabella Rossellini, Audrey Hepburn, Katharine Hepburn, Julianne Moore, Julie Andrews and Mary Louise Parker, to name a few. …. If you’re smart you wouldn’t call any one of them, or me, a girl.

I’ve been told I have great legs, a nice ass and beautiful hair.
I have been relatively blessed as far as my looks are concerned, thank you baby cheesus. But let me ask you a question by way of this story…

Recently I got asked by a fellow musician to do a video interview.
Cool I think, I can use all the promo I can get.
But wait, hold on there Ms. Giant Ego, he wants me to interview his band. Hu?

I ask him “Why me”? He says, after some uncomfortable pauses, it’s “..because you’re a, a ham, ya know like onstage”. A ham, me… really?
Now for those of you who don’t know I often refer to myself as a reluctant performer, because how else can a poet really get their stuff read I ask you?
Seriously, the bliss of songwriting far out weighs the spotlight for this kid.
But after about a year of crying post gig this Monster has created a Doctor Frankenstein. Which is my way of saying I quite dig it now. But I digress….

So I go to do the interview, and I have to be honest I am a little resistant and rather bitchy when I arrive. But a few minutes in darned if I don’t start feeling sorry for my fellow artists once the camera is on.
To keep with my Frankenstein  metaphor, they seem about as uncomfortable as a creature poked with torches and pitchforks.
And after a few questions, a few cheesy shots of me holding their new CD like a toothpaste model (which they agreed not to use…yes that’s how vain I am) I again ask …”Uh why me”?

With a chagrined look I hear “Well, I didn’t want to say, but it’s because of your looks.” to which I responded “I know THAT!” But that’s it? I was the costume?
A human form of prestidigitation? A little sexual misdirection? Old as the hills and all the advertising companies who place billboards on them?
(See Bill Hicks for thoughts on the profession of advertising.)

So I’ve taken the long way to talk about Theatre, Costume, Drama, and Spectacle.

From the master of visual reinvention, David Bowie (I heart) to the curious stylings of Lady Gaga I wonder how much of that does an audience want from a musician?
Or better yet how much of that do you need to be successful today?

Last year we did a Halloween gig where I dressed up as The Diva of the Dead where my band allowed me to paint them up like ghouls. After the show we were overwhelmed with responses that I can only attribute to the costumes because well, we did look great!

But should an artist cultivate a style, a theme, or a character? Again, is it a requirement in order to stand out in the throngs of torn jeans and band t-shirts?
I suspect genre is a factor here ’cause I don’t see too many Americana, or Jazz groups sporting tutu’s and face paint.
But then again, consider the amazingly talented and lovely Lynda Kay, whose hair is the height of show grabbing glitz!

And while I’m comfortable with my Elizabeth Montgomery Bewitched cartoon look, I wonder am I destined to return to the Diva of The Dead?

It’s time to eat snails again….
At TAIX Country French Cuisine while we treat you to some old and new delights of our own. Enjoy our all acoustic line up featuring :
Christopher Allis, Brant Biles, Jason Chesney, Laura Drew, Debra Tala and welcoming home Christian Nesmith!

FRIDAY October 14th at 11:30pm
At TAIX 321 Lounge 1911 W. Sunset Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90026 (213) 484-1265