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

If you have any favorite songs you’d like to see a video for let us know won’t you?
Or why not make us one? Here is a little info….

Enjoy!

Circe Link at TAIX Lounge Feb 04 2011

I’ve got lot’s in store for this year but first I’m starting off with a small all acoustic set at Taix French Country Cuisine in Los Angeles on Friday night February 4th at 11:30pm.
And I am tickled to say the act before me at 10:00 pm will be none other than Barry Smolin of The Music Never Stops on KPFK 90.7 FM who awarded us with two slots in his top ten records of 2010. Thanks to those of you who support his show on Sunday nights! Now that’s a good way to kick off the New Year.

Michael Sherwood and I are making great progress on our Jazz project and may have an audio sneak peek for you in March. As per the norm every new project feels like it is one’s best work, and this one is no exception. We are exploring Jazz Rock ala Steely Dan, Lounge Jazz, Bossa, and what we like to call the Gershwin Feel. Big shoes right? Stay tuned.

Christian Nesmith and I have been commissioned to replace all the music in an existing musical, no leeks here, by early summer. So we have been busy writing and recording for the life and times of people with ill fates and tortured hearts all to catchy beats you can shake your rump too. But I kid.

All the while I have almost completed a Neo-Folk collection of songs that I hope to have out in the fall. Many of my early fans and friends have been begging for a more raw and exposed production so this might just do. Think open tunings and Auto Harp…..

May this New Year bring you and the world peace and joy.
May you rise to the occasion, answer the call, sway to the music of your soul.
If today, or this year, is your last make it count no?

As the fall enchants us with her golden hues and bristling nights the band and I are going to wind down and enjoy a little time off.
May this season, and every season afford you the love and happiness you all deserve.

Meanwhile, we will be working on a few new projects slated for next year. A Jazz record co-written with Michael Sherwood and perhaps something a little more sparse and old school for those of you who love my more acoustic side.

And as Diva of the Dead I say enjoy your life today, it may be the only one you have.

I don’t listen to my own music.
Once it’s done, I don’t fondly go over old songs like worn pictures in a vintage scrapbook. Honestly, I’m more interested in creating something new than reliving the past. That coupled with my overly active creativity makes me a rather prolific songwriter. Hence my sixth full length studio release titled “California Kid”.

On this record I tried, for the love of baby jesus, to stick with one style, call it Roots Rock or Americana if you will. I used to call my style “Cowboy Jazz” and that worked when I had an upright bass player and a Bettie Page pencil skirt, but now it’s anyone’s guess.
I’m not sure if any of you out there agree, but my genre hopping may have limited my “marketability” so I have been told by some industry wigs. Alas, I have yet to come up with a catchy sound bite moniker for the new sound, but rest assured it keeps me up at night…..

The tones, style and approach for this record were along the lines of The Band, Tom Petty, and Derek Trucks and a little Sheryl Crow. Throw my vocal into the mix with some lovely harmonies and hear the results for yourself. Additionally, this record introduces my reformatted band now called ‘Circe Link and The Discount Candy Family Band‘ and includes the stellar bass playing of Jason Chesney from the Los Angeles local buzz band Old Californio, backing vocals by session singer Laura Drew and singer songwriter Debra Tala.

The band name came from conversational scraps that stuck in my flypaper mind, my love of 1970′s cheesy family bands, and the lack of pretension a name like that suggests. We “play” music after all right?
And the name fits pretty darn well if I do say so myself as folks feel a family atmosphere at both our rehearsals and shows.

Fun facts on this record include:
Christian Nesmith on the left speaker and Bart Ryan on the right in all mixes except California Kid so one can hear the wonderful character of each player. Just like on a Judas Priest record. (Yes, I love them still)
Laura Drew’s riotous squeak going into the bridge of Gettin’ High.
Deb Tala’s lilting Texan accent peeking through on Tiger Swami.
Michael Sherwood pondering about 1970′s Legend Barry Gibb.
Christopher “Peanut-butter” Allis and “Chocolate” Jason Chesney’s killing rhythm on every bleeding track.
Oh, and I’m naked on the inside artwork.
The official street release date is September 14th 2010.

The record release will be at The Grand Ole Echo at The Echo on July 25th.
The show will be all ages and FREE!
Please come down and join us for some down home family style fun in a wild west of a town we like to call Los Angeles.

1822 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 in downtown Echo Park. Enter through the alley at 1154 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90026

Tonight will be the last night of the residency I have held at Genghis Cohen for over a year now on the first Saturday of every month.

It’s hard to explain to those of you who are not in Los Angeles, or are not musicians, the incredible challenges there are to gigging in this dark and beautiful city.
The traffic, the parking, the weather, the parades, the protests, and the all around torpor of “I could do that” upon the faces of a crossed armed audience so many bands face. Given all that hullabaloo, we’re pretty to lucky to have had such a good run at Genghis and had pretty much none of that, thanks to the baby cheesus.
But we have outgrown our old digs and like Roy said, “We’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

Our wonderful First Saturday’s with me at 8:30pm, Danny Peck at the 9:30 slot and Fren Askin & Frens holding down the 10:30 has allowed us to build up our following and finely hone the band.
Unfortunately, the stage was never big enough to house all our players and often we had to choose between having Bart Ryan, or Michael Sherwood join us. Leaving me with that “Mom, can’t we keep them all?” feeling.

So, we are on to larger rooms and new venues to share this gift, hokey I know, with as many folks as possible.
And while making money with this music doesn’t suck it was never what this project was about.
So we will be trying to do as many free shows as possible and hope that you will all continue to join us for the love and for some love.

So far our next show is the record release party for California Kid at the Grand Ole Echo on July 25th 2010 at 5:30pm Free and all ages!
We hope to see you there!

The new record will be called California Kid.
And I could tell you more about how Christopher Allis would’a made Levon Helm proud, Michael Sherwood was channeling Leon Russell, Jason Chesney was just his amazing self with no comparison, Bart Ryan was greasy and dirty just like we knew he would be, and how Christian Nesmith not only produced but played like Wiley Coyote if he were a rock n roll octopus, but I think you just gotta listen to this one.

Notes about the wet and wild background overdubs with Debra Tala and Laura Drew to come…..

The folks at Stagg Street Studios were lovely to work with. And the homey atmosphere, pooches and all, only enhanced the great sounding room and gear.

Feel free to show them some love by visiting them here:

http://www.staggstreetstudio.com

Join us for the FREE record release show on

Sunday July 25th at
The Grand Ole Echo
1822 Sunset Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026

I’ve been driving lately. Out far into the wilds of suburbia, to the home of the ever so talented Michael Sherwood. If you are not familiar with his work see the bio for him under the drop down menu on the Musicians page.

Well now, it’s getting to be a habit. Michael and I have combined forces to create a little treasure trove of very jazzy numbers. So it is decided we will make a record, why not?

I have always wanted to do a primarily Jazz record and now the gods have given the big nod in sweet swinging time.

Each song so far has had it’s own process. I know for many writers that process can be, or often must be, a particular way. Incense, candles, wine and soft lights, some need the blues or a good heartbreak to hear the cosmic songs. Some writers require the pre-requisite suffering artist angst and pain.

Not for this girl, life is hard enough and beautiful enough to cherry pick ideas with careful ease if you just know where to look, or is it listen….

Anyhow, I think the future holds a very jazzy pie for us all.