The Songwriting Adventure

Goodbye- Kelly Ann  (TL:DR: Click this link to listen to a cool original song I wrote and subscribe to my channel!)

Earlier this year I started to dabble into the world of songwriting. It actually baffles me that it took this long since I’ve always loved music and poetry. I’ve only written a few songs since, but I am hoping to keep growing in this area and continue playing with the power of lyrics and melody.

That being said, I’ve just set up a Youtube account where I’m going to be posting all of my original songs and (possibly) a few covers.

I’d love to share this adventure with my wonderful WordPress family here, so, here’s a link to my first song.

Goodbye- Kelly Ann

Be sure to check out the second one I just uploaded today too!

And of course, if you’re interested, subscribe to my channel!! Comment with any tricks/tips of the trade if you have any. 🙂 I’m open to criticism and feedback!
Thanks for checking it out! ❤

–Kelly Ann

June 15, 2015: Weekend Cheese and Things

So it’s Monday and here I sit, sunburnt and feet aching. I think that’s a sign my weekend was a success! (Or that i should wear more sunscreen and buy better walking shoes..you be the judge).

My weekend consisted of 3 major events which you should definitely consider doing if you’re planning on visiting the Netherlands in your lifetime!!

1. FRIDAY: Alkmaar Cheese Market

It’s amazing where googling “events” can bring you. I went on an hour train ride to this beautifully AODRABLE city (I wish i had taken better pictures on my phone for you…my camera hogs all my attention). They hold this weekly traditional cheese market festival and it’s…delicious. There are cheese tables set up everywhere with Dutch cheese coming out the wazzoo. The rest of the old city is also quite cute with canals more reminiscent of Venice. A one day tour is enough I found, but certainly worth the trip!

*warning: the delicious taste of Gouda cheese may have affected the positive results of this town review*

At the end of the day I made my boyfriend a dinner of chicken pesto and pasta. YUM. (Ignore the typo…)

Appetizer choice? Baguette and GOUDA.

2. SATURDAY: Amsterdam

After a relaxing morning my boyfriend and I finally made it to Amsterdam! Unfortunately it was a bit cloudy and chilly that day but I still had an amazing time. We strolled through Vondelpark, toured the city by foot, visited the Anne Frank museum, and had dinner at a Gastro pub nearby.

DISCOVERIES:

• The Anne Frank house is a beautiful experience just like  everyone has told me before.
• On that note, BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE. You walk right in. Unless you’d rather stand in the looong twisty line outdoors for tickets.
• Amsterdam is like the older, smaller, more historical version of New York. I instantly thought of NYC as i walked down the streets..seems strange but true!

3. SUNDAY: Pinkpop music festival

This is the biggest festival i’ve ever been to! If you’re around the Netherlands mid- june consider going to Pinkpop. It lasts all weekend but due to small pockets we only went for one day.

Who did we see?

• Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls (Fun folk pop!)
• Typhoon (VERY danceable Dutch)
• Counting crows (lost their mojo)
• Rise Against (Mosh. Pits.)
• One Republic (Many ‘oh I know this!’ Songs)
• Placebo (creepy dude with decent rock)
• Fiddler’s Green (Irish)

And so I conclude my weekend festivities…Now time to nurse my aching body! More trip updates to come, stay tuned.

With love,

Kelly

Ps. Belgian beer is all the rage here. Check out this Belgian bar if you’re in the area: http://leiden.cafe-olivier.be/

January 2, 2015: A New Familiarity

There’s a rhythm in this dance
That does more than keep the beat
It sweeps me off my feet and
Into a land of melodies that
I’ve never heard before

And yet they’re so familiar.

There’s a beat in this rhyme
That does more than keep the time
It whispers to my heart as it
Sways into the song that
I’ve never heard before

And yet it’s so familiar

There’s a timing to this all
That does more than move the song
It moves me with a gentle push
Into a wistful dance that
I’ve never done before

And yet it’s so familiar

There’s a rhythm in this dance
There’s a beat in this rhyme
There’s a timing to this all
And though it’s just begun I’m

Certain it’s familiar.

May 29, 2013: Nature vs. Mind

Come
To the land of tea for dinner,
Stormy dusk to dark evenings,
and melancholy music beating smoothly upon stale,
bedroom air.
Warm liquid flows down the back of your throat
Eyes strain harder to see words written on the page
A lulling tune presses on your caffeine-woken eyes.

Fingertips tap-tap-tap
Upon keys you know too well
Rain falls to the rhythm of your thoughts beating out
a mile per minute
TAP
TAP
TAP
faster, faster it falls, your heartbeat quickens,
Excited by the moment.
Excited by the idea that your fingers control the pounding pellets of water.

shush…
says the music, whispering in the background
so slower you go, controlled again.

The drops slow to a crawl down your windowpane,
Everything’s the same.
Tea. dusk. music.

But, your heart still echoes the pattering of words and weather.
Moment gone, but nothing is the same.
shush…

shush…

eyelids flutter

shush…

April 17, 2013: Poetic Orchestra

I want to write a poem that hums with the melodic vibrations of violins
I want it to be layered in harmonies so beautifully composed,
That it becomes one sound so complex and yet.. so simple.
I want it to send shivers through your skin
So when you look within, you find an imprint of my song
There will be a dramatic climb
As tensions rise and cellos scream their tender dreams to you
And the flutes dance upon each rhyme
the conductor keeping time
As the sounds collide and glide effortlessly into your emotions
and it builds
and Builds
and BUILDS
UNTIL

it breathes again…
the only sound to be heard is the audience tasting this suspended
pause.

and as each layer of melody gently walks away from your listening ears
and the musicians lay their hands to rest
I will hear
the always surprising sound of
applause.

This, I want to write.