SaintsandChildren's Xanga

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 11:19:51 GMT

*dusts off proverbial cobwebs*

Wow, it's been quite a while since we've posted. Sorry for the lack of updates guys, but there hasn't been much to report... until now! The album has been finished, produced, and is now available for order!!! Check it out here: http://www.antiphonic.com/store/product.php?productid=622 You can order it from antiphonic, from our web site, or you can get ahold of Ezra or myself (if you live near us) and we will give you a copy.

Also check out http://www.saintsandchildren.com for information and fun extra stuff. It's still sorta-under construction, but is ready for people to glean information from at least.

We're excited! Let us know how you like it. We'll post more thoughts on here soon.

love,

joanna & co.

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Wed, 26 Jul 2006 18:49:59 GMT

Recording continues. Micah recently finished some really awesome vocals for a song I wrote called "I've Woken" (it took ridiculously long to decide on that title!). They sound very 60s-esque, which is something new for us, and I'm really liking it. Vocals have been a pretty big focus with this album, as Nathan mentioned in the last post... lots of interesting harmonies, many times in three parts.

As always, recording is a learning process. We've already encountered our share of road blocks... I can't tell you how many times I've been nearly finished with a song and then decide it's terrible, scrap the whole thing & start from scratch. These things are rather bothersome at the time, but looking back I see that it's all for the best. Things usually turn out a lot better for me the second or third time around.

In other news, we went to see Lady in the Water this weekend and loved it to death. Go support good ol' M Night if you get the chance!

love,

joanna & co.

Tuesday, July 18, 2006

Tue, 18 Jul 2006 08:39:18 GMT

Well! Nathan returned home this past weekend, & there ensued, despite the stifling muggy Maryland heat, two intense days of recording. Here's a little of what happened:

Latin vocals were added to "Ascensiontide"
Vocal harmonies were written & recorded for the same song
The vocal melody for "My Lost Youth" was recorded
Harmonies for that song were written & recorded
Music, vocals, & harmonies were recorded for "Lull Me to Thee"
A rough draft of music & vocals were recorded for "The Wait for New Year's Morning"

Besides those for songs, Ezra has written & begun recording an amazing piece called, I believe, "Walking Day". It involves poetry recital as well as singing, & is sure to be a smash. Also, two tracks by Joanna & one by Micah are under way & sounding fabulous.

We hope to be done by early August - which is horrifying, because we have so much left to do. But we can promise you that this album is taking Saints to a new level. More anon. - Nathan

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 10:12:20 GMT

Work on the new album is underway! Yes, it is for real...we are recording again. It's good to be back. Micah, Ezra, Nathan and I have all written several songs which will come together as a twelve track album exploring the idea of seasons (of life, the church, weather, etc). What can you expect? Baroque synthpop with a folk influence. Thoughtful lyrics. More percussion (we're using an Irish Bodhran and Spoons). We're veryvery excited.

Stick with us--more updates and some teasers are coming.

p.s. Eating peanut butter & then trying to sing in latin is NOT a good idea.

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Thu, 08 Jun 2006 13:50:01 GMT

This morning I found a poem I wrote on Thanksgiving morning last Fall:

Thanksgiving morning.

Geese honk away over the fields.

Six pumpkins sit in a row on my porch, small to big.

The grass has reappeared during the night,

leaving of last night's snow only icy white crystals

clumped in bits over the green.

The roof still drips the night's damp,

but the sky is a clear, cold, soft pastel blue,

covered by long, wind-blown scuds that drift slowly

North past an almost-risen sun,

which lights them up orange when they go by.

Snow still lies in patches on the rows of the soy field.

A sweet-gum tree stands firmly before the furrows,

guarding them from my view,

while its still-hanging leaves sway

green and purple in the cold breeze.

Pictures

Mon, 29 May 2006 20:38:25 GMT

Taking a break.

Photography by Chrissy Lee.

Friday, May 19, 2006

Fri, 19 May 2006 16:37:27 GMT

Here is a poem I first wrote on 18 December. I wasn't completely happy with it, so I revised it last week, giving it an iambic pentameter meter & breaking it into stanzas. I like the poem because it tries to mimic Anglo-Saxon word order & that language's use of alliteration. Have a look:

Troubled one morning, made I for the lit-

tle spring, washing wet from the mountain's deep.

The snow was melted off my bank, soaked

dark earth, grass gone. "Why happened it not,

dear spring, what one year gone dreamt I? Wished God

II.

not for my joy? What feel I for my dream

unmade?" Up-sprang the springes voice deep from

mountain, grey-cold: "Rock, root, trench, tunnel, plun-

ging pool, drowning, dark, up from under." Pines

benevolent below me sway their heads,

III.

agreeing - they remember'd well as sad

seedlings, said they. Gazing, asked I, "What mean

you, friends?" "Despair you not for dream amiss,

it is not lost on scraggled stone, for your

Father has dreamt it too, but sees it straight.

IV.

And in a little while, leads he you out

the springes mouth, & follow you his dream

into the winter light & chase it down

the mountainside." I sighed & went unto

my home; and then I knew my blessed task.

Sunday, April 23, 2006

Sun, 23 Apr 2006 10:49:24 GMT

Here are some lyrics I'm considering using for a new song... still haven't come up with a title. Why is that always the hardest part?

[click to enlarge]

Thursday, April 20, 2006

Thu, 20 Apr 2006 11:35:58 GMT

The Ancient Greeks thought that listening to different kinds of musical scales affected your soul in different ways.

And to an extent they were right. Ever wonder why the Minor scale sounds sad?

Sunday, April 16, 2006

Sun, 16 Apr 2006 23:11:42 GMT

We are using Xanga now, turning a haughty nose at Myspace. We hope that this will not prove a catastrophic error; say, in two months time, Xanga may collapse or become thoroughly uncool, & everyone who is anyone may move to Myspace.

Barring this, we look forward to providing you with some pleasant conversation about our band, from time to time, & informing you of exciting events (which are very exciting indeed, if infrequent).

It is spring now - please note the weather outside your bedroom, office, or cafe window, & then note our site's pretty spring colors. When you have noted these, finish your coffee, business reports, or homework, & have a happy Easter.