Month: July 2021

I had the pleasure of interviewing a PNW musician, Raymond Hayden, on Monday July 26th, at 2:00 pm for my first interview. We had a good time and my group learned a lot about his background in music, how he survived the Covid 19 lock down and his plans for the future. Since then, I, also, interviewed Dave Nichols, a local talent with many years of experience, on Monday August 2nd. On August 9th, time is to be determined, I will be interviewing, Uncle Doug Cooper. I have worked with Doug at Twin River Brewery and with the Shortcutz band at a jam, in Snohomish. Life has become very interesting the past few months and I really enjoy interviewing so many talented musicians in this area.

I have about four months booked and people are so willing to tell their stories. Also, they do post on the Group site, Matured Musicians Group. You will see a variety of postings from gig dates to interesting tidbits of what they are currently doing. I am so happy to see so many people willing to join us on the Monday interview streams. Its a lot of hard work and I love every minute of it!

I have had another photo shoot and I have posted one of the photos on this blog. I am hoping to do one in the fall when the colors are out at my friend’s stable, Happy Trails in Monroe, WA. On the 19th of August, I will be filming a video of one of my song. I am looking forward to posting it to YouTube. I have a site there. If you enter in search: Joy Ann Lajeret, you will find the songs and my video shorts or announcements on up coming songs. My website can be reached as well at: joyalajeret.com or by adding the https://www. path.

I have begun going to local gigs and posting a picture or two about my time spent there, listening to different bands’ music. My last posting on FB was a jam at Loco Billy’s in Stanwood. Alan Hatley band is a blues band that has never played my country music. He was so nervous and did not want a train wreck. He finally agreed to let me come up to the stage to play. It actually went quite well. There was a few mistakes, but the audience didn’t seem to notice. Everyone in that audience was very supportive and I was really surprised at the response to my country singing and music.

Please support your local musicians and artists. There is no higher compliment for them then knowing they are pleasing you the fans and audience! See you down the road! Mask up or stay safe with vaccines.

Today, my song dedicated to Domestic Violence Survivors released.

I hope you enjoy it. It was the first song I wrote. I hope I captured the feeling of women in this situation.

A lot has happened in just a few weeks. I have a new group Called Matured Musicians created for musicians who have been playing for years. It is a place to talk about their musical journey in the past, where they are now, after Covid 19 and to promote the music and events they have coming in the future. So far it has yielded a few members and this is just the first week. I am hoping it will be successful, because I believe every venue one can promote their music on is a good one.

I am trying to promote my own music releases, learn new programs and get my group started, as stated earlier. The trick is to watch my health by not taking on too much too soon. I think the pressure one feels when making music and promoting it can drive anyone to drink, a breakdown or even drug abuse. I am proceeding slowly and hope that I am wise enough to avoid a health crisis! My husband has had to put up with a few bouts of craziness when I took on too much, too soon. Luckily he is my anchor.

I am struggling to find a way to balance my life, my music and do the right things for my health. It is no easy task. My one pleasure is going to jams to connect with area musicians and play my music no matter how good or bad it is with a band that doesn’t know my music and has to learn it on the fly.

My next release is “Heartbreaker”. It is the first song I wrote and will be released July 16, 2021. It’s about a woman who has been abused by her intimate other and was then left for another woman. I have volunteered in Domestic Survivors shelters for years now, as a shelter and suicide crisis advocate. I have watched the policing agencies learn how to cope with domestic violence incidents, and implement new laws protecting victims. I have watched the courts struggling to help the victims, while protecting the rights of the perpetrator. Sadly I have lost a few people along the way and have left the program, a few years ago to start with my music again.

During the overriding temperatures last week, I took a break and drove to Camano Island. I stayed at an almost Airbnb to cut costs. While there, I learned how much I needed the rest with no TV, no husband, no guitar and no anything. I spent time reading and enjoying sunrises and sunsets over the water of the island. I got lost a few times driving on the island, but survived. My final conclusion, singer/songwriters must take time to just think and rest. If you do not, you will have challenges you do not need. Trust me on that!

Now that the first five songs are on their way to being released, the last one in August, I have gotten use to the process and Chad the producer has learned what I want when I put a song together. They will be releasing after August’s release, “Butterfly Wings on Flowers.” I wrote this song to my husband because I could not leave the house to buy him a card.

Please be sure to help artists by listening to their music. Be sure to let them know if you liked their efforts. We cannot continue to record our music without the help of our fans! Also, please join our group Matured Musicians, the people interviewing are amazing musicians from all genres. Thanks to everyone that has helped me so far! See you down the road.