Verity's Blog

AFRAID
Copyright2007Verity

Can you see what's standing between us here
I wonder if you know that it's bigger than your fears?
Still you choose to play your heart like a hand of cards,
Keeping it close and hoping nobody knows...
Chorus:      That you're afraid - you're so afraid
                 What if you played this one differently,
                 Who would you be - if you weren't so afraid?

There you are and the dice has rolled
Lady luck has up and left you in the cold.
You're two cards short of a royal flush,
Still you bide your time, thinking to yourself, “what is the rush?”
Chorus:      Because you're afraid - you're so afraid
                 What if you played this one differently,
                 Who would you be - if you weren't so afraid?

So do you fold, or do you call my bluff?
When will you know that the cards you hold,
Are more than good enough?
Chorus:      Dont be so afraid – dont be so afraid
                 You can play this one differently,
                 See who you 'll be if you aren't so afraid.
                 You'll be amazed – when you aren't so afraid
                 All the chances you will take – you will be amazed...

This was one of the last songs I wrote before we recorded 'Journey' and I had fun playing with the idea of approaching life like an amateur poker player. It strikes me how often we play things safe because we are waiting for everything to be perfect, when in fact just taking action boldly and fearlessly usually gets a lot more done. And, it ensures you actually play the game and dont just hang back thinking about it : )

You can buy this album from Kalahari or download it here...

PUSH ME ON
Copyright2007Verity

I am scared and I'm afraid
That all the dreams that I've been reaching for
might not come true.
I've come so far, and it's been hard
But when I'm tired and I'm feeling sore, I turn to you...

CHORUS:  And you say...  hold on, just a little longer
               You are such much, closer than you know.
               You say hold on – it's just a little further
               Then you push me on, till I reach home
               You push me on...

I chose a road
Where I was told,
That I was crazy
to dream these dreams,
but I said I'd try.
These twists & turn
Are where I've learned
That I am so much bigger than my fears
But when I cry...

CHORUS:  And you say...  hold on, just a little longer
               You are such much, closer than you know.
               You say hold on – it's just a little further
               Then you push me on, till I reach home
               You push me on...

You say I'm not letting you let go – I'm not letting you give in
I'm not letting you give up – when you're this close to finishing
I'll push you on – I'll push you on – till you reach home...

And when I'm scared and I'm afraid
That all the dreams that I've been reaching for
might not come true.
I turn around and there you are, and suddenly it doesn't feel so hard
'Cos I've got you...

This song will hopefully become an anthem for all people pursuing a dream. It is a thank you to the tireless family and friends who urge us to keep on going and remind us never to give up. Thank you!

It is destined for our next album 'From Africa With Love' and we would love you to be one of the people who pushes it home. You can become a Future Owner today and be part of getting it out to the world!

First Gig - First Steps...

Today it is 4years exactly since I played my first ever show with a live band at Mercury Live.  I remember so clearly the thrill of being booked to play the Uncircled gig and having to rush to put a band together. My good friend David Foster pulled in with his band to come to my rescue and after two rehearsals we were apparently ready to go. I had David on guitar, Jan Krynauw on keyboards and from DNA Strings – Iwan on drums and Jaques on bass.  It was a mad scramble to send out emails and sms's to tell the world I was finally ready to perform and I can still remember going to Mercury to collect the posters and seeing my name in print for the first time ever - surreal.

While collecting the posters I got chatting to a guy who was asking lots of questions about my music and when I eventually asked him what he did, I was rightfully embarrassed to realise I had been chatting to Theo Crous from the Nude Girls!  I think he found my naievity entertaining and offered to come play guest guitar on “Wherever Love Goes” at the show.  And so, four years ago I stepped onto stage with some amazing musicians, a huge crowd supporting me and a healthy dose of guts,  and started to truly follow my dream.

It has been quite a journey since and looking back I am in awe of the twists and turns it has taken me on. It hasn't always been easy and there have been days when I thought I didn't have another step in me, but here I am four years down the road and about to finish my album.  Thank god for first steps and for life coming at us one day at a time!

Marimba Magic...

Check out this amazing Marimba Band from St Michaels Church in Khayelitsha! After playing us some thumping traditional African songs they surprised us with their awesome rendition of Sean Kingston's “Beautiful Girl”. They are definitley a band I would book for a party or wedding – their energy is incredible!  mail them for info

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Love Is.... a girl & her piano

Some very rare footage of me actually playing the piano! Paul captured this of me laying down some piano ideas for "Love Is" and it looks like I am going to playing it on the album as well! This gives a good idea of the creative process we follow in the studio, but please excuse the poor sound quality of the clip - I promise it wont sound like this on your CD!

Adding some percussion to "Shine"

A short snippet of Tony adding some congas to Shine. He plays so beautifully dont you think?

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Afraid to be angels?

I seem to have an affinity for one word titles - “Shine”, “Miracle”, “Perfect”, “Raise” and “Careless” are all on the album, as well as my two newest songs “Angel” and “Afraid”. I wrote 'Angel' and 'Afraid' six weeks apart from each other this year just before voting started for the album.

They are in essence complete opposites of each other lyrically – 'Angel' celebrating being able to let the best part of yourself out into the world, and 'Afraid' questioning all the things that hold us back from letting go and just living. But if you think about it, letting go of fears is how we start to access our light and so I am really glad to have them on the album together. They mark my journey of being so terrified to even sing in front of my friends to now fearlessly following my passion and saying its ok for me to want to shine.

Pre-Production in full swing

I am back in Cape Town after three incredible days at The Farm Studios in Jozi  working with Paul Mc Iver on four more demos for the album. It is the most amazing process to witness my songs grow from simple piano and vocals to a full production in a matter of hours. I am in awe of the magic that happens when we create anything. We have had so much fun finding drum grooves, tweaking bass lines, sprinkling in percussion and layering guitars and piano parts and watching as each song takes on a life and voice of its own. Every moment that I am in the studio is another minute of living this dream I have spent the last two years building. I am so clear that the time it has taken to reach this point is perfect. It is not something that could have been rushed and the music we are creating now is a result of the journey I have been on.

I will be adding the new sounds onto my songplayer soon so keep an ear out. If you aren't a Future Owner already then now is the perfect time to become one and be part of the voting process when it starts next week!

My Music is in the Movies....

I have exciting news! A while back I landed a tiny role in a SA film OIL ON WATER and got flown up to Durban to shoot my part. It was a fun experience and I was pleased to be part of a great independent film being made on our shores.

A few weeks ago the film's producer, Elle Matthews, called me out of the blue to say she had been on my website and had listened to some of my songs and had two definites she wanted for the film's soundtrack with a possible third song as well! I was blown away to receive such an unexpected call and to have the experience of a dream coming true to have my music in a movie!

Nelson and I just had two days in Cape Town Sound Studios recording 'Forever In Me', 'Careless' and 'Would You Still Love Me' for the movie with a kickass sound engineer Nick Hazel. It was awesome to hear them coming together and visualise 'Forever In Me' playing while the film's credits role.  Keep an eye out for the film when it releases in August in SA.

The project in pictures and footage....

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