Suzanne Alyssa Andrew's Blog: The PROCESS blog, page 14

Best cheer-up songs of 2016: #2

Dance it out with Christine and the Queens to “Tilted.” This just makes me so happy. 

Best cheer-up songs of 2016: #3

The most motivating and best workout track of the year, in my opinion, is “Running” by Moderat.

I really want to see Moderat play live at some point. That’s definitely on my bucket list!

#bestof2016 #electronicmusic #microhouse #IDM #Moderat #running

Best cheer-up songs of 2016: #4 tie!

I was trying to pick a love song and it was too hard to choose, so this one’s a tie.

Lisa LeBlanc’s “I Love You, I Don’t Love You, I Don’t Know” makes me laugh every time. Truth! Watch for this Canadian trash-folk singer-songwriter. I think you’ll be hearing a lot from her in the future! 

Mannequin Pussy slays with “Romantic.” All the feels in one song! And I love their blend of punk, fuzz pop, shoegaze and deathmetal.

Best cheer-up songs of 2016: #5

Happy to bring you my best cheer-up songs of 2016: #5 “Midnight River” by Vaults. Reminds some things just aren’t worth the grief and the negativity. I listened to this song approximately a zillion times over the past few months: “if it feels like you’re losing control let go, just let go and let the midnight river roll.”

Join us at the Taddle Creek winter launch!

As part of the editorial team for Taddle Creek literary magazine I have to tell you I’m especially proud of our winter issue. It’s one of our best yet, with new fiction and poetry by Amy Jones, Russell Smith, Alex Pugsley, Kelly Ward, Souvankham Thammavongsa, Kevin Connolly, Chris Chambers, Cassidy McFadzean and Jim Johnstone.

There’s also a very special feature by Alfred Holden about his career in journalism, and I wrote this issue’s Gallery article on Melanie Janisse-Barlow’s Poets Series.

Don’t miss the launch party on December 7, 8 p.m. at the Paddock in Toronto!

The cover illustration is by Matthew Daley.

On band break ups

I’ve been collaborating with creative teams ever since I
started my career, and one thing I know for sure is that there’s a little
alchemy in it. When the vibe is right ideas spark even better ideas, a sense of
mutual excitement buoys you through all the work and you steadily reinforce and
grow each other’s commitment. Making something together, whether it’s a digital
documentary or an album, can result in a deep connection of minds and souls.
Sharing in the creation of something is fantastic.

But when the vibe is off, for whatever reason, the whole
process gets bogged down. This can result from any number of reasons
(including, but not limited to) petty politics, team burnout, personality
clashes, shifting priorities, lack of respect, even silly misunderstandings. If
you’re lucky and work at working it out, these issues can be resolved. I’m a
big fan of talking things out. And then talking things out some more: as much
talking as we need to come to an understanding and find a way forward.

As with any relationship, it takes willingness from everyone
on the team, however, to engage in the group problem-solving, and to try. You’ve
got to work it out together. And the higher the stakes (you’re on a deadline,
there’s a budget riding on it, promises were made) the more important it is to bust
through any impasse and sort it out.

Very occasionally someone on the team just doesn’t want to
try to work it out or change their approach. When that happens you can
sometimes still come to an agreement and hobble forward. But other times it can
be better to simply call it, respect your creative differences and say, “this
isn’t working anymore.”

The band I was in, Green Girl, came to such an impasse last
week and our collaboration ended. For me it was a low stakes, fun, hobby
project, with nothing riding on it other than the desire to make music
together.

That said, I poured a lot of time and energy into it and it’s
still very disappointing to see it end. But I’m looking forward to starting or
joining a new music project where the alchemy is working, and it’s a better fit
for everyone. I’ve been on a lot of creative teams where we’ve managed to make
magic happen and I know what that feels like, and how satisfying it is. I can’t
wait to find that again!

#creativeprocess #indierock #teamdynamics #creativecollaborations #writinglife

Can you really Marie Kondo an art practice?

I wrote an article for Canadian Art magazine on the fascinating topic of what artists do with old art, especially at a time when shrinking studio space in Toronto and other cities is forcing more artists to downsize and declutter. I invite you to read, “Can You Really Marie Kondo an Art Practice?”

Canada’s Walk of Fame 2016 magazine

I had the fantastic opportunity over the summer to be the editor-in-chief and lead writer for Canada’s Walk of Fame 2016 commemorative magazine. This meant I got to interview Corey Hart, Jason Priestley and Al Waxman’s family (he was inducted posthumously). I also wrote about emerging music artists to watch and this year’s unsung hero. This is definitely going down as one of my favourite freelance projects ever. 

Fall events!

I’ll be at these book fairs this fall at the Taddle Creek table. Come visit and get a sweet deal on a signed copy of my novel.

Word on the Street Toronto, September 25, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Harbourfront Centre 

Canzine Toronto, October 29 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., AGO 

Meet the Presses Indie Literary Market, November 19, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Taddle Creek winter issue launch, December, details TBA

(Please note: my scheduled October appearance at Potter’s House Bookstore in Washington D.C. was cancelled due to lack of travel funding.)

Listen to Green Girl’s EP

Wilde, the debut EP by Green Girl, the band I play bass and sing back-up vocals in, is out! Give it a listen and download it on bandcamp. 

We celebrated with an EP release party and show on September 11 at The Burdock, in Toronto.