What am I up to?

Hi friends! 💃🏾

I hope the fall season has not made you too gloomy yet – it is slowly starting to get to me, so I decided to write about an exciting topic! 😁

Writing songs… and the recording of my new project…(that is yet to be named!) 😅

I have always loved to write lyrics, poems, essays, etc. Putting them in music is a comfortable way for me to express myself more publicly. Unfortunately, the process to do so is not always super smooth.

For my first album, Rencontre{s}, the process was absolutely messy:

Some of my songs had been previously recorded for another project back in France, some songs are simple demos that I had recorded with my phone, some others have been produced by a friend… After a failure of meeting terms with the producers I was supposed to work with in Toronto, I ended up mixing and mastering the songs myself, during the pandemic, and learning on the go how to release a project on different platforms. It was a bit tedious, but it ended up working out well enough that I met incredible people thanks to that project. (the album came out early 2022 and is still available on all platforms with all of its flaws!) 🥳

My second recording experience was a lot smoother, even though it was a bit more stressful. I met with Matthew Isaacs and Justin Guanio a couple months after my album release, and we proceeded to start working on my EP Secret the Summer of the same year. Matthew is a very talented Rnb artist (Kromatix) and it was interesting to dive into the writing process with him. Justin (Wess) and him have been working together for a little while now. Contrary to how I usually work, Matthew and Justin like to start with finding a beat. After asking me what artists were inspiring to me, they came up with a couple of instrumental suggestions that I helped shape along the way. Once the instrumentals were done, we started writing lyrics and recording them in Justin’s studio (Loud Studios). This was the birth of Power, Stand Back, Fake Roses and Secret (listen here!) … Although quite stressful compared to my previous collaboration work, it was fun and refreshing to create with artists from a different genre. 🙏🏾

These past two months, I have been working on selecting, (re)writing, arranging and recording some songs for a new project! It is a solo project again, but I am much more comfortable with the tools that I am using now. All of the songs I have decided to record are songs that I wrote between March 2020 and now, these are fun, reflective and maybe thought-provoking songs that I want to share with the people who know me, and those who don’t know me yet.

As always, I am big on happy melodies that stick with your mind, and I truly hope this project will touch a lot of people. 🌎

I am using Ableton Live 11 to record, and I have been able to record my instruments from home, at a higher quality than for my first project. I am learning a lot about this software and am planning on attempting to mix my songs myself. For the vocals, I am also recording at home, with my brand new equipment!

Once I get my vocal tracks down, I will put them together with the instrumentals and start the final mixing process. I am not there yet, and it promises to be a big learning experience. One I will recount at a later date! 📝

In the meantime, I will release an acoustic version of the very first single off of this new project on my birthday:

Afternoon Coffee – story

This is one of the first songs I wrote about the pandemic! We were on our second lockdown, end of 2020, and I was FED UP with staying home, looking forward to seeing people, going out with my friends, and seeing the world reopen in general. This is exactly what this song is about! I hope to see you all dance with me soon.

Afternoon Coffee


Afternoon Coffee in hand
I’m determined to write again
I think about the good times that are to come
I think about what the future holds

I’m feeling peaceful today
So grateful for my journey
I think about the healing process of the world
I think about the healing process of people

I can’t wait to find myself out with my friends
I can’t wait to feel myself dancing again
Can’t wait for that patio drink
Can’t wait for that lovely feeling
That everything was meant to be
I can’t wait for you to dance with me


Dance with me *4

My morning coffee felt bland
No more energy to spend
I wonder where my emotions went
I don’t know if it’s a dream or hell

I can’t wait to find myself out with my friends
I can’t wait to feel myself dancing again
Can’t wait for that patio drink
Can’t wait for that lovely feeling
That everything was meant to be
I can’t wait for you to dance with me


Dance with me *4

I can’t breathe if you run away from me
I can’t sing if you tell me that life ain’t worth living

I can’t wait to find myself out with my friends
I can’t wait to feel myself dancing again
Can’t wait for that patio drink
Can’t wait for that lovely feeling
That everything was meant to be
I can’t wait for you to dance with me
Dance with me

I can’t wait to find myself out with my friends
I can’t wait to feel myself dancing again
Can’t wait for that patio drink
Can’t wait for that lovely feeling
That everything was meant to be
I can’t wait for you to dance with me

Dance with me


Savage


Should you decide that I’m not good enough
I will be on my way
Should you deny that you failed both of us
I won’t want to stay


You want your peace back? Fine
You want to keep track? Fine
But if you hear me out, out
Don’t bother calling back

I’ll scream it out, Woah
If you don’t let me be
I’ll wear it out, Woah
Yeah my heart on my sleeve
You think I can be tamed
That your words bring me down
But babe I’m savage
You should know it by now, Woah
I’m a savage girl.

Could you turn your volume down and power off
I’m tired of hearing you
No I don’t mind if you think something is off
You blew your chances dude


You think you’re sorry? Love
I think you should be, Oh
Now you regret it? Sad, sad
I’m never coming back

I’ll scream it out, Woah
If you don’t let me be
I’ll wear it out, Woah
Yeah my heart on my sleeve
You think I can be tamed
That your words bring me down
But babe I’m savage
You should know it by now, Woah
I’m a savage girl.

Can you know?
Can you listen to me now?
You don’t know
I’m not hearing you right now
I’m a savage girl and this world is mine tonight
Don’t bother calling back

I’ll scream it out, Woah
If you don’t let me be
I’ll wear it out, Woah
Yeah my heart on my sleeve
You think I can be tamed
That your words bring me down
But babe I’m savage
You should know it by now, Woah
You should know it by now, Woah

I’m a savage girl.


It Ain’t Easy


I could reach out for the moon I’m ready to fly
or dance under the moonsoon Reaching for the sky
I could play all through the night Music is my life
& sing for the lonely hearts hearts hearts
I will be alright
Don’t doubt me now

No patience, no mercy,
don’t be angry at me
You’re moody, you’re grumpy
It ain’t going away
If your life feels shitty
you can’t put the blame on me
I’m fucking exhausted
I strive to live another day

I could be all that I need I’m ready to fly
I could dance away my fears Reaching for the sky
I could pray God to forget Music is my life
Or I could just admit that ha ha
I – I was not okay
I am today

No patience, no mercy,
don’t be angry at me
You’re moody, you’re grumpy
It ain’t going away
If your life feels shitty
you can’t put the blame on me
I’m fucking exhausted
I strive to live another day

Keep telling you I will be alright, though you can tell by my face that it’s hard right now
No need to fake, we all have our downs, but when I’m up, I’m a queen, I can touch the stars
Dance through the fight, that’s my motto now, and if it works for Roundhouse it should work for us
Pick yourself up, you’ll get through the night, smile through the tears, and dream out loud

It ain’t easy


Secret – an EP

‘Secret’ is an EP about an encounter.

These 4 songs tell a short story of paths crossing and separating. It’s about putting your trust in someone, feeling let down, letting go, and not falling for the same scheme twice.

Written in collaboration with Matthew Isaacs and Justin Guanio, it is now available on all streaming platforms:

Secret

Power

Fake Roses

Stand Back

Snowy Beaches


You met a wild girl
Didn’t expect to take the fall
You met a smart girl
No one would take her for a fool

She was a nice girl
Maybe a bit too know-it-all
But still a bright girl
She lit the room, made you unfold

I’m sorry it didn’t work out
Not sorry for dreaming out loud

You’re the mountain
And I am the sea
The immensity

So uncertain
’bout what life can be
Keeping faith in me

I’m floating away
Where you cannot see
Close your eyes and feel

I’m a drifter
How could you blame me

You wanted to stay I needed to leave
We will never meet on snowy beaches

I met a shy guy
Didn’t expect to take the fall
I met a wise guy
Who wouldn’t take me for a fool

He was a strong guy
Never afraid to stand his ground
He was a good guy but
Couldn’t keep up with who I am

I’m sorry it didn’t work out
Not sorry for dreaming out loud

You’re the mountain
And I am the sea
The immensity

So uncertain
’bout what life can be
Keeping faith in me

I’m floating away
Where you cannot see
Close your eyes and feel

I’m a drifter
How could you blame me

You wanted to stay I needed to leave
We will never meet on snowy beaches


Do you remember driving hours to get to the beach?
Do you remember fighting over some futility
Felt so unnatural to keep your faith in me
I think it’s for the best that you’re not next to me
I can’t believe I took so long to realize my dream
Oh moving here was one of the best things I ever did
It feels so natural to roam around these streets

You wanted to stay I needed to leave
We will never meet on snowy beaches


You’re the mountain
And I’m the sea
The immensity

So uncertain
’bout what life can be
Keeping faith in me

I’m floating away
Where you cannot see
Close your eyes and feel

I’m a drifter
How could you blame me

You wanted to stay I needed to leave
We will never meet on snowy beaches


Music from the Moon


While you play music from the moon
We destroy our only home

While you play music from the moon
We try to conquer one of yours

We choose to ignore the mess we make
To explore some other fate

We choose to ignore the mess we make
Onto one of your planets

You can’t hear us but you know we’re there
We can’t see you but we know you’re there
For all of us try to stand and stare
Sending signals that you can’t ignore

I’ve been trying to reach out
I’m reaching out to you
When the sky gets all dark
I’ll sing out to the stars


I wish I played music from the moon
Not because I’m fleeing too

I wish I played music from the moon
Maybe more could hear the truth

I fear that we’re going way too far
& every time we try to stop

I fear that we’re going way too far
Someone drags us further down

Can you see me? If so please be aware
Can’t you feel it? Humans aren’t being fair
For all of us try to steal your share
Cause we’re not able to maintain our air

I’ve been trying to reach out
I’m reaching out to you
When the sky gets all dark
I’ll sing out to the stars


When do we stop growing up?

Ever since I was a kid, I have wanted to grow up and be an adult.

I was eager to get own my place, own my money, work in an office and make a change in the world! I wanted to know a lot, and be able to share my opinion with people.

My mom used to tell me that knowledge would come with experience, so I wanted to experience as soon as possible!

Life granted me part of that, and I “grew up” fast enough… But now, at 26, I still feel like I’m growing up. Sometimes I don’t feel like an adult at all.

Yes, I own my money, I have my own place, I converse with other adults without being deemed incapable (well, most of the time… because some people still think that they know everything)!

But I do not FEEL like an adult, at least like what I imagine being an adult is.

I love to discover things and learn, I love to meet people and make friends, I love to learn new languages and how to express myself more openly, I love candy, I love snow, I hate the rain and I take naps… I still need to Bloom!

I’m basically a toddler in an adult’s body… And it’s fine, I mean, to each their own…

But it’s also very scary, because whenever I try to imagine a future my toddler side prevents me from taking the steps to make it happen.

I do not feel fit enough, good enough, old enough, strong enough to deserve what I really want…

Does anybody else feel like this? Is there a remedy?

When will I stop growing up and start being a grown-up?

When will I be able to see the potential Wonder Woman that I can be?


If anyone has an answer, I’m all ears!!

See you soon,

JA.

Path to freedom – story

TW: domestic violence
(please feel free to skip if it makes you uncomfortable)


Path to Freedom is one of the songs I wrote after dreaming about a painful situation. As some of you may know, I am a real fan of true crime shows… and I watched a particular show about a person taking in isolated, orphans or homeless people and abusing them and their situation to get benefits.

The dream Path to Freedom is based on was similar… I was an orphan who had been placed in a new home with her sister and unfortunately, our situation was not ideal. After weeks of abuse, my sister started to plan an escape. She got out, and left me a copy of David Copperfield with a note inside that simply said “I found a path to freedom” with a code, inside of the book, that explained how to follow the same path. My answer in the dream was “I’m not brave enough to walk it on my own”, and this is what triggered me to write this song.

It is not a happy song, and a few people have linked it to other sad stories, that, unfortunately, were not dreams. I felt that this was still a good story to share, because some people need a hand in escaping dangerous or triggering situations, and I think we should be more understanding of these people who do not feel brave enough to do it on their own.

Musically, I was attracted to a jazzy / pop sound for this song, because the atmosphere I wanted to create was close to the musical Chicag.

If this song resonates with you, one way or another, please feel free to share it and add it to your playlists!

I hope you like it.