A FAREWELL TO "EMA"...

Yep, that's right; the Crossroads show a couple weeks ago was the last "Ema" show, Ownership  is "Ema's" last album and this is the last EmaWorldRock blog... Yeah, yeah, don't get all bunged up, I'm not going anywhere; ...just making a slight change...well actually a pretty significant one. Read on.

First, I've been called, and professionally identified with the name Ema for over half of my life. My "gender ambiguous" pseudonym's origins aren't as enigmatic as many think. What started, from when I was a young muso, as a nickname phonetically derived from my initials, eventually evolved thus: MJ > "Em-a Jay" > Ema - and became solidified as my professional identity, my "stage name," early on. I've always embraced it, identified with it, and been amused by the widely-varying and often confused reactions to it from industry types, PR peeps and lay-persons alike (but ironically less so in South Africa because it has a genderless meaning in Zulu - "one who is standing/waiting").

But, what was once a unique PR conversation-starter, has now become a hindrance. Ever since I launched my solo career and debut album Ownership in '08, I have been on a constant treadmill of trying to clear up and resolve issues of confusion between myself and several other artists of the same name (and spelling) concerning: a) accurate accounting of distribution and sales with online portals i.e., iTunes, Amazon, etc. and streaming outfits i.e., Pandora, Spotify etc.; b) digital rights and royalties with Sound Exchange; c) show/tour scheduling with online tour promotion/social media apps; and well...you get the picture. It is an interminable "herding cats" issue in the online ether (don't EVEN get me started on global performance rights issues!) and taking it on has been a quixotic, energy-sucking sink-hole.

The instigators: Stella and Faith

I decided fairly early on that reinventing myself was going to be much easier and in fact, as an artist, I found the idea quite energizing. It was just a matter of what and when. "What" was the easy part. Ever since my South African sisters Faith Kekana and Stella Khumalo dubbed me Mthakathi, in a studio session, it just caught on and spread on its own until pretty much everyone in my South African circles was addressing me as such, or some derivation of it - "HEY Mthakza!" [slang] or "Yebo Mtha!" [elided]. OK, so the "what"...check. Now for the "when"

Well, a couple of weeks back I was laying in bed watching Lettermen. Just as I was drifting in to "la la" land, I heard him say "when we come back we'll have music from EMA." I knew instantly that he was referring to South Dakota's post-punk-noise-folk artist Erika M Anderson - my co-participant in the tangle of online artist ambiguity and simultaneously the biggest threat to my nom de guerre, because she also goes under the moniker of (you guessed it) EMA.  *That* was the moment... she has greater exposure and a bigger fan base: she wins. Time to change.

SO, kids, as you read this, the transformation process online is almost complete...a few loose threads but far enough along that we can make it it official. As of now, the name "Ema" and Emaworldrock as my "brand" and online presence are no more. The new website www.mtharock.com is up and running and all of my web portals reflect the new "me" - Mthakathi  (the FB band page will switch over on Oct 30).

My peeps, this isn't just about name change; It's about moving forward: PHAMBILI! and up: PHEZULU! It means new blood coming in, new aims, new inspiration, new *fire* and new material. To quote a certain songwriter we know, I'm "wiring up the terminals and throwing the switch!"

So face to face, nothing really changes; I'm still Ema, MJ, "Em", knucklehead, whatever you're used to calling me. But officially, from here forward, it will be: 

Mthakathi 

- the "magic man," the "witch-doctor," the "inyanga who mixes things that shouldn't be mixed," the Zulu title endearingly bestowed upon me by my beloved South African family - under which I will be performing and releasing all of my future work. 

 HAMBA KAHLE EMA, BEKUMNANDI: MANJE, NGENA MTHAKATHI!

...much much more to come...and as always, 

a million years of peacetime.

December Celebrations: A Remembrance And A Release

REMEMBRANCE:

Heita all! Back in 2009, I was doing a PR interview for Ownership on Radio 2000 in Jo'burg with Angela Ludek (Hi Angel!). It also happened to be Madiba's 91st birthday on that day so at the close of the interview, she asked me (just as she asked the umpteen or so previous guests that day) what I would like to say to Madiba on his birthday. I remember kind of balking because I didn't feel like there was anything that I could say that either hadn't already been said by the previous guests (leaving me to sound pretty unoriginal) or would't fall short of worthy for he who is really one of the greatest and most impactful members of our species in history.

Well it's sort of how I feel now only instead of a handful of previous interviewees, we're talking the whole bloody world now - including some of the worlds most well spoken and erudite statespersons, scholars, journalists, poets, musicians etc... . I think it's fair to say that most of the time when we use superlatives, it's really hyperbole, but in the case of Mandela: not. Still feeling a bit unqualified to expound on all that Madiba was to humanity, I realize that it's a very human thing to want to publicly express our feelings in a situation like this regardless of how articulate (or in articulate) we are and I'm no exception. So I'd just like to share a couple of public comments that stood out for me, my 2 cents more, one pic that says it all and a little something from my heart.

Desmond Tutu called Madiba "a moral colossus" and President Obama called him one of the most "profoundly good human beings that any of us will share time with on this earth." That pretty much says it for me emotionally, but let's not forget that his political acumen ran just as deep as his humanity - he was one of the most brilliant statesmen and politicians of all time. All that said, nothing sums up his impact for me, better than the pic off to the side here

Hamba kahle Tata. Siyakuthandanjalo.

NEW CHRISTMAS RELEASE:

AVAILABLE NOW - click here!

OK onward then. With it being the holiday season and all of the attention focused on South Africa right now, I decided it would be nice to release a couple of South African style Christmas songs that I've had on my mind and the back burner for a while now.*

* (more on how this all came about at the bottom).

Ukhisimusi Omuhle - A South African Christmas is a digital "45" that I'm making available exclusively (for now) on my official download website. As noted in the announcement that went out on the fan page, it's a festive two-song offering celebrating Christmas, in a South African style, with the songs loosely interpreting 2 popular Christmas carols - conveying the emotional spirit of their western counter parts while drawing on South African traditions for their musical character. The "A" side is a sort of Silent Night" like interpretation and it features Sis Thuli Dumakude giving a captivatingly beautiful and tender vocal performance. 

The "B" side is a more playful (and a bit more obvious) interpretation of Jingle Bells that I recorded on mbiras. I tried to strike a nice balance between the "voice of the ancestors" resonance of the traditional Shona playing style with the classic grandeur of the Western Christmas carol form - sort of Mujuru meets Dickens if you will (chuckle). I think the songs are beautiful, joyous and playful and hope you will too!

For now, it's only going to be available during the holiday season. It makes a unique and clever stocking stuffer and it's only *2 bucks!* I hope you'll get a copy for yourself, a few more (or many!) to give as gifts for friends and family (there's a gift option as you check out) and spread the word (and cheer) to everyone else you know in your social networks! And when you're all through, you can sit in front of the tree with a nice cup of hot chocolate or rooibos, with your "buds" in, celebrating Christmas Mzansi-style!

Merry Ho Ho to all, Ukisimusi Omuhle, Happy Holidays and thank you all for supporting artist-owned music. And of course I'd be remiss if I didn't tag this with:

A Million Years of Peacetime...

Uxolo

Ema

*PS - A little more background on this project if you're interested:

Back when Thuli was still with Lion King on Broadway, she had called me to see if I'd participate in some sort of "Broadway Stars" Christmas project either performing with her or recording a song for a compilation CD to sell through Broadway Cares for AIDs funding. As we were brain storming which X-mas song to do I kept feeling, "I know it's for a good cause but it all feels sooooooo cliche." So I started thinking, "What if we did something that was more South African?" We thought of a couple X-mas songs that we could translate into Zulu but again, it just felt too contrived. Then I thought, what if instead of *translating*  a song into Zulu and just wrapping the original music in a South African veneer, we create an *interpretation* that lyrically and musically conveys the spirit and emotional tenor of whatever song it is, but is composed from South African cultural sensibilities?

So at one point in the studio, I was explaining the concept to Thuli. I started playing a traditional Maskanda guitar pattern, softly and slowly to demonstrate how we could interpret one of the many traditional Christmas ballads.Thuli started tenderly repeating ubusuku obuhle (beautiful night) and usefikile uJesu (Jesus has arrived) and even found a way to hint at a familiar melody. Even in this raw form it was so beautiful and intimate, that I immediately tossed up a couple of mics to capture it. We recorded the basic track right there on the spot in one take. Then she went back and threw in a couple harmonies for good measure and BAM! Out of the park! We had a Zulu Silent Night.

The concept went from one song to an entire album. We started brainstorming songs: "How 'bout a 'Scthathamiya Hark the Herald? Or an Mbira Jingle Bells? Or a *MARABI* Santa Claus is Coming to Town???" Oh man all the synapses were firing now. And now we were getting excited bout the possibilities of offering it up alongside the Zulu beadwork animals that Thuli provides to Lion King through her women's self-help organization, Thembalethu Beaders - the sale of which benefits the women who make them as well as provides Aids funding for Broadway Cares.

Sadly, there were too many complications on the organizational end and the full project ended up on the shelf. But not before I managed to rough out a couple of the ideas in the studio. I even got Tony Cedras of Paul Simon fame (although a great musician/composer in his own right) to come in and lay down just the coolest Marabi piano part for the aforementioned SCICT (we really had so much fun and laughed a lot on that session)! Anyway, I've always loved the concept and hope to revive it. We'll see how the 45 does!

So for now you get a taste of it in my little holiday offering. Merry Ho Ho everyone!

WHERE THE F#!% HAVE YOU BEEN?! (and WTF's next?!)

I've been getting this question a lot in one form or another for almost two years now. I realize with the exception of the occasional quip or socio-political opinion on FB to demonstrate I'm still on the planet, I've been pretty much, an absentee artist. So, right off the bat, I'm here to tell ya that the pendulum has swung back in the other direction and I have re-emerged. Or to quote George Castanza: "I'M BACK BABY!"
(don't you just love how much Seinfeld still contributes to the "Boomer" lexicon lol). Anyway, I've spent the summer in the "shed" (musicians help the lay people out)...fresh haircut...back to running again...had a lovely birthday and an equally lovely labor day weekend with friends and family down the shore...season's changing...guess I'm finally ready to respond.

NOTE: if you're not really interested in the "wherethefuckhaveyoubeen?" part, skip on down about 4 paragraphs to the "whatthefucksnext?" part (but if you're just a little bit curious...)

WTFHYB?
After the frequently intractable and budget draining (albeit, still exciting and gratifying) South African launch of Ownership, I returned home to Jersey, intent on taking about 6-8 months to re-charge and re-tool before starting the next album and taking another "crack at it" with the band in South Africa. During this time, I did a house concert tour and a string of solo performances (as all of you friends and die-hard fans can attest to - thanks for the support). But as that period came to a close, I found myself  faced with *circumstances* that required me to go on a "slight" career hiatus.

You see, while I was over eMzansi trying to pry doors open and battling the screeching, irrational nine-headed hydra that is the music/entertainment biz, my wife Pattie (Patricia professionally), motivated by a most admirable conviction to "do good and do well," had launched a new business in the healthcare field, providing in-home care for people in North Jersey . By the time I returned she was in full operation, but contending with her own industry "beasts" (to light-heartedly continue the metaphor). Quite simply, she needed my help. So, I put my career on hold and joined her.

Now as I was writing this, I was considering inserting a paragraph on how "dissonant" I felt during this period but I was afraid it would sound too much like a rant or lament and I never want anyone (especially you babe) thinking that I harbor any anger, resentment or regrets over this. I say "circumstances" to mean literally and without sarcasm, the unpredictable, uncontrollable variables that impact on our lives while (to quote John Lennon) "you're busy making other plans". For love and survival, you adjust accordingly.

Although here's a picture of me during that period:

 

Old Man in Sorrow (On the Threshold of Eternity)

 

BWAAA HAA HAA!!! (c'mon, just havin' some fun...)

OK, 'nuff said about that. At the beginning of the summer, *circumstances* allowed for me to return to my element and I'm now looking up into the limitless sky. Phambili we say in Zulu - forward.

WTFN?
Right then, business at hand... . I spent the summer priming the pump; I've now thrown the switch and am happy to report that all tubes, wires, tines, synapses, callouses, reflexes and laryngial muscles are firing up quite nicely thank you very much. So here's what's what: 

• NEW MATERIAL: I'm writing again and am very excited about what's flowing out (plus I still have a whole trove of material from the post-Ownership period waiting to be realized). That said, you can expect several preview and single releases in the upcoming season and a new album out of me in 2014, followed up by both solo and full band performances with an eye on a support tour. It's all still "in the chute" as of yet but preparations are underway.

• LIVE: 
  
  I am resuming my live solo show. I'm currently rehearsing it and will start booking for NY/NJ in October (including Asbury Park, 'cause YOU GUYS have been heart-warmingly tenacious in trying to get me down there in spite of my silence lol!). It will be the same format as before but I'll be previewing some new songs, reworking material from Ownership (as well as keeping some of the previous faves), tossing in some fresh stories/anecdotes and a few surprises for good measure (could be a song; could be a guest performer!). I have some new "handlers" in my camp now, who want me to expand the venue targets for this show beyond house concerts and performing arts centers to include clubs and colleges as well.

• MORE LIVE:
  
  My long time South African sister - singer/actress/choreographer Thuli Dumakude - and I have reunited to start working together again. We are also in rehearsals right now and will be doing shows both as a duo and in full band formats in NY and along the US East Coast. We're also exploring touring and theatrical possibilities here and in SA; and we are discussing the long overdue follow up album to Senzeni Na?. Again, we'll keep you posted, but look for performance announcements from the mailing list (see below) and on our repsective FB pages.

• STUDIO: I've re-opened Ikhaya Studios (v2 if you like) and am about to announce a significant upgrade - one that will not only be a game-changer for what comes out of the studio sonically, but should be of particular interest to producers, mixers, songwriters and drummers looking to get back to that currently in-demand vintage sound (hint) without killing your budget. 

• ARTS-IN-ED: Attention teachers, principles and coordinators, I'm also once again offering my arts-in-ed programs through Transhumance Music and Arts Impact and am currently booking school assemblies K-12 for 2014. Booking inquiries can be made at  info@emaworldrock.com

• HOUSEKEEPING: My crew will be freshening up the website and reinstating the "World Rock Shout Out" Mailing List,  so those of you who are subscribers will once again start getting regular (but not too) updates to keep you posted on live shows, new releases, special events, etc. (if you're not on it yet and would like to be, click  here and sign up!. 

Lastly, I'd like you all to please note that in spite of the cornucopia of metaphors I've used in writing this, I made it through this entire piece without a single clichéd "rebirth" reference like "phoenix," "Lazarus," "lotus flower," "ocean waves returning," (gag, ach, ahuck...), *BUT* I have inserted several references that will be found in upcoming new songs so hang on to this if you want to do a lyrical scavenger hunt down the road!

OK we're all caught up now. To be continued...

Oh and:

"a million years of peacetime."

Ema

Anthr-O-Tone Records - 2nd Re-Release Announcement!

Thanks to all who have purchased album #1 in the Anthr-O-Tone Re-Release series - Thuli Dumakude's Senzeni Na? (keep it up please!). It's time to announce the second release: Relative by Little Hawk and Ema. The drop date will be midnight on Tuesday Nov 8.

This is the totally improvised album that I did with my Mi'kmaq brother, musician/storyteller - Little Hawk back in 2003. We held a "throw-down" style 3 day marathon session in which we came together at Ikhaya Studios and basically moved in (lol)! We spread out our respective instruments - everything from the traditional to the modern to the bizarre - all over the studio, set up mics everywhere and proceeded to engage in a series of improvised performances - randomly grabbing instruments and "jumping in" as the spirit moved us. It was a session of pure creative joy - totally improvised, technically "quick and dirty" (engineering-wise), musically energizing and spiritually uplifting. I can't begin to tell you how much fun this project was.

There was no stylistic goal or cultural agenda for this project. As I say in the liner notes, we gave a respectful nod to the traditions that informed our musical sensibilities; but then, we just played. So some will hone in on the more traditional elements and occasional lofty soundscapes that evoke holistic worldview spirituality (which is perfect for meditative practices so go ahead, load a few tracks in your smart phone and take it to your yoga session!) And others will be drawn into the magic of the raw interwoven musical parts and the in-your-face production - sometimes simple, sometimes intricate and even sometimes comic - that evoke an intimate and engaging private performance. Or both.

Either way, we're certain the music will transport you to another place. Go to www.littlehawk-ema.bandcamp.com after tomorrow night and get your premium download of Relative. And thanks again for supporting this series. Please spread the word and thank you for supporting original, artist-owned music.

Peace.
Ema

Thuli Dumakude's SENZENI NA? (Remastered): Pre-release announcement and offer!

Here it is kids! I am extremely excited to announce the first in the Anthr-O-Tone series of remastered collaborations between myself and some of my closest long time musical partners in this nutty, vibrant World myoozic realm:

Thuli Dumakude - SENZENI NA?

 

This is the long overdue (!!!) re-release of Thuli Dumakude's and my ground-breaking work from 1992. It is the first project (of many) that Thuli and I worked on together and we *knew* from the minute we hit the first session together, that this album was going to be totally unique and, as Thuli always put it: fierce.

      I'll tell you more about how this all came together as well as the long-time creative partnership this album engendered in another blog, but I want to get this thing MOVING, so I'm just going to give you a few tidbits for now... . 

Ema and Thuli Live 2005

Thuli and I produced and created this work in its entirety - Thuli writing, arranging and performing all of the stunning vocal work, while I wrote, arranged and performed all of the instruments (and programming). For all of you tech trivia buffs: we recorded the whole album in what was the first rather sparse and cramped iteration of Ikhaya Studios in Weehawken, NJ, on a Tascam 388 - 1/4" 8 track machine (!) in the 10' x 13' control room. Thuli managed to create those magically lush and emotionally lofty vocal-scapes by standing in a claustrophobic 3'x3', makeshift moving quilt vocal booth for hours (sometimes days) and singing with a range and energy I had never experienced as an artist...I'll never forget those first chills... . One more little esoteric tech tidbit for you deeper audio geeks: we had to stripe one of the tape tracks in order to sync up the very primitive midi sequencer, so we actually only had 7 tracks on which to record (keep that in mind as you're listening to this)! OK enough trivia for now; on to the subject at hand.

Re-mastering "Senzeni Na?"

The new, remastered version of Senzini Na? will drop at midnight on October 23, 2011. It will only be available as a premium digital download for now. But if we get enough requests we'll consider pressing CDs and offering them up through CD Baby and Amazon. 

RIGHT NOW we are offering it as a pre-order premium download special for $10 at www.thuli.bandcamp.com With the preorder purchase you will instantly receive a download of track 3. Emsebenzini and then when the album is released, you will receive an email with the download link for the entire album. You can use a credit card and you DON'T need a Paypal account

We're working hard to have it prepared for the drop on the 23rd (see "weary engineer" pic above), but why wait?! GET IT NOW and you can be jivvin' to some horn driven mbaqanga right now!!! NCA!

A Pinnochio story: ANTHR-O-TONE RECORDS becomes a REAL label (sort of)

Told you I'd be back soon! 

So let me state for the record (no pun intended), I am NOT (dramatic pause) and have NO interest (another one) in becoming a record "mogul" or "exec" and I have NO plans to eventually take over  and dominate the music industry with my gigantipithicus megacolossus of an art-crushing-extruded-mush-vomiting-uber-media--conglomerate of a "music group" (a laughable term to be sure but I digress). No sir (or mam). Let it be known that I created the Anthr-O-Tone label simply to have an identifiable brand to associate with Ownership and all other subsequent albums that I record and release - something to put down in the "label" category when you're filling out all of those distribution contracts and web forms...quite simply, a label, more in the literal sense ya know? BUT: there's a new development.

     Over the years I have had the good fortune to find myself collaborating with some remarkably creative partners, writing, recording, producing and releasing some really exciting and fullfilling projects (of which I am extremely proud) . These projects have all been reified in different mediums - ranging from vinyl, to cassettes to CDs - and they've all had varied trajectories, levels of success and interesting stories attached to them - ranging from soulfully gratifying to tragically comical. Some of them were released and distributed independently and some actually picked up by record companies (ack I just threw up in my mouth a little bit). Some had a good run but "ran their course" while others continued to chug along over the years, sometimes slowing down and other times picking up steam (an oscillation that manifested no change in the dismal royalty accounting on my quarterly statements...and I use the term "quarterly" loosely...again I digress...).

     So anyway, I frequently get emails from fans, friends and friends of friends (and resourceful esoteric collectors) asking about some of these albums - "are they stilll available anywhere?" and "if yes, where?". The answers up to this point have been either flat out "no" or "yes if you live in South Africa (or a territory where it's been sub-licensed like Norway or something). Well I realized that enough time has gone by now that there's no reason why these albums shouldn't be readily available in the US. All rights of ownership of these works have reverted to me and my creative partners. So all that is needed now is a distribution mechanism. 

     So I'm happy to announce that over this fall (and holiday) season, I will be rereleasing these fine works here in the US under the Anthr-O-Tone label. We'll start with digital downloads and if we get enough of a response for them we'll press CDs. 

     I am now in the process of remastering (where necessary) and will be announcing a pre-release offer of the first album shortly (and I KNOW many of you are going to be verrrry happy about this one)! So stay tuned!

Uxolo,

Ema

Autumn Pre-announcements Teaser

Yeah yeah I know, I know: my "handlers" have already harangued me about my woeful lack of attention to my blog: "You haven't posted since you started the House Concert Tour in February!!!"
Well, I like to think that that indicates how successful the House Concert Tour was! It kept me "chin just above water" busy which meant  some of my other duties in the PR realm were ignored: like blogging (see what I did there bringing it back around full circle?).  Anyway, the tour has come to a close with an "all boosters firing!" show back home in North Jersey (I'd say with a BANG! but that was two shows prior down in VA.), a new season is upon us and all the burners are heating up for some new developments in several categories. Some of it's coming real soon and I'll be making several  announcements and updates over the next couple of weeks; so stay tuned.

Before I sign off, let me say what a huge GAS it was to do the House Concert tour. I just love the format - the differences in spaces; the diversity of audiences; the intimacy... I made many new friends and fans as well as received such gratifying support from "old" ones. Thank you to hosts and attendees alike for making the whole thing so successful and so uniquely exciting. Let's do it again next year. But now I'm anxious to play out with other musos again (oops don't tip that hand yet).

So until the next "announcement"...
Uxolo,
Ema

"ROCKIN' THE HOUSE!!!" : loving the House Concert!

I started my 2011 House Concert tour a few weeks back and I'm just loving the format. I'll share some comments and experiences about some of the gigs in the next blog. But I still get a lot of people scrinching their face and going "huh" when I mention that I'm doing house concerts so I thought I'd "lift" the discussion about it from my website HC page and post it here.

Social networking, viral marketing and DIY technology have fractured the music biz landscape and enabled a more fertile environment than ever for world class musicians slightly outside the mainstream to successfully practice their craft, expand their exposure to a greater, more appreciative audience and simultaneously connect with their fans on a deeper personal level. There is one other element that further advances the indie artist / fan connection: HOUSE CONCERTS.

House concerts are hardly a new concept; indeed throughout history, house concerts have found favor with all segments of society from live recitals in aristocrats' parlors to blues jams in the neighbor's back yard. Today there is a global resurgence of house concerts and they have become a highly preferred way to experience live music by fans and musicians (including me) all over the world.

SO WHAT'S A HOUSE CONCERT?

Quite simply, a house concert is an invitation-only concert hosted by individuals in their own home or other suitable space.* A house concert creates a more intimate and directly engaging environment that enhances the performance experience for all involved - musician, audience and presenter. Think of it as hosting a VH1 "Unplugged" or "Storytellers" show of your own (without the broadcast crew of course). 

THE BASICS - In keeping with the "simple" theme above,  the basic ingredients for a house concert are:

• a willing host
• music fans (25+)
• a space* for them to sit comfortably and experience compelling music.
• oh yeah, the artist (hopefully me)

FORMAT - After the basics, there is no one perfect formula or format. House concerts can take on many different forms depending on the host's inclinations and the level of creative collaboration between host and artist. We mentioned the VH1 vibe above, but a creatively ambitious host with the right space can turn the event into its own unique "happening" - e.g., have you seen this commercial where a group takes over an abandoned gas station and turns it into a performance space? But do remember that it's a concert and not a party with music, so be sure as a host, to control the expectations of invitees as well as the event's basic outline:

• pre-show  - arrivals / socializing with optional food and beverage (or even "pot luck")
• performance period - e.g., 2 sets with an intermission
• post-show - artist "meet and greet", CD and merchandise purchases (unwrap em and get them signed while he's there!)

* SPACE: The host's home is the most obvious space and most living rooms can easily  hold 40+ people (really)! But there are many "unconventional" venues that work quite well: apartments, lofts, club rooms in apartment complexes, community spaces in college dorms, libraries, churches, barns, green houses (!) laundry rooms (!) your office (!) your empty warehouse (!). Again, a creative host could actually make just about any space work (although if you're booking me, make sure there is electricity - I don't literally do "unplugged"). And don't forget to consider outdoors if weather permits!

I have links to "how to" resources for hosting a house concert on my own HC page. They are good general guides that cover planning, logistics and money considerations. They are also full of helpful tips and suggestions. But if you want to contact me for more ideas and suggestions for tailoring one of your own contact me at info@emaworldrock.com

Next blog: notes from the house concert "trenches"!