Vandana Bali: Journal

Hi!

I was so glad that it didn't rain on us (me and my friend Mike) during Bay to Breakers this morning. I decided to thank the weather gods and sing for them (anyone catch the reference from one of my songs????) . OK, it's late and I'm punchy :-)

I sang at the bi-monthly Octavia Lounge Open Mike tonight for the first time. It's regularly hosted by the super, duper talented pianist, singer, actor and coach Barry Lloyd and Mr. Sassy himself, Bill Cooper. What a fun night! Loads of talented local singers sang wonderful songs in such a lovely dinner lounge.

It was so nice to see so many familiar faces (Ellen, Tess, Marylin, Valerie, Bob, Bruce) and to meet so many new folks (Tino, Carly, Bill, Barry)!

I sang
-Love Changes Everything (from my new "Power of Love" CD)
-Then You Look at Me (NEW SONG, new song, can we say new song?)
-With You (title track from my first CD and a song I hadn't performed live since 1988!)

Please come on by to the next one on Sunday, June 4th from 6:30pm - 10:30pm. Check out my calendar section for details and bring your friends out for a wonderful evening of songs we all love performed by an amazing group of local cabaret performers :-)

Take care,
Vandana

I snuck into Martuni's on Friday night and was spotted pretty quickly by Houston Allred (a wonderful pianist and singer) and ended up singing several songs: As If We Never Said Goodbye, Love Changes Everything and a bluesy rendition of God Bless the Child.

I made some new friends and ended up seeing a few regular's the next night at opera singer Patricia Racette's jazz and standards cabaret show at the Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel. What a fun weekend and what a small world! I am really looking forward to seeing Patricia Racette in the San Francisco Opera's Madama Butterfly on May 27th (opening night). What a versatile and truly wonderful performer!

Hi!

I think I'm on a roll right now. My sister came out to Martuni's monthly song circle with me today and we had a blast! Sean Bart rocked the keys! This guy can really play the piano!

I performed five songs this evening:
As if We Never Said Goodbye
When He Shines
Love Changes Everything
Then You Look At Me
The Power of Love

Take care,
Vandana

Hi!

I am so excited! We had an amazing 75 minute show last night at Martuni's. All the seats were filled with smiling guests - another sold-out show! What a wonderful way to share my birthday.

Guests were pleasantly surprised to receive a copy of my new "The Power of Love" CD as part of their ticket price.

I was honored to have the supremely talented Victoria Theodore on piano last night - this lady sizzles on the keys! http://www.vtmusicworks.com.

We ended the evening with a chocolate ice cream birthday cake. I'll post photos next week.

SET LIST Love Changes Everything
Being Alive
Someone to Watch Over Me
On My Own
God Bless the Child
Meadowlark
The Nearness of You
I Will Say Goodbye
The Power of Love
Summertime (a cappella)
When He Shines
Not While I'm Around
ENCORES: As If We Never Said Goodbye
Then You Look At Me

Hi!

Wow! It was such a pleasure to perform a 40 minute set at this important volunteer day at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The event was hosted by Mayor Gavin Newsom. Learn more about Project Homeless Connect at http://www.projecthomelessconnect.com/ Volunteer your time on June 9, 2006 and be a part of what makes San Francisco such a great place to call home: helping those in need. Being able to share the gift of music never felt so good! I especially want to thank the supremely talented Victoria Theodore for playing the keyboard for me today. You rock!

SET LIST: The Power of Love
Someone to Watch Over Me
When He Shines
Love Changes Everything
The Nearness of You
God Bless the Child
As If We Never Said Goodbye
Then You Look at Me

And, we had a request from the audience during the middle of the set for "My Heart Will Go On - the Love Theme from the movie Titanic" We did it and I had to improvise the words for a good portion of the songs since I didn't know the words. I think of it as pulling an "Ella" when she forgot the words to "Mack the Knife" in Berlin in 1960. Remember that?? It's one of my favorite takes and it reminds me how important it is to be able to just go with the flow and have fun.

Thanks to Kevin Marlatt, Blue Bear School of Music's Executive Director, for organizing our participation at this event.

Take care,
Vandana

Hi,

What a fun time! While the crowd was sparse (lots of rain kept many regulars away) those of us who were there had a great time! I sang two new songs, "As If We Never Said Goodbye" and "Then You Look at Me," and had enough time to sing my current fav "God Bless the Child." Thanks to James Campbell Jr. for playing piano today and to Ellen Nicholas for hosting the monthly song circle at Martuni's.

Take care,
Vandana

Hi folks,

I had some fun this past Friday night (March 31, 2006). My friend Tony Lindsay, an amazing R&B/Jazz singer with soulful, buttery tenor vocals, sings with the Black Market Jazz Orchestra at the Top of the Mark some weeks. The band was kind enough to let me sit in and sing a bluesy version of my current favorite song from my new CD, "God Bless the Child." We rocked the house and it was so nice to see the entire dance floor full of people by the end of the song. It was a clear night (can you believe the rain stopped?) and the view from the 19th floor was to die for. Thanks to John for coming and taking that awesome photo in the photo section.

Take care,
Vandana

Hi,

I just went out tonight with my friend John to see my friend Groovy Judy compete in a battle of the bands and I was inspired to drink a really good martini. So, John and I headed to Martuni's (my fav spot) and Steve Snelling was doing an outstanding job on piano. I got to chatting with Steve and ended up doing an impromptu performance of "God Bless the Child" and a lovely duet with Vanessa from Honolulu on "Someone to Watch Over Me." Steve is amazing! You need to check him out. What a fun night!

Take care,
Vandana

Hi folks,

My song "God Bless the Child" will be streamed in cyberspace on Monday, March 20, 2006 sometime between 2:00pm - 2:30pm Pacific Time. After that, The Power of Love and God Bless the Child will be in rotation at http://www.youthradio.org. I'm planning to head to XM Satellite soon!

Vandana

Hi!
I'll be a volunteer performer at Mayor Gavin Newsom's Project Homeless Connect event on Thursday, April 13th at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. I will perform a 40 minute set along side several talented bands from Blue Bear School of Music. The amazingly talented Victoria Theodore, http://www.vtmusicworks.com will be on keyboards.

Only volunteers can attend so consider sparing a few hours that day to help those in our community who are less fortunate than us. Sign up at http://www.projecthomelessconnect.com/
Thanks!
Vandana

Hi,

I just uploaded my voiceover demo today! I had a blast working with producer Taylor Korobow of San Francisco's Voice Factory on this demo, http://www.thevoicefactory.com/
When you or anyone you know needs a warm, professional, announcer-type, girl-next-door voice for radio, commercials or industrials, please email voiceover@vandana.net for availability and rate information. You can stream my voiceover demo at the end of the music section.

Thanks!
Vandana

Gone! I may put it back up here in the near future. Pics are coming soon! {So, for a limited time, you can check out a video clip from my performance of "The Power of Love" at the Plush Room last Monday. It's from a friend's digital camera and I did the video editing. It's a short stream so no lengthy download. Enjoy! Thanks! Vandana}

Wow! I have dreamed of performing in this room! It was such an honor to sing on the same stage as my favorite Broadway Diva Patti LuPone! Patrick Archer hosted a local talent spotlight tonight of some amazing blues, folk, rock, and country talent. I had a fabulous time singing powerhouse, live versions of "God Bless the Child" and "The Power of Love" to a full house at the historic Plush Room. I'll be back there for sure really soon! Bobby, John and Loren - thanks for coming out and supporting me tonight! And, thanks for taking all of those pics and even some live video. I'll post pics in the photo section this week.

Hi,

I am excited to let you know that my "Power of Love" CD will be on iTunes this spring. My first CD, "With You" is already on iTunes and 40 other downloadable music sites. I'm so excited!!

Thanks,
Vandana

Hi,

What a fun night. I had fun singing "Love Changes Everything," "God Bless the Child," "Summertime," and "Unexpected Song." I even sold some CD's! Matt, thanks for coming out tonight! You have to check Houston Allred out on piano and voice here. He's excellent!

Take care,
Vandana

Hi,

It's always nice to just show up, sing and feel so welcomed by a Friday night crowd. I sang "God Bless the Child", "Someone to Wacth Over Me" and an a cappella rendition of "Summertime." And, as always, the martini's here are the best. Anke - thanks for coming with me tonight!

Take care,
Vandana

Thanks to you, we had a full house (standing room only) at my "Power of Love" CD release party on Saturday, December 10th! Everyone had a great time meeting each other, (check out some of the photos) listening to songs from both of my CD's and drinking "Power of Love" martinis. We sold a bunch of CD's and, if you missed it, you can now buy my CD online!

SET LIST: Love Changes Everything
Being Alive
The Nearness of You
God Bless the Child
Someone to Watch Over Me
When He Shines
Meadowlark
The Power of Love

Thank you!
Vandana

Hi,

Such a great crowd! I love Skip and his team! I sang "Love Changes Everything" and "God Bless the Child" today from my upcoming CD and announced that my CD release party would be held at Martuni's on December 10th.

Take care,
Vandana

Hi!

I am so excited to invite all of you to my CD release party on Saturday, December 10th from 6:30pm - 8:00pm at Martuni's in San Francisco. I am honored to have Jeffrey Chin on piano and am even more honored to have my party at a cabaret landmark in San Francisco!! I'll perform songs from both CD's and you can enjoy a signature "Power of Love" martini before and during the show! Details are available at http://www.vandana.net/calendar.html. Hope to see you all there!

Thanks for your support! Vandana

Hi,

Renee and Scottie, it was an honor and my pleasure to sing "The Power of Love" to you both directly after the cake cutting ceremony. What a beautiful setting amidst the vineyeards in Lodi! And, a nice group of 130 guests cheering you on for the rest of the evening.

Take care,
Vandana

Hi,

Wow! What talent! Diverse musical styles, poetry and a full house of enthusiastic supporters were on hand for a most excellent open mike! I sang three songs from my upcoming CD: The Power of Love, The Nearness of You and God Bless the Child. Hope to see many more of you at the next one! Sophie - thanks for coming!!

Take care,
Vandana

Hi,

I'm excited to let you know that we've gone to press with the CD. It should be available in November 2005! Hope you like the cover! The rest of the photographs and general package design is amazing!!! :-)

Thanks,
Vandana

Hi folks,

I wanted to let you know that all proceeds from my debut CD, "With You" will be donated to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief efforts in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast states through September 30, 2005. Please click here to buy my CD and help those in need http://cdbaby.com/cd/vandana.

Thank you!
Vandana

Hi!

I'm excited to let you know that you can stream song clips from my new CD today! I hope you enjoy it! http://www.vandana.net/music-group-1.html
Please come back and buy the CD in the fall!

Thank you!
Vandana

Hi,

I'm very excited to let you know that my second CD, "The Power of Love," will be available for purchase in late October 2005. It's most easily described as a CD of power ballad torch songs (think: Barbara Streisand, Patti LuPone and Celine Dion meet Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday).

I'm very proud to have worked with such wonderful musicians and an amazing co-producer, Steve Goodie http://www.stevegoodie.com, to complete this album over a weekend in Santa Monica.

Now, I'm in the process of getting the cover photo shot and all the other fun stuff involved with producing a CD. Song clips will be up in early September 2005.

Thank you for your support!

Vandana