I’m currently reading “The Hero With A Thousand Faces” by Joseph Campbell and studying and researching man’s relationship to duality… and of course all of this always leads to Carl Jung.

In the mist of discussions, musing and thinking out loud on Campbell and Jung’s philosophies, my friend recently shared this quote by Carl Jung, and I love it. I wanted to share it with you for your own musing:

“There can be no resolution, only patient endurance of the opposites which ultimately spring from your own nature. You yourself are a conflict that rages in itself and against itself, in order to melt its incompatible substances, the male and the female, in the fire of suffering, and thus create that fixed and unalterable form which is the goal of life. Everyone goes through this mill, consciously or unconsciously, voluntarily or forcibly. We are crucified between the opposites and delivered up to the torture until the reconciling third takes place. Do not doubt the rightness of the two sides within you, and let whatever may happen, happen. The apparently unendurable conflict is proof of the rightness of your life. A life without contradiction is either only half a life or else a life in the Beyond, which is destined only for angels. But God loves human beings more than the angels.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to spend my year…

I’ve been hiding out this past month, since my return from touring and performing so much in 2011. I LOVE travel and touring, but it takes a toll on time and energy. And when it comes to recording, staying put is the key. (At least it is for me.)

So now that I’m on the ground and staying put in Los Angeles, I’ve been working hard on the new album that will be released this year. The recording sessions have begun, the wheels are turning on the big production.

The new album is a narrative and will tell a mythological story that is full of archetypes and characters from this world and beyond. Like many stories are told, this album will be released in three parts. My goal for releasing Part One is in the spring of 2012. As for when exactly, I’ll reveal as the production develops… but my goal is May 2012, so stay tuned. The entire project will be around 20 songs. This project is big, beefy and will be very juicy for your ears. My overall goal is to have the entire project released by the end of 2012.

I wish I could clone myself to make execution happen as fast as possible. But since cloning is a new technology and relatively freaky, I’ll just have to settle with being patient and keeping my head down to get the project out. Sigh… oh, patience, you test me so often!

Other new-ness to share with you? Next month I will be unveiling a new website, and will also share video performances from my concerts in Oaxaca, Mexico.

As for gigs, I won’t be playing much until Spring and Summer, so that I can keep focused on recording and releasing the new work. But there will be gigs, oh yes, so stay tuned there too. Lots of surprises are planned for you.

Life is amazing, and I am inspired! And now that I’m stationary, I can find the creative time to write more blogs. Thank goodness, because I always want to share more with you than I do. But as you know, timing really is everything… and time is always on our side. (Note to self.)

Phew, life is moving fast. I’ve been back from Oaxaca for a few weeks, but have had to jump right into this upcoming concert tour in Seattle, which begins this Thursday evening.

I love Seattle. The people are juicy, thoughtful and kind, and like Oaxaca, Mexico, their appreciation for art and creativity runs deep. The passion there is determined passion, relentless and intentional.

And they definitely dig the viola!

If you’re in the Seattle area or have friends who you’d like to introduce to my work, here’s the info for all four concerts. Thank you to Ryan Southen for the photography and Bea Alvarez for designing the photos.

I’ve just returned to Los Angeles after spending three weeks in Oaxaca de Juarez, the capital city of Oaxaca, Mexico. I gave five concerts, ate world-class cuisine, even brushed up against danger. I took so many photos and videos that I’m contemplating how to share it all with you, too…

Oaxaca is a place we can learn from. It is artistic, colorful, revolutionary, and the attention to detail in the design, architecture, cuisine and culture is outrageous. The prime industry are the arts and tourism, so life is juicy and always vibrant. It was my second time there and my love affair with the city has only grown.

Where to begin? I suppose we should begin where my heart is lingering from the entire trip, the Museo del Ferrocarril (The Train Museum).

The Museo del Ferrocarril is one of the portals into the creative underground of Oaxaca, and the venue for the 5th and last concert of the trip. It is an old, unused train station that has been taken over by a collective of artists from Mexico and beyond. Scattered all over the compound are installations, sculptures, paintings, and drawings.

The energy of the place is vibrant and the art is alive and always changing. I was so grateful for the discovery; it was just the kind of community I adore. The collective of artists are of all ages, and they are inspired, determined and committed to their creative work. Yes, please.

I was invited to perform here by Gabriel Coto, a Cuban-born artist who now lives in Oaxaca, by way of Argentina. Gabriel attended my concerts at Café Central the weeks prior, and we became fast friends. He is full of talent no matter what medium, whether it be painting, sculpture, installations or simple sketches.

At my first show at Café Central, Gabriel sketched these images of me on a napkin using a marker:

Beautiful, aren’t they? He sketched six images in total. The one where my hands is close to my face was drawn while I was playing the harmonica.

It was then that I was asked to give a concert at the Museo del Ferrocarril, where Gabriel is a resident artist.

I was invited to give my concert in front of the trains, but it was a bit too cold outside for such a thing, so I performed inside of a giant building. I took this photo while we were preparing the stage, which was a railroad platform on wheels.

They brought out the chairs, they had food and vendors serve food and fresh, warm punch made from figs, apricots and cider. The perfect drink for a fall evening.

And as I performed the 90-minute set, I noticed my shadow against the blue wall in the side, dancing with my every beat. My friend Bea captured all five of my concerts on video, so I’ll share some moments soon.

After the concert I discovered that Gabriel had been creating paintings of me on canvas. I was elated when I first saw them… and I’ve been debating whether I should share them with you since they are not finished, but works in progress. It is a sensitive thing to share a work in progress.

I am going to show them to you, because I want to celebrate Gabriel’s talent now, in the moment. But let’s honor Gabriel and not distribute these images since they are not the finished. (Thank you.)

This first image was inspired by the insert that comes with my debut CD Vol. I: Battle Cry. Face isn’t finished, of course…

And this next one I like very much too. During my last night in Oaxaca this past Friday evening, I posed for Gabriel so he could get the lines of my face right. He even captured my favorite newsboy hat that I’ve been wearing a lot this year.

Ah, Oaxaca… the city kept a piece of my heart, a part of my soul is still there. I’m going to go begin another blog now so I can share more stories and photos.

There is to be said about Oaxaca. The architecture, the political history, the 2006 revolution, the food… oh, the food. The indigenous Zapotec, the colors, the cathedrals, and last but not least, the Day of the Dead.

In the meantime, here is another angle of Gabriel Coto’s studio.

I custom-designed my new bass guitar even more. I changed all of the tunings of the strings so that they match the viola. Here’s what happened:

A bass guitar’s tunings are usually in 4th intervals, and the notes of the strings from lowest to highest on a 4-string bass (they can also come with 5 or 6 strings) are typically E, A, D and G. Now, just like the viola, my bass is tuned in 5th intervals, and the notes are C, G, D and A.

I also put on flatwound strings, which I hear are used less because they are slightly less dynamic in sound. But I chose thse because my li’l viola-trained fingertips have callouses that are unique to the viola, and I don’t want to get the monster callouses that come with the regular roundwound strings of the bass as they will interfere with my viola’s needs from my fingertips.

They say that flatwound strings are a bit less dynamic, but in my case things rules don’t always apply because of the circumstances: I have the Reggie Hamilton edition bass, which means I have the incredible ability to change the tones of the bass internally as it in itself is a dynamic bass. I also have multiple effect processors to run the guitar through that can manipulate the sound.

There will be no lack of dynamics in this camp, because there are no rules.

I love the bass guitar! Too much.

I’m slowly getting better at it, with my tone especially. The callouses that one gets (or I am getting) from the bass are kinda intense. Thing is, I have to be careful not to practice the bass too much in this phase of learning because it uses the muscles in my hands and arms in a new way, and over-doing it can mess w/ my super-trained viola muscles.

Patience is in order, cuz I love wailing and plucking that thing — it’s so sexy!!!

And huge. Wait until you see me standing with it. Tiny girl with a big bass is coming your way!

I love my setup. Ah music, you mean the world to me…

Ladies and Gents, I want to introduce you to the new addition of sound for my music… my new Reggie Hamilton Bass Guitar!

I’m so giddy about this addition, and already started writing songs with it. I wanted a bass to add some very low frequencies and thunderous rumbles to my sound, as well as have a way to bring in more funk to the mix. For all of you music geeks out there, below is the description of all it can do. I’ve custom designed this bass to match the low tones and strings of the viola, too.

The Reggie Hamilton Standard Jazz Bass® guitar is designed to the virtuoso R&B bassist’s exacting specs, with gorgeous tone, great looks and unbelievable feel. Features include an American Series Precision Bass® pickup, custom Noiseless™ Jazz Bass bridge pickup, active/passive switch, 20-fret maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard, ’70s stamped open-gear tuners and Hipshot® Bass Xtender drop-D tuner on the E string.

My music has been categorized as many different genres and I’ve heard again and again that until one sees me perform live, can they fully understand what it is I do. The genres that my music often falls under are classical, contemporary classical, electronica, acoustic ambient… and Discmakers felt entitled to call Vol. I: Battle Cry new age (I have no idea what that means and find it upsetting – my warning to musicians who want to print CDs with Discmakers).

I have never fully-vibed with any of these categories. And recently, a friend and fan of my music called me a bluesman, and it made my heart explode. He articulated the reasons so well that the relief that his compliment presented brought me to tears. I felt for the first time someone got it right.

Here’s what he said:

“Your music really feels like the Blues, Christen. And I should clarify – when most people think of the blues, they are usually only talking about the standard 12-bar blues form that we all know and love. But often when I think about the Blues, it’s in a much larger context, one that is more of a state of mind that extends past that simple definition. Not just Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf, but also, Bartok is the Blues, Jobim is the blues, Flamenco is definitely the blues (big time), the Ode To Joy… (!!!) Hank Williams. Miles. Jimi. Stravinsky. That sweet Gypsy (Roma) viola stuff… mmmmm. There’s so much poetry, art, film, literature that absolutely mine that Blues thang (usually all of the good stuff… Van Gogh!!!, Coppola, Joyce, freakin’ Shakespeare!!! – all the Blues).

Intrinsic to all of these is this quality of trueness and authenticity – and that involves a bit of dipping into the well of melancholy and sadness that underlies all existence (not in a big bad awful sense, but more from a kind of Buddhist perspective). It’s not all doom and gloom, because somewhere in there is a strong feeling that beauty, wonder, and hope do exist (otherwise, what would be the point of all that singing it out loud in the first place?). That’s the benchmark that humanity is always longing for. And that’s why all the best stuff has that ability to coax a tear, or make the little hairs stand straight up (check out the lyrics to the Supremes’ “Stop In The Name Of Love”!). Your song “The Crux and The Shadow” did that to me today as I was driving around in the car – and that, Christen, is why you’re a Blues-man.”

The only amendment I would make to this heartfelt statement is that some might say I’m more of a Blues-woman.

Sometimes in life there are moments where we are quietly stirring and brewing on the inside. There are times to share, and times to marinate in one’s own vision so we can give birth to something true and authentic. I’ve been quiet lately because I’ve been deep in the cocoon. But the time to share is nearing.

I have so many absurd and beautiful stories to share with you music-lovers. Concerts in magnificent countries, new musical inspirations and musings, even an accidental hang-out session with Donald Rumsfeld (where we had a hot debate about what true Power is in the world)… phew. But I haven’t found (or made) the time to write about all of it!

I have so many ideas and songs brewing inside, so much music I want to record. And right now what I need to keep reminding myself, in the vein of Guns N’ Roses, to have a little Patience. Because all it its time, I’ll get the work out there.

I’m sorting out the plan and the means to do all of it. And to keep you updated on what I’m brewing next, here’s the scoop for this girl and her viola:

THE NEXT CD
I have 20+ new sketches, songs and melodies worked out, and time in the recording sessions will commence. (Stay tuned via my newsletter, Facebook or Twitter).

There will be a few songs that I will release as singles, before the full album is released.

Some songs will have added instruments like the harmonica… but I’m also thinking of adding some electric bass, and this really excites me. The bass will bring more low frequencies and funk to my sound.

Also I have a new effects processor that has been helping expand my musical voice, some of you have seen me with it at recent gigs… It has taken a while to get to know this gear, because it is quite the piece of equipment. But it allows me to manipulate the sound of the viola to a much more limitless degree. Slowly but surely I’m finding the sounds and technology that are allowing me to create the musical compositions I hear in my imagination.

I often don’t share what technology I’m using because what I’m trying to do is create a sound that has not yet existed in the land of music. Maybe being so secretive is not the way to go in this open source world, but for the moment, while I’m deep in the crux of creation and birthing new work, I want to keep quiet. I hope you understand.

And the more I learn about how I can expand the expectations and redefine the sound of the viola, the more technology I’m discovering that can expand the instrument’s capabilities. My current gear is exciting, but it still has some limitations so more expansion is in order. Clearly there is a long future between me and new technology.

I also am in process of some really exciting collaborations with other musicians that I’ll share with you in due time.

INSPIRATIONS
Each song I write, each collection of music (album) are based on concepts. There is context to all of it. I need to have a conceptual relationship with my songs, it helps me arrange and carve life into it.

My first album Vol. I: Battle Cry was about our relationship to our personal power. I currently have two bodies of work/collections of music simultaneously developing; how each will be released is the surprise. One collection of songs are perspectives on the relationship between Choice and Time. The other collection of music is a collaborative project that is structured around self-imposed limitations.

WORDS
I write music; but I also I write words. I haven’t written many blogs or stories recently, and it’s been heavy on my mind, because it’s a part of who I am. I’ve spent almost as many hours learning to be a writer as I have been trained in composing and performing music.

But it appears that the silent days are dissipating, because I have the urge to write. So I invite you to keep checking back for more content, for it is certainly en route.

2011 has been one of the most creative years of my life so far. Very soon the time to share will be upon us. And I’m so eager to experience this with you.

Feeling pensive and electrified by this performance by Saul Williams on Def Jam Poetry. His work here makes the value of art all the more clear. His discipline and research makes me want to learn history on a deeper level. And his insatiable confidence makes me lean in all the more.