THE WEEKS AFTER BORJONER WAS BORN

It’s been a couple of weeks since BORJONER was released into the world.

During that time, I’ve celebrated my 41st Birthday, had 1 newspaper interview, 2 radio interviews, 2 cakes, umpteen glasses of bubbly things, 1 listening party, and oh so little sleep. I will definitely start eating all the green things and drinking all the water and squeezing all the lemons.

But, let’s talk about the aftermath. I am so very grateful for every ounce of good press, epic radio spins (BLESS YOU CKUA AND CJSW), loving reviews (DOWNBEAT!!), emails, social media high-fives, retweets, and all that good happy stuff. But in the realness of it all, in doing 90% of my own PR, full days on my laptop and phone, ignoring my kids and husband and duties at home, I’ve developed carpal tunnel and tennis elbow, my plantar fasciitis has returned and I am sleepless at night. My mind is buzzing, I can’t stop checking spins and streams and emails and analytics. I have sent countless emails saying vaguely the same thing to a lot of men. (I say, men, because I am having a hard time finding the women who write about jazz.)

What’s a girl to do? We all know that there is no real income from albums and merch, and the running joke is that a CD is nothing but a very expensive business card (thank you again CADA…) Spotify Streams are used as leverage for festivals and other booking agencies and while I would love to use that leverage right now, alas, I cannot.

A couple of things happened this month that made me shake deep down. First of all, Broadway announced their closure through to 2021. Secondly, a dear friend and colleague pulled the plug on my hometown and left for work in another province. So guys, if Broadway is out, where does that leave me? Will we have to sell our house, traveling for work like so many characters in films I’ve had pity for. I wish I was a composer right now so badly so I could play how my heart feels.

Tight, and yet at peace. On pause, yet sometimes ticking way too hard.

But on the other side, I wonder where will next week take me? Can I stay afloat this great pause for a little while longer?

So now that I’ve had this strange pity party/celebration, can I ask you to do something for me?

Please share with me how the album resonates with you. Feel free to leave a Facebook Review here or a Google Review here. Or email jazz@ckua.com to get the album played on the dedicated jazz program. Bug your old college radio station to play it. Show your parents how to save it on Apple Music. Share it with your favourite 20-year-old, cause they might like it.

Be well,

xx

AJ