forgiveness by cable - unfinished spoken word piece

they show it on tv
family, once rotten now sweet
the young actor plays out forgiveness
like its so easy
like letting go or something like that
and the old man smiles, no he was never a bad man
he didn't mean to break skin or batter bones
just made some mistakes
how can you hate him for mistakes

when his hip doesn't work anymore
and he carries a cane to help him move about the apartment
on tired feet
legs that once ran faster than little feet
fingers that once teared at hair
fists that once demanded respect
lips that sprung forth words
piece of shit
worthless
you are NOTHING
dirty whore

so when it is my time
will I sit by his bed
or just walk away?
because forgiveness by cable makes it seem so easy

.......................................................All Writing Copyright © Emaline Delapaix 2007

Soon I Shall Write

We just moved and I have been getting to know the new house and electric piano but I promise to write a lot more soon. EU/UK tour postponed until Winter or Spring, not sure but still coming just a little later than originally expected. But a lovely Western Canada tour planned, dates starting to trickle in little by little. Lovely new musicians on this side of the country, much news. More soon :)

New CD Peculiar Places

From Jan onwards I will be recording and finishing my first full length album finally, after such a long time, but I think it will be worth the wait and I feel like I am finally ready to put such a big piece of me out into the universe.

The CD is called "Peculiar Places" and will feature some of the tracks you might have heard on myspace including Bug Song, Enough For Me and High but will also include some newer ones I wrote in the past few years including "Friday Morning Lullabies" which will feature the lovely Sahra Featherstone on harp.

This CD is the story of my music, the people I have met, experiences I have had, from when I started 5 years ago until now. It will feature many dear friends, fellow musicians and some wonderful surprises and will be something you have never heard before. It's a mix of folk, jazz, intelligent pop/rock with a little latin, flamenco, roots and cabaret thrown in, with loads of piano, acoustic guitar, strings and celtic harp.

Check out the beautiful back cover that a local artist called Ray Sun did for me.

More updates as they come :)

What I did on Christmas Day, The Homeless, Bowen Island

This year I decided I was going to be less wasteful and less selfish and spent all of christmas eve with my partner cooking food to hand out the following day to the homeless in Vancouver. We managed to find two other kind souls willing to help and the 4 of us chipped in and made christmas lunch bags with lovely warm potatoes in their jackets, mushroom nut loaf, fruit, juice, chocolate and homemade mince tarts.We handed most of the food out on West Hastings and man was it an eye opener. I had mixed feelings; both sadness and happiness, that I could make a few people smile and also, I am glad that I went out on that street and and faced my stupid fear, of it being dangerous and not a place I would want to be. All the people that we handed out food to were friendly, thankful and there were definitely a few characters, especially the dude smoking a a cigarette and reading maxim in his sleeping bag LOL!We promised we would do this more often, not just on christmas.
On Christmas Day we had the same food we gave out and it was delicious and the best christmas in a long time for me. We ate at the house I am house sitting on Bowen Island, looking out onto the harbour. It couldn't have been better.
I took some photos today, so hope to have some up soon.I hope you have had a good holiday and hey, if you have any left over food from the festivities, why not drop it at your local food bank? You can find a bunch of them on yahoo or google....
em

The World Through One Eye

We got to Vancouver just over a month ago and it's been pretty tough. No drinking water, power outages and storms and 3 eye operations later, the last to fix what the first Dr screwed up it's hard to be positive but one thing is I have an eye patch, how cool is that?
I am in bed, as per usual, seems to be a running theme with me lately, and no not for any funny business, just resting and sleeping a lot. I have managed to practise my guitar a lot and added some links to my myspace page that matter to me. Once I am better I may even go out into the city and be a bit of an activist helping out handing out flyers about KFC's cruelty, but first things first.
They say there might be another really bad storm tonight, puhlease not now, it's not fun sitting darkness with one eye and a bad back in bed with no net or lights to read. I guess the planet is finally telling us how it feels. Is anyone listening? I hope so, if you are check out the link on my profile for an incovenient truth and pledge to see it and make sure you do, "hint" you can watch it on youtube.com for free in a bunch of sections.I am have been listening to a lot of Sophie Zelmani lately, she is nice during surgery and the wonderfully talented and still very sexy Tim Finn's new CD "Imaginary Kingdom" which has some really wonderful ballads on it. You know he was most favourite singer musician when I was 3. I used to stand in front of the TV enthralled by Mr Finn in Split Enz and wanted so much to be like him one day, he is my longest crush ;PSo it's christmas time again eh?If I am well enough this year we are going to volunteer some of our time at a local homeless shelter or something similar and pledge not to buy a lot of crap as we don't need it.
Over the holidays I will be house/dog sitting on a local island which will be really lovely, inspiring and restful I am sure after all this eye and back crap. I will be looking after a lovely dog with a big personality. The island looks so beautiful, I wish I could live in a place like that. I will take some photos when I am there and put them up when I can.
Ok so I should be the good little patient and eat and take my medication.
I hope you and yours are all well and remember this christmas week will be hard for a lot of people out there with less than us. Perhaps you too could spare an hour to help with a local charity gathering money, or helping with christmas lunches? Imagine how much your time would mean to those in need....xemaline

Recovering from two eye operations

I am recovering from two eye operations so if I don't write anything or take a while to get back to people straight away that's why as I am really tired and spending a lot of time sleeping.

Life is a bit shitty at the moment, not feeling very anything except pain and fatigue but I look forward to when I will be feeling a lot better.
x

Finally in Vancouver!!!

We arrived a few days ago, glad to have survived the backroads of Manitobe (new nickname) and Saskatchewan as well as the snow and goodbyes of Calgary.What a marvellous and brightly coloured city! On the first evening we went out for a special birthday dinner at the Modern Club, had yummy Okonomi's and to True Confections for dessert eating Pumpkin Pie, Blueberry Cheesecake and Fresh Berry Pie. After that we needed a few days to hibernate and just rest after an 11 day trip across Canada to get here. I am excited and looking forward to getting out and getting to know the city and have so many coffee appointments with people I can't keep up.
I am meeting with some other musicians this week and do expect to be out gigging in the next few weeks, just little intimate shows to begin with, to go with the weather and testing the waters. More news soon!
em

Emaline is playing piano, scary :)

I got this electric piano just under a month ago and the songs have been pouring out of me like a fever and annoying the crap out of my partner, constant practise and refinement.

I am really excited as it's been over two years since I had a keyboard or piano of sorts because of all the traveling, moving about and I wasn't sure if I had any real skills on this instrument but it looks like there has been something hidden away in me and it's finally coming out.

I'm no Tori or Amy Seeley (nod to you Amy) but I am not too bad and I am confident I will be playing at least a song or two at the next bunch of shows.

I am going to do my best to get some demos of these new songs done on my 4 track and up on here before I head out to Vancouver in the next few weeks so you can hear what I have been up to, just don't ask me what key anything is in, I haven't the foggiest :)

Joanna Newsom Last Night & Guitarist Wanted for Summer Tour

Are you obscenely talented on guitar and looking for a gig next summer?

Go here, read and listen; www.myspace.com/emalinesguitarsongs

Thanks!


Joanna Newsom last night!!!


I went to see Joanna Newsom perform at the Mod Club in Toronto last night with Sahra, Jason and Andreas and it was awesome.

She's a wonderful story teller and soooo cute, not to mention the amazing talent she has with the harp. I feel inspired.

The only thing thing I would say that could have been better was having the show at a different venue with more seating as it damn hurt to stand up for nearly 3 hours all squished up. Oh and the opening band were good too though I don't know their name, something weird. Will try and find out.

Winter Concerts!!!

I will be doing a bunch of intimate, stripped back shows as part of a winter concert series with a few different musicians on piano, strings and vocals between December and February.

I will be concentrating on my more quieter material, new piano compositions as well as a few more upbeat tunes to make sure you stay awake!

I will be joined by various different pianists and string players at different shows and you will also get to hear some of their music as an added bonus.

For now, here is a little bit about the series;

Coming this cold season:

"in the winter dark"

A series of very special winter concerts featuring Australian singer/songwriter/artist Emaline Delapaix and special guest artists/musicians.

www.sonicbids.com/inthewinterdark
and www.myspace.com/inthewinterdark for more information

Enough For Me featured on "The Bleeding Edge" Podcast 22nd September

Enough For Me is featured on "The Bleeding Edge" Podcast for 22nd September as well as a bunch of other awesome music.

If you have itunes, just click on this link to load it otherwise check out official site for "The Bleeding Edge" to find out more.

Thanks for your support!

em

there are many things i love (written @ the calgary airport, Aug 06)

soy vanilla chai, airports, email, my monkey posing as a cat bag, digital photos, twinkling city sky lights, the blonde hairs on my arms, elastic bands, bare feet, sweet potato burritos, singing and making them feel something, my beaten up passport and it's many stamps, portable music, phoning home, london at 3am, grandmas cheesecake, australian summers, st moritz dressed in winter, teaching myself to forget, dogs running & smiling, flax & soy corn thins, making toffee after midnight over the stove, red wine with friends, the smell of the ocean, fresh flaky croissants from nice, the london 73 bus, her kindness, moondog parties, wild buffalo nights, postcards, sushi, damien's dress sense, venice in september, white peaches, cocktail onions, canolis from college st, the city when everyone's sleeping, fingers that tell a story, eating sweet pastries in zurich station, napping after dinner with a full belly, watching the sunrise in cornwall in december, paperbacks with well worn covers, richmond sunsets up on the hill, hari krishna melbourne lunches with tim and ambika, not speaking but understanding, hot chocolate on commercial drive, picnics in the dandenongs, curtains, swiss dark chocolate and most of all, socks with sandals... i'm sure there's more to come

on the eve of thirty years

on the eve of my thirty years i am here listening to paper doll over and over by lovely uk friends "hush the many" and waiting from my okonomi to arrive.

5 wishes i have on this eve of my thirtieth year;

1)to make a lovely, moving record by early next year called "peculiar places"

2)to make up with people that i have been estranged from

3)to have a lovely peaceful day tomorrow, eat delicious food &
smiles lots

4)get my bubbles back

5)be happy

What is up?

1)Touring in the summer was sweet and sometimes hard but in the end it was worth it and I learnt a lot.

2)New friends, old friends and some friends who weren't friends but now I know.

3)Growing up is hard but must be done.
I will be 30 in a few days, I am scared but glad, it is the year of the first album, I am finally ready.

4)Recording with Sahra soon, 3 songs for the new album, me on guitar, her on harp, violin and flute and others guesting, very excited.

5)Moving to BC in the next few months, again fear but excitement, and feeling that this is the right thing and there will be the right people for more music mayhem.

6)New songs!!! 5 of them, it's been so long, 4 on piano too, I am very pleased and working on finishing them now, one is called "Wanderlust"

7)A few lines from "Wanderlust"

I remember london with it's filth and exotic dreams,
moondog parties and living on sainsbury's baked beans

I remember stuttgart, that little boutique hotel with
cold cuts, boiled eggs and that nasty hard bread I despise
that obscenely large room with the stripper channel,
and laughing at the absurd with sara

I remember Venice, bus rides to who knows where,
writing postcards by the canal, the late september sunshine warming me,
lost in dark little lanes, arguing with daniela, silly,
then early morning kisses just out of town,
the quiet healing me

8)Spare a thought for those who lost loved ones in 9/11.

Quickie from Trail, BC

Hey folks, just checking in from Trail, BC.

We have had some fun shows over the past week;
Kimberley Arts Fest: there was a spa and washing machine in our apartments, plural! and we met the Dave Ward Trio, awesome guys.=, cool town. Creston; lovely show at the Snoring Sasquatch, Nelson show was awesome as per usual, thanks Gary & crew and loads of loveliness and oh the new DR Who was on TV after the show so I stayed up enjoying it with root beer and snacks. Nakusp; LOVED the Spank Me Man song, shown by all the Spank Me Man buttons I sold afterwards and now in Trail, lots of fun, friendly kids who said I sound like Hilary Duff?!? & lots of older folks, nice to see you gettin into the Spank Me Man song, clappin and toes tapping, blue rinse rocks!!!

Ok we have a really long drive tomorrow to Ashcroft so I should get off here. Di from Kris Demeanor & his Crack Band is asking me for help on how to use myspace, oh the amusement never ends....

my first meeting with a chipmunk

my first meeting with a chipmunk


at the edge of the sand
bathing on rocks
we watch each other carefully
curious and lonely for companionship

i speak softly to him
imitating, offering cherries
placing them on flat stones
sweet and accessible to his little hands

i hold my breath and finally he takes one
trusting and pleased
we share fruit in silence by the kootenay lake

Update, Smiles & Rain

Oooh it's a lovely night here in Revelstoke.
Unfortunately due to bad weather our second show (first was last evening) was cancelled so we are holed up in the Minto Manor B & B in town all snuggled and warm.

Quick update, did some shows in Vancouver which were fun and caught up with some friends, one friend Jesse in particular I was especially glad and happy to see again. Really made my night. I hope to move to Vancouver later in the year so I am super excited that I might get to hang out with him a bit more, and perhaps record in his studio?

I spent Monday roaming around Vancouver, mainly on Commercial Drive buying far too much in the organic stores, greasy spoon breakfast and sushi for dinner. Also bought myself a Uke? Guitar and sat in the park for a while playing with the acrobats and merry makers as they went about their crazy day.

Stopped in Armstrong on Tues and played a show with fellow Australian musician Tessa Lee which was a lot of fun (slept in her funny blue van that night!) and then did 6 hours worth of shows the next day including a morning stint at the Kelowna Farmers Market (loads of fun) and Revelstoke Concert Series last night. It's so pretty here, even with the rain and we really appreciate the hospitality given to us by local sponsors Minto Manor and Nelles Ranch where we are staying.

I was feeling a little crazy over the past few days but think I have settled down again.

Tomorrow we head to Kimberley for a few days with a couple of shows at the Kimberely Arts Festival which we are looking forward to, as well as a nice night off tomorrow night checking out the town.

Have been a bit slack with the photo taking since Calgary but will have something up by the end of the weekend I am sure.

What else is new?
Tonight I learnt how to burp the alphabet, enough said....

ciao!

this isn't toronto - unfinished?

another writer in another cafe
sweet pastries, organic french drip coffee
vancouver august summer breeze
mangos, fat beats
an old friend, an old lover
interpretive paintings, a lending library
my new green uke guitar
swaying hanging plants, dying cell phone battery
but not caring, butterflies flap in my belly
middle aged men philosophizing over green tea
downtown bus in a blue glow, fading black palm ink
relaxed in kindness, the promise of new comforts
this isn't toronto

I love aeroplane jelly - untitled song?

i can't be expected to know
or smell it,
to sense the fever
with this calculated distance
stealing ice from your glass
just to be close to you

i won't pretend to understand
or carry these heavy stones
strapped across my back anymore
when it aches in all the wrong places

sugar high
crashing low
but still so many miles to go

when i am not allowed to speak
because my words chip away at your layers
jelly underneath
sweet and sticky
oozing between my joints

sugar high
crashing low
but still so many miles to go

so just let me speak...

Write while I can

Hi all.

Hope you are doing well back in reality.

We have been on the road coming up two weeks on monday and having a fine time and seeing some beautiful and special places.

Since I last wrote we played a fundraiser for Women's Place in Kenora, and ice cream shop in Brandon, the Forget Summer Festival (where I accidentally got a little too stoned on Codein due to my injured back, but I managed to dance across the stage or something?, a fundraiser for Transition House in Regina, this show rocked!!!, I take it back, Regina doesn't really rhyme with vagina!, A median strip in Winnipeg as part of our to lunch concert series, house concert in Winnipeg (loads of fun!), Art Gallery in Saskatoon (lovely raspberry cheesecake to die for), bluechair cafe in Edmonton (cool folks and lovely to catch up with the lovely amy seeley and share a song), calgary farmers market during the day today and tea/wine bar in Banff this evening, sweet folks and rockin pizza and chocolate brownies! Phew, a lot eh?

We have two days off now, YAY!
We are going to the Calgary Folk Fest tomorrow to support dear friends Kris Demeanor & his Crack Band and oooh Dar Williams & Ani Difranco are playing too. Super awesomeness.

Well it's after 1am and we have to be on the road by 9am so until next time check out some of the tour shots so far at www.bugbitten.com/emalinedelapaix

:)

em