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Dec 16.09
Can hardly believe it is almost Christmas and we will soon be writing 2010 instead of 2009...always takes me a couple of months before it sinks in that another year has come and gone. What a whirl wind year it has been. I am looking forward to spending some time with my family and friends in the coming weeks and eating lots of good food and chocolate and having a glass of red wine...or two :), maybe I'll have a chance to sit down and start reading the latest Dan Brown book (The Lost Symbol). I am ready for a break.

It has been a busy few months both with music and graphic design. On the graphics side of things, I just finished the CD layout/artwork for Thom Swift's new CD (Blue Sky Day) to be released sometime in the new year, as well as Matt Andersen's new live CD graphics. Currently working on Carmel Mikol's debut CD graphics and will be working on a new website for Ken Tobias in the new year as well as the graphics for Matt Andersen's live DVD project.

On the music side of things, I had a fun performance with the band at the Capitol Theatre in Moncton last month. We shared the stage with my good friend Ken Tobias and his band. I joined Ken on his song "Every Bit of Love" and we collaborated on a Gordon Lightfoot classic "Pussywillows Cat-tails", one of his more obscure, poetic songs. I went to Ottawa for the Canadian Folk Music Awards - didn't take home the award , but it was fun to be there and to meet other folkies in the business. A highlight of my year was singing 2 duets with Dan Hill at the Blue Olive. He is a wonderful person and full of energy and passion for music and songwriting. His new book (I am My Father's Son) is on my list to read over the holidays as well. Together, we sang his songs "Can't We Try" and "I Promise You". You can check out a video clip of our "Can't We Try" duet on my facebook page.

I am pretty proud of my ECMA nominations for 2010...especially the Visual Artist of the Year and the Folk Recording of the Year nominations. It's a very satisfying feeling to be recognized for both forms of art :) I am in good company in all categories and am a fan of all the nominees. The ECMA's are in Sydney, Cape Breton in March. It was this time last year I was in CB recording "Good Things" at Soundpark Studios...good times :)

Lots in the works for the new year, including a showcase performance in Memphis at the Folk Alliance and in Vancouver during the Olympics. I have got to stay healthy for the entire month of February! No time for this H1N1 nonsense!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Healthy + Happy New Year!
All the best in 2010!

xo JRhaye

Capitol Theatre, Moncton NB - Photo By Kâté Braydon


Capitol Theatre - Singing "Every Bit of Love" with Ken Tobias - Photo By Kâté Braydon


Blue Olive - singing " Can't We Try" with Dan Hill - Photo By John Likourgiotis

Oct 22.09 Am I imagining things, or is it snowing outside? I don't think I am ready for another winter of snow, cold and hibernation! Think I'll have to put on another batch of wine...it's going to be a long winter if it's already snowing and it's only October. I recently found out I have been nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award! I am up for Contemporary Singer of the year (2009). Up against Melissa McClelland, an artsit I discoverd in college, really like her CD Stranded in Suburbia, Suzie Vinnick, Jim Byrnes and Marianne Girard. I hope to get to the awards show in Ottawa on Nov 21st. Fingers crossed! On another positive note, my song, Good Things, a co-write with Ron Sexsmith, has been chosen for a song placement in the Canadian TV series Heartland! I am so excited! I attended the Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax in September and met with some great film music directors and made some wonderful contacts. I am so excited to hear my song on this show. I will keep you all posted on the episode date/time. I was in Ottawa last weekend for the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. Had a blast. I was part of the East Coast showcases. 15 mins to strut my stuff, or sing my stuff rather :) The day before my OCFF showcase, I stopped by the York Street Public School and sang some tunes to the grade 4's and 5's as part of their ArtBeat Music Program. What a funny bunch of kids! Touch audience too! They were so much fun. I was regretting telling them about my ghostly encouter and singing Shadow Man...that's all they wanted to talk about! Or I should have at least saved that story and song for the end! Every hand that went up during question/answer time was about the ghost, they wanted to either know more about the ghost I saw or they wanted to tell me a ghost story they had heard! Too funny, the teachers were all giving me "THE LOOK" and I thought for sure I was going to get detention for bringing up the topic! I am so sorry!!! The other funny thing was that every time I sang a love song, or said the word LOVE or KISS or anything to do with love, the kids would burst out loud in the middle of the song with EEWWWW!! I couldn't help but laugh :) One little guy even raised his hand and politely asked me to not sing any more love songs :) Tough crowd! It was fun though and I hope to get the opportunity to sing in more schools as I know how influential music can be at a young age...I started writing my own songs when I was 9 years old :) Looks like the snow has stopped...for now... Until next time :) xox JRhaye

Back from L.A.!
What a fun time the band and I had in Hollywood! The showcase went off without a hitch. I am really happy with the event and I think my music/performance was well received by the people who attended. Hotel Café was a great room for the showcase, the ambiance, the food and the sound was perfect. Thanks to Joel and the Creative Control folks for setting up the whole event. It really was a great experience. I am still beaming from the trip :)

The band and I got to do some sight seeing and toured around a bit while we were in LA. We could see the huge HOLLYWOOD sign from our hotel window too! We walked around downtown on the sidewalk of stars and ate sushi the first night we arrived. The second day, before the day of the showcase, Mark (our courageous tour manager and trusty driver) took me, Mike and Chris to CBS Studios early in the morning to get ticktes to the Price Is Right! We got on the show but unfortunately did not make it to contestants row...however you might see us waving in the audience on the December 3rd episode!! :) It was hilarious to be sitting on the set of a TV game show I grew up watching...there were even big [APPLAUSE] signs in the corners of the room! The energy from the audience was electric..everyone thought they were going to get the "Come On Down" call. After the last contestant name was called, everyone went silent and the energy went from %100 to %0...too funny! To boost everyone's spirits they threw out the "We have one more prize to give away to a lucky winner at the end of the show + COLD HARD CASH!!!"... everyone exploded! It was hilarious! One more thing I can check off my TO DO LIST! :)

After the showcase we went to Venice beach, I think this is where they filmed "Three's Company"? If not it sure did look like it. Beautiful beach. I could live there for sure. The homes are so mod/retro and geometric. Very cool. We took a stroll on the Santa Monica Pier where unbenounced to us they were celebrating the Pier's 100th anniversary...we got there just in time for the huge fireworks display over the bay. The longest fireworks show I have ever witnessed in my life!

Aug25.09
I went to bed lastnight at 10pm and woke up at 9am this morning...I was tired...what a crazy summer this has been, so much to do and places to go. It has been a non stop couple of months, and the fall is looking just as jam packed full of adventures. I am heading to Halifax for my first show at the Carleton on September 2nd. I hear it is a great venue for live music. I can't wait to see and play with the band again! It has been a while. Chris Braydon, my guitar player and I have been doing several acoustic, duo shows this summer so we are both looking forward to playing together in the band again.

We are home for a few days after the Carleton show and then off to LA for a showcase at the Hotel Cafe...CRAZY!!! I can't believe I am going to LA! I will be perfoming a short showcase in front of an audience of film supervisors and music industry people....just a little nervous...OK I am a LOT nervous!!! Yikes! I am looking forward to the trip. I am sure it will be one of the greatest experiences and times of my life :) We are going to stay a couple of extra days after the showcase and do some site seeing along the coast. We even have tickets to The Price Is Right!!! Too bad Bob Barker wasn't hosting....that would be cool! I am thinking I will make t-shirts for the band and I to wear with my website on it, they always seem to pick people from the audience wearing brightly coloured, matching t-shirts. :)

Feels like fall outside today...the back to school feeling and smell is the air. When I was younger, I always thought the new year started September 1st, not January 1. Everything new happened in the fall it seemed...

Chris, my guitar player and good friend married one of my bestest friends over the weekend. What a beautiful day. The ceremony was at his Fathers house which is beside a sweet little lake. The bridesmaids and my friend canoed down the lake to the landing where the groomsmen were waiting. It was beautiful...the sound of the violins traveled across the lake and the mist was heavy and close to the water that afternoon making everything look like it was part of a movie set. It was very Lady of Shalott-like....so lovely, so wonderful! I am soooo happy for them! I LOVE weddings :)

"Self Portrait" - By Jessica Rhaye - 8.5x11 - acrylic & charcoal

I finally finished my painting for the Kidney Foundation's fundraiser "A Brush of Hope". Something like 200 notable Canadian musicians, artists, actors, athletes and public figures have been asked to do a painting that will be auctioned off on eBay on Novemer 5/09.

My nephew is on his way to visit me so I had better sign off.
Until next time.
xo JRhaye

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July 10.09

Me and Matt Andersen playing "Good Things" at the Hugh's Room in Toronto July 7/09


Interview with David Bray for Shore104fm Vancouver.

Oh Hugh's Room, I had one of the most wonderful and memorable, musical performances on your stage this past Tuesday evening! Now I know why you are known as the best listening room in TO! I could have sung all night long. I was sad when the show was over. I hope to get back to perform on your stage again soon!
xox Jessica

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July 6.09

Stephanie Hardy, Colin Grant and me at Harmony House Theatre, PEI July 4/09

Raindrops keep falling on my head...
Just got back from the island (PEI). Performed at the Harmony House Theatre Saturday night with Cape Breton's Stephanie Hardy and fiddler Colin Grant. What a fun show! We played our songs in a round. My appologies to Colin for calling his fiddle a violin all night!...I always thought a fiddle and violin were the same thing?? :) Harmony House is a sweet new venue in PEI. They just opend last July. It was an old church renovated and turned into a theatre. Check it out here www.harmonyhousetheatre.com
I would love to go back sometime soon and bring along the band.

I bought myself a new 2 piece bathing suit in Cavendish thinking we would get some sun and maybe enjoy the beach for a bit on Sunday before heading home to NB, but that was not in the forecast...it rained, thundered, and lightening the entire weekend...where is the summer sun we have all been patiently waiting for? Here is a picture of what the sky looked like crossing the bridge on the way back to NB...scary, big black/gray clouds were hanging low and the bridge seemed to go into nowhere land!

Despite the rainy weather, it was still a fun weekend. We stayed in a cabin about 2 minutes from the theatre, picked up a bottle of wine and a couple of marinated steaks and had a BBQ on the porch and watched the rain.

Heading to Toronto tonight. I am playing tomorrow night at the Hugh's Room with Matt Andersen! I have been really looking forward to this show. This will be my first time playing on this popular folk/roots stage. Artists such as Ian Tyson, Judy Collins and Pete Seeger have performed here!! Matt is a friend of mine and a fantastic blues/rock singer-songwriter. We toured England together with Dave Gunning a couple of years ago. It was a blast! Check out the photos of our tour on the Visuals page. I can't wait to hear/see him sing and play again.
Well I had better get my bags packed! I have a plane to catch in a few hours.
Until next time!
xo JRhaye

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June 22.09
Happy Summer! Finally!
I sang at the NB College of Craft and Design graduation over the weekend in Fredericton. I was moved by the passion and positive messages in all the validictorian speaches. The school is a great place to go and learn and grow and be super creative, and it is the instructors that make it such a fantastic, enjoyable learning experience. I love them all and always feel so inspired after seeing and talking to them. I miss my college days...I often think about going back and taking another course like fashion design or photography......hmmmmm....I love graphics, don't get me wrong, I just enjoy being creative and learning new crafts. :)

I was asked to stand up in one of my bestest friends wedding this summer! I am so honored and very excited! I love weddings! It is the only wedding I have on the go this summer, not many friends left to get married I guess....seem to be going to more baby showers then wedding showers lately....Years are flying by and I forget sometimes how old I am...a person almost needs a few lifetimes inorder to do all the things they want to do :)

I am starting yoga in July...I have taken classes before but didn't really stick to it...this time I plan to practice regularly and try to get myself into a routine of doing it on my own every morning...just have to get into the habit of setting aside some time everyday....that's the hardest part...

What's new...let's see...the DVD is in the final stages of edits and getting ready to be sent to the manufacturers July 1st! Thanks to everyone who has pre-ordered the DVD! It will be on it's way to you very very soon! I have been working away on the exclusive website for the DVD that will have lots of info on the making of the DVD project and who was involved and sneek peek clips. Inside the DVD packaging there will be a password you can enter on the website to access and download the digital audio files of each live song as well! Some summer shows coming up in the next couple of months and working on a fall tour. So keep your eyes peeled to my web calendar for shows and info:)

Looking forward to a sunny summer. (fingers crossed!)
xo J

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May 19.09

"Good Things" CD release performance at the Blue Olive. May 14/09

Photo: Tony Tobais

If I drink one more cup of mint or chamomile tea with honey and lemon I think I am going to throw-up! A spring cold came at such a bad time!!!! Just got back from a whirlwind weekend of New Brunswick CD release shows. Starting in my home town, Saint John at the Blue Olive, we made our way to St. Andrews at the Arena Complex and then to Fredericton at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre. I almost cancelled the shows, but decided to battle my way through and in the end I am glad I did, because despite my raspy throat it was such a fun time. I sounded a bit like Melissa Etheridge and Janis Joplin at times!! :) Kind of gave my sound a bit of an edge or sultry vibe I guess :) Thanks to everyone who came to me with their herbal remedies and quick fixes. I tried them all including a splash of brandy in my tea! The band was rocking and we had wonderful audiences each night. Thanks to Clinton Charlton who opened the shows for us in St. Andrews and Fredericton. He did a fantastic job and he even got his new CD back from the manufacturers the day before the shows so it was perfect timing for him. Clinton and I will be doing more shows this summer/fall.

Thank You, Thank You, BIG THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the shows and bought a CD. I truly appreciate the support and I hope you enjoyed the music and the show! More live performances coming soon!! Keep your eyes peeled to my calendar.

On the mend,
JRhaye

Happy Groundhog Day!!! It has been a beautiful day here in Saint John, New Brunswick, so I am going to assume that Mr. G-hog did see his shadow and has gone back into hibernation! This winter hasn't been that bad actually. I have been keeping busy and staying warm on wintery nights with a glass of red wine and in the company of great friends. The days seem to be flying by....before long the birds will be singing and the grass will be green! I love spring...my favourite season of all :)


2009 is off to a great start. I am nominated for Graphic Designer of the Year and my website has been nominated for Website of the Year at the 2009 East Coast Music Industry Awards! I am so pleased! I put 110% into both my music and design careers so it is very satisfying and reassuring to be nominated for either of my efforts.

I received the master copy of my new CD "Good Things" last week. I just need to finalize the graphics and then it is off to manufacturing! My new live performance DVD, produced by Hemmings House Pictures, is almost complete as well! You can check out a sample of one of the songs, "Where's An Angel" on my Visuals page. Lots of new things on the go.
Keep your eyes peeled this spring for all the NEW JRhaye stuff!

Wish me luck!
JRhaye

Dec 1.08

My new CD is being mixed at Soundpark Studios this week! Whahooo! I am so looking forward to this new record. I am going to start designing the CD layout over the holidays. Mark Hemmings took some fantastic photos in his studio for the project so I have some great images to work with. All coming soon!!! Looking at a spring 09 CD release :)

I was recently on tour with singer/songwriter Valdy from November 13th - 23rd. Lots of fun. My friend, and guitar player, Chris Braydon, joined me on this tour. It was our first performance together...we rehearsed like crazy...Chris did a fantastic job :) We played in some sweet theatres and in front of wonderful maritime audiences. We played 3 shows in NB, 1 in PEI and 5 in NS. Valdy was a ball of energy. So funny on and off stage :) It was a real honor to tour with such a talent as Valdy. Every evening Chris and I would end our set with a Canadian classic "Four Strong Winds", and by the 4th show of the tour we were saving the song for the end of Valdy's second set ....Chris and I would return to the stage to sing/play it with Valdy. What a treat! Great way to end the show too. I will have some photos up on the visual page very soon.

Was in Halifax NS over the weekend...went to the Neil Young concert. WOWEE! One of the best concerts I have EVER seen in my life. I was blown away.....So happy we went to see the show. Wilco was wonderful too. What a night of music.

I have a couple of new poster designs on my webstore. Check them out!

More soon!
JRhaye

Oct 3.08

Singing "Every Bit of Love" with Ken Tobias at his CD release concert. Sept 20/08

Photography: Tony Tobais

Did summer even happen? I must have missed it....I am not ready for another winter. Feels like I just put away my snow boots.

I was in Cape Breton last week finishing up my 3rd coming record. I will most likely release it in the spring 2009 along with a live DVD/EPK...though it sounds far away, it really isn't.... if the fall/winter months fly by as fast as the summer did, than spring will be here in no time!

I finally got to experience the Cabot Trail! I have spent lots of time in Cape Breton recording, but I never seemed to have enough time to explore the trail. This time around I made sure I got to see it. It is soooooo beautiful. I didn't take any pictures...I don't even think a picture could look as beautiful as it really is in person and in my memory. You really have to see it and take in the grandeur of it all. It really is stunning. The trees were just starting to turn. Another week and I can just imagine the colour palate on those mountains. A spectacular sight.

I do remember summer, I just wish it were longer and with a little less rain :) I remember the beach and the one sun burn I get every summer and then after that I just tan and freckle. I remember the BBQ's and the pool parties and my new swim suit I just put away. I only had to buy 2 pairs of sunglasses this summer! Every summer I break my sunglasses at least 2-3 times! Never fails. That is why I would never spend more than $20 on a pair of sunglasses!

I had a great time at the Mariposa Folk Festival. One of the best music festivals I have ever been to in my life. The people were real folk music fans and they listened to the music. You could hear a pin drop in the bar tent! I had a few new musical experiences this summer as well. I sang/recorded a childrens/teen cooking TV show theme song called "Taste Buds". I had to sing it with a real big silly smile on my face in order to make it sound as fun as the show!

I was also in a music video for country singer Chris Cummings, directed by Warren Sonoda and filmed by Hemmings House Pictures. I was part of Chris' band - played some air guitar and lip sang to the song "Welcome Back" (Welcome Back Kotter - TV show). It was fun. A long day though, and that was only a small part of the video shoot, so I can just imagine how tired the crew and Chris were when they finally said "That's a wrap!" The video is playing on CMT.

My sister Melanie and I took a bus tour to New York in August! Wow what a city! My first time! What a wonderful place to visit. So much to see and do.....a week really isn't long enough..highlights of the trip were walking in Times Square at night with all the lights and action, seeing the musical "The Little Mermaid, dining in Hell's Kitchen and the Metropolitan Museum. Sooooo much to do and see it is incredible. I must go visit again soon!

On the graphics side of things, I was busy this summer working on a few music projects - folk singer/songwriter Brent Mason's new CD art work, brochures for art centres and posters for various concerts/festivals. This fall I am working on CD grahics for multi-instrumentalist / singer, Stephanie Mainville, as well as a new website for rocker Chris Colepaugh and my good friend Ken Tobias who just released his latest CD this fall. I had the pleasure of joining Ken on one of his hit songs "Every Bit of Love" at his recent CD release concert here in Saint John NB.

Coming up this month, I am heading out on the road with some female singer/songwriters from the west coast. The tour is called "Babes for Breasts" - it a fund raiser to help women and men who are living with breast cancer from diagnosis to remission and beyond...Check out their site for details. www.babesforbreasts.com. I will be joining the girls on the east coast leg of their tour starting Oct 15th. Looking forward to it :) Hope to see a good crowd out showing their support.

So all in all it was a fun summer....just a little too short. Here is hoping for a kind fall/winter :)

Until next time :)
Yours Truly - JRhaye

July 3.08

Summer is off to a great start...despite the foggy Saint John weather we've been having lately.... My new recording is coming along nicely. I am very excited to have the new songs on CD very soon for all to hear!

I recently teamed up with Hemmings House Pictures to film an EPK video (Electronic Press Kit). The HHP boys and the band and I recorded/filmed our show live at the Riverview Arts Centre in Moncton NB a couple of weeks ago. HHP are going to edit the live footage together with the music, combined with interviews and in the studio footage to create a cool promotional piece for the new record and live show. I will be sure to upload some of the footage on my site once it is ready to go. My photographer friend K‚tÈ LeBlanc was there taking photos of the EPK shoot as well so there will be some new pictures going up on the Visuals page very soon. Keep your eyes peeled :)

I am heading to Orillia Ontario this Friday to take part in the Mariposa Folk Festival. Really looking forward to this festival. It is full of great talent this year....Sarah Harmer, Joel Plaskett, Corb Lund, Hayden, Meaghan Smith, JP Cormier....the list goes on and on. Check out the festival line-up at www.mariposafolk.com. Not only is there great music at this festival there is also an artisans village full of beautiful works of art in a wide variety of forms, influences, styles and techniques. I am sure I will be spending lots of time and $ there...I am a sucker for art!

Graphics is keeping me busy this summer too. I recently designed the cover for Hot Toddy's new recording "Trio" which was released this spring as well as Ken Tobias' new CD graphics "From a Distance". You can check out some of my work on my design website: www.JessicaRhayeDesign.com

Cheers to a sunny summer!
More soon!
xo JRhaye

April 2.08

It is +5 outside today! Horay!! Spring is on it's way! I just opened my windows to let the fresh air in to blow the winter stink out of the house. Even in Saint John the spring air smells good. I have been cooped up in my house for the past few days sick with the flu....I hate being sick. I was even taking Cold FX to prevent myself from getting a bug but it didn't seem to work....I think I burned myself out. I had a very busy week last week, opening for Alannah Myles Saturday night than catching a flight to Halifax to reherse with the band for 2 days than flying to Cape Breton to work on the new recording for 4 days than flew back home only to drive to Moncton for a performance at the Riverview Arts Centre this past Saturday night. Whooh! Where do the days go! They really do fly when you're having fun.

The new record is sounding great. I have been singing/playing some of the new tunes at my shows and they have been going over very well. The Riverview Arts Centre Show in Moncton was fun. It is always a treat to perform on that stage. The sound/lighting is always very professional and it's just a great room overall. We had a small but mighty audience who participated in my new sing-a-long song and encored us til the end! My Mom joined me on stage to sing the song her and I wrote together called "Shadow Man", a true story about a ghostly encounter I experienced in an apartment I lived in in Fredericton while going to College....she told me it would be a dream come true if she could get up and sing a song with me at one of my shows so this was her shining moment...she was a little nervous at first during sound check, but when the time came, she took to the stage like a pro! Wht a nut she is. She tells me she can now mark that off her Bucket List.

Anyhoo, I think I will just take it easy today. I have made myself some chicken noodle soup and a cup of peppermint tea with honey...my favorite flu medicine!

Until next time.
JRhaye

Feb 18.08

This year was probably one of my favorite ECMA events ever. I was feeling in good health, got lots of rest, and had some fun shows in great venues. Fredericton did a terrific job hosting the event and the volunteers did a fantastic job driving people around all weekend!
Saturday evening, Matt Gray, Jason Vautour and I played on the Roots Room Showcase stage to a full house on a comfortable stage with top notch sound. (Thanks Jamie :) There must have been something going on in schools the week leading up to the ECMA's cause I had a few students call looking to interview me for their school project. It was fun and I must say very flattering. A couple of young students showed up at my Roots Room performance with flowers and cards. It was sweet :-) I hope they get an A++ on their project!

Matthew Gray, Me and Jason Vautour
Photography: Nick Gaines

The Music NB Stage Saturday night at the Marquee was hopping. I don't think I have ever been so close to an audience in my life!!! Felt like they were right on top of me! Yikes! It was crazy, and fun to sing/perform for such an energetic crowd!
The East Coast Countdown stage Thursday night was fun too. Matt, J and I shared the stage with Matt Andersen, Lennie Gallant, Ron Hynes and Steven Bowers. Thanks to Jimmy Inch, ECC radio host, for thinking of me to take part in this fantastic line up of singer songwriters!
Another ECMA's have come and gone. Takes me a while to get back into the swing of things here on earth after a weekend of fun and music.

Until next time.
JRhaye

Jan 25.08

The preproduction for my next record went very well last week. We were able to demo 5 songs. All sounding good. While I was in Cape Breton working on the record, I found out I was nominated for an ECMA Industry award for Graphic Designer of the Year! I am so excitted! It is such an honor to be recognized for my art both as a singer and designer. I just finished uploading my new design portfolio site online the other day. Check it out! www.JessicaRhayeDesign.com

Jan 8.08

Happy 2008!
Off to Cape Breton next week for preproduction on the new record. Working with producer Ed Woodsworth and engineer Jamie Foulds at Soundpark Studios. I am looking forward to seeing and working with the guys again. The new record will take the singer songwriter, simple production approach. I have a batch of new songs with new stories and inspiration.
The ECMA's are just around the corner . They are in Fredericton New Brunswick this year. Love it when they are in NB! I am up for Female Solo Recording of the Year...in good company with Rose Cousins, Jenn Grant, Julie Doiron and Rebekah Higgs. Wish me Luck!

JRhaye

Dec 3.07

Happy December! I am sitting home at my dining room table surrounded by millions of Santa Claus figurines! I love decorating for Christmas.
I made it home from the UK safe and sound! The tour was a success. Great music, great people, lots of laughs, lots of fun. I am happy to be home, but a little sad too.....I enjoyed being on the road with Dave and Matt and performing/singing everynight to new people and in new places.

Photography: Roger Liptrot www.folkimages.com

The flight over was long and exhausting, but once we got to London, we were off to BBC studios for a day of interviews. Pop singer Kylie Minogue was at BBC that day and the paparazzi was waiting for her at the front doors.....it was wild. Dave Gunning and I sat in the studio almost all day talking with BBC radio personalities from all over England.

We had the next day off, so Dave and Mark, tour manager, and I went sight seeing in London. We hopped on a double decker tour bus and drove all around London. We saw all the tourist landmarks, Big Ben, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace etc...People living in London look as though they just walked out of a Vogue magazine...very high fashion....very stylish people.

The following day Dave and I went to Essex and than Colchester in the tube train and Mark went to the airport to pick-up Matt Andersen, who had just flown in that night after a symphony performance in Halifax Nova Scotia... he was pretty tired when we met up that evening.

Dave and I went to Essex, where my grandmother Grimmer grew up, to do another BBC interview/performance.....this time outside. The performance was beside a shopping mall, and the whole street leading up to the mall was wall to wall shops, so it was crazy busy with people shopping and eating and just having a great 'ole time....Dave described it as "Who Ville"! Then all of a sudden a parade began and down the street driving in a hot red cadillac was Santa Claus and Elvis was sitting right beside him!!! It was hilarious! They drove all the way down the street to where BBC was hosting the show and Elvis got out and started singing "Blue Christmas", it was priceless. He was a great impersonator and the audiance loved him. He spoke with an english accent, but he could sing and sound just like Elvis! It was funny.

After trying to find our way around the train stations, Dave and I landed safe and sound in Colchester, where Mark and Matt had already checked in to the beautiful Rutland House Bed & Breakfast. This was our favourite place we stayed on the trip, it was a dream house. It had all the charm of an old century home but the luxuries of a new modern home. The owners were sweet and made us feel comfortable and welcome as did most of the places we stayed in along the way.

The tour started in Colchester and finished in Birmingham. Dave started the show everynight with a 25-30 minute set, then I would do a set, and then Matt, then we would take a short intermission and all 3 of us would return to the stage and finish the night together collaborating on eachothers tunes. It was my favourite part of the show, and I think our audiences enjoyed this part of the show best as well. Because Matt, and Dave and I are so different in sound and style, I think the audiences were skeptical as to how it would work, but it did work, our singing and playing complimented each others music very well. We would get standing ovations and encores every night. It was so much fun!!

We did lots of sight seeing as we went along on the tour as well. We stopped in Windsor for a few hours before heading to Leicester to visit the Queen at Windsor Palace.....we did not see her but we did take the tour of her castle and were floored by the history and millions of treasures. We also stopped to see and have our picture taken at Stonehenge. We drove through quant little towns and saw lovely homes with straw thatch roofs and fields of pigs and black face sheep. England has a beautiful landscape and to know the history of the land makes it that more magical and breath taking. Mark did an incredible job driving on the left side of the road. We rented a van with a GPS unit and drove in comfortable style. Without the GPS we would probably still be in England lost on the motorway or driving in circles on a roundabout saying "look kids, there's Big Ben!!! " :-)

Sue Williams, our publicist, did a great job promoting the shows and getting our shows and CD's reviewed in music magazines and newspapers. Check out the press on the Press page to read UK reviews and be sure to check out the Visuals page to see some of the pictures of our tour.

Special thanks to Bob Paterson for his vision and for putting this tour together.
It was a blast! Hope we can do it again sometime soon.
xo JRhaye

Oct 26.07

Feeling a little under the weather this week. I knew that cold/flu would catch me sooner or later .....everyone around me has had it so it was just a matter of time before it caught hold of me. I have a couple of weeks to get rid of it before I head out on tour with Dave Gunning and Matt Andersen in the UK. It is no fun traveling and trying to sing with a sore throat and stuffed up nose.

Last Monday afternoon I met up with Canadian singer songwriter Ron Sexsmith, who was performing in Saint John at the Blue Olive that evening. Together we wrote a song! It was great. He was great! The song we worked on was one I had started writing weeks ago and had only a rough melody and some temporary lyrics for a verse and chorus. Ron helped me tidy up the chorus, together we wrote lyrics for a second verse and he came up with a cool catchy bridge. I have been singing and playing it ever since....well right up until the other day when my throat started getting sore :-)
Ron's show at the Olive that night was incredible, he even sang my favourite Ron song "God Loves Everyone". I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to meet and write with one of my all time favourite Canadian singer songwriters. A day in my life I'll never forget :-)

I finally finished reading "Delible" a novel by Canadian author Anne Stone. "Crazy Jayne", a song me and my producer Ed Woodsworth co-wrote together, was used as the musical score for the Bookshort for Delible. Check it out here.

I am the kind of reader who will only read and finish a book if it grabs me in the first few pages. Delible was one of those books. I love books that make me feel like I am watching a movie unfold in my head and if I put the book down for a day or even a minute and pick it back up it's like pressing pause and unpause on the DVD player...the movie continues in my head where I left off. It's awesome! Delible left me wanting to know more...I feel like calling Anne Stone and asking "so what happens to her!!!????" I guess that was her intention to make the reader feel and relate to the character in her book who is desparately searching for answers to the disappearance of her sister. It's a great book...a must read.

I am always a little sad after reading and enjoying a great book, even when it's a happy ending cause I always find it hard to find another book that is just as good :-)

Until next time.
xo JRhaye

Trailside Cafe: Matthew Gray, Me and Jason Vautour
Oct 2.07
I have a few minutes before I have to leave for Halifax for band rehersal...we have a showcase tomorrow afternoon at Contact East in Liverpool, Nova Scotia, so I thought I would reminisce and recap the summer that seemed to come and go so quickly....I barley remember even having a summer at all....It was a busy few months, everything from weddings (3), bridal showers and bachelorettes, stressful graphic design projects, fun performances, video shoots, writing and recording.

One of my favorite shows this summer was in Prince Edward Island at a little cafÈ called the Trailside CafÈ. Me, Matt Gray and Jason Vautour played 2 very chill acoustic sets on a quant little wooden stage to a quiet intimate audience. The food was great and the hospitality was awesome. I hope we get invited back to play again next summer :-)

I was in Toronto just a few weeks ago for the Toronto Film Festival as one of the 15 Canadian Artists chosen to perform in the Canadain Music CafÈ. I would have to say it was the BEST showcase the band and I have ever performed to date. We were tight, the sound was great and the audience was perfect! Lots of fun. Check out some photos of the performance on my Visuals page.

The week after TIFF I was in Halifax for the Atlantic Film Festival. Jason Vautour and I played an acoustic showcase at the Seahorse in front of a full house. Other Atlantic musicians to share the stage that night were David Myles, and Rose Cousins. While in Halifax for the film festival I also took part in the 10x10 program as well. The program consisted of 10 film directors and 10 artists who were randomly paired up with eachother and had 3 days to come up with, shoot and edit an entire music video. On the third day, the videos were played for the public. I was paired up with a Halifax up and comer, video director Jenn Seward. It was a great experience as Jenn was fun to work with and after a few days of stress and headaches, I think she came up with a cool little video for my song Running for the Door. All the artists and directors will be getting a copy of the video so I will be sure to post it on my site the moment it arrives in the mail! :-)

I also had the pleaure of recording background vocals on my good friend Ken Tobias' record last month. His new record/CD will be out in the new year and it is going to blow people away! I am so looking forward to hearing the final mixes!

Next, I am heading off to London, Ontario for the Ontario Folk Festival. Matt and Jason will be joining me for the showcase. Should be fun. Then a bit of a break and then off to the UK for an 8 day tour with fellow singer songwriters Matt Andersen and Dave Gunning. I have no idea what to expect as this will be my first official tour. I have been told by several people that it is very expensive in the UK so we will have to be thrifty if we plan on doing any shopping!

Well, another summer has come and gone and another cold winter is upon us. As long as the heat works in our new house I will be happy and warm! My fingers are crossed!

Until next time - xo JRhaye

July 17.07

Had a pretty busy weekend...shot a music video for my song "Holding Out"! After being denied funding multiple times in a row, Andrew Tidby, the producer/director and I decided to just go ahead with the video anyway...on a smaller budget of course. Andrew came up with a great concept...we filmed the whole thing on a green screen which Andrew will later go back in and delete the green and work his 3D illustration magic. The end result will be me walking and interacting with a city that builds up around me. We had to use a tread mill to make it look like I am walking down streets....too funny. Needless to say I was exhausted by the end of the day after a work out and a video shoot! :-) . Check out my Visuals page to see photos from the shoot.

We released "Holding Out" to radio across Canada not long ago and so far it is doing pretty good. It sat at #1 on the East Coast Countdown for 5 weeks in a row! Thanks to fans for casting their vote each week! Much appreciated :-)

The Salty Jam Festival took place over the weekend as well. Couldn't have asked for better weather. I played in the songwriter's circle, which was outside, Saturday afternoon, with Brent Mason, David Myles, Alan Gerber and Jens Jeppeson. What a great line-up of diverse music, and the audience was terrific.

I am so looking forward to my summer vacation! 2 more weeks to go and I am shutting off my computer, digging out my bathing suit and heading to the beach!!! Can't wait!

Until next time!
xo JRhaye

June 19.07

Where do the days go. I wish summer sunny days like today would never end :)
Today is Tuesday. Ken Tobias and I started getting together for our Tuesday night songwriting sesions again, but tonight my paint brush is calling me. I have to get my living room painted so I can start moving my furniture in this week. I need somewhere to sit besides my toilet :-) I love the new house , but it has taken hold of me and won't let go. It will be nice once it's up and running. All the hard work will be worth it in the end...at least this is what I keep tellig myself. I am already enjoying the extra space and the living room makes a great concert hall right now with no furniture. The walls echo beautifully and I sit and sing for hours.....hmmm, I think that's what I'll do before I start painting tonight!

"Holding Out", a song Ken an I wrote, was released to radio across Canada last Monday. Hope it gets picked up and played a million times over! A video shoot for this song is scheduled to be filmed this summer.... I will keep you posted on the whole experience... Should be fun. :-)
more soon
JRhaye

Matt Gray, Jim Blewett, Me, Jonny B. Goud, Mike Carroll +Tim Isaac

May 29.07 Does it ever smell nice outside today! The blossoms are out in full bloom now giving off a warm welcoming scent of spring soon to be summer....my 2 favorite seasons of all :-) The band and I traveled to Moncton on Sunday to perform with the fabulous, soulful duo Isaac + Blewett. Tim Issac plays cello and adds all these crazy effects and loops and Jim Blewett plays guitar and banjo.What a show!! My face was sore from smiling by the end of the night. There is a fair amount of cello on my new record 'Short Stories" and I forgot how much it adds to the sound. As soon as Tim started to play on "Beautiful" my ears perked up and the grin on my face lasted all night! It was aswesome. We played a few of their tunes with them and they joined us on a few songs. Soooooo much fun!!! more soon. JRhaye

May 8.07 Birthday Party! My sisters threw me a surprise 30th Birthday Party on Saturday (May 5th). Those 2 girls are the best!! It was the biggest, and most fun BDay I have ever had! I was kind of surprised....people were acting way too suspicious for me that day to not think that something was up. The best way to keep a surprise or secret is to act completely normal...for example, people who would normally call or say "Happy Birthday" to me were completely ignoring me and acting all, "I didn't know today was your Birthday??" Too funny :-) Anyhoo, I am no longer in my twenties, though I hear thirty is the new twenty? And if one more person calls me a Cougar I am going to SCREAM!!!!! Mark, me and my favorite girl in the whole wide world (niece Laura Ann...she looks more excitted than me!)

March 26.07

What a crazy week..... Tuesday morning I hop on a 6 hour long bus ride to Halifax to reherse with the band for the weekend show in Boston, sing my heart out til midnight, than puked my guts out all night/morning after rehersal...haven't had the stomach flu in years!!! I really should not have skipped out on that flu shot this year! Took the early 6 hour bus ride home the next morning with a couple of garbage bags in my pocket, incase I felt the erge to errupt, not that I had anything left in my stomach. I had a day to recover from the 24 hour flu, then jumped on a plane for Boston Friday morning at 3am....I am so NOT a morning person....Arrived in Boston, played 2 sets at the Boston Globe Trade Show then hopped on another plane for home, got in last night just after midnight and here I am. I haven't a clue what day it is, what time zone I am in or what season it is...I think it might be spring?

Boston was a blast!! Many thanks to Tourism New Brunswick for inviting the band and I down to perform at the Trade show. We really had a great time. I took lots of photos but unfortunately I left my camera with my sister to take pictures of us at our last performance and didn't have a chance to catch up with her before I had to leave for home. My little sister Caitlin works with Tourism NB so she was at the Trade show working the NB booth, which by the way was stellar!!! I was so proud to be an NBer this weekend. Their booth was the best booth there by far and I am not just saying that because I am an NBer. While all the other countries and provinces sat behind a small, cluttered desk of brochures and banners, New Brunswick took up the whole middle section of the trade show areana! Their booth was set up like a movie theatre, complete with red carpet and red velvet curtains, flashing lights and popcorn. In the middle of the theatre like booth, there was a huge contraption that you could step on and it would light all the way to the ceiling indicating how high our highest tides in the world actually go. There was face painting and live music, prizes and give-aways. You could have your picture taken with the Hope Well Rocks too! It really was something. As soon as I get my camera back from my sis I will get the pictures up on my visuals page for all the see.

I got to see some of Boston on my trip as well. Did a little tour on my own one afternoon. I can see why people say Saint John is a "Mini Boston". It has the same port city feel and the same old architectural look. I felt at home while I was there. Picked my brother Dustin up a Boston Red Sox hat and found a cool little dress that I can't wait to wear this summer. I am starting to have withdrawl from the weekend already. This always happens after a show. I miss the guys, I miss the music.......I can't wait for the next adventure!

Until then!
xo JRhaye

March 12.07

Whahooo!!! Good News!!! Holding Out, a song collaboration with my good friend Ken Tobias, won 1st Runner-Up in the 2007 Canadian Radio Star National Songwriting Competition this past weekend at Canadain Music Week in Toronto!!! Congrats to 1st place winners "Hill" from TO. All 13 regional finalist performed the song they submitted to the contest Friday night at Pipers Lounge in the Fairmont Hotel. Everyone sounded great...tough competition! After they announced the runner up and grand prize winner, we were all given our regional prizes which was a new Garrison Guitar and a bunch of other great music equipment goodies. Unfortunately, my new guitar is missing in action....it didn't make the luggage change on the way home when we switched planes.....so it is somewhere in Montreal right now.......oh dear....

Spring has sprung in TO. Snow and ice are melting, the ground is mucky and people are sporting the new spring fashions. My soul the people in TO are stylish. I am sure no one leaves their home without their makeup on, a squirt of cologn and their best shoes. Very, very chic. It has been a while since I was in TO last. I was there a couple of summers ago for the NXNE festival and it was so stinking hot I could hardly stand it! Africa was cool in comparison...well maybe not.... but it was grossly hot.

I went to Phantom of the Opera Saturday night at the Princess of Wales Theatre. It was fantastic. I was blown away by the enormus set design and special effects. John Cudia, who played the Phantom, has a beautiful voice and the costumes were out of this world. I love musicals!! Did a little shopping, fine dining, checked out the CN tower and of course the Hockey Hall of Fame!

The weekend flew by and I can harldy believe we are already into the middle of March. I am off to Boston in a couple of weeks to perform in the Boston Globe Travel Show. I am looking forward to peforming with the band again.

Until next time....
xo JRhaye

Feb 20.07
Got home late last night from a long weekend of music, fun, and very little sleep!! This year's ECMA's was a BLAST!! I would have to say it was one of the better ECMA expreriences I have had yet. Even though I didn't win the "Pop Recording of the Year" award - (CONGRATS Charlie!), I still had a great time.

The band and I played a showcase Saturday night to a jam packed room and then on the Pre-Awards portion of the ECMA show which was the highlight of the event for me...I didn't want the song to end. It was awesome. Angelo Spinazzola joined the band and I for the harmonica solo in "Running for the Door". Angelo played this part on the record, so it was cool to have him perform the song with us live.I went to the Industry Awards Brunch Sunday morning to cheer on my good friend and photographer extraordinaire, Lori P. Morse ,who was nominated for "Photographer of the Year". - (CONGRATS Lori for the nomination!!) Jamie Foulds, who engineered my new record Short Stories won for "Engineer of the Year" - (CONGRATS Jamie!!) and Brent Mason, a singer/songwriter friend of mine, from Saint John was awarded the prestigious "Stompin' Tom Award" - (CONGRATS Brent!! Well deserved!)

xo JRhaye

My skateboard art to be auctioned at the Artists on Board art show. The silent auction runs from Jan 19 to Feb 17. Jan 17.07 Holy crap is it ever cold out there today!!! It's finally starting to feel like winter. On freezing cold days like today all I want to do is stay inside with my PJ's on and sip hot peppermint tea and honey in my comfy, cozy warm bed!! Unfortunately, that never happend and I did have to leave my warm house and face the bitter cold. I was out this afternoon hanging up posters, that I designed I might add, for an unusual art show happening this Friday here in the city (Saint John). The show is called Artists On Board. 20 New Brunswick artists were given a blank wooden skateboard to use as a canvas to create/paint do whatever they want that will then be auctioned off to help raise money to build a world class skateboard park in Saint John. I was asked to paint a board aswell as design the promo materials for the show. Other NB artists are Gerry Collins, Kathy Hooper, my good friend Ken Tobias, Meghan Barton, Chris Lloyd, Lisa Currer, John Marshall, Patrick Byers, Dustin Wilson, Jack Bishop, Rick White, Claudine Hubert, Rae-Seung Kang, Jacob Travis, Chris Giles, Whitefeather, Amy Ash, Allison Murphy, Lee Brishard and Molly MacNaughton. It is going to be quite the show. I have seen a lot of the boards already and they are all so unique and wonderful. The opening gala is this Friday at Third Space Gallery (42 Princess Street) @ 8PM. To find out more on the show, visit the gallery site www.thirdspacegallery.ca. Needless to say, it was not the best day weatherwise to be hanging up posters. My hands and fingers were numb when I got home...had to put the hairdryer to them! But I feel good knowing I did my part to help get the word on the steet about the show! more soon :-) JRhaye

Jan 03.07
Wow another year over! Where do the days go. It always takes me a good month before I can start writing '07 without having to think about it :-) I am loving our no snow maritime winter weather so far..... mild, rainy wintery days are my favorite..... Great singin' weather actually!

Christmas and New Years was awesome this year. Lots of family gatherings and house parties, good food, great company. I always have withdrawl after the holidays. Friends and family all go back home and back to work/school after a solid week of socializing and get togethers. I miss the fun and sleeping in til noon, but I am somewhat glad to get back into the swing of reality. I need some kind of routine in my life to keep me sane.

I found out just before Christmas that I have been nominated for an East Coast Music Award, Pop Recording of the Year. Very excitting! It has been a while since I have been nominated for anything, but then again, it has been a while since I have released a new recording....ECMA's are in Halifax Nova Scotia next month (February) then in Fredericton NB next year 2008...listen to me already talking about next year!!! I love it when they are in New Brunswick! It's kind of like hosting a big house party, and when it is over you can just go upstairs and crawl into your own bed! :-)

Some upcoming live dates are in the works so be sure to keep you eyes on my calendar for details. I am croking to sing these days. I like playing solo acoustic, but I LOVE playin/singin with the band! Soon enough :-)

All the best in the New Year '07
xox JRhaye

Nov 16.06

So I finally got to play at Sessions Cafe! Lots of popular artists drop in to perform at this quaint little coffee shop. Matt Gray (guitar) Mike Carroll (drums) and I played this show.
It has been fun performing the tunes on the new record stripped down to just a few instruments. The songs still have the same appeal as they do fully produced on the record. I designed a cool gig poster for this show and printed just a few...limited edition :-) Check it out on my Store.

L8R JRhaye

Oct 23.06

It's been a long and excitting weekend of CD Release parties. Had a great turn out Friday night at Thandi's in Saint John. It was nice to see so many people out supporting the release and the show. The band and I had a blast! Awesome food, beautiful people, great time!
We were in Riverview last night (Moncton NB). Nice venue and superb sound techs/crew. They took very good care of us :-) We had a wonderful audience too! We got a lot of footage of this show and will post some of it on YouTube very soon. It was a great experience and we hope to play there again in the near future.
Looking forward to playing in Halifax this Thursday night at Ginger's Tavern.
Tune into Breakfast Television this Thursday morning! I'll be there!

Thanks again to all the fans for coming out to the shows and for buying the new record.
Hope you are enjoying the music!
Much thanks and much appreciated!

JRhaye

Sept 28.06

FINALLY! My new recording, Short Stories will be released Oct 10th 2006!!!! This record is very personal to me as it has been my life for nearly 5 years. Lots of time and special attention was paid to the songwriting and developing the music... after all these years of preparation, I am ready to share!!!
So turn up the web-radio and listen to Short Stories, check out the music page to read about the songs, take a peek at the visuals page to see some of the record photoshoot and out-takes and click on the podcast link and follow instructions to hear the making of the record. Lots of cool things to check out on my new site! Enjoy :-)

Don't forget to visit my official online Shop for purchasing details.

JRhaye

Sept 10.06 Had a great time during the weekend of the CCMA's here in my hometown of Saint John NB. I was called at the last minute, to participate in the Songwriter's CafÈ and had the honour of sharing the stage with country artists Charlie Major, Aaron Prichett and a couple of guys from the band Doc Walker . I had fun singing, listening and sharing stories with the other artists and the fantastic audience. Check out YouTube for a short clip of the song circle performance. My band and I played 2 nights at Thandi's, a new, very cool restaurant in the uptown area of SJ. Lots of music, lots of food and lots of fun! Thanks to friends and fans for coming out to support. Check out my calendar page for upcoming performances. JRhaye