Posted February 7, 2014 at 3:17 am

London

London is all gray skies and piercing wind. The rain lets up occasionally and then it's plain lovely.

I went for walks and got rewarded by sun:

I also got rained on quite a lot.

After a while I decided to take matters into my own hands and bought a hat. It came in handy. I also got lots of compliments. Strange, because you'd think the English wear hats more often. But I guess not, I was the only one rocking the wide brimmed gray sexy hat. It was good for the rain.

I also went to see a Paul Klee exhibit at the Tate Modern. It was a feast for the senses.

He had a good life, that Klee. He got to be in Germany at the height of the Bauhaus movement and spent time with Kandinsky. They probably smoked cigarettes and debated art and philosophy over wine or something stronger in late night cafes and bars. Lucky him. He spent most of his life doing what he loved and in the right place. He died just before the start of the 2nd World War – probably a good thing since it would have broken his heart. His last painting was called 'Twilight Flowers' and it made me cry.

Here is a quote of his, I love the last sentence about the artist being 'a creature on a star among stars'.

I stayed with friends and was surrounded by cats. It's nice to have a warm cat around on a cold night, let me tell you.

This one, though, was as large as a panther – I swear! But very sweet and cuddly.

On occasion the sky looked magical, like in a Peter Pan story:

I went to the Borough Market and spent lots of money on edible things. Can you blame me?

My Troubadour show was sold out and packed. The sound guy was a cute Italian serious bloke and he was very good. I think I'll hire him again!

I caught a cold and brought it back to L.A. On the way back I woke up and saw glaciers:

Posted January 19, 2014 at 11:22 am

a day of rest

I had an incredible couple of days and only now getting a little bit of rest. Next week I still have some vocals to finish for my Russian record and then I am off to London.

Joe's Pub performance was a grand time for me and it seemed to really connect with the audience, as well. It was sold out and people were so nice. I think I have become a better performer since the last time I sang here. New Yorkers are a tough crowd, they are very sophisticated and demanding.

I loved being part of the Prototype Festival. Unfortunately my buddy Timur the Tenor couldn't join me on the Odi et Amo duet at Joe's. I would have liked that because our performance at the LuEsther Lounge together was quite something. I think being paired up with another singer of an operatic background on a pop-ish duet makes me get louder and more dramatic/operatic than usual, and that it turn fires him up… and off we go into the stratosphere of vocal omnipotence;)

There are so many things I want to add to my live set, though. Electric guitar is going to become a permanent part of it, as I work on this in February, once I am back. Choreography…

But it's important to realize that I have come a long way as a performer in these last two years since the very advent of the first Beatrix Runs songs.

On to London in a few days. Can't wait.

Posted January 16, 2014 at 9:40 am

New York!

I love New York. Well, I was born here. When I come back, I am always both a little scared and excited. It's almost as if I am feeling the city challenge me and say: 'So? Have you accomplished your destiny? Where are you at? Why are you slacking? This is not why you were born here, little girl! Step up!'

Unlike Los Angeles, where I am just face to face with myself and act like a hermit, NYC has an energy all its own. It's alive, it breathes, shudders, buzzes. It provides stimulation everywhere and on every level.

My show tomorrow night is sold out:

I will have a wonderful bass player performing with me, Anthony Maceli.

If you are reading this, and missed out, I am performing a short set late tonight at The Festival Lounge at Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St NYC 1003. It's like an after hours hangout space for festival goers.

I go on at 11 PM, and it's free.

Yesterday New York was chilly and sunny.

One of the things I simply can't understand is how New Yorkers don't all weigh 300 pounds, simply because there are so many incredible places to eat everywhere, ten per every city block.

A fan drew a picture of me and posted on Facebook. It's beautiful, but what's even more striking to me is the owl. You see, I have been writing a story (animation screenplay sort of thing) and there is an owl in it. I have neglected the story in the recent months because the music took over. But this is like a definite sign to keep at it and finish it. All right, I'll do my best!

(drawing by Melissa Posch)

The show at Witzend in LA was also sold out and a few fans showed up to sing Hero with me. Some of them were 10, others in their 20's, 30's, 40's & 50's – I'd say we had quite a diverse group. It was a great start to a tradition, I think. It felt great.

I love to sing.

Right now I am pretty tired, though. But it's a good tired. Tonight, I'll be joined on Odi et Amo by a pretty amazing tenor (and friend) Timur Bekbosunov. He is quite something – I guess I'll just use his own description on his personal site because I couldn't come up with anything better: "The tumultuous sensation of omnipotent splendor, fueled by passion for contemporary art, culture and politics".

Only a tenor would come up with something like that;)

Posted January 9, 2014 at 12:29 pm

Poem

I came across some beautiful imagery by Ed Fairburn. He draws faces in vintage maps. My friend and designer i102fly will go crazy when she sees the link I sent her because she has (shhhh!) a map fetish. She even has map patterned pants. But who am I to talk? I love maps, too. Although probably not with such passion, and I can't read them very well, ever. But to me, maps have always represented adventure and possibility.

Then it struck me: oh my, when was the last time I wrote a poem? Sad, sad state of affairs when a self proclaimed POET AND FLOWER ALCHEMIST hasn't written any poetry for… well, for a very long time.

And here is a little improvised poem that shaped itself because of the imagery.

The years, travels and worries
Laughs, loves, tears
Secrets, songs and stories
all inscribed on our faces.
Time's an artist, too, you know
He works slowly, gently
Every face is a little different
A canvas to fill with minute details.
So why do we shame ourselves?
Why do we seek to erase history?
Who said Time's art is ugly?
My face carries a map of my journeys
Both on the inside and the outside
This scar is chicken pox when I was ten
This wrinkle is for the one who got away
And these lines are growing because I laugh a lot.
I am a wanderer and a lover
I sing and I love to sleep
I get spots when I eat too much sugar.
My face remembers everything
and maybe
It is time to forgive myself in it.
(ek, 2014)

Posted January 8, 2014 at 12:52 pm

Sunny and not freezing

Los Angeles seems to be out of the eye of the Polar Vortex. My friends and colleagues elsewhere in the US are not happy with me and Los Angeles at the moment.

I am Russian, however. I still remember the -34 celsius weather in Moscow growing up. School would get cancelled and I would stay at home and play music. Heaven. Warm soup, tea etc.

How do you like my new baby?

I am still keeping and using the RC 50, though. As a matter of fact I am traveling with it this time around because I am mostly traveling by myself and the idea of bringing the electric guitar on top of everything else I am bringing doesn't quite work for me. I need an entourage! OK, maybe just a very tiny one, for carrying things around, massaging my shoulders and telling me to calm down.

Apply here…………………………………………..

Among other things I am dedicating this year to become an ace opera singer and a gear head. I am well on my way.

I also want to keep recording in Japanese, now that I recorded Dreamer, I want to do it again. Maybe Korean, too, seems like I have a thing for tongue twisty languages, must be a Slav masochist thing.

My new year resolution TO. BLOG. is working for now. I feel proud.

But now I have to get back to real work.

And I have a show this Saturday!