WonderFest is a week away!!! We kick off Monday March 4th 7pm at The Central in Toronto with Heather Hill‘s free workshop Business Planning For Artists.
Tuesday March 5th 7pm at The Central join us for an open mic/collaboration night of music adventure!
Lisa Anita Wegner’s free session “How Art Saved My Life” happens March 6th 7pm at Fringe Creation Lab (720 Bathurst Street). It promises to be astounding and inspiring. This is Lisa’s recent blog, where she addresses technology, exhaustion and her brain injury, telling them what she really feels about them!
Thursday March 7th 7pm at Fringe Creation Lab (720 Bathurst Street) Nova Browning Rutherford leads a free workshop on Turning Wounds Into Wisdom, nurturing positive self-esteem.
Full workshop information and WonderFest schedule including Super Men Concert March 7th at The Central and Wonder Women VI concert March 8th at The Gladstone here:
http://www.WonderWomenWorld.tumblr.com
dear exhaustion: you can be a bit overbearing, like a parent grounding me when i have to rehearse and perform the lead in the school play. i appreciate the message but sometimes i have deadlines. but you know what exhaustion? i appreciate you telling me to ease off. even though it took about ten people’s help and you didn’t go easy on me, i managed to get everything done, with one day to spare. by next week the reno on my space should be finished and that will be like heaven on wheels. greased lighting wheels. right now i am living in a cloud of construction dust, workman, cables, floor glue, and fumes. unable to locate anything and dogs barking at every workman move. that’s exhausting on it’s own.
dear ice: please cut me some slack especially when there is water on top. you’re slippery and i’m tired. i can’t…
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Singing For Change!
I am thankful to have been part of this night of inspiring talent raising money for War Child. Most beautiful music made! Do yourself a favour and check out their music! Broken by Kristine St. Pierre broke me down and We Are The Same by Heather Hill had me sobbing multiple times during the evening. Incredible movement by music!
Do yourself a favour and check out Kristine’s Broken and more here. You won’t regret it!!!
Another amazing night of music and friends – all for a great cause – at the War Child benefit at the Drake Underground last night. So. Much. Fun. And so very moving as well.
MC Kat Leonard introduced an incredible line-up of music artists, all donating their time – as well as some of their CD and merch proceeds to War Child:
Heather Hill, who was joined by Four Winds Collective members Kat Leonard, Meghan Morrison & Arlene Paculan
Decided to do a photo essay post this time – so here goes…
WonderFest: The Workshops!
Announcing details on our wonderful workshops!
Workshop: Monday March 4,2013
Business Planning for Artists with Heather Hill
7:00pm at The Central, 603 Markham Street *FREE
A dream without a plan is just a wish.
It is easy to dream about your career as an artist, but without written goals, priorities and plans, your dream is just a wish. Heather Hill, an independent musician and a high tech product marketer, will guide you through the business planning process for your art. She will detail the areas you need to consider to be focused and successful: your company/artist story, your market, your goals, your strategy to achieve those goals, your customer/audience, your competition, your marketing tools you will need (the 5 Ps of marketing: Product, Promotion, Place, Price, People) and your financial plan. In this interactive workshop, Heather will help you to further define your plans and goals, and you will leave with a framework to help you continue this process.
Heather Hill – MBA, MA, ARCT
Late one night on a business trip in England, an unmistakable voice told Heather she needed to quit her executive career and return to her music. Heather left a successful high-tech marketing job, sold everything, went backpacking, and the songs poured out. She fell in love, had babies, wrote songs, made two albums, created a songwriting guild, and now she wants to bring change and spread hope and love to anyone who will listen. Rooted in piano rock, Heather Hill is currently working on her third release. She launched her second album Leuty Station in May 2012, which features a collection of songs about women’s issues and the courage to face life challenges head on. She quickly followed the success of the launch with a Canadian tour, TV and radio play. Her first album “Listen” was released in NYC in 2005. Her voice is often compared to Kate Bush, her piano style to and Tori Amos and her songwriting to a young Leonard Cohen. She is working with Jan Cooper Publishing in Vancouver.
Workshop: Tuesday March 5,2013
With various local musicians and YOU!
7:00pm at The Central, 603 Markham Street *FREE
The greatest expression and art is motivated by curiosity, creativity and play. It is invaluable for an artist to be able to be spontaneous and creative with themselves and with others. Playing within your art is a magnificent way to be free and let the muse whisk you away; to play without a plan and let spontaneity open the omnipotent channel from the gods; to let a chance surprise become a gift of genius. Have you ever felt the spark and chemistry of creating something with another human being? Have you ever co-written a song? Join us for a night of collaboration exercises and open mic performances. You never know what magic will transpire and inspire!
Workshop: Wednesday March 6,2013
How Art Saved My Life with Lisa Anita Wegner
7:00pm at The Central, 603 Markham Street *FREE
After a trauma, art saved my life. Now I am allowing it to create my life.
Lisa Anita Wegner is an actress and film producer who in 2008 suffered a trauma-related brain injury. The Women’s College Hospital Trauma Therapy Program encouraged her to use visual art for her healing. At that point she began generating creative content, something Lisa had never done in her previous work life. Her first solo video, “So Who Am I Anyway?”, was bought by the Phoenix Art Museum for their video collection and was included in their Selection 2011 screening. Lisa was invited down to Phoenix to speak about her experience and show examples of how the injury has affected her work.
Screening a sample of film clips, personal therapy videos and pixel paintings, Lisa will tell her story for the first time in her hometown of Toronto at WonderFest. By getting to know her authentic self through art therapy, Lisa pierced the mundane to find the marvelous; she unearthed a creative life more fulfilling, rich and wild than she ever expected.
Workshop: Thursday March 7,2013
Turning Wounds Into Wisdom with Nova Browning Rutherford
7:00pm at The Central, 603 Markham Street *FREE
It is a vital process to develop and maintain positive self-esteem.
• Learn to use your past pain to propel your future progress.
• Learn to gain acceptance for what you are and let go of what you are not.
• Gain the skills to recognize and release toxic relationships at work, home or school.
• Take control and discover how challenges can be used as an opportunity to grow.
• Discover the secret to optimism no matter what life throws your way.
• Develop accountability skills – for past successes and for your role in the ‘drama’.
• Learn to use your voice and apply the 3 keys to a successful confrontation.
• See new results by taking action and create a Mastermind list.
Nova B. Rutherford has been helping young women and men develop a thorough understanding of ones own personal values – emotionally and spiritually – by using methods that are crucial to staying mentally connected to those values, which in turn help to create rewarding personal and professional relationships. Nova’s ten years of expertise in the entertainment, music, and marketing industries provides nuance to her programming which help to empower a new generation with these tools for life. Since 2009, Nova has provided her dynamic programming to such organizations in the U.S and Canada such as the United Nations Association, YWCA, NAACP, Youth Mentoring Connection, Voices Of Tomorrow The Remix Project, BlogTalkRadio, the AIDS Project Los
Angeles, Ontario District School Board, StoryCorps, ACT-SO and The Forgiveness Project. Nova has served as the keynote speaker at the “Women Empowering Women Symposium,” and as a featured panelist for the “United Nations Associations 100th Anniversary of Women’s Day” in Los Angeles, California.
And don’t miss…
WonderFest: The Concerts!
Thursday March 7,2013
Show: Super Men in Concert
Doors 9:30pm Show 10:00
The Central, 603 Markham Street
$10 at the door- receive $5 off Wonder Women in Concert
Friday March 8, 2013-International Women’s Day
Show: Wonder Women VI in Concert
Doors 7:00pm Show 8:00pm
The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West
$10 at the door
WONDERFEST IS COMING!!!
MARCH 4-8, 2013 is International Women’s Week, and LMG Productions celebrates by presenting Wonder Women VI: WonderFest, a weeklong series of workshops and concerts to spread empowerment through art. This International Women’s Week edition of Wonder Women will be the largest Wonder Women event yet. With four free workshops and two concerts involving approximately 50 wonder women and super men of varied media, WonderFest is certain to make a positive artistic impact on the community.
At LMG Productions we truly believe that we are in this together, and we would be honoured if you would join us in our passion towards encouraging and empowering individuals through art.
Introducing our new blogsite:
www.WonderWomenWorld.tumblr.com/
WONDERFEST SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Monday March 4, 2013
Workshop: Business Planning for Artists; Heather Hill
7:00pm at The Central, 603 Markham Street
FREE
Tuesday March 5, 2013
Workshop: Playing With Music; Collaboration/Jam/Open Mic
7:00pm at The Central, 603 Markham Street
FREE
Wednesday March 6, 2013
Workshop: Healing Through Art; Lisa Anita Wegner
7:00-8:30pm at Fringe Creation Lab, 720 Bathurst Street
FREE
Thursday March 7, 2013
Workshop: Turning Wounds Into Wisdom; Nova Browning Rutherford
7:00-8:30pm at Fringe Creation Lab, 720 Bathurst Street
FREE
Thursday March 7,2013
Show: Super Men in Concert
Doors 9:30pm Show 10:00
The Central, 603 Markham Street
$10 at the door- receive $5 off Wonder Women VI in Concert
Friday March 8, 2013-International Women’s Day
Show: Wonder Women VI in Concert
Doors 7:00pm Show 8:00pm
The Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West
$10 at the door
HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE! XOX WW XOX
Santa’s Sack!
The Next Big Thing: an online interview with yourself.
(How romantic!)
The effervescent Lizzie Violet tagged me in a blog experiment called The Next Best Thing in which writers answer ten questions about a current project and post them on their blog, tagging other writers who would have interest in doing the same. It started as a bookwriters exercise and Lizzie added the playwright angle. Now I add the songwriters angle!!!!
Ten Interview Questions for The Next Big Thing:
(Songwriters version by Kat Leonard)
What is the working title of your song? Santa’s Sack
Where did the idea come from for the song? During a Christmas song brainstorming session with Heather Hill, Aynsley Saxe and Steve Didynuk.
What genre does it fall under? Novelty/comedy
Which performer (if not yourself) would you like to perform the song? Will Ferrell
What is the one-sentence synopsis of what the song is about?
Wanting to help Santa unload his heavy sack by taking your gifts now.
Will your song be self-published or represented by a separate music publisher?
Self-published.
Will it be part of an album or EP? Possibly a festive collection.
How long did it take you to write the first draft? 6 hours
What other music genres/artists would you compare this song to?
Weird Al Yankovic, Bob Rivers, Jack Black & Tenacious D.
Who or what inspired you to write the song? Santa’s huge sack and jingle bells.
What about your song might pique the listeners interest?
The singalongability of “Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho” and the triple entendres.
Bonus: A sample! Here is a smidge of my performing Santa’s Sack at the Music Mentor Productions holiday party this month: http://youtu.be/DJMudNqYdiU
And there are the lyrics:
SANTA’S SACK
by Kat Leonard November 2012
(Spoken) Dear Santa…
You’ve got a big sack– jam-packed
With heavy gifts of joy that could break your back
I can help you… damn straight
I can help release the pressure and reduce the weight
I’ll take my gifts now… and how
You know what I like and I’m willing to be wowed
I’ve been a good girl—giddy up
I saved half of your cookies and egg nog in a cup
Chorus:
Santa, how your sack does bulge
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
Bursting with the gifts I love
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
What could be inside for me?
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho
Bulging sack of festive glee
You’ve got a big sack—paddywack!
The strain must be a constant risk of heart attack
Let me hold it– pick it up
I’ll keep it upright and inspect it close-up
You can trust me—fingers crossed
I’ll handle it with care so nothing gets tossed
Let me touch it—Jingle bells
I see something for me right there where it swells
BRIDGE:
Jolly yuletide clown
Come on down
Loosen your belt, recline by the fire
I’ll roast some nuts and sing like a choir
I’ve been a good girl
I saved you a cookie
I’ve been a good girl
(Spoken): Well, half a cookie.
It’s better than no cookie.
I’ve been waiting a long time, Santa.
They kept getting into my mouth… I couldn’t stop them.
(Repeat chorus and improvise to end)
I do hope you’ve enjoyed Santa’s Sack and benefit it from the real sack this holiday season! Happy Ho Ho Ho! I do believe Heather Hill and Arlene Paculan might be interested in doing The Next Big Thing exercise. If anyone else is, please feel free to use my adapted questions!
Love Kat
Knowledge is Power!
She’s Listening!
OVARIAN CANCER – The Little-Known Killer of Women!
We the Four Winds Collective (independent artists Kat Leonard, Arlene Paculan, Meghan Morrison and Heather Hill) played a fundraising event for Ovarian Cancer Canada last Friday night with local artist Kelly Sloan at Bass Line Station in Ottawa, Ontario. Mike Anderson of CanadaParties.ca organized the event. As the Winds traveled the 401 east, we discussed our issues with supporting certain types of charity fundraising events. We agreed that we are not as interested in supporting organizations that are backed by pharmaceutical companies as much as we want to support the charities that are lean, agile and creative and not backed by organizations that serve to benefit from the illness and its treatments.
Upon arrival at Bass Line Station we met Lynn Griffiths, who has been an active volunteer for Ovarian Cancer Canada since losing her dear sister Ann to the disease in 2007. The Four Winds were pleased to learn that Ovarian Cancer Canada is not backed by pharmaceuticals and relies heavily on volunteers and donations to help raise awareness and funds for research. Lynn had all kinds of literature for us and she shared some incredible information.
When Corinne Boyer succumbed to ovarian cancer in 1997 at the age of 57 years old, she left an enduring legacy. Corinne’s husband, Patrick Boyer, created the Corinne Boyer Fund to advance ovarian cancer research and awareness. In 1999 the name was changed to National Ovarian Cancer Association (NOCA). In 2002 the name was changed to Ovarian Cancer Canada, and it remains a member-based and funded organization. There is a research chair at the University of Ottawa as well as one that was added recently in Toronto.
Every year, 2600 Canadian women are diagnosed and 1750 women succumb to ovarian cancer. What is most difficult is that there is no test to screen for whether you have ovarian cancer, and the symptoms are incredibly generic and subtle and very easily missed. And ovarian cancer must be treated early to increase the chances of successful healing. Lynn mentioned that one of the risk factors is ovulation, that the more you ovulate the greater the risk of ovarian cancer. So women who have not given birth and are not on the birth control pill could be at greater risk for developing ovarian cancer.
For more information, please visit www.ovariancanada.org.
What every woman NEEDS TO KNOW – or tell a woman you love!
▪ There is a lifetime risk of 1 in 70 that you will develop ovarian cancer
▪ Many doctors are unfamiliar with the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer and fail to consider it as a possible diagnosis
▪ Failure to find the disease in its early stages is partly due to (i) lack of sensitive detection tests and (ii) health care providers and even women themselves may ignore warning symptoms
▪ A Pap smear does not detect ovarian cancer
▪ HPV vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer, not ovarian cancer
▪ Recent research has found that a large proportion of ovarian cancers actually start in the fallopian tubes rather than the ovaries. If you are having gynecologic surgery, ask your doctor whether or not removal of the fallopian tubes would be beneficial to you. For more information, visit ovcare.ca
▪ Pain in the abdomen is not necessarily a symptom of ovarian cancer – even if you have no pain, your doctor cannot rule out ovarian cancer
▪ Even though ovarian cancer is known as the “disease that whispers” the majority of women with ovarian cancer report symptoms, including women diagnosed at an early stage
▪ Ovarian cancer rates rise after menopause, peaking from age 60-75, although it can occur at any age
▪ The hereditary form, found in families where many close relatives have had breast and/or ovarian cancer, tends to occur at an earlier age
The Four Winds enjoyed a warm night of music and amusement with Lynn and the staff of Bass Line Station as well as friends and audience who came out to join us. We were thrilled to learn that many of the audience members donated very generously to Ovarian Cancer Canada and we were happy to donate proceeds of CD sales to the important cause.
Please do inform yourself about ovarian cancer and its symptoms as well as other insidious diseases, and please share information with your friends and loved ones. As the Ovarian Cancer Canada tagline states: Knowledge is Power.
Four Winds with Mike Anderson and Lynn Griffiths
And now, for your listening pleasure, please enjoy two of the Winds’ cancer-inspired tunes: How Long by Heather Hill and Fuck Cancer by Kat Leonard.
Be well and be informed.
Love, Heather and Kat
(Two of the Four Winds Collective)
Leuty Station Earworms!
Heather Hill is touring her new album, Leuty Station, this summer– with the happy-vibe spreading Lily C!
Heather Hill launched Leuty Station May 2012. Warning: it causes ear worms, that entertaining condition whereby a catchy tune boogies in your head throughout the day even when no tangible music is playing.
Heather Hill’s voice is like liquid love, with robust rumbling lows, ethereal highs and a plethora of delicious tones in between. She’s one of those singers who can convey a story and/or emotion with the sound of her vocalizations without lyrics– and then she’s got good lyrics too! The amazing thing about Heather’s lyrical stories is that they are very specific and often very literal with a truth that can give you shivers.
The vocal and instrumental play weaving together throughout this album is inspired and fun. I’ll leave the instrumental critique to someone more instrumentally adept, but to this laylady—(Hmm, this literary play on layman doesn’t have the eloquent sound I thought it might)—I hear topnotch beats and grooves that generate many a Leuty Station earworm. Prior to the Leuty Station CD launch, Heather did a marvelous series devoting a blog to each individual song on the CD. You can hear the song, read the lyrics and learn a little something about the origin and process of the song. It really is worth the read and listen. It starts here: Leuty Station pre-release song 1
Never Grow Old has an infectious beat with thunderous affecting crashes. I love the story behind this song and often smile with the thought of it. “To age and never grow old”
Wading Through Normal is extra-special to me because it’s a co-write with another gal I admire, Meghan Morrison. I interviewed the two lovelies on their collaboration, and you can explore that here. Wading Through Normal sings for the unsung hero in Moms everywhere. “She’s remarkable in the every day, notable in the always there.”
Last Train is one of those true stories that gives me goose bumps when I consider it. It’s a true story and the resultant song is haunting and encouraging in equal measure. It reminds me how important it is to keep your mind and body as fit as possible. “If ever there’s a time to win a race it’s now.”
The refrain of Leuty Station really speaks to me lyrically and sonically. It takes me beyond myself, the way the refrain in Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey does. It feels like the melody of my life, an anthem of hope weighted in possibility that makes me feel equally light and powerful. It makes me feel truthful about myself. “I like it that way, I like it that way. Alone in the rain and the waves with my thoughts and hopes on this stormy day.” If ever I could do a Heather Hill cover song, Leuty Station is it.
For a truly transcending musical experience, you must hear Heather Hill live. Generous, witty and wise in music and deed, she is an all-around luminous musician, woman and friend.
For information on Heather’s upcoming tour and how you can lure her to your very own city, visit www.HeatherHill.ca if you haven’t been there by now.
I look forward to sharing the lineup with Heather, Meghan Morrison, Lily C, and many other wonderful artists at the upcoming Wonder Women V event August 8, 2012 at 7:30 at the Celebration Square Amphitheatre in Mississauga. Hope to see you there!
Sing a blissful tune, everybuddy!
Love
www.KatLeonard.com
KAT LEONARD (Kat & The MP3) 