What, like it's hard?

Having never really sang before (apart from being the queen of rocking out in the car, and the star of my 6th grade musical) I came to Bali in January of 2012 on a holiday.

Whilst strolling down the picturesque, quaint Goutama street, I stumbled upon the most brightly colored art shop I'd ever seen.  I stopped, admired, and had a chat with some people that are now some of my close friends (and ended up designing my ROCKSTAR album cover.)  They said they wanted to write songs... I had just written a bunch of songs!!! What, like it's hard?

They stared at me incredulously and I sang them a song that is now known the world over as "the orange peel song", or Charming Start and they immediately got excited! Having loved writing little songs and singing them for my friends over the past month to ward off the chill of Korean winter, additional support from other artists was just what I needed as fertilizer to sprout, and a dream was born.

My contract in Korea was up 2 months later and I was scheduled to start law school in the fall.  I had a few months to kill... Why not come back to Bali and make an album of my little song?  What, like it's hard?

It's been almost a year and a half since that dream was born.  The response has been OVERWHELMING!  So many people helped me along the way, from jamming to contributing to the album, to fundraising!  The album launch was so packed some people stood in the streets for hours!
During this process I've learned more than I could have ever imagined, worked with incredible musicians, written many more songs, made the best friends a girl could ask for, and now live in Bali indefinitely (that's a story for another day though.)

It's been a long road, but one that's definitely worth it (and maybe a little hard ;)

My album, Norma Jean the devilicious sessions  is now available on iTunes, HERE, and check out my facebook for all performances, new songs and musical happenings!

The Wonderful Land of Oz!

Norma Jean joined the ensemble

not so long ago in a land called Anjung-Eup.

However, she ran away to star in her own drama

and give law school the old college try...

only to be side tracked by music and Bali.

We now join Norma Jean,

whose life is already in progress:

(This drama is filmed in front of a live studio audience)

Hello Australia!

 After being abroad for 3 years 

(and not having been home/ to a western country for 2) 

I decided to head off to Australia.

I lived in Bali for almost a year making my album, and came to Australia a few weeks ago to check out the music scene, play some open mics and connect with other musicians (hopefully to get a band together - but that's a whole other post!).  Hours before I boarded the plane,  I also lost my bank card, so this was a pivotal moment for me.  Realizing that I could stay in Bali and sort it out, or get on the plane, I chose the latter.  With grace, hope, $4 and infinite possibility I arrived in Australia!

The adventures have continued in Boomtown, also known as Perth, and they have been nothing but extraordinary!  I have experienced INCREDIBLE generosity, predictable selfishness and everything in between, have pet and eaten kangaroos (not the same ones ;), ridden a Harley, hiked in the outback, sang at few open mics (with a bunch more coming up), connected with the local music community and made friends that I will have for a lifetime!

It went a little something like this:

Beach

Kangaroos (the ones we pet!)

My new friend Stu and I 

playing at an Open Mic

Aboriginal Cave Art

They have NICE coffee (in the cutest cafes!)

The biggest lesson learned so far has been this:

The deciding factor in any experience is YOU.  If you decide things will work out, they will.  Choose your people discerningly, know that you are ALWAYS enough and that you carry the magic in you!

With LOVE from the Wonderful Land of OZ!

XOXO,
Norma Jean

Over the top - Nothing but BLUE SKIES :)

Socrates Fan Girl

We found him all alone at an open mike many years ago.

He stood up there and he played his guitar 

and he sang his songs with an impressive intensity,

but when he walked off stage shyness enveloped him.

It was a gauntlet thrown at our feat.

Shoes, Rebeqa and I just couldn't resist him.

He was like a shiny new toy.

So, adorable, so talented, so shy.

We.... had... to... press... the... button....

 

So later, as we sat across the room 

from him and his friends at a pizza joint.

We screamed and swooned,

"Oh, it's Ahren."  

"Can you believe it?" 

"Is it really him!"

"Oh, I think he looked at me!"

 

We did it with commitment. 

 We did it relentlessly.

We were horrifyingly annoying.

A few months later,

Shoes tricked him into coming to Thanksgiving dinner.

 We must have done something right, though,

because he didn't run away screaming

when he was greeted in a similar fashion at our home,

"Ahhhh, it's Ahren!!!!" 

"He's at our house!!!"

For reasons we don't really understand,

he chose to keep hanging around,

and we feel so privilaged and lucky.

 

Now he has his very own awesome band

Socrates and the Lava Gods

And they have released their first music video.

Although Shoes, Rebeqa and I were Ahren's first 

screaming, swooning fans.

I know we wont be his last.

You can read Ahren's life blog here:

blogofahrenscholtz.wordpress.com

Come On Baby Light Your Fire

My candle in the wind 

has lit up Bali like a wildfire.

"Talk to you" Bali Jolie

She's become the lead in her own drama. 

It's a musical actually.

It's about a girl who:

ran way to the islands 

rented a scooter

formed a band

and

recorded an EP.

The rough cuts are magic, 

the EP is going to be electric.

My beautiful lost thing

is finding her own way.

Bali Jolie on Facebook

UPDATE:
Check out me, Norma Jean, on facebook for all
performance updates, new songs, and other musical shenanigans! 

Say Uncle

I've waited most of my life for this album.

The new album by Al Koenig

Growing up my Uncle Al didn't always have a lot to say,

but he always had his guitar

and when he played his music said 

all you needed to know.

As an adult,

my Uncle Al has been the father I never quite had.

Supportive, encouraging, grounded.

I'm not saying that we talk a lot about things,

because neither of us are really that type.

Luckily, we don't really need too.

He plays and I listen.

He has a lot of great advice,

and now I can carry it with me

everywhere I go.

Get it for yourself!

It's Christmas in My Seoul

It's the holidaze.

Time to celebrate.

It's strangely comforting to wander around the city

with drunken Santas despite my sober constitution.

Especially on a night filled with live music

and lunar eclipses.

Everyone wants to sit on a Santa's lap

Camera Shy

Big Red

My Christmas Elf NJ

Ho Bar III Is Rock'n Round the Christmas Tree

Santa Slow Dance

Feelings

It's a very Korean Punk / Grunge Christmas

(Thank you Norma Jean, Alyssa, and Landino for getting me out of the house.)

Ode to Seattle

Before I left Seattle I made this video for Latitude x Longitude.

Consider it a love letter to a city and sister I miss.

Live'n the Rock & Roll lifestyle

Never thought I would be living the Rock & Roll lifestyle.

Nae-nae & Harri-bou living the transit lifestyle

Never went to a big stadium concert.

Didn't follow popular bands.

Couldn't pick a Rolling Stones song out of a line up.

Ok, not that I really had anything against it.
I just didn't have anything in common with it.

Rock & Roll was a noise I was vaguely aware of,
like a distant memory you can't quite put your finger on. 

So, when Rock & Roll knocked at our door - I was leery of the unknown.
 Especially as The Rebeqa become more and more involved in the scene.

Kristin Ward, Gary Westlake, Paul Passereli, Mike McCready, Rebeqa & Andrew McKeag

Like a wary chaperon, I watched.

Watched her laugh, learn and be inspired
by their hard work and dedication.

Watched them help those who can't help themselves.

Watched them love their children and their wives.

Watched them uplift and inspire their fans.

Watched them care for their community.

Watched them protect each other.

Mike McCready, Paul Passereli & Rebeqa Rivers

 Thanks so their kindness, I've been to a big giant stadium concert

Pearl Jam @ Key Arena

and our family has been welcomed "backstage".

Harry Rock'n his LxL t-shirt

and we got to present emerging Seattle artists in Miami & Monaco

La Familia Artists @ Arte Monaco

La Familia Artists @ Aqua Art Miami

and we learned about bands we'd never heard of

Delivering vocal training CD's to my sister.

But to be honest, I'm not really into hanging with Rockstars 

for the music or the backstage passes.

Nope, I'm just here for the Rock & Roll lifestyle of...

 

hard work
lifelong friends
and the love of family.

I'm An Alien

My day began with wonderful news.
In the words of Sting, "I'm an Alien, I'm a Legal Alien."

This calls for my theme song

Mixed Tape

For my love, while I'm away

We Miss Our Own Lives...

After an exhausting year that challenged me in more ways then I can count, I found myself - through self-determination and unexpected circumstance - with my sister in a private villa in Mexico.

It was an adventure, it was work, it was an unexpected gift from a wonderful friend but mostly it was a life saver for two exhausted women in need of new eyes and new vision.

As we let the beauty sink in, Rebeqa sat down and begin singing my favorite song... as I listened and took in the world around me I saw my life clearly for the first time in years.

After that I made the decision not to miss my own life.

The Rockstar Sister

Name: Rebeqa  
Birthplace: Talkeetna, AK
Profession: Musician / Song Writer / Teacher
Star Sign: Gemini


The driven, beautiful and talented Rebeqa is the leader of the hot indie Seattle rock band Latitude x Longitude. 


With her album set to release, Rebeqa is forced to not only deal with the drama of Rock & Roll life but also find it in herself to be the glue that holds the family together when Nae-nae falls down.


Will Rebeqa be able to launch her band, keep Harri-bou from loosing his mind, keep Nae-nae on the straight and narrow while also finding time for herself?