I'm on your team, be on your team with me

They say you're pretty lucky if you can count your good friends on one hand.

Having connected with some great women around the world I consider myself luckier than most.

They're all amazing, capable, beautiful, lovable, empowering human beings, and it is such serendipitous magic that we're in each other's lives.

It's interesting though, as free-spirited, independent women we're all subliminally bombarded with messages, daily, about how we're not enough.

Because we're women, our value as humans is tied to our relationship status, age, demurity, niceness, size, money we have (or don't have) along with countless other irrelevant factors.

While sometimes difficult, it's important to utilize our strength to value ourselves.  In other words, be on your team! That's much easier said than done, and I personally find that it helps to have others on your team with you.

So most importantly, surround yourself with people who love you, so when those moments of doubt inevitably creep in, someone will remind you "I'm on your team, be on your team with me."

It's taken me a long time to even recognize that doubt, let alone be able to turn it off and breathe.  I'm lucky enough to have friends who encourage me to value myself, be on my team.

This is part of why I'm moving back to Bali, and part of why for the first time in my entire life, I made the decision to not take a job in front of me, and value myself more than expectations set before me.

Love,

Norma Jean

You can view all of my doodles, with everything I love on my website, Norma Jean Loves

i before e, except for little old me!

Part of being truly happy is accepting yourself wholeheartedly.  There is no good or bad, better or worse, they're just lenses in which we see the world through.  This also applies to things like "supposed to", or "normal." Yes, it would occur to most people to play a bunch of gigs before they ever think about recording an album.  It just wasn't on my list of priorities at the time.  

That being said, having recorded my first EP, I've learned that songs are similar to crisp, new, denim jeans - they need to be worked in a bit before the fit is just right! (Bali is also one of the few places in the world where you can get a feeling for singing with bands as the majority of musicians will bring you in on their sets to sing - almost EVERYTIME!)

Having sung my songs from The Devilicious Sessions for over a year, when Bar Luna approached me about doing a night that was just mine - I jumped at the chance!  

 Having never gotten to create my own setlist and play songs that I wrote with covers that I could adapt and make fun and bluesy, I got to a point after singing for about 20 minutes where you gain a certain kind of momentum and really take people on a musical journey - altering the atmosphere.  

Obviously, I've experienced this seeing other musicians perform, but it really felt like an accomplishment to finally be able to do it myself, with the songs I've written!

 My amazing producer, Lloyd, (who even though he wasn't feeling the greatest) flawlessly accompanied me and kept the vibe perfectly bluesy!

Hello, I'm Norma Jean ;)

Post-performance glow!

Tons of friends came out to support me!  I'm SO blessed!!!

My album, The Devilicious Sessions, was just recently released on July 11th, 

and is available on iTunes

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

Follow me on Instagram for doodles and updates

SEE MY DOODLES at www.normajeanloves.com

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 :)

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! 

My Candle In The Wind

 You ignored me when I looked away.

You cornered me as I tried to escape.

I said, "I don't need any more friends"

and you never missed a breathe.

You said, 

"Do you want me to come over?"

and I said, 

"No, but if you have to go ahead."

and you came

and you staid

past you're welcome

until we were the friends

you told me we would be.

You've been my hooker with a heart of gold

You've been my Bridget on a fire pole.

 You're been my Chang.

 The intrepid sidekick.

The voice of un-reason.

But more then that.

You've been good people.

Always there with words of wisdom 

just before the credits roll.

Goodbye Norma Jean,

you're not frosting

you're cake

and

yours will not be a life wasted.

  

Cast Favorite Leaves After One Season

Goodbye Norma Jean

 After only one season,

cast favorite NJ will be headed 

out to head up her own, all new, law school drama.

However,  don't think this is the last you've seen of her.

We're currently in negotiations

for her to revive her Chang-like role 

in future "on location" episodes.

Birth of The Dragon

The year of the Dragon

was birthed in adventure.

Thank you Korea for offering up

one of the most unique, uncomfortable

and fabulous New Years experiences

the world has to offer.

Homigot it going on.

The Wolfpack: Norma Jean, Alyssa, Landino.

First Light of 2012

Winters Warm Glow

Soon this too will be a memory of our youth.

A warm thought for the winters of our lives.

That time we ran away to the sea

to sing Auld Lang Syne.

 

 Norma Jean, Alyssa, Landino.

Goodbye 2011

Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl't in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine,
And we'll tak a right guid willie-waught
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint' stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

Translation:

Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago !

Chorus:
For old long ago, my dear
For old long ago,
We will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago.

We two have run about the hillsides
And pulled the daisies fine,
But we have wandered many a weary foot
For old long ago.

We two have paddled (waded) in the stream
From noon until dinner time,
But seas between us broad have roared
Since old long ago.

And there is a hand, my trusty friend,
And give us a hand of yours,
And we will take a goodwill draught (of ale)
For old long ago!

And surely you will pay for your pint,
And surely I will pay for mine!
And we will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago!