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!