Dave Van Patten Animation!

More prep for the big Vaudeville show!  Today I met with local artist, Dave Van Patten, about illustrating a video for my song, "Watch Out, Nosferatu" (the most catastrophic love song in history).  Dave is one of my favorite artists (we also have the same birthday!), he has an absurd and twisted view of the world that he captures with surreal line drawings that you can get lost in.  He's made comic books, children's books, t-shirts, album covers, show posters, murals, and draws comics for LA Record.  Check out his website! http://www.vanpattenart.com.

Here's a video of Joshua Bassett from the band, Welfare, and me singing "Watch Out, Nosferatu," at Oblique Coffee in Portland, OR last month.

Vaudeville Spectacular, Album Release, Strongbear and Training, Training, Training!

Hi hello!

     45 days to lift-off!  After from fighting off a monster of a chest-cold, Sarah and I have been super busy prepping for the big adventure!

     My focus has been on finishing my album, which is so close!  This morning, I just turned in all of the artwork to the printer (it takes the printer longer to do the cd sleeves, than it does to do the discs, so, it buys me a little bit of time to finish up the mixes).  It's an eclectic album. I'm super proud of it, and can't wait to share it with you guys!

     I've also been putting together the big Follow Me Along the Sea Vaudeville Spectacular!  It will be a release show/fundraiser for the tour/excuse to throw an amazing show featuring some of my favorite local artists.  Tickets are $25, which also includes a signed copy of my new EP.  You can get tickets, prizes and buy advertising space here on our fundraising site.  This is going to be an eye-popping, heart-fluttering, toe-tapping show featuring seven bands, four poets, burlesque, belly dancing, live painting, acro-yoga and a stationary bicycle race between the infamous Strongbear and local superhero, the Bixby Knolls Ranger.  If you went to my last Vaudeville Spectacular, you may remember Strongbear and his amazing feats of strength.   This week, I was lucky enough to get an exclusive interview with Strongbear, himself. 

     I was also lucky enough to get an interview with the Knolls Ranger! 

     Now, silliness, album release, and fundraising aside, with only 45 days until we fly to Seattle, we've got to get in gear and start TRAINING.  Sarah is much more fitness-savvy than myself, and has been diving into a few cycling, training and nutrition books to make our training plan and get ourselves ready for the trip.  On the tour, we're going to be riding 40-60+ miles per day.  So to work up to that, we've been starting small, and riding a lot, but doing a big ride every other week that increases by 20 miles.   

     Here's our schedule for the next month. 

March 11-17: two 30 mile rides. 

March 18-24: one 30 mile ride, one 60 mile ride. 

March 25-31: one 40 mile ride with hills. 

April 1-7: one 80 mile ride. 

     We'll also be cross training, since Cycling really overworks some muscle groups, and underworks other muscle groups, we're doing lots of yoga, running, Sarah surfs, and we both got gym memberships at Fitness 19 (only $12 a month!).   I'm excited about this part.  I've always been a very busy person, but always preoccupied with very sedentary activities, artwork, music, promoting, computer stuff.  It's really thrilling to get out and get moving.  Riding my bike to work gives me MORE energy than staying in bed and pressing the snooze button.  Goodness, we had a great workout on Saturday, but I think I got too excited an overdid it.  I've been so stiff the past few days, I feel like I've been walking around like Frankenstein...

     I'm a little concerned that getting sick last month, and putting so much work into finishing the album set us back in training a little bit, but we've got a lot of heart and we're very determined to be as prepared as we can in the time that we have.  I also hear that no matter how much you train the first week or two of a big ride like this will kick your butt into shape pretty fast.  Lucky for us, Fitness 19 has free personal trainers for the month of March, too!  We're going to try to utilize that to help guide us in the right direction. 

Much love!  

Alyssandra

Free download of "I'd Rather Be Lonely" from Alyssandra's upcoming EP!

Hello hello!

      Thanks to everybody who came to the fundraiser kick-off last night!  It was wonderful!  Pictures and videos coming, soon!  If you didn't make it to the show, but would still like to donate to our adventure, you can donate through Indiegogo via credit card or paypal.  There are prizes for every donation, including a digital downloads, signed albums, tickets to and advertising at our Follow Me Along the Sea Vaudeville Spectacular, an "I know Sarah Rosenberger" T-Shirt, framed posters, paintings, and a custom written song sung on top of a mountain on our tour and broadcasted to the world.  Exciting stuff!

      Here is a free download of my song, "I'd Rather be Lonely",  from my upcoming EP, When my love knot slips...   It features Matt Knapl on clarinet, Doug Brown on upright bass and Travis Christopherson on the drums.  Enjoy!

Cheers!
Alyssandra