AYRIA

Ayria upcoming shows in Atlanta & Toronto!

2011-08-24T18:41:48Z

Update from Ayria Land...

AYRIA LIVE: Labour Day Weekend Sept 2-5th: Atlanta, GA Live @ Dragon*Con

I wanted to let you know that Ayria will be performing at 2011's Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA this Labour Day weekend (September 2 - September 5). I'll be there for the entire weekend to have fun and meet people with our performance scheduled for 12:00 Midnight on Sunday night (technically Monday morning since it starts at Midnight) in the Mariott Maquis Atrium Ballroom.

Dragon*Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the US and I'm honoured and excited to get to be a part of this event again for the second time!
Full Details are here: http://www.dragoncon.org/

If you're attending Dragon*Con, you may already know that Ayria was booked for this show with very short notice, so I need all the help pulling this off as I can get so again, I'm reaching out to those interested in volunteering to help at the merch table selling stuff at an event that runs 24/7 for 3 days! if you're interested in helping me at all, please send a direct email to jennifer@ayria.com for more information

All merch table helpers will be compensated, with a free signed copy sent to them of the upcoming "Plastic Makes Perfect" when it's released (still TBA and in production currently)
Either way, I hope you stop by to say hi at least. It should be a wicked fun weekend! See the attached Flyer and feel free to help spread the word!

Ayria Live: Sunday October 16th: Toronto, CAN Live @ EBMfest 2011

I'm so excited to be playing my hometown of Toronto again at this awesome event combining all great bands! This will be a fun night. Plus, I finally get to play one of my favourite venues in the city, the Mod Club! I've seen so many great bands there, and now I get to take the stage there too! Can't wait. The show is all ages and early, so expect to see the whole Parkin family attending! See link for full details and where to purchase tickets in store and on-line.
http://www.ebmfest.toronto-goth.com

Progress on the new CD: "Plastic Makes Perfect"
It's still in production, we've had some delays mainly due to scheduling issues this year, but it's coming along. I hope to be able to announce the first single soon.. Sorry for the wait everyone, but I appreciate your patience. I just love torturing you with anticipation of what's to come with this fourth release ;)

Much love,
Jennifer

www.ayria.com

New Merchandise Available – 2010 Tour Merch

2010-08-05T18:02:37Z

I’m happy to announce that the 2010 Tour merchandise is now available online. Please note, this merch will also be available at our upcoming shows too! Check out the Plastik Wrap Items! This was a new collaboration to bring you guys some very unique items that you don’t see on every merch table and you may have seen me wearing the gloves on stage during the last tour! Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to get professional pictures of ALL the items as of yet (ties, bicep armbands, and hot pants) but I didn’t want that to delay me offering these items to you so I apologize that the photos for these items aren’t the best but new pictures will come soon!

VISIT THE SHOP FOR ALL ITEMS

Your feedback is appreciated! I’d love to know what you guys think of the items and what you’d like to see in the future!

Much love,

Jennifer

US Tour Blog #1 – Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago

2010-06-21T15:52:49Z

Ayria and Project Pitchfork on the Road:

June 15^th – 20^th Minneapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago

Jenn in Minneapolis, June 15th 2010

That’s me with the Minneapolis sky line behind me. I flew into Minneapolis on Tuesday, June 15^th and met up with my new keyboardist for this tour Kevin, a nice Irish boy from Atlanta who is aparently second cousins with Collin Farell.. but we’ve decide to call him Wolfgang Hans-Hemut as Peter from Project Pitchfork thought he needed a German name for this tour to fit in more (Oh how I love breaking in the new guy!). We made our way to the hotel and waited for everyone to arrive from various parts of the world. Mike drove up to the hotel a few hours later with our van and trailer, he’d made the trip all the way from Seattle. A few hours after that, the guys from Project Pitchfork (headliner band, members: Peter, Achim, Jurgen, Axxle) all arrived from Germany (Hamburg and Berlin). Our kickoff show was in Minneapolis, MN the following night and that show did not disappoint! The crowd brought all of their energy that night and danced until the last song had been played. I got to meet a lot of new people as well as greet familiar faces who I’d seen at so many of our shows before. Apparently, my gay fanbase tells me that “Lady Gaga is out, and Ayria is in!” which made me laugh pretty hard. They also thank me for adding Kevin the keyboardist as some eye candy to the show It was a great show to start this month long tour and to get me back in the mindset of being on the road. Besides a spontaneous 3 show stint with VNV Nation back in March (which was amazingly fun but brief), I haven’t actually toured since I got home in January after the month and a half long tour with the Cruxshadows. Switching gears back into touring mode.

The next day, we had off due to a last minute cancellation in Champaign, IL which was disappointing, since last time we were there, I recall was quite fun! We ended up in a city called Mauston, WI and had our first official tour family dinner in a typical American diner where everything came smothered in cheese. The second show was Milwaukee. We played at the Miramar Theatre and this show, has so far been my absolute favourite of the tour. Some nights, a band is lucky enough to have everything click and that night, for me it did. The sound was totally flawless, the energy of the crowd was insane, and I just felt the show went off so perfectly for me personally. Then the after party at club anything, where I fear I’m starting to get a bit of a party girl reputation there (haha) but we had a lot of fun and want to thank everyone that came out and supported both bands in Milwaukee.

Chicago! What can I say about Chicago. It’s always amazing to play there. We played at a venue called the Abbey and I have a bit of a story about that place since it reminds me of the first time I’d ever been to Chicago. Back on my very first tour ever with Razed In Black and Glis, we were booked to play a show there but they had already booked a local act to play that show, and therefore Ayria wasnt’ given a slot since we were ‘unknown’ then, so I just hung out that night and didn’t get to play. I think of our crowd reaction there last night reminds me how far I’ve come since then! I really hope someone got footage of “The Gun Song” and posts it. A girl in the front row brought a pink toy gun and busted it out for that song and handed it to me! I was actually going to bring my blinged up gun from the “Hearts For Bullets” cover on this tour, but didn’t want to risk travelling with it through homeland security as I’ve had problems even with bringing a “bullet belt” in the past. Thank you Chicago, despite a few sound issues and the venue being a million degrees (my face was melting off through the set), we had such a fun night! We recommend the fish and chips dinner at the Abbey Pub! I would have loved to have gone to the after party at Neo, but we were pretty tired that night, so we chose to get some rest at the hotel.

I’ve written this post while in the van, driving to Pittsburgh. We’ve been fortunate to stop for full breakfasts at amazing little dinners almost every day so far.. Project Pitchfork guys are amazingly cool, I can’t understand a word they are saying when they go into “German Mode”, this tour is being dominated by the latest scores of the World Cup games, but it’s all good and we are already all bonding and becoming the dysfunctional tour family that always happens on the road when you’re forced to share confined spaces, all meals, and long drives.

I’ll see some of you soon I hope!? Lots more shows to go!

Much love from the road (currently Sandusky, Ohio)

Jennifer

Thanks to: Plastik Wrap for the stage clothing & merch collaboration. We spent several weeks planning out the new line for this tour and I know they worked well into the nights the week before I left, I also want to thank Neko Hair Designs for my new dreads! (they actually blend perfectly with my own colours and hair length), and Cinched Tight Corsets for the cute pink skull corset.. more pics will be featured of all these awesome collaborators and supporters. I’ve been given more gifts along the road from other awesome and talented designers that I’ll be wearing and promoting too and I can’t thank you guys enough!

Here’s a video filmed in Chicago yesterday morning before we left:

T-Shirts and Draw For a Prize June 1st!

2010-05-24T19:06:03Z

I will be leaving on tour soon (in 3 weeks!). I currently have a few left of each style and size of the Hearts For Bullets ”Gun Crest” shirt designs but after this tour, I DO NOT plan on re-printing these! If you don’t want to miss out on EVER owning one of these T-shirts, Girlie-T’s, Tank Tops or Hoodies (I won’t be getting any more hoodies for a while since they are bulky and expensive for me to stock) you’ll need to order from my shop in the next week (before May 31st, 2010) before any remaining shirts get shipped off for the tour! For further incentive for you guys to grab up these shirts from me, any shirt orders during this week only will be entered in a draw to win your choice of either a signed Ayria Tie or the first ever Ayria “Bicep Band” made by Plastik Wrap and signed of course!! The draw will happen on June 1st, 2010, winner notified. So order shirts before they are all gone or everything is shipped off!

Shop Link: http://www.ayria.com/shop/#merchandise

xo

Jenn

Song Dissection #4: Analog Trash

2010-05-07T16:39:16Z

From the CD: Hearts For Bullets

Music, lyrics & vocals: Jennifer Parkin

Production, mixing, mastering: Sebastian Komor

Lyrics:

I’ve got a secret

I’ve been watching you

I know you’re damaged

But I still want you

You’re analog trash

When life is digital

But I prefer you

I think you’re beautiful

Pull back realign

We are flawed by design

Unplug just for fun

Stop before we hurt someone

Standard Uniform

Corporate life has gone too far

Excess Commodity

I want you just for me

This little secret

Gives me something to do

My new obsession

To be like you

You’re analog trash

When life is digital

But I prefer this

unreplicatable

Come On, It’s not what you think

Come On, Just come away with me

Come On, There’s so much more to this

Come On, That life you will not miss

The Dissection:

I will make a big statement in saying this is my favourite song off of the “Hearts For Bullets” CD. Although, choosing a favourite song is like choosing a favourite amongst your children I’d assume. I personally felt that this song achieved a light, sexy, fun feeling while still having some darker, grittier elements to it. It combined so many influences and elements of electro that I love, that it became my favourite, but again, that changes monthly depending on my mood.

For me, the word analog makes me specifically think of analog synthesizers! Analog synths have qualities that can’t quite be replicated by digital, and lyrically, this song takes the traits of any analog device, and uses these traits to describe an individual, mainly in the line repeated in the verses: “you’re analog trash, when life is digital. But I prefer this, unreplicatable”.

Here’s a cute picture I found online of “Analog Trash”:

photo credit: “Analog Retirement” form busted tees

I knew from the beginning I wanted to call this song “Analog Trash”. The biggest decision I had regarding this song was the spelling of the title! In Canada and the UK, it’s actually spelled “Analogue” but I thought the American spelling for “Analog” looked slicker so I, for a moment, abandoned my Canadian roots and went with the Americanization of the word! It’s funny because I was playing a show in Manchester, UK, in December 2009 where I found out that they named their regular club night after my song. The night is called “Analogue Trash” and it made me feel guilty seeing the spelling like that

THE VOCALS: I was so very happy with the vocals of this song. The melodies were simple, sweet and fun. When I sing this song, it actually feels light and sexy to do so. I also felt the vocals had a sophistication and maturity that maybe I hadn’t experimented with in the past, especially how the chorus vocals seem to swell and drag from one phrasing to the next if that makes sense? I love diversity. It’s the key to who I am and what I do. I really hate writing the same song over and over, so I TRY my best not to. Let me tell you though, Its getting tougher after 3 releases.

THE LYRICS: I admit, it’s a bit of a mash of ideas and ends up being kind of abstract, especially in the chorus where each line is more of a statement and could stand on it’s own rather than tell a story. The verses are sung as a secret love song that comes off a bit stalker-esque “I’ve been watching you”. There are some lyrics relating back to the analog vs. digital concept. Being “flawed by design” is a trait of analog that I’ve related to individuals as well. My statement on how our corporate lives and craving for commodity hinders our relationships and life balance. Personally, I was feeling overworked at the time, things were out of whack, and I was trying to find balance while I was working on a career, doing music, and still trying to have a life somehow. I think having the life suffered the most. I wanted my world to “Unplug, just for fun” and I wanted to convince the world around me there had to be more to all this. Again, they are not all completely straightforward lyrics, but they seemed to all flow nicely together while capturing what I was feeling at the time: The bridge just lets loose with: “Come on, just come away with me, come on, there’s so much more to this, Come on, that life you will not miss”.

Here’s another lyric brainstorming mess of purple! This was the messiest song brainstorming I think I’ve ever done so naturally, I wanted to share it! The funny thing is, if you follow the numbers, it’s how the first verse turned out (except for number one happening twice… Ah, beautiful creative chaos!) If you can follow this at all, you should get a prize:

Purple Mess of Lyrics for Analog Trash

THE MUSIC & PRODUCTION:

The music and melodies came to me fairly easily which is not always the case as you’ve seen in a few of the previous dissections where I’ve discussed how some songs need demo after demo, drafted 10 times until it feels right. This song started so simple with just two synth lines going through my analog pattern sequencers in Reason software, a lead and a bass, and what you may notice in this song, is that the bass melody actually never changes through the entire song, maybe not a great song structure trait on my part, but for this song, it really works. To change it up, other synth layers and different percussion come in so the verse and chorus sound different. I wanted the song to stay fairly sparsely programmed, acheiving an overall 80’s-electro feel to it. Here’s my first demo loop of the music that started with the lead and bass synth and introduced a few other layers this loop is the brainstorming so I could start writing and structuring the song from here.

Can't play embedded media? Click here!

My producer, Seb, said this was one of his favourites off the album (between this, and the title track “Hearts For Bullets”). I thought “Analog Trash” turned out so slick. All of the elements pop out at you since there’s not a lot of clutter with only a few layers of music going on at any one time. Also, this song sounds amazing on a dance floor! Pointing out my three favourite contributions by Seb to this song in production: the lead synth that comes in at the one minute mark sounds so gritty, draggy, and added so much to the song, this song also had some of the most amazingly clear vocal production I’ve heard on my voice (listen to it in head phones, the chorus is pure ear candy!), and lastly, the percussion, specifically, those beautiful snares! I’m a total snare freak!! Our biggest heated discussions during production on this whole CD were the snares. I love really loud snares that are short explosive bursts that just punch you in the face. If you listen to this entire CD, you might (NOW) notice how loud and clear the snares are on almost every song… or maybe it’s just me. I think I actually drove Seb crazy with how picky I was. No matter what volume he was going to put the snare, he did it a few DB louder to not have to hear me complain

This clip is for you guys who wanted me to continue sharing the raw vocals, the first clip is the first verse and chorus. Notice there are 2 layers of vocals that come in for the chorus? Those are 2 different vocal recordings which, when layered together create a true “natural chorus” effect. It’s used in a lot of Ayria songs as it ends up sounding so sweet! You’re more likely to have imperfections when doing a chorus this way, when the vocals aren’t sung exactly the same, which they can’t possibly be, but I tend to like some of the little imperfections. It gives it character.. unreplicatable.

Can't play embedded media? Click here!

This second clip is the same vocals in the final produced version of the song:

Can't play embedded media? Click here!

I wanted to share two of my favourite videos of us playing this song live that I’ve come accross:

First it at The Knitting Factory in Los Angeles on October 13, 2008. The crowd was so energetic in true L.A. style! I was blown away at the crowd’s reaction in this clip because, I have to point out, Hearts for Bullets had JUST been released, out less than a month, but it seems like it’s an old crowd favourite! The sound quality, as for most of the live videos, isn’t the best, and I get kind of out of breath, but it’s still cool to see. The very end of this video, someone screams so loud and long. It’s ridiculous and I love when crowds are having this much fun (thanks to twistedgraven who posted this video!)

This is November 29, 2008 in the Outback Lodge in Charlottesville, VA. A small and intimate show with a fun crowd. I love it!

(Thanks CompTechMike for posting the video!)

If you don’t own this song, don’t let the guilt consume you! Spend that dollar on iTunes! Or visit my web shop where I personally sign and send you stuff:

I had to start numbering the dissections so that new readers know how far we’ve come and so I can keep track! I’m working on something special for the week of the the 6th dissection which will mean we are pretty much at the half way point in dissecting “Hearts For Bullets”. I also think next week’s dissection will be presented really differently! I found a gem in my archives to share that’s never been seen before, plus I want to shake things up. Some people have asked about possibly continuing on and dissecting a few songs from “Flicker” and “Debris” this is a possibility since I’m having a lot of fun working on these but I won’t promise anything at this point. I have a feeling the next few months are going to get pretty busy with the upcoming U.S. tour and I want to do some tour blogging from the road too!

Have a great weekend! I’ll be celebrating my Birthday this Sunday and I want to ask you for a present: I’d love for you to please share my music with some one who hasn’t yet heard it, or post a link to my web site, or facebook users, please click that little “share” button down on the bottom left corner of the Ayria page. That gift from you, helping to spread my music, would be so much appreciated by me! I promise to post pictures of my disgustingly pink fairytopia cake next week

xoxo

Jenn

Previous Song Dissections:

1000 Transmissions

Bad List

Invisible

Ayria Style: Meet “Head”

2010-05-05T16:39:38Z

Meet "Head"

This is my giant travelling make up case I’ve named “Head” only it’s not pronounced “head”, you have to say it like Mike Myers’ Scottish Father in the movie “So I Married An Axe Murderer” and pronounce it “Heed!” and usually yell it out! This case contains everything that makes up my head for an Ayria show such as my make up, and hair accessories. Head has had all kinds of touring adventures. He’s been to Montreal for the Kinetik Festival, he’s driven across Canada, he’s seen the entire U.S.A., been on a tour bus with VNV Nation, and he always gets to hang out backstage. He couldn’t come to Europe last fall unfortunately, I think I’d need to get him a passport or something We had on ongoing joke that I had an actual head inside the case, that already had full hair and makeup that I simply could screw on and replace with my own head for the shows. Creepy, but funny.

I bought this case for myself last year for my birthday and I know it’s a bit excessive, since there are a lot of things in there I don’t even end up using, but it can hold absolutely everything I need on tour, and it’s great for storage of everything here at home. When I can bring head on the road, I do. It really just depends on how we are travelling and for how long we’ll be away. This is an item you’d only get to see backstage, so here are some photos of Head in all his colourful, glittering glory:

Ayria's Head - Travel Make Up Case

Ayria's Head - Face & Hair Bows!

Ayria's Head - Eyes!

Ayria's Head - Travel Make Up Case

Here’s a few pics I could find of Head on the road, here are some backstage shots of Head in New York City (yes, the Ayria dressing room was pink!):

Head in NYC

Here’s head and I goofing around backstage in Washington D.C.

Jenn & Head hanging out backstage in Washington D.C.

And finally, here’s Head and I in Salt Lake City, UT. I’m obviously looking for Head, who’s hiding near the back.

Jenn & Head in Utah

The weird thing is, I also have a teddy bear named “head” (pronounced the same way) who lives on my bed and has a head too big for his body to ever be able to sit up right! I love plushies with disproportionately large noggins. Here’s my other Head who stays at home while I tour:

Other Head

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this silliness! I thought I’d ease into some make up stuff by first introducing you to make up case Head, the keeper all things colourful needed for a big sparkling head.

Much love ♥

Jennifer

Song Dissection: Bad List

2010-04-23T16:42:55Z

It's Friday and I've posted another song dissection on my website. This week's dissection is the song: "Bad List". So, the important question is, who else has a Bad List and what type of people or behaviours make it on to yours? Heehee ;)

Click Here To Read The Dissection

Song Dissection: 1000 Transmissions

2010-04-16T20:39:21Z

From the CD: Hearts For Bullets

Music programming, lyrics & vocals: Jennifer Parkin

Production, mixing, mastering: Sebastian Komor

This is my first dissection of a song from this release and it happens to be one of the most emotional tracks for me, but I went for it and I’m here bearing my soul about the making of this song to the fans that care, appreciate the music, and wanted to know more I don’t go too much into production details here, since that’s better left to Seb, but I do discuss some of the additions, and I do discuss the motivation, lyrics, melodies, some of my favourite parts and share some clips as well as personal memories. I hope you enjoy!

Lyrics:

Just when I think it’s getting better, I relapse back to this place where the scenery has changed and it’s terrifying. How can I go back, when it’s much too late.

Piece by piece, bit by bit, my heart aches and I feel sick. There’s things you say, and things you can’t. Things you threw away and things you want back. The fact that I’ve lost you erases all my sanity. Seriously, how could anyone carry on like this? I’ll never look at things the same because of you. I’ll never get that moment back I shared with you.

It only hurts when I remember. I know you’re trying to make it better.

Bit by bit, my heart breaks. Your voice repeats and I can’t take it anymore. Don’t compromise, save yourself, I’ll always be here. Don’t say goodbye, I’m not through with you. Don’t compromise. Don’t say goodbye. I’ve tried and tried, my head is full of memories and sleepless nights, an endless cycle. I’ve tried and tried but these thoughts just drag me down.

It only hurts when I remember. I know you’re trying to make it better.

I can not steer this ship without you. There’s no light guiding me to shore. I’m just left drowning in these nightmares, where will I go? I don’t know. Let it go. Can’t let you go. Let it go.

The Dissection:

I wrote this song about 2 months after my dad passed away in 2007 and it was also one of the last songs I had written for Hearts For Bullets. Out of all the stages of grief, I had just passed the numb and in-denial phase and was in the full blown anger phase after losing him. A lot of people have interpreted this song as an angry break up song, and it’s definitely not, but I hope people can, and have used this song however they need to help them deal with their own situations of loss and anger. The experience of losing my father was one of the toughest things I’ve had to deal with and has forever changed me. Something I haven’t shared with many people about that time, was that I was at the hospital and held my dad’s hand as he passed away in July of 2007. I have never been the same since that moment. My life was hell for several months after that and this song captures the aftermath of being left behind and left to deal with the confusing emotions of grief and loss. I need to say, I can listen back to this song now and not be overwhelmed. I’ve long since passed the anger phase, and when I perform it live, I find it a powerful, energetic piece that is actually a lot of fun to play! I use the anger behind it still, but it comes from a different place within me. If that makes any sense?

I always give the songs I’m working on, random titles until something better comes up or sometimes the working title sticks. I went through two working titles for this track. First, was “The God Particle” after watching a documentary on T.V. about the hypothetical particle to explain the origins of all mass in the Universe, ok, so I thought that sounded pretty cool. I later found out a few other bands already had songs titled this.. we all must have been watching the discovery channel that day! But it didn’t connect to the song’s content either so I later changed the title to “Alive In Pieces” which, does describe my own state during that period, and to be honest, I can’t remember why I decided to change it from that, but in the end, I decided on something more relevant to my father “1000 Transmissions” came from the fact that my dad’s main hobby (obsession), was operating short wave radios. In an attempt to further bond with him when I was 18, I studied to get my license as well… so, yes, I’m a licensed shortwave (HAM) radio operator and yes, I always made nerdy jokes about this!

Having shared the theme of this song with you, I really doubt I have to further analyze all of the lyrics as I think they are pretty obvious but I do want to explain a few parts though:

The Bridge:

“I can not steer this ship without you. There’s no light guiding me to shore. I’m just left drowning in these nightmares, where will I go? I don’t know. Let it go. Can’t let you go. Let it go.”

My father loved boats and fishing and we always had some kind of fishing boat that we’d take camping when I was young, out on the waters of Lakes Huron, Ontario or the up to the Ottawa river where we used to go camping. I wanted to write a boat analogy in the song. Musically, the reverse piano in the bridge was all Seb’s idea that came in the production stage, it was completely transfomed in production, and I absolutely LOVED the change, and thought it brought much more sadness and needed softness to it. My demo was much more chaotic and just percussive. The first clip is my rough demo before production so you can see how it was transformed by production:

A rough Demo of the bridge – 1000 Transmissions (before production):

Can't play embedded media? Click here!

Bridge – 1000 Transmissions (after final production):

Can't play embedded media? Click here!

after the bridge, I personally loved the progression of those notes of the bass synth (while I sing “let it go, I can’t let you go”) since when I wrote it, I felt it captured what I felt when I used to listen to 90’s industrial music. Again, I can’t speak about all the production details that Seb did, but a few things that stand out to me in this track were the added layers of static noise to the full track which thickened up the song, fit the harsher sound, and complimented the “1000 Transmissions” theme. I honestly gave Seb this demo a bit incomplete since I had no idea how to finish off this song after those notes in the bridge part! I had just hit a wall completely. He added about a minute to the ending of that song including the last powerful break that I loved:

1000 Tranmissions – break down into outtro:

Can't play embedded media? Click here!

The Chorus:

“It only hurts when I remember. I know you’re trying to make it better”. I was, at the time, constantly remembering of course, and the second phrase was directed at the rest of the world and my family who were all trying to help overcome grief as best as they could. Musically, it’s not my usual style of chorus progression, since it was so simple and short but it summed up everything so perfectly with just a subtle change. It was important to me to mainly keep the driving bass synth and stompy percussion constant until the bridge.

Verse:

“My head is full of memories and sleepless nights, an endless cycle. I’ve tried and tried but these thoughts just drag me down.” This describes late 2007 where I was having a lot of trouble sleeping, afraid of dreaming. Musically, I want to point out that I loved and was surprised by the desperation in my voice in the recording during the: “sleepless nights, an endless cycle” part. It came out accidentally in the demo before final recording (meaning it was pure emotion) and it reminded me of , again early 90’s style of vocals (think Nine Inch Nails even) which is a cool thing. The distortion effect adds to the desperation and a tiny moment that Seb added that I adored, is right after the first phrase “Bit by bit, my heart breaks” there is a distorted sound that to me, sounds like a demon saying “LIAR!” it struck me and I sometimes mouth that word when I perform it live. Here’s a clip of the verse so you can hear everything for yourself:

1000_Transmissions_Verse 2:

Can't play embedded media? Click here!

I wanted to point out another very very subtle vocal effect in this verse (since I just love vocoding). If you just listened to the clip of the second verse, there is a second layer of vocals present that are vocoded under the more prominent distorted layer. It’s very quiet but it gives it such a nice thickness. I just found this clip going through my old files and I’m posting it is so you can hear what vocoded vocals sound like on their own:

Vocals: An example of vocoding effect used in 1000 Transmissions:

Can't play embedded media? Click here!

CD Liner Notes: “This CD is dedicated to my Dad who gave me the gift of music and who I know is still here with me”

Yeah, that’s me and my dad, proving I’ve been wearing pink for years!

So, now that I’ve shared this deeply personal part of my world with you, and knowing that I’m currently a struggling musician working here in Toronto on my new CD (hint, hint), if you haven’t already, please consider purchasing the CD through my website (I will sign it and include a personalized note for you, etc):

OR please purchase the mp3 of “1000 Transmisions” directly from iTunes for a mere dollar through this link:

Thanks for reading! Not sure which track I’ll dissect next week yet…

♥

Jennifer

2009: My year in review (Part 1: January â June)

2010-01-15T16:52:05Z

First off, Happy New Year to everyone! Here's a few pics of me kicking off 2010 in Dusseldorf, Germany having just ended the "Quick Silver" European tour with the Cruxshadows with my keyboardist for the European tour, Justin Pogue (who has also played live with me at DragonCon and a few dates on the 2008 U.S. tour). But I'll write more about that tour in part 2!

I'm going to break the year up a bit and start with the first 6 months. After a 3 month long tour of the U.S.A. with the Cruxshadows finishing up the last quarter of 2008, in comparison, 2009 started relatively quiet, I went back to my real life and full time job in Toronto and basically hibernated for the winter. I made the time to catch up with friends (I had been out of the country for 3 months!), go clubbing and go to shows that came through. Not a lot happened on the Ayria front until April when we played Toronto at the DarkRave on April 4th. So, heres a timeline of my 2009 to recap some of the highlights and some memories of my year.

January/February/March 2009:
- fairly low key period. Went back to work, recovered from the three months of solid touring the U.S.A., had a Battlestar Galactica party for the series finale.. yep.
- Recorded a cover version of Depeche Modes In Your Room. I did a full write up about this last winter and how my actual room inspired me . The write up is complete with pictures of me in my room (sample below), and an mp3 clip of the cover (read here): http://kittenflug.livejournal.com/58788.html

- hung out with friends, went clubbing and went to some shows (Combichrist and The Presets):

Meeting fans at Savage Garden - Out Clubbing (January, 2009) YAY! Renata

Meeting fans while attending the Combichrist show @ the Operahouse in February (hi Lazarus!)

Hanging out before going out to Basement club with my friends (Steph, Alana, Joe & I - January)

April 2009
- Ayrias first show of 2009 and its a hometown show in Toronto at the Dark Rave:

- Theres a link to several great shots from this show linked here (credit: Dylar Pillar):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dylerpillar/sets/72157616306825539/

Here's some pics after the show with friends (left to right: Steph, Matt and Lukas)

May 2009
- My birthday kicks off this month, my favourite of all months. I had a Hello Kitty themed party with custom made hello kitty cupcakes, kitty dcor and temporary tattoos and grab boxes (sigh, I will never grow up!)

Went for drinks, me showing off my new pink sharpies ;)

me styling it up with some kind of kitty-tini beverage ;)

- Kinetik Festival (May 14th): My drummer Mike had made the trip up to Toronto and from there, we (complete with both keyboard players Joe and Jeff) made the trip to Montreal for our appearance at the Kinetik Festival. Saw tons of friends old and new and as always, I love hanging out in Montreal! My friend Stephanie "Blepharisma" put together an awesome promotional video for me to promote our performance at Kinetik. I'm attempting some kind of dance in it...

- I also did a promotional photo shoot with the talented Alas Vera showing off my Plastik Wrap clothing, new pink hair with a hint of New Orleans. Here's a link to all 10 shots:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=117946&id=14321604993

I really wish I had pictures of the perfomance showing all 4 members up on stage but sadly I don't. I also wish I had more pics of just haning out with friends from that weekend but I'm horrible at remembering to take pictures while on tours and at shows so I'm often relying on others to take pictures and share them with me!

- Kicked off the Ayria Canadian tour hitting London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton & Calgary taking us into June:

My photo gallery of the Canadian tour of Mike, Jeff, Jeremy and I hanging out with the Moose, Polar Bears and Beavers can be seen here! ;): http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=117033&id=14321604993

Hanging out in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on a beautiful day in early June.

Me with a polar bear in Winnepeg, Manitoba

June 2009
- Returned from the Canadian tour on June 8th, had to work for 2 weeks while simultaneously preparing for departure to Los Angeles to start the VNV Nation Faith Power and Glory Tour as a support act.. much fun ensued.. but that will be in Part 2.

PART 2: COMING NEXT WEEK
If you have any decent pictures from July-December 2009 you want to share, or to be included in the upcoming blog, please send pics or a link to jennifer@ayria.com

Upcoming European Tour with The Cruxshadows (November & December 2009)

2009-11-05T15:52:18Z

I've only been back for a week after touring Europe with the always amazing VNV Nation (and the completely insane Straftanz). I haven't really even had time to recap how awesome it was to be on tour with those guys (<3) and how much we all loved the shows in the UK, Holland, Belgium and Greece! Now, I'm already preparing to leave for Germany again! I'll be flying back into Hamburg two weeks from today to embark on my next European adventure supporting The Cruxshadows! I've toured with them extensively in the U.S.A. in 2007/2008 so it seems fitting to make the journey together over the Atlantic this time. I'm very excited for this upcoming tour, and hope my European friends and fans can make it out to a gig to support and say hi to me! It isn't often that I get to Europe (before this year, we made it over in 2007 for a short tour with Angelspit and Ego Likeness) so come out and please share these tour dates with all of your friends! NOTE: if you saw us last month, our set length will be longer on this tour so we'll be playing more songs!

Tickets for German dates only: www.ticket69.de (check the local venues for other ticketing information)
The Cruxshadows Pages:
http://www.cruxshadows.com/frame.html
http://www.myspace.com/cruxshadows

The Cruxshadows & Ayria (Presented by Sonic Seducer & musix)
20 Nov 2009	Dresden, Germany	Strasse E
21 Nov 2009	Magdeburg, Germany	Factory
22 Nov 2009	Bremen, Germany	Tivoli
24 Nov 2009	Osnabrck, Germany	Lagerhalle
25 Nov 2009	Aschaffenburg, Germany	Colos Saal
27 Nov 2009	Sheffield, United Kingdom	Corporation
29 Nov 2009	Leeds, United Kingdom	The Cockpit
30 Nov 2009	York, United Kingdom	York Fibbers
1 Dec 2009	Sunderland, United Kingdom	Independent
2 Dec 2009	Liverpool, United Kingdom	Masque
3 Dec 2009	Manchester, United Kingdom	Moholive 1
4 Dec 2009	Birmingham, United Kingdom	Eddies Rock Club
5 Dec 2009	London, United Kingdom	O2 Academy Islington
8 Dec 2009	Nrnberg, Germany	Der Hirsch
11 Dec 2009	Rome, Italy	Black Out Club
12 Dec 2009	Florence, Italy	Siddhartha
15 Dec 2009	Zrich, Switzerland	Abart
18 Dec 2009	Saarbrcken, Germany	Festhalle Saarbrcken-Brebach
19 Dec 2009	Leipzig, Germany	Theaterfabrik
20 Dec 2009	Erfurt, Germany	Centrum
21 Dec 2009	Berlin, Germany	K17
22 Dec 2009	Hannover, Germany	MusikZentrum
23 Dec 2009	Hamburg, Germany	Logo
28 Dec 2009	Bruchsal, Germany	Fabrik Bruchsal
29 Dec 2009 (New Date!)	Dortmund, Germany	FZW
30 Dec 2009	Regensburg, Germany	Alte Mlzerei

(More dates to be added)

Memories: December 2008 with The Cruxshadows, Ayria & I:Scintilla in Atlanta, GA

[caption id="attachment_548" align="alignleft" width="435" caption="The Cruxshadows, Ayria, I:Scintilla in Atlanta, GA, December 2008"][/caption]

Ayria - heading to Europe & U.K. with VNV Nation and Frozen Plasma

2009-09-26T18:33:42Z

Hey guys!

I’m preparing for my trip over to Europe which is quickly approaching! We will be joining a leg of the Faith, Power and Glory tour with VNV Nation and Frozen Plasma and we are really excited to get to play Belgium, Netherlands, U.K. and Greece! Please come out to these shows EARLY and please spread the word about them!

- October 13, Hof Ter Lo, Antwerp, Belgium
- October 15, Metropool, Hengelo, Netherlands
- October 16, Effenaar, Eindhoven, Netherlands
- October 17, Academy, London, UK
- October 18, Corporation, Sheffield, UK
- October 20, Classic Grand, Glasgow, Scotland
- October 22, Eddie’s Rock Club, Birmingham, Middlands
- October 25, Gagarin, Athens, Greece

I’m just finalizing the set list today so let me know what requests you'd like to hear, but more importantly, let me know if we see any of you at these shows in October? ;)

One week left of work.. counting down the days!! ;)

I'm home! Plus: I need help at Dragon*Con

2009-08-05T16:36:39Z

So yeah, I'm officially back home from the 5 week long North American tour with the legendary VNV NATION! Best tour ever. For so many reasons. Seriously. I'm too exhausted for stories right now and I'm just getting over this ridiculous chest infection coughing thing that we all caught on the tour bus.. but I'm re-inspired to start new music, etc.

Next up...

Help needed at Dragon*Con:

Ayria will be performing at Dragon*Con this Labor Day weekend (September 4 - September 7, 2009) in Atlanta, GA.(yes, I'll be there for the entire weekend to have fun and meet people and no I don't yet know the night of Ayria's performance). Dragon*Con is the largest multi-media, popular culture convention focusing on science fiction and fantasy, gaming, comics, literature, art, music, and film in the US and I'm honoured and excited to get to be a part of this event. Plus, look at the list on the website of the actors and authors that will be there! It's going to be an insanely fun weekend.
Full Details are here: http://www.dragoncon.org/

I'm actually looking for helpers for DragonCon willing to do one or both of the following:
1. help at the merchandise booth (I'm looking for people that can do a shift(s) that fit their schedules - as little or as much time as you want to help for)
2. help promote Ayria's performance by passing out/dropping off flyers around the Con.

All helpers must have their own badges and already be attending the Con but everyone will be compensated, with loads of merch from me (including new items I'm getting made up), plus maybe it'd be a good idea to do a lunch or dinner with everyone that wants to hang out so I could show my appreciation? So,if you can help out in any way, shape or form, please email me directly: jennifer@ayria.com so I can coordinate this all.

Muchly appreciated!
Sincerely,
Jennifer
AYRIA

kittenflug @ 2009-07-18T13:07:00

2009-07-18T17:09:24Z

I'm backstage at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square NYC! This place is absolutely insane. We have our own fuschia pink dressing room. No joke. I'm a happy girl today and can't wait to play tonight :)

TOMORROW:
IN-STORE SIGNING EVENT! VNV Nation + Ayria + DJ Johanna Constantine!
From 5pm- 6pm

FREE! Come hang out, meet Ronan Harris and Mark Jackson of VNV Nation, meet Jennifer Parkin of Ayria and the band, and get things signed by both bands before they play at the TLA that night! DJ Johanna Constantine enhances the atmosphere. FREE!

Digital Ferret
732 S. 4th St (3 blocks south of South St.)
Philadelphia, PA
19147

VNV NATION TOUR DATES, TICKET LINKS & MORE INFORMATION

2009-06-20T20:13:14Z

VNN NATION - FAITH POWER AND GLORY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2009
With special guests WAR TAPES and AYRIA
Presented by Hot Topic

NOTE: I suggest you get your tickets ASAP! I've posted the times that the doors open for each show so I recommend you GET THERE EARLY!! If you don't, you will miss our set since these are all early shows!

Please help us spread the word about this tour to your friends and come out and say hi to us after the show as Mike, Jeff and I will be hanging out afterwards. It's going to be a great time and we are really looking forward to these shows with VNV Nation!

Much love & hope to see you soon! So... who's coming to what show?? Let me know ;)
Jennifer
AYRIA

06/27/09 Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:30 pm

06/29/09 San Francisco, CA @ Regency Center @ The Grand Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:00 pm

06/30/09 Portland, OR @ Berbatis PanGet Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/01/09 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:30 pm

07/03/09 Salt Lake City, UT @ Murray Theatre Get Tickets HERE all ages

07/05/09 Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre Get Tickets HERE 16+. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/07/09 Milwaukee, WI @ Turner Hall Ballroom Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 6:30 pm

07/08/09 St.Paul, MN @ Station 4 Get Tickets HERE 16+. Doors at 6:00 pm

07/10/09 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 6:00 pm

07/11/09 Detroit, MI @ St.Andrews Hall Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/12/09 Cleveland, OH @ Peabodys Down Under Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/14/09 Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre Get Tickets all ages. Doors at 8:00 pm

07/15/09 Montreal, QC @ Le National Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/17/09 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 6:30 pm

07/18/09 New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre Get Tickets HERE 16+. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/19/09 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre Of Living Arts Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/21/09 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/23/09 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 8:00 pm

07/24/09 Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:30 pm

07/25/09 Ft.Lauderdale, FL @Culture Room Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 8:00 pm

07/27/09 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theatre Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:00 pm

07/28/09 San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 8:00 pm

07/30/09 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre Get Tickets HERE all ages. Doors at 7:30 pm

New Photo Shoot!

2009-06-18T00:08:28Z

New Photo Shoot posted on MySpace! These photos were all taken by Alas Vera in Montreal while at the Kinetik Festival, May 16th, 2009. The Awesome dress is by Plastik Wrap http://www.plastikwrap.com/

CLICK FOR GALLERY

Ayria - London, Ont. Tomorrow Night.

2009-05-23T00:01:46Z

last minute show pimp: Ayria in London, Ontario tomorrow night at Pandemic Club!!! Spread the word and come out if you can!!

I've been working 11 hour work days this week. My vision is blurry. It will continue from Sunday to Wednesday.. I have no life at all. I can't even complete sentences... Drained.

Ayria on the VNV Nation Tour

2009-05-17T19:08:20Z

I'm in a hotel in Montreal, just went for breakfast at my favourite place (Cora's). Tonight is the last day of the Kinetik Festival and it's been nothing short of amazing. I've met so many coolios people and seen some amazing performances this weekend. The venue rocks and this city rocks. Back home tomorrow to prepare for the Canadian tour:
http://www.ayria.com/2008touring/ayria-canada-tour-web.jpg

I announced this on stage when we played but now that I have a moment online, and it's been officially confirmed I can start spreading the word (and I'll ask that you feel free to do so too!) Ayria will be on the North American leg VNV Nation tour this July (all dates)! I'm obviously very excited for this opportunity and looking forward to getting out there again! I haven't had a chance to post the dates on myspace since I just got the itinerary, but here's a link to Ronan's post about the tour which includes all dates and ticket information:

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=6066468&blogId=487715936

Much love, I hope to see a lot of you out there at the Canadian and U.S. dates?
<3
Jennifer

Dragon*Con 2009

2009-05-07T20:15:31Z

Ayria is officially confirmed to play Dragon*Con 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia this Labour Day Weekend (Sep 4 - 7)! That is all ;)

Canadian Spring Tour Dates

2009-05-02T20:50:03Z

Hey! I'm so excited that it's May. My favourite month (go Taureans!) ;)

I wanted to send a message to tell you about the upcoming AYRIA Canadian spring tour dates! I'm going to finally see more of this big ol' beautiful country of mine. So, we're kicking off with Montreal's Kinetik festival in 2 weeks, there are also dates in Thunderbay, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Calgary (all places in Canada I've never been before!!) and hopefully, were adding 2 more shows in Ontario too. Let me know if you are coming to any of them? Don't worry if these are too far from you, we'll be touring other countries later this year too ;) If you have friends near these cities, help me spread the word about these shows (the link to the flyer is: http://www.ayria.com/2008touring/ayria-canada-tour-web.jpg )

Thanks & Much love,
Jennifer

Show TONIGHT + upcoming Kinetik Festival Video

2009-04-04T13:46:24Z

2 Live shows coming up in the next month:

- Live show in Toronto TONIGHT! Ayria plays the Dark Rave @ the Reverb (Queen & Bathurst) and hits the stage at midnight. This is an all ages event. The theme is Psycho Circus. 800+ people expected to attend this event so don't let your fear of clowns stop you from coming out. There's free cotton candy for eveyone plus a giant bouncy fun castle! Full details can be found here: http://www.djlazarus.com/ I'm actually super nervous because my mom and brother are coming and my family has NEVER seen Ayria live... eeek.

- Ayria Plays Montreal's Kinetik Festiva with bands like Icon of Coil, Project Pitchfork, Grendel, etc. Full details: http://www.festival-kinetik.net
Here's a video to promote this appearance (I know I'm a big nerd! ;)

Twitter

2009-03-27T16:01:03Z

Yeah. I got a twitter account. I wanted to try it out so follow me if you want: http://www.twitter.com/ayria I promise not to post every time I sneeze, change my socks, brush my teeth but you never know.. Sometimes those are the highlights of my day. So far I've posted about my wisdom teeth, and how I whacked my lip with my headphones last night. This is all very exciting stuff I tell you! ;)

Wisdom gone..

2009-03-22T14:28:23Z

So, I had my wisdom teeth out on Friday plus one filling done which was not fun. Still a bit sore and mostly just relaxing, watching t.v. and movies. I've been out of commission since Friday but it's been nice just doing nothing. I've started back on semi solid foods again despite loving my: Gingerale, ice cream and sherbert, apple sauce and yogurt diet. Anyways. I'm a big wuss and I hate going to the dentist but it wasn't as bad as I thought it'd be.

Ayria - Covers Depeche Mode's "In Your Room"

2009-03-22T13:35:38Z

In January, I finished an Ayria cover version of Depeche Mode's "In Your Room" from their CD "Songs of Faith and Devotion".

Ayria - Cover of Depeche Mode's "In Your Room" (mp3 Clip).

Order the Compilation, see more details about it and hear clips from all the bands involved here: http://www.depeche-mode-tribute.com

I wanted to cover this song for nostalgic reasons. I remember loving this CD when it came out it was my favourite track off the CD so I'd blast it while in my bedroom. I connected with the lyrics in my own way with my room being my favourite place in the universe to be. When I was in my early teens, Depeche Mode came in concert and it ended up being the first "gothy" concert I had been to. I didn't even know that Depeche Mode were "goth", but I remember being overwhelmed by how many girls in stripped tights were there and the experience of seeing Depeche Mode live and them performing that song was overwhelming and amazing. Anyways, the memories of that song and how it reminded me of my old room and how much time I spent there has inspired me to post pics and show a piece of my world. I still spend lots of time in my room. It's the space that I write in, record in, surround myself with the stuff that I love plus the rest of my crap:

NOTE: I'VE POSTED THESE PICS BEFORE BUT APPARENTLY POSTED ABOUT THE COMP PRE-MATURELY. HERE'S THE CONTEXT NOW, AND WHY I POSTED THESE PICS. I APOLOGIZE FOR THE DUPLICATE PICS ;)

Here's my space where I write my songs (messy desk):

Here's me recording the Depeche Mode cover in that space:

Just for fun, here's my "Bling Shelf". Yep, I have a bling shelf in my room. It's important to surround yourself with things that make you happy ;)

This is a print that I bought. It called out to me and also makes me happy:

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE:
AYRIA is featured on massive "Alfa Matrix re:covered - a tribute to Depeche Mode" 2CD "Alfa Matrix re:covered - a tribute to Depeche Mode" is the title of a brand new massive double CD DEPECHE MODE tribute compilation which will be released in May 2009. AYRIA covered the track "In Your Room" for this release !

As the title suggests already, the compilation unites the electronic sounds from the Alfa Matrix label artists with some of the best songs pop history has ever heard from one single band. All electronic music genres have their very own ambassadors on this double CD compilation. 32 tracks in total!

IMPORTANT: On top, the first online orders for this compilation will receive a FREE promo only 7-track EPCD featuring alternative versions. This EP is not available on the market! On top you get a free 18-track label compilation. 4CD's for just 20 Euro. Tracklist and ordering at http://www.depeche-mode-tribute.com

You can take this opportunity to get some more synth pop related releases together with this compilation at a reduced price. Check the options right
here: http://www.alfa-matrix.com/shop_comments.php?id=1668_0_8_0_C

February Music

2009-02-13T01:21:11Z

I just posted my February playlist on my MySpace. It's only about 8 songs that have summed up my last month. I'm trying to do this monthly and I may add a few more songs.

http://www.myspace.com/kittenflug

End of year 2008 meme thing

2009-01-04T21:58:20Z

Sorry I didn't actually answer some of the questions you guys asked me! I got caught up in family Christmas stuff but I found a different meme and just did it on New Year's day. This seems to be 2 different ones smooshed together to make up 100 questions. Kind of long and but I wanted to do it! :)

1. Was 2008 a good year for you?
Yes, It actually was! After 2007 being one of the worst years of my life, 2008 was a welcome change. The year started out kind of slow though. I went full time at my job here in Toronto in January, saved up some cash over the winter by working while Seb and I also finished production, Joe and I finished up the vocal recording and Amelia and I finished all the design of "Hearts For Bullets". 2008 started slow in comparison to 2007's touring attack with 53 shows that we played in the U.S.A., Poland, Germany and the UK. Basically, In 2008, I vowed to not book any shows (they take a lot of work to plan) until my CD "Hearts For Bullets" was finished so I could focus. Seb and I nailed it shut in May 2008. So, "The Gun Song" EP was released in March 2008 and the full CD on September 12th 2008. I don't really remember summer, for some reason. I guess I was busy searching for a keyboardist (Jeff! YAY!) and was prepping the release and merc for the upcoming Immortal tour USA leg where I was gone from September - Mid December.

2. What was your favourite moment of the year?
No comment.

3. What was your least favourite moment of the year?
I'll do days:
July 28th, October 21st, November 3rd. But if these days were my worst, then this year was really not that bad at all!

4. What are your plans for 2009?
BIG THINGS

5. What countries did you visit?
Surprisingly, just the U.S.A.

6. What date in 2008 will remain etched in your memory?
I have a few:
May 15th when I FINALLY got to see Nitzer Ebb live in Montreal!
September 12th
Oct 7th (YAY S.F.!)
November 22nd when 2 of my best friends got married
November 27th
Dec 5th (YAY Atlanta!)

7. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The "Hearts For Bullets" CD

8. What was your biggest failure?
I don't know. I'd like to think that I didn't really "fail" at stuff this year. Can't I have that? One year fail free? ;)

9. Did you suffer any illness or injury?
Hahaha. Yes. Only while on tour though! I suffered fever, loss of voice, various colds and coughs, etc. intermittently from October 14th - December 14th

10. What was the best thing you bought?
My TUK platform shoes, my Tripp capris pants (both in L.A.). oh and my iPhone as my Christmas present to myself.

11. What was the best thing someone gave you?
- A chance to do something important.
- temporary tattoos
- bling
- encouragement

12. Where did most of your money go?
Tour merchandise + hotels + gas + flights + food!

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Haha.. the tour.

14. What songs will always remind you of 2008? (good or bad)
Some of these are old songs.. but that's not the point:
- "You'll find a way" by Santogold
- "Humanitarianism" by Zeigeist.
- "Payroll" Nitzer Ebb
- "Bad List" Ayria
- The Presets "New Sky" and "If I know you"
- And One "Military Fashion Show"
- ALL Cruxshadow & I:Scintilla songs

15. Compared to this time last year are you:
a) Fatter or thinner? I think I'm thinner. Maybe the same.. not sure I also have bigger muscles! I want to keep working on those in 2009 as I discovered I love lifting weights!
b) Happier or sadder? I am happier now. Definitely.
c) Richer or poorer? Richer because of the full time job. I was able to put away some savings.

16. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Rollerblade! I didn't break mine out once this summer and I have no idea why I didn't!
Read (catching up now!)
Let my guard down and make it easier to let people in (yeah, I know WHAA!).
Maybe wished I'd stepped back from the music a bit last winter/spring for a second to absorb the world and people around me. I stress and get consumed with things.
Go out more with friends!!

17. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Stress out.

18. How will you be spending Christmas?
Visiting family. It's over now pretty much. Back to Toronto now.

19. Which online friends did you meet for the first time?
Sooo many!

20. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Define love. I connected deeply with people and met lots of new friends that I love. So, yes!

22. What was your favourite TV show?
Dexter, The Office & Battle Star Galactica

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I don't hate anyone. I didn't hate anyone last year either.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Zeigeist & Santogold

26. What did you want and get?
Nothing actually. Nothing I can think of?

27. What did you want and not get?
Not sure. I'm grateful for what I have right now.

28. What was your favourite film this year?
Tropic Thunder, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, The Other Boleyn Girl.. man, I'm totally blanking on what all I watched this year! I missed about 3 months of movie watching and remembering earlier this year is hard with my headache!

29. What did you do on your birthday?
Had a pretty pink princess unicorn party with pink drinks, pink straws and the most disgustingly pink cake you could ever imagine eating... pretty much the same thing I do every year.

30. What one thing would have made your year more satisfying?
I don't know. 2008 was pretty satisfying? Ok, like seriously.. what are you asking me?

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
80's electro punk princess meets anime glamour girl + my new addition: fake tattoos!!

32. What kept you sane?
Mikey (my drummer) & Music and that's pretty much it.

33. Which celebrity did you fancy the most?
I don't really get the whole celebrity thing.. but I do think Gwen Stefani & Ewan McGreggor are hotties

34. Which political issue stirred you the most?
The U.S. election actually, and gay rights.

35. Who did you miss?
My dad.

36. Did you treat somebody badly in 2008?
Yes.

37. Did somebody treat you badly in 2008?
Yes.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned this year?
- Life is way too short to have any regrets or fears to do the things that will make you truely happy.
- Prescription liquid codeine should NOT be shared, and dosage is NOT the same as Nyquil.. yeah. That was a rough morning.

39. What would you like to have in 2009 that you didn't have in 2008?
- Patience!
- A puppy.. but it's unfair to get one now since I tour so much.
- a six pack of abs! I'll work on it...look out! ;)

40. How many one night stands?
None.

41. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year...

From my own writings because I poured so much into them this past year.. It really only makes sense.
"All you get from this moment, is all you gave to your past"
"I've never wanted, something so blindly. How does on comprehend dissatisfaction with the unknown? I've been bound too long to this confining shell like a tiny hell that can't calm this wrestles mind. My blood pulses, fuels desire. I've left all behind, the winds have changed and there is no way back. Why can't you see, this all will fall. This microcosm is not eternal. My thirst will not subside, I'd rather face the storm and get ripped open wide so my insect eyes will see this wretched world for all it hides"

42. ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT?
I have 2 on my forehead. One from going down a big slide backwards, and slicing my forehead right in the middle. The other one above my right eyebrow (which is why I can only raise my left eyebrow), was when I was 7 or 8 and I ran and belly flopped onto our sofa and hit the corner of our speakers with my eyebrow.

43. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
Very bright smurf blue paint. I love pink but bright blue walls also make me happy.

44. WHAT DOES YOUR CELL PHONE LOOK LIKE?
an iPhone. Yeah tour peer pressure made me cave. I love it. Text me!

45. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
Electro, pop, dance, regga stuff? 80's, sometimes I get in my 90's alt rock mood..classic rock.. um.. lots of different stuff really. I like everything except country and some rap.

46. DO YOU KNOW WHAT TIME YOU WERE BORN?
Yep: 3:00 PM, May 9th, 6lbs + I was yellow.

47. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
Yes sometimes. I'm lame. I still have a night light or I'll sleep with the lights on.

48. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
My Dad. The memory of him. He's been gone for 17 months now and holiday's have been especially rough.

49. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOGNE / PERFUME?
I cycle between 3 perfumes: "Pink Sugar" by Aquolina, "Choco Lovers" by Aquolina and "G" (the Gwen Stefani one with the "Gwen Alice" toy doll on top.. I bought it mostly for the doll)

50. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Oh man. I USUALLY go for dark hair and dark eyes. But if the hair is bleached, it's good too.

51. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINK?
COFFEE!!! (Tall vanilla latte with skim milk)

52. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIZZA TOPPING?
Pineapple and mushrooms. I don't really like pizza though. I don't like cheese all that much.

53. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Sushi or chocolate.. the only 2 things I EVER crave. Although right now, I'm about to eat my arm. I have no groceries and it's New Years day...

54. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?
Don't know. I don't get mad easily anymore. Life's too short.

55. DO YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE?
A little bit of French. Mostly vocabulary left over from having to take it in school for 10 years. I retained less than I would have liked to. I was able to have a conversation with a 3 year old in Belgium! YAY! Haha.

56. DO U LIKE SOMEONE?
Yep. I Like lots of people ;)

57. FAVOURITE CLOTHING BRAND?
Can I list a bunch?: Toronto's Plastik Wrap (they were my tour sponsors.I loved my awesome white top, cyber skirt and top that they made, etc.), Montreal's VEXY, Tripp NYC, Lip Service, TUK for shoes. H&M, Fashion Crimes (store in Toronto - they sell some of the sparkly bling I wear)

58. WHAT'S YOUR DREAM CAR?
a car? Someday, I will have a car! Maybe this year? Probably not but who knows ;)

59. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
I'm still trying to figure this one out. I'm not sure.

60. Blondes OR brunettes?
Didn't I answer this above already?
Boys: Brunette.. or bleach blonde... I like spiky hair.. always been a sucker for it.
Girls: I like BLONDE.. the faker the better Hah ;)

61. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL OFTEN?
Well, I called out the numbers "ONE, TWO" every night for 3 months during sound check?? "Check, check ONE, TWO... Testing, testing, ONE, TWO".

62. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
Standing still.

63. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF CANADA ?
YES!! LOTS!!

64. FIRST JOB?
Dance instructor. I taught jazz and tap dancing at a studio part time while I was in high school. I taught little kids and adults. I couldn't teach ballet though.. I was too impatient for ballet! Also, I worked at a pizza place taking orders etc. I hated that job.

65. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED OUT THIS?
In bed in my jammies with my merlot headache from NYE. Wait..I'm still here!

66. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
IF.. Probably a nose job I guess. Maybe remove the bump of my roman nose.

67. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My eyes. Sometimes my smile too..

68. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
I just got a bunch of things for Christmas including a $50 Starbucks card from my brother! YAY! Anyways, my birthday's not until May so I can't really think of more things to want. Maybe some gear for my studio..a new microphone. I guess if I could get time travel, that would be great. OH and plushie toys with GIANT heads! No, like seriously, heads WAY too big for their bodies. I love those.

69. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
Not sure at all. Maybe one someday. I would want a boy so I can dress him up in all pink and decorate his room with bling and unicorns and pink.. OBVIOUSLY.

70. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
Lady Guinevere, "Guinevere" is the Norman French version of Jennifer. Not sure if being named after her is a good thing. Kinda weird.

71. ANY BAD HABITS?
Lots of them. My alter ego Sapphire's fault. I blame everything on her

72. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF?
None! I'm not ashamed of any of my cheesy music! For example, I'm not embarrassed that I purchased Ashley Simpson's song "Boys" on iTunes while on tour.. It's a silly catchy song.

73. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
Yes because I'm sooo wicked cool. This is a stupid question!!

74. ARE YOU A GOOD LISTENER?
Yes. I really try.

75. DO LOOKS MATTER?
Yep. Not 100% but you have to have some physical attraction.

76. HOW DO YOU RELEASE YOUR ANGER?
MUSIC!! Plus step aerobics, punching while dancing apparently ;)

77. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?
It used to be the West Coast because I used to travel there so much - Seattle and San Francisco primarily. Those places have shown me lots of love in particular.

78. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
Yes. Mostly.

79. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Do I use sarcasm. DO I USE SARCASM? Yes.

80. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY?
Is this meme hitting on me? It keeps asking me about this silly stuff! I look for sensitivity, humour, outgoing personality, attraction, loyal, kindness, sincerity.. someone that likes me.. not a jerk.. pretty much the usual?

81. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
"Princess Unicorn".

82. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR?
I'm not a big fan of ice cream. It's too cold! I like vanilla milkshakes when my throat hurts though. And sorbet.

83. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE COLORS?
Haha. PINK. Then black, then white.

84. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE?
2. Got 2 removed at age 16. The other 2 are somewhere still in my head.

85. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
I can't remember!!! No one actually calls me.. I only get texts these days.

86. FAVOURITE THING TO DO:
Make music. Tour. Travel.

87. FAVOURITE ZODIAC SIGN?
I don't have a favourite. I'm a Taurus. I usually clash with Leos completely so NOT Leos.

88. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT?
Hockey. I AM Canadian. Then volleyball because I was on the team in highschool.

89. WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOR?
bleach blonde. Natural: Medium brown

90. EYE COLOR?
Blue. But everyone thinks they are green in photos.

91. DO YOU WEAR GLASSES?
No.

92. SIBLINGS?
One brother.

93. FAVOURITE MONTH?
May. Birthday month plus it gets nice and spring like and warm.

94. DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?
Hahaha. Um. YES! If I could eat only one thing forever, it would be sushi.

91. LAST THING YOU WATCHED?
The Lost Boys: PART 2 with my brother! It was HORRIBLE!! I should have known but oh well. The only good thing about it was that Corry Feldman reprised his role in this one giving SOME comedic value to it all. God, the movie was terrible though.

92. ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
Totally.

93. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer! I HATE WINTER.

94. KISSES OR HUGS?
both.

95. RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?
Sammwiches above all!

96. Biggest Fear?
Dying young as genetics will predict I might
Drowning/suffocating
Failing I guess... or worse not trying for fear of failing.
Having no purpose scares me too.
Oh and BEES! They are terrifying!!

97. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?
I hope so?

98. What concerts/shows did you go to?
- The Presets, can't remember the month.. maybe April
- IAMX, or was that 2007.. I think it was.. my years are all messed up
- Nitzer Ebb
Can't remember any others. Lots of Cruxshadows & I:Scintilla concerts ;)
Wow, so not that many! Hoping to get to more! I see the presets are touring again in the spring again!

There was no 99 or 100. so here's 2 questions peeps on my LJ asked me before:

99) if blonde hair was suddenly outlawed, what color would you dye your hair?
Black and Pink

100) Broccoli or Cauliflower:
BROCCOLI ALL THE WAY! I LOVE BROCCOLI

Happy New Year Everyone!
Jennifer

AYRIA

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kittenflug @ 2009-07-18T13:07:00

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