#AtoZChallenge: Jeremy Enigk

WINNER #02: Congratulations JENN! Drop me an email to let me know which album of mine you want and I'll send you a download link.
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Today's Post:


My partner introduced me to this guy about 6 years ago, and I haven't been able to stop listening to him since. Reminds me of the Beatles and Elliot Smith with a bit of Charlotte Gainsbourg quirk. A bit of Bob Dylan's and Ryan Adams' roughness and Nick Cave's darkness. Just ... beautiful. Perfect soundtrack to a quiet death scene.

Have a listen. Quiet death scene worthy?



Don't forget to drop by Dawn Ius' blog, my partner in crime, to see her music pick for E.


To see a list of A-Z Challenge hosts and participants, click here. 

To listen to my music click here!

REMEMBER! During the challenge, I will choose a random commenter every two days, to receive a free download of one of my albums. Your choice! That's thirteen winners. How does that sound? Tell your friends! Just comment for a chance to win.

#AtoZChallenge: Dead Star

This band is Australian, and friends of the family. Catchy tunes, great lyrics, the perfect blend of pop and rock. Thriving with enough emotion to be moved by their songs, and enough energy and quirk to get up and dance. Perfect for the pub on a Friday night. Perfect for a pick-me-up after work, with a glass of beer in your back yard. Perfect for a lot of stuff really. Such as offering inspiration to get creative ...

Have you got any "all-purpose" favourite musicians?





Don't forget to drop by Dawn Ius' blog, my partner in crime, to see her music pick for D.


To see a list of A-Z Challenge hosts and participants, click here. 

To listen to my music click here!

REMEMBER! During the challenge, I will choose a random commenter every two days, to receive a free download of one of my albums. Your choice! That's thirteen winners. How does that sound? Tell your friends! Just comment for a chance to win.

#AtoZChallenge: The Cardigans

WINNER #01: Over the past two days I received a total of 94 comments. So I went to Random.org and punched the number in. The first winner of my ongoing competition, is lucky number 13! How funny is that, considering that at the end of April there will be 13 winners? Congratulations BEX! Drop me an email to let me know which album you want and I'll send you a download link.
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Today's Post:

The Cardigan's were pretty much the first "pop" group I got into during my chick rock obsession in my late teens, early twenties. This also lead me to try and write more catchy tunes, lyrics and choruses. Not sure I was very successful as I seemed to maintain my PJ Harvey-esque outlook on song-writing, but they certainly taught me how to tone down my work. I finally realized that songs didn't need to be complicated to be good. I still listen to this band to remind myself of this.

Are your favourite songs full of complicated melodies, or simple and catchy hooks? Why do you think that is?




Don't forget to drop by Dawn Ius' blog, my partner in crime, to see her music pick for C.


To see a list of A-Z Challenge hosts and participants, click here. 

To listen to my music click here!

REMEMBER! During the challenge, I will choose a random commenter every two days, to receive a free download of one of my albums. Your choice! That's thirteen winners. How does that sound? Tell your friends! Just comment for a chance to win.

#AtoZChallenge: Boss Hog & Kate Bush

Did you know that the lead singer of this band, Cristina Martinez, is actually a model, and the wife of Jon Spencer from Jon Spencer Blues Explosion? Yep. And oh yeah, Jon Spencer is in Boss Hog too.

This band got me dancing and rocking about my apartment when I was about 19. The first year I lived away from home. With a prosperous future of being a rock star (in my eyes), I'd pretend to be this gorgeous woman in my bathroom mirror. Swinging my (then) sexy hips, and doing weird things with my tongue. (Oh, yes, didn't we all? Um ... no? ... oh well *sigh*)

Kate Bush. Wuthering Heights. See the connection? Yep. Music and literature. This woman inspired me to actually read Wuthering Heights. She taught me to love the classics. Then I started getting into Mary Shelly, and Emily Dickens and Jane Austen ... but of course, how can you resist this woman's voice??? Magic.


Did any musicians ever inspire you to read? Tell me who, and why!




Don't forget to drop by Dawn Ius' blog, my partner in crime, to see her music pick for B.


To see a list of A-Z Challenge hosts and participants, click here. 

To listen to my music click here!

REMEMBER! During the challenge, I will choose a random commenter every two days, to receive a free download of one of my albums. Your choice! That's thirteen winners. How does that sound? Tell your friends! Just comment for a chance to win.

#AtoZChallenge: Tori Amos

Before I get to today's post. I have an announcement to make. Don't skip this. It involves YOU. During the challenge, I will choose a random commenter every two days, to receive a FREE DOWNLOAD of one of my albums. Your choice! And you can even listen to the songs online to see which one you would like best. That's THIRTEEN winners. How does that sound? Tell your friends! Just comment for a chance to win.

Today's post:

Tori Amos is one of those artists whose music never seems to date. And she is one of my BIGGEST musical influences. I love her unusual phrasing and inflections and her quirky way of performing with one leg stuck out to the side. She is truly a unique musical artist.

When I listen to Tori (I own every single album, btw), she makes me wish I never gave up playing the piano. Yep, I was a piano player too. But my laziness overcame my enthusiasm. I never read the music. I memorized. This was not good for passing exams. Obviously. So I quit.

The song below remains my all time favourite track of hers. If you have the time, listen to it all the way through because at the end ... well ... it gives you tingles. If you want to hear that part only, listen from 3:45. Whenever I need a push to pick up my guitar and write a song. I turn to Tori. This song especially:

What music artist gives you tingles?




Don't forget to drop by Dawn Ius' blog, my partner in crime, to see her music pick for A.


To see a list of A-Z Challenge hosts and participants, click here. 


To listen to my music click here!

Okay, so I'm totally impatient and have to tell you NOW ... #AtoZChallenge

I was going to wait until the beginning of the A-Z Challenge to reveal this. BUT. I'm sooooo impatient. And I have to tell you now.

All my music, from 1998 until 2011 is now available to buy (very cheap) online from HERE. You can also listen to all tracks the entire way through for free.

I'm so excited to be able to put all my music out there. It's been sitting on my shelf, lonely and neglected for years.

Also, you must know, that during the challenge, I will choose a random commenter every two days, to receive a FREE DOWNLOAD of one of my albums. Your choice!  That's THIRTEEN winners. Tell your friends?


Just comment on my A-Z posts from this Sunday until Monday April 30th, for a chance to win. 


Check it out at jessicabell.bandcamp.com!

#AtoZChallenge: Gearing Up!

I'm taking this week off posting to finish preparing my A to Z posts for April. And guess what? I have a superduperawesome surprise for you all when the challenge begins.

Hint: You know how all my posts are going to be about music? You know how I'm a musician? Well, let's just say it is going to fit together very nicely, and you are going to benefit from it :o)

In other news, if you missed it yesterday, check out my post over at Writer's Digest discussing why literary fiction is NOT boring. Would really appreciate if you could share the link around too, you know, FB, Tweet, etc. Thanks!

A great friend of mine, Glynis Smy, not too far away in Cyprus, is gearing up for something else. A book launch! She is an excellent writer, so if you're in any way interested in historical fiction and feel like helping a fellow author promote a new book, please head over to her blog to see how! I'll definitely be jumping on board!

Also, the Homeric Writers' Retreat & Workshop now has a FACEBOOK PAGE! Please come like us! :o)

Are you preparing for A to Z? Looking forward to it?