Sara Culler

When I got home today, let's say about a quarter past two, I found a package at my doorstep. This package contained - TA-DA - My artwork!!! So now I have some tinkering to do. Cut, paste and sew… 100 demos… Oh my!!! What have I gotten myself into???
This means - Any day now there will be a "package" on your "doorstep" as well! Niklas (my sister's husband) is the one to thank. He's the one who made the final print possible so again, Niklas. THANK YOU!

Hold on to your scissors, glue, needles and threads 'cause here I come!
/Sara

I just wanted to let you all know that I have found a printer! The details will hopefully be printed next week so - depending on the postal service - just maybe - we may have them within two weeks!!!

Thank you Niklas!

Very hopeful indeed,
Sara

I'M SO SORRY!!!
Two months ago I really thought my new demo would be out and circulating by March 16^th…
It's freckin' irritating, frustrating and annoying. Problems are all over the place. All I really need to do is print the covers. First I thought that I could run them through an ordinary printer but NOOO… I will probably need to hire a professional printer or something so the colors look good. I had such bad feelings before 'cause my covers looked sooo boring and ordinary so this time I thought I'd do something special… But there is a price you have to pay and at this time I really don't have that much money. I'll get some soon but I don't have it now… And I'm going to manage to pull this through - just so you know it - And Don't Forget It!
As soon as the papers are printed I'll put a song out there for you - Here or on my MySpace. We'll just have to wait and see…
I really hope that you aren't getting bored with me…
Anyway. Here is a miniature of one of my cover details (let's call it an appetizer ;-):



Love,
Sara

…are unfortunately dancing around me/us right now. Two have past into shadow and one will barely be able to see the light of tomorrow. Why does the sun shine on the darkest days? Is it to show us every single beautiful, existing thing or is it plain mocking? Spring flowers opening them selves up and letting their petals out. Life. Continuing. The continuity of breath… Like the machinery that never stops… Be still and you'll see that everything keeps going. Watch the world go round. You're the center of your existence. No wonder that people, in the olden days, thought that the universe evolved around this tiny planet. One is always alone - even when in company. One will always live life alone. No one can ever live your life for you. The hurt is yours alone even so the happiness… But all can be shared when understood… I love spring but somehow it's always been the part of the year when life gets tough…

 

I can't say that I'm in the recording mood I'm supposed to be in. In these moments it's usually about keeping with it all. Today and yesterday weren't those days. I'm trying to get this demo ready. I feel the pressure and it needs to be done. I'm so close to the finish line but I think I'll have to take it one day at a time. I'm tired.

Today I'll go and exchange some dollars (demo money) to be able to buy some of the stuff for the cover work. I really hope you'll like it.

One day at a time.

XO
/Sara

After a little computer break and chat with a friend of mine I decided to write a small little recording update.

Got to get back to the porta studio - got to get back to the porta studio - say, "f**k you" to one of the songs 'cause it's not really cooperating with me right now... Start a new one - it's really a clean and quiet song compared to the others... so this'll be what my ears need right now. They are just sooo fed up with this one song. It's kind of fun - working on a lot of songs simultaneously. I usually tend to over work on one song - finish it and then move on - but this time it's different. I can easily drop one song when I get tired or my ears go all numb and gracefully move on to a new and fresh song. So right now I hate "Wicked Autumn Kiss" but I'll hopefully love working with "I Bleed You Tonight" for a while.

By for now,
Sara

How long does it take before you realize that someone is gone? Not out the door or on a holiday - just gone - ceased to exist.
How long will it take before the online telephone directory will erase the telephone number - I haven't erased it from my cell phone - My dear friend hasn't even erased it from her own cell phone - She is still thinking of calling to see if it still has a voice message so that she can hear the voice again - Is the voice still there?
There was a flight scheduled to the Capitol City that night - Someone took an earlier flight.
A dark road. Two cars. One angel.
My dear friend won't forget. She may have a scattered mind but she won't forget. Memories may fade - but you can never forget.



Suddenly things don't seem that important. I mean it's been more than a week but you are ok. It's hard but your ok. My wishes still count in my own world because they don't stop existing. Things move on. Life is short and you got to work hard and fast for your wishes to come true so…

My Shallow Wishes:
I wish I had band members so I could present my songs as they are and not alone with a guitar and playback…
I wish I could release a CD so that I could thank all of you…
I wish to hear my music on the radio…
I wish someone would sign me...
I wish of lots of other things…

It's just Saturday again and nothing to do, no money to spend and no TV to watch (shitty shows & movies). I can even feel happy when I think of how painless these issues are… That's right. Remember to be happy. Life is too short - remember to smile :-)

Love,
Sara

To update the recording situation:
I've been preoccupied with things.
First of all - one of the songs - Wolflike They Are - got into trouble by being in the wrong key when I was supposed to add vocals and finalize the whole deal……… I went blank and had to leave it all behind for a while but now I'm back in action and will finalize the recording ASAP.
Secondary - I've been in the studio with David & the Citizens - adding some vocals and also one or two ideas… Their sound has evolved and changed - in a good way. Davids song writing is one factor. The fact that Andreas Söderlund (of Niccokick and Sounds Like Violence) has done a great job producing, is another.



A promise:
Will get back to you as soon as the finishing is near… Those of you who have had e-mail contact with me
will receive an e-mail. Those of you who wish to receive an e-mail, e-mail me at:

sara (at) thecitizens (dot) nu

Keep with me here.
Love,
Sara

More than half way through recording the new demo. Sounds weird.
I have discovered something about my recording process - It never turns out the way I intended. The thing is; I have this picture and vague melody in my head whilst writing the songs. The form and figure is there but very faint. So. When I start to record the songs I start to wonder what the hell am I creating?! I keep asking myself what it is that's exiting my head in the shape of a song 'cause I don't recognize the tangible song from the one I pictured in my head when writing. Am I making any sense?
Well. The bass yesterday. I just did it impressionistically instead of following a melody already made up. Suddenly it was there, channel 4 on my porta studio.
This THING, this situation kind of makes it hard for me to be excited about my new songs because I never know how they will end up. I'm always criticizing and analyzing them. More now than ever before. I really became aware of this phenomenon whilst being in the process of "At Least Like Melissa" and that song turned out to be one of my favorite songs so I'm not really worried, just confused.
The tracks I'm recording:

Thanx to David for adding analog drums on two of the songs. I love you always.

So anyway. I'm on schedule and I will probably have the new demo out within two weeks.
"At Least Like Melissa" will be on it.
I hope you'll be here when it's done.

Sincerely,
Sara