Songs that gather people – my music and dance inspiration in Asia

Songs that gather people – dance that makes you feel happy

Mette_Kirkegaard_Bali-2020_songwriter-vocalist_ubud-dancers

Ubud Dancers, Bali, Indonesia

Ive just been to various islands in Thailand, Malysia, and Indonesia to gain inspiration in nature to new songs but also to get a fresh perspective on my music and performances. I took the chances I got to seek inspiration from playing with live musicians at various places I crossed.

I am a Copenhagen based songwriter and singer, recording artist with three albums released and a handful ep´s and singles. I have always gained inspiration from meeting with musicians while travelling, such as now in Asia. I would consider myself a travelling troubadour or a nomad with roots in Denmark.

In my previous blog I write in Danish about my first meeting with a jazzbar in Bangkok called the Bluebird cafe. After I played in this nice jazz club in Bangkok, I went to Surat Thani down South and met local musicans, a vocal coach and bands. I saw the pleasure in singing covers to meet locals around cover songs, that also challenged me try out my voice in new ways. Lady Gaga´s songs “Shallow” is not the easiest to sing but its a good song to know if you want to connect with a new audience.

Koh Samui – yoga and music

I sailed later to the island Koh Samui, stayed in Fisherman´s village, at the beautiful place Dreamcatchers by Angelina in Bohput – which is connected to a yoga place, the yogarden. Here I went to a yoga class and met people. I also sang at a French restaurant, Karma sutra bar and kitchen, where they have live musicans. I was singing a couple of covers, when a man came up and said, sing “Shallow” with me. I wasnt planning to but he pushed me, and in new surroundings its easier to move out of our comfort zone. So I sang Shallow with him – spontaneously.

Ko Tao singing with Tao from Bangkok

After playing with the unknown mand in Karma Sutra bar, I home studied the song some more, and ended up suggesting “Shallow” to a band I met in Koh Tao, another island close by Koh Samui. In a small cozy bar, we had  duet going. I think that Tao, the name of the vocalist, singing her, who is originally from Bangkok, he has a very rusty voice with personal depth, and we sang “Shallow” together.

 

Kuala Lumpur – lots of dance and inspiration at Sunshinebedzs Hostel

Now I went to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia later and had the chance to sing some other covers with other talented musicians in the central area of town. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia was a very great place to follow the modern vibes. And I found myself very happy dancing my free steps on the dance floor in a bar called“Temptations Bar and Kitchen”.

Thanks to the hostel Sunshinebedz hostel in Kuala Lumpur that took us there. They take all new people on a pub crawl. This hostel has so many interesting people living and crossing the place that it is worth staying here. I met digital nomads, business people, backpackers. I met a couple biking through Vietnam, going in a trip with them to the Batu Caves, other people drove me to Genting Highlands, a beautiful nature area outside Kuala Lumpur, and I could go on. On The roof top I have performed for a crowd at midnight, all is good inspiration. The staff is so helpful and attentive that the older interior decor means less. They have a whole free bookshelf full of travel books, you can read on the first floor in your quiet moments, free coffee etc and sound proof windows.  And they make every one no matter age feel  welcome.

I have been able to jump around and sing at the same time in Kuala Lumpur. I really would like to involve more dancing in my own performances, however it can only take place if I leave the guitar – fx with my new tenor ukuele, I can dance some and engage the audience. I do acknowledge I have a need to try new things with my style.

Kuala Lumpur is definitely my city at the moment.

Later travelling to Bali, Indonesia, I met a band at the Puri garden hostel and hotel, a lead singer named Aboe, and we tried Shallow again.

 

Aboe also was so kind to take me on the back of his scooter a 2 km´s drive – with his guitar in front of him – and showed me two other music places in Ubud Town, the cultural capital of Bali.

I sang Hotel California in the next bar with a reggae band, and later we ended up seeing a great Latin singer in a place called CP Lounge in Ubud.

Aboe and his brother have a recording studio in Ubud that I plan to see when I come back to Indonesia.

En god start på 2020

Fra jeg trådte ind ad døren på Bluebird Cafe var der nu ikke råt, men meget kultiveret stemning, og der stod et piano foran mig – jeg bad om en guitar. Den blev stemt, det var ok, jeg har kun min ukulele med i Asien. Jeg spillede to danske numre, de bad om det, da valget var mellem dansk og engelsk. Så her er det, klippet. Råt.

Man må forestille dig resten af publikum – jeg tog lidt foto

Jeg er ude og møde musikere i den store verden. Mit første stop var Bangkok. Jeg boede 200 meter fra en hemmelig jazz club “The Bluebird jazz cafe” i et efter sigende lidt råt kvarter, i Sukhumvit-delen, Thonglor.

Et par dage senere rejste jeg mod Surat Thani – det er på fastlandet, sydligt, mod Koh Samui. Jeg jammede med på en bar med fremragende lokale musikere. En god start på Asien.

Mette - drynkybear club

Nytårsbrev 2019

Kære alle

Det er tid til nytår, det er tid til nyt år.

Jeg har fået mange gode oplevelser i året, der gak.

Gaffas nominering til årets danske album ”Simple Matters” i januar 2019 var stort.

Debatindlæg om musik på hospices i Politiken samt i april optræden i 24syv og P1 rykkede også – at bevæge andre mennesker til at arbejde med musik og sundhed og i Information endnu en artikel om at betale for kunst. Og nu udvalgt af P1´s program 4. Division i årskavalkaden blandt årets anbefalede indslag.

Optræden i Tivoli med vores trio var en stor glæde – og tak til dem, der trodsede regnen.

At lege mere med min egen computer til at indspille egne sange gav nyt syn på tingene, to singler udgav jeg som Østerbroprojekter.

Og så tog jeg med kort varsel i kunstnerretræte på Island og havde en bil med vinterdæk med på skibet fra Hirthals til Seydisfjördur i september måned. Siden fik jeg nye venner på Island, som har inspireret og støttet mig i min interesse for natur og lyd. Ønsket om at arbejde med flere sange og naturlyd blev vakt til live på Island under titlen Naturicana.

Også tak til fiskefabrikken i Seydisfjordur og til Familiejournalens Johan Isbrand for den fine omtale i december.

Til Østerbrohuset, Spil Dansk, DJBFA, Musikhuset Aarhus og mange flere.

Det her år har simpelthen været stort.

Det bliver 2020 også.

Men inden året slutter, vil jeg sende en særlig tanke, ikke kun til hospices, som jeg optræder som frivllig på, men også til de mange, der slås med en kræftdiagnose.

Jeg ved, I alle kæmper, og ønsker jer alt godt i det nye år ❤

Også alt godt til alle jer andre, jeg møder på min vej.

Ønsker alle et rigtig godt nytår, hvorend I befinder jer.

Kærlige hilsner Mette

Årskavalkade, program 4. division, P1, udvælger debat om musik på hospice – med Mette Kirkegaard og Poul Nesgaard

Det er mig en glæde, at kærligheden og musikken har fået en plads i dag.

P1 har afsluttet årets program i 4. Division, ved Adam Holm, med min sang Frie Fyr samt klip til min debat “Musik er som kærlighed, men hvorfor vl vi ikke give den til de døende?”

Jeg spiller “Frie fyr” og “Stjernen” og taler med Poul Nesgaard om musik for døende samt om musik på hospice på Finansloven – i april var indslaget a ca. 15 min´s varighed, Ugens alternative kulturanbefaling i P1 ifølge Poul Nesgaard.

Dette blev således et af årets udvalgte klip i årskavalkade blandt 51 programmer a 2 timers varighed.

– et nedklip fra årets bedste indslag❤️

Hilsen Mette Kirkegaard

Her er et link start ved 01:44 (1 time og 44 min.)

I 4. division er der albuerum og plads til, at værterne kan mene mere, end man almindeligvis hører på P1.
https://www.dr.dk/radio/p1/4-division/4-division-88