[EP]ic

Well, last night was definitely something else!
As some of you would remember, at the end of last year I recorded my EP: Nothing More Than This.

It was a very interesting experience. People would ask me about it, expecting me to rave on about how fun it was. It was fun sometimes, but most of the time it was hard work! I had to pay attention to my breathing while singing (which I've never been taught how to do), I also had to do hours in the studio after finishing a crazy-early shift at work. And to top it all off, I had to dredge up and relive all the emotions I had when I wrote songs about my past experiences.

It was hard.

But I got through it. I was super happy with the four songs that ended up on the EP, they all sound really great and my producers worked really hard on them (I spent at least a hundred dollars on food and snacks for them so I hope they know that I appreciate what they did).

On the lead up to the EP Release Party, I was sort of over the whole thing. Stuff kept going wrong. I called them "hiccups". I kinda just felt like I couldn't be bothered having a Release Party at all.
But I said I'd do it, so I sucked it up. And the week leading up to the party, I was a strung-out mess. I called myself a stressball. Just a ball of stress.

I had my manager/friend Claire helping me but I was still very stressed out about everything.

What if no-one turned up?
What if I forgot the chords/lyrics to my own songs?
What if I couldn't get someone to do sound.. or lighting?!?
What if everything just went horribly wrong???

STRESS STRESS STRESS!!!!

The day of the party, I was majorly spazzing out.
I had to go work 5 hours at the cafe. My colleague approached me and asked me if I was ok because I wasn't acting like myself. HAH! IT'S THAT OBVIOUS!
I told her I was stressed about the party.
During work and after I was less stressed, but when I got to the Hub, the place looked so messy and un-partylike and it seemed like we'd never make it work that I started stressing out again.

When Claire arrived I was spazzing out. She made me do a calming exercise and then prayed for me. She asked God to give me peace.
After that, I started feeling better.
Stuff started coming together. Michael got the lights working, and Jason came and did the sound.
Those guys did an awesome job and I'm so grateful!!!!

When people started arriving, I was no longer frazzled. I was superchilled, which is kind of out of character for me in general, and so people would be surprised when they asked me how I was doing and I replied: GREAT!

But I was doing great.

So many people turned out to support me, I was actually blown away.
There were a few moments that I was on the verge of tears.

I just felt so much love from all my friends. Even some randoms turned up!
It was fun, I am usually an introvert so would never just waltz up to someone and introduce myself, but last night, I DID IT!

I was all: "Oh hi, don't think I've met you, I'm Martinette" *shakes hand*

I've also never had the opportunity to play a whole bunch of songs that I had written for an audience who was there solely to hear me play. It was very special.

So overall, it was just an epic night.
My flatmatefriend Xanda asked me today if last night was the best night of my life so far.

I thought about it, said no at first, but assured her that it was definitely TOP 5.

But after thinking about, maybe it WAS the best night????

How many people have had their friends all pitch in so they could fulfill their dream of recording and EP, and then all turn up to support the releasing of this EP and also listen to them play songs they'd written for at least 40 minutes.

I am actually blown away by the support of everyone. Even my surrogate parents turned up, which was super awesome :-) :-) :-)

So yes, maybe last night was the best night. If you missed it, that kinda sucks for you, but there will be other gigs. Last night was definitely super special though and I'll never forget it.

I know I thanked people last night, but I will continue to thank them.
Thanks to everyone for turning up and bringing all that awesome food to the party.
Thanks to my friends for allowing me to record an EP.
Thanks to all the people who helped make the party a success, the sound and lighting, the guitar that was played before I performed, the videoing and photographing, and of course, all the kind words and encouragement. I really appreciate it more than you know.

I hope to record some more music soon, so don't worry about not hearing the songs that weren't on the EP again, I will definitely be playing them in the future.


God bless you guys.

If you haven't had a chance to listen to or buy the EP yet, you can do so here: https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/nothing-more-than-this-ep/id633303123

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Stay sweet x