Before I was a button...

...I was a video star!

This film clip was made in 2006 on our farm in Canberra. Features my incredibly talented and good looking band mates, brothers Jamie and Cameron.

There were actually two versions of the video made; this one was for our overseas audience, what with the great Aussie outback background and the flag making their quite deliberate appearances.

Another one ended up being filmed about a year later, because the record label who was trying to sign us at the time was worried this first clip looked like we might be a country band - and we couldn't have that misunderstanding now could we?!

Note: I was seven months pregnant with my forth baby when this was filmed! Yikes!

Do tell me how you feel, and what you think? I am so enjoying showing off these pieces of my career to you - and don't forget to push my button now will you...

; )

Shell {Button-Smith} xx

My Song is Love...

...for Australia Day 2010.

Shell xx

From where I sit...

Once I heard Michael Jackson say - (when asked what he thought about on stage) answered;

'Oh no! You don't think - if you think about it you'll only lose your nerve..!'

And so I have found a job where I am allowed just to feel,

Required to be emotional!

& paid to be outrageous!

Bliss!

Songsmith xx

Scenes from Saturday night...

Forward:

{Is is not possible for me to explain the amount of hours the collage that lies here beneath has taken to create!}

Saturday was a hard days night, for The Tullys. We performed at the wedding ceremony and reception of a bride who happened to be one of my close friends from school, in Canberra about twelve years ago.

It's funny when you see someone again - even funnier when for me I have, since walking the school corridors with her, become a Christian, been married myself, given birth {four times, mind you!} and, generally - non-specifically speaking - grown up.

Singing for her, and her about-to-be-husband as she walked down the aisle was a wonderful mixture of happiness, graciousness, and terror that I simply HAD to get the song right! Well I did get it right, and her smiles to me across the crowded terrace were an instant confirmation of that.

I shed a little tear during the pivotal moment of the reception, when the bride and groom grace the dance floor together for the first, momentous dance. Again, it was when she looked at me, her arms and graceful figure against her new husband in waltz hold, with such a smile and a gratitude as we played and I sang, their special song.

Lots of bands look down their noses at the good ole' wedding gig. But we have always seen it as a chance to serve through our music. Remembering that they will remember this day forever. And through this act of service we too have been so blessed by the people we have met, the places we have been, and the music/magic we made there.

I raise my glass to my dear friend, and her new husband! Hoorah!

Songsmith xx

PUMPED!

It had been several months since The Tullys had last done a fully wired, all singing-all-dancing big-wig-gig - and we, were, PUMPED!

The winter season in Australia offers a fair share of solo and duo work; {and I like to take time to edit, polish, record original work in my studio etc} but this was the first big gig of our Spring/Summer performance schedule with the four of us together to take on our beautiful audiences once more!

So even the afternoon before set up and sound check was feeling like fun!

The sight of sound guys setting up disco balls above the dance floor made me smile, and imagine what they were about to witness from up there in all their sparkly-ness...

Wine flowed - {though I don't drink it myself} - entree's were served, MC did his thing, and suddenly we were on. It is that moment I walk up there with the boys and become a different me. I decide I want everyone in that room to know I'm the best! They won't be able to ignore my voice, they won't want us to ever stop playing, and they will, for the few hours they're in our capable hands, forget everything else going on in their lives and just surrender - to music.

Which they did!

If you're in a band, you know there is nothing as cool as making people so happy. Live music brings everything to life! You take your own energy and talent, and plug in to their every musical need and wish. There is a spirit in the air when a band plays with their heart and soul and the audience has ears to hear and feel it. The exchange between you and them, the letting go in order to enjoy so completely, is magical, and addictive.

We remained PUMPED all night, and so did our crowd.

And to do what we do best, for a worthy corporate cause, to be back together gigging again, and to do all this with my dear friend slapping that Bass beside me, is nearly too much good living to bare.

Songsmith xx

Can't Seem To Sleep...

I wrote it early one morning - based on a dream, a thought, a whim and a whisper...

I had it chosen by Richard Lush for the album...

Recorded in the top studio, and now here; is where we gave it a visual life...

My Daughter Emma on Set {pink}

My Directors, Mentors, Sisters & friends Kate & Sarah mapping out my poetic path through the rushes...

Songsmith xx

Bluer...

I have been watching spring beginning, from my Sunroom window. Sun getting brighter, sky, bluer.

I've been sitting at my piano writing instrumental pieces; somedays you feel too much, and words aren't sufficient means for expression.

I have been listening to the small still voice, showing me every curve of the happenings, letting Him show me where I can help and where only He can help.

I've been feeling we're on the cusp of a new season, in so many more ways, than one.

Shell xx

Encouragement...

...comes in all sorts of ways when you're trying to serve, in what is right-

* a warm smile from a stranger walking by...

* an older couple stopping you, to say how well behaved your children are...

* a friend request from someone who loves your music...

* a comment on this here wee little blog...

I thank you;

These things I take into my heart, they make me strong.  I cherish them, and credit them to God.  The inventor of love, and Lord of encouragement.

Shell xx

Power of music...

I have had the most wonderful day!  

The Tullys had the first of our end of year "holiday season" gigs last night, and we were in fine musical and entertaining form!  There are a lot of gigs booked for the end this year, and beginning of the next, and I always look forward to entertaining people, it's a great job.

Today I did Coffee & Chords, it was marvellous!  I had so many wonderful responses, which made me so happy.  I'm not even sure why I do it sometimes, as I don't get paid!  But I suppose the benefits for me have been that I can promote the band, and my name as a local singer/songwriter, also it has kept me "fit" as a musician and vocalist, and performer throughout the quieter, winter months.

But there is something more important than the above that drives me to perform solo at the coffee shop, I can hardly explain it, but I know I am supposed to do it.  I love to do it.  The smiles I get from passers by, the people that sometimes stand there and sing along, or just watch with delight, and the fans and friends I have made have been phenomenal.  I hope I am giving something back to my own community.  A gift that has worked it's way back to me, for I am so blessed to be able to communicate the power of music.

Thank you to all of you (so many!) who came today!

Shell xx

Take a bow!

Well I hope my week of poetry has been well enjoyed.  I know I have certainly loved expressing my daily thoughts in poetic verse!  If only every day could be spent doing so!

I have added a new song to my little 'widget' which can be found at the left of your screen.  (If you're reading an RSS of this blog somewhere else then click here!)

I am also beginning work on a new album of songs.  I have been performing early renditions of them at Coffee & Chords recently, and people have been nodding and clapping, so either they're very polite, or they like them!  I plan to record some more demos soon, and share them with you here.

Today I have been shoveling in the garden...  Learning that a pile of cat litter, when left for several years in the yard, can be turned over with a shovel - and rich, dark, fertile soil can be found hiding underneath!  I am very excited to learn this as I am an absolute novice when it comes to gardening.  But I am determined to learn how.

The children and I have been spending a lot of quality time together while Jamie has been away, we have been watching old movies, and cleaning up the garden, the toy room, and enjoying this first taste of spring together.  He returns in a couple of days, so we're all starting to get excited.

I will leave you with a bow, and a word of sincerest thanks, for your visit to this blog!

Shell xx

How happy am I, to be me!

Saw my husband off early in the morning.  Sad smiles...

Took care of the babies.  Changed, fed, loved...

Put on a dress and went out to play my gig.  With love and thanks to Cam and Scott.

Forgot I was at a coffee shop, played like I was at the opera house!

Talked to beautiful friends and fans.  You are the reason I want to sing!

Met a new, new little baby boy.  Very happy smiles, and maybe a little tear of joy...

Came home, and made some tea.

How happy am I, to be me!

Shell xx

ps: Happy Fathers Day, to all the loving Fathers.  Especially mine, Maurice Tully, I love you, thank you for adopting me.

Fair Weather Friend

I wrote a moving little song last night.

I had been watching an interview with some famous writer on ABC.  Incidentally I had never heard of him, but as I have a fascination for human behavior, his life story still intrigued me.  He was asked, and answered questions about his struggle to become a writer in the early 1970's.  The story involved Australian social history, which I love to hear about, as well as his family, and his relationship(s) - as there usually are at least several in stories such as these...

What got me started, was his account of  how he'd had an affair with an actress, who herself was married; he too was married, and his wife, pregnant at the time.  As I continued listening to this story, I realised my attention moving from him, to this wife he'd had long ago, and what this all would have done to her.  Where had it left her heart?  And what was her story?

So being a writer myself, I became so inspired I turned off the TV, went to the piano to write her story.

Fair Weather Friend

Fair weather friend, have you come to spend the day?

Have you come to laugh and play?

Until the sun, it goes away,

And the sky it turns from bright,

Into grey...

Fair weather friend, said you'd come to save the day,

So I gave all my cards away...

And in the end - will they ask you if you were a good man,

Or were, you a fair weather friend..?

Oh, when it gets dark out here,

Oh where am I to lay my head?

Where am I to pitch my tent?

Some would say 'you've made you bed now lie, down on it!'

But Fair weather friend!

You fled into the night, thought that you would be alright,

But when the sun, came out today,

You covered up your face, cause you knew then,

You were a fair weather friend...

* * *

I hope the lyrics translate as a poem, I will record it very soon for general listening pleasure...

Shell xx

Morning Bird

Always was a morning bird,

Up with the sun, 

And flown away, 

To see the world,

New, and free,

Embracing the miraculous morning!

That magical light,

So new and right,

And clean, and bright,

Given freely, as a gift from the Lord,

Across the dew, and mist I soared...

On hills I stand, and sing unheard,

Always was a morning bird.

Shell xx

Late lunches, and spring's sunshine...

There is something wonderful about a late lunch...  When you're really hungry.  

When you were thoughtful enough to take the container of soup out of the freezer in the morning, so it could wait patiently for you to heat it on the stove and serve yourself this masterpiece when you get home...

Oh yes.  It were good.

Spring is so very close now, and there have been a few wonderful previews given by the sun on Canberra afternoons of late.

I am looking forward to sunshine, heat, outdoor eating, BBQ's sizzling, ice block licking!  And wearing clothes as brightly exotic as the lilies on my table...

I am singing songs by Coldplay this afternoon as I sweep the floor and dream of Summer!

Shell xx

The Servant King

There is a famous quote by Elton John, 'If in doubt, write a hymn...' and though I did not write it, there is a wonderful hymn in my head today written by Graham Kendrick and it is not so much even the melody, but the words that explained our purpose here on earth, to my heart today...

The Servant King

From heaven you came helpless babe,

Entered our world, your glory veiled,

Not to be served, but to serve,

And give your life, that we might live...

Chorus -

This is our God, the servant king,

He calls us now, to follow him,

To bring our lives, as a daily offering

Of worship to the servant king

There in the garden of tears,

My heavy load, you chose to bear,

His heart with sorrow was torn,

'Yet not my will, but yours', he said

Come see his hands and his feet,

The scars that speak of sacrifice

Hands that flung stars into space

To cruel nails surrendered...

**Interruption!  This last verse I can never get out of my head - I think it is so instructive and beautiful**

So let us learn how to serve,

And in out lives enthrone him,

Each others needs to prefer

For it is Christ, we're serving.

By Graham Kendrick

I only just decided to google the title of the song this afternoon, therefore learning the name of the songwriter, as I'm not ordinarily a worship music listener.  I learned this song for a wedding ceremony several years ago, but, unlike so many songs I've had to perform for clients, this one has always stayed in my mind, impressed upon my heart.

Hope it speaks to you also.

Shell xx

Maybe Not Now

This afternoon, the most incredible thing happened!

Tara fell asleep!  So I wrote a song...

Maybe Not Now

I can hear them talking in the hall

I can hear them talking about where they've gone wrong?

I can see it never was their fault-

All it takes is a dose of pride to swallow a young man whole-

And I know, all will be restored that now seems gone...

I can hear the patter of the rain

I can feel him tremble as it blows away again

I can see him working all day long

All I can give is a note and a card, and tell him how much I love him!

And that I know, all will be returned that has been stolen...

Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow,

Maybe not in our lifetime,

Maybe not in our children's, children's,

Maybe not now, maybe not tomorrow,

Maybe not now-

Maybe not now...

It's actually a song I started to write about a year ago, but today there was just enough peace and quiet to put it all together and call it finished.  I have so many half written songs, like half finished knitting projects I suppose...  It is so satisfying to get one completed and ready for performing and recording.

Ah, I love my job!

I shall record it and post it on this blog very soon so you can hear was well as read it.

Shell xx

Into the blog world...

Sincerest apologies for not posting yesterday.

I jumped in the car with my mother & father in law at 6am, they were doing a quick day trip dash to Sydney.  And when I got home late last night I spent the rest of the evening, and early morning watching the opening ceremony.  Wasn't it marvelous!

I am a most un-athletic person, but I absolutely love the Olympics.  I think every Aussie kid does.  It always blows my mind that we have only just over twenty million people in this country and yet we seem to dominate the world of sport.  Not just in the Cricket, but just about everything!  Less winter sports I grant you, but you've just got to love the competitive Aussie spirit no matter what you think of sport.  I have to say, I am not a fan of strange games with balls, and bats or hoops or cheer leaders!?  But I respect athleticism, people who train for their sport everyday, come rain or shine, give it their all, and represent their country.  Mmm!  Props for that!

In other news, this is my 90th post!  It went so fast!  I hope it has been all that I promised it would be in my first post which can be reviewed here.

I hope that my musings about being in a large family, having strong beliefs about how I think we can best fare in this world, my big earrings (!) and musical endeavors have sought to inspire many.  I have learned so much already on this journey into the blog world, and I am utterly addicted many wonderful blogs I have found while being here, written by amazing people, with amazing insights.  Do refer to my blog list on the left hand side of this post.

Well I am to away just for now!  I have a gig tomorrow which I will share all about when I come home.

I am only just getting started on this blog, and I will give you all of my heart, each day, for as long as you will have me.

Shell xx

M -y - i - Phone!!!

...I never was one much for phones - I see people walking around texting all day and I just feel a headache coming on!  So I rationally thought that the best device for me would be an iPhone... 

*grins*

Now lets make this clear - I am a Mac fanatic!  I was first introduced to Macs when I was at high school and we did our computing lessons on them, and I have been in love with their intuitive nature and good looks ever since!

So I am very excited to have the latest thing from Apple!  And this afternoon, me and Mac went for a walk and took photos of my shadow...

While listening to Regina Spektor, and, with internet access should I need to google anything...

; )

I nearly forgot to mention, it is a phone as well, so...  Call me!

Shell xx

Somedays...

Somedays, I just don't want to be grown up with work to do!  I look out the window and want to go on an adventure...  I think in laymans terms - I feel like a holiday!  I am looking forward to a day trip to Sydney later this week, and that will have to do me for now!  I think I have mentioned how much I love Sydney, the big city in Canberra's backyard!

It has been raining here on and off for a day or two.  Now the sun is just emerging from the grey clouds, then going back behind them again, just long enough for a few more sprinkles of rain.  It is a bit of an undecided day all round.  I feel a little here and there myself.  Nothing a cup of tea won't fix.  Won't you have some with me?

Somedays, when I think about the bills I have to pay, and the price of groceries, I just want to go and blow all my money on records, and shoes!  I suppose being a grown up is daydreaming about such things at times, and then paying the bills, going to Coles, and knowing how blessed you are to have enough to eat and a roof over your head!

But the best part about being a grown up is...

I get to decide that my life will be a wonderful adventure!

Shell xx

New gig dates!

I'm very excited to have some new performance dates at Gloria Jeans coffee shop!  All of the PLI paperwork is done (!) and now I just get to play and sing, which is what I do best!

The dates are Sundays July 13 & 27, August 10 & 24, September 7 & 21, October 19, November 2

So if you're in Canberra I'll be there then, then and then!

It's funny not working every weekend in the winter, when inevitably, people have less weddings and corporate functions.  So at this time of the year when there aren't as many bookings, I like to focus on writing, learning new songs - special covers that mean a lot to me and my fans.  I like to do more acoustic gigs, like Coffee & Chords.  I like to stay home on Saturday nights and make soup!  Then watch Grand Designs with Jamie.

Winter certainly has it's perks - the cosiness is great.  But there is always a part of me that wants to go back to America in the winter to the Australian Festival in Nashville, like we did in 2005...

And then stopping over in Tahiti...  how tough that was ; )

But before going home we had three days in New York - and then we know what all the fuss was about...

I think there needs to be an upcoming post totally dedicated to our little trip to NY.  Coming soon, watch this blog!

Shell xx