The time of my life...

If you're a singer/songwriter; self taught, young, raw and unknown; and a world renowned producer picks up your demo and likes it, so much that he wants to take you to Sydney and record your first album(!) - it is likely to be a really big thing in your life...

I still can hardly believe this is my own story. And that I got to make an album, my album. We called it "Twelve Short Stories" with each song telling a tale of life, love or woe - most of the stories are about growing up, which I was in the very midst of at the time...

So without further ado I'm really proud say I have my own iTunes button!

And you can "click" it if you want : )

and check me out on the world's largest online music store!

I will leave you with one of our pre-production videos... So here's the scene:

The Tullys band rehearsing in the shearing shed on the family farm in Canberra Australia, before heading to the studio in Sydney the next week on a hot summer afternoon, producer Richard Lush in attendance, and Ben Hakalitz on drums!

I hope it's clear how much fun we had - it really was the creative and professional, time of my life. I am so looking forward to doing it all again soon, but in the meantime I hope you will enjoy this album.

Shell xx

It has been...

...a wonderful Queen's Birthday long weekend.  It has been a special, restful few days of family, slow food, hot tea, long breakfasts...

Looking out of the window; and for the first time in a long time - it has been raining, with small bursts of sun - rather than the reverse.

It has been fireworks on a freezing night, outside with the children, celebrating for the Queen with sparklers and laughter.

For me it has also been an inspiring weekend.  I have written one song, and recorded two others.  Always I feel so purposeful when I have been keeping up with my music - not just my washing pile and stack of dishes...  And I find one creative act, always leads to another...  Whether it's a memory, a snippet of a thought, a click of my camera, I am all of a sudden rushing to a piano, or scribbling words in my little brown Moleskin book.  To me, this is me on form, doing what I do.  I have come to a place where I am content to just make my music and not expect worldly acceptance, acknowledgment or even money.  I thirst only for clarity of heart, spirit and mind.  And it clears my head, to create.  

To me this is success, doing the art that I do, feeling purposeful in it, and sharing it with my beloveds.  

Shell xx

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

Anna

She is not so good at saying, 'hello, and how are you?'

and I bet she is much worse at good byes,

She may catch your eye and say a thousand things in silence,

I've lived for those periodic times...

Anna, you've been twice as sweet as I thought you'd be,

And I know you've never been so far away from home;

I know we will see you again,

I know I will be your friend,

And I know now, this is not the last time.

She is wiser than she ever has to convince you of,

And she is smarter than she's letting on!

She'll catch your eye and say a thousand things in silence, 

 don't understand her, but I like her.

Anna, you are more beautiful than I thought you'd be,

And I know you've never been more in love-

than you are now,

I know we will see you again,

And I know you will be my friend,

And I know now...

She is not so good at saying 'hello, and how are you?'

But she knows this is not really goodbye...

Shell xx

ps: this is my 100th post!

Rock and a hard place

You've been breezing in and out like windy weather,

I pretend that it's okay,

And we sit there all alone, together,

Trying desperately to think of nothing to say;

Do you ever find, we only seem to hate the ones we love?

Bind them with our toughest chains...

Do you ever find, his body's here, but his heart has been caught,

Between a rock and a hard place.

He's afraid to hear the truth be spoken,

So he stays away from me,

And we rely on the curse, of plastic conversation;

Does he not want the treasures I have for him?

Do you ever find, we only seem to bother hating the ones we love?

Tear them down to save some face!

Do you ever find, we only seem to put the ones we love,

Between a rock and a hear place...

If I tell him no, will he pack his bags and go?

Will I be feeding him to the lion's den?

If I let him stay, pretend everything is okay,

Am I worthy of a mill stone..?

Do you ever find, we only seem to hate the ones we love?

Tear them down to save some face!

Do you ever find, his body's here,

But his heart has been caught

Between a rock and a hard place,

Between a rock and a hard place.

Shell xx

Something About You

The lyrics to a song I wrote a few years ago.  I love it, and hope it reads as nicely as a poem, as it does sing, as a song...

I saw you, I met you,

There's something about you...

We got talking, we went for coffee,

There was something about you

There's something heart felt,

There's something beautiful,

There's something about you...

And suddenly you slipped away,

I don't think you meant to,

There was something about you...

There's something tragic,

Yet something incredible!

There's something about you

...don't make me wait,

Don't make me send another boy to the letter box!

Thinking of something, about, you!

When I held you,

I loved you,

There, something about you!

There's something heart felt,

There's something beautiful-

There's something God sent!

I don't even know you-

But there's something about you,

There's something about you...

Shell xx

Little women...

As I walk past the piano at home, I often have to put down whatever I'm doing, not be able to help myself - and sit down to play a little song...

I am enjoying a new skill of late, learning favourite covers for my solo gigs at Gloria Jeans.  At the moment I am playing about with Regina Spektor's "Us" which I have always been meaning to learn, since it came out several years ago...  My sister in law was playing it on guitar last night at home church, and she inspired me!

Speaking of inspiration, have I mentioned how much I love winter bulbs that think it is spring therefore are flowing out of control?!

And have I mentioned how much I love Tara in her little red winter boots?!  She is wild, and wonderful!  She gets into everything, follows me around all day, and is my best little companion...

The other thing I have achieved today is finishing the framing of my two beautiful prints by Miss Emily Burtt.  I highly recommend you check out the shop here...

I am surrounded, it would seem by many inspiring and talented young women today!

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

The Smallest of Them All

It's been a very cold day here in Canberra.  I do think Canberra gets a bit of bad press for being a really, really cold place.  It is one of the hottest places in the country in the summer!  As there is no coast like Sydney, we rarely get a sea breeze on summer nights and it can generally be very hot.  I would say it has been a mild winter here so far, but today is really cold.  Time for a jumper and coat indeed!

The wind and the cold didn't stop me from walking this morning though, I was one of only a very few at 7am willing to brave the wild weather.  What fun it is to walk through wild weather!  Sometimes I pretend I am a lone traveller, on a quest, I've been trekking for days on a journey to save the world - maybe I have the one ring!

I wrote a song about The Lord Of The Rings, I wrote it from Frodo's perspective;

The Smallest of Them All...

Mechelle Tully

Lonely nights and early mornings,

Just time enough before I face the trail again,

It's cold and hard and never ending...

I've a brother to my right, and others at the other side

but I'm alone, only I hold the key...

How could you, the smallest of them all,

take on this path with courage?

A journey still unknown, but all you know,

is that it's coming for you...

And still you hold it tight, 

The object of desire that evil hunts-

and it's ugly and it's oh, so beautiful, all at once...

The night is cold and it will get colder,

Always looking over my shoulder,

tomorrow this time, I don't know if I'll be living or dying!

And men have come with hands to lend, 

but I don't know which ones are my friends-

since I have something they all want...

How could you, the smallest of them all,

take on this path with courage?

A journey still unknown, but all you know,

Is they're coming for you...

Still you hold it tight,

The object of desire that evil, wants!

and it's ugly and it's oh, so beautiful, all at once...

(now available on iTunes!)

Shell xx

Dancing in public with headphones on!

I have been for a walk up the hill this morning - I usually walk by myself and listen to the birds, the wind and anything else that there is to hear.  But this morning I put on my headphones, whacked on my iPod and danced all the way up and back to the new Coldplay album!

I have always been someone who has danced in public, and sung... whether I am by myself or not - sometimes, I just can't help it!

There are few things more wonderful than uninhibited joy, and good music always takes me there...

Remember to dance in your day - you will find true happiness there!

Shell xx

a love of big earrings...

Now in my first post for this blog I did proclaim a love and passion for big earrings - I have been meaning to get back to this, so let me explain...!

As you know, I am a performer; I think the flamboyant side of me has been realised through stage 'wardrobe' over the years.  Or maybe it has just been the thing that gave me permission to be the diva I am!  I have worn some wonderful and outrageous things on stage - picture gold sequins, red stilettos, and burnt orange, where would I be without burnt orange...?!

One of my favourite things to wear though would be earrings.  More recently, big earrings - and they're getting bigger...  I have lots and lots of pairs of earrings - in fact, I think I may have a problem...!

Here are some of my friends -

...and some little fingers taking delight in my activity...

...caught red handed!  Tara Grace Tully (she has prior convictions for similar offenses!)

Ahh, lovely....!

On another note I am going to be on TV tomorrow morning!  I will be performing one of my songs 'My Brother Charlie' on Rise and Shine, the Christian worship program which is on at 5.30 am.  

If you fancy a lie in tomorrow morning instead, then I will be posting the video of the performance later in the week right here on this blog.

Enjoy the rest of this beautiful Saturday!

Shell xx

Rainy days and Mondays...

Well, it wasn't really rainy, but it was so beautiful and cloudy...

I got up early this morning and walked up the hill, it was a balmy 8 degrees outside, perfect morning walking weather!  I love having time to think, and listen to the thoughts in my head and beyond...

When I got home a hot air balloon was landing in the paddock - it happens around here often...

I live on a working farm right in the middle of Canberra.  It belongs to my father-in-law & mother-in-law, my husband and I live, with our children in the original farm house cottage which fronts the street and backs onto the most beautiful place in the world, "Hillview."

Every day I can look out of my sunroom window and see my father-in-law working up at his shed.  He is a really cool man!  He is a farmer, through and through - but he is also an artist, a philosopher, a strong Christian and the most honest and decent human on the planet!  

I wish this photo captured his wonderful, blue, most honest eyes...

My mother and father-in-law have been always like parents to me, I love them both so dearly.  Sometimes people ask why do we live so close to our parents, and I don't understand how that could be a bad thing.  I don't like the way our society sometimes puts pressure on young adults to move away from their families and be "independent" if you have a loving family, then don't you want to be close to them?

I think I have only been able find my independence as an adult because of the advice, love and support of great people like my parents in law - I think being able to hear advice and learn from others is the definition of adulthood, and the only way to this "independence" people keep talking about.

Shell xx

introducing Twelve Short Stories

This is the cover of our album. It's called 'Twelve Short Stories.'

We recorded most of it in Sydney, and some vocals and overdubs in Canberra.  It was the most fun I've ever had doing music.  The photo of the cover is a photo of a mirror, and we're in it's reflection.  Then more white mirror frames have been added on the computer...  Cool hey!

In the photo as well as myself is Jamie, grooviest bass player, awesome song arranger and best friend!  Then the most amazingly gifted guitarist in the world - Cameron, my bother-in-law.

We started this band, Jamie, myself, and Cameron, in 1999.  We played almost all Celtic folk music to begin with, we were sweet!  Then I started adding music I had written to the mix and we ended up with a unique sound I think.  In about 2000 my other brother-in-law joined the band, he was only about 19 at the time - and he played the drums, without ever a lesson.  He also went on to write, and arrange within the band, he has an amazing musical gift.  At the moment he lives in Nashville USA, he wasn't able to get back to Aus for the recording of this album, which was a shame but I know there will be plenty more recordings for him to play on!

We are releasing Twelve Short Stories on iTunes this June/July and I hope people enjoy hearing it, as much as we did making it.

I'm off to the piano now to write some more short stories...

Shell xx