Well needless to say, the Olympics were definitely a memorable experience!  Here’s a few links to show how memorable it was!

CTV Olympic Celebration with Simple Plan and The Dudes:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Calgarians+brave+cold+support+Games/2563050/story.html

Olympic Press Conference:

http://www.calgaryherald.com/travel/best+advertising+Alberta+done+history/2635467/story.html

There’s a big party going on in Calgary and the whole region is invited! Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium announced today that popular Canadian artists The Dudes and Lindsay Ell have been added to Calgary’s CTV Olympic Celebration event lineup alongside previously announced headliner Simple Plan. A free one-day festival-style event, Calgary’s CTV Olympic Celebration will take place on Saturday, Feb. 13 at Olympic Plaza beginning at 2:30 p.m. MT.

Created by Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium, the CTV Olympic Celebration is a five-city event featuring live performances from some of Canada’s top musical acts, interactive Olympic- and Paralympic-themed sport zones, entertainment activities, cultural pavilions and large video screens showcasing CTV’s and RDS’s live coverage of the 2010 Winter Games. Find out more at CTVOlympics.ca/Celebration or RDSolympiques.ca/Celebrations.

“With a cross-Canada musical lineup featuring several of our nation’s top performers, the CTV Olympic Celebration will provide Canadians with a unique and memorable 2010 Winter Games experience,” said Keith Pelley, President, Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.

Supported by multiple levels of Canadian government and partners of the 2010 Winter and Paralympic Winter Games, the CTV Olympic Celebration provides Canadians outside of Vancouver and Whistler with the opportunity to further embrace the Olympic spirit while showcasing their widespread passion and pride for Canada’s 2010 Olympians.

“Calgarians know how the Olympics bring the country together behind our athletes, igniting community spirit and national pride,” said Mayor Dave Bronconnier. “It will be exciting to be a part of the 2010 Winter Games opening weekend, connecting Calgarians with Canadians to cheer for our athletes on home turf.”

Have a look and listen to my brand new song - All or Nothing! I shot the video this summer in various places throughout North America. Music/Lyrics written by Lindsay Ell. Produced by Danny Michel. Video Directed by Matthew Schichter.

I’m looking to be creatively inspired.  I need to get away from things. I need to get away from regular life, TV, negative news, traffic, blackberries, text messaging, and facebook..  I need to read a good book that takes me out of my comfort zone.  I want to find music that moves you so much that you can’t do any else but sit down and listen to it.  For instance, you’re driving somewhere and you hear a song come on the radio, but need to pull over to listen to it with undivided attention because it’s just that good.  I’m looking to be amazed.  To be inspired.  Good books, memorable speeches, crazy YouTube videos, or songs that are just plain masterpieces - masterpieces for any reason really, only they need to have a purpose of their own.  I’m looking for quality.  I know everyone has a few hidden gems locked in their memories that they can be assured whenever they recommend for someone to check it out, that someone will be completely impressed.  I want every word to have meaning.  I want to have so many ideas running through my head, I don’t know where to start first.  So, I’m open to anything.  Suggestion?  E-mail me…. lindsay@lindsayell.com

I think I’m finally beginning to understand what ‘stages of career’ mean.  As an up and coming artist, we’re always so keen to do anything and everything we can to get one step closer to our goal…. Which is what really?  Full-time musician?  National star?  Celebrity?  International star?  We get so involved in the process of marketing and pushing things as far as we can, we sometimes forget about thinking what is the right thing for the ‘stage’ of our career.

I think the stage you are at speaks to everything.  Yes, as artists, we love to have creative control, and be open to express our artistic freedom, but depending what stage we’re in, we should really be reflecting upon what is the right thing to do.  Maybe making stickers this month isn’t the right plan.  Maybe spending $2000 to attend a festival with so many other bands you are not sure you have enough clout to get recognized isn’t the smart thing to do.  Perhaps playing every show you can get your hands on in your local city isn’t where the focus should be, because it’s all about the quality of the show, not the quantity.

I think the stage of a career ultimately determines what your pictures should look like, how your set lists should sound, what you should be saying on stage, and really, what your songs should be written about.  If you want to be obtaining your goals, I think you sometimes need to question whatever the left-brain is trying to tell you.  It is about being the devil’s advocate, and making sure you are stepping in the right direction.  Just because it might have worked for someone else, doesn’t mean it will for you.  Am I giving in to the money gods, and forgetting about an artistic identity?  I don’t think so.. At least I hope you don’t think I am.  I am simply saying that I think more thought needs to go into some of the decisions we make based upon where our target is.

So as I’m getting ready for my SXSW showcase coming up in a couple weeks, I’m looking for inspiration, and therefore am always looking for cool new music.  I think watching other artists is such great inspiration to improve what you do.  Not to exactly replicate what another artist does, but to question what you do, and as a result get better from it.  However,  let’s face it…  We all copy from one another.  It’s the perfect form of flattery when someone copies you right?  Well, either way, I guess I believe that each new trend is just a reinvention of a copied look from before…  No person can do one thing the exact same way.  That being said, there is nothing like raw creativity, which is why I love getting inspired by random you tube videos..  I am a music fan of all genres, and used to play a lot of fingerstyle guitar.  This is one of my favourite videos from way back - Mr. Andy McKee.  Enjoy!

I guess this is blog post #1!  Over the past two years I have had many amazing experiences including, working with Randy Bachman and opening for Chicago’s Blues Pioneer Buddy Guy.  I want to let you know about my acoustic album that is coming out at the beginning of February 2009.  I’m very excited about it as compiling everything together has been a great learning experience.  For once I was able to take some new songs and play them simply ‘me and my guitar’.  It sure is a special feeling when you are part of every process in the project.  After doing the writing, arranging, producing, recording, designing, pressing, and everything else (with lots of help), there’s a whole new meaning to finishing a record.  The album is called “Alone” and is built on the concept of avoiding fully-producing a song, which there sometimes is a place for, but can overtake a track.  “Alone” exposes my voice and guitar playing with only the songs themselves.  I wanted to make a record like this because I felt it was important for me to learn how crucial having a great song truly is. When everything is taken away, the song is left by itself… and only then can you tell if it’s something special.

I’ll be having a CD Release Party in Calgary on February 6th, but it will also be available on iTunes, or http://www.killthe8.com.

Hope you all enjoy!

L