#Ahhh Nashville songs

[sarah-sandwich-writes]

for the title ask game: We Were Gods (we were kids)

I want to hear more about that one, that's a riveting title! :eyes:

Ahhh yes, so originally this fic was inspired by the song Battle Cries by The Amazing Devil. It's a duet and like a divorce song? "This isn't a break-up, dearheart, it's a season finale!" I got the title from the lyrics where one part sings the line "We were gods" and then the other part echoes it with "We were kids" and that's just *chefs kiss* perfect fanfic title thank you TAD <333

The premise was childhood friends to estranged almost lovers to supers fighting on opposite sides to reluctant allies to (finally) lovers. And it was going to be a parkner fic (peter parker/harley keener). It was going to be an epic slow burn spanning nearly their whole lives.

Then I thought why not pry it out of its fanfic foundation and stand it on its own as an original concept? Harley is essentially my OC and Peter could be shaped into an OC too and the plot I had in mind had hardly any of the source material in it so why not? I'd just tweak some names, create my own super powers and aliens and then boom! Book!

Didn't work 🙃 I wrote a 110k draft and got to the end and was like wow this sucks. I half-assed the world building and tried to hang onto plot devices that just don't work outside the mcu (they don't even work within the mcu but I digress) SO now we're back to square one: making it a fanfic. Except it's not really square one because I have 110k that I need to snip and prune and repot back into a fic.

Actually it's more like 85k bc I have to re-write the beginning since I ended up keeping that part for my book, but the rest just needs reworked into something I like with the characters that we know and love plugged back in. It's going to be a massive revision project but not any more difficult than writing the thing lol

But anyway! It's going to feature super villain!Harley which I am very excited about. He is sooooo tortured in this one and Peter has the shittest luck in the whole world <333

I don't have a good excerpt to share so here is the high-level outline for part one!

Part 1: Childhood

Peter’s parents die in a plane crash. He moves to Rose Hill to live with Uncle Ben and Aunt May and meets Harley

Harley has his hands full with… his dad just walked out. He wasn’t abusive. It was just shocking and all at once. They thought something terrible happened, but after they report him missing Scotty at the corner store stops by and says he sold him scratchers. Then a few hours later the sheriff stops over with his hat in his hands and tells them his truck was found in the lot at the airport in Nashville. “Let him go,” Mama says. “Don’t want no man who don’t wanna be around. Let ‘im go.” And that was the end of that.

Peter arrives while Harley is getting used to being the only one home after school. Abbie’s off with Mrs. Farley in town while Mama works, so it’s just him most days ‘til Mama gets home around 5.

Starts hanging out with the Parkers. They keep him ‘round for dinner. Scares Mama the first time bc he didn’t ask ahead and wasn’t home when she got there. She demands to meet them.

They get on great and once they learn of her newly single situation they offer to watch Harley in the afternoons until she gets home from work. No need for payment or thank yous—it just so happens that Peter could really use a friend right now and they’ve been getting along so well.

So it begins. No creek. No pokemon. Peter and Aunt May clash like the dickens, but Uncle Ben is always cool and rational and settles things before they go too far. It’s nice.

Peter is obsessed with planes and tracking flights and researching news of lost flights, crashes, etc. Huge fear of flying, but not of heights. This fear stays with him, even when Harley turns into a flying superhero.

EJ is Harley’s bully. Harley is a talkative little nerd with a stutter and a penchant for mathematics. He attracts the mean types and Peter has a loud bark and never has had the good sense to back down from a fight. The shared battles cement them together.

After being blindsided by his dad leaving, Harley had to reevaluate everything he thought about family. Family is no longer who you get along with, despite differences. It’s no longer who you put on a smile for. It’s who you can disagree with and still hug and laugh with at the end of the day. It’s refreshing that he always knows where he stands with the Parkers. They have big feelings and they don’t bury them, but they’re solid. They’re dependable. They’re there.

Then the Parkers move to New York and leave Harley behind and his theory on what makes a family falls apart all over again.

[fearsomeandwretched]

When Taylor plays the surprise piano song she's like facing where my Nashville N3 seats are ahhh I'm so excited

[elizacarlsonwrites]

*runs around screaming in excitement* so I was lucky enough to play one of my songs (Ghost Town, the title track from my album) at an open mic at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville on Monday night!!! It was so so so much fun and was also only the second time I'd ever played any of my songs in front of people (which is equal parts terrifying and thrilling) and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity. I don't even know where to start. To play a song of mine in such an iconic venue as the Bluebird Cafe, let alone the fact that there was a photo of TAYLOR SWIFT playing in the same exact place a few years ago on the opposite wall, was so amazing and unbelievable and wonderful. (?!?!?!?!) Ahhh. Fun times. Anyway. Also. We recorded the performance and I'll be posting it on my YouTube channel soon!! Stay tuned!!

[reyescarlos]

KIM, MY HEART— it’s officially the time of year where we are reminded of the fact that you are James Arthur’s number one fan and discover how much you (and your WIPS) influenced my music choices for the year (a lot). 😂

Let’s see how many James songs show up in your answers for this one lol:

9, 16, 27, 34, 43, 55, 68, 73, 86, 98?

LMAO I love that man with my whole heart. Ahhhh, let's see! So far he's popped up a lot during this game and he's gonna kick off your first pick 😅

#9 Avalanche by James Arthur

#16 Trying My Best by Anson Seabra (upcoming fic song!)

#27 All of Me by the cast of Nashville

#34 The Wreck of Our Hearts by Sleeping Wolf (you put me on to this song!!)

#43 Stay the Night by Zedd ft. Hayley Willams (another upcoming fic song)

#55 She Lit a Fire by Lord Huron

#68 The Few Things by JP Saxe ft. Charlotte Lawrence (fic song lol smut week)

#73 Can I Be Him by James Arthur (ahhh one of my early day tarlos fics in 2020 )

#86 Ho Hey by the cast of Nashville

#98 All I've Ever Know by Eva Noblezada (Hadestown)

send me a number 1-100 and i’ll tell you the song it corresponds with on my top 100 playlist!

[slowtraincumming]

Hi! What's your fave bob dylan album? Mine is desire🐅

HIIIII

Actually my favorite is Desire too 😭 and I also love Self Portrait, Blood on the Tracks, Nashville Skyline, Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid, Slow Train Coming, and uhh Blonde on Blonde like those are my #1 and #2 is his whole trilogy of when he was singing songs from the Great American Songbook and Christmas in the heart.... I actually love most of his albums I can't choose one sorry I know you meant one but ahhh 😭

[smolbeandrabbles]

I'm A Girl - Martin x Reader Drabble (Untogether)

Gif credit: @benmendo as eveerr...! Author’s Note: As requested by @shantellorraine I hope you enjoy!! 😘😘😘💕💕💕 And THANK YOU for requesting! This thing has been in my drafts since the end of April---! UGH! And I knew the whole thing and then subsequently wrote it in two days. Why I don’t write things the second I have the idea I will never know... ANYWAYS! @stcphstrange @beany-ben @mfolcore @alotofrandomfangirling HEY! #MartinSquad! Surprise! 😘😊💙💜 If you guys thought I couldn’t find a song for everything... You’d be WRONG!  

Disclaimer: As usual, I don’t own any of the characters ‘cept Ms.Reader character. I have never had a Tim Tam in my life but I am assured they are great.  We have an English equivalent that I like so...? I assume they’re good. ...You just gotta trust me on Ribena, okay?!

Premise (As Requested): I was wondering if you could write a one shot of Martin taking care of the reader when she is on her period? That part in the movie was so sweet and the reader deserves it more than Tara does lol.

Words: 2568

Warnings: A teeny-tiny bit of swearing / General PMS nonsense 

I can rock a Target tank top, Gucci sunglasses, Cheap flip flops And still look like a million bucks to you You know it’s true... I'm the queen of my own planet And you wouldn't understand it... ...I’m an expert at chocolate and Chinese food And that time of the month, I feel sorry for you I’m a pain, it's a shame Ain’t a thing that you can do Cause I'm moody, attitudey And you can't say nothin' to me

Cause I’m a girl, Oh yeah I can get a free drink for flippin' my hair Or stay home, with a bottle of wine and you I’m a girl, I got skills I can dance all night in five inch heels And make you feel like the luckiest boy in the world Cause I’m a girl

---

This was probably the 15th time in five minutes you had let out a groan like that. To Martin all it said was pay ATTENTION to me!! He knew why, but he also knew that if he paid too much attention to you, you wouldn’t like that either and you’d probably end up kicking him. Not hard. Just with a sulky pout, arms folded across your lower abdomen. Because that was the real problem, let’s be honest. Still, you’d probably yell at him if he didn’t show you come kind of affection…. He swung around the bedroom door; “You okay?” “NO.” Here we go…! “Well, you didn’t sound it. But I had to ask didn’t I?!” You turned your head to glare at him. He was going to be in trouble no matter what he said, so he thought he might as well go for it. “…Are you being… Serious?!” “No…” Martin gave you a grin that again made you glare. He noticed you were wearing a pair of his track pants and a workout shirt. Yeah, today was a bad day.  “Buuuut… I figured maybe there was something I could help with.” “I dunno…” you stretched tenderly, but then hissed gently placing your hands just below your stomach. “…I mean I took an ibuprofen but… it’s not really DONE a whole lot.” “Aw… Sweetheart…” He tentatively stepped over to you, watching your reactions. But now you just looked pouty again.  Martin sat himself on the edge of the bed “You sure? I’m sure there’s gotta be something I can do.” “…No.” “No?” “Nope.” He took your hands in his, kissing your knuckles gently. There was probably something he could do. Later you’d also probably get annoyed he hadn’t done it. But he was a simple guy and not a mind reader.  He’d think on it, hopefully figure it out before you did. “You can stay here all day, if you wanna…?” Notice that he had voiced it as that kinda question and not the ‘are you GOING to stay here all day’ he meant. You removed one of your hands from his and touched his face delicately; about as delicate as you felt, before pulling him towards you and laying his head on your chest, he wound his arms gently around you as you stroked your fingers through his hair. “Why is this always the worst!?” He laughed “Because you’re a woman? I guess…” You tugged his hair as a warning, but couldn’t help but smile; “Uh. Oh God. Yippee…” He couldn’t help but laugh harder as he gently rubbed your stomach “Something… there’s gotta be something…” “…No… I’m sure there’s… Not.” You sighed, sounded restless. It was weird, you wanted to do so much. But all at once you also didn’t feel like it. Yesterday had been okay, you’d gone into town with him, cuddled his arm; whined a little but after an hour you wanted to come home. Martin has obliged. Of course, he had. He always did. That man had the patience of a Saint… But maybe he was asking you if there was anything he could do, so that he could do something? But then you didn’t understand why Martin always felt the need to sacrifice his happiness to make sure you were okay? Or did he? Maybe making sure you were okay was his happiness. Maybe he was trying to make sure you weren’t about to do something really dumb; like leave him. Oh, you’d heard all about her. But you weren’t her. And you wanted to prove that. He propped himself up on his elbows, to study your face. Those blue eyes of his mischievous; “What?” the tone you took was amused so he opted to continue, pushing himself onto his hands he kissed you. This time when you groaned it was with significant improvement, as you wound you arms around him, wiggling your body up into his. Biting his lip caused him to growl and the kiss continued to deepen. “Martin…” You groaned his name, your voice just edging sinful.  This was a bad idea he knew, and you knew. But here you were anyway… “F**k! Oh god! Sh*t!!” You pushed him off you and sprinted to the bathroom suddenly, as you felt another series of cramps set it. Leaving him a little bewildered he glanced to the mirror quickly, shirt crumpled, hair a mess. He took a deep breath and slid off the bed onto his feet, smoothing his hair back he pulled his white shirt into place and walked into the corridor. To hear another frustrated yell and a box thrown out of the bathroom and against the wall. Possibly a little too hard. Right now you didn’t care. You sat on the side of the bath, head in your hands and groaned again. Martin rolled his eyes; okay now what? NOW what. He was very slow and cautious as he moved down the corridor again. He picked up the empty box. Oh. He turned to you, now sliding down the side of the bath and curling into a ball on the floor. Raising an eyebrow, he tapped on the door. “Y/N…” “Yeah-” Well it was barely a yeah, and it was muffled under your hands. “Baby, do you want me to go back into town…?” He shook the empty box at you “This seems… Important…” You looked up at him, weakly, as if you were about to burst into tears; “Would you!?” “Umm hmm…!” He looked at the box carefully, trying to commit it to memory “…Are these the ones?” “Right now I’d take ANYTHING!” Martin didn’t like that you also sounded on the edge of tears. He nodded, “Okay. I won’t be long I promise.” His walk to you was quick and he kissed your forehead. “Stay here. I know this is a dumb thing to say. But try to get comfortable. Ok? I promise I’ll be right back gorgeous.” He added a wink, and ran from the room. He took the stairs nearly three at a time, grabbing his wallet and keys, already typing in the nearest drug store into the app on his phone. He knew it wasn’t far, hell he knew the way but right now there couldn’t have been a bigger emergency! And he couldn’t have been too sure! **

He arrived back promptly. You were now downstairs curled up on the couch and still looking sorry for yourself. He set about 5 boxes down in front of you; “I wasn’t about to get the wrong type.” “... oh my god...” you murmured it “...you are a Godsend Martin. You really are!” He almost giggled and you saw red cross his cheeks, “No, it’s... Anything for you... right...?” You reached out for a box but winced, clutching your lower abdomen with your other hand “oh...!!! I feel like I’m dying..!!” You lamented, clearly having a bout of melodrama. He stifled his laugh well as you pretended to cry “This is hell.” “I’m sure.” Martin sat on the arm of the couch and his eyes flicked to the wine glasses and bottle; “Are you sure that’s gonna help?” He asked, eyebrow raised “Oh god. I don’t know. I’m at the point where I’ll try anything... besides one glass is for you...?” He sighed gently and stroked a hand through your hair, indicating to the box you were now holding “You go... do whatcha gotta do and come back here. I got a few ideas...” “Better than mine?” “Better than alcohol, yeah...!” He picked up the rest of the bottle as you rolled yourself off the couch and trudged to the bathroom again. You were slow, your body bent like you really were dying.

Martin shook his head after you, grinning and poured himself a glass, as you’d been sweet enough to get him one despite your ‘condition’. Periods were the worst. He knew that. But he also knew how to work around your mood swings and when you were coming up to one. He didn’t need that tiny star you marked out every month to tell him anything. Just the way you’d suddenly get overly affectionate. How for about a week you’d insist you had to get on the dance floor with him just to grind up against him and show him off. So you could look pretty and wait for men to offer you drinks. That was so Martin didn’t pay anything; “What?! No, you spent enough getting us IN here.” LA was ridiculous. “... All I have to do is sit up at that bar for five minutes. Free drinks!” You would always turn to him with a wink “Do you want anything?” But then it would set in like this. And that wasn’t a problem either, because then Martin would get to look after you. And he sure loved doing that. 

He stood taking the bottle and glasses back to the kitchen. He took a sip. Not the best. But not bad... passable. By the time he was back in the living room you were back on the sofa, legs dangling over the edge of the couch as you lay lengthways. The TV was now on.  “C’mere...” He was trailing a blanket with him that he threw over you, tucking you in. “I hate seeing you like this! You make me feel like I can be doing almost ANYTHING else.” You mumbled a gentle thank you as he kissed your forehead. Then you heard the microwave ping; “Popcorn?” “… Really?!” Martin shook his head, sounding a little bit exasperated. “Yeah that’s the first thing I thought of wasn’t it...” He placed a bar of your favourite chocolate on the coffee table. “That aughta cheer you up!” “OH! Chocolate AND Mike Wolfe?! How could I refuse?!” He called back “Who?!” Making you chuckled as you broke off a piece of the bar; “You’ll see...!!!”

 When he came back to you again you realised why the microwave had pinged. And you covered your face for a minute, he was just... so cute. Sooo cute. “You... I don’t think anyone has made me a hot water bottle since I was ten!!” “Well. I’m not anyone and I gotta take care of you.” “Oh... Martin... thank you...” He wasn’t sure if you were welling up because you were overcome with emotion, or you were overcome with emotion because of your current state. He’d take either. “Oh sweetheart...” his voice was so soft too... “Don’t cry...” he brushed his lips gently against yours and he could taste the sugar already, making him laugh; “You wasted no time on that then!” “Look. If you leave it anywhere near me you know it’s gonna be gone when you turn around, right?” He shook his head at you, making sure you were nice and warm before he got up AGAIN. This time you whined and reached back for him “Don’t leave meeee...!!” “Final time, baby, I promise...”

This time he did actually mean it and he settled into the couch himself, before pulling your blanket cocoon until your head was nestled in his lap. When that was done, he carefully set down the glass of steaming purple liquid. You were curious right away “What is that?!” “Ribena.” “... sorry...!? What?!” “Is that not a thing Stateside?! Geez. You need to get better taste in drinks.” “Is that for me?!” “Yeah. Hot Ribena. It helps. I’ve picked up a thing or two. And that...” He pointed at it “Swear by it. I would swear by it from what I’ve witnessed. But I’m not female, so I don’t want to tell you I know first-hand!” “... but what is it!” “It tastes like blackcurrent. You’ll like it honest!” “Direct from Australia?!” He nodded, looking proud of himself “It’s British but... yeaaaah. This particular bottle is from Australia.” You sat up just enough to take the glass. Your first sip was delicious. Even though it was hot. The warm liquid seemed to do the trick. “Oh! Okay. God bless your heritage!” That made him laugh “See! And you always laugh at me for going into the foreign aisle in the supermarket!” “Cuz it’s so freakin’ expensive!” “True. But there’s a lot of good there.” He gave a shrug, watching you sip the glass, thoughtfully, but with a smile on your face.  “Like I say though. That’s from home.” “I thought you only ever brought back confectionary.” “Yeah. Well, they all go before I even get much of a chance to eat one.” You grinned, hardly regretting it “Tim Tam's are the best.” He nodded his agreement “Tim Tam's ARE the best.” Then he realised why you had previously mentioned Mike Wolfe. He knew somewhere in the back of his head that name rang bells. On the tv was yet another episode of American Pickers. “THIS show again?!” “Hey! I don’t judge you for the Dog Whisperer do I?! Besides I think you’ll find this show is very interesting!” “Oh yeah. Cuz you’re watching for the show.” “Well...” You managed through another mouthful of chocolate, noticing a substantial shift in pain, it was dulling (you weren’t sure if that Ribena stuff was magic or not), now you were sat here like this and Martin has done all the hard work, “Mike Wolfe is pretty freakin’ hot.” “Oh. You think.” Martin crossed his arms with a slight jealous pout. You swallowed your mouthful with a smirk and took another sip “... Yeah. I do like a hot older man. That’s for sure. Very appreciative of that! I have to say.” “Uh huh.” You stretched, still smiling “I mean look how excited he gets at a good pick. And those snap glasses are just... oh.. baby...” There was a slight growl from your boyfriend but he said nothing more. Which made you giggle. “Of course, he has absolutely NOTHING on you. I mean Geez. No one does. Take about lucky.” Martin couldn’t help but laugh “Yeah, yeah, okay! You’re not so bad yourself!” He gave a cheeky wink which made you smack his arm. “Feel better?!” “Much! Thank you! Now hush! Mike is talking!”

  Though he had to admit it was a very immersive programme. And he secretly loved the way your eyes would light up at something you found interesting. Or when you would giggle at Mike being “cute”. He heard another snap from the chocolate bar and your sudden quiet “oh...” before you nudged him. ”Huh? What is it sweetheart..?” He looked down, and you were handing out a piece to him; “It’s the last piece.” “Oh-!” There was significance in that “oh no-! I-!l” but your hand was insistent, so he took it delicately from you; “Thank you...” He hesitated, “Are you sure you want to give me your last piece of chocolate?” You nodded “You’re worth it. I’d give you my last piece.” You laugh “You put up with this! You can have my last anything!” Martin smiled gratefully as he bit into it. Savouring the taste. It was good chocolate; you did sure know how to pick your favourites! He hummed, satisfied, as you took his hand and kissed the back of it;  “You sure know how to pick ‘em…” You smiled against his skin and he couldn’t help but smile too. You couldn’t help but think how right he really was, talking about himself or not. “I know…”

--- At least ONE person laughed at the Mike Wolfe thing... right?! 😏😉

Go ahead and look him up... You probably won’t be disappointed! 

[theworldsownoptimist]

ahhh a tag (ty @wellwhiskey <3)

favorite color: don't really have one but if I have to pick I'm going with red

currently reading: Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold, but I'm also working my way through the Philip Marlowe novels (think I'm on The Lady in the Lake)

last song: Head Cheerleader by Pom Pom Squad bcs I'm obsessed with it

last movie: The Long Goodbye <3 <3 <3 and before that I went see a the Nashville restoration in London

last series: Mash (derogatory), but also Bojack and a bit of Twin Peaks

coffee or tea: black coffee (but I like herbal tea)

currently working on: literally nothing bcs I'm taking a year out of uni, but I am learning to juggle so I'm counting that☺

(tagging @funkiiot 💖)

[x--daughters-of-darkness--x]

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE) on RockOverdose: “Our new album “The Bitter Truth” is really encouraging and empowering!”

After a quite long time, Zisis Petkanas and Katerina Mitika from the Rock Overdose family participate in a cool talk with Jen Majura, the latest member from the legendary Evanescence, and they come to know everything about their first album with entirely original material after 10 years, the long-awaited “The Bitter Truth” that is set to be released at 26th of March, in addition to how they deal with the pandemic situation.

RockOverdose: So, hi Jen, and welcome to RockOverdose Greece! How are you?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Hi! Thank you so much for having me, I’m doing great, thank you.

RockOverdose: I think it’s been a long time since our last interview.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): When was that?

RockOverdose: I think it was 2017.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Was it for “Inzenity”? My solo album “Inzenity”?

RockOverdose: Yes.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Oh my god, that’s a really long time ago. Really? It doesn’t feel that long, wow, okay.

RockOverdose: We had one interview when you first joined the band.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): True, yes, I remember that. How I got the geek and everything! Yeah (laughs).

RockOverdose: I think it was via mail the first one and via Skype the second.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Exactly yes, exactly. And now look at us, all professional on Zoom with this pandemic situation! (laughs)

RockOverdose: Yes, now we are at Zoom! (laughs)

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): (laughs) Who knows what’s next, you know? (laughs)

RockOverdose: So, how about the pandemic situation, how are you living through this?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): I cook a lot, I dived into acrylic painting, I knit socks… (laughs)

RockOverdose: Oh, you knit!

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Yeah, it’s really tough because for the past, not 2020, nobody knew that 2020 would be the, excuse my French but shit year that it was. My life before that was only touring, airports, hotels, venues, tour bus, airplane, jet lag, airplane, hotel, venue, all the time nonstop for years and I’ve always complained, I was like “Oh man, I wish I had more time to practice my instrument and write more music”. What 2020 taught me is out of a sudden you force to stop, you’re forced to slow down and really you’re forced to stay home. At first I thought “I’m gonna play so much more guitar” but I didn’t, and “I have all this time on my hands and I can write my third solo album”, but what happens is when all of that, all of the things in your life, all the inspiration is been taken away from you and your only inspiration is your couch in your living room. It’s quite hard to come up with music and creations, I mean, what am I supposed to write? The couch blues? (laughs) It’s hard and I really believe in 2020, I have never ever ever ever, since I’ve started playing guitar, played less guitar than in 2020. It can be scary, really. I talk to a lot of friends of mine and I’ve realized this is not just me, it’s a lot of people just not knowing how to deal with this pandemic situation, or maybe by now knowing, of course, because you tried to distract yourself from like I said, with cooking, painting and other creative things, but it’s really not like “Oh you have all this time on your hands, now I wrote 3 albums”. It’s not like it, it’s unpredictable.

RockOverdose: It depends, because other musicians used this time to write songs.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Some of them, yes, but not all of them! (laughs)

RockOverdose: By the way it was such a good idea, a good time to rest from touring and start other things that you didn’t do. Now, during the pandemic, you have time for other things.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Yeah, and I appreciate that, especially I really enjoy cooking and painting and other things and having time for the first time. I feel, in 16 years I was longred home than just 2 months and I appreciate that time, but for right now if you ask me what my biggest wish is, is “Please, give me my life back and let me go out and play shows for the fans”. I miss connecting with the fans and no livestream online can replace that energy exchange that you have with your fans.

They give you so so much and I also believe I talked about this with my Something on 11 partner, Alen. I also believe that this pandemic situation will make us be grateful for a lot of things that had been annoying in the past, like “Oh my god I have a 2 hour lay over in London at the airport ughhhhh, sucks”. No, doesn’t suck. From this day on whenever we’re back to touring, no greasy, overpriced airport food will suck, no dressing room time to wait for the show will suck, nothing will suck, no jet lag would be bothering me ever again. I’m gonna be thankful having all these things happening in my life, right? I really believe we’re gonna come out of this pandemic as more people that appreciate and value things way more than we did before.

RockOverdose: So, let’s go on with your new album.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): What album? Just kidding (laughs), this is my favorite thing to do! That was like, “Let’s talk about the new Evanescence album” and I go like, “What album? Well, there’s a new album? They didn’t even tell me, I’m not even on it”. No, I’m just kidding (laughs).

RockOverdose: And the journalist stacks. (laughs) I was like, “Did I ask the wrong person?”.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): I’m sorry, it’s just a stupid joke (laughs). Ok, here we go.

RockOverdose: So, I think you like jokes, I suppose.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Me? I never laugh, I’m very serious, I’m German. (laughs) Ok, let’s talk about the new Evanescence album, come on.

RockOverdose: Yeah, that’s the point. So, when did you start the writing process for this new material?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): I believe the writing process started already in 2019, but actually it started 10 years ago, because one of the songs called “Take Cover”, I believe Amy wrote it, I think 10 years ago. So, you have all these ideas on your iPhone and your voice messages but I remember when we got together in Canada after playing Heavy Montréal in Canada, we went all the way into the Canadian woods into this beautiful mansion and just spent time together as a band. You know, writing together as a band, it’s just something really beautiful that is so different from what a lot of people think. A lot of people think that Amy comes up with the songs and she goes like “Here, play what I tell you to play”, but it’s not like that. We really worked as a group together, everybody had different ideas that he or she brought to the table. Canada was amazing. The last time I saw Amy and the guys was February last year when we met up in Nashville in Studio X, I just finished playing in Los Angeles the numbshell and flew directly to Nashville. We met up in the studio and recorded the first 4 chunks of songs. Everybody went to the airport and said like “Oh ok, bye, have a safe travel back home, alright see you next month, bye”.

If somebody would have told me in February that I’m not gonna travel back to the States and see my friends for the rest of the year, I probably would have had a good laugh or something, I don’t know. Nobody expected, this just happened right after that I came back home and then out of a sudden, boom! Lockdown! And I’m like “Ugh, what?”. So, the recording process for the album was was different than how I pictured my first original musical album with Evanescence, because I saw us all together in the studio instead of me at home all by myself and just sending files. I mean, thank God for modern technologies, so it was happening, it was possible but I think what I missed most was when you’re in a room recording with an awesome producer like Nick and maybe having Amy sitting on the couch in the corner of the room, you play something and there’s always a  little feedback. Amy would go like “Oh, this is beautiful, try this again, oh this is amazing, what a great idea!” or Nick would say “Hey, do that again but try a little bit more, punch, try a little bit more, this or that” and I didn’t have that feedback, I didn’t have that input from the others. So, what happened was that Amy and the guys, they met up in the States and they were able to meet up in person, of course with all the testing and being careful and social distancing and you know, but they created the songs in the moment. In the beginning, there were talks about doing face times and having me involved but it’s just not the same, you have to be in one room as humans and everybody gives their input and that’s how you create stuff.

Then, they would send me the files that they have recorded and it was very sweet, Amy kept updating me every day, she was like “Oh, today was like this and that” and “today we did this and then Troy did that”, it was really sweet. Then I just recorded the guitars, my parts, here in Germany at my home studio and sent everything over to Nick, but, like I said, without that feedback from Amy or Nick or Tim or Troy or Will. I mean, I really appreciate every single band member and I’m glad that they give me input, I think you can only learn and become better, but there was no feedback, so I did another take, and another take and another take, I’m a perfectionist, you know. So, after taking out about 2000 guitar tracks I’m like “Ahhh Jen, man, you have to make up your mind, goddammit, just send something to Nick!”. So, I sent over the files and his first response was “Awesome!”. I remember tracking for this one particular song called, it’s our latest single that came out like 6 days ago I think, “Better Without You”, they sent the files and I listened to the song and when it finished I was like “I gotta listen it again” so I listened again. I think I listened to it 5 times in a row and then I texted Amy and I said “You know, I think the song is perfect the way it is, I’m not gonna lay any guitars on top of that song just for the sake of me playing and me showing of or credits, I don’t function like that. If a song is perfect and it doesn’t demand any more guitars, I’m not gonna play” and then I said “What shall I do?” and she’s like “Sing.” and I said “Ok, alright, I’m gonna sing on that album”.

This is something that makes me really proud, this is the first time ever in the history of Evanescence that there’s another female vocalist recorded on an album and I couldn’t be more proud about this, really, it’s beautiful. I learned about singing with Amy during the Synthesis Tour when we toured with orchestra. There were absolutely no tracked vocals, nothing, no samples, no backing vocals, nothing, it was just Amy and me singing. I think the qualities of a really good backing vocalist is when you’re able to blend in with the main vocalist, you don’t wanna push that main vocalist the way with your voice, you wanna support it, you wanna make it shine, make it bigger. I think that our two voices match really beautiful and yeah, I’m just really proud that yesterday I received my copies from the label of the new album and I looked into the booklet and it says “Jen Majura - Guitars and Vocals”. I was so proud, I’m like “Oh, this is amazing, so cool” (laughs).

RockOverdose: Yeah, it’s great! In how many songs do you sing for this album?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Oh God, you asked me now? I think 5 or 6. I think so… I’m sorry, I can’t remember it, it’s so long ago when we recorded that stuff. It feels so long ago, it’s not long ago, but in the pandemic times, you lose track.

RockOverdose: Yeah but it’s really great that you are not doing backing vocals but also main vocals to this album.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): No no no no no, that’s wrong, Amy is totally the main vocalist.

RockOverdose: You are not main but you support Amy.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Yeah, exactly, she is the voice of Evanescence and that’s completely perfect the way it is, but I just added my backing vocals and the choruses sometimes in the verses. It’s just been beautiful working on new song material because I got into the band in 2015 and all the music I’ve been playing so far sort of has been written already, so you can revisit it and listen to what she recorded back in the days for backing vocals, and you just learn what she did and you sing on top of the backing vocals of hers, right? But this time it’s new songs, it’s new energy, it’s new lyrics and everything is new in, so you’ve got this freedom to create and point out ideas like question-and-answer vocals like in “Better Without You” and it’s been beautiful. I’m really really happy that I was able to deliver some background vocals for the new album.

RockOverdose: Great. Jen, from where you were inspired for the writing of “The Bitter Truth”?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): As I said, I’ve been part of the writing process for the beginning but then not so much for the second half of the album, but if you take a look around on planet Earth so much is happening. You know, there’s so much that you have to process these days. I don’t wanna dive into politics, but also not only politics in the States, politics all over the place. There are so many movements, the climate change, so much is going on our planet these days and I feel like 2020 taught us that we are not in control of everything and we had to learn to kinda go with the flow. This album is an empowering, energizing feel, it’s like an inspiration to be real, to stop denial, to stop faking and just be real, face reality, that’s the bitter truth.

Even you, all of us humans, we have bruises, we have scars, we are not perfect. It’s ok to be weak sometimes, it’s ok to be vulnerable, we are humans and we need to stop this Instagram filter “I am so perfect, I can’t even believe how perfect I am”. Also, I believe that we as humans need to stand up for, to fight for the right thing, you know, not fight fight, I mean not punch anybody but have a voice because your voice matters and it matters more than ever, to just make the planet heal again and change things for the better. I really see this album as something that is really encouraging, it’s an encouraging, empowering album. I can’t wait for everybody to hear all the songs. Really, we couldn’t be more proud.

RockOverdose: Great. So, what about the feedback from the press for your new album?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Oh, everybody was like “Oh my God, Evanescence put out a new original album for the first time in so many years!” and the fans! Every single we put out, I think the 5 singles that we put out by now, are very diverse. You can’t really compare “Wasted on You” which was the first single with “Better Without You” and I truly believe “Better Without You” might even be one of the heaviest songs Evanescence ever put out there. They’re very diverse one of another and it represents the variety of the sounds and the songs on the album perfectly, and the fans just love it. I mean, just imagine you love Margherita pizza and you have to wait like 9 years to get your next Margherita pizza. Did I just compare our album to Margherita pizza? But you know what I mean! (laughs)

RockOverdose: I suppose you are a little hungry!

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): I’m hungry, I haven’t had dinner, I’ve been talking all day. I’m hungry yes!

RockOverdose: Ok, so, what are your next news regarding Evanescence?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): This is a question for my boss, I can’t answer that. First of all, it’s we all wait for the album release, this is gonna be amazing and exciting and you know.

RockOverdose: And I suppose you are looking forward to support it by touring.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Ok, it’s very odd to put out an album and not having a tour attached to it immediately after the release. You know, it’s just first time ever in my life that I’m involved in an album release without a tour coming up straight away. So far, we still have the tour in September-October with Within Temptation, a European tour, and, like I said, the one thing we have to keep in ourselves and our guts and our cores is hope, because I really really really want to play that tour and just be back, but it’s unpredictable, you don’t know and nobody knows. We have to wait and see but we definitely have to hope to be out there soon and rock again and support the album. I mean, we try to do the best that we can, give the fans little things to connect with us but it’s just hard, everything is online…

RockOverdose: Yes, I agree. Are you planning to do maybe a livestreaming show?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): This is another question for my boss, not for me. (laughs)

RockOverdose: Ok, (laughs) so, let’s go on with personal questions.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Oh God no, personal questions, no I’m not answering those! (laughs)

RockOverdose: But I will ask! What are your greatest influences as a musician?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Oh God! Ok, I think spoken for the musician and person that I am today, I believe, when it comes to playing the guitar, one of my biggest influences is Mattias IA Eklundh of the Swedish band Freak Kitchen. He’s not only a very dear heart friend but he’s also something like my life guru, there’s so much wise stuff coming out of that guy. I like his approach, the way he sees things and he’s got this style of playing with the over-harmonics. I found it so fascinating that I find myself adapting that to my style of playing, it’s like I’m the merge of me and part of his playing. So, I think he is a big big big influence. Recently, people keep telling me that whatever I play sounds a little bit like Steve Vai. I feel very uncomfortable with that comparison because Steve Vai is just, I mean, come on, it’s Steve Vai! And I’m like, “I’m just JenJen”. It’s a very charming complement and maybe they talk of certain scales or brain wired ideas that I have, I don’t know, but that was coming up lately a little bit.

And I think Amy inspires me, really, because we have a lot of things in common but I respect her so much as not only a fabulous musician, not only a vocalist, but musician. She’s a strong woman, she knows what she wants, she is the leader of this group that I’m allowed to be part of and I think she is a big inspiration in my life as well. And a good friend.

RockOverdose: And how do you feel for being an Evanescence member so far?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Well, what can I say, come on. Ever since I joined the band it’s been a cool ride. Touring with Evanescence is like being on a big vacation that is amazing with your best friends and then, on top of that, you get to play these amazing, awesome, fulfilling shows. I feel like I’ve been eating so much bullshit in the past that I am allowed to relax a little bit now in this band. For the first time, I have a band with where everybody is friends. I thought this is not the norm, I thought there’s always gonna be like the one stinkface, but it’s not. Evanescence is like, not only the band but the crew and the whole team, we’re all one. That’s a very very beautiful thing and I really cherish that a lot. Yeah, well, minus 2020 right? Because it’s been such a good, great year! (laughs)

RockOverdose: Ok, so, which is your favorite Evanescence song?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): To play live?

RockOverdose: To play live and to listen to.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Um, I might have to renew that now that we have new songs, but I first of all have to play the songs live to decide if I wanna change up that list, but so far, it’s been always “Disappear”. The song “Disappear” is my favorite track because it’s such highly energetic and we trade solos, Troy and I, and I just love that song. To listen to… Oh, I don’t think that anybody has ever asked me that… You know, the beautiful thing, the beauty about music is that you listen to music and it can create emotions and, like, videos in your eye in your head: landscapes, sceneries, pictures.

Music is creation and when somebody listens to music and gets all these visions and emotions and pictures, that is the goal of music. You don’t make music for the sake of money, that’s definitely not what you do. You do it because music is touching and it’s touching your soul and if music really is touching, this is the goal. So, I believe, I have moments where I’m like “I love to listen to “Made of Stone””, then I have moments where I’m like, I don’t know, “I love to listen to dreamy stuff like “Lithium””, it’s hard to say. You can’t really tell because it always depends on the mood.

RockOverdose: I have to agree with you. Do you have any other side projects?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Oh yeah, we released an album, Something on 11, working with a partner from Croatia, another guitar player called Alen Brentini and we released an album, I think, when was it, November? I think November Friday the 13th (laughs) and this is just a fun project. The meaning of Something on 11, when we put our heads together to think about writing music together, the core of Something on 11 is to literally show the middle finger to mainstream. Middling, well, you have to have a certain song structure. No you don’t.

We have a song with a hookline, a chorus that is a guitar melody but there are vocals in the verse, I mean, who the hell does that? We also have a song with a giant, big drum solo in the middle, right in the middle of the song, or a couple of songs where you would have a big, dynamic breakdown in the song and then you have tabla and dobra and synth sounds and the song is breathing. It’s just very unconventional songwriting. I am singing, I’m playing guitar and Alen is singing and playing the guitar. We put that out, I think, mainly for ourselves because it’s been a lot of fun working on these songs and they are all very crazy and diverse, kind of like the style of my solo album “Inzenity”. It’s very very diverse and very enjoyable to listen to, very playful.

RockOverdose: So, what are your memories from our country, Greece?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): It was hot. I’ve been to Greece exactly once in my life. I think it was a festival, right?

RockOverdose: Yes.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Wow God, it’s just been so long ago, was it 2017? It’s been long ago, and I remember I was so excited, I said “Oh my God, for the first time I’m gonna come to Greece and I wanna walk around and find a local market” and “breath it all in, the culture, the food, the people”. I was so excited, and then it turned out it was so hot that I couldn’t even open the window of my hotel room. It was just so hot! And we gathered, we had a band dinner, it was a beautiful restaurant and we could see the Acropolis, it was really beautiful, and the food was great, but the only thing that I was concerned about was I got my makeup running down, my contour is, like, I’m sweating like crazy, it’s just too hot! (laughs)

RockOverdose: Too hot, yes! It was at Rockwave Festival 2017.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Thank you, so that was when it was and I think that also in the backstage it was super hot. I had to jump into my stage pants and I was like, “Ughh am I ever gonna make it into those leather pants and make it out of those leather pants again after the show?”, it was just really really really hot. I hope next time we return I will get a little bit more time because I so much want to experience the country and the culture. This is the beauty about when you tour, you get to see countries like Brazil or Japan, Australia and it’s so exciting and so beautiful, but if your shoes are melting when you’re walking outside, this is not fun to experience a culture! (laughs) It was just too hot!

RockOverdose: My God, it was too hard!

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): I felt like I had, I don’t know, 60 degrees or something, it was just way too hot! (laughs)

RockOverdose: It was on July, I think.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Super summer, in the middle of summer, yeah. It was tough! So, dear Greece promoters, if you hear this and you wanna book Evanescence, please book us in Spring or Fall so that I can go to a local market and buy some olives and experience the Greek culture a little bit more than instead of putting us into an oven!

RockOverdose: (laughs) Would you like to leave a message to the Greek fans and your fans worldwide?

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Especially to the Greek fans, because you’ve guys been so amazing, I’m following everything that our Evanescence Greek Fan Club posts and you’ve guys been so supportive and loving and passionate and we can’t, really can’t wait to come back to play for you live and connect with you again!

RockOverdose: Great! I have to thank you for this interview.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Absolutely, sure, anytime!

RockOverdose: I will let you now to rest, I don’t know if you have another interviews afterwards.

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Thank you! I will stop talking now! (laughs)

RockOverdose: And have some food!

Jen Majura: Yes, I’m gonna eat something, exactly. Not sure what I’m gonna make, maybe I’m gonna use some feta cheese right? Because inspired from this last interview. Overbaked, filled mushrooms or something.

RockOverdose: Or pizza Margherita!

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Or pizza Margherita, exactly! (laughs) Thank you so much for this chat, it was just so much fun to reconnect and be back with you! Thank you so much, that was fun!

RockOverdose: Thank you, thank you! Bye bye!

Jen Majura (EVANESCENCE): Have a beautiful evening! Bye!

[peaceoutofthepieces]

I have a few songs for you if you’re still looking for new ones, most of those I just find very pretty and it’s not really about the lyrics tho some are Dreaming (mahogany session) - Ásgeir Carry you - Novo Amor I will follow you into the dark - Death Cab for Cutie Till we get there - The Ocelots Fade into you - Nashville Cast (don’t judge please 😂) Glue stick - awfultune Great White Plains - Nat Lefkoff idk if they fit the vibe ur going for but maybe you’ll find something you’ll like

ahhh thank you!! I don’t know when you sent this I’m sorry I missed it 🥺 but I will definitely give these a listen to too!!

[tshifty]

Meeting Taylor Swift, 8.04-8.05

Hey guys!!!!! So, this is my story of meeting Taylor!!!!! It’s pretty long and I don’t wanna spam people’s dashes so I’m going to put it all below the read more. It’s just like my sappy post and like my experience so like yeah please read it if you want to lmao but if that isn’t your thing no worries!!!!! 

TL;DR I am honestly still in shock that this all happened. Taylor was just... absolutely amazing, such a funny beautiful nice caring strong and smart person. I love her so much and I am forever just so grateful for this experience. Whenever I look at our picture my heart just starts racing and I honestly have to like keep remembering that it’s real and that it’s really me in the picture. 

I love you so much Taylor 💕

So wow, where do I even begin??? As you guys all know, I’ve been a big Taylor Swift fan for ~a long while~ lol. The very first Taylor song I ever heard was Love Story, I was probably like 10?? I remember putting Love Story, White Horse, Forever & Always, and I think You Belong With Me on like my little ipod shuffle and listening to them like on repeat. I could go on about all of that but then this would turn into a novel so yeah. 

I got my DM from Taylor Nation on July 21, 2019 at 5:34pm EST (it was actually 11:34pm for me though because I was in Geneva at the time). I was like about to go to sleep, I honestly should have already been asleep but we know me and I was on tumblr on my phone. So I was like “okay I’ll check tumblr one more time before I actually go to sleep” so I did and I saw I had a DM... thinking absolutely nothing of it I like went to see who it was from and YEAH. CONFIDENTIAL MESSAGE. I started going like “oh my god oh my god” and was like really freaking out and so I like scrambled to grab my laptop and my earbuds and my flip flops... my roommates (I was in a hostel w 5 ppl in my room) were like “what’s going on are you okay??” and I think I said like “yeah I just got a message from my friend!!!” and I like ran out of our room and ran to the stairwell so I could freak out lmaoooo. So like, I was also on this program at the UN at the time for a month, and it was like a very intense program... we were visiting researchers at the UN. So like I had so much other shit to do and to focus on so honestly I had to like box this all up inside my head and compartmentalize so I could get through what I needed to do at the UN. So I got back home on July 28 (I also had told TN that like I was abroad until then hoping like they’d get the vibe of like I really really can’t like call or anything until then and they def understood) and start like unpacking the fact that I got the DM and like ahhh!! So then like I had also been like lowkey so anxious bc I had been abroad and obviously hadn’t gotten the call yet, but I was like “no it’s okay you told them when you get back” lmaooo. So then on July 29, 2019 at 11:49am EST I got The Call. Absolutely crazy lmaooo and even after that I still honestly hadn’t processed at all the fact that I was going to be meeting Taylor... I honestly think my brain just didn’t have the ability to process it. 

So on August 3, 2019 my mom and I drove up to Nashville in the morning!! I met up with Emma @friendlyneighborhoodpegacorn at the hotel and we like hung out and got dinner together, we took pictures and stuff at a ton of murals all over Nashville (including the wings one!! I’ll have to post pics of that omg). It started like pouring rain like crazy raining while we were out so we like stopped at this cute cafe to eat and then it was still pouring but we were like “honestly being dry is overrated” so we just ran around in the rain taking pictures in front of murals and just having an amazing time. Ilysm Emma!!!!! We like hung out later that night too and like had some chaotic energy on tumblr as we sat across from each other and pretended nothing weird was going on lmao!!! 

So now it’s August 4!! I woke up at like, 9:30 or something and got ready and Emma and I got breakfast together. Then we like each went and chilled for a bit and started getting ready!!! To meet Taylor Swift!!!!! In my mind it still felt so surreal and so fake and I truly still hadn’t processed it. I walked down to go to the meeting location at 2:15pm. It was down-pouring again like, crazy raining sideways lmao and there was a group of us and we were like “it’s a rain show!!” LOL. I met up with some absolutely amazing people while we were waiting including Emma obviously and Charissa @madeurmarkonme and Mack @nowimhaunted and Tina @diamondseaside and then like so so so many people later and I would tag everyone but I don’t wanna like forget to tag someone so yeah but I love all of you so much!!! So Taylor Nation like came and led us to go like check in and all that jazz, and then we were on our way!!!!! 

I was on the last bus to get to her house, and I was the first person to step off that bus. We walked into the like backyard outdoor area and I remember just going like “holy shit this place is absolutely beautiful” like the house was really just so so beautiful and also so welcoming and homey?? Like, it just felt so... Taylor??? It’s hard to describe, but it felt homey and beautiful in a way that I just really can’t describe other than calling it Taylor. So we like ate and hung out for a bit, and then we went inside and sat down on her living room to hear the album!!

So, what happened in that room stays in that room. I am not going to go into any details about the secrets that were shared and entrusted there. What I will say is that the album is just... absolutely phenomenal. Every single song my mouth was dropping open, I was like “oh my god” every. single. song. There was one song in particular - I will tell you which one after the album releases!! - that Taylor and I kept making like pretty consistent eye contact during. It’s also my favorite song on the album and I’m pretty sure that won’t change. So like, yeah pretty wild!!!!! At one point too Emma and I were like holding hands and being snuggly and Taylor had like said something about friendship and then I like rested my head on Emma’s shoulder and Taylor like pointed at us and was like “you two!!!” so that is also very very surreal lol!!! 

So after we heard the album Taylor went to like get ready to meet everyone and we went back outside and hung out. I’m not entirely sure what time it was at this point but it was definitely around like midnight so we were all like laughing because it was estimated that the event would end at 11pm but that ~clearly~ did not happen. It was honestly so amazing just like hanging out and chilling... it felt so normal?? To hang out with everyone??? At Taylor Swift’s house?????? Like that is very much not a normal thing but it felt so... at home. So yeah, I was like chilling until like 4am lol! At one point they brought us like some warm towels bc people were getting a bit chilly and nerves were running high and yeah it was just such a nice thing to do. So around like 4am or so Taylor Nation called my name to go like into the little hallway to get ready to meet her! 

So before I met her I was standing in this little hallway and there were like stairs down to these big tall double doors that led into the room where Taylor was. So the Taylor Nation woman and the bodyguard were like “okay you’re about to go in” so I asked what time it was, and the Taylor Nation woman said “it’s 4:12, about to turn to 4:13” and then like I’m standing looking at the doors and she goes “it’s 4:13” and I turned around and like grinned and then the doors opened!!!! I walked down the stairs through the doors and like god that was such an experience tbh like just the act of walking through those doors was so surreal lmao. So I walked in and like I turned to the right idk why lmao but Taylor was like to my left so then like a woman was like “no she’s over there” and gestured for me to turn so I did and like as I was turning Taylor like screamed my name she was like “KRISTIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!” and I like completely started like losing my mind. I was like “OMG YOU KNOW ME?!?!” and she was like “YEAH TSHIFTY!!!!!!” and then we like had a big hug and it was like the best hug of my life. And I kept saying like “omg I can’t believe you know who I am!!!” and she was like talking about how she thinks I’m funny and how whenever she sees my posts she knows it’ll be a good one or something funny. 

So like I’m not going to like recount our whole conversation, but essentially we like chatted a bit about politics and like how things are really rough right now and like hopes for the future and stuff. And like, I didn’t expect to like not be on the same page with her but it was just like such a cool thing for us to like be on the same page about this kinda thing in person, like it just meant so so much to me. And we like joked a bit about how it was like super late and like she was jetlagged and then I like mentioned how I had like been at the UN and she was like “omg yeah!! I remember seeing that on your page!!” and I died again lol!!!! And then we like hugged to take our picture and it was just honestly so crazy!! And then like we chatted a bit afterwards and I told her like to keep up the political stuff because it makes a difference!!!!!! And she was like she will and we like hugged again or maybe the hug was before that honestly it’s a bit blurry but she also like at some point told me like “I’ll see you on the internet!” and like ahhhhhhhhh yeah!! And then I was leaving and I got like the bag with the merch and she was like “here’s some gifts for you!!” and she said like “get some sleep!” and “be safe buddy!!” and then I was outside!! 

I like got onto the bus and was like kinda numb and in shock, everyone was tbh. And like, the ride home was so surreal and I was just playing everything back in my head so that I wouldn’t forget it. And I started like crying a bit, not like sobbing but tears were starting to run and just yeah it was just so so surreal. I like put on one of the shirts we got because I was a bit chilly and I like have not taken it off yet sdfjkldsfjldsfldsfkldsldsfjkl

So like I got back to my room around like 5:15am or something and like went to the bathroom and tried to write a bunch of stuff down and recorded myself talking a little bit. And then I like went on tumblr a bit and I was like, so so so tired but also obviously so pumped on adrenaline. Then I like fell asleep for like 2 hours, then woke up to like drive home. I was like crying a bit in the car and like I couldn’t eat, I tried but I just like Could Not Eat... I still like lowkey can’t really eat and my heart like legitimately has yet to stop racing and I keep like catching my breath and stuff. Honestly I think I am like actually in shock like actually actually in shock. But like, it’s happy tears, I keep crying and I keep like breaking down because like it was just such an emotional experience!! And I really didn’t cry while I was there which I’m so glad about but like I think it’s all just been coming back to me and yeah. Also like in the car driving home I had like answered an anon who was like “why did it take so long (the session)” and I was like half delusional and also like being funny in my weird sense of humor kinda way and I said like “Taylor and I were rewriting the Us constitution” and then like I saw people replying like “omg lol the fact that Taylor liked this” so I checked and like. Yep she had liked it. And I like burst into tears LMAO!!!!! 

So, that’s my story!!!!! Without a shadow of a doubt it was the best night of my life. Bar none. It was the best experience ever. Lover is truly my favorite album... and like yeah maybe that’s partially because I like, heard it while sitting in front of Taylor... but like I truly think when it drops and I hear it again and again and again I will still be able to say it’s my favorite album. Because it’s just.... phenomenal. It’s truly phenomenal. 

And just, thank you again so so so much to everyone in Taylor Nation who made this possible for us. And thank you obviously to Taylor who like, stayed up until 5 in the morning to meet all of us, who invited us into her home, who fed us, who trusted all of us enough to let us hear the album and to share her personal experiences with us. 

Thank you so much Taylor for taking the time to get to know me, to follow this crazy blog of mine, to like my random shitposts at 4am, to know my name... it’s just mind blowing that you do that, and I cannot put into words how much that means to me and how much I love you. Forever and always. 

[newseptemberz]

That one time Taylor covered 'Lose Yourself' by Eminem (btw are you including the the songs she covered during the speak now tour?)

ahhh she did that in my state!! that one isn’t on this list, but yes, i’m including covers from any tour (including with the artist as a special guest)!!

1.

2. nashville - david mead

3. run - george strait

4. i can’t stop loving you (though i try) - phil collins

5. september - earth, wind & fire

6.

7. bette davis eyes - kim carnes

8.

9.

10.

11. riptide - vance joy

12.

13.

14.

15.

send me songs to guess my top fifteen favorite songs taylor has covered

[thespacenico]

ahhh what tøp show did you go to (if you dont feel comfortable sharing no worries!!) i had so much fun at mine, and i think i found me and my friend in the official pictures they posted which is super cool 🥰

AHHH THAT’S SO FUN! i went to the one in dallas 3 years ago and then the one in nashville last year!!!! i got one of those camo hoodies hdshdfsk and i also cried during like almost every song probably

[readyforit]

what song are you listening to? :)

Oh, ahhh, I’m so sorry for not replying earlier!! 💖

Um, right now, I’m listening to Delicate - Recorded at The Tracking Room Nashville, it’s my favourite version of Delicate! ✨

What are you listening to?

Thank you so much for the ask!

[swiftontumblin310]

MY ERAS WITH TAYLOR SWIFT

I’ve been a fan of Taylor Swift since I heard Teardrops on my Guitar when I was in either seventh or eighth grade (back in 2007/2008 times😅).

I remember streaming Fearless-back when iTunes was a new thing. Still mad bc that’s the only album of Taylor’s I didn’t have the physical copy (bc my sister and I bought it off iTunes). I saw her Fearless concert on May 14, 2010 (I have the pictures to prove that and the Taylor Swift Fearless tour shirt also). I was a a high schooler and living my best life with all those friends you have at the time. Fearless was the perfect album for me as a sophomore/junior in high school. I always loved White Horse, The Best Day and Fearless.

It was really when Taylor released Speak Now when I became a forever fan. I remember (again) living my best life with all my friends all summer in 2010 and BAM—Taylor releases Mine. The amount of Mine lyrics that were spread across my Facebook page with all my peers using “You are the best thing that’s ever been mine” was truly unmatched. When Speak Now came out—I never related to any album more. With songs like Never Grow Up, I felt like Taylor was speaking to me as I ended my time in my high school and prepared myself for college. The album highlighted crushes and little signs from boys who you fall for. My favorite theme, however, was the theme to just speak now. This album will always hold a special place in my heart forever and take me back to those glory days of 2010/2011 when life was simple. Except when all I wanted to do was see Taylor’s Speak Now tour in Nov 2011 and just couldn’t find the means to go.

Red came out (originally) in October of 2012. I remember being in my community college and Taylor was dropping singles left and right—I couldn’t keep up. Red dropped a week before my area got devastated by a superstorm. I always found myself associating Red with that time. Honestly, Red was never my favorite. Of course, I loved 22, I Knew You Were Trouble, Treacherous (always a fav), The Last Time, always liked I Almost Do and of course All Too Well. I liked all the bops but couldn’t get into the album as a whole. I remember always having a concept for a Treacherous music video and wanted Taylor to do it lol However when Red (Taylor’s Version) came out, I found a new love for Red. I enjoyed listening to Taylor’s Version and I am fully in love with all the vault tracks. Why Taylor kept Message in a Bottle so long for us, I will never know.

Ahhh—1989. 1989 came out in 2014 when I transferred yet again to another college. This time I thought I knew what I wanted to do. The semester was tough drowning in science courses. 1989 was this little bolt of lightning that came into my life and made me feel like —hey your dreams can come true! Even though I never had a dream per say, but still thought anything was possible. I loved and listened to 1989 SO MUCH. Also loved the fact that Blank Space music video was filmed so close to me! 1989 was that album and always will be. When Taylor was touring 1989, I just started a full time job and a part time job serving. My friend and I didn’t act on getting tickets and by the time we went to look—-it was expensive and I was too afraid to request off short notice. So I missed the 1989 tour and still one of my major regrets in life.

Reputation. When Taylor wiped out her social media and came out with Look What You Made Me Do (I was actually in Nashville). I remember thinking damn, how is she going to break out of this darkness. Meanwhile, turned out reputation was an album full of light. An amazing album that was truly for the fans. I made it my mission to go to the reputation tour and luckily got to go two shows. I tagged along with my friends on the trip to New Orleans in Sept 2018 and it was one of my best decisions. I was on the barricade and touched Taylor’s hand that night! Rep was one for the memories.

Lover came out at a shaky time in my life and unfortunately see more darkness with Lover than the pastel vibes of the era. When Taylor released Me!, Game of Thrones was the moment and my hockey team was in the playoffs. I had so many reasons to be excited. However, my mom was sick and unbeknownst to me—she was dying. By the end of August, I was visiting my mom in the hospital blasting I Think He Knows or Cornelia Street. I love the songs on Lover, but it does hurt to listen to it. Especially when Taylor attacked me with Soon You’ll Get Better—like did she know what I was going through personally?? I still can’t listen to that song. I still wanted to go to Loverfest and I think my friends and I had so many issues getting tickets. We did end up getting them and it became my 2020 goal to get to Loverfest until the pandemic happened.

In 2020, we all knew where we were. I was (and always will be) grieving over my mom. So when folklore and evermore dropped—I think part of me was saved a bit. Folklore was the perfect album I needed to listen too to break away from all the feelings. I was studying for a registry exam (that I failed a few times) and lucky for me, evermore came out the same week. I spiraled into a depression between failing my exam, having covid and feeling like the ultimate failure. With Christmas looming, evermore straight up brought me back to life and gave me hope. It truly saved me and I owe a lot to evermore.

I feel like Midnights is that badass album we needed. On the edge of 30, I give no more fcks about anything and I love that Midnights is this edgy, dark and emo album. It’s exactly the music I need as I continue to get older with Taylor and her music. The edgier sound and lyrics are so true especially after all the shit you go through to get here. I feel like You’re On Your Own, Kid is such a dad phrase and something my dad says to a degree. It’s like the grown up version of Never Grow Up, like damn you’re on your own. But don’t be afraid. Love that. Anyway, I will manifest I get tickets for the eras tour. And manifest even more that I get to meet Taylor after all the eras we have been through together!!🤍

@taylorswift

[lemmeaskthedevil]

12-17 for the AAAAAAAASSSSKKKkkkKSSSSSS 😁😁❤️❤️❤️‼️‼️‼️‼️

AHHH THANK YOUU 🥰🥰🥰❤❤🥳 @texasdiaz

12. What was your last dream about?

It was a dream about my family I think... I don't remember but I know I thought it happened in real life and when I woke up I was very disoriented because it wasn't real lolol.

13. What talents do you have?

I can play 7 instruments, I can sing, I draw, I write (not that well though lol), I can hula hoop, roller skate/blade, I can skateboard (are some of these talents I don't think so lmfaoaoao).

14. Are you psychic in any way?

I am 👀. I've had a few dreams that have come true (the dreams are usually dramatized and then the reality is like a low-key version but a few dreams have been like scene for scene, word for word, which is creepy)

15. Favorite song?

I have so many but songs that absolutely kill me are:

surrender by Nashville

my funny valentine (orchestra version)

One step ahead by Aretha franklin

Almost Heaven by Isak Danielson

Eventually Darling by Declan Mckenna

Dream State by Son Lux

and last but not least

Epilogue by Keaton Henson

(I cannot choose a favorite I'm sorry 😭)

16. Favorite movie?

I have a few again but not as much as the songs lol

Shrek 2, the How to Train Your Dragon Trilogy, Luca, 13 going on 30, Tenant, Moonlight, The Hunger Games Trilogy, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier

17. Who would be your ideal partner?

The person I like now lmao

Someone who's kind and understanding, a little sarcastic, funny, respectful, curious, and someone who will let me lead when I want to.

[wildcmbcrsupdates]

charlottesands: so may 7th my bff @danenreedrector and I were standing in front of his house in nashville, in the middle of the street with a guitar singing random made up melodies up until the very second I had to get in my car and leave for a trip. If you listen to the first clip you can even hear a kid from his neighborhood walk by and say “I like your song” hahaha. A few days later we got together and finished it & yesterday it was finally released into the world !! l want to take a second to brag on danen because he truly is the most talented person I know yet somehow the most kind, humble, and overall wonderful human. He’s been a part of this journey since the first song I released and we’re still having just as much fun on the 15th (15th !?!). I hope you love this song because we loved making it for you and I can’t wait till me & danen are on stage every night screaming every word with you in less than 2 months AHHH !!!!! be safe ily & go listen to “keep me up all night” aka die inside lol

Charlotte Sands via Instagram, 12/04/2021.