Tuesday, December 31, 2013

2013, you wonderful thing of beauty, you.

I must be the only person in the world who wants to curl up in a self-made fort and spend New Year's Eve in solitude and safe comfort.  It's not that I don't want 2014 to come, it's just that 2013 has been one of the biggest years in my life and I don't know what to expect now. I am both overwhelmed by things still to come (in goals personal and professional), and thinking that the new year could only underwhelm after the accomplishments of 2013.  So, my gut reaction is to be silent and look inward for answers, maybe look outward in honest prayer.

2013 was the year I released "World Go Blue," got radio play and press coverage nationally, toured the U.S. and the Philippines, learned how to be a better performer, got a manager, heard my song on E!, got a piano endorsement from Kawai, made 2 music videos, traveled every month except two (May and July), and started hosting a songwriter's round; I saw my best friend lose her mom, get engaged, get married twice (with me as her maid of honor both times), and have a baby; 2013 was the year my dad reached out for the first time in almost 10 years, the year I got closer to my only direct aunt/uncle/cousins in the U.S.; the year I learned how to savor the simple things with Rob; the year I made stronger friendships in L.A.; the year I collaborated; the year on which I could look back and say, "OK. Leaving the place where I grew up was a good decision."

Thanks 2013.  And 2014, I hope you understand why I'm a little hesitant to find out what you have in store.
But perhaps now I should just be proud of what happened and be inspired by the potential of things to come.  Life is still writing itself, after all...

Friday, December 13, 2013

Behind the "Cup of Coffee" Music Video

This was an amazing and incredibly busy day in April. It took us a long time to get the video out because I'd been hoping that I'd be able to get a video for "War!" out first. Alas, I underestimated how busy 2013 would be, but I'm happy that I was able to release this before year's end.

"Cup of Coffee" (the video) is a project spearheaded by Eliot Aether, who approached me earlier this year saying he felt a connection to the song and wanted to do it justice by putting a video together. Eliot has worked with some great talent in the past, and I knew I'd be in good hands.  He singlehandedly gathered a team of camera operators, a Director or Photography (Sergio Arguello, guy with a great eye and amazing resume), a makeup/hair person (Tammie Lee), as well as an post-production team that worked for months to get the final video together.  We shot in the beautiful piano studio of David Andersen (davidandersenpianos.com), a room full of Steinways that just about took my breath away. Also to thank - for her warmth, openness, and sweaters (it was cold that day) is the sculptor Tanya Ragir (tanyaragir.com), who lives with David and agreed to let us take over their backyard for an afternoon.  You can't see it in the video, but her sculptures are placed around the backyard, and they're perfectly inspired.  Justin Juarez is the handsome guy who agreed last-minute to be part of the shoot. I think we pulled off our romance fairly convincingly - apartment arguments and awkward beach strolls included.  My favorite part of shooting with Justin was making up something to be mad at him about (kind of hard, since he's such a nice dude).  I think I recall making up a bit about how I had caught him talking to some girl at a bar, some blonde girl with big boobs. To which he retorted, "I don't even like big boobs!"  That got us laughing for a little while.

Anyway, here's the video if you haven't seen it!  Thank you to the amazing team who put it all together!

Official music video for "Cup of Coffee" // DOWNLOAD the track at [http://alfamusic.bandcamp.com] // Heard on E!'s "Keeping Up with the Kardashians"

Presented by Antidote30/Playa Design
Executive Producer: James Elliot Green | Producer: Jared Green
Director: Eliot Aether | Director of Photography: Sergio Arguello
Camera Operator: Abdul Malik Abbott
Editor: Katrin Leo Pako | Colorist: Jake Blackstone
VFX: Jason Fordham | Makeup & Hair: Tammie Lee
Actor: Justin Juarez | Special thanks: Tanya Ragir (tanyaragir.com) & David Andersen (davidandersenpianos.com), Phil Roc, Katz Carter, Paul Condon, Rob Bieselin.

About the track:
"Cup of Coffee" is from the album "World Go Blue", released 29 January 2013
Nick Adams (drums), Alfa Garcia (lead vocals, piano, guitar), Marc Lacuesta (BGV's), Paul Wight (electric guitar), Steve Wight (bass)
Written by Alfa Garcia. Published by Gas Can Music, Orange County, CA.
Recorded and mixed by Paul Wight. Monrovia, CA. Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music. New Windsor, NY.

LYRICS: http://alfamusic.bandcamp.com/track/c...
www.alfa-music.com






Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Mid-December; digging out thermals.

The cold is a daily fixture now, creeping in despite the sun; making things still and forcing the hurried mind to slow. I am grateful that "cold" in LA is in the 40's-50's. See, I'm headed for Chicago this weekend, where it's more like 18 degrees. Brrr.  I'll have to dig out the thermals.

But despite that, I am happy to be able to go back and headline for Mt. Prospect's fundraiser event to benefit victims of Typhoon Haiyan and the recent Illinois tornadoes.  I got a call a few weeks ago from an acquaintance I'd made out there, who owns the beautiful E+O restaurant out in the suburb.  I don't know what made him think of me, but I'm grateful.  Chicago will become my most-visited city in 2013.  I think this will be my 4th trip out there this year.

Speaking of benefits, my songwriter friend Andrew Abaria and I put together a fundraiser concert this weekend at his gorgeous home in Silver Lake. We raised $900 for Direct Relief's efforts in the Philippines and got 4 boxes worth of clothing to donate to my family's church in Bohol, which is distributing goods to the earthquake victims.  I couldn't help but think about how lucky we are, as I folded well-made polo shirts, designer jeans and intricately woven blouses into Atlas shipping boxes. How lucky we can give this stuff away.  How insane there are people in this world who don't even have a reliable set of clothing to wear every day.
Austin, Rob and me putting together the last of the clothing donations.

Meanwhile, I'm getting together the December songwriter's Round at The Renaissance on Friday, which I'll be playing along with some other new LA songwriters I've met.  And then debuting the "Cup of Coffee" music video tomorrow.  I am really excited for this one.  I was a little unsure at first - thought the whole ordeal was too made up for me - but now...now I think it's just right.  For as much as it's about sticking to your guns, being an artist is also about trying out new experiences. And that's definitely how I see the whole experience of shooting this music video. 


Oh, by the way. I almost forgot. I was featured in Candy Magazine in this month's issue!  Kind of awesome.  The shot is below.  I've never seen Friday Night Lights, but it sounds like a neat comparison... 




Saturday, December 7, 2013

You have been reckless with my heart, but I am the one to pay.

In August I wrote a song called "Reckless," and have performed it live only once. I decided to release the video of the performance because I haven't played it since then, and because it was filmed by Jeb Milne, the late owner of WitzEnd (the venue you see in the video) who booked me there and also booked me for my first-ever residency, which will begin in January.  He passed away shortly after he gave me that residency, and I am so thankful to him for giving me the opportunity after booking me only once in his venue.  In the short time I knew him, he believed in me and my music, and showed so much support and positivity.  I only met him once, but I knew there were few like him.  This video is dedicated to him.


"Reckless" (Written and performed by Alfa Garcia. © Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.)
you don't even know me
you're not even sorry
for making me fall down
the long winding stairs
i got all my problems
you don't seem to have one
but that doesn't mean that you should think of ways to collapse walls around you in your haste
now all I do is dream of you all day

CHORUS
I'll be the first to say
it shouldn't go down this way
you have been reckless with my heart
but i am the one to pay
you'll move on quietly
like it was so easy
meanwhile I'll be waiting... foolishly
believing ... you're the one for me.

well what do we do now?
you're perfectly happy
but honestly me, I've been losing my sleep
i think of your brown eyes
that cleverly disguise
a man who's too familiar with goodbyes (d)

CHORUS
I'll be the first to say
it shouldn't go down this way
you have been reckless with my heart
but i am the one to pay
you'll move on quietly
like it was so easy
meanwhile I'll be waiting... foolishly
believing ... you're the one for me. (A)

BRIDGE:
call it a casualty of war
like love is a battle you fight
i surrender all that you want
I wave my white flag high.

CHORUS:
I'll be the first to say
it shouldn't go down this way
you have been reckless with my heart
but i am the one to pay
...
I'll be the first to say
it shouldn't go down this way
you have been reckless with my heart
but i am the one to pay
you'll move on quietly
like it was so easy (higher)
meanwhile I'll be waiting... foolishly
believing ... you're the one for me.
believing ... you're the one for me.
believing you're the one for me.
***