tag:lauraclapp.com,2005:/blogs/news?p=1News2020-03-27T12:30:43-04:00Laura Clappfalsetag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/63015682020-05-01T13:58:12-04:002021-05-07T09:22:33-04:00I baked a pie<div>
<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/348520_ba58a12db24540b9a7917c9cab873202~mv2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><div>For those who know me, they know that baking is not what I typically do when I want to relax. The flour everywhere, the sticky hands/counter/children, the steps. It just hasn't always been for me. </div>
<div>Then I made a pie. A real, homemade apple pie. And it was delicious. So now I am going to keep baking, and making a mess, and cleaning it up because the end result was soooo worth it in the end. </div>
<div>Next up: making an album. Song 1 is already in the works, so stay tuned!</div>
<div>What are you cooking up this weekend???</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/62788542020-04-10T15:52:22-04:002021-11-12T07:27:22-05:00Spring break<div>
<div>It's Good Friday. As we head into school break - which feels utterly bizarre in the current state - the girls are planning how to make the most of it by choosing a different place to 'camp out' each night in the house. It lifts my spirits to see them bonding like this. </div>
<div>I am heading into the weekend and week ahead with hope. Hope for the curve to continue to flatten in New York. Hope for sunshine to nurture my flowers and soul. Hope for a successful Easter egg hunt on Sunday in our backyard. </div>
<div>What are you hopeful for today?</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/62708622020-04-03T13:34:33-04:002021-12-11T03:37:59-05:00Smooth as Tennessee Whiskey<div>
<div>I'm trying my best to be as smooth as Tennessee Whiskey but</div>
<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/348520_43a84ef2f061462db12ddba7e12c8a52~mv2.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><div>I'm feeling a bit more like the worm in a bottle of tequila. Can I get an amen?</div>
<div>I think one of the biggest challenges through all of this is remembering to not only take care of myself mentally but also to be sure to take care of the other souls sharing this place with me.</div>
<div>Is everyone getting what they need? Are they freaking out? Clueless? Angry? Sad? Bored? It seems to change by the minute around here, so we're all just taking it one day - and one meltdown - at a time.</div>
<div>Today I was able to have a win at work, and that felt great. As we head into the weekend - oh yeah, it's Friday! - what are you able to celebrate as a win? </div>
<div>Did you make it through the day without crying? Win!</div>
<div>Did you find a roll of toilet paper stashed waaaay in the back of the closet that you forgot about? Win!</div>
<div>Did you wake up today breathing clean air and with food to eat? Crushing it. </div>
<div>Tell me your stories. Good, bad and otherwise, because we need to remember that we are all in this together.</div>
<div>xo,</div>
<div>Laura</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/62640672020-03-27T12:30:43-04:002023-12-10T11:42:01-05:00Brave Breaths<div>
<div>Week one of distance learning is coming to a close here at the Davidsons. We made it through with a few meltdowns but mostly smiles as we navigated this new world together. </div>
<div>I watched as Ellie learned how to join her virtual team meeting effortlessly every morning. I learned that Blake would much rather play than focus on an assignment - which makes sense - so we worked our way around that. </div>
<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/348520_7f43f40d0b824413bbb15adba7c2adbe~mv2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><div>One of my favorite things I learned this week was the concept of starting each day with a brave breath. Ellie and Blake do these at school and they are a great way of calming everyone down. You do it by putting one hand on your belly and one hand on your heart, take a slow breath in and then let it out. Give it a try. I just took one and I feel much better.</div>
<div>I have been doing a ton of recording and livestreaming this week. What have you been doing to keep your mind occupied and feed your creativity? Let me know in the comments below. </div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/62561112020-03-20T08:28:15-04:002020-11-27T05:58:19-05:00Right Now is the Best Time<div>
<div>I can't tell you how many times I've found myself thinking about starting a project but then talked myself out of it because of not having time. Well now that we're all marooned on our own islands of home thanks to COVID-19, I can't really use that reason. Granted, I'm not swimming in free time - I've always worked from home so that remains status quo - and with the girls home my days are pretty jammed. BUT THIS CANNOT BE AN EXCUSE ANYMORE.</div>
<div>I am literally bursting with inspiration these days. Something that - if you've read any of my previous posts - you will know I've been chasing and lacking for several years. The challenge is that when I do have time to create it's at night when the girls are asleep. My studio is just down the hall from them, so I can't exactly be 'writing it out' loud while they're snoozing away. </div>
<div>I could move my setup to our unfinished basement, but the thought of creating in a dungeon is less than appealing. It may be my only option though until we finish the attic. How do others work through this? Comment with your ideas!</div>
<div>It's been a minute since I've written one of these. Whether or not anyone is listening, I'm going to release a new post each Friday like I did before. I hope you will read it and consider sharing it with fellow creatives, because creativity is going to get a lot of us through this.</div>
<div>xx,</div>
<div>Laura</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58895322019-09-12T10:48:22-04:002022-05-31T03:10:55-04:00What Should I Call You?<div>
<div>"What should I call you?" I get this question a lot. Mainly it's because my name is Laura Clapp Davidson. No hyphen. Just my maiden name and married name joined together. This confuses people since they really want me to be a hyphenate or just go by one of the two names. So why did I go this route? Two reasons.</div>
<div>One, I am the last Clapp in our lineage. There were no boys to carry on the name, so I decided that when I got married I would drop my middle name (which now belongs to our eldest daughter) and shift my maiden name into its place. It was my attempt to keep things going for my family, however impractical that may be since it won't go any further than me.</div>
<div>The second reason I kept my maiden name is for professional reasons. I had made a little (ok tiny) name for myself as Laura Clapp and I didn't want her to disappear simply because I had married the love of my life and wanted to take his name.</div>
<div>The tricky part is when people try to figure out how to list me on the bill for a show. Is it Laura Clapp? Laura Davidson? Laura Clapp Davidson? For me, it's always Laura Clapp because that is who I've been as a musician for all of my life. Laura Davidson is great with marketing, strategy and product demos, but she and Laura Clapp don't always mesh well. Strange, isn't it?</div>
<div>The even stranger thing is that I don't really know the answer when someone asks me what to call me. I've been Laura Davidson for 12 years now, and keeping track of which name I use in which situation can be a bit of a burden sometimes. It's also tricky when the person booking me knows me from my work in audio (Laura Davidson) and not necessarily as a performer (Laura Clapp). So then what?</div>
<div>In some ways, it would be so much easier to pick one name and stick with it, but I guess I'm too nostalgic or too stubborn to let it go. Anyone else facing this same dilemma? Let me know by leaving a comment!</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214472019-06-07T10:59:23-04:002021-05-07T09:24:39-04:00Work it Out<div>
<div>I have started exercising! I've never liked to exercise. When I was kid, my friends would want to run around outside. I, however, much preferred the confines of my house to the great outdoors.</div>
<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/348520_b53082f720eb4b46bfe54993ca7a8fe1~mv2_d_3024_4032_s_4_2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><div>Don't get me wrong, I love being out in nature. I love to camp, hike, boat and ski. I just don't typically like going outside for the sole purpose of exercising. If I'm outside and I happen to get exercise - bonus!</div>
<div>Why the sudden love for exercise? We recently got a Peloton. After thinking about it for a looong time, Eric took the plunge and ordered our new friend whom we named Drogon. I am loving this thing. I never thought I would. Especially since I had never taken a spin class before in my life.</div>
<div>So now I'm addicted, which is great! I'm 6 weeks in and can't wait to "ride my dragon" each day. I think it plays into my aforementioned desire to be safe indoors as opposed to going out in it for my exercise. Perhaps it's the craziness of the roads - I love to ride my road bike, but will only do it early in the morning when traffic isn't moving yet. Whatever it is, I'm happy to clip in and sweat out my frustrations, and I'm so dang grateful for this piece of machinery.</div>
<div>What do you do to keep the blood pumping? Leave a comment and let me know, and thanks for reading my post!</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214482019-05-31T14:18:25-04:002021-05-12T10:19:47-04:00Keep in Touch<div>
<div>My inner artist and I have an interesting relationship. Sometimes we're besties, other times mortal enemies. The relationship is never boring but it can get a bit stagnant at times. </div>
<div>Now is one of those times.</div>
<div>I don't think I've written a song in months. Maybe even a year. And this KILLS me. I feel like a piece of my body is missing when I'm not writing. Like I'm Nearly Headless Nick, wandering through the halls of Hogwarts a bit dazed and confused.</div>
<div>I've tried The Artists Way to no avail. Too touchy feely. I've tried journaling to kickstart the machine. No dice. I think what I'm missing is taking the time to connect to myself. Each day though, I feel like I'm putting the pieces of the puzzle together. I'm finding new ways to make time for myself - hello, Peloton! So I'm hopeful that my creativity will follow soon.</div>
<div>For now, I will continue to listen for my muse and will hope for the best.</div>
<div>What are you working on that's inspiring you? Do you have a method or process for keeping in touch with your creative self? Let me know, and thanks for reading.</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214492019-05-17T13:38:47-04:002020-10-09T01:53:13-04:00Is This Thing On?<div>
<div>In this day and age of so many options to communicate, it's easy to feel like no one is listening. Take this blog, for example. I keep writing these posts and I have no idea who - aside from my awesome mom - is reading it. </div>
<div>How do we combat this feeling of detachment in our hyper-connected world? Especially when we don't have any time to plan meaningful interactions. Do those even exist any more? </div>
<div>I don't have the answer, so I will continue to write this and hope someone's listening. Then maybe we can work towards hearing each other more. </div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214502019-05-03T11:51:08-04:002021-06-18T01:52:32-04:00Shake Things Up<div>
<div>I'm prepping for a gig for the first time in a long time. It feels good, but it also feels burdensome. Why? Because I feel like I've been playing the same songs for way too long but I don't have the time to re-work my set.</div>
<div>But that is total bullshit. </div>
<div>The fact is, I DO have time. I just choose to use said time to sit on the couch and watch TV. This has been a recurring problem for me. That said, this week was particularly busy and I needed to just chill out last night.</div>
<div>Instead of doing my usual thing of beating myself up and ultimately not getting anything done, I've committed to learning 3 new songs for the show. Three is totally manageable. </div>
<div>So I'm shaking it up, but a little at a time. What are you doing to shake things up in your life? Comment below.</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214512019-04-26T11:41:58-04:002022-05-22T14:19:29-04:00Planning for Some Peace<div>
<div>Let's talk about balance. No, I'm not talking about a new yoga pose. I'm talking more about balance of the proverbial variety. </div>
<div>How do you find balance in your day to day? Do you start your day with a routine, or are you more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type? I tend to be closer to the second variety, but that's mostly because my work schedule differs from one day to the next.</div>
<div>This week, however, I started my days a little differently by getting the girls off to school (in cooperation with my amazing husband) and then I sat down to drink my coffee and plan my day. I recently started using a <a href="https://shop.franklinplanner.com/store/buy/GG-Smith/Original-Daily-Ring-bound-Planner/prod216/?skuId=68742">Franklin Covey Day Planner</a> again, and it has rekindled a love for planning and daily progress check-in's.</div>
<div>My dad gave me my first planner in 8th grade. He was a fastidious planner who used his Franklin to keep track of every thing he did, every birthday, every contact. He used it until his handwriting started to fail him and he had to lay down the fountain pen. That was a sad day.</div>
<div>I continued to use my planner throughout school and all the way through college. Somehow after that though I kind of forgot how much I enjoyed that little book and the peace of mind it offered me. </div>
<div>Side note - yes, I know we have devices that can do all of these things better and faster. I tried that and it has failed me. There's just something about writing it down. </div>
<div>So I'm digging back in and setting goals. What are you aiming for today? This month? This year? Let's start thinking bigger together and see what we can come up with. I bet with a little planning, we can rule the world - or at least check all the things off of our lists. </div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214522019-04-11T09:00:00-04:002022-02-19T01:47:08-05:00Best By ??/??/????<div>
<div>I've noticed that I tend to get asked a certain question fairly frequently lately. </div>
<div>"Are you still doing music?" </div>
<div>Let's leave out the fact that I'm not even sure what doing music specifically entails and focus on the question. Are doctors asked if they're still "doing" medicine as they age? Probably not. Because it's a part of who they are, right? They may stop when it's time to retire, but not when they are just getting to the good stuff in life.</div>
<div>In the music industry, however, there seems to be some sort of implied expiration date for when we're supposed to stop. The self-doubting-still-an-insecure-teenager in me always takes this as a gentle suggestion to slowly exit stage left. Am I too old to be doing this? Should I really just fade quietly into the sunset and stop feeding my creative soul? </div>
<div>Hell no! I'm just getting started! </div>
<div>So thank you to those of you are out there listening to my music and reading my musings. </div>
<div>Because the best is yet to come.</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214532019-04-05T10:17:03-04:002021-09-20T14:03:34-04:00When the Worry Beast Comes to Town<div>
<div>I have a confession to make. I am a worrier. I worry about things. A lot. Things I can't control. Things I can. And although every ounce of my sane self says this is silly, you KNOW you can't control this, I still find myself wasting time thinking and thinking and thinking.</div>
<div>With all of this thinking comes exhaustion. With exhaustion, comes irritability. With irritability, comes yelling. I don't like yelling. So I take medication to help tame the worry beast and keep things running more smoothly. I'm worrying a bit right now because I just told you I take medication - whoever "you" are. In addition to medication though, I need a little more help to keep my worries at bay.</div>
<div>So I walk the dog. Or I call my mom. Or I do a yoga video on YouTube. Sometimes I literally tell myself it's all going to be ok, or I take a few deep breaths to get things back on track. Other times I pound on the piano or sing as loud as I can. This one helps a lot.</div>
<div>What worries keep you up at night or poke into your mind at the worst times? What do you do to calm the f*uck down? If you too are constantly battling invisible monsters, let me know in the comments below. It might quiet the beast for a bit if you talk about it. If nothing else, it will let this kid know she's not alone.</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214542019-03-28T09:59:03-04:002022-05-16T04:49:47-04:00Addicted to Yes<div>
<div>I was recently sitting on the balcony of a resort in Jamaica. It was early, and the world was quiet. It was wonderful to be able to sit and take the scene in. I was on a much needed mini vacation with my husband, and it was amazing.</div>
<div>The reason I'm telling you this is not to make you hate me for being in Jamaica. I'm telling you this because this mini-vacay and my recent milestone birthday triggered a bit of a self-reflective period for me. What am I doing with my life? Am I making an impact? Am I staying true to my artist self, mommy self and career self? </div>
<div>The answer is a resounding sort of.</div>
<div>And that’s ok. As I get older, I’m learning to be a little kinder to myself. It's literally impossible to excel at all of the things I'm trying to accomplish, so now I'm trying to figure out what I can do well, and then start to let go of the things that are taking away valuable time. This is easier said that done for me though since I say yes to everything.</div>
<div>Learning to say no when we live in a world of 'yes' can be tricky, but why are we saying yes to all of these things? I truly enjoy all of the things I commit myself to, but for some reason I don't have that voice in my head telling me to say no to things I know I won't have time for. Anyone else suffer from this same affliction?</div>
<div>So, fellow "yes-ers" unite! Let's help each other recognize when we've taken on too many things and offer reassurance that the world won't end because you didn't raise your hand for the decorating committee, sign up to be the class mom or take on 14 unpaid gigs. </div>
<div>Let's take a deep breath and start taking stock of what really matters. Who's with me?</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214552019-03-21T09:37:00-04:002021-11-10T07:33:38-05:00Finding Creative Freedom Through Letting Go<div>
<div>If you’ve been writing songs for a little while then chances are you probably have a method, whether loose or rigid, that you employ when tackling a new tune. Perhaps you start with the melody, or maybe you’re a work-from-the-hook kind of person. Or maybe, if you’re like me, the muse strikes differently every time.</div>
<div>The good news is that whatever tools you employ are all correct, because the truth is there’s no one way to write a song. I learned this from writing songs with children.</div>
<div>When I first walked into the second grade classroom at The Goodwin School as an invited speaker for their reading week, I thought I would talk to the kids a bit about how I write songs and maybe play an original or two. After about 2 minutes in the room though I could see I was going to lose them if I went this route, so I quickly switched gears and decided to write a song with a group of 30 eight year olds on the spot instead. No pressure.</div>
<div> “Let’s write a song today!” I said. “What should we write about?” At first, they looked at me and each other with hesitation. Then one boy raised his hand and said, “Let’s write about our school!” and it took off from there.</div>
<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/348520_56366bf701084db696bff6d8ba7d6fac~mv2_d_2596_1624_s_2.png" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><div>The ideas started flying out. “Mine Craft!” said one. “Zombies!” said another. “M&M’s and tacos!” “Narwhals!” They were so excited to be able to be silly and not have to think about what they wanted to say. After I had a page full of ideas, I asked them if they wanted the song to be happy or sad. They all answered happy, so we went from there. In less than 20 minutes, we had a song with 2 verses and a chorus about The Goodwin School, all made from their brainstorming.</div>
<div>The kids were thrilled. I was thrilled. It was so exciting to make something from nothing and not care about the commercial potential or whether or not this song would sell. This was songwriting at its purest, and I felt like I had when I first started writing songs – I felt free!</div>
<div>After successfully doing this process again with elementary students, I was asked by a friend to give a songwriting workshop at his high school’s regional writing conference. I approached it from a similar mindset as the elementary sessions, but this time I broke the students into small groups after the initial brainstorm session to allow them to write the songs. The results were simply stunning.</div>
<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/348520_f6101338d8b6429080d6067e8c28b828~mv2_d_2448_3264_s_4_2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><div>Not only did each team successfully create at least a verse and chorus, some of them wrote a full song – in 30 minutes! The looks on their faces were priceless. They were happy, proud and excited to share their songs with the larger conference in a full auditorium of their peers, and all I did was tell them that anyone can write a song because there aren’t any rules when it comes to songwriting. They used that creative freedom to let down their guard and make some truly beautiful music.</div>
<div>As writers, we are our own worst critic. The lyric isn’t strong enough, the hook isn’t catchy, the melody isn’t original. What if we stop for a moment and realize that what we're doing is pretty freaking incredible? We are putting our thoughts and feelings into song form. That, in an of itself is something worth celebrating.</div>
<div>So make great music. Make horrible music. Just make music and stop waiting for it to be perfect. You just might be pleasantly surprised with what comes out. The worst case scenario is that you will have brought more music into the world. So get to it!</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214562019-03-07T09:28:00-05:002022-01-07T00:18:08-05:00Take it for a Test Drive<div>
<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/348520_5819cb9c2251414fad303036f202cbf5~mv2_d_1200_1600_s_2.jpg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><div>I spoke with someone today who told me they are just learning how to play the guitar. They said that they planned to keep at it for the next two months, and that if they could play an F barre chord at the end of the test period without it hurting, they would buy a better guitar.</div>
<div>I asked him what type of guitar he plays. He said an acoustic. I asked him what model. He said, "I don't know. It's just a cheap guitar I picked up to start learning on." He said he didn't want to buy anything "too serious" until he knew he was going to keep at it.</div>
<div>This logic seems sound enough. Why spend money on an instrument until you know you're going to play it regularly? Here's why: if you don't feel moved by the instrument - if it doesn't feel right in your arms, make your heart skip a beat or bring you some sort of happiness just by holding it, then you probably won't stick with it. </div>
<div>Now, I'm not saying that you need to go out and spend all kinds of money on an expensive guitar. You could find a $50 guitar that makes you weak in the knees. What I am saying is that if you are going to begin the journey of learning to play an instrument, you need to go into a store that sells instruments - yes, they still exist - and try some out. You wouldn't buy a car without going for a test drive, would you? </div>
<div>Even if you haven't played a lick in your life, you need to sit with the instrument you're theoretically going to be cradling against your body for the next little while and see if it feels right. Is it too large for your frame? Too small? Is the fret board too raised? What about the neck, is it too wide to hold comfortably? </div>
<div>So go on. Get behind the wheel and see how she drives. You never know what will feel right, but I guarantee you'll have a much more successful outcome if you simply try before you buy.</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214572019-02-27T13:35:42-05:002020-09-10T06:46:46-04:00What Prompted This?<div>
<div>Sometimes, as writers, we get a little stuck. You sit and you try to write the next best thing - or even the next anything - and things don't quite come rushing out as quickly or as easily as you would like.</div>
<div> That's when a little thing called a prompt can help. What is a prompt? A prompt can be anything really but is typically a word, a phrase, a paragraph or an image. Prompts are meant to serve as a starting point for a piece to jumpstart creative thinking. You see the prompt, and you begin to write whatever comes to mind relating to it.</div>
<div>While some artists have mixed feelings about prompts, I find them to be tremendously helpful in shaking ideas loose and bringing them to the surface. Other artists use prompts every day to get something down on paper. What are your feelings about prompts? Do you use them? Love them? Hate them? Leave me a comment below.</div>
<div>For now, I will leave you with a prompt:</div>
<div>Write a lyric or song about daylight</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214582019-02-19T14:36:19-05:002019-07-11T15:55:55-04:00How Does She Do It?<div>
<div>I am a mom. I am a wife. I am a marketing professional. I am a singer. I am a songwriter.</div>
<div>I do the laundry. I rescue lost socks. I do the grocery shopping. I cook the food. I do the dishes. I clean. I yell. I give hugs. I have dance parties in my kitchen.</div>
<div>I am the VP of my child's preschool board. I am on the PTO. I am a Civic Woman. I am the entertainment chair of our yacht club.</div>
<div>And I am often asked, "How do you do it?" and the answer is, "I do it because I have to." I do it because if i don't I will lose my mind a little bit each day. Why? Because I love to be in constant motion. Because I strive to make each moment count. Because the creative in me craves the delicate balance between passion and stability while the overachiever lives for the thrill of the next 'win', whatever it may be. </div>
<div>How do these two sides co-exist, you may ask? For me, they are as intertwined as conjoined twins and always have been. I think the artist in me needs a sense of safety in order to create while the do-gooder in me needs the artist to feel purposeful and free. </div>
<div>So I make time for the things that fuel me and try my best not to let something else wither on the vine while doing so. I do this because for me it means the survival of the part of me that tends to take a backseat to the rest of my various personas - notice how my creative self landed firmly at the end of the list in the opening paragraph above? </div>
<div>I also ask for help. A lot. Did you think I was doing all of this stuff alone? I have a team, a family, a support system. These people allow me to keep fuel in my tank and wind in my sails. Without them, those vines I mentioned above would be toast.</div>
<div>I can't speak for others who seemingly do it all. What I can say is that I am fortunate to know many others like me, and I'm pretty sure we are all sitting quietly in awe of each other, wondering how the hell the other one makes it look so effortless.</div>
<div>So let's stop asking "How?" and start saying "Wow!" Wow for being able to multitask and hustle and love and dream and feel all of the feels even when you would rather be anywhere but here.</div>
<div>You rock, and you don't need to know how. You just need to know that you're killing it out there. Bravo, you. Keep doing it all, and remember to cut yourself some slack once and a while. We've got you.</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214592018-06-14T10:28:27-04:002019-07-11T15:55:55-04:00When the Muse Takes a Day (or Year) Off<div>
<img src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/348520_8b418a6b55574ef3969934fb8fd9dba2~mv2.jpeg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /><div>Being a creative person can be really freaking hard. You feel this need to create - to get your feelings out into the world - but sometimes you get so caught up inside of your head you end up blocking yourself completely. This can then spiral into a whirlwind of self-deprecation and doubt that can last for days, weeks or even months.</div>
<div>So how do we break this cycle and go easier on ourselves? Is there a sure-fired cure to unclog the mental drain? I've found that for me, it often involves completely unplugging from all things electronic, taking a step outside of my usual surroundings and just giving myself time to think. This is a challenge in and of itself since I'm usually doing about 4 things at once. But when I can achieve it, it is truly delicious.</div>
<div>What works best for you? Is it going for a run? Meditating? Having coffee with a friend? Take a moment to listen to your inner voice as it tells you what it desperately needs, and you may find creativity simply pouring out of you.</div>
<div>I suppose the moral of this story is that in order to free your muse and get things going, you need to be kind to yourself and let your creativity come out when it's ready, not when you command it to appear. Breathe deeply. Take a walk. Write bad poetry. Just stop judging yourself and let the muse take you where she wants to lead. Remember that you are blessed with the ability to express yourself in ways others cannot. So keep that in mind and just let go.</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/49584122017-12-01T15:37:30-05:002022-03-29T11:35:03-04:00Welcome!<p>Thank you for visiting lauraclapp.com! Take a look around and be sure to visit the <a contents="Music Page" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music" target="_blank">Music Page</a> to download Laura's latest offerings.</p>
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<p><a href="https://soundbetter.com/profiles/142168-laura-clapp" target="_blank" title="Laura Clapp profile on SoundBetter"><img src="https://dkxd2qj9i8fak.cloudfront.net/assets/SoundBetterBadge-c84cb3e75c4267f5bee41f7f617a81d9.svg" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" alt="Laura Clapp, Singer - Female on SoundBetter" style="max-width: 130px;" /></a></p>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/58214602017-10-25T13:31:47-04:002022-05-16T05:40:31-04:00Know how to write? Then you can write a song!<div>
<div>People always ask me about my songwriting process. Which comes first, the lyric or the melody? Is there a system you use to write your songs? Do you write everyday? When I tell them that it's different each time and that I tend to let the inspirational chips fall where they may, they usually say, "Wow, I wish I could do that," to which I respond, "You can!" You see, there isn't a specific method to writing a song. Sure, you can learn techniques to encourage creativity as well as the theory behind the song itself, but the fact is that everyone is born a natural songwriter, they just don't usually let that writer come out.</div>
<div>Think about kids or try to remember yourself as a child. Did you ever have a favorite song that would get stuck in your head but didn't know all of the lyrics? I'm guessing you may have made some up on your own at least a time or two to fill the gaps. That's lyric writing! Sure, you won't be winning any songwriting contests by altering existing lyrics, but you can use existing melodies as a starting point and see where it takes you.</div>
<div>Want to learn more about how to let your inner songwriter come out? Sign up for a Write it Out Workshop and let's make some music together!</div>
</div>Laura Clapptag:lauraclapp.com,2005:Post/38461132015-09-08T09:44:42-04:002019-07-19T14:41:05-04:00EP backing tracks available!<p>After many requests and a good kick in the pants from one of my fans (thanks Peter!) I have decided to release the backing tracks for my EP, "Go" for download. These tracks are located on my <a contents="Music" data-link-label="Music" data-link-type="page" href="/music">Music</a> page and will allow you to sing along to my songs without my voice getting in your way. :) <br><br>So head on over and download your favorite track today. Then impress all of your friends at your next party with your own rendition of "First Shade of Winter." <br><br>hugs,<br>Laura</p>Laura Clapp