Well, since MySpace revamped its site, nothing has worked properly for me, I wasn’t even able to manage the songs I had uploaded, nor upload a new one (it kept on vanishing), it crashed my browser(s) way too often, the new way to customize one’s profile felt sluggish and to be honest I haven’t really been on there for over a year. It actually totally stresses me out every time I think about it because it feels like they’re taking my stuff away from me. This is the second time something like this happens on MySpace and it is the main reason I dislike last.fm, iLike and that I had a problem with music.download.com when it was still available. They let you upload your stuff but not let you delete it. A real no-go, IMHO.

There may be quite a few people who might think not using these sites and especially removing myself from MySpace is a very stupid thing to do because of “exposure, exposure, exposure” but actually I feel “exposed” enough already as it is and I’m just glad that you who is reading this is here on the site, that maybe you even have enjoyed listening to my music and are looking forward to more. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

I just need to feel free enough to concentrate on recording and writing more music, also to write stories again, maybe even write a book, go out more with my camera and be more present here on my website (musically and verbally) instead of trying to keep all these other sites updated and stressing myself out in the process. As long as I have these profiles, I have to look after them.

I can’t help it, I need to do it my way or I’m unable to do anything at all. Call me stupid, it’s what I have to do if I want to get things done and be happy. And being happy, feeling good and ultimately being yourself are the most important things in life. Much more important than “doing it right”.

Love,

Download the MP3 (right-click/save as)

It still makes me sad
It still makes me weak
It still makes me mad
it’s still there until I fall asleep

So empty
so quiet
so lonely
so heavy on my heart

I still can’t talk about it
I still can’t speak his name
Without the darkness threatening all the light
All the light that’s left inside

So empty
so quiet
so lonely
so heavy on my heart

Just Why
Oh Why
Why why
So heavy on my heart
Heavy On My Heart
So heavy on my heart

c) music & lyrics by Steffi Frischmann

So empty
so quiet
so lonely
so heavy on my heart

I still can’t talk about it
I still can’t speak his name
Without the darkness threatening all the light
All the light that’s left inside

So empty
so quiet
so lonely
so heavy on my heart

Just Why
Oh Why
Why why
So heavy on my heart
Heavy On My Heart
So heavy on my heart

c) music & lyrics by Steffi Frischmann, 2006/2011

What a day! After checking out a lot of guitars and brands online in the past few weeks, my Dad and I finally went to Thomann’s to take a look at various acoustic guitars. I had a small list of guitars I wanted to try out (The Guild GAD30(RE ATB), the Takamine EG5013SVFT, the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat Acoustic, the Yamaha LS6 and the Taylor 114e), also, “my guitar” had to have a pick-up and no cutaway (which, apparently, is almost impossible these days). The Taylor 114e wasn’t listed in their online store anymore, so I didn’t have high hopes to get to see it at all and the GAD 30 ATB was my secret favourite look-wise.

So we went to the guitar department and I was totally overwhelmed: the place was huge, hundreds of guitars, all beautifully arranged. When I was there the last time, which was over ten years ago, they had had a lot of guitars as well, but now?! Just wow, totally worth a visit. Anyway, I took a look around and was surprised to see the Taylor 114e in a display case. However, you needed a member of staff to try it out so I looked around some more first. They didn’t have the Guild GAD 30 at all, no variant of it.

So I first tried out a few Takamine’s (not the EG5013SVFT because they didn’t have it on display either), Fender’s and Ibanez’. They all looked very beautiful but didn’t quite feel right. The Yamaha LS6 also didn’t impress me much and most of all I had overlooked the fact that it didn’t have an electronic pick-up… So I took the Fender Hellcat in my arms which I had spotted earlier and – instant fit! I was so impressed by its sound and playability, it also felt really good just to hold. Very comfortable and the best of the ones I had tried so far. I just was a bit hesitant because it was relatively inexpensive (~350 €) , especially considering it’s a signature model, has a pick-up and the name FENDER on it.

So I decided to try out the Taylor after all and what can I say – it blew me away! I plucked a few strings and somehow the sound combined with the guitar’s vibrations going through my body brought tears to my eyes. Literally. What an intense experience! Dad tried the guitar out as well and he almost didn’t want to hand it back to me, he was just as impressed. This left one last thing to do: Listening to the pick-up systems. Went in there with the Hellcat and the 114e. The Hellcat had no chance. While the Taylor sounded warm and bright, well, just like a real acoustic guitar, the Fender just sounded loud.

If I needed a nice guitar for traveling, small gatherings, etc. I still would buy the Hellcat. And maybe I actually will do so in the future. But for recording and “bonding” purposes, I think the Taylor was the right choice.

We’ll see!

So, what’s new?

There’s a video section now, where I will add video recordings of new and old songs of mine on a fairly regular basis. The landing page – the page you’re probably on right now and reading this – is a real blog now, where it’s very easy for me to update and share the latest news and hopefully other things of interest. If you add the RSS to your feed reader you will never again miss an update

What I’m most excited about, however, is that there will be a new song up every month this year; the first one is called “So this is goodbye”. Ironic, I know. In any case, if all goes well, it will be available via CDBaby, iTunes and other online retailers at the beginning of February and there will be a preview here on the site sooner than that! At the end of February, I will add another full song to the free download section. I can’t tell you the title just yet, as I’m only 98% percent sure which song it’s going to be.

I think that’s it for now, hope you like the new site.

Regards,

Steffi