happy (belated & early) birthday!

Happy Belated Birthday (June 25) to Live Musique/A Music Anthology! There is much to be excited about as this music blog is now one years old. To be honest, I never thought this blog would grow and be what it is today. A year ago, I had a technological, social networking curiosity. I wanted to find out why everyone (ok, not everyone, but a lot of bloggers) used WordPress. Little by little, I started posting lyrics and music videos that inspired me, then my insights in music. I didn’t know I had so much to say about music alone. I have other blogs that are more general, but having this focused feature on music has helped me as a writer and as a musician. It’s been a year and I couldn’t be more grateful for this blog and for all the readers who have so kindly read and commented on my posts.

Happy Birthday to me! It’s not midnight in the land where I was born, but somewhere in the world, on the other hemisphere is my birthday! This year, I’ll be twenty-one. 21. Officially legal, but on the outside, it seems as though I’ve been 21 since I was 16, being offered alcohol on planes (not that I’m into drinking at all). I could go to Las Vegas, but I’m not into that either. Every birthday, I say I don’t want to be another year older. And it’s true. I wish I could be forever young. I’m not sure what the future holds or what I’m really expecting out of twenty-one years, but I hope it’s full of hope, wisdom, love and dreams.

donations to lauren’s 21st birthday

Amount Raised: $1369.95

Contributors

Dr. Karl Koerner

Cheung Family

Lorrie Belcher

Nicole Hislop

Amei Owen

Dr. Brian Rencher

Gilbert Yuen

Olivia Rhondeau

Farnsworth Family

Sharon Li and Bob Lin

Selja Felin

Frank and Christine Cavaness

Hui Hua Tai, Chang Wah Fu, Kwok Yuen Tai

Kwok Chi Hui

Leung Family (Eddie, Irene, Alicia)

Hong Tao Ji

Mona Shahrebani

Carmen Leavitt

Zipproah Wong

Peter Sum

Wendy Pang

Antony Fennell

Leslie Simsich

Regina Leung

Jenny Chan

Fong Chan

Rosetta Lok

Amy Ling

Dr. Gary Spangler

Ivy Nielsen

Heather Mui

Susan Mu

Hui Chong Hadjbian

William Sum

Moy Family

Selina Fennell

Lena Stout

See previous post.

lauren’s 21st birthday!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Musicians Who Inspire

This idea started after I came back from a recent trip to China and I thought of Brooke Fraser. Brooke Fraser is a singer/songwriter from New Zealand. She is a musician who inspires me through her music and volunteering in Africa as well as other parts of the world. Last year in 2010 for her 27th Birthday, she asked for donations to Charity: Water, a non-profit organization with a mission to provide safe water in developing nations. Then when I came back from China, I went to the U2/The Fray concert. Throughout the concert, Bono, leadsman of U2 promoted One and other issues of justice and poverty in the world. In that rock stadium, there was something I felt that told me I need to do something about real issues I care about. So from legends such as George Harrison and his friends’ (Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr and more) revolutionary Concert for Bangladesh to modern day ways of fundraising, I wanted to start raising awareness and funds for a cause I believe in.

Volunteering in China

For the past three years, since 2008, I’ve gratefully had the opportunity to be a part of humanitarian trips to China. Every year, I learn something new and gain an entirely different, more appreciative perspective in life. On the trips to Suqian, China, I’ve been a hygienist assistant and from what I’ve seen, I’ve learned to be more grateful about dentists and the importance of maintaining clean and healthy teeth. This year on a recent trip in May 2011 to Xi’an, China, I assisted with some dental work, but mostly held babies in the post-operating room at the Children’s Hospital. I had never really held a baby or ever changed a diaper before. Within days, I learned how to all this, plus how to take care of post-op cleft lip and palate babies. I absolutely fell in love with these babies. My life will never be the same again as I have learned love and life lessons from these babies. The babies in the post-op room were all orphans, no parents and owned nothing. Most of the babies are abandoned because of their deformities. Parents don’t have the money to operate on their child or simply can’t accept a child with a deformity that can be fixed. However, in those babies I saw adorable, innocent souls who are lovable and need a whole lot of loving. All those babies needed were to be held and taken care of to be content. None of the babies had their own clothes. All of them had to share what little clothes they had. I was heartbroken and wished there was more I could do for all the children.

Lauren’s 21st Birthday Wish

In a week’s time (June 29), I will be turning 21. This year, my birthday wish is $21 (one dollar for every year since I’ve been living) and more for children in China and across the world. 100% of donations will go to the International Children’s Surgical Foundation (ICSF) and Starfish Foster Home. The donations will be divided evenly between these two non-profit organizations and if the numbers are odd, I will pay the difference to make it even. I’m also contributing $21 as a happy birthday to myself and because I truly want to help others receive basic necessities to live.

Dr. Geoff Williams and International Children’s Surgical Foundation (ICSF)

I have been honored to be able to meet Dr. Geoff Williams, a plastic surgeon from Boise, Idaho. Dr. Geoff Williams founded ICSF to travel to developing countries to treat and perform surgeries on cleft lip, cleft palate and other deformities suffered by children. He has dedicated his entire life to help others have a better life. I have been fortunate to observe Dr. Geoff Williams operate on a cleft palate. With no medical expertise, anyone could tell the precision of his hands at work and see how much he cares for the lives of children and their parents. He is a humble man with a humble heart and I am always in awe when I read ICSF’s heartfelt messages.

To learn more, visit the ICSF website here: http://icsfoundation.org/

Amanda de Lange and Starfish Foster Home

Amanda, the founder of Starfish has dedicated a full time mission to help babies receive surgery, care, love and happiness. I met Amanda and visited Starfish for the first time on this trip to Xi’an in May 2011. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I visited Starfish, but I already knew I would probably have an emotional breakdown once I saw the babies. When we arrived at Starfish, I first met Coco, one of the Starfish babies. Tears streamed down my face right there and then. Coco started crying and then I cried. An acupuncture doctor poked holes on Coco’s scalp. I have this almost deathly reaction to needles. The needles in her head reminded me of Frankenstein of some sort. But she was far from being that dreaded monster. Coco has this gorgeous round baby face with a beautiful smile. I had no idea what was wrong with her until someone told me. She was born without an anus and her arm is deformed. I just couldn’t believe it. This is the everyday life of Amanda and Starfish, to help care for children with special needs. I couldn’t think of a more rewarding cause.

To learn more, visit Starfish Foster Home here: http://www.thestarfishfosterhome.org/index.aspx

How can $21 and more benefit the children?

$21 and more will go towards paying a child’s surgery and cover the costs of a surgical mission. Daily necessities for the children can be paid for such as baby bottles, diapers, medicine and clothes. The nannies who take care of the children need sponsoring and since Starfish has moved to a new location, they need help with finishing their project of moving to a new place. Currently, Bella, one of the Starfish babies needs a surgery for spina bifida. There is a lot $21 and more can do!

Ways of Helping and Donating

If you want to help and donate, here are options on contributing:

1. By clicking here via PayPal, donations can be paid by credit card.

2. By writing a check to ‘Lauren Sum 21st Birthday Charity’, you can mail donations to ….

Lauren Sum 21st Birthday Charity

P.O. Box 581262

Salt Lake City, UT 84158

(Birthday donations will be accepted until July 29, 2011)

If you could please contribute $21, more or less, any amount will go a long way to help with this cause for children. And even if you can’t donate, please go do something good in the world. Do something for you, your family, friends, neighbors, strangers and for anyone at all.

I will be keeping track of contributors and donations here.

Thank you for taking your time reading this message. Your love and support means a lot to me. I know all of us together can change the lives of others. I love you all!

Lauren

my life is complete

My first guitar might be a goner, but my life is complete.

MAT KEARNEY JUST TALKED WITH ME OVER THE PHONE!

Earlier this afternoon, my brother sent me a picture of Mat Kearney performing from The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia. All I could think of was I wish I was there, I really wish I was there. I looked at the picture and my brother is so close to the stage. As I was driving, I got a text saying, “[Mat Kearney] JUMPED at me.” In classic styled me, I went WHAT?! Mat just jumped in the crowd. Then several hours later, midnight in Atlanta, my brother calls. He says he’s in line to see Mat Kearney. I’m in the car again, screaming. My brother says he’s going to try to get Mat Kearney to talk with me on the phone. I go, “he is not going to talk to me on the phone.” In my head, I’m thinking he has better things to do. But then seconds later, I hear my brother talking with Mat Kearney. I can’t hear all the words, but I hear “my sister couldn’t make it” and “talk to her on the phone.” Moments later, IT’S MAT KEARNEY TALKING TO ME. His voice, the one I know from songs and YouTube videos. Swoon. Time passes by and it feels like only a few seconds. Mat says hello to me on the phone. I am screaming my lungs off, not knowing what to say. But I do scream, “OMG! I am like your biggest fan!” I’m sure he hears this all the time, but it’s true. It’s all true. And in another life, if he asked me on a bended knee to marry him, I would say I do. I DO, I DO, I DO over and over again. Because that’s how I feel every time he sings to me through the speakers. I am that much in love with him, his songwriting and music. I can’t even tell you how many times I have listened to all this songs. Mat asks me where I’m from and I say Utah. I said I saw him perform live like a year ago. Ok, it was in 2009. I can’t remember when exactly, but I remember seeing him through the blizzard of winter. He says they’re (referring to him, Owl City and Unwed Sailors) performing in July, in Utah and I need to catch them then. I tell him I will definitely be there. Now, I HAVE to be there. No questions asked. I am going to be there to meet Mat Kearney myself this time. Then our conversation ended when he said, “I’ll let you talk to your brother again.” My last words to him were “THANK YOU.” I still couldn’t believe I talked with Mat Kearney. My brother later tells me his U of U polo shirt is signed by Mat. I don’t think that shirt will ever be washed again. A short lived conversation, but the young, down-to-earth Mat Kearney has made the happiest girl in Salt Lake City tonight.

Photo via brother’s phone.

awaiting for album releases

About: I’ve always been a fan of Vanessa Carlton since her first album, Be Not Nobody. I think as an artist, Carlton is one of those musicians who keep getting progressively better. I’ve listened to bits and pieces of Rabbits On the Run and her work is truly incredible. I’ve also read and watched interviews about the making behind Rabbits On the Run. Carlton has introduced me to Real World Studios and Peter Gabriel. One day, if I could write an album of my dreams and self-fund my project, I would go England and record there. All the parts with the children’s choir was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. I’ve only seen the outside of Abbey Road Studios and again, I only dream of being inside the studio. She talked about playing on the same upright piano that John Lennon played on. To me, that’s like experiencing the Magical Mystery Tour. Her inspirations for the album were Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History in Time and Richard Adams’ Watership Down. I’m not sure how much I like Hawking, but needless to say, I have already requested Watership Down from the library. All the stories Carlton talks about and all the song previews I’ve heard have been dreamlike and I can’t wait to hear this album.

Release date: July 27, 2011

About: Mat Kearney’s songs are the most played songs on my iPod. I’ve always felt that I am Annie. And as I listen to ‘Hey Mama’, Mat Kearney’s new single, I am the other Annie all over again. There’s something that compels me to Mat Kearney’s songwriting, his stories, his beats, his voice and the list goes on and on. Selfishly, I wish he had written all those songs for me. There’s so much adventure, love and heartbreak he writes about. Kearney brings me to happiness and tears all too often. I’ve kept up with his e-mail and YouTube updates, while he was in the process of making Young Love. I love his sense of humor and how deep he talks about writing these songs until the words are right. I love the synthesizers he uses, tap along beats and his true and honest words. Young Love is going to be a surprise and I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m excited to hear the young side of Mat Kearney.

Release date: August 2, 2011

revolution already underway

I created this revolution poster in the earliest days of 2011. I decided that instead of resolutions, I wanted to write revolutions. This idea, root and theme around revolution has remained close to my heart. To me, revolution is being the fire in motion. Revolution is being the flame that never burns out, changing yourself while remaining honest and influencing the world or environment for the better. In revolution, I see justice, hope and humanity. I hear voices being heard and silence rumbling loudly. There are risks involved with revolutions, but necessary risks worth taken in the end. Every now and then, I am reminded of why I need to stand up and fight for what I believe in. And today was one of those days. I will not be silent. I shall overcome.

‘Revolution’ on John Butler Trio’s April Uprising album has always evoked powerful emotions within me, a spirit of revolution I like to dwell and carry within. The official music video for ‘Revolution’ is a take of a more personal side to humanity’s revolution, which I largely admire. I listen to the studio recording several times, but I must say this live version of ‘Revolution’ is a favourite. John Butler’s perspective on revolution and defining the ongoing process is what keeps me listening and living. Let the revolution live on.

pretty with apple and wordpress

On an iPad, this is how my blog appears. I can never say this enough, but I love Apple! Also, I’m beginning to like WordPress more. The design of the magazine layout has won me over.

talking melodies

I can’t get enough of the guitar riffs in these songs.

happy 96th birthday, les paul!

You can play on this guitar!

Songs that I wrote:

Song 1

Song 2

Song 3

Read more about Les Paul and this Google logo here.

waving to musicians via airwaves

I’ve encountered some real musicians in real life (more on that later). And I’ve also had conversations with musicians through social networking. Even though our conversations don’t get any more personal than what’s publicly published, I still can’t help but feel this connection. I’m star struck and it’s like I’ve already met them and they become people I know.

Referring to one of John Butler Trio’s songs, ‘Revolution’ and JB’s protest for Save the Kimberley.

In reply to an album art contest. I never submitted and it was too late. A 7 year old girl won. How could you ever compete against that?

Joe Satriani is my first twitter follower!

I told Brooke how I read her blog post about acoustic guitars and bought a Martin! Best decision I’ve ever made.

I can’t remember which Schuyler Fisk song I was listening to, but she thanked me!

Not shown: Frankmusik (I think it’s because he changed his twitter name). My friends and I kind of forced him to RT us. Guilty as charged. But no shame in our guilty pleasures of stalking celebrities.