Are You Experienced??

I am listening to This Will Be My Year
from the album “Feeling Strangely Fine” by Semisonic
on my iTunes right now!

First up, before I forget. I HIGHLY advise you… Listen closely… It would be in your best interest to purchase ADVANCE seats for one of the two shows I am doing with Will Taylor & Strings Attached on Saturday, January 13th. It is going to be a REALLY big and VERY special show. Don’t blow this one folks! Tickets are available by clicking the lovely graphic I made below.

Well, I made into 2007 and boy oh boy was it a great 2006!

Let’s take a quick peek back at some substantial events in my life this past year…

• I played a bunch of Texas shows with The Small Stars from January through April, including SXSW. But I also toured to CA and NV for shows in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Reno.
• I recorded background vocals on “Day Job” for The Small Stars upcoming new album.
• I left The Small Stars in April to focus my efforts on my solo career.
• I played a songwriter set at the John Lennon Songwriting Bus when it made it’s first Austin stop of the year at the UT campus. I was joined on stage by Landis Armstrong and Kevin Remme.
• I sang “That’s The Way God Planned It” at the first tribute to the Concert For Bangladesh at The Hole In The Wall during SXSW.
• I signed with Roggie Baer’s RajiWorld Touring Consultants as my exclusive North American Booking Agent.
• I recorded 5 songs at Willie Nelson’s World Headquarters at his private ranch in Luck, TX with Matt Hubbard engineering the sessions which included Landis Armstrong (guitar), Kevin Remme (drums), and the late David Zettner (bass).
• I performed another songwriter set at the John Lennon Songwriting Bus. It’s second stop in Austin of the year was at the NAMM convention. Landis once again joined me on guitar.
• I went home to Alabama to celebrate my Grandmother’s 89th birthday and was able to visit with all of my immediate family and a lot of my good friends.
• I was once again asked to sing “That’s The Way God Planned It” for the second tribute to the Concert For Bangladesh. This time at Threadgill’s World Headquarters, sponsored by KGSR and hosted by Jody Denberg.
• I recorded 3 songs with Mac McNabb and began working with him to complete my debut EP.
• I was cast as “Eddie” in The Rocky Horror Show at Zachary Scott Theatre. The show ran from October 5th – November 12th and I made some of the greatest friends during the run.
• I performed the song “Savoy Truffle” at White Album concert with Will Taylor & Strings Attached at The Nutty Brown Cafe.
• The movie that I filmed over 2 years ago, Mike Judge’s, “Idiocracy” FINALLY came out! I’m in the film for all of two seconds.
• I was invited to appear on Fox 7 Morning News where I performed “Remember This Christmas.”
• I performed with Will Taylor & Strings Attached at their Christmas Show. I was honored to have Will arrange my song, “Remember This Christmas” for the show.
• I was chosen as the first winner in the KGSR/Apple Computer MacBook contest. The prize was a brand new Apple MacBook and airplay on KGSR. Jody played my newest song, “Down In A Pinch” not once that week, but at least twice! Thanks.
• I made my Cactus Cafe debut opening up a show for the phenomenal Ruthie Foster!
• I played my first full band show at Roggie’s 42nd Birthday Party – AFTER Party. We did about 90 minutes at Lambert’s in downtown Austin. The band was made up of Mac McNabb (guitar), Matt Hubbard (keys, melodica), Steve Zirkel (bass), and Kevin Remme (drums).
• Roggie booked me for my first full band show in LA to take place in about 2 weeks at The Mint. Oddly enough, somehow The Small Stars ended up on the bill, so I am actually opening for them before Shawn Pander later opens for The Mother Truckers. Should be a great show.
• I was asked to play the John Lennon Songwriting for the fourth time! This time in Anaheim at the NAMM Convention the day after my show at The Mint.

So, as you can see, it was a good year for me. I am truly blessed and very grateful to all of these good things that happened to me in 2006, but I could not have done them without the love and support of so many of you out there who write, call, IM, come to the shows, listen to the songs, share the music with your friends, and give back to me the love I try so hard to give to all of you.

As you can see, I was listening to Semisonic’s, “This Will Be My Year” when I started this post. I believe that wholeheartedly, but more importantly I am happy with the fact that I know that this will be my LIFE.

Thank you,

Nakia

PS: I have posted a new set of potential album covers at Flickr. Check ‘em out!

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