The Bittersweet Nature of a Busy Life

10 Mar 2015 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Business, Festivals, Inspiration, Recording, Touring Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Sometimes, things fall in your lap that are wonderful. And throughout my life, I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of these treasures come my way.

Meeting Kirsty, then Sara and playing in Straddlepuss with them has certainly been a treasure. Not only are these two great emerging musicians and songwriters but also amazing young women, who I’m really proud to call my friends. Saturday 21st March, we are incredibly pleased to be playing at GRRL Fest 2015 in Melbourne.

So, It’s more than a little bittersweet to announce that I’ve decided to leave Straddlepuss – but other exciting projects are starting to get very pressing!

I’m really pleased to announce that The Woman on the Edge of the World will be going ahead as a CD release later this year. Remastering is scheduled for mid-late April, artwork is in the final stages, and it will be limited to only 100 signed and numbered copies. Also, it will only be available through me. I’m happy to take pre-orders but holding off a little until I find out the retail price. Trying my best to keep this little collectable affordable! Plus, The Lucky Six covers EP which was first mooted as a recording project in 2013, looks like it will happen as (at least) a digital download later this year. At present, we’re considering mastering, release options and licensing, all the important – but often tedious – stuff that makes the music industry go round.

Meanwhile, the All At Sea project with documentary maker, Josh Troy and the inimitable Matt Sertori from Butterscotch Pony is still forging on. Lots of footage for me to look at now apparently! And we still have to look at recording options for this beastie too……. so much work to do!

And amongst all of this, my university studies continue. I’m doing second year Screen Studies units now through Griffith University and it’s really making me work. Nevertheless, I’m really enjoying the challenge. It’s so different to anything else in my life.

Honestly, I’ll really miss playing in Straddlepuss but I look forward to my other projects and new challenges. I’ll still be going to their gigs in the future and cheering on these truly fabulous women ❤

Pleasure and Pride – 3-track Demo Release

16 Sep 2014 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Downloads, Music, Recording Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Hey everyone,

I realised today I haven’t posted anything here for such a long time! My life is incredibly busy with study, teaching and creating, but today I really want to stop and share a moment to take a whole heap of pleasure – and a lot of pride – in Straddlepuss‘ latest achievement.

Sara (Drums) Kirsty (Guitar/Vocals) & me (Bass)

Sara (Drums) Kirsty (Guitar/Vocals) & me (Bass)

Today we lauched our three-track demo on SoundCloud and so far, people seem to like it 😀 We recorded it down at The Belfry Studio, with the amazing Malcolm Battersby and we’re so pleased with the results.

On a personal note, I have to share how proud I am of my fellow band members, Sara Stevens on drums and Kirsty Leaf on guitar and lead vocals. About a year ago, Kirsty came to me for some singing lessons and she was just about to give up. I don’t know if I’ve ever had anyone come to me who was so unsure of themselves. Then she played me this incredible song that she’d written and I was completely sold on her, her voice and above all, her songwriting. She is an truly unique talent in the making and I feel incredibly privileged to be on this mad ride with her and Sara ❤

Have a listen and see what you think, I’d love to hear your feedback!

Meanwhile, it’s back to study for me, stay well everyone!

Debra ❤

Bad News – Good News

17 Jul 2014 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , ,

I’m feeling quite gutted about the shenanigans in the Senate today, where Australia became the first country in the world to repeal measures to put a price on carbon. In my opinion, this is akin to environmental vandalism and I feel like I need to apologise to my son and any children he may have in the future for the stupidity and short-sightedness of Tony Abbott and co. There’s a great piece by Lenore Taylor in the Guardian Australia. Frankly, I feel ashamed to be an Australian today.

Good news however, is multiple 🙂

I just shared a glorious roast dinner with my adult son (and it didn’t cost $100 Barnaby Joyce/Tony Abbott) and we celebrate the fact that we can do this. It’s so nice to have him living close by. He’s halfway through a History/Sociology degree at University of Tasmania and just got mid-year exam results back. Credits across the board and HeWhoMustNotBeListenedTo had a Distinctions and High D’s. I had confirmation of a HD on my last unit a couple of weeks ago, so a lot to celebrate at my house tonight!

Meanwhile, I’m up to date (kinda) with my uni work. I’m doing a fully online Communications degree with (hopefully) double majors in Screen Studies and Creative Writing through Griffith University. This study period I’ve taken on two units instead of just one at a time, and the workload’s been pretty fierce. I watch at a minimum three movies a week, mostly westerns, and I’ve been learning a new language – semiotics. I have to say, while I can see the benefits of semiotic analysis of cultural texts, I’m not convinced it’s the best approach. But I’m grateful that I live in a country where (as a mature age woman) I have the opportunity to study at all, let alone again!

Tomorrow, I go out to Oak Industries and my job is to create music with awesome people, and Saturday I’ve got Straddlepuss rehearsal

So, despite the horror show that is the current Australian government, there are so many good things to celebrate.

Life is good – we make it so ❤

A Cheery Chilli Flower

 

Back on the Line! Playing Catch-up with a Virtual Life

03 Apr 2014 Leave a comment

by Debra Manskey in Biography, Business, Composition, Downloads, Inspiration, Inspiration, Inspiration, Merchandise, Music, Performance, Recording, Singing, Teaching, Writing Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

After six months with just my trusty mobile phone, I’m extremely happy to announce that I’ve got a home broadband connection again. Despite having the WordPress app on my phone, it’s just not the same as this interface on my laptop.

It’s good to be back – but now the big job of catching up begins! So much has been happening this southern summer, and as always, some of it’s been good and some of it’s been really bad.

On the “utterly brilliant” end of the spectrum, I’ve finished my first fully online unit through Griffith University. Despite only having my mobile for connection, I managed a surprising high distinction and I have to thank some beautiful friends in Hobart for letting me leach their net regularly to stay on top of things. Thank you Lauren and Patsi ❤ you two are wonderful! I’m well into my second unit now and starting to really enjoy the challenge of study again.

In the next few weeks, I’ll be finalising digital stuff for my most recent recording and playing catch up with getting cd’s out and about. And for those of you in southern Tasmania, I’m playing at the next ASA show on Wednesday, 9th April. Once again, we’re at The Night Owl in Liverpool Street, Hobart.

ASA 9th April poster

I’ll also have details to reveal soon about a new songwriting/recording/documentary project, plus a live, all-girl punk band I’m playing with called Straddlepuss.

And finally, being back online with a fibre connection means I can at long last offer Skype music lessons to you all. I can’t believe it was October last year when I first wrote about this and it’s taken until now to get it off the ground! If you’re interested, fill out the contact form – and the first lesson is free 😉

There’s been sadness too but I’m not dwelling on that today.

Today is a day for cheering!

Take care friends,

Debra ❤