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Here is my first big role on Korea’s MBC TV show, “Surprise”.  Our manager from the show called the day before filming to let me know that I’d be the lead, and that I would be singing.  I was excited because, you know, I like to sing.

Well, I was a little surprised to find out what they had in mind.  I hope this disclaimer is unnecessary, but, uh, I don’t usually sing like this.

Drumroll, please.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NAT7fTQ4a4[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dk3fw2yxNRA[/youtube]

Mom, are you proud?  :).

-Jessica

p.s. If you’re curious, this is actually a true story.  Check out Florence Foster Jenkins.

This morning, Adam discovered this meeting of our two worlds: my favorite band–U2, and his favorite film– a German film called “Wings of Desire” directed by Wim Winders. We were surprised that we’d never come across this before. The song was written for the film’s sequel, “Far Away So Close”. Winders directed U2’s music video, borrowing heavily from his own films.

In this video, the members of U2 are angels watching over the city of Berlin. Lovely. Bono can sing in my ear any time.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQbNDmm09bQ[/youtube]

-Jessica

“Here’s my version of it, eternal whirlwind…”

We saw Bjork in concert tonight at Olympic Hall in Seoul. Part Atari game, part medieval madrigal, part sci-fi alien invasion, the show was completely Bjork and completely cool. She was backed up by a brass band, a keyboardist, drummer, and two guys tweaking on Mac computers. The computer interface was projected on the screens throughout the concert, and it was unlike anything I’ve ever seen before– I can best describe it as a computer theremin synthesizer.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4MoTHilU-Y[/youtube]

Adam and I were sitting in the assigned seats, so we were pretty far back from the stage but dead-center. The energy in the seated section was pretty dead at the start, but Bjork started really cranking about 3 songs in, and we were right there with her. It’s amazing how she can wail so wildly on such perfect pitch. By the end, we were on our feet, fists in the air, screaming along. It was a great show.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KotpmpE16I[/youtube]

We met up with several of our friends from CouchSurfing afterward to complete the event. Adam and I realized that this was the first big concert we’ve ever been to together, and it was a great one.

“Raise your flag! Higher! Higher!”

-Jessica

As a child I fantasized that I would be a full-time singer in the Christmas genre. Though I have branched out a little, many of my favorite songs are still Christmas carols. When I recorded my album, Tonic, in Nashville, it was fitting to open it with a Christmas carol. Then last Christmas in Paju, some talented musician friends and I recorded another carol. Now, another Christmas, another carol.

I have begun a quest. I hope to add to this list of carols every year as a gift to you and a fun project for me. Take a listen and download them for free. Merry Christmas!

Angels We Have Heard on High, Christmas 2007 with Zach Bardon

Free download here

Peace on Earth, Christmas 2006 with Nolan Riley and Nathanael Nicol

Free download here

O Come, O Come Emmanuel, from my album Tonic released in 2006

Free download here

I hope you enjoy them. Have a wonderful Christmas week.

-Jessica

p.s. Thanks to Zach for finishing this song to share with everyone despite his stuffy head and persistent cold. Zach, I hope you feel better very soon.

p.p.s. You can buy my album Tonic online at iTunes, or buy a CD at CDBaby. They ship anywhere in the world, and if you order today, it might get to you by Christmas .

I’m very happy. We’re so busy with things that I always dreamed I’d be busy with. Sorry I haven’t written recently, I had band practice, you know? And, well we’ve had cool new people staying in our living room for the last few days. And, well, we’ve been going out to hear some really cool concerts. And we’ve been hobnobbing in the local Seoul music scene, harmonizing with former lead singers of popular local bands and stuff. Yeah, that’s how we roll.

Peace.

-Jessica

It has been a busy, fun week. We had our first band rehearsal on Saturday, then we had our first gig late on Tuesday night.

We’ve been working on editing the video we took for our band demo, and now at 5 a.m., it’s done. whew. Enjoy! This is Adam’s singing debut!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnG8EDvBYPM[/youtube]

Talk to you soon.

-Jessica

Adam and I are in a band. I can’t tell you how happy I am. I love to sing, but I’ve always sort of dragged my feet to really pursue anything ongoing. I have craved collaborators, partners, teammates. I think I’ve found them.

Through an ad I placed on Craigslist.com in August, we have now joined forces with some really skilled players. Even better, they’re great guys that we love to be around. We have a French bassist, an Indian-Canadian drummer, and an American pianist. Adam is going to sing, too, and he sounds great! We’re heading in the direction of a fun jazz/rock fusion. I was afraid to say much about it before because I didn’t want to jump the gun, but we just had a great rehearsal, and I’m stoked.

If you’re in Seoul, please come to the Big Electric Cat in Itaewon at 10:30 p.m. this Tuesday night, October 23. We’ll be playing our first short set, and we’d love to see you there.

I’m really excited. My hopes are high.

-Jessica

It’s Friday morning. I was very late, the sky was dark, and I had to walk to work through the cold, pouring rain. I was in a really foul mood. Then my iPod delivered this perfect line-up of songs.

Give it a try…

“Mighty Sword” The Frames
from For the Birds

“Strangers” James
from Millionaires

“Porcelain” Red Hot Chili Peppers
from Californication

“The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades Is Out to Get Us” Sufjan Stevens
from Illinoise

“Saturday Sun” Nick Drake
from Five Leaves Left

“Misread” Kings of Convenience
from Riot On An Empty Street

“Fix You” Cold Play
from X&Y

“Say It to me Now” Glen Hansard
from Once (Music from the Motion Picture)

“Love Is No Big Truth” Kings of Convenience
from Riot On An Empty Street

“New Slang” The Shins
from Garden State Soundtrack

And the playlist continues with the likes of Koop, Iron & Wine, Frou Frou, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Citizen Cope.

Enjoy your day.

-Jessica

We just saw a beautiful Irish film called Once. It opened in the states last Winter on the indie circuit, but somehow it made it to the mainstream theaters in Seoul this week. It’s a quirky love story with beautiful music.

Once stars Irishman Glen Hansard and the Czech Marketa Irglova.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoSL_qayMCc[/youtube]

-Jessica

We have news that Adam’s dad is being discharged from the hospital today, earlier than initially expected.  That’s good news.  Adam talked to his parents last night, and Steve seems to be doing better.  I don’t know any details, really, but I know you’d like to hear the good news that he’s going home.  Thanks to many of you for asking about him.  He could use your continued prayers.

In other news, Adam edited and uploaded an interview he conducted with my Grandpa Swanson in 2006.  If you’d like to hear about his childhood as a Swede in Minnesota and his time flying a “Pregnant Whale” in WWII, you can download the interview at http://lofbomm.com/Grandpa.mov.  (It’s a big download.)

And then, completely unrelated, I’m now #29 on the Idol Underground chart, up from #40 last week.  Thanks for stopping by- I’m sure it was you that raised my ranking.

We appreciate you, our friends and readers.

-Jessica