Hello! I am writing you from New York in this late summer heat. Update! The documentary has been completed! We are so proud to be a part of this film. Visit www.separatebutequalfilm.com to read about it and see the trailer. The photographs of Henry Clay Anderson, whom the film is about, will be exhibited at The Smithsonian Museum in Washington!

I have been giving  much thought lately to this topic of Art meeting Activism. Perhaps because, I have recently performed our music at benefit shows for The Wildlife Federation and their restoration of the gulf oil spill. I am also considering joining an Environmental committee at our food co-op using my public speaking skills to help their causes (preventing Hydraulic Fracking in New York!).  I feel so much more satisfied that my true gifts are being utilized when i engage in projects like these.  Creative energy put into action to help others or putting your self out there for a  cause you are passionate about, releases blocks in you that have built up. I am not saying that creative energy used soley for a creative purpose is not important,  it is equally important. I find myself drawn to creative ideas that both entertain and enlighten those experiencing it.

I guess what I am really trying to say to you all is, find a way to be creative and find a way to help others with that creativity.

Hello and Happy Summer! I am writing you from the hot and steamy New York and i hope you are keeping cool where ever you live. I just returned from a fantastic trip to California; where we produced a show & performed our music, saw some awesome friends and family and experienced my first earthquake after-shocks! We will be in New York for most of  the summer working on music for soundtracks for several films. I still get so many sweet messages and emails from Twilight series fans around the globe and I thank you so much for this! With the film based on the 3rd Book, ECLIPSE, soon to be released in movie theaters; I thought it is the perfect time to share with you my experiences narrating this story.  Alice: “Don’t you know your own mind Bella?” Bella: “I do. I just wanted to be sure”.  Alice: “I’m only as sure as you are, Bella….if you were to change your mind, what i see would change or disappear in your case.”. Bella: “That isn’t going to happen though”. This conversation between Bella and Alice, to me sums up the whole story. Does Bella really know her own mind? Does she know the right choices to make? And once she does choose she does not want to look back or doubt herself but she does. Alice and Bella always seem to have the most honest conversations, maybe even more honest than Bella and Edward? Bella’s Conversations with Jacob are also very real, very grounded in “reality” and Edward is her “fantasy reality”. This book is about a Love Triangle, about friendship vs. romantic love. Which of course spawned amongst the fans, the Team Edward vs. Team Jacob. When i am asked who I choose Edward or Jacob, as narrator of these books, I of course must stay neutral, i am Switzerland! Let’s face it, the allure of Bella choosing Edward and becoming like him; is that she attains immortality and her romantic hero, Edward! The allure of Bella being with Jacob is, he is a real friend to her, knows her family and is connected to her life in reality. Playing this love triangle as I narrated Eclipse was fun because Jacob loved to verbally spar with Edward and prove his worth to Bella.  All the other adventures and twists and turns of this book are all meant to heighten their triangle and show the conflict Bella is going through in choosing her destiny. Tell me what you think of Eclipse and ask me anything you want to know about my narration!

Thanks for reading, Ilyana

Hello! My apologies for not writing for a while, but I have been recording many audio books, writing and performing music for LythionMusic projects and my favorite, traveling!! I thought I would give you an idea of what I am working on over these summer months ahead. This month, James and I are celebrating our 5th year anniversary, by traveling to Los Angeles to produce and perform an evening of music, film and storytelling. We are excited to see friends, fans and family and to share with them the music and film we have been producing! Over the summer we will be finishing scoring and producing the documentary “Separate, But Equal.” This is an inspiring film about the photographer, Henry Clay Anderson from Mississippi. This film will not only educate people on the intricacies of life during civil rights era but touch them emotionally with the journey of both photographer, H.C. Anderson and film maker, Shawn Wilson.  And some very exciting news, the estate of photographs shown in this film, will be a permanent part of The Smithsonian Museum! I have been enjoying producing this film so much and learning more about film business every day. We (LythionMusic) are also writing and producing music for young performers just starting their careers in music. Each artist is unique and we create songs that will inspire, challenge and cause them to grow as performers. After working with several artists, I do strongly feel that you have to focus more on the music and performance of it, than worry about “image consulting” and “branding”! Yes I know that bizness folk will say you must have both to make it in biz, BUT did Prince need branding? No, he is a insanely talented individual and clearly gave himself completely to making incredible music and performances. I just think there is too much emphasis on style and not enough on substance & song for these newer artists! And that my friends… is what artists get who collaborate with LythionMusic! We are also going to travel this summer, as play leads to inspiration and that sweetens the creativity. Here is  to working hard and playing hard this summer! I hope you have a beautiful summer and I hope the oceans can come clean after BP’s mess making.

Thanks for reading, Ilyana

Hello! Here we are, heading into deep spring…. jam packed with pollen, flowers and creative juice a plenty! We have many awesome Lythion Music projects on the fire and some are starting to bloom right now: A documentary called “Separate, But Equal” that I am producing and  we are scoring, we are also writing and producing songs for developing artists, and I am also narrating several audio books that will be released soon. What do all these projects have in common? STORY TELLING. Recently on Facebook I posed the question to my friends and fans, What makes a story a REALLY GOOD story? Here are some of the responses I got.  A good story: tells the truth that we forgot and get to remember, life is hard and it gives us some happiness, shows a journey, an old idea in a new light, unlocks something, the characters reveal something about the human condition,  has a piece of you in it,  shows your worst and best moments, a peek into your soul, characters are different at the end of story than when it started, has good rhythm, has someone to root for, someone “flawed” overcomes something, has heart and intellect combined.  Whether we are scoring a film, television show or theater piece; writing a song or narrating an audio book, the outcome of how it comes across, depends on the “performance” yes, but when it is a great story to begin with it makes our job easier! In my narrations, I am essentially telling stories. And every story has an audience. People connect differently to different stories. Who can explain why some connect so deeply to the Twilight Series and some don’t. We don’t know why some love one song more than another song, except that they must in some way connect to the story that is being told. One of the most powerful things you can do if you want to get your creative juices flowing or explore who you are..is to tell a story. What is your story?

Happy Spring. April and spring time in general, happens to be the time of year when some of my favorite people on the planet were born! Among them: My love, James, my godson, Noble and yes to top it off my sweet mother and father. Last month I was visiting Adrianne and Lewis Kadushin, also known as my parents and decided it was high time I interviewed these smart and charming people who spawned me Many people have interviewed them, but who better to tackle the juicy issues than their kid!? As I was growing up and even today, people make comments about the fact that my parents are both in the psychology field and how come I am not CRAZY or other wild outcomes they surmise. To tell the truth I was fascinated by what they did and soaked in their wisdom like a sponge. As I was growing up I was asked many questions by my parents (no surprise there); well here and now, I will end the suspense and turn the tables on them..making them answer questions like- what it was like for me growing up with them? After a lovely brunch and some bloody mary’s (made by their son in law) we dove into some of these pivotal questions. Ilyana: Why did you guys want to become psychologists? Mama: Mental health always fascinated me, i had a lot of crazy people in my family (good laughs follow). I felt a natural gift for seeing other people’s point of view. It was a passion of mine to know people and understand them and be available to them (this sums up my mama pretty well, I may be an only child but she has lots of children..a large brood so to speak). Ilyana: What do you think is the most common reason people go into therapy? Pop: I think people feeling alienated, in pain and being stuck in their situation. Mama: Feeling misunderstood…feeling isolated, fear, anxiety. I think people feel, if others were really to “know” them and who they really are, they would be rejected. They come for a chance to articulate their issues and grow into self confidence.  Ilyana: What is your personal philosophy? Pop: I now value using myself as a healing instrument. I see how the “Good Father”  model  is very much needed. Human beings are  their own worst enemies ..addicted to their own thoughts and feelings.  I help them by challenging this.  Mama:  I practice inter-personal therapy, they are not there to be “cured”, as I see it as an Egalitarian relationship. I am an active therapist not a passive blank screen. I want to reduce their anxiety. Ilyana: How has being psychologists changed your personal outlook? Mama: I feel more humble, knowing I don’t have all the answers or truths. Pop: I realized i must walk the walk and live the ideas I ask my clients to do! Ilyana: How did your career affect your roles as parents? Mama: I have always felt that children are just vertically challenged “people”…they may be small but they don’t lack for gray matter! I am respectful of children. By the time we had you, we had had time being married and it was exciting to me! I felt pretty competent that i could guide another human being. And I was not going to mold you, you were to have your own thoughts, desires, needs..you were not a blank screen for us. Best thing I could do for you was make you feel self confident and focus on your strengths. Pop: I was influenced by many things: the way I was parented, studies of psychology and I admit I was biased and at times felt the tug of “Just Say No” to your kids and don’t explain too much! This slowly transformed as I trusted your mom’s judgment. Ilyana: What do you think it was like for me growing up with you guys? Pop: I think we did challenge you and you did very well (more laughs) , you were dealing with two formidable people but two people who love, cherish and trust you.  We wanted you to be a strong, independent and capable person. Mama: I don’t think there was drama because we were therapists..that is a stereotype! I never felt we had you under a microscope. We got along well, as personality wise we were on the same wave length. I had strong opinions about things you did but still wanted you to go your own way. We let you know you did not have to choose a linear path. You have always been driven. I actually used my therapy on myself so as to get out of your way! You left the nest young and we never assumed we knew better than you simply because we were in this field. Psychology was never in the way (so true! As it helped us!) Pop: There is the “nuturing parent” vs. “strict disciplinarian” in our society and politics as well. One of the political parties, which will go unnamed (more laughs), operates on a strict parent model..showing love by being strict. What is the right thing to do with your child? To be nuturing. Mama: Yes saying No as little as possible will help. Listening to your child. Not being their “best friend” as some parents today are doing, but being a parent. Being a parent is the most important career a human could ever have. The love I feel for humanity is a thousand fold for what I feel for you, my child. I want to show you kindness and compassion. Ilyana: What traits do you think i picked up from you? Pop: You are a good thinker,  you value growing and evolving, you are able to see where you and others are “stuck” and you value your self. Mama: You are loving. You are a great listener. You give yourself and go the extra mile. Your excitement for life..you are joyful, hopeful and optimistic. Pop: You have transcended us and that should be the goal of every parent..your kids should transcend you…evolve. You have created a synthesis of both of us and it is great to know we have a daughter who will carry this on to the next generations. Ilyana: Well we ended the interview by singing “Who’s that little Chatterbox” and toasting to our eccentricities. I am so grateful and honored to call these fantastic people my parents. I highly recommend to everyone out there to interview their parents, you never know what you might learn.

Hello! I have been quite busy with music and voice-over projects and have not been able to blog in a while, but I am back! There are many things to catch up on, so this is gonna be a mixed blog. On the Twilight front, the photo above, is of me being given a custom pair of Twilight Converse Chucks , by Sandira Reddy of Canvas Warriors! They are incredible, she hand painted images from the Twilight series onto the Converse chucks. The Canvas Warriors website will be on my blogroll; so go check it out for awesome Twilight Converse, Hoodies and Jewelery. I have had a very full plate with Lythion Music, my music production company. We have been writing and producing music for a documentary film called “Separate But Equal”; which I am also producing, and will be released this spring. Being a producer in these creative projects has been developing for me more and more over the past few years. I suggest, if you want a bigger role in your creative endeavors  and process, take on a producing role. What does a producer do or need to embody? I think a producer needs to be organized (To Do Lists :), a great communicator (a straight shooter) , inspiring to your collaborators and super conscious of the “Big Picture”. When I wrote and performed in my first solo show, “Devour The Apple”; I learned so much as a performer (creating a vehicle for yourself, instead of waiting for the perfect role) and as a human, about how layered the creative process is. Whatever kind of artist you want to become, if you learn to both create your own creative projects and produce them, YOU will be AHEAD of the game! We are also writing and producing music for developing singers. The process of writing and producing for these projects is fun because it gives us an opportunity to create music that is different than our own music. When we wrote and recorded our 2nd CD, “Weights and Measures”, we looked at it as a body of work and an evolution of our own songwriting and producing. Collaborating with other artists and film makers, opens your own boundaries of what is possible. We are excited to share these projects with you and will keep you posted as to when you can see and hear them! Both of our albums “From The Beginning” and “Weights and Measures” are available through our website, with great liner notes on CD Baby. Check them out and let us know what you think. We have some live concerts coming up this spring and summer in both New York and Los Angeles, that I am so excited about! Upcoming blog posts will include: Writing a solo show, Art meeting Activism part 2, Only Child- “Growing up as the daughter of psychologists”.

I have studied martial arts since 1999. And in spring of 2009 I received my black belt in Hapkido from World Martial Arts Center and my Sabumnim, Master David Herbert. The path to that moment, felt both long and arduous and it also felt like a blink of an eye!  Martial Arts has changed me and my approach to life in so many positive ways, I wanted to share it with you. Hapkido translates as, bringing body, mind and spirit into alignment with mother nature. I also see it as a balance of effort and surrender. And although Hapkido, like all martial arts, is a physical discipline, that is only the tip of the iceburg! I learned very early on from my Sabumnim (Master Teacher) , that I needed alignment of my body, my mind, my emotions and my spirit to really begin the first leg of my journey. I call getting my black belt the “first leg” of my journey because, although it took many years and much effort to receive it,  it also feels like “the beginning” of me, as a black belt. The physical effort and mental focus that it took on this path were intense and my body and mind were the first things to change in me. Besides kicking your body into amazing shape and clearing and harnessing your mind’s ability to focus and sustain focus; the hugest changes for me personally were in my emotions and spirit. To become a black belt your emotions and spirit must become both strong and flexible..like your body and mind. Why? When your mind, body, emotions and spirit become aligned, they become more fluid and less hard, and this takes away Ego, Fear, Fatigue and Suffering and replaces it with your own limitless potential. Believe me, this was not an easy task. You make mistakes. But the attempt and striving for this again and again over time causes this evolution in you. Once this change began in me, I started to see how this translated to my life outside my Dojang (martial arts school). The same alignment that served me in my path to become a black belt, served me in every other area of my life. My work, creativity, relationships and personal development were all craving the same confidence, focus, clarity and strength, that my martial arts life needed. This is when I realized that as I received my black belt, I must BE this black belt in all moments of my life. When i am making a business deal, when I am meditating, when I am talking to a friend, when I am performing, I strive to earn that black belt in that moment and act and react from my “highest self”. To be continued…stay tuned.

Thanks for reading,

Ilyana

Joni Mitchell, Grace Jones, Nina Simone, Rickie Lee Jones, Janis Joplin, Donna Summer, Carole King, Carly Simon, Joan Armatrading, Tracy Chapman and Annie Lenox. What do these phenomenal women have in common besides being phenomenal? Each of these women brought not only powerful talent in performing but also to songwriting, producing and ownership of who they are as women. They are also my idols and musical influences, who inspired me to become a performer, song writer and producer. I have had the good fortune of seeing most of these women perform live (Joni, Grace, Nina, Rickie, Tracy, Joan and Donna) and the INSANELY cool honor of meeting Joni Mitchell. That meeting ROCKED my world! I wanted to share a few stories about seeing their performances, the Joni meeting and how they all shaped my path to MUSIC. I want to say something first about Janis Joplin. There is no doubt in my mind, that when Janis burst onto the very male dominated rock scene when she did, she came on like a fire ball. And I did admire this soul baring, vocal scorching, eccentric lady that she was. She represented the women in rock and blues music who played with her “balls to the wall” so to speak. What makes me sad, (as I came to find out after reading a film script and auditioning to play her in one of the biopics that was being developed) is that she was so insecure, so down on herself and who she was, that her energy was so raw, it lead to her own demise. And part of what makes a woman an idol, is not just the performance on stage but how she handles her self off the stage. She lost her ground and it is sad because I would have loved to see how she could have evolved. I have learned so much about myself as a performer from watching the incredible live shows of these women. Grace Jones. I have seen her twice. This past summer I saw her perform for the 2nd time. It was incredible. 15 costume changes, fierce voice and body presence, fearless story teller..and she is 62 years old! Nina Simone. I saw her perform in Amsterdam with a trio and she was as cool as can be! I am so very glad I got to see her play live before she passed away. She was an amazing storyteller, so soulful and strong, so connected to what she expressed. Rickie Lee Jones. I have seen her play a few times and her voice has stayed so strong and connected to her soul. Her lyrics and images have always affected me emotionally. She like these other women, has always been herself onstage, very genuine…good or bad. Both Joan Armatrading and Tracy Chapman, whom I have seen live, are so soulful in their storytelling, so authentically themselves..they are undeniably good. I saw how they moved their audience with their confessions. “Confessional” music and lyrics is a good description of how I write and perform my music. All these women, in one way or another, were confessing through their music and none more than Joni Mitchell. I saw her perform only once in 1999 and it was her “Both Sides Now” tour with an orchestra at Madison Square Garden. I was sitting with my friend and fellow musician, Pamela Laws, in the 3rd row, with tears streaming down my face. It happens sometimes with certain songs of hers, it hits me in the gut and before I know it I am crying. It can be the melody or the emotion i hear from them, or a certain lyric that just gets me. Her voice was much deeper and different than her recordings from the past but she was still Joni and her presence and performance was stunning. After the show, we went to the Hotel Ringha for the after party! I sat at a table with Joni, Larry Klein, Diana Krall, and Pamela! Oh and Bette Midler and Judy Collins were there (albeit briefly) too! I remember so many things she said that night..how she is into Chinese medicine, how she loves to drink and smoke but her tour manager does not let her go crazy, but most importantly her sage advice to Pamela and I as young & developing songwriters. She said “Don’t be a flavor of the month, go for longevity in this business”. Amen. A moment or so later, her assistant walked up and said “Ms. Mitchell they are ready to give you your massage in your hotel room”. I looked at her and said “that sounds like a perfect end to this night”. She replied “Oh come on, you are young and beautiful girls..can’t you think of a more exciting end to this night?” and she smiled. I said “No actually, performing at Madison Sq. Garden followed by drinks and massage, sounds like my ideal evening”.