Nashville

Well....hello. My name is Bonne. I blog sometimes =)

It must have been quite some time since my last blog...everything is changed up in here & I'm not positive I'm typing into my actual blog ..?.. or into some box meant for a web layout code....

....

It's been a very busy past few weeks (month? year? Who are we talking about?) and I'm not quite sure where to begin or positive I'll cover everything. I probably will leave a *few* things purposely out as to not jinx my-always-superstitious-self. Plus I've had the craziest four months of my career alllll while having ankle surgery, narcotics in my system, and healing from ankle surgery.

Every single time I talk about my ankle...I feel the need to flip it off. I wonder if that will ever go away.

I'm not complaining really - it's actually motivated me to get into even BETTER shape than before ('Don't it always seem to go you don't know what you got til it's gone' - Joni Mitchell). Plus, it didn't affect my voice/writing ability. I have been working on new music. I know I've been talking about an album since last fall - but so much as changed on an-almost-daily-basis but all for the good and new music IS still on it's way. Hopefully just in a shinier package ;-)

I'm very confident you'll be hearing some new tunes very very soon. But on that front - part of the change is in who I'm working with. I'm working with some new people, and so I'll introduce them and call that my blog this time =)

I am working on a song "Absence of Fear" I wrote early this year here in Iowa with a fun rock producer named Brandon. Here is Brandon (right) and his engineer, Micah (left):



I know what you're thinking...... Yes. Yes, I plan to get a photo of the back of our three heads, all in a row, and post it to see if people can us apart ;-)

"Absence of Fear" has become a sort of bookend song by accident. We began the song in early April, got about half way done, and then I had to stop and head to Nashville the next day.....I worked on & completed five songs in Nashville....and am now back in Iowa and will complete "Absence of Fear" with Brandon this week back at my semi-home base studio - The Sonic Factory Studios. I'm actually heading there in a few snowy hours....



It was the first song started during this 'demo' stage - and will be the last song completed. So....my bookend song =) And considering the subject of the song - it seems very fitting. Lyric: "I could write songs in the dark and call them blinded...decided not to give in to avoid the fight."

I am also working with a mad pop/rock genius based out of Nashville named Mike. Here is Mike:



He is not only producer of the songs I'm working on with him - - he is also the sole instrumentalist and his own engineer.



He keeps busy - I sit and drink way more coffee than any one person should.

As the songs come to audible life I rewrite and fine tune my lyrics trying to make the songs as correct of a picture/story as possible...waiting for him to say 'Do you like that?' or 'I need a break' or 'Time to sing'.



Other than being on vacation with my family on an island somewhere - being immersed into a creative environment like this is jussst about the perfect way to spend time for me.

It was great being there for an extended period of time, I got to know everyone well and we did get to do some fun things besides just make music.

Like one of my other favorite things to do...ghost hunt:



Oh yeah...that's me walking over an old cemetery & you may not see it well in this pic but I believe there's an unexplained white whisp above me.

And we got to hear live music =)

Here is a photo (during a dark lit Smash Mouth show, ha) of a writer named Andrew, me, and Mike w/his beautiful fiancé...and a successful photo-bomber =)



So now I'm back in Iowa, finishing 'Absence' & doing some private shows, then I head back to Nashville again next week. It may be a few more months, but I hope everyone reading will be able to have a very clear picture very soon of everything I've been and am going to continue working on.

I do have a few public performances coming up amongst all of this that I hope to have a functional ankle for (next public show: MAY 26TH, Smokin' in the Junction in West Des Moines' Historic Valley Junction at 6:30PM, main stage).

I hope to see you out there. My spirits are high and that should translate to my performances this summer! I'm very happy and very excited to be doing exactly what I am doing right now.

I can't wait until I'm able to share my new music with you all.

Thank you for checking out my blogspot - - I hope to keep anyone interested as informed as I'm able to!

Cheers,
Bonne

"Some Nights" by fun. is fun

Hello!

So....my foot is getting better =)

Not perfect. But it's most certainly better. I start physical therapy Wednesday and am getting a small brace in place of my huge boot tomorrow. I have not been a fan of the boot.... (I'm actually fingering said boot riiight now).

I'm still having to sit & sing, but this past weekend I rigged up a pretty solid prop-up system so I didn't have to keep sitting in a chair - which looked like I was getting ready to read children stories to the good people at Cunningham's Journal.

Saturday night was my first FULL BAND rock show since my injury, and thanks to a perfect height stool & ginourmous toolbox, I had alot of fun - it was a St Patty's Day show in Kearney, NE. The crowd was THE most fun and it felt like my non-jumping around went unnoticed once the night began =)



We had the fun members of DAKOTA PARK (Josh & Josie) along with us to open up and they did great and I had alot of fun having another girl on the road with me - here's a pic from their rehearsal at the hotel



We didn't get much sleep in after the Saturday night show - despite our not getting back to our rooms until 2am and the band van being planned to leave at 7am. Here is a little behind the scenes look at what our room was like around 3am Sunday morning ....still dressed in sweaty show clothes and sober as judges we decided to have fun with "Some Nights" by fun. and an iphone app......that's me, band keys player Neil Stoffregen, and Dakota Park frontman Josh Sinclair....filmed by Josie Ochanpaugh.....we hope you get a kick out of it:



I will do a longer blog soon with alllllll the many many things going on with the new songs - in a nutshell: I"m working with alot of new people, all of whom are very talented and I'm excited to begin work with, and it requires I travel to Nashville to do the majority of the work starting as early as next week.

Nashville ain't just for country artists...

Happy Monday - thanks for reading and more to come soon ~ Bonne

*for our performance schedule please check out www.bonnefinken.com and go to 'Live Shows'*

My Ankle Blog

Hello! Welcome to Bonne's Ankle Blog.

Oh yes... This is my foot.

Or... my ankle, rather.

And my ankle is the new disgruntled owner of two very ugly looking & permanent screws.

*seven second internal scream*

I'm going to use this Xray as the updated poster for the Valentine's Day GrapeVine show on Friday, Feb 15th (sidenote: this show is currently sold out, but you can be added to the April 19th list by contacting afinetime4wine@aol.com). I'm going to blow this pic up and post this on the door to the venue. It may make people scratch their heads walking in...but I think it will help announce without an announcement that no - that isn't an imposter on stage. Due to doctors orders, on Feb 15, I'm going to have to be ... *big breath* ... SITTING DOWN FOR THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF MY SHOW *exhale and collapse with head in hands on lap*.

=(

Here is my post-op photo:

Somehow I feel proud that even while on two forms of narcotics my brain still thought to have a blog pic captured. Yet I am annoyed that I didn't think to put on makeup or a hat or, like, a shirt.

Here's a close up of my new accessory.

While I'm frutrated beyond words I can use in public with this happening, I do still find myself grateful that: it's just my ankle. It could have been worse and I'm aware of that.

I'm still able to sing and see and hear...PLUS? I never really liked getting up to get my own bowl of cereal anyways?

And honestly - I've always kinda had "sit (or stand still) for an entire performance" towards the very very end of my bucket list....so.....here we go! Who knows? Maybe it'll be, like, super awesome?

Now...onto All That Is Album:

I had planned on the new album and promo photoshoots beginning in February, but with my new huge leg thing that will probably be postponed a month or so now.... (supressing internal scream)

On the plus side - recordings for the songs are strong, and I am actually going to be traveling for the next week thanks to that very reason, that of which I hope to have more details to share as time goes on.

I'll end the blog on that note, and with a quote from a new song I'll have in tow with me on my travels, called Absence of Fear.

"I could write songs in the dark and call them blinded - decided not to give up to avoid the fight"

VALENTINE'S DAY Performance

Friday, February 15th Bonne will perform for the holiday at Des Moines' Premier Listening Room - THE GRAPEVINE - and will be joined by James Biehn on guitar (Musician & Owner - Central Iowa Music Lab).

RSVP is required by sending an email to AFINETIME4WINE@AOL.COM. Bring a picnic basket of your favorite food and a wine catalog will be emailed to you prior to the show. Ticket are $10 and seating is very limited so be sure and reserve your spot now!

The intimate, candlelit setting provides the perfect night out to celebrate the holiday. Bonne's favorite listening room promotes not only the music and songs, but the stories behind the music. Doors are at 6:30pm on Friday, Feb 15th. Address and details will be sent to the attendees.

Thank you!

Bonne Finken: December 2012 Video Blog

I'm so glad we are documenting the making of this album (currently titled: 'Invisible Love Affair') because I SO wish I had done that when I made my first one - 'Soul on Display'.

Sometimes it seems mundane at the time of filming - and since I'm chief (only) editor - I allow myself a month break between filming and reviewing to try and see it from a different perspective.

I do know, however, in 10 yrs from now none of the footage will seem boring - and I will be forever grateful to have it all - no matter how far into the world this album makes it.

So...here is my monthly video blog...thanks for tuning in =) ~ Bonne

My Mozart-Inspired New Years Resolution

After a concert - an admirer walked up to Mozart to pick his brain.

ADMIRER: Hi Mozart - I'm thinking of writing some symphonies. I feel like I have some beautiful music to share. Do you have any suggestions on how I get started?

MOZART: That's wonderful! A symphony is a very complex form of music - perhaps you should start with something a little more simple and work your way up to a symphony over time.

ADMIRER: But Mozart - you wrote some of the worlds greatest symphonies at just 8 yrs old.

MOZART: ...yes...but I never had to ask anyone how.

......

That little exchange is reason #2,984 I love my boyfriend. He sent that to me when I was reaching a boiling point of frustrated last month. I am going to try and vaguely explain why that inspired my 2013 new years resolution.

Now just for the record, I'm not comparing myself to Mozart or my music to symphonies. It's the larger picture of the exchange that is why I felt the need to share it.

It's an overall realization that has recently come to me....and it's making me more confident to hold my hands up on some things when I look at them from the Mozart point of view. That is 1/2 of my new years resolution. Keep your hands up, Bonne.

And to quote my own new song that I wrote for my son (calledIsaiahthatwillbeonmyupcomingalbumdroppinglatesummer2013) "make your world the world that you want". That is the other half.

So in a very broad probably confusing nutshell - that is my combined New Years Resolution. And it must be real & true since it's now on the internet =)

Now that I've gotten that off my chest....

To the readers....thank you for taking an interest in my blog.

I hate most social media with a passion. Not what it is meant for - but what it's turned out to be - to a large degree. However, I like the idea of trying to connect with people on a level past what I'm able to at shows or through my song lyrics alone - so this blog helps me create a small window into my world - without pushing it - for anyone that wants to peek in.

I am a writer. So a blog works for me. I think I communicate by writing at LEAST 4 times better than by speaking. At least. If you're having any confusion at all reading my blogs, I wouldn't encourage too many one-on-one conversations with me, haha. You may think I'm nutso. ;) In addition to writing, in general, I also love poetry and puzzles, so all that combined makes it fun for me to write poems, rather than just a potential novel's or screenplay's (although I'm always working on those here & there as well).

I also am in love with music. Really. It's to the point that I am contemplating naming my upcoming album "Invisible Love Affair" to try and explain how much I love music. I feel like it can overwhelm me and my life and my emotions to that degree.

I hear crazy unexplainable combinations of melodies and rhythms to my writings, that come out of nowhere into my head...almost uncontrollably.....so in order to sleep at night I have to get them OUT of my head by creating and exploring fun music to go around what I write. Those happens to equal a song. Putting poems to melodies to music....that's all. Nothing super amazing, it's like being an audible chef of sorts, but I feel like it's what I'm good at in life - naturally. I like my music and my bandmates like my music, and so I'm able to keep doing what I enjoy doing. That makes me feel lucky.

I am a singer. I feel lucky to be able to sing, mainly so instead of handing my songs over to vocalists I'm able to sing them myself. A combo of traits I don't take for granted - - ever. But I also love to simply: sing. I love both writing and singing so much that even if I only was able to do one or the other I'd feel satisfied to some degree...to have both is a blessing.

I sometimes wish I was an athlete. Or a terrific cook. Or a natural planner. Or a great photographer. Those things would make my life a little enjoyable, ha, and I admire the people who are talented in those arenas. However, I do believe talent is not something you can find, want, and claim as your own - like groceries off a shelf. So while I slowly learn fitness, cooking and photography as my current hobbies (in addition to my always love for movies/cinema....'Django Unchained' and 'Silver Linings Playbook' are on my list of favorites so far this year...can't wait to see the other 22 on my list before Oscar season) I find myself grateful today for the traits I was born with and happen to really enjoy and am able to fully apply to my life. The effort comes in figuring out how to shine a proper spotlight on them, only because selling that music is how my power stays on, but at least I don't find much headache in creating the product itself. After this past year I realize that is most definately something I should feel grateful for.

Much Love and wishing for a wonderful new year to all of you ~ Bonne

Seth Hequist & Bonne Finken working on new song 'Hang On' at The Sonic Factory Studio

Rock n Roll

I love that these photos were captured under the radar. I didn't plan on having them - but think they tell a decent story for "a day in the life of".... This was two weeks ago, for a holiday party in western Iowa.

1:30PM - load

6-8PM - eat/change/wait

band break area

11:30PM

Back to Unload Van = 2:30AM

Home = 3AM










photos taken by Jon Locker