Straight From the Panda's Mouth

Currently watching: Pulp Fiction

I just posted the following note on the Panda Expressions blog. More to come!


May 9, 2009 - Saturday


Explain!

Dear fans,

You may be few and far between currently, but our baby of a band appreciates you very much. I thought you'd want to know.

So, some of you may have noticed recent changes to TPE and its members. I thought I would post a blog explaining some things; probably not as in depth as I would like, but an explanation just the same.


I guess most importantly, I should address why the hell it took so long to record another song. This may be long, but I hope you'll read some of it.


Firstly, Chase and I actually had another song recorded, but he was not satisfied with it, so it was never released. If he hasn't deleted it, I would like to get my paws on it someday, since it meant so much to me, and I always wanted to share it with you. Maybe you can hear it.

Also, before I explain why Chase's involvement ended so abruptly, I should delve into some other things.

Namely, about two months ago, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and under went a pretty invasive surgery. Let me tell you, I am thankful that it was caught so early and at such a primary stage, but finding out you have cancer three months before you graduate from high school can prove to be, at the very least, a challenge. I was scheduled for surgery in early April and left to stew for a month. By the time I actually had my surgery, I was so drained from AP classes, my work as editor of our school newspaper and the disease itself, my modest attempts at music were ignored. Music is a major catharsis of mine, and this probably just perpetuated the emotional effects of my illness and surgery. I do not consider myself a musician by trade, but it has helped me work some things out. Either way, I did what I had to do. And I had to remain satisfied with the one song TPE had recorded.

During this surgery, there were also multiple suspicious skin legions found on my back and leg. I just under went a surgery which removed those yesterday, and I am hopefully done going under the knife for now. I will, however, have to undergo iodine radiation. Thankfully, this won't happen until the summer, so I can finish school on time, and go off to Syracuse (go orange) without a hitch.

As to why Chase and I went our separate ways, musically: Our relationship has been put under an immense amount of strain in the past year. I can't/won't point the finger at one element (although, if you get me in a surly enough mood, I might be able to) that led to his bowing out of the band. But I will say, to fans of his, he is just as human as you are. As am I. As are all of us. Our human qualities make us capable of making music. But they are also the qualities that hurt others. Sometimes, as teenagers primarily, we don't think enough about what we say and do. The most important part about growing up is learning to admit when you are right and when you are wrong, and also to learn you're being right and wrong is all relative. These things are difficult to conquer.

Anyways, Chase is the big man around campus, and at his show I just recently went to, he had mole skin journals, t-shirts and non-hand-crafted CD sleeves. He's come a long way from just a couple years ago. I'd like to think my pain-staking efforts at promoting him and producing those little EP's had a little to do with it, but I guess his success was inevitable. If nothing else, if I find myself needing to justify all that time I put into his music, I can say it was, at the very least, for my best friend. I hope he cares.

So, seeing as how Chase had moved on to other things, I found myself on my own, musically (?). My attempts at compiling music myself were fruitless, and I had some learning to do. However, Anthony offered to not only to take me to my Senior Prom, but also to assist me in recording recent tunage. Realizing we were quite the team and that I'm pretty inept when it comes to mics and stop buttons, I formally invited the young man to join me in my musical quest (I think that TPE is worthy of this term). He's a very talented kid who likes to jam. (Shameless plug, here; please check out Pulscapades).

So, I'm about through waxing. I just hope as our "project" begins to grow, you'll let people know about Anthony and I. Maybe an iTunes release is in order? There are quite a few things in the works, and we will keep you updated.

Finally, thank you so much for the support. These past few months have been quite...yeah, you know. So, it means the world that you guys keep pressin' that play button. You are the best, and I mean it. New music VERY soon.

Love,

Jeanette