hello team mailing list!

veda here, crouched at a computer in an internet cafe.  welcome to the first
missive from vh headquarters, which is in fact really my head, extending
occasionally to the heads of kate mangan (internet queen) and gary cristall
(mr. manager).  thanks for sending us your name and pertinents.  we'll use
this list to keep you informed, but as well I will write you a letter every
once in a while.

so.  i'm working on alot of things right now.  always the most exciting
thing for me is the writing.  i've actually got three records in the writing
process at the moment, a dangerous balancing act if i've ever seen one.  the
furthest along is a solo record that i am going to record this winter.  i've
been writing on the piano, trying to challenge my playing skills, and there
seems to be a science and nature theme emerging.  i've been reading old
science texts for children from the 30's, as well as some science reports i
wrote in grade one.  i've always loved minutae, and observation of the
natural world.  when i was a kid i thought i would be a lawyer or a
psychiatrist.  turns out that i use similar skills in this job, but never
have to wear a suit.

the second half of that record will be written if i make it back alive from
the Yukon Journey.  the yukon arts centre is shepherding ten canadian
artists all over the north for the last two weeks of july (rafting! hiking!
helicopter rides!) and then sending us away with commissions to try and
capture some part of that frontier.  i've been reading entertaining books
about the good time girls in the yukon goldrush, but i think i'll try and
stick to the science and nature theme.

in august christof migone (my computer manipulator artist pal who made the
electronica noises on 'you do not live in this world alone') is coming to my
house and we will make a record together.  this one will be more on his
turf, not so much songs as sounds, and neither of us have any idea what it
will be like.  my friend justin dreamt that it would be called 'can you love
a cripple?' and i dreamt it would be called 'happy beats'.

and for those of you who love the band (martin, ford and barry), never fear.
  we just finished our best tour ever with two members of my fave canadian
band the rheostatics, martin tielli and don kerr.  we travelled as a six
piece supergroup in germany for three weeks, singing songs about canadian
painters and greatly increasing our tolerance for alcohol.  next summer we
are going to stage a reunion at the gas station, the famous recording studio
on toronto island, where we will commit to tape a variety of New Canadian
Rock Songs.  you should probably also wish me luck on making it back from
that summer vacation.

what else?  i'm wildly excited about my upcoming gigs in london, where i
will be accompanied by justin, my hairdresser and dreaming assistant.  the
band has and extensive tour planned in oct/nov 2000 in canada and the
eastern states.  i can't stop listening to the flaming lips (the soft
bulletin) and christine fellows (two little birds), and i've been glued to
'queer as folk', a bbc series about gay life in manchester (real characters
& hot sex!).    oh, and the companion book to 'you do not...' is actually
moving slowly forward.  really.

so again, thanks for wanting mail.  and if anyone out there has ideas about
where i should play in your town, with the band or solo, please feel free to
send info along to us.  we're particularly looking for solo gigs in bc and
westcoast of the usa for next spring.  if the show works out we'll send you
a cd or shirt.   thanks.

and cheers, everyone.  don't forget to wear a hat in the sun.

veda

To keep up to date on Veda's comings and goings log on to
www.vedahille.com. A fine group of Veda fans also run a highly recommended
Veda Hille mailing list of their own which you can join at
www.smoe.org/meth/trajectory.html
Thanks,
Ball of Flames.

Back to the news page