I've written about Grace McDunnough in these pages on several occasions recently, including the Musimmersion show i attended on the 1st of June and other performances. On 7 July, I had the good fortune to get an invite from Grace's group to attend an event Molaskey's Pub where Grace appeared as the guest speaker. A few days later, on the 11th, I received a group invite to join Grace in her "sometimes home" in SL at the Inside Out Cafe. It was while having attended these events, that I began to see a common theme and garner insight into the mind and thinking process of the musician known as Grace McDunnough. What you are about to read is a blend of the three events, as well as Grace's history here in SL.
Grace first looked into SL in 2005 but was not very impressed it as she noted in her talk. She did return in 2006, when she rezzed Grace, when she discovered SL could actually be a creative outlet. She at first led weekly poety readings at Mill Pond and opened a poetry gallery where people could share their poems. Grace admits some of her original songs were derived from the poetry she'd heard there. It was not long after that when she discovered live music on Mill Pond. Friends helped her get her start as an SL musician, enduring her "melt downs" and "debiltating stage fright." She finally got on the mic in Nov 2006.
Performing at Mill Pond for awhile, and driven by her "insatiable curiosity," Grace eventually branched out to other venues, including Salome Strangelove's Freudian Slip and Carter Liveoak and Gillian Carthage's Heron Island Peformance space (HIPs), both of which remain her musical homes. When Grace saw some of Salome's amazing lyrics, a collaboration began, with Sal writing and Grace composing.
Grace also put together the Miill Pond Folk Festival (MPFF), which encompassed 15 hours of art and live music on 3 stages and across 2 sims, with over 50 musicians from 6 countries. This experience led her to begin thinking about Musimmersion, of which she has done 3 productions thus far. Grace has learned that through frustration, inspiration often comes and this was how Musimmersion was born. Grace wanted to do something "evocative" after her many bookings for gigs in SL, something different. Whe became "motivated" to see if she could "break out of the normal live music experience" and take people on a journey so to speak, using the music as a transport vehicle to connect with what people have experienced, to "shape" their connection with the music and lyrics. She achieved this via Musimmersion, where she blended visuals with her music in a different way. With help from Salome, Gillian Paddy Wright and Almathea Blanc, some amazing sets were built to accompany her original songs. I attended 3 of these productions and was truly in awe. Originally doing her Musimmersion productions every Thursday, Grace hopes to increase the schedule closer to SLCC, running through Labor Day Weekend in the USA.
Grace began taughter herself to play guitar at age 10 but didn't stick with it after having been asked to play a song she wrote for church. In front of the entire congregation, her stage fright, and most likely her tender age, got the best of her and she admits she forgot the words. Following that, she had what she terms a "mishap" and ultimately threw up behind the alter (sorry Grace, you put it out there).
On Saturday, July 11th, Grace invited her fans to join her in her at the Inside Out Cafe located on Nevi. And true to Grace form, this place was a unique spot. Just another example of Grace's unique and talented mind and fairy-tale imagination.
It has a treehouse feel to it, but is really multi level, round platforms, with lots of seating, including clouds to perch upon! I absolutely loved that and quickly helped myself to a nearby cloud. I happily bobbed gently up and down on my cloud seat while Grace played all her beautiful melodies. I was able to change poses on the cloud and opted for the dream pose. In addition to the clouds, a giant stork also served as a creative seat, towering above the crowd. At the second show I attended at this venue, I chose the stork as my seat, where the wings can be changed. I ended up with dragonfly wings and was lifted high above the rest of the crowd. A very awesome place this is.
The artist known as Grace McDunnough is truly an amazing and talented lady. She never ceases to amaze me with her skill, her creativity, and her very humble demeanor.Shellie Sands
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