Daisy Cools

So I reset and I recalculate...

2012-01-25T01:43:00.000-08:00

Have you ever felt like you could use a reset? Maybe you did when sweet things turned a little sour or when you simply felt you took a wrong turn somewhere and needed to make a change. There doesn't have to be anything dramatic going on really; a reset is always refreshing. But how do you do it? How do you reset? I was looking for answers to this question while I was in Palermo and being there definitely helped. The single (yes, of course its title is Reset!) is all about that. It's out on Friday. When you hear it, will you tell me what you think about the song? And tell me how you reset! Please! ;-)

Daisy x

Updating The Palermo File!

2012-01-11T03:00:00.000-08:00

How are you? Hope you've started this year feeling great and will do so for the rest of the year! It's always worth a try, right?! ;-)

I can't believe it: The Palermo File has been recorded, mixed and mastered! It's been such a crazy ride this time; the writing, the traveling, the recording...everything's been more intense than ever before. And I have a feeling things will continue to be intense...it feels good. I can't wait to have you hear the EP, but I won't be bugging you until the artwork and video are ready. On Friday we'll be shooting the last part of the video for the single Reset at the Turbo Turbo studio and Jessica de Ligt, who's already working on the artwork, is coming by to take some photos. Fun! Remember the cover for The Paris File? She did that one as well. :-)

Keeping you posted.

Daisy x

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-21T06:55:00.001-08:00

Hey there! I hope you're ending this year on a happy note. :-)

I'm doing fine over here, feeling all settled in in Rotterdam, but my mind is still lingering in Palermo. A good thing, because I'm still in the middle of recording The Palermo File with producer Chris Grem. The release for the single 'Reset' is set for January. Pretty soon indeed!

To everyone who came to the try-outs so far: thank you!!! They were so much fun and it was great to hear what you think of the new songs! The photo above was taken by Pascal van Beek, during one of the try-outs in Amsterdam, December 10th.

Wishing you happy holidays and all the best for 2012!

Daisy x

The Palermo File - Try-outs!

2011-11-15T06:23:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to announce that the 'The Palermo File' try - out tour is nearly starting! It's going to take place in some very nice livingrooms. Getting intimate, huh? ;-) Be sure of that! So if you haven't made your reservation yet, be quick to do so! Dates are in the agenda at www.daisycools.com, but can also be found on the gorgeous digital flyer made by Nancy van Geest.

Want to make a reservation? Send an e-mail to:
bookings@daisycools.com

Hope to see you!

Into a Smile - Careclowns Commercial

2011-11-08T02:16:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year Monc Music - Arthur Flink & Hielke Praagman - were asked to compose a song for the new Careclowns commercial. Alice Marzano wrote the lyrics to the song. A song, of course, needs to be sung and Monc Music asked me to make sure of that. Maybe you've already seen the commercial, maybe you haven't, but you can hear the entire song Into a Smile on youtube. Like it a lot? You can get it on iTunes. The commercial's produced by Park Amsterdam. Artwork to the song by Rosa Vitalie. Photography by Olaf Blaauw. Nice, huh?

Arrivederci Palermo, Ciao Rotterdam!

2011-11-02T09:34:00.000-07:00

Aaaah! So back in Rotterdam. Missing Sicily of course, but happy to be back nonetheless. Even happier to be able to say that I've returned with a whole bunch of new songs. I'm getting back in the studio with Chris Grem on Friday to start recording them for The Palermo File.

If you would like to hear the new songs before they're even released, come to one of the intimate shows in November or December. We're going to do try outs at special locations throughout the country in November and December. Very curious as to what you'll think of the songs!

Daisy x

Soon more on the first part of the video recording in Sicily. Oh well, up here's a 'sneak peek pic'

Quite high, isn't it?

The Palermo File - Part 5

2011-10-10T01:50:00.000-07:00

Only a few weeks left before leaving Palermo. Autumn is a very exciting season here with extreme storms and hot days following each other. It's gonna be hard to leave. But it was hard to leave Paris all the same and I got over that, didn't I? :-) I really should shut up about this now, because hey, still a few weeks to go! A few weeks to spend writing and even shooting a video with Turbo Turbo and of course for some more swimming in the sea, eating delicious Sicilian specialities and spending time with new friends.

Actually, -hard as leaving Palermo may be- at the same time I'm looking forward to coming back to The Netherlands and play! We're going to do try-outs (trying out The Palermo File songs ofcourse!) at special locations throughout the country in November and December. Take a look at the agenda regularly and well...get your tickets! Hope to see you!

Daisy x

Oh, and in the photo? That's how we do lunchbreak here. Sigh...

The Palermo File-Sweet Beginnings-Part 4

2011-09-26T04:16:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to be writing to you from Casa Dante again, the beautiful Palermitan home! I've been back on the island for about a week now after spending some time in The Netherlands. My time over there was well spent meeting with Maarten J. Boer - ofcourse you remember: one of the Turbo Turbo filmmakers! - to start planning for the next video and meeting with Chris Grem (ofcourse you know...producer!) talking a bit about the songs I'm writing for The Palermo File. That's right! The second EP in The Europe Files project is starting to take shape...Vaguely still, but surely. :-)

Apart from that I truly believe one should take time to relax...no really? ;-) That's exactly what Marco and I did last weekend in Siracusa! It's a breathtaking city, really very beautiful. We had fresh and raw 'pesce spada' -swordfish- at Il Blu and we were told to be expected to return at night for their Daiquiri (when people tell you they make the best in the world who are we not to believe them?). We did return and we were not disappointed. Don't they look appealing?

Short Break: Rotterdam!

2011-09-09T02:42:00.000-07:00

It feels a bit upside down to be taking a short break from being in Palermo and being in Rotterdam for just a few days. It feels pretty much like a short holiday from writing The Palermo File, but there's still good stuff to be done...On Saturday 10th we'll be performing at Zomergeluidenfestival, Ridderkerk at 14.30. Hope to see you there if you're around! Soon after I'll go back to Palermo and won't be returning to The Netherlands until November.
I'm liking the dynamics. :-)

Cheers!

Daisy

The Palermo File - Sweet Beginnings - Part 3

2011-08-23T02:43:00.000-07:00

Nope. Still not tired of living on an island where swimming in the sea is part of my daily routine. Don't be fooled though, because I do get some work done and I think The Palermo File is shaping up quite nicely already. I've finished up the writing of a few songs that I'm pretty sure I'll end up recording. It's really not that hard feeling inspired and energetic here (not even the extreme heat of this week can stop me :-)
Playing live here is also great and rewarding. I had a great time again at La Sirena Ubriaca and Piazza Mercato! All thanks to my new friend Angela, who's been getting me great gigs. Looking forward to more. :-)

The Palermo File - Sweet Beginnings (part 2)

2011-08-14T13:16:00.000-07:00

Speaking Italian can be a struggle for me sometimes. But it being a struggle doesn't mean that I don't like it! In fact, I like the struggle so much that I've started writing a song in Italian. I intend to record it for The Palermo File. Anyway, I've started writing it today at Balestrate beach. One of the more beautiful and spacious beaches in the west of Sicilia.

Tomorrow I'll be taking a break from the writing and perform again at La Sirena Ubriaca in Marsala! Can't wait! In the picture you can see Angela, a really cool new friend who works there (no we're not naked in the pic, I know it seems we are, but really no, we're not) and turns out to be a fantastic agent....more about that soon.

Cheers!

'The Palermo File' - sweet beginnings (part1)

2011-08-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

Okay. Here's the deal. I'm in a beautiful place; a lemon grove in the village Torre Archirafi in the eastpart of Sicily. It's very hot, it's very quiet and I'm starting to develop an obsession with the Etna volcano which I see smoking every day. Ashes are dropping into my morning coffee (they do, they really do). Do I feel happy? Yes! Very much so. But do I miss Palermo! It's a good feeling to have the city that I'm staying in since July and will be living in for a few more months feel like home. Even better to go back there tomorrow. :-)

I've been writing quite some songs, but I'm certainly up for more. As for gigs, I've got some coming up this month. Keep your eye on the agenda, 'cause exact locations and times will follow.

Bye for now!

Daisy

The Paris File

2011-05-20T01:47:00.000-07:00

Hey there! It's been a while. And a lot has happened since Paris -
a brand new single called Be Good, an incredibly cool video by Turbo Turbo directed by Daniel Baggerman, a fresh website designed by Jessica de Ligt, a lot of airplay and of course the release of the EP 'The Paris File'.
I'll be back with many more details and pics on all the cool stuff and to tell you about my project 'The Europe Files'.

Now the band and I are off to do some live radio promo so check the website for details if you wish to tune in. :-)

Have a lovely day!

Daisy

Pont Marie

2011-02-01T04:50:00.000-08:00

Crossing the Seine near Pont Marie on our way to Rallye Tournelle to play. The picture's by my friend Maartje Willems (thanks!).

One more week in Paris...

2011-01-28T02:18:00.000-08:00

If anyone has the answer to the following question, please let me know: How are we ever supposed to leave Paris and the beautiful Belleville area? (don't say something like by car or any other means of transportation...) It feels so good to be here and this experience has resulted in new songs and - perhaps even more importantly - a very energetic, creative, happy vibe. I'll try to stop mourning the fact that we're leaving soon. It's silly. I'll stop being overdramatic now as well and I'll really enjoy our last week here with all I've got!! ;-) And there's our afternoonshow in Cafe Rallye Tournelle on Sunday that I'm really looking forward to. Life is good. :-) I hope to see you there if you're in Paris!

Love!

Daisy

I just go absolutely ape!

2010-12-30T04:32:00.000-08:00

"Every morning when I wake up and I see there’s a whole new other day I just go absolutely ape!"

I love these words spoken by Gaby in the movie 'Paris when it sizzles' (1964). Actually, it's what's happening to me. I wake up thinking about all these options, all the surprises a day can bring. I get out of bed, get breakfast and feel eager to go out. I feel like simply walking around our neighbourhood -the 19th arr. - and finding out what's going on in the other arrondissements. Try this place, try that place, write songs, get more gigs or do something incredibly touristy. Everything's so much fun that some of the days I don't even know where to start and run the risk of falling flat. But I don't! No, I won't! It's absolute freedom...I just go absolutely ape! I love it.

One of the things I love to do most is to check out as much live music as I can. Last night was great for that. We went to Caveau des Oubliettes (which used to be a prison in the 12th century) to see the SoulConnexion Jam featuring Rachid Guissous (see them in the pic.). Very groovy and inspiring. As are so many things around here...sigh. ;-)

Well, I hope you enjoyed Christmas and I'm wishing you a lovely New Years' party and a beautiful new year with lots of joy and freedom!

Daisy x

Paris

2010-12-08T03:26:00.000-08:00

I'm writing this looking out of the window of our apartment in Paris. It's snowing. Last night we arrived at this nice and cosy little home which reminds me of the apartment I lived in when I was a student. I'm having my morning coffee although it's past twelve. iTunes is on shuffle and playing just the right music. I'm on the couch feeling amazed; are we really here for two entire months? Yes, we are! It feels great to be in this beautiful city to explore it and play and write songs.

Have a lovely day!

Daisy

Cold Nights & Red Wine

2010-11-25T05:13:00.000-08:00

As the cold is slowly kicking in I'm trying hard to surrender to the winter vibe. It helps to have happy thoughts of warm coats, fireplaces, red wine, my new shoes ;), spending long evenings in cosy bars with friends and most of all: Paris! Finally, the day we're traveling to this beautiful city is approaching. We're going to stay there for 2 months, which is brilliant, but it also means no Dutch shows until we get back. The good thing is, that there's still a few shows before we go. What's even better; the shows are part of the Winebar Tour. So if the thought of music and red wine in the evening or late afternoon makes you happy...come see us! Dates are - where else would they be - in the agenda at www.daisycools.com.

Love!

Daisy

Worlds Collide

2010-11-06T11:13:00.000-07:00

Isn't it weird to be completely uninspired? Have you been there? I've felt that way for a while. Nothing too awful; I just didn't feel like doing much. Or anything at all...

Maybe it's got to do with the fall season, but honestly, I don't really know. The good thing about this lack of inspiration is (I should say 'was', because I'm pretty sure it's over and done with now) that I simply didn't care that I was in this situation, so I didn't worry about a thing. I just stayed there - stuck in my head - accepted it and sat it out....and really relaxed my mind. :-)

And maybe this is why I didn't see it coming: The Winebar Tour is starting. I'm very excited but haven't fully gotten out of my hibernation mode yet...a weird sensation, as if worlds collide! It's time to dust myself off and get my act together. It feels good. The shows are going to be acoustic sessions and amongst the 'old' songs is some new stuff that I wrote in Palermo.

The Winebar Tour starts tomorrow November 7th and only a few days after it ends, in December, we're off to Paris. We're going to stay there for 2 months. I'll be performing and working on the new songs. I can't wait! I always wondered what it would be like to be in Paris for more than just a few days and now I'm going to find out! Yes, yes, I'm feeling it now! Pure bliss!! That thing I wrote, starting this post, something about being uninspired...what was that again? Did I write that? No way, can't be...it wasn't me. :-)

Back and Forth

2010-09-14T05:37:00.000-07:00

Being back in The Netherlands, well...it takes some getting used to. Don't worry, this is the last dramatic line you'll hear me say for at least a while! It's particularly nice to be back and rehearse with the bands again, getting ready for shows and working on new stuff. I'm now checking out what I've written in Palermo, trying to figure out what's really there and making some improvements. This being away for a longer period has really helped finding a new approach to writing songs. I'm already planning the next trip. What else can I do? :-) If you're a songwriter, tell me, how do you find new approaches and ways of writing?

Maurizio asked me what my Palermo Top 5 is. I need some time to think about that. What I am sure of though, is that Palermo's a special place. It's going to be a lot of traveling back and forth in the future...See you there?!

All about the videos

2010-09-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

From sunny Palermo still I'm greeting you! We've wrapped up the videoshoot for Homewrecker and it's been an exciting and intense experience. I'm dying to tell you all about it, but I don't want to give away too much too soon. We've been working with a great group including a few incredible actors (more about them soon). Check out Maarten J. Boer and Ewoud Bon working on set on these 2 pics.

Furthermore I've got some news. The video - by Turbo Turbo- for my song Crazy has been nominated for the Dutch Music Video Award- Shoot-me Festival! Congrats to Turbo Turbo and Terrence Sinclair for his amazing performance in it.

Have a great weekend! Cheers!

Ready To Go

2010-08-30T04:49:00.000-07:00

After a few days in The Netherlands - including a lovely gig at Spijkenisse Festival and an inspiring rehearsal with The Mirror Conspiracy - we are now ready to go back to Sicily and shoot the video! First thing we're going to do when we land is visit Nino's Beach for a jamsession. Excellent opportunity for Maarten and Ewoud to check out the place before we're actually filming there tomorrow. Can't wait to get on that plane! Ooh, still gotta finish packing...

Cheers!!

Breaking Away

2010-08-25T02:07:00.000-07:00

It's hot. It's sunny. Every single day! And I'm so used to it. :-) Our days here are laid-back no matter how much work we're doing on some of them. Still, I have to realize that we'll be taking a short break from Sicily soon, but I'm glad to say it's for a nice purpose - we're going to the Netherlands to perform at Spijkenisse Festival on Saturday. Soon after we'll be flying back to Palermo bringing with us director Maarten J. Boer (Rotterdam-based filmcompany Turbo Turbo) and Ewoud Bon (camera). They'll be shooting the music video for the new single Homewrecker! The beach bit will be shot at Nino's Beach in Cinisi, the place I mentioned before. I feel great about shooting it there, especially after meeting Nino earlier this week. Enough about the video now. Gotta leave something to your imagination, right?

I'm currently reading a funny and very interesting book that I found on the bookshelf in the apartment. It's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the night-time by Mark Haddon. Just thought I'd let you know.

Driving and Spotting

2010-08-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Today we're going to continue our drive across the island. We've started it yesterday by driving southwards from Palermo to Agrigento - from there it was on to the west where we had lunch in Sciacca (with amazing sea view). We're going to experience a lot more of the island today as we'll drive to the east and learn more about the Etna and its area.

Last night Marco and I had a great time with Maurizio and Andrea (both of them are running Visit Palermo) and their lovely daughter Martina in Cinisi where we checked out a bar at the beach where we might just shoot a part of the video. It's a cool place with a few unexpected elements as you can see in picture. So who knows...:-)

Now what are we still doing inside the house? Let's hit the road!

The Magic Rooftop that we are or are not stuck on.

2010-08-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

I'm writing from our rooftop again. I know, it seems as if we're stuck on this little piece of Palermo. Well, believe me...we're not. Although maybe we should be, because somehow it leads to productivity (why am I suddenly obsessed with productivity? Unhealthy). Not only do songs that I'm happy with emerge on this terrace - ideas and plans for the video do too. We had a short get together here with Maurizio yesterday regarding the videoshoot. He has a location in mind for the party bit of the video. We're going to check it out very soon!

Last night Marco and I went over to Piazza San Francesco. A pretty piazza, that's obviously very well known by everyone here as the place was packed. Lovely atmosphere and delicious food at Antica Focacceria. Check out Marco looking relaxed and satisfied. :-)

P.S. Did I mention the rooftop's great for reading as well? Haruki Murakami's the word.

Just lazing around...

2010-08-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Getting things done isn't easy when there's so much to enjoy and the heat is getting to you. It did get to me today, in a good way. It felt absolutely wrong to do anything that didn't involve just lazing around and I wasn't going to fight nature. So I went into a state of extreme relaxation. The giant, impressive trees in Giardano Inglese turned out to be the perfect place to read, as well as a nice hiding place from the sun. Back in the apartment I fell on the bed and a few hours later I found out that siësta's are quite hard to come back from. Might not do that again. But I'm awake now and eager to start and complete the mission...the 2nd song.

A song a day

2010-08-16T03:52:00.000-07:00

After a few days of simply relaxing, I've started to add some work to the game. My goal is to write one song a day while I'm here. Hell no, just writing down or recording basic ideas does not count! Finish what you start, is my mantra. Not always easy, but I've learned that it works for me. A mix of inspiration and discipline has led to the first song this morning. I quite like it...I think. Well, let's see about that tomorrow. Anyway I like sitting and writing on the terrace (amidst the plants that I'm taking care of religiously. Sure hope they won't die, it's been incredibly hot).

It's off to the railway station for a trip to Cefalu now! Cheers!

The daily walk

2010-08-15T02:50:00.000-07:00

Our daily walk from Via Dante to Teatro Politeama, from where we walk some more...Feels good!

Love's the word

2010-08-14T02:24:00.000-07:00

I've been trying to take nice pictures but I turn out to be technologically challenged. Think: camera battery charger left at home and general clumsiness. But hey, nothing's stopping a girl with an iPhone and an Internet connection.

Love's the word at Villa Filippina where we saw a live performance by Angelo Duro last night. Cabaret, in Italian of course, which we don't speak. I admire his powerful voice and band. Another discovery after a beachy afternoon in Mondello, was that one can actually spend all their money on booze here - should they want to - as food is often included.

Can't wait to see what more Palermo has to offer, but I bet it rocks.

The Sicily Experience

2010-08-13T02:37:00.000-07:00

Hello, hello! Welcome to this page that I'm going to use to keep track of our time in Sicily. A while back I was here with friends for only a few days and felt that this island would be the perfect place for writing songs and more importantly, have an incredibly cool time! So I booked the plane tickets, an apartment in the hub (or what I believed is the hub) of Palermo and started to look forward to the trip obsessively. Now that we're here - we arrived August 11th - I can say it feels very good. This city is crazy, busy, beautiful. The apartment is great, full of books and cd's (thank you, Maurizio at VisitPalermo.it).

I'll be posting pics and bits about our time here, as well as updates on the songs and the music video we're going to shoot here. More about that soon. Now back to having coffee on the sunny roof top...

Cheers!