Current mood: chill
Category: Friends

Aloha everybody!

Tp here still in Hawaii. Just a couple more days here in paradise, before I head off to Japan. This time here has been really nice, though for some reason, I am excited to get back to work.

I feel a little bit guilty, like I put out my record and then peaced out on vacation. But, I know I needed this, I know it helps put a positive skip into every other part of life I step into. I surfed again today! I cant remember the last time I surfed more seven days in a row!

I feel like I’m back in high school. After spending this much time in the water and at the beach, I really don’t know how the heck I stay away from the beach for so long. I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have surfing. It seems like its so easy to get stuck doing emails, running errands, and wasting time doing who knows what. Man…, I am the queen of wasting time. But its so amazing, that when I go surfing, it feels like time stands still, nothing matters, all you can really do, is just be there, in the ocean, in the moment, enjoying nature, connecting, and appreciating. I am so thankful Its been part of my life, a family requirement.

Anyhow, so everything here has been great. And I think I could just live here, and surf and make shaved ice and work at the ABC store. Maybe I could make Haupia Pie and do the Hula? My mom has been cracking me up, and we reminisce about when I was a wee little kid, we talk about relationships, and about life. As my brother and I have grown older, my parents and mom especially feels more like a best friend than a parent. I really wouldn’t be here without them, who I am and what I stand far, all comes from the foundation that they built for us growing up. Without them, I probably wouldn’t be playing music either. Many of you know, but for those of you who don’t; my parents were the one that came to one of my first shows, and said, ‘ehh’ think you should just ‘take a break’ from college and try your luck at music. This seems to really make you happy, and you can always go back to school later.’

My mom should be head of the street team, it seem like when I come home, I never have to tell anyone where I have been, or what I’ve been up to, she informs everyone. Hehe!

The boys and I are gonna be on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, May 22nd!!! I am so excited, cause.. well shizz yo, its Jay Leno! Haaayy! So make sure to tune in and watch us Madly Madly Madly away. It’s the day we come back from Japan, so I hope we’re not to jet lagged!

Also, this summer I have teamed up with Barefoot Wine and the Surfrider Foundation, to take part in the 2nd annual Barefoot Beach Rescue Project. I’ll be helping to clean up the beaches as well as playing at the after parties that follow the cleanups.

When this opportunity came my way, I couldn’t think of a more awesome way to spend my summer. I get to be on the beach, play some tunes and give back at the same time. Growing up in San Diego, I cleaned the beach all the time. In high school I had a class called Surf P.E. No lie!

I really got credit for waking up every other morning and surfing! But when the waves were flat we had to pick up trash to get the days credit. Still to this day, I am always picking up trash, and even today when I was paddling in, I picked up a shopping bag that had washed up. The basic idea is that everybody can make a difference, whether you live on the beach, or miles away. These events are a great way to bring the community together. We spend a couple hours tidying up the beach, and then we get to celebrate with free wine and some music! Doesn’t get much better than that!

The first event kicks off May 29th in Montauck, New York with G. Love, of G. Love & Special Sauce. Followed by:

July 12th, Ladybird Lake, Austin, TX
July 26th, Ocean Beach, San Francisco, CA

And the 4th location is up to you!

If you are interested in getting involved, or want to bring the beach clean up your way, head on over to: barefootbeachrescue.comfor more information! See you at the beach! See you in Japan! See you sipping wine, with your footsies in the sand!

Lotsa Love,

Tp

One of the questions I get asked the most is how I stay in shape and looking so good on the road.

I will tell you it’s no easy task but I can’t lie, I have been blessed with some pretty good genes. Maybe more importantly my parents always made us eat pretty healthy growing up. No junk food ever which is why we were always so stoked to go to our grandma’s house. She had this pantry with everything you could imagine, cookies, candy, chips, snacks, she had it all. Grams was good like that. She also made the best grilled cheese sandwiches, and fried catfish! And always had about 4 different flavors of Dryers ice cream in the freezer!

Anyhow, back to the road, and being healthy. I’ve been touring now for about 4 or 5 years, so figuring this all out has taken some time. All in all it breaks down to exercise and eating well. I’ve been pretty healthy all my life, who am I kidding? I’m a total health nut…I can smell the Whole Foods from miles away! I also grew up playing soccer, ice skating and then eventually shifting all my focus towards surfing in addition to strength training which is important since it helps with everything from posture, to breathing, keeping you flexible and strengthening your core.

All these things in a round about have helped my singing and even guitar playing. Overall by focusing on this stuff I have never felt better and it has definitely helped me as a musician.

It all starts with focus and a goal of being healthy but you have to translate that into you routine. I have a career that has me driving from town to town and city to city every night for 30-45 nights in a row. Yup touring pretty much screwed up my whole routine. You see I live in San Diego and I went from having all these daily activities at my fingertips plus being able to choose from about four healthy food markets in a 1 mile radius from my house to crappy hotel gyms/or no gyms and fast food…needless to say it was really depressing at first. Often I never even had time to even find a healthy market and it takes some real self discipline to get up an hour early before van call to get a workout in.

So here is my plan and the way I approach health and diet on the road. First and foremost, food. I don’t eat much dairy except I do love an occasional cheese plate and wine with my girl friends. I try to stay away from any dairy on the road mostly because it hurts my throat and singing. Soy lattes are a must every morning and sometimes a croissant. I read a book a while ago called, ‘The Fast Food Diet’. It’s a great book and generally tells you how you can accomplish a well balanced meal at fast food joints. Generally it’s not what you eat, but how much of it you eat. A calorie is a calorie whichever way you put it.

So on the road I eat meals, but small ones, little snacks every so often. A handful of chips here, lara bar there a banana and lots of water. Water fills you up, and keeps you hydrated especially when you are in moving in and out of different climates. I try to limit my meat intake, and only eat fish. But sometimes I indulge in the BBQ pulled pork…when you are in the middle of Alabama, you only live once!

Visit Tristan’s blog tomorrow for part two, where the singer shares her five-point plan to staying healthy on the run, only here on SheKnows!

This week, Tristan reflects on the fan response to her being ill just prior to her album being released. The support was shown in chat rooms and emails. That goodwill from her fans was evidenced in the singer’s album debuting in Billboard’s Top 30.

Current mood: Chill
Category: Life

I’m gonna make this short and sweet, cause I gotta get up at 6 a.m. But I just wanted to thank everyone for being so nice and understanding and sending warm wishes to get well soon.

I was just writing back this person by the name of ‘cheese’. Hah…you guys are funny with your display names…anyhow they said ‘hope you are feeling better…’ to which I replied,

“Honestly, I think sometimes when we start doing something, and do a lot of it, in my case, singing/traveling/music-ing…nonstop, sometimes we get to a point where we forget why and what we are doing. It is important to have time to regroup, re-balance, re-energize and get re-inspired. So we can continue to head down the path, with the purest and clearest intentions. I think I just hit a wall of exhaustion and stress and non stop everything.”In return, when our bodies are worn down, is when they usually start giving out. This is the best and easiest time for your body to catch a cold, or in my case, lose a voice. When we are stressed, we are weak, and the areas in which we are pushing ourselves, tend to be the first to go. After having a minute to just chill out, read a book, do some yoga, and not worry about doing something related for music, even for just this day. I am feeling much better.

I just wanted to share this with you guys, ‘cause I think this is pretty much what I have gathered over the last couple days. It’s important to take time out of our days for ourselves. Whether its five minutes or 20, early in the morning, or after a long day. The little time will go a long way.

I just did yoga in my hotel room, something new I am trying, I hate those darn DVD’s, so hard to get motivated, but I am feeling the benefits even though it was short and sweet. I think for most of us, we worry about taking care of everyone around us. Its rare we actually do something for ourselves, and while buying a new pair of shoes is nice for yourself, the takin’ care of yourself I’m talking about, is entirely different — to each there own though.

But I really am finding that, especially in my case, making time to do the things that remind me of me, and what my life is like when I am home is important. I am so used to surfing, training or walking with my mom or my best friend. I eat a crazy healthy diet and like to cook and read and hang on the couch. I like mellow nights at home. To go from that to being in a van for most of my day, in a new city every night, different hotel room, meeting all sorts of people, eating potato chips and crap ‘cause there is nothing else, is not exactly my idea of fun. Sometimes it makes me wonder what the hell I am doing this for.

And so I have to ask myself, ‘What am I doing this for?’

Well…I am doing this cause I love to play music, ‘cause I know how its affected people and i know its capabilities of touching people. I know that if I open up my heart and mind, I will learn so many things out here on the road. Things I could never learn by going back to school or simply getting married and living the good life. Simply put, I do this because I am in love with music and being able to play it every night. Music creates a vibration within me that I don’t get from anything else I have ever done in my life. (Surfing comes pretty close but that’s a different kind of buzz.)

So over the past could days I have realized that I have to create the balance for myself. Because there will always be tours, interviews, recording, traveling and other demands that take up my time. Its up to me, to say ok, I gotta figure out something that I can work in. For the sake of having a bit of time, to just go away in my head from everything, and get re-centered.

I think first off, the fact that I am aware of this, is a good first step. I got some yoga videos and i know now that exercise even if its just 15 minutes of stretching in the morning, or having the boys pull over and let me run after the van for a couple miles, is worth it. I also realize that it’s important to eat healthy, even if that means Googling the local health market, waking up early and packing a little lunch for the day.

As a performer and a singer, and I think any of us, we want to feel the best we can feel day in and day out. I know for me, when I am getting some exercise and eating healthy it shows. Our bodies are temples. We must learn to treat them with care and love. What we put in them, affects our minds, our ability to learn, our skin complexion and overall appearance, and our overall well being. I swear if you make just the tinniest changes, you will see huge differences.

Hopefully all this enlightenment, will lead to no more cancelled shows for a very long time. I am feeling better and I am ready to get back out there. More inspired than ever, and I hope you are too :)

We’ve got a record out people!

A NEW RECORD! HOLY COW!!!!!

I can’t even believe it!!! Finally!

Smiles,

TP

Current mood: Sick

In the last couple days I have lost my voice, and gotten it back, lost it again, gotten it back, and today I woke up feeling like a baby gremlin covered in glass had made its home in my throat. I never like to cancel shows but i just went to soundcheck and tried to sing, and I nearly started crying at the sound that was coming out of me.

 I have been looking forward to this show and so stoked that it sold out. Philly is such a great town, and last time we played the World Cafe it was just so magical and intimate and lovely. I would never cancel a show unless I absolutely felt like it was necessary – tonight is one of those nights.

I just wanted to apologize to everyone who bought tickets, and came. I know some of you drove from hours away. I really feel horrible, but the last thing I want to do is struggle through a performance. You as fans deserve better than that, and i as a performer, know I can give better than that.

We are looking into dates to reschedule and will let you know as soon as we know. I hope you all can come back on the rescheduled date and we can have an amazing evening together.

I am going to see a throat specialist tomorrow and have been ordered to rest. So tomorrow’s show in Arlington, Virginia will be cancelled as well. We will reschedule as soon as possible, and I look forward to coming back and putting on one heck of a show!

Again, sorry for any inconvenience, but health has to come first out here on the road, otherwise it just sucks. So I hope you can understand. Thank you for supporting the music and being the best fans ever. I will see you soon! Hopefully better and healthier than ever, very shortly.

Hugs,

TP

Tristan sent in her latest post after scoring a pop culture coup. She was one of last week’s “The Hills” featured songs. After performing in the Rocky Mountains fresh from her “Hills” introduction to the world, Tristan filed this report.

The altitude proved to get the better of Matty last night. I only heard stories, but apparently, after having a late night at the tequila bar across the street from the Bluebird he came back to the hotel and proceeded to through pillows at Chris, who was fast asleep. Now in the van, we have ’Journey: Live from Houston in ’81’ blaring. Matty is in full force doing leg kicks and playing air drums. We are on our way to Fort Collins.

We had a great show last night in Denver at The Bluebird Theater. I love Colorado. We just drove by a motor cross track, where my brother Cody, out here tour managing us, went into full on 12 year old mode, making motor cross bike noises to the bikers going around the dirt track….rerrrr…reeeeerrrr….reeerrrr…raaaarreeerrr. Once a man, always a boy.

Just me and the boys out here on the road….It can get errr rather boy-ish….I am out numbered! Thank God so many girls come out to the shows… Though i prefer wood floors to carpet, i still appreciate the unique blend of people that we get to entertain every night. One girl last night blurted out in the middle of a song, ’I think about you all the time’…’Im not a lesbian though!’ and the girl next to her said, ’but i am!’. I love it, love it all. I also met the hottest asian guy of all time, he was sexy…Many a beautiful people we meet out here. So many beautiful, smiling people across the nation.

My fans are also turning out to be quite the photographers, sending in lovely photos from the shows every night. That is alot of creativity in one room, its inspiring! Check out the photos from last night at the Bluebird courtesy of Brianne Bradfield!

We are really stoked to be out here on the road. Whitley is out with us as well, charming his way across the US. He is pretty amazing, so make sure you come early to check him out. We smuggled him all the way from Australia, so we could share with you what all the fuss is about. Hes got a nice following in OZ, and will surely have one here over the next couple months. Get in on the action early, while you can!

Its still a trip to me, that this is my own tour. We are still warming up, but getting the hang of it everynight. Balancing the new tunes with the old. I forget sometimes, that i have only mostly toured by myself, and that is what most people are used to. The band is def a new territory. The key is balancing the stripped down version of the songs, and the full on versions with the band. Please let us know your feedback. We would love to know? What you are thinking?

Anyhow, well we are here…College Ave…here we come. Last time I played at the Aggie Theater we were with the Southland, there was about four people there and lots of shots of jagermeister. I also remember the people that missed the show and so I played a mini set for them backstage. Good times. Geez, I have been touring for a long time.

Long lived tour!

I want to go surfing now and kiss my boyfriend.

XO Tp!

Tristan begins with her thoughts after an extensive tour with G. Love and Special Sauce, and writes about the emotions swirling before the spotlight shines solely on her.

Sharing the Love
I have toured with G. Love and the Special Sauce a handful of times, this last tour must have been the eighth or ninth tour! I was always such a huge fan of G, and remember driving back from San Francisco the day I got the call to go on tour with him my first time… I was ecstatic!

That first tour we immediately hit it off. Three nights later we had written our duet “Beautiful.” We would sit in the back of the bus and play it over and over. I’m pretty sure we annoyed everyone. It took us forever to record it, it was gonna be on my record and then G’s record… we could never decide. Eventually we recorded it. And it was sounding pretty good — I ended up recording my vocal in the dressing room of an old theatre backstage before a show.

From then on, it’s been on. We have always had great chemistry, and “Beautiful” never fails to bring it out in full force, every time we play it.

I’ve always loved touring with G. Love and Co — they are one of my favorite live shows to go see. So much energy, so much fun and the audiences are always killer, dancing and singing and partying. It’s great.

Sauce for inspiration
I think touring with G. has really helped me become a better performer, its definitely toughened me up a bit, having to deal with rowdy frat guys yelling inappropriate things throughout the whole show…just kidding! It’s not always like that. But it’s nice to see a band just groove and vibe off each other. They’ve always inspired me to not be afraid of stepping outside the structure of the songs and letting them breathe a bit.

This last tour was great, short but sweet. We visited some towns I had never been to. Towns that I would’ve never guessed were hip little hubs for awesome stores and restaurants. Athens, Georgia, had an exceptionally insane selection of amazing vintage finds. I went a little nuts… but at least I will look stylish for the next tour…

On my own
Speaking of the next tour - March 19th at The Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, California — it marks the start of my headlining tour. I have headlined once before, but not with a full band. Now that I have my spicy gentlemen — Matt Delvecchio on bass guitar & Chris Lovejoy on the drums — we are ready to get this party started!

Actually to be quite honest, I am a little nervous. I have been focusing so much time on the new songs off the new record. I fear I have forgotten how to play the older stuff. I’m sure it will come back to me, I’ll just have to find some time in between all this blogging and traveling to practice!

It always takes a minute to get into tour mode, but luckily the G. Love tour was a great place for us to get reacquainted with playing music, being on stage and in front of people. We had a nice little warm up fo’ sho’.

Overall, I am pretty excited. I love having my own shows. I love being able to play the slower, more soulful tunes, those moments when the room is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I also love the moments when we really bring the rock, haha… I crack myself up! But it’s nice to create a big warm groovy space to revel in. Those are the moments I live for. To be able to bring both those elements out during a show is why I absolutely love what I do.

I look forward to it, I also have the best fans in the world. I feel like this thing (music, my career, etc…) has evolved at such a nice steady pace, that I have been able to grow with my fans and my fans with me. They make me feel like I could play anything and they would still listen. I look forward to expanding my fan family :)

See you on the road, big smiles -

TP