Nominate me as one of San Diego's "Young Influentials." - voting ends April 16!

I would be truly honored if you would help me get a little credit for something that's always been a great joy to me - which is helping out people in San Diego's music community. If you know me, you know its important to me. If you don't know me, I'll tell you, a little nomination like this will definitely mean more than the album I am making this year. That's saying a lot!

It's hard to keep track of all the people I have offered my musical advice/mentoring and support to over the years, and I don't mind. But I do keep track of a handful of people I have helped on a consistent basis. I am thrilled to say have not only continued with music, but are truly thriving with their musical careers.

It will take a minute to fill out as they ask you details about the person you are nominating. I have included those details below. Thank you so much!!!

Note: Nominations close April 16th, so please get in your vote before then. :-)

Nominate Vanja James as a "San Diego Young Influential" for being a supporter of San Diego's Music Community: http://www.sddt.com/microsite/younginfluentials10/

Suggested Nominee Company/affiliation:
Vanja James, Singer/Songwriter
www.vanjajames.com

Suggested Nominee Title(s) (pick one or make up your own)
Mentor in Music Community
Supporter of San Diego's independent musicians
Active Supporter of San Diego Music Community
Mentor to Young Independent San Diego Musicians

Nominee Email:
Vanja@thejaspertone.com

Nominee Phone:
619 994 1910

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Hey everybody,

The new year has been good to me! Here's a rundown of what's been going on:

- I've been working super hard at my job saving up money for album #2 and for tour #2. So far its working - by mid spring (March/April) I should have a nice chunk of change set aside....enough to definitely get on the road again!

- Finally met my long distance guitar jam buddy Chad in real life and we got to play some tunes that he wrote (guitar) and I sing/do my lyrics over. It's mega fun and I finally get to feel like I am acting my age, and have a little bit of FUN at the same time, while still accomplishing something.

- Met w/another guitarist named Adrian (Republic of Letters) to discuss pulling together songs for my own album. I.e. my "ideal dream sound." I've got all these other songs in various styles that I will (still) be getting out of my system for album #2, but I think for Album #3, Adrian might be a big help in making it all sound cohesive cuz he gets that whole kinda intergalactic ethereal rock thing that I enjoy doing so much, and he gets it without trying too hard, which to me is super important.

- I've been meeting really randomly awesome people! I met the Stage Manager for Alicia Keys a few weeks ago (Yo Stryker!) and then before that, I met this guy who lets Michael Jackson's MOM park her giant motorhome in his motorhome lot. He sells motorhomes. And he knows this guy A&R guy named Step Johnson....he wants Step Johnson to hear me play live....I guess he forwarded my album to him but live is really the way to go. 

- People have been giving me money lately...I got 200 bucks randomly after doing some songs on a piano after I sang some karaoke, and there were these lost cat signs all around my city, and wouldn't you know - I FOUND the missing cat. It was a $15,000.00 cat and the lady have me a $500.00 reward!

- Exercise has sort of filled the void of playing less music while I'm working. Been doing "Hip Hop Abs." which has kicked my arse. Normally I get bored with exercise DVDs but the Hip Hop Abs is pretty decent. I've lost some inches and gained some muscle and a side benefit is that its really improved my singing/lung capacity. Yay.

That's all I have.
Vanja James,
Singing out!