Julie Neumark

Her Sound

Dimestore Halo

1.	Dimestore Halo	Play	Dimestore Halo Written by Julie Neumark & Oren Hadar I pray to God I don’t commit no deadly sins Like I done so many times before But if the fruit’s forbidden What’s the tree there for? I’m the Devil’s child with a dimestore halo Wrapped around my soul The Devil crawled his way into my bed last night Reached his hand into my dusty soul And he whispered, “baby- Guess who’s in control?” I’m in control I’m the Devil’s child with a dimestore halo Wrapped around my soul I’m lost inside temptation No Landmark can help me find my way And it’s no small consolation, that in this fast food nation A drive thru salvation Won’t heal my sins yesterday Dimestore halo around my soul Dimestore halo around my soul Dimestore halo around my soul Dimestore halo around my soul Around my soul I’m the Devil’s child with a dimestore halo Wrapped around my soul Wrapped around my soul Wrapped around my soul Lyrics	Dimestore Halo Notes This song was inspired by a weekend seminar I got talked into attending. It was one of those "enlightening" seminars which promised to be a life changing event after 48 sleep deprived hours of brainwashing. The whole thing was a waste of time and money and I ended up sneaking out on the second day. It struck me like a cast iron skillet to the face that all these people (doctors, lawyers, teachers, mothers…you name it) really believed in the "Quick Fix". Ah, America... land of the drive-thru salvation! Well, you get what you pay for and if you buy your proverbial halo at a Dimestore, don't be surprised when it cracks the following week. 8/2006 Info
2.	Fairytale	Play	Fairytale Written by Julie Neumark I wanna be anybody but me Cause if I wasn’t me I could be with you I’m running into all your boundaries Crashin’ into your concrete point of view It’s all kind of a fairytale inside my mind A queer kind of eternity inside my mind I wanna bathe in all your mystery I’m already lying naked in te room Your propaganda’s washing over me Rinsing away my good girl attitude It’s all kind of a fairytale inside my mind A queer kind of eternity inside my mind I spend hours with you in my head I’m reaching for you from my bed I wanna cross that line Start living once upon a time It’s all kind of a fairytale inside my mind A queer kind of eternity inside my mind Inside my mind Lyrics	Fairytale Notes Fairytale was born out of a place of such raw yearning that it wrote itself in about an hour. I had fallen for a teacher archetype in my life. There were ethical restrictions surrounding our situation that prevented any sort of real-life romantic relationship from occurring between the two of us. My imagination, however, knew no such boundaries. I had blinders on to all else…I only wanted to live in the “Once upon a time…” of the fairytale inside my mind. 3/2006 Info
3.	Spare Change	Play	Spare Change Written by Julie Neumark Knick-knack, patty whack Mirror’s got a crack 7 year 9 lives 8 ball in the side pocket Spare change, brass locket Post-war drugstore Temporary crackwhore You’re too high to want to try and stop it Spare change, brass locket And the man on the corner begs “Won’t you spare me some change?” (and it sounds like this) Death toll, lost soul Hangin’ on a flagpole Politics, bullshit Shut your mouth and quit your talkin’ Spare change, brass locket And the man on the corner begs “Won’t you please spare some change?” (and it sound like this) Knick-knack, patty whack Mirror’s got a crack Post-war drugstore Temporary crackwhore Death toll, lost soul Hangin’ on a flagpole Modify mainstream government Please, please, please, please, please, please PLEASE! Lyrics	Spare Change Notes At one time I had an office job in West LA. Every night when I would go home, there was a homeless guy who would stand on the island at the intersection across from the VA Hospital. He had a piece of torn cardboard with the words, “Homeles need $” scrawled across it in black marker. Every major intersection and freeway of ramp in LA has its indigent and many of them are colorful characters who help to make up the fabric of this city. My homeless guy was as colorful as the rest. I would always give him change, when I had it and he was always appreciative, giving me a wink or a nod of acknowledgement. One day I approached the intersection to see him fervently pacing back and forth, yelling and waving something in his right hand. As I got closer, I could see it was some kind of necklace. I rolled down my window and heard him shouting, “Spare change, brass locket!” The light changed and I had to move on but he left me thinking… was he trying to sell the locket for spare change? Had someone just given him the locket in lieu of spare change? If so, were his yells in celebration or insult? More than that, I began to wonder about him…who was this man? How did he get to this point? Where did he come from? Was he a Vet? Had he been screwed over by the system? What lot in life had brought him to that corner? Well, I guess all of these questions and ponderings sunk deep enough into my consciousness because that night, I went home and wrote, “Spare Change.” 1/2006 Info
4.	Take Me	Play	Take Me Written by Julie Neumark / Cary Beare Take all the time that you need and I’ll be here You’ll never find what you want standing still This road we’re on keeps dead-ending It twists and turns and I keep winding back to you Don’t go away Don’t leave me here If you must go away Well then, take me Won’t you take me? The door is open, you can run away Or we can close it if you decide to stay Don’t go away Don’t leave me here If you must go away Well then, take me Won’t you take me? Lyrics	Take Me Notes This song was my first ever co-write. It was with Cary Beare, (guitarist for Deanna Carter and Heart) the nicest person you’ld ever meet. We were up in his home on Lookout Mountain Dr, in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles, early on a Saturday morning when we came up with “Take Me”. Cary lives in the former home of the 1960’s producer Paul Rothchild and the ghosts of inspiration were definitely floating around. This was the very home where Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and many others had recorded and/or sought their inspiration all those years ago. “If you love someone, set them free” is the crux of this song. I think we can all relate to this, whether being the one to set someone free or the one needing to be set free. The challenge of that is the fear that comes with it…the fear of being left behind. 3/2005 Info
5.	Unraveled	Play	Unraveled Written by Julie Neumark & Oren Hadar Where did you come from? Why did it take you so long to appear To me? I’d been searching for someone To make my life complete I gave up hope, I walked alone I tied a rope around my dreams But you, unraveled everything And I don’t know how to put it back ‘Cause you, unraveled everything and I don’t wanna know how to put it back I can stand there naked Baring my soul with a song while they cheer for me But there’s no room to fake it Lyin’ in your arms Well I know you see the fear in me My world about to come undone ‘Cause you, unraveled everything And I don’t know how to put it back Ya you, unraveled everything and I don’t wanna know how to put it Back in my heart Locked away Safe from all the unpredictabilities of love Of love Of love But you, unraveled everything And I don’t know how to put it back ‘Cause you, unraveled everything And I don’t wanna know how to put it And you, unraveled everything And I don’t know how to put it back ‘Cause you, unraveled everything and I don’t wanna know how to put it back Lyrics	Unraveled Notes I met someone very special who inspired this song. I was just coming out of my heartbreak; my ego was severely bruised and slowly healing. I met someone who believed in me, inspired me, encouraged me and loved me. It allowed me, for the first time in my life, to let go of a lot of control I had clung to since childhood. I was being un-spun and unraveled in a delightfully uncontained free fall.9/2006 Info
6.	Home	Play	Home Written by Julie Neumark & Alan Malunao, Jr. We rose in the whiteness When we woke up yesterday In the shadows of our conscious Pretending we’re ok, but Hey hey, I know I’m only dreaming Hey hey, don’t go I’m finally home Our mamas and our fathers They done taught us the golden rule Do unto one another As you’d have done unto you Hey hey, I know I’m only dreaming Hey hey, don’t go I’m finally home I may not understand everything you decide But when you take my hand everything’s alright Hey hey, I know I’m only dreaming Hey hey, don’t go I’m finally home Hey hey, I know I’m only dreaming Hey hey, don’t go I’m finally home Lyrics	Home Notes Stranded in a snowstorm while on tour in New York City in Feb 2006: that was where this tune was born. The Airports were shut down and there were 5 of us crammed into my brother’s 1 bedroom Manhattan apartment…it was, umm….cozy?! Home is where my brother wanted us to be and where we were trying to get! While waiting on hold with United Airlines, this guitar riff popped into my head. “Alan!!” I yelled to my guitarist and co-writer of this song, “Quick! Play this before I forget it!” And “Home” was born right then and there to the prerecorded voice saying “Please stay on the line, an agent will be with you in the next 30 minutes”. Ultimately, it ended up being about a person being where your home is rather than a physical location…. “home is where the heart is”. 2/2006 Info
7.	Wreck Of A Woman	Play	Wreck Of A Woman Written by Julie Neumark Wreck of a woman Shootin’ the moon Searchin’ for something Losin’ my groove I can’t wait to get away from these Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with me I can’t wait to get away from these Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with my heart Underneath My self-destruction I can start to see the light I’m in between Hell and something better I’m gonna set you free from my mind Wreck of woman Lost in the crowd My cry for attention Is silently loud I can’t wait to get away from these Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with me I can’t wait to get away from these Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with my heart Underneath My self-destruction I can start to see the light I’m in between Hell and something better I’m gonna set you free from my mind Wreck of a woman (I can’t wait to get away from these) Lyin’ in bed (Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with me) Finger on the trigger (I can’t wait to get away from these) Fill me with lead (Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with me) I can’t wait to get away from these Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with me I can’t wait to get away from these Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with me I can’t wait to get away from these (I can’t wait) Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with me (get away) I can’t wait to get away from these (I can’t wait) Childish games that you’ve been playin’ with my heart (get away – heart) Lyrics	Wreck Of A Woman Notes This song poured out of me like a hot liquid. My heart was broken by my "Fairytale" crush. I was barely holding my head above water…eating too much, drinking too much and wanting to sleep all the time. I was numbly wallowing in a pool of self-pity and misery. I finally became disgusted with myself and took a really honest look at the way I was behaving. In allowing myself to just “be,” I was able to wade slowly in and through the pain and awaken the spirit of life, survival, and self-empowerment that had been hibernating inside of me. 5/2006 Info
8.	Drink Myself Pretty	Play	Drink Myself Pretty Written by Julie Neumark & Oren Hadar Gimme a 1/5 of Stoli Bottle of Jack Tanguerey my soul please if the label is black Southern my comfort with some Absolut Shine my moon with more than 80 proof I’m gonna drink myself pretty tonight Flirty mamas pay me no mind I get all my lovin’ from a bottle of red wine Don’t go gettin’ none of that plastic surgery Just take a shot of Jaeger and set your beauty free! Go on and drink yourself pretty tonight I’m gonna drink myself pretty tonight BRIDGE: Hey baby whatcha lookin’ at? Move on, there’s nothin’ here to see I’m doin’ fine, killin’ time, just waitin’ For you to look as good as me solo Gonna drink myself pretty Drink myself pretty Gonna drink myself pretty Oh, I’m a gonna drink too much So I can be as pretty as a Miss America I feel pretty I feel pretty I feel pretty and witty and pretty and wit- I feel pretty I feel pretty I feel pretty and witty and pretty and witty Tonight Aw, tonight Aw, tonight Aw, tonight Lyrics	Drink Myself Pretty Notes On tour in Lexington, KY in the Spring of 2006. The venue was a no-frills local watering hole filled with a mix of locals and college students. There was one woman, clearly a regular patron of the bar, Red was her name, who had a particular interest in us. She took it upon herself to get us a tip jar and when she couldn't find a jar she brought over a chair and told everyone this was our tip chair and pay up on the seat! We bonded on the breaks and after the show, she came up and imparted some words of wisdom: "Honey, " she said, "When you get to be ma age, somedays you jist don' feel so perty....so, you's got to DRINK yerself perty!!" I will forever be indebted to Red for her insight into life which inspiried one of my favorite songs to date. 9/2006 Info
9.	Bobbi	Play	Bobbi Written by Julie Neumark Bobbi’s headed to the station Bags are packed, head is low Gonna make a transformation To a destiny unknown Gotta get out of Cincinnati On a train headed west Packed her 8 x 10 glossy Patton leather taps and her silver sequin dress She gotta look her best CHORUS She’s going, Choo choo to the big leagues Choo choo far away Choo choo to the land of the plastics And the phosphorescent neon lights of fame When she reached her destination A nice man offered her a ride Bobbi smiled and said, “Thank you, sir!” Hopped into his Cadillac, laid back and closed her eyes Whoa, good night! CHORUS She’s going, Choo choo to the big leagues Choo choo far away Choo choo to the land of the plastics And the phosphorescent neon lights of fame Gonna get lots of fame…go on girl! BRIDGE: Welcome to the all-aboard express train There ain’t going back to Cincinnati To the shelter of your mama and your daddy Your mama and your daddy Oh, Bobbi, where you gonna go? When you are cold to keep you warm And give you shelter from the storm How loose is that caboose bringin’ up the rear? Can you even see it? CHORUS Choo choo to the big leagues Choo choo far away Choo choo to the land of the plastics And the phosphorescent neon lights of fame Oh Bobbi’s goin’ Choo choo to the big leagues Choo choo far away Choo choo to the land of the plastics And the phosphorescent neon lights of fame She gonna get lots of fame She gonna get lots of fame Oh no no Bobbi don’t go Oh no no Bobbi don’t go Go go go get lots of fame Oh ya ya ya ya ya Lyrics	Bobbi Notes This song came after being introduced to the music of Bobbie Gentry. She is the namesake of the title. Her song “Fancy” paints such a visual impression… “I watched a roach crawl across the toe of my high-healed shoe”. I too found myself compelled to craft a song with strong detailed description. I wrote the story of a girl moving from Cincinnati to LA to follow her dream. Though it is rooted in my own personal journey from Cincinnati to LA, I am not Bobbi. Bobbi represents so many women who move out here everyday, wide-eyed and blinded by a dream. The ones who fall prey to the system and all of its debaucheries: “talent managers” who demand money upfront, producers who are only interested in “producing” their own arousal, grandiose hollow promises from name-dropping, jaded scam artists…thankfully, I was blessed enough to keep my head on straight and avoid…well…most of the pitfalls. 4/2005 Info
10.	Cincinnati	Play	Cincinnati Written by Julie Neumark & Cary Beare Home Across that whistling bridge Home To the city where I live Back in home sweet home Cincinnati Where the river kiss the sun and say goodnight All the boys are drinking beers and tellin' stories Me and Jackie catchin' fireflies Mama's makin' coffee in the kitchen and the laughter on the porch is dyin' down Your sleepy little eyes cannot stay open Time to pack it in and head on home Time to pack it in and hear on home (We're goin') Home Across that whistling bridge Home To the city where I live Back in home sweet home, Cincinnati Where the river still kiss the sun and say goodnight All the boys have moved away and they got married Little Jackie's next in line Well there's no more coffee in kitchen And the laughter on the porch is long gone I do not recognize these old surroundings Is this the place I once belonged? Is this the place I called my home? (I wanna go) Home Across that whistling bridge Home To the city where I live Home Across that whistling bridge Home To the city where I live Lyrics	Cincinnati Notes Growing up in a small suburb outside of Cincinnati, OH, most of my childhood memories took place not much further away than my own backyard…barbeques, capture the flag, riding bikes, catching fireflies – running around barefoot in shorts and a t-shirt with the other kids while our parents drank Pabst Blue Ribbon and did whatever grown-ups did ‘til we had run ourselves ragged and they were finishing up a pot of coffee and calling it a night. The memory of it all warms my heart and makes me smile. This song came after I made a nostalgic trip to my childhood home and realized that my childhood home only existed in one place anymore…and that was in my memory of it. 6/2006 Info
11.	Uncharted Waters	Play	Uncharted Waters Written by Julie Neumark & Alan Malunao, Jr. AIN'T NO RAINDROPS ON ROSES CAN'T FIND NO FOUR LEAF CLOVERS LUCKY HORSESHOES ARE WASTIN' MY TIME GOT ME NO SUPERSTITIONS ON THOSE STARS THAT I'M WISHIN' CAUSE THE JOURNEY I'M MAKIN' IS ON THE INSIDE CHANGIN' DON'T EVER COME EASY BUT I'M WILLIN' TO TRY SO DON'T HOLD ME BACK CAUSE I'M READY TO GO I'M HOLDIN YOUR HAND I'M TAKIN' IT SLOW DON'T HOLD ME BACK I'M READY TO GO THIS TIME GONNA JUMP OFF THE BOAT INTO UNCHARTED WATERS I'M NO ANGEL WITH HALOS JUST A KID CHASIN' RAINBOWS SEARCHIN' FOR POTS OF GOLD I NEVER DID FIND DON'T NEED NO RUBY SLIPPERS I CAN GET ME HOME QUICKER CAUSE THE JOURNEY I'M MAKIN' IS ON THE INSIDE CHANGIN' DON'T EVER COME EASY BUT I'M WILLIN' TO TRY SO DON'T HOLD ME BACK (DON'T HOLD ME BACK BABY) CAUSE I'M READY TO GO (I'M READY TO GO) I'M HOLDIN YOUR HAND (I'M HOLDIN YOUR HAND) I'M TAKIN' IT SLOW (TAKIN' IT SLOW) DON'T HOLD ME BACK (DON'T HOLD ME BACK BABY) I'M READY TO GO THIS TIME GONNA JUMP OFF THE BOAT INTO UNCHARTED WATERS THIS TIME GONNA JUMP OFF THE BOAT INTO UNCHARTED WATERS AWW THIS TIME AWW THIS TIME GONNA JUMP OFF THE BOAT READY CAUSE HERE I GO TAKE MY HAND TAKE IT SLOW READY CAUSE HERE I GO Lyrics	Uncharted Waters Notes Change and taking chances: that’s what Uncharted Waters is about. If my album is a journey up and over a mountain, this song is representative of reaching the summit. For the first time in my life, I was starting to feel clearer about my sense of self. I was listening to that little voice inside of me that had been pushed down for so long…listening to all of its frustration, dissatisfaction, and suffocation. I was finally letting it breathe. I was ready to go and no one was going to hold me back. 2/2006 Info

The Virginian Pilot calls Dimestore Halo "astounding and outstanding. She has a commanding voice to go along with literate lyrics – self-penned songs that should put her at the top of the heap."

Revolver Magazine in the Netherlands calls the album, "one of the best releases this year."

Music Connection Magazine declares, "Hearing [Neumark] sing makes you a believer in the song."

Los Angeles Times simply states 'Neumark shines.'

Dimestore Halo's June 2010 US release on Lonesome Day Records marks a whirlwind about to break beyond its So Cal spawning ground, beyond the idyllic world Neumark recalls in her song "Cincinnati," into every corner of the country that appreciates music that's soulful, rootsy, and utterly original.