Music has always been an integral part of Lydia’s life. It stems from her parent’s ancestral homeland of Ukraine, wherein both parents instilled and inspired the love of Ukrainian language, culture, history and of course, music.
ABOUT
Lydia (Shay) Semanyshyn
Born and raised in New Jersey many moons ago, Lydia nostalgically recalls at the tender age of 3 attending “hutirkas” (a talk in a circle on various topics and lectures) at Oselia CYMA summer camp in Ellenville, NY which always ended in a sing-a-long of Ukrainian traditional songs. For Lydia it was beautiful, melodic, harmonious sounds of angels.
Along those same lines, Lydia loved going to church on Sundays to St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, NJ because it is in this space she continued to discover the magic and joy of music and embraced the beautiful harmonies and the importance of the church choir to transport her spirit to heaven itself.
Lydia discovered her older sister’s Blue Hawaii soundtrack album at the tender age of 5 and fell in love with Elvis, the song “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and discovered the magic of music and movies. She loved the way music made her feel and its universal ability to evoke emotion and memories. Childhood highlights include forcing her twin brother to purchase for her at Sam Goody at Livingston Mall The Carpenters Close To You album released in the 1970’s ; and her sister taking her twice to see Elvis in Concert, the first time in 1972 at MSG and the second time at the Nassau Coliseum in 1973.
Lydia discovered her songwriting abilities in college when a musical puppet show script had omitted sending the accompanying music. At the first reading she came to her character’s first song and sang it. Everyone was puzzled how she was the only one to get the music. When approached by the professor she simply replied: I didn’t receive any music – I simply made it up right now! And so it began! Even though she had always been obsessed with music and lyrics – she thought everyone walks around with unwritten melodies in their head. Don’t they?
Even though Lydia is a classically trained pianist she has never been able to feel comfortable at the piano and has rejected structured music theory for herself. For Lydia the piano is very limiting while the melodies in her head have endless possibilities and no limitations. The key is to work with talented individuals.
Lydia held regular jobs while pursuing her passion for writing songs and working with various arrangers and collaborators over the years.
Three days after attaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts with a specialization in Television and Film Production from Rutgers University, she was employed by EMPRIE/MAGNO Recording Studios a post-production movie studio where almost every day new celebrities would grace the studio. A major highlight was meeting director Michael Cimino when he was in the process of editing “Heaven’s Gate” and she remembers him as being the warmest, kindest human being to use the studio. After a few years, she landed a job at Big Seven Music Corp. a full music publishing house associated with many prominent record labels. Here she learned the business of music and the complex nature of marketing, promotion, the power of the publisher which came in handy and the importance of license agreements. Lydia was also a marketing manager of the Jan Stuart Company and while working for GIMBELS created and developed a 30 second radio commercial for Beauty Week. She even served a stint at the Songwriters Guild of America where she met the president of the Guild, George David Weiss who just happened to be the co-writer of Can’t Help Falling in Love along with Luigi Creatore and Hugo Peretti as recorded by Elvis Presley.
She conceived and wrote THE WINDOWS OF LOVE as a viable vehicle for 27 original songs which ran Off Off Broadway for 3 months at The Thirteenth Street Repertory Company in NY. She has enough material for another five musicals.
Lydia has appeared in such New York spots as “The West Bank Cafe”, “The Fives” and “The Inner Circle”, each time performing her original material. She has written over 100+ songs ranging from country-western, folk, MOR, pop-top 40 to rhythm & blues, rock and soul, but her heart belongs to the ballads.
She has worked on projects with Gary Numan Numa Records in London co-writing a song with Larry Loeber, Chris Staines and Eric Hine; as well as recording for Vinylmania Records in NYC; also session singing for producers Freddy Bastone and Larry Loeber on Emergency Records.
Many musicians, singers, songwriters are often told to “get a real job” and even though Lydia always had “real” jobs throughout her writing career, there comes a point in time where you just have to take an inventory of the quality of life and stop juggling two careers. The decision very often is painfully between a paycheck or your passion. Lydia took a very long hiatus from songwriting.
Lydia continued her education by receiving a Paralegal Certificate from FDU and worked for prominent law firms in Roseland, NJ for years. She served as a caregiver for her beloved mother for 10 years until August 12, 2017.
For Lydia, life has always been about “good vs. evil.” People, places and things can have good and bad qualities. For example: deciding on having an apple or a donut for a snack. For example: a work environment can have such qualities. Ravin, Sarasohn was a friendly, respectable, reputable family like orientated law firm with the best of humanity fueling it. On the other hand, Lowenstein Sandler is a high powered, influential, successful, competitive, “Stepford like” law firm with total mistreatment of its employees being conducted behind closed doors.
You simply take the good and bad that life offers you and you equip yourself with knowledge and try to be that change that is so needed.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
“You can’t take it with you when you go” is so true. Then again, my greatest fear is having loved ones throwing out all my music in a dumpster, when my time comes.
If I am going to be completely honest – that bird’s eye view is truly the driving force behind this website. Finally a centralized archival repertoire of 100+ selected songs by songwriter Lydia Semanyshyn written over a few decades with various collaborators and talented musicians. ENJOY!
Lydia had almost abandoned her dream of having her music heard and shared with the world – until now.
She thanks each and every one of you for visiting her website.
EPILOGUE (P.S.)
I felt compelled to add an epilogue to memorialize the roller coaster ride I experienced in association with the creation of this music website On January 25, 2020, I decided to have a music website created, something I have wanted for the last (10) years. I connected with a website business and started picking out names for websites, which songs to insert, looking for particular sheet music, etc. Beginning of March 2020, the project was put on hold because it became problematic for the creator and we needed to renegotiate the terms of the project. By mid-March 2020, Covid lockdowns put my project on hold – indefinitely. Having quite some time to myself I had the opportunity to delve into all my material and in my head it expanded tremendously in many different directions.
I hooked up with Henry Warner of New Wave Digital Design in December of 2020 but I could not continue with the project because I realized I cannot find my USB drive with all my songs. I apologized to Henry and said “as soon as I find it, you will be the second person to know it- me being the first.”
I continued compiling lyric sheets, music sheets, going through press kits, demo tapes while finding material I had all but forgotten about. Lo and behold, on April 27, 2021 I found my panda USB drive and so my passion project restarted full speed ahead. Henry Warner has been absolutely wonderful in accommodating my whims of creativity and constant transformation of content.
This website construction began pre-pandemic and was completed by October 2021- way before the pre-invasion of Ukraine. The importance of being Ukrainian and its influence on me and my music had already been cemented in my biography mid- 2021. Some major speed bumps and concerns popped up pertaining to my music website and it took a while to deal with tactical issues and music strategic planning. I greatly appreciate all the efforts exerted on my behalf by Roman Tabatchouk, Esq., Walter Hanchuk, Esq. George Boychuk, Esq. and Arielle Arruzzo of the State of NJ. Their guidance helped me to maneuver closer towards the finish line.
It has been very difficult to concentrate on my passion project and finalize it while the events continue to unfold in Ukraine. My heart aches and breaks at all the unnecessary upheaval, bloodshed and utter devastation.
Day #1 on 2/24/2022 I responded to my close friends re: contacting the White House:
“Pryvit to all! I’ve been writing and calling for over a week. It won’t help. You can’t stop a diabolical monster! Putin is fuckin’ crazy – and crazy is hard to stop. Putin is taking over Europe and while the world is watching – China is going to take over Taiwan. Бідна Україна! World War III awaits us. Hope you are all safe!”
I thought to myself “Is this really happening in 2022?”
Thank God my parents are not alive to see this happening again.
Day #16 on 3/11/2022 I wrote
“It is painful” to watch KAMALA Harris! What is she doing in Europe? Why did Biden send her? All indications – utter failure. SOS!
Day #18 on 3/13/202 on Facebook I wrote WHY – STILL NO URGENCY? Global leaders are all standing on ceremony as innocent human beings are being slaughtered every single moment. Nothing will ever be the same. For the love of God, Give President Zelenskyy the No Fly-Zone, give them the shelter they have been begging for 19 days. Sanctions, discussions, Bull……
I’ll never be able to listen to this song the same way again! Excerpts of the song
Gimmie Shelter
(Keith Richards, Mick Jagger)
Oh, a storm is threat’ning
My very life today
If I don’t get some shelter
Oh yeah, I’m gonna fade away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot away
War, children, it’s just a shot away
It’s just a shot
Day # 21 on 3/16/2022
The article says “greater humanitarian services!” What cities and services are you providing to Ukrainians because the Red Cross is missing in action in Lviv where most of the refugees are fleeing to before going to other countries. Are all donations specifically slated for humanitarian aid to Ukraine going to Ukraine or being used in other parts of the world? Action is needed now! DAY 21! You are late!
Day # 22 on 3/17/2022 – Collect evidence? What more do you need Mr. Blinken?
A war crime is defined as a violation of the laws of war that gives rise to individual criminal responsibility for action by the combatants, such as intentionally killing civilians, taking hostages, unnecessarily destroying civilian property, committing genocide and or ethnic cleansing….. how much more evidence do you need Mr. Blinken? President Zelenskyy handed over to you your evidence in his plea and presentation.
Please do not stand on ceremony and waste time while every second that goes by another innocent Ukrainian is vaporized. . Please do not preach…..give President Zelenskyy what he needs to save Ukrainian lives and identity!
Day # 39 on 4/3/2022 on the 64th Grammy Awards . “Our musicians wear body armor instead of tuxedos. They sing to the wounded in hospitals, even to those who can’t hear them,” President Zelenskyy said in English. “But the music will break through anyway.” “Fill the silence with your music. Fill it today to tell our story. Tell the truth about the war on your social networks, on TV, support us in any way you can, but not silence. And then peace will come to all our cities.” Following this message, John Legend performed his song “Free” with Ukrainian musicians Suzanne Iglidan and Mika Newton, and poet Luba Yakimchuk, as images from the war were shown on screens behind them.
The war in Ukraine has taken a particularly gruesome turn over the following weeks. Sunday when Ukrainian forces entering the town of Bucha, recently held by Russian soldiers, found bodies of people who had been shot, some after being bound and tortured. Ukrainian authorities accused the Russians of war crimes, and European leaders called for tougher sanctions against Moscow. Russia said the atrocities had been committed by Ukrainians.
Ukraine is not new to alternate reality reportings. After all, Walter Duranty- the father of fake news and Pulitzer Prize recipient ignored the facts of genocide -The Holocaust – in Ukraine and simply reported the official opinion of the Soviet regime.
Day # 68 5/2/2022 A New York Post article reported Putin is to undergo cancer surgery, and transfer power to an ex- FSB chief. I was censored by Facebook twice by writing: Let’s hope someone is smart enough to pull a Michael Jackson or Joan Rivers medical mistake on this diabolical monster. So many individuals have had “mishaps” pertaining to Putin – maybe it is time to turn the tables. Enough! Putin – poof away.
Here we are Day # 79 5/13/2022. So many dignitaries have come to visit with President Zelenskyy to show support yet there is no end to this senseless invasion by a crazy, certifiable, cuckoo’s nest lunatic. Everyone is afraid of him. It boggles the mind that the world is paralyzed by one truly demented individual. Putin’s playbook is so predictable and transparent. He is bombing civilians, starving innocent people and forcing surrender. Now other countries are looking to be part of NATO. The question remains: who will finally force Putin’s hand to stop this invasion and have him stand for war crimes?
Now more than ever: The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing.
–Albert Einstein
What does the future hold for Ukraine. I believe Ukraine will survive and thrive as an independent democracy. There is no other alternative for Ukrainians. Hopefully, Zelenskyy will survive and become a living icon of democracy and courage.
“Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”
– Pope John XXIII
