New momentum

Updated! New Job, new song, new beginning

So much is shifting right now, and I feel like I'm still at the beginning. I just quit my part-time job, bought a tour van, volunteered for a week at Girls Rock Denver, started an old time duo, played a show at one of the biggest venues in town, and just spent my first day at Song School. Also, I've been writing for the Bolder Beat, and you can read my published work online. So far, I've covered the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, the CROMA festival, and (most recently) Folks Fest (which gives you a bit more background on what I'm doing right now: Song School!).

When I emailed my boss regarding my two-weeks notice, I concluded with this:

"This decision is terrifying, but liberating at the same time, and of all people I suspect you will understand the most. The week after next, I'm at Song School all week, and I feel like there's no better way to baptize me into this new commitment in my life."

I see this week as a huge opportunity for growth, so I'll be sharing my updates here!

Day 1

Today began with Kathy Mattea sharing how music remained a way for her to connect with her mother, even during her late stages of Alzheimers. From there, I attended Paul Reisler's "Directed Songwriting" class. We were partnered at random to share a moment in our lives that changed us. I am fortunate to be partnered with a really incredible woman named Jude, and I'm looking forward to Thursday when we share the songs we wrote for each other's stories! After lunch, I attended a workshop on song forms, and I really got a deeper understanding of ways to differentiate refrains from choruses and all the things a hook can be. Furthermore, she introduced specific forms, one of which I was unfamiliar with (the 32-bar A A B A song), and we discussed how bands like The Beatles modified the structures to make the songs stand out (but retain a sense of familiarity to listeners). During the next session, a song listening session where musicians get feedback on their songs, I was surprised by my friend Hassan from American Nomad who was coming through town on his book tour and bought a last-minute ticket from someone who couldn't make it. After a camp cookout, we watched the open stage performances before finding some song circles in the campground. It's been a full day, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow!

Days 2 & 3

I can’t believe how quickly these last few days have gone. It’s already the last day of Song School, and I’m already feeling there’s so much more to do when time feels like it’s slipping out of reach. Days 2 & 3 were so formative. In addition to my “Directed Songwriting” class, I sat in on a master class with Pat Pattison (who is incredible - and if I can come back next year, I’m definitely pursuing his class, which is limited to 12 pre-selected students). I learned so much just by watching him workshop students’ songs, especially in regards to the lyrics and melodies, and I sat in on Steve Seskin’s class on melody, which really illuminated specific structures of melody in ways I haven’t thought of before. I also attended a workshop on children’s music, which is definitely a facet of music I’ve contemplated exploring. Furthermore, I heard a first-hand account of what it takes to tour internationally from Mike Beck, and I also got a one-on-one mentoring session with Darrell Scott. He gave me some great validating feedback on “Bloodhounds” and also gave me ideas on what to do with my song for Jude. Today, Jude and I will perform our songs (in whatever state they’re in) to each other. Although I still have work to do on mine, I’m excited to exchange what we’ve come up with so far. Being partnered with her has been one of my absolute favorite parts of this experience, and I’m looking forward to really doing her story justice and developing her song more fully.

Day 4

I stayed up late Wednesday night and spent Thursday morning and my lunch break finishing my song for Jude. To do her (and her story) justice, I really wanted everything to be perfect, and yet in the 24-hour crunch time to write the song I didn't polish it quite at the level I wanted (or figure out a bridge for the song). However, it felt really good just to share it with her. Although I recorded my performance for her, I really want to tighten up my performance and make a nice video for her, because that's what she deserves. I'm looking forward to sharing that with you soon!

Aside from our Directed Songwriting performance class, I attended an impromptu workshop with Darrell Scott. He shared how his best songs come from raw inspiration - and chasing after that inspiration in the moment while it lasts. We ended the afternoon with a group song in the Wildflower Pavilion, singing "What a Goodly Thing," which led into us singing "Wade in the Water" while we walked into the St. Vrain River as a group. It was really powerful sharing that moment through music with the people I was surrounded with all week.

What a goodly thing
if the children of all men
could live together
​ in peace.

After this sense of communion, we had a group cookout and the final showcase. I was grateful to have an opportunity to perform for the final showcase and to be accompanied by the house band rhythm section, Ingrid Elizabeth (bass) and JJ Jones (drums). I'll be recording this tune with a full band for my next album!

So what's next?

I'm not really sure. I'm about as terrified as I am liberated. I haven't crunched the numbers, so I'm not even sure how much I need to make to survive. However, since putting trust in the universe, I've certainly had great opportunities come up, and I'm looking for ways to meet my financial needs without doing something that's in any way soul-crushing. After all, my confidence in quitting my job came after I spoke to my former boss at Whole Foods about why my time off for Rockygrass was ignored. He suggested I become a seasonal employee (which would give them clearance to hire someone else and grant me all the time off I need). The plan was to stay part-time for now and start seasonal employment in September, but at the time, I didn't have any gigs set up that month. I sat down with my white board (a child's toy I bought at Target for $10, thinking it would be great for jam sessions writing out chord progressions and for songwriting workshops that I've been planning to start leading for months) and brainstormed how I could make a living outside of Whole Foods within a month. When I looked at what I could start doing immediately (and long-term), I asked myself, "Why wait until next month?"

Since then, I've set up over a dozen shows for The Darling Ravens (my new duo with Clara!), I've done some busking, and I've started teaching lessons and classes at the Harmony Music House. I also applied for a grant through a local arts council (still waiting to hear back!) to fund songwriting workshops for at-risk demographics (including women's & children's shelters, homeless shelters, and women's & juvenile prisons). The Darling Ravens is also organizing an open mic / silent art auction as part of the Concert Across America to End Gun Violence to benefit the Crossroads Safehouse in Fort Collins. Although I'm a bit unsure of how everything is going to play out regarding my own finances, I feel so much better putting my efforts into things that I love and knowing that I can make a difference in people's lives, which is worth the risk.