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When I studied abroad in college, I shared a flat on Cabell Street in London with two other girls and four boys. Luckily, the tiny TV in our common room only got a few channels (one being in Arabic) so fights over “who wants to watch what” were replaced by exclamations of “oh it’s so fun to all hang out together and watch obscure American sitcoms that we can’t even remember being aired in the States.” There was one program, however, that not only re-aired frequently, but that we actually enjoyed: a Sam Cooke biography.

I was already a big Sam Cooke fan, and the show gave me an even bigger level of respect for this incredible artist. The fascinating thing about his music is that its utterly timeless: it defies trends, spans generations, and always seems not only relevant but so freaking cool. I mean, think about it. Is there a cooler guy than Sam Cooke? Has there ever been? I don’t think so.

“That’s It, I Quit, I’m Moving On” is one of my favorite Sam Cooke songs and I had a blast recording this paired down video version, the latest in my Car Covers series. It also features Samm Bahman on Guitar and Alex Brander on Drums, and was shot and edited by Samm. Hope you enjoy!

It’s been cold here in Boston…I mean, REALLY cold. Yes, I’ve lived here my whole life and should be used to it, but doesn’t the chill feel just a little bit unnecessary to anyone else? I thought so.

Despite that, it’s been another banner week. Samm Bahman and I kicked things off on Monday night with an awesome night of music at the Lizard Lounge Open Mic Challenge. For those of you who don’t know the Lizard Lounge, it’s a warm, intimate venue in Cambridge and the perfect place to listen to some thought-provoking music from twenty of your closest friends. Ringmaster Tom Bianchi is just about the nicest guy you’ll meet and a fabulous (and funny) host. We heard a lot of great musicians, and were thrilled that super secret special guests (and local powerhouses) Ryan Montbleau and Tall Heights dropped by to play a few sets. And the kicker for the evening? Samm and I actually won the open mic competition! Judge for the Night Aerica Lauren chose us as her favorite act, which really made us feel special. We can’t wait to go back and see the gang again!

I’ve also been back in the studio (of course), working on the remaining pieces of the solo album. This week, we worked out background harmonies, arranged string and horn parts, laid down some extra guitar parts, and more! It’s been such a long process, but we’re almost in the clear, and it’s amazing to see how it’s all coming together.

We topped off the week with some more video shoots for some of my original tunes, and this time we filmed in a beautiful dance studio! Samm is a great amateur filmmaker as well as a phenomenal guitarist, and he’s willing to go to some “tall heights” of his own to get the right shots.

Looking forward to sharing them with you soon – oh, and Happy Veteran’s Day, everyone! Thank you to all of those who serve and have served our country.

Have you ever had one of those weeks? Sometimes it seems like I’ve been having “one of those weeks” for several months now. Every time I think things are going to slow down, they simply speed up even more.

This past week (and I’m counting from last Tuesday until today, which is really a bit more than a week) was even crazier than most, mostly because I’ve been traveling – to Washington DC. The Future of Music Coalition, a national nonprofit that advocates for and supports artists and music industry professionals, hosted its annual “Future of Music Summit” this past Monday and Tuesday.

It was an awesome event full of inspiring speakers and presenters like fellow Massachusetts musician Erin McKeown, musical activist and filmmaker Ariana Delawari, legendary manager of Pink Floyd Peter Jenner, hip-hop artist and organic gardener DJ Cavem, emcee and educator Stephen Brackett of the Flobots, and many more.

Luckily, it wasn’t all work. I was able to spend some quality time with friends in the DC area, have some great meals, do a little pre-Halloween celebrating, and even take a little trip to the White House on one of their bi-annual Garden Tours. We saw the famous Rose and vegetable gardens, the exterior of the White House up close, and a lot of gorgeous greenery!

By the time I got home, I was exhausted, but rallied to watch my hometown heroes the Red Sox win the World Series! Say what you will about Boston, but we are a sports town through and through, and with all we’ve been through this year, we needed this win. It’s an amazing moment of celebration for a city that has suffered greatly in recent months, and I’m exceedingly grateful to have witnessed it.

Back in the studio tomorrow – oh, and Happy Halloween everyone!