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0 TV Tuesday – “That’s It, I Quit, I’m Moving On” (Sam Cooke Cover)

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!

0 TV Tuesday- “One More Step”

I never quite know how to introduce “One More Step” – I find myself torn between wanting to explain why I wrote the song, and not wanting to drag everyone down. You see, last April, I was on Boylston Street in Boston watching a friend run the Boston Marathon when two bombs exploded on either side of me. It was the scariest experience of my life- I had never been so close to violence before, and I am so, so grateful that my loved ones and I were able to get out of the situation unharmed.

Obviously, there were many who weren’t as lucky, and in the days after the event, I, fully intact without so much as a bruise, really wanted to do something to contribute to the relief efforts. So I did the thing I know how to do- I wrote a song, and, with the help of my good friends and bandmates Jon Francis and Samm Bahman, recorded it. I made it available on Bandcamp, through which I was able to raise over $350 in sale donations that went directly to The One Fund Boston.

I was overwhelmed by the generosity of friends, family, and strangers who liked the song, and happy to be able to do a little something to help the relief efforts. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed and listened – I hope you all enjoy this video version!

Lyrics:

I woke up
The blue and gold
Sky it spoke
My name

And all around
The clouds came down
This quiet town
It sang

Hush, my friend
We’re ok
Grace is on
The way

And on the hill
The April chill
As hearts stood still
Unchanged

With every step
The streets they wept
But no regrets
They say

Hush, my friend
We’re ok
Grace is on
The way
And one more step
Is all that’s left
To take

Now don’t you cry
I’m by your side
And by your side
I’ll stay

As fast and strong
As rivers run
The lucky ones
Have faith

And hush, my friend
We’re ok
Grace is on
The way
And one more step
Is all that’s left
To take

And we pray
We pray
We pray
We pray, we pray, we pray

And hush, my friend
We’re ok
Grace is on
The way
And one more step
And one more step
And one more step
And one more step
And one more step
Is all that’s left
To take

0 Autumn Crunch

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!

Samm and I with Tom Bianchi after our win!

The phenomenal Ryan Montbleau tearing up the stage!

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.

Working out some string parts at the piano.

Samm apparently thinks recording guitar is hilarious.

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.

Setting up an aerial shot – fancy!

Warming up for the big shoot.

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.

0 A Capitol Trip

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.

{Image via The Future of Music Coalition}

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.

{Peter Jenner had the best quote of the conference, regarding music distribution online: “Anyone who thinks we can control the internet is up their arse!”}

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!

{My friend Simone and I on the White House lawn.}

{I was surprised by how small the White House looks up close as opposed to other palaces and government buildings I’ve seen around the world}

{The White House vegetable garden- yum!}

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.

{Image via Boston.com}

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

{Image via Pinterest}

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