December 1st, 2013
Hi everyone! Wow. It’s December. I can barely believe it.
I’m sure most of you feel the same- we can barely believe the close of another
year is drawing nigh! Lest we not enjoy THIS day, let’s not think just yet upon
the year and where we learned, where we laughed, where we lived….
…and yet, perhaps, a little, because after all, this is a
time of becoming aware of who and what is special to us and why. Why do we pay
attention where we do? And with fresh perspective, where will we spend our
passion next?
I have only a few days left to finish fundraising for my
album, “Songs.” I am over half way there and am really grateful for the
opportunity to do this! (I secretly hope I make it!) (I openly hope I make it,
too!)
Something wonderful has been happening through this process
of recording, mixing, working, collaborating, fundraising, publicizing, etc.
You see, in a way, independent artists often think, “It’s just me doing all
this work all alone. How’m I ever gonna make it!?” But as I have been working
on this endeavor (which all came about in the first place because people at my
concerts and performances requested it) I have learned: (Shocking spoiler
alert, LOL):
I do not live in a vacuum.
(That would be really dusty. Ew.)
The most amazing people have come forward to pre buy an
album, donate $100 (even if we only know each other via the internet!), or
donate a few bucks. Every dollar helps! Even if you can give $1 or $2, it
helps.
Not only that! I have also shared emails with fellow
artists, as well as patrons. I’ve gotten in touch with people from years ago,
excited to share in what’s occurring. I have met some new people and connected
more deeply with friends. This album is showing me how beautifully
interconnected we all are…
Then, there is the beauty of the process of art itself.
Something that often happens to people who have been working
a LONG time as artists, and almost always with a certain level of sacrifice
(long hours of practice after hours of working a day job…. Donating huge
portions of your day job paycheck to classes and lessons and coaching, instead
of vacations and down payments on homes, etc.)…. Despite these compromises and
many others, life as an artist presents other kinds of joy.
For example, there are gifts (spiritual, musical and
otherwise) that come from really befriending a song. I mean really... Really
getting to know a piece of music, inside and out, and then singing it again and
again, discovering something new at each turn of phrase….
Earlier today I asked myself, why do life long artists, even
masters like Barbra Streisand, after all this time, STILL get nervous before
performing?
You know, for most, when you’re a very young artist, you
just wanna DO it so bad… but after you have failed and failed and maybe
succeeded a little and failed and failed and then mastered and mastered and
maybe succeeded and maybe not….
And you don’t quit…. You gain a bit of maturity… and you just keep going
because you LOVE it so much and it is a part of you and you it…. And you may or
may not ever make a living doing it…. And you may never win a Grammy but you
also never quit because it stops being about the end result and truly just is
about the music…. you begin to realize a new import to what you are doing. A new
honesty takes hold. The gift of this moment of music, being able to touch
something eternal and divine, and letting it channel through you, hapless human
though you may be…. Has a bliss and wonder all its own.
And you sing the song and the people who listen (even if
it’s just you and your dog) touch something so much greater than your own idea
of yourself.
And you are so blessed.
That, ladies and gentlemen, is what I am experiencing.
I never tire of the process of creating.
I feel so lucky to be living my life as an artist.
If you can help me with my campaign, I truly appreciate it.
And to those of you who HAVE donated, bought an album, donated a dollar. I am
so grateful. You are helping me discover anew and I cannot wait to share with
you some of these explorations in the form of song.
Love, Always,
Erin
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/support-songs-support-music-support-your-soul
