Store Sale, A New Songwriting Service, & Streaming Shows!
From the new “Radium Girls (Curie Eleison)” video
New Album & Tour Update:
As you may have guessed, plans for my upcoming tour have been postponed, as have my recording plans for the new record. I'm working on rescheduling all of it and promise to keep you posted.
Right now, I'm sad and afraid, and I'm sure you're feeling it, too. I make the majority of my income through performing and teaching and so to have that rug pulled out from under me has been startling. I think about all of my friends who are in similar positions and I'm afraid for them. I think of all the local coffee shops and restaurants where I love to go hole up, sip coffee, write lyrics, and send emails to venues and to you wonderful folks - so many of my songs have been finished in these lovely places. I think of all of the small, intimate venues that have welcomed me and faithful concert goers and how difficult this is for them. I hope with everything I've got that these places and people are able to bounce back, but I know there's a chance that they might not. Things will look different when we're able to come back into the world and gather once again, but we WILL come back and that's what's keeping me going. Seeing the incredible ways the music community has stepped up to take care of its musicians has warmed my heart and given me courage! Thank you so much for your love and support!
I've been missing you all, so I've figured out some ways to connect with you and bring you music and creative inspiration.
Read on!
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Concert Streaming
My heart, until recently, had been a little too heavy to jump on the livestream concert train, but I'm doing it now!! I have FOUR Facebook/Instagram livestream concerts planned for this month:
Friday, 4/10 at noon for Tunes At Noon thru Passim & Harvard Common Spaces
Wednesday, 4/15 at 7pm for The Burren, presented by WUMB (follow along here for updates)
Sunday, 4/19 at 9pm for Passim's Down Home Up Here Bluegrass festival (special bluegrass set!)
Tuesday, 4/21 at 7pm for Cafe Nine with Lys Guillorn and Mercy Choir joining
These are all free shows, though there will be a "virtual tip jar" if you feel so inclined to send a few $ my way.
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Song Feedback, Private Lessons, & Free Songwriting Prompts
I've seen some folks looking for a creative jumpstart to funnel their emotions and time into something positive, which is why I'm going to start offering free songwriting prompts on my social media channels. I don't have a definitive start date, but it'll be sometime soon (probably next week). Be sure you're following me on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter!
**NEW** Song Feedback
Here's something new I'm trying out: I am offering a service where you can send me a song and have me give you specific feedback on it in one of two ways:
• Email ($15)
•20 Minute Video Conference ($25)
This is a good option for the songwriter who may not want to opt into an expensive private lesson but who would rather have some quick, insightful feedback about a singular song.
Private Lessons
As always, I do offer private songwriting lessons over Zoom! Respond to this email, and we can talk :)
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Direct-to-Vinyl Personalized Recordings
I'm recording one-of-a-kind live takes of my original songs which Leesta Vall Recordings is then pressing to 7" vinyl JUST FOR YOU! You can choose from my list of songs and order here. Each of these will be totally unique performances - I will even leave a personalized message for you or whomever you're gifting it to! It's a fun, novel way to send some support.
Orders are open for ONE WEEK ONLY!
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Gillian Welch Cover & New "Radium Girls" Video
Club Passim has been doing INCREDIBLE work supporting artists in this wild time with the Passim Emergency Artist Relief Fund, which has raised over $85,000 so far. They've asked artists from all over to contribute videos of songs that uplift them for the occasion. I shared a cover of a Gillian Welch tune that left me with this helpful mantra I clung to when my family was being evicted from our house many years ago -- hard times ain't gonna rule my mind.
I also submitted my video entry for NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. It's a brand new song of mine that uses the ancient ballad tradition to detail the true life story of The Radium Girls (anyone remember the Recommendation from the last newsletter?). You can watch it here!
I'll be making more of these videos in the coming days - be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and you won't miss it!
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STORE SALE 25% OFF!
Because I love y'all, I'm having a sale on my website store. Use the code LOVE25 and you'll get 25% off of any merchandise order!
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Recommendations
Here's a playlist of music from the Club Passim staff that you should stream to support:
on Apple Music
on Spotify
Also, here's the playlist for the Passim Emergency Artist Relief Fund that so many amazing musicians made videos for!
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As always, thank you so much for subscribing and reading. Sending so much love and hope for good health to you and your families.
- R