Yetton Adventures

The Civil Wars : LA & Santa Cruz

2010-12-15T19:48:00.002-06:00

Hotel Cafe, tucked in the heart of LA, is known as a hub for music - both well known and obscure. Having played a solo show there over a year ago, it was a treat to walk across the black & white diamond flooring again…but this time, as a duo. Dimly lit, with beautiful orb lights hanging and red velvet backing the stage, the club was empty as we sound checked. We were so pleased when we heard that this legit venue was completely sold out a few days prior. We found out, once we got to the venue, that it was actually over sold out. I poked my head around the entrance door, and found an extensive line formed around the corner. When doors opened, the place filled to the brim with a few familiar faces, many unfamiliar faces, and even some well known people in the industry who'd been rumored to arrive. It felt electric in the room…and we fed off of that energy during the show. (Check here for a creative review someone wrote about the evening).

Driving up the coast to my home town of Santa Cruz, Nate talked to the venue owner on the phone and found out some good news : Crepe Place had sold out 10 days prior! Locals packed the place out and then some last night. I spied my 5th grade teacher (who taught me how to surf), friends from junior high and high school, and spotted my smiling parents in the crowd. I couldn't help feeling what a "full circle" moment it was.

Next gig? Cafe Du Nord in San Francisco. We are looking forward to yet another show in this great Golden State…

The Civil Wars : Seattle : Tractor Tavern

2010-12-14T11:52:00.008-06:00

photo by fabandfru.com

Lovely, misty Seattle. Over the years, I've fallen in love with this rain-kissed town. The mountains, the food, the feel of it all. In one of my favorite areas of Seattle - Ballard - you'll find a fantastic farmers market, music stores, paper boutiques, vintage clothing shops...and you'll also find an eclectic venue called The Tractor Tavern. Inside, boots are strung up like lights at an Italian restaurant on the ceiling, and giant pieces of farm equipment have been turned into pieces of furniture. The decor to this venue is quirky, creative, vintage...and we, The Civil Wars, instantly liked the place.

John Paul, Nate and I met with some friends who work for Amazon after our sound check. We were just a few hundred yards from the venue, and the hang was good. So good, in fact, that time flew by with Jill and Michael. When we finally looked at our watches, we realized we were within a few minutes of the show! So we scuttled back down to Tractor Tavern, and were completely blown away when we stepped inside. The empty venue we'd sound checked in just a few hours ago was now packed, teeming with energy...

We had a great time singing...we soaked up the crowd's energy...and had more than a few laughs together. (...with one of them being about a surprising state law). The night was fun, wonderful, and we had a great time meeting so many people after the show.

As we flew into LA yesterday afternoon, John Paul, Nate and I talked about our 2 sold out shows, in cities that we'd never even played before. Gratitude, awe, and a smiling tinge of "what on earth is happening?!" washed over us...and has continued to more than a few times on this tour already. We recently found out that our Hotel Cafe show in LA tonight is sold out, as well! The adventure continues...and we are grateful for it.

Hope this note finds you well...

The Civil Wars : Portland : A First For Everything

2010-12-11T12:30:00.010-06:00

photo from blogs.947.fm

Portland. City of Roses. It is gray, rainy and absolutely moody in all the right ways today. Nate, John Paul and I are warm and cozy in a beautiful rooftop flat that a generous friend of ours owns, and it couldn't be a better way to start off this tour.

We play our first show of the tour tonight - a venue called The Woods, and we are excited. 1) Because it is 2:30pm, and we heard from the promoter that we are a just few tickets away from having a sold out show (hooray!), and 2) because it's a great venue. This former funeral-home-turned-club has a winning character all it's own. How do we know this? Because we actually wound our way to the venue after a bit of a serendipity last night. Our friend & host, Don, took us to a frozen yogurt place nearby after dinner. Inside, a young guy named Jamison recognized our author friend. He introduced himself to all of us, said he was on tour at the moment and mentioned he was actually playing The Woods in an hour...and invited all of us to the show. To make a long story short, Nate knew Jamison's chill wave band - Teen Daze - because Jamison is friends with a stellar band that Nate manages called LESANDS. Small, small world. So we wound up going to the gig, taking in some good music, getting to know Jamison a bit more, and getting an advance taste of the vibe of the aesthetic that The Woods has to offer. A fun evening, indeed...

There is a first time for everything, right? For starters, this is John Paul's first time to Oregon - ever! This also marks a first for The Civil Wars - it's our very first West Coast tour. We are nothing short of ecstatic to hear that some shows are already sold out, and excited to see new (& a few familiar) faces along the way of this adventure. Sound check in a few hours...must away. Hope this note finds you well...

This Blew My Mind...

2010-12-02T15:37:00.011-06:00

Thanks to the internet, possibilities are endless. The globe continues to shrink in size as we and our laptops get more adept at juggling information, our favorite sites, our social networks, etc. Word of mouth travels faster than ever before, anything we want is literally right at our fingertips, and creating our own reality is more possible than ever.

What am I getting at, you might ask? Well, what happens if you alter the truth about who you are online? Will anyone notice, will anyone care? Well, the internet brought me a little surprise within the last few weeks through a message someone sent me on MySpace. Curious yet? Keep reading. I will forewarn you: if you don't want to get weirded out about what could happen to your online profile, don't keep reading. But if you want a story that might blow your mind a little like it did mine, by all means proceed...

Somebody has been impersonating me on MySpace...since 2006. No, not impersonating me as "Joy the singer who lives in Nashville, is married to Nate, is in a new band, etc". I've had to deal with that a time or two before, and it was always relatively easily remedied. This, my friends, is a different story all together. It is also a LONG story, and in order to give you the full scoop, I am copying the MySpace letter - in it's entirety - that I got from a guy named Jason. (I removed his last name in an effort to be respectful to his coming forward to notify me about this bizarre string of events.)

You ready? ...here it is...

"Joy,

I hope this email doesn't fall on deaf ears or maybe get read and then deleted by an intern (we know how the business can be). Let me start off by saying you don't know me, but i SORT OF know you.

To begin this story lets go back to 2006.

Before facebook there was myspace. Pretty much it was the only social networking site on the internet.. and i was a member. For a while I used it to just talk to friends. That was until i was befriended by a girl named "Nicole Wilson".

She was 26 years old, living in Boston, Ma. Originally from Chicago, IL. Extremely attractive and fun to talk to. I didn't really think much of it at first but she kept writing to me. I soon found myself engaged in full blown conversations with Nicole and started to take a liking to her. We joked, we laughed, we goofed around and that was about it. But still, it was fun. she seemed interesting and cool. For a few weeks, we just commented to each other back and forth. Just random jargon. It was harmless banter compared to the guys that were trying to pick her up on myspace. Typical myspace pick up lines. The usual cheesy talk. I was never one to engage in anything like that, especially online. I just found commenting with her amusing. Until one day she was gone... just like that she was off myspace and didnt return...

Flashforward to 2010.....
Facebook reigns for social networking..

Myspace is soon becoming a social dinosaur revolving around music and thats about it( no offense or anything). I had just broken up with an ex girlfriend and was in the mood for some "breakup" music. For some reason i was in seach of Imogen Heap "Hide and seek". I did a google search and i led me to Myspace. The site i havent been on in quite some time, YEARS if not many many months. On my visit i notice i had several emails pilled up.
In an attempt to clean out my inbox i read them. One of them stood out that i normally would disregard as spam. It was from Nicole Wilson. She told me she remembered joking around with me and thought it would be good if we could pick up where we left off.
I thought, "um OK?". So i wrote back.
"Hey, I remember you, its good to hear from you, havent talked to you in years. What ever happend to you?".. Nicole began to tell me stories about how she rekindled an old romance with her high school sweetheart and eventually got engaged, only to find out he had another girlfriend. So she packed up and shipped out from Boston to NYC. She told me of her jobs as a waitress, as a nanny and how NY has been treating her. I found myself engulfed for some reason (probably from a freshly soiled breakup) She was attractive based on her profile. She looked me up years later, why would i have any reason to doubt?.. unfortunately I did..

We talked for a few days through email. She would go on about how she missed me and a fictional "Pan" we invented (ill get to that later). It was kinda of cute, but still it just felt "off".. after a day or two i decided to try and find out if this Nicole Wilson was real. I searched a bit and came up empty everytime. Thats a bad sign. The emails went on for a while. Just back to basics with our usual joking banter. nothing serious, but enough correspondence where you might think that these two people are alike. Anyway, that alone made me suspicious. This girl is too good to be true. Shes funny, witty, humble, beautiful and seems to be interested in talking to me. (yeah yeah i know.. its online.. but believe me , i have no interest in meeting anyone online, never have, never will. But for some reason i found myself REPLYING).
After a little bit, things she said just didnt add up. I started to investigate as much as i could. She had posted a picture of her in Portobello Rd in Notting Hill London. I had asked if she had ever been to Germany, Ireland, France or London. She repleid "No, none of them".. ok strange, shes lying. I asked her about her family. 3 brothers, 2 sisters. Nathan 34, Ben 31, Cristina 29, Allie 25 and Paul 22... Some of her story seems to make sense while most other parts do not. There IS a profile of her "brother" Ben on her older myspace page, not on her new one she contacted me with.... again, strange.

She said she graduated from Loyola Univ. with a degree in nutrition... ok. Loyola doesnt HAVE a nutrition program... things were just getting more and more sketchy. This is when i found myself more engaged in finding out who this person REALLY is then learning more about them. But doing so meant learning MORE. I stuck with it. Knowing it was a fake profile but trying to find out who the pics were of.

One day i gave up. I said i knew she was fake and that i was done. It was fun trying to find out who they really were but its just gotten to be too much. I asked if they stilll felt inclined to prove they were real to post a video or something. Somehow this person followed through. But the video was silent and apparently filmed with a cell phone filming a computer screen on youtube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3HLIOsIpwQ )

I then decided enough was enough and told them everything i found to prove they were not who they said they were (mind you this was the MOST fun ive ever had!!!!.. i didnt even care that this person was fake.. i enjoyed the challenge.. the thrill of the hunt to find out who this person was.. not even the person writing to me but who the pics were of).. They had pics in 2006, they had MORE pics in 2010.. they had a copy of a video.. this person MUST have hacked a myspace profile or something.. ( i know youve probably figured out where im going with this by now... yes. this person had stolen your pics and was impersonatting you.. ill get to that more )

I had called them on every move. it was like a chess game, but they continued to try and bluff me..never succeeding.. then eventually she was gone again.. blocked me.... WAIT... BLOCKED ME? i didnt do anything wrong!!!....but still.. we talk 4 or 5 years ago, looks me up 4 or 5 years later, i dont think this is one of my friends pulling a fast one.. what if she IS REAL?
BUT...
They had two myspace pages, one old one new,an email address, a youtube page, and a newly formed Facebook page.. All designed to try and trick me....little ol' me... why? i have no idea. until i decided to send one last email:
"Ok, ive enjoyed our little chess game.. sorry it had to end.. but since you're gone you have to tell me... who is she? who is the girl in your profile?....
I got the following reply:

'Alright, here's the deal. I'm spilling my guts because I actually, genuinely like you. You're a pretty decent guy. Here goes: 4 years ago (I was a sophomore in college), a friend and I were discussing how easy it is to portray any person you'd want to in Cyber Land. This got me thinking and I decided to start a page on MySpace. It started as a joke just to see how many losers we could get to believe I was really who I said I was. Most offered lame pick up lines, their phone numbers, web cam access, and just disgusting personalities. Then there were some that offered more than anything that could fit into the categories I just described. But some were decent, real guys that made me laugh, you particularly. It got to a point where it was no longer an experiment, it was an addiction, for lack of a better word. I got so wrapped up in this thing and, frankly, I couldn't stop. So I kept up with the page for a while and then just decided to quit all of a sudden. To be honest, I only came back to see if I had any messages from you and a couple otherss. I know that sounds sick and psycho and weird, and honestly, I know that it is. But I also said I'm spilling my guts.

So, to be perfectly honest (funny, huh?), everything that I told you was true. Some little facts about me were stretched, obviously. I was engaged, that whole bit happened. I did go to a wedding in NC with a guy named Andrew, who is the biggest asshole I have ever met. I did pay for his new windshield. I am a waitress/ nanny. I am everything I said I was. Only, not.

I guess that there are two parts to the answer to your question. The girl in the pics, her name is Joy Williams. She's a singer. The girl in the messages, her name is Kate Edwards. She's me.

God, this email is so disturbing as I'm looking back. I'm looking forward to the unscrupulous, mocking email I'm sure I'll get back from you. And not that it means much, but I'm sorry. Not just because I lied, and believe me (OH! the irony), I'm honestly (ha!) not a liar. Besides this whole stupid account. I'm a decent person. And even though I am sorry for lying, I'm also sorry that I actually enjoyed talking to you so much, because now I have to stop and realize how much I have to lose out on.'

As you can see.. this person pretended to be you back in 2006, and picked it up again in 2010. Unfortunately she deleted the new page but the old page is still viewable (http://www.myspace.com/come_rain_or_shinex3)
one of the funniest parts is she even created a fake profile for Nate!.. Nate apparently turned out to be 'your brother Ben' in my world. You can find his fake profile on her friends list.

Why am i telling you all of this you may ask?.. Well.. for starters i thought you should know there is someone out there impersonating you.. 2. its a damn funny story...and 3. I guess i just wanted to talk to the "real" you.

I will be honest.. I'm kinda of glad this all happened because Ive never heard your music and now that I have its beautiful. Im a new fan... what artist today can say they get fans from scam artists trying to impersonate them??? NONE, thats who...well now only you!!.. so youre pretty lucky!! haha.

I guess theres a lot more to the entire story, it would probably make a great movie, but whatever. I just wanted to pass this on to you since i "sort of" had a pretty good friendship with you for a little bit.

Anyway..I love the music, keep it up. new fan here.. Tell Nate his new name is "Ben" (http://www.myspace.com/benny_28), I hope you tour around Boston sometime.. and I guess I'll see you in another life (except youll be real in that one ;)

Take care, Joy.... (not Nicole)

Sincerely,
Jason M."

Needless to say, when Nate and I read this, our jaws dropped. What is there to even say about this? It is nothing short of bizarre. When we followed up on the links Jason has posted, Nicole's fake profile with my pictures had been removed, but Nate's "brother Ben" profile was still up. So, so strange...

Jason then went on to write a second email shortly after, a kind of follow-up/P.S. :

"Well unfortunately both of the fake profiles are now gone. I was hoping they stayed up a little bit longer so you could see what they had done with all of your pics. Nates, fake profile is still available though.

The profiles were pretty thorough too. Whoever this person was they went all out.

You were originally a 26 year old waitress and nanny living in Brighton, Ma. She listed hobbies, favorite places, etc..Pics included ones from 2006, your trip to London and Notting Hill. Your shot on the stone bride with green tights, yours friends in NYC. pictures of you and Nate (claiming to be your brother Ben). One of you two in a car, Nate wearing a headband and Red Sox t shirt.. the newer page just added more pics from the last 4 years.

A fake facebook page was created towards the end and is still up http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001328077964&ref=search. I flagged it as fake as well. Not sure how long it will be up either. Anyway...not a great part 2 I guess.

btw, the Civil Wars stuff is great! Best of luck."

So...a twisting, winding story, indeed. All I could do was shake my head in a kind of bewilderment, and I still feel that way as I recount this to you. But now...It's your turn. What do you think about all this? What do you think about a young woman tweaking reality to create an alternate reality for herself? How would you feel if this happened to you? Eager to hear your thoughts...and hope this note finds you well.

Life in (or out of) a moving car

2010-10-17T16:02:00.007-05:00

Driving back from The Civil Wars show in Knoxville earlier today, I was overcome by the Fall colors seeping into the leaves on the trees. I caught myself silently asking, 'could it really be that time of year again already!?!?', as Nate and I whizzed by mile after mile of Autumn dusted hills. I had a moment - a deep breath - as we sped along the highway....and I realized that I hadn't really done that in awhile. I thought about the schedule Nate and I have been keeping lately, and was grateful to have a chance to pause and look around. Life, in or out of a moving car, can so often feel like it's whizzing by at 70 mph...

A busy life... I see it as a gift. You won't scroll down on this blog entry reading angry words from me complaining about it. On the contrary. I couldn't be more thankful for the crazy life Nate and I live together. It is a grand adventure. And while we're in our 20's, what better time is there than now to dream big and work hard? But I think it's safe to say that some days can blend together into a blur. I looked through my recent iphone pictures today, and laid out in front of my eyes were snapshots of the last month: A handful of in-and-out-of-state shows for The Civil Wars, a celebratory family wedding in PA, a solo performance in Texas, crossing paths with a stranger on a Nashville street in desperate need of help one night, friends having their babies, my demolished car (thanks to some one attempting a hit and run), a full music video & photo shoot for The Civil Wars, hours of in-studio solo work for tv/film, business trips out of state, and saying goodbye to my big sis (plus my bro-in-law and my little nephew) as they moved away from Tennessee to North Carolina. And all of this, within the last 30 days...

Life : it's curious, challenging, exciting, inspiring, ever calling me to move beyond what I think I know...and to keep my eyes open to the beauty found in all of the craziness. Deep breaths amidst a freeway kind of lifestyle must remain. Why? Because I want to stay sane. Because each day is too rich to let it just slip by. Because life is full of the unexpected, and I will only be able to savor each new encounter as long as I remain present. Because I am staring down an upcoming season that will only continue getting busier. With The Civil Wars full length releasing February 1st (stoked!), a national ramp up is underway. And we are doing all this independently. Adding to Nate's astounding management skills, we have new additions to the support team, as well : a renowned booking agency from CA, a well-known publicist from NYC, a respected radio promotions woman and a smart-thinking physical distribution guy based out of Nashville. Together, we are all committed to going for it and aiming high. It is an exciting time. I am thrilled about the prospect of packing my suitcase more often, playing more shows, seeing our full length released out into the wild, and expanding what we do...all in the hope that more ears might be able to discover our music. All of these things could only mean more surprising adventures are on their way...and soon...

But for right now, I have today. A vivid, Fall day... filled with enough colors to make my eyes ache in the relishing of them all. No need to race ahead to the next thing, or to the next day, week or month. I get to take in the beauty of now, even as life speeds on, and soak in all the beauty...

Hope this note finds you well...

Indian Summer

2010-09-07T18:30:00.005-05:00

Over 3 and a 1/2 weeks ago, Nate, The Civil Wars and Madi Diaz (along with her stellar guitar player, Kyle Ryan) set out to scour parts of the South, East Coast and Midwest. 22 days. 18 shows. 0 complaints. : )

It's an obvious truth: independent musicians can't waste time being divas. We are blue collar musicians, and we are proud of it. Think we had a plush tour bus with our own driver? Think again. We had a wonderful, borrowed 15 passenger maroon van (thanks to friends in the band, Roman Candle). Think we all had hotel rooms to ourselves? Think again. It was summer camp, with all 5 of us crammed into 1 hotel room, or all of us crashing on the floors of generous house guests. But no one really seemed to mind...

To say that we had fun out on the road would be, quite frankly, a gross understatement. I've toured on and off for a decade now, and have never laughed so hard as I did on this tour. Not only that, but ironically...we became a bit of a rag-tag insta-family. Teamwork was at an all-time high with this group from the get go- everyone helping load in and load out, everyone taking turns driving the van, tending to each other's merch, grabbing coffee for someone else who might've looked tired that day, etc. Don't get me wrong: we had some long days on the road, but thankfully, we all made a silent pact to role with it. We all pitched in the share the load...

And we got to see a lot of beautiful places on this tour. Every city we visited had it's own unique charm to it, and we tried our best each day to soak in as much of our surroundings pre-show as possible. Whether or not any of us had been there before, we walked through neighborhoods, scoured local boutiques, went to MLS baseball games, ate at recommended restaurants, read books in local coffee shops, etc. But once the sun went down, it was game time. Load in, sound check, doors, and then the show. And every single night, new faces appeared ready to hear music. I cannot tell you how thankful I am/we are for each and every person that came out to see us on our tour. We were truly encouraged by how many people showed up every night. We had several completely sold out shows (including Birmingham's WorkPlay venue that holds 450 people!), and it was a treat playing each night. And then to see friends and meet new faces after the show...was just simply icing on the cake...

Here are just a few shots from the road...

(Somewhere in Wisconsin: our trusty 15 passenger van...)

(Birmingham: test shots from a photo shoot w/ Caleb Chancey)

(Vienna, VA : backstage bathroom)

(Philadelphia, PA)

(Nashville - last show of tour. Pre-show set list artwork by the lovely Miss Diaz)

Thanks again to everyone who spread the word about the tour, who contacted friends in different cities where we were playing next, and for showing up to the shows. Some of you walked to the shows from your houses, and others flew across country. Either way, we are grateful! Hope to meet even more on you when we hit the road again...

Routine (Or Lack, Thereof)...

2010-08-09T21:30:00.007-05:00

The other day, in an art-deco hotel room Nate and I were staying in, a cup-coaster in the bathroom caught my eye. There, in pressed cardboard was a quote by Caskie Stinnett: "I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine." I couldn't help but chuckle, because that quote has been the perfect descriptor for the season of life I (and Nate) have been in lately. Over the last few months, we've scoured the Left Coast - from San Diego all the way up to Alaska, and back down again.

Now here I sit, in an old library-turned coffee shop in downtown Seattle. Nina Simone is crooning in the background, and within this 2-story caffeine hut I am savoring the last few days of our West Coast adventure. I can hardly believe we left for San Diego on July 5th, and haven't been home since! Nate and I began our journey in SD, because Nate had business with a new band he's working with that's been stirring up a good bit of international buzz. (Check out the music of LESANDS). The unexpectedly chilly, grey weather in the normally sunny part of So Cal was a welcome change from the humidity-saturated temperatures of Nashville. San Diego was the beginning chance to take a deep breath from all things TN...and then find busy-crazy-fun on the other side of the country for the next few weeks.

Things heated up in Los Angeles that next week, as did our schedule. We spent time tag-teaming business meetings, connecting with other artists and friends in the area. Several times that week, I quietly shook my head at the bohemian business model Nate and I have been fortunate enough to create in the last couple years: a largely mobile music company, ever growing and changing. Believe me: we've never worked harder in our lives than we have in the last few years. But, we've never played harder in our lives when breaks finally afforded themselves either!

Santa Barbara beckoned after LA, and so did some rest there. Sweet sea breezes met us, and so did some quiet moments of respite that we were really needing. We had a quiet weekend soaking in the laid-back beauty of that city...and it was glorious. After that, we headed back home...or I should say, to the home of my childhood. (I still call Santa Cruz home after being in Nashville 10 years!). Spending time with my parents, reconnecting with dear high school friends, picking peaches from trees in my family garden, etc. Out of all the places we visited, the passage of time was no more evident than it was in Santa Cruz. Taking a step back for a moment, I realized that I'd somehow watched my parents transform into grandparents (thanks to my little nephew!), high school mates had grown into bona fide adults with families of their own, and sprigs that I'd once helped plant in the garden had grown into sturdy trees heavy with fruit. Santa Cruz brought with it a strangely sweet realization that so much has changed, grown and ripened over the years...in all of our lives.

San Francisco beckoned us after Santa Cruz, and there we soaked up several rare sunny days in the city. Nate and I had some business up there, as well: a meeting or two with a fantastic booking agent who is interested in working with The Civil Wars. The people at the agency were all great, and generously gave us tickets to a couple live shows while we were there. Tucked inside those historic venues, I couldn't help but dream of returning to play there as The Civil Wars. I fell in love with the city all over again that week. Decadent meals, beautiful views, new friends, long walks around the meandering streets... it was just what the doctor ordered.

To make a long(er) story short(er), we wound our way ultimately up to Washington state...then all the way up to Alaska. The expansive views of Alaska (and a bit of British Columbia, too!) were astounding. Mountain cascades stacked nearly on top of each other, glaciers thunderously cracking before breaking off into turquoise waters, etc. Whales, salmon and bald eagles made cameos throughout the week, and I couldn't help but feel like I was taking in something wondrous, precious, inspiring. The unbridled beauty of Alaska was unforgettable. (And as of that visit up to AK, I can now officially say I've been to all 50 States! I know, I know...nerd alert. Ha)

Bringing it back to the right now, sitting in this coffee shop in downtown Seattle, I am nearing the end of an epic journey. Nate and I have been able to see so many people we love, and made new kindred spirits along the way. We've marveled at natural wonders, and also scoured concrete jungles all along the Left Coast. We've had no routine but the routine of living out of our suitcases...and to be honest, I've liked it! The suitcases will get no rest anytime soon, though. Nate and I have a sliver of time left in Seattle before we fly back to TN. Once we get back to our house, we'll have 48 jam-packed hours in Nashville before heading out on a 20+ city tour with The Civil Wars and Madi Diaz. Hope to see lots of your faces along our many travels...

"I'm Going, Going, Back, Back To Cali, Cali..."

2010-07-03T15:36:00.006-05:00

photo found on Flikr

What a busy week it's been, though a really good one. I think I've been in the studio for more hours these last 6 days than the hours I have even been at home. My friend, David, came back to town to work on some songs we'd written together for his 2nd record, and we spent many fun-filled hours working away. And once he flew out of town, it was time for me to go to work writing/singing/co-producing 4 solo tv/film pitches with the ever-awesome Jeremy Bose. Even though I'm a little exhausted by this week, I am still so thankful for what I get to do - challenges, crazy hours and all.

I am ready to take a little bit of a break, though, and it comes just in time to celebrate a national holiday! Happy (early) 4th of July to you! This holiday always conjures up childhood memories of being at the beach with family, lips sticky from a juicy watermelon, sparkler in hand. I hope that your 4th is filled with family, friends, good food and celebrations galore! Stay safe, and enjoy the fireworks bursting across the sky. :) Nate and I will more than likely be spending a few hours of this auspicious day packing bags for our 3+ week trip to California. I can't wait to be back in my home state! "I'm going, going, back, back to Cali, Cali..."

photo from EmilyStyle

Leaving Music City Behind

2010-06-26T18:46:00.014-05:00

To get to producer Charlie Peacock's studio, you actually have to leave Music City behind. And quite honestly, I don't like that. I love that. : ) Trust me, it is worth the drive. Just 30 minutes outside of the city, you will find an old, beautifully restored church-turned-home-&-studio that belongs to Charlie & co. Far from the buzz of Music Row, I've always felt a sense of peace and excitement pulling up their steep driveway. The place simply oozes with warmth, welcome, and music. Just take a walk through an artful English garden (thanks to his wife's botanical efforts) just bursting with countless varieties of colorful blooms. Then, hang a quick left. There, you will find a door that leads to a musician's blissful cocoon. Within the walls of that wonderful studio, John Paul and I worked long, rewarding, challenging, laughter-filled hours...all in the name of our very first full-length album for The Civil Wars.

From L to R : Richie Biggs, Nate Yetton, John Paul White, Charlie Peacock

There is no way to completely describe the bliss and the stretch of what the last 2 weeks in-studio truly entailed. We sang our hearts out, we lost track of time, we laughed almost as many hours as we recorded, and we created far too many inside jokes while simultaneously working out string parts, mandolin parts, ambient guitar ideas, bass lines, percussion ideas, etc. Charlie was a master at casually drawing out the unbridled, instinctive musical ideas that John Paul and I had. And from the beginning, one thing we were all clear about was this: we didn't want to lean on several "coping mechanisms" common to most modern recording sessions today. We recorded full performances instead of going a section at a time, we said no to Auto-Tune, we didn't play to a click, and vintage trumped modern nearly every time when it came to gear or instruments. Without even having a conversation about it, we all knew we wanted to create in a way that felt emotional, timeless, raw, & spontaneously musical.

We were excited to have some ridiculously talented musicians join in and add some of their "special sauce" to our 10+ songs. Charlie called in an all-star list of players: upright bass by Barry Bales, cello by John Catchings, violin by David Davidson, additional electric guitars by Jerry McPherson & JT Corenflos, percussion by Ken Lewis, mandolin & fiddle by Andy Leftwich, pedal steel & lap steel by Dan Dugmore. To go into detail of who these musicians have played with would require several, (undoubtedly jaw-dropping) paragraphs. These men have shared the stage with artists ranging from rock gods of the late 60's, to well-known current indies, to blue grass greats and house-hold-name-famous country legends. But you would never know that from meeting any one of the guys. Each was humble, open to our input, malleable, and a barrel of laughs. But if you asked them to tell you a story or two, out spilled music history. Oh, the stories they told of their music-related adventures over the years- unforgettable! (...and many of them, un-repeatable.) : )

Here are a few iPhone shots taken along the way of making the record:

Through it all, I sensed our songs do what I'd so dearly hoped they would do: take root - deeper, further - into the soil of emotion and the art of story. While the heart of what we do is still very much in-tact on the record, we discovered different musical sides of ourselves in the process at Charlie's that I am excited for you to hear. I think you might be in for a few surprises with this full-length. :)

As we've listened down through initial mixes the last few days, I think a few of the butterflies from the garden outside Charlie's studio made their way into my stomach. I am not nervous, though. I am just thoroughly excited to share this music with you. I only hope you can hear how much heart, laughter and soulful blood, sweat and tears were put into each and every song.

Hope this note finds you well...

Bonnaroo

2010-06-13T16:26:00.022-05:00

Nate and I had not even thought about going to Bonnaroo. That is, until an industry friend offered us 2 free tickets last week. I mean, who's going to pass up the opportunity to go to one of the biggest music festivals in the country for free, (with ticket prices that start at $250/person)?! We were honored, and we jumped at the chance. We also thought it would

be a rather creative way to celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary, which fell directly during the Bonnaroo festivities. Fancy dinner and a movie? Nope. Been there. Done that. : ) We packed up our Honda Element and hit the road for Manchester, TN. And so the adventure began...

With sweltering temperatures in the 90's (not to mention the stifling Southern humidity), sunscreen and water became must's to making it through the days. Reports said there were 80,000 in attendance this year, and I could believe it. Throngs of people - clad in everything from ornate costumes to hardly anything at all - moved like a giant human river from one show to the next.

photo by Ian Whitlen

People-watching was half the entertainment at the festival. From the packs of high schoolers who inevitably lied to their parents about where they would be, to the tie-dyed oldie goldies wreaking of Woodstock, character after character abounded. The s

mell of sweat, hot mud, booze, and weed emanated off these unfamiliar people we waded through. But through it all, something sweet was also in the air: a common love of seeing live shows.

Nate and I serendipitously ran into friends within the first few hours of being at Bonnaroo, so we hot-footed it double-date style from venues marked "That Stage", "The Other Stage", "Which Stage" and "What Stage" to catch the acts. Coincide

ntally, it got pretty humorous asking for - or giving - directions with nebulous stage titles like those. Don't believe me? Actual example:

"Hey, so I'm wanting to see Dr. Dog play. Do you know where I can find that stage?", asks the obviously buzzed dude in line behind me at the gyro stand.

"That Stage is over there. But which stage did you want, again? They aren't playing That Stage. They are playing The Other Stage", I reply.

[Insert dude scratching his sunburned forehead]

Wincing, trying to put it all together, he finally answers with, "Wai....whaaa?".

It was like that classic Abbott & Costello comedy sketch, "Who's

On First?", happening over and over in different conversations throughout the festival. Thank goodness for maps. : )

And oh my were there shows to see...so many! Here are some names of just a fraction of the people that we saw. Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros! (See our friend, Tyler James - sitting on the far right side in a striped tank. He plays pi

ano in the band) :

photo by me

photo by Ian Whitlen

...and Brooklyn-based band, The National. (At one point, the lead singer jumped down with his mic to sing among the crowd, and upon returning to the stage happened to walk right by us. Hooray for digital cameras) :

...then, She & Him:

photo by Kyle Dean Reinford

We had a great time celebrating our anniversary there. Nate joked that there was nothing more romantic than spending our special day with 80,000 sweaty, dirty people. ; ) We took this photo after The National show, and then headed to...

photo by Ian Witlin

...The Flaming Lips...

photos by me

Yesterday, we saw The Middle East- a musical gang of Aussies who we recently met through friends. They are lovely, and so is their music (you must check them out):

photo by Kyle Dean Reinford

...and Kings of Leon :

...and Jay-Z -

photos by Ian Whitlin

...and my HIGHLIGHT OF BONNAROO- Mumford & Sons! See the guy in the white undershirt on the left? That's Ben. Ben, Nate and I became friends when we were in London 2+ years ago. We managed to stay in touch, and have enjoyed watching the guys go from "no-name" to "big name" around the world. Their show truly was one of the best of the entire festival:

After our first night of sleeping in the back of our Element, we'd had our fill after 2 days at Bonnaroo. We wanted to head home last night after the Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z show, but that wasn't about to happen. We had been herded by festival staff the first day to park in a certain lot...and we had 4 cars (and 4 tents) parked on every side of us. So we were stuck another night. Thankfully, we were so worn out that we were able to sleep well, and we were finally able to free our car this morning around 7am. What an adventure! It was worth it...

Florence : Oregon & Alabama

2010-06-07T12:11:00.006-05:00

Doing a bit of laundry late last night, I realized that both of my recent trips bore the same destination city name : Florence. But while the city names were the same, the trips were two very different experiences.

Florence, Oregon: one giant deep breath. Salt soaked air. Sandy beaches. Driftwood palaces along the shore. The sight and sound of waves crashing a mere 25 yards from my sliding doors. Sleeping in. Journaling. Reading. Antique piano-playing. Solitude. Long walks along the water's edge. Sunsets so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes. Those are just a few of countless memories I can recall from my West Coast trip. I loved the little bungalow I stayed in - fetchingly kitsch in decor - and the perfect size for a personal retreat. I napped on sunlit-warmed couches, as open doors to the ocean let in the cool breeze that whirred with white noise of the crashing waves.

I really needed that trip...in so many ways. The silence was stripping, realigning, calming, almost monastic in some ways. And the music that came out of it? I am thankful to say that I was able to bottle a few snippets of those beautiful days into songs. I've brought them home with me to work on some more, much like the quiet lessons I learned along the Oregon coast. And what, you may ask, did I learn? Nothing earth-shattering, or completely new. It was perhaps about learning some things over again, but more deeply this time. I "re-learned" how important it is to be still, how vital it is to love reality (even when it is different than what was once hoped for), and how life-giving it is to finally let go of anchors weighing down the soul.

I returned to Nashville much more at peace, much more rested than when I'd left. Getting back into the swing of normal life - work, deadlines, emails, studio, laundry - took a little getting used to. But I managed to find a new kind of normal rhythm nevertheless. And as soon as I felt that rhythm return, it was time to repack and head to another city named Florence. But this time, it was Florence, Alabama.

Billy Reid - a wonderful clothing designer and huge supporter of The Civil Wars - generously invited us down to the Muscle Shoals area to be a part of his annual Shindig on Saturday. Billy, (who most recently won GQ's Best New Menswear Designer In America), invites editors each year from all the major fashion magazines to come to his Florence store to take in a little Southern culture. (AKA: killer BBQ, porch swing evenings, art and music from around the area). His personal aesthetic oozes with unique, Southern style mixed with quirk and romance, and the 2nd story loft of his store was the perfect place for The Civil Wars to have our very first "hometown" show. (John Paul grew up in Florence, after all). Here we are sound checking a few hours before the big night:

On top of the fashion editors, hundreds of other people also showed for the event, and Billy's team knocked the evening out of the park. They didn't miss a beat for our 10pm show. Candles were lit everywhere, billowing bouquets of field-picked flowers stood tall around the massive room, wine was served in mason jars, and everything seemed to have a magical glow about it. John Paul and I had a brilliant time singing that night, soaking in the warm hometown welcome.

The ever-generous Mr. Reid also introduced us to several Levi's® reps, along with writers for Vice magazine. Since Billy Reid and Levi's were already joining forces (they are working on a combined line for next season), Vice magazine came to dive into Southern music and fashion, as well. Thanks to Billy, Levi's and Vice magazine decided to do a joint-piece on The Civil Wars. : ) So yesterday, we had a day of interviews and photos around beautiful Florence. We were styled in some of the fusion Billy Reid/Levi's clothes, and had photos taken at Billy's store.

After the in-store photo shoot, we headed over to Billy's historic home (the same place we shot our Poison & Wine music video back in November). Surrounded by a film crew, JP and I sat on Billy's epic front porch, swaying on a swing as we sang songs and talked music. I couldn't help but smile about how different - and yet how wonderful - each trip to Florence was. What a strange and winding ride life is...

Hope this note finds you well today!

Still...I Hope: Oregon Bound

2010-05-21T16:29:00.006-05:00

Call it artistic melancholy, call it the introvert gone wild in me, call it whatever you want. But for months I've been harboring this strange, internal nagging to get out of Nashville. Growing up in Northern California, I always seemed to find myself at the ocean's edge whenever I needed some time to think. Smelling sea-soaked air, feeling grains of sand in between my toes, and taking time out to just breathe always felt realigning. I remember finding perspective, even inspiration, there out by myself.

The ocean is calling me again. A few weeks ago, my "got to get out of Tennessee" notion turned into a Google search. My requirements? A small place, not too expensive...doors that opened up to sand and sea...an antique piano, enough in-tune for me to play without cringing.... and a whole week alone. After nearly 5 hours of scouring the internet, I stumbled upon a little bungalow along the Oregon coast for rent that matched my dreams. I actually just pulled out my suitcase from the closet. I leave in 2 days! So far I've managed to completely bypass packing the logical items for travel - underwear, pairs of socks, a toothbrush. Currently, in my suitcase sits only a small stack of books. Hemingway, Rohr, poets Pavlova & Whyte. They will all be my travel companions for this week of solitude.

My heart starts pounding excitedly when I think about waking up in the morning, putting on a sweatshirt, opening up sliding doors and walking out along the misty sea line. I hope for deep breaths, and for some soul realignment. I pray for rest/release, for the chance to absorb great thoughts already inked on paper... and that all these things might combine with ocean mist to inspire words/melodies of my own. Maybe I hope for too much, but still...I hope.

While the thought of 7 solitude-filled days is exhilarating, I also anticipate there will be moments that the quiet could seem unfriendly. I don't go blindly into all this thinking I'll be on some kind of artistically monastic high every day. In truth, I have a feeling that I will encounter shades of darkness amidst the beauty there. Silence allows the soul to air out, and I sense that these imminent airings might surprise me. I imagine dusty thoughts left untouched may emerge, hurt pushed aside could begin to zing electric in my ears, that the dastardly Red Pen in my mind might return as I begin to create, etc. Those will be moments I'll be missing the warm embrace of my husband, or the familiar surroundings of our home. But those will also be reality-laced moments when my soul just might be open enough to absorb something intensely rich that it hasn't before...

Maybe I hope for too much. But still...I hope.

Microwavable Time

2010-05-17T15:29:00.007-05:00

Have you ever grown impatient with the microwave as it was warming your food? [Enter slow, bashful raising of my own hand]. Rapid, instant, blink of an eye. I am one of many belonging to a generation who grew up with a microwave, with fast-food restaurants around nearly every corner, and the internet. For better or worse, this is what we've grown accustomed to : all things instantaneous. With all the benefits of the speedy internet, complete with its 30 second iTunes clips & instant movies to stream, I've also seen how much this lightning-paced way of operating can facilitate things just going in one ear and out the other. In short, I've realized that I'm only helping to create my own short term memory loss.

We are inundated every day with new information, emails, splash pages and pop up advertisements. News pages I check daily move from one topic to the the next with each passing hour, rarely following up beyond a day or two on certain topics. And I've found this to be true with our watery town of Nashville. While it was amazing to see BBC World News highlight the flooding, and to have CNN's Anderson Cooper arrive on the scene, once the news trucks pulled out it seemed much of the awareness did, too. In all fairness, it could be easy to forget that Nashville is still a mess in many areas if you don't live here. But that doesn't negate the fact that loss and need remains. People are still without homes. Food is still in short supply for those going without. Clean up continues, and will for months and months on end. While it might be easy to just skim past it, the reality is that the flood of Nashville is not even remotely over.

Nate and I volunteered with many others a few weekends ago, gutting out (what used to be) lovely condos along the Cumberland River. As I was tearing out entire walls damaged by water, and ripping out tile in bathrooms, I found a sopping, pink baby barrette in apartment 257B. The devastating loss some families have experienced hit me all over again. This was somebody's home - their safe haven - destroyed in a matter of hours.

And they were not the only ones. Downtown continues to have many water-logged buildings. The Grand Old Opry is slowly drying out, after much damage. My acupuncturist lost his entire house to flooding, while he and his fiancé were out of town visiting family. Another friend of mine lost his whole studio, (thousands upon thousands of dollars), which is his only avenue of income. And still, another friend I ran into last week told me about an elderly couple she was friends with who got caught in the flash flood. They were both swept away to their death.

Recovering from the devastation that this amazing city endured will not be instant. It will take much longer than microwavable time. I've enjoyed linking arms with complete strangers to volunteer, and been amazed at the community spirit bubbling both among locals and far-away samaritans. Progress is being made, but we as a city still need financial help, as well. The $1.5 billion in damages that our Governor reported is no exaggeration, and we could use all hands on deck.

That's why I've created an exclusive song for you to download, with ALL the proceeds going towards the needs of Music City. All you have to do is download "We Are" and "leave a tip" to donate to the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee: http://bit.ly/6aBshh. (The link may take just a moment or two to load the entire song for you to preview, so give it a sec, my fellow fast-paced friends. :) Please, feel free to spread the link above to as many people as you know. You can say you were a part of rebuilding Nashville!

artwork by Katie Moore

Hope this note finds you well today...

Nashville: Under Water

2010-05-05T14:26:00.007-05:00

Never in my life would I have guessed what we here in Nashville were in for as of last weekend. I had only heard rather bland weather reports on Friday that called for thunderstorms over the weekend. Meh. No big deal. Nothing unusual about lightning storms during Spring in the South. Or so we thought...

I can still hear the sound of torrential rain pounding almost angrily on the metal roof of our home just a few days ago. Nate and I stayed in on Saturday, reading and cooking at home. A nice, cozy Saturday, right? We thought the high winds and heavy rain were bound to let up any moment. But a few hours turned into nearly 48 hours of the same: non-stop sheets of water from the sky. One by one, tv channels clipped their normal programming to show minute-by-minute updates on the menacing conditions. And as we looked outside, we watched water turn to puddles, which turned to streams and rivers in the streets. And nearby rivers, already healthy with earlier Spring showers, swelled to overflowing in a matter of hours, devastating this wonderful city.

There is water... a lot of it. Feet upon feet of it. Everywhere. Basements of neighbors flooded with water 7-9+ feet high. Studios of many of my friends now completely demolished. But even these grim circumstances sound tame in comparison to what others have still have to endure. Entire homes have been lost, water up to their roof line. Cars swept away by the hundreds. Schools, businesses completely gone. Loved ones unaccounted for... and still missing. The death-toll as of today from this record-breaking storm was over 25...and counting. More deaths are being discovered daily as flood waters recede one painful centimeter at a time.

There is no way to fully describe all of the destruction that is, in many cases, within walking distance of my house. I think pictures can speak louder, so here is a link to a few photos to give you just a glimpse of what we are all experiencing around town.

This was no minor storm. Nashville has been devastated. Local shelters are now at their capacity, people are in need of food and clothes. Power is still out in certain areas, and we are experiencing a water shortage due to 2 of our 3 water plants being damaged due to flooding. Governor Phil Bredesen declared several TN counties in a state of emergency, requesting aid from the President. Bredesen was even reported saying today that current estimated damages Nashville has sustained will be over $1 billion. It is a mess here.

With each passing day, the reality of all this loss, death and destruction right outside my door becomes more visceral. It is overwhelming to see. Even though our house was (very thankfully) spared from any real harm, I feel all the more compelled to reach out to others who experienced loss far greater than us. Nashville is banding together as a city, linking arms in ways we never have before. This will be a long road. And we can't get back on our own two feet alone. We could really use your help, too. Please spread the word! Keep us in your prayers, and if you are able, please provide aid. The Redcross has set up their donation text number (REDCROSS to 90999), but here is an article that lists local organizations and charities that are already on the ground: http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/2010-flood/list-how-help-flood-victims

I hope this note finds you well. Signing off here from watery Nashville...

The Red Pen

2010-04-20T20:19:00.013-05:00

A full-length solo record. Even though I've made nearly half a dozen EP's in the last year or so, somehow the thought of creating a full-length record on my own in this season feels a little more weighty to me. It is something that puts butterflies in my stomach, both out of pure excitement and (honestly)...nerves.

I've begun focusing more on songwriting for myself this week, and while I've been encouraged at some of the songs, I've also discovered some resistance. From who/what? From me. Enter "the Red Pen". This is what I call my overly-critical, fear-inducing self-editor that is ready to pounce on any creative thought I might have. It kills any freedom or fun to risk in the process. Even after a few years of finding a few ways to dodge the scarlet line, it can find a way to run through anything if I let it.

What lies beneath it all is this: I just don't want to add to the noise. My real desire is to create something that is meaningful, that speaks of Truth and Beauty. And I'm determined not to let any Red keep me from pursuing that. But let's be honest: some days I need reinforcements. :)

Besides prayer, (and encouraging loved ones!), there is also a helpful book called The War of Art that I read in seasons like these. The author, Steven Pressfield, says that "it's not the writing part that's hard. What's hard is sitting down to write. What keeps us from sitting down is Resistance". It could be fear of failure, perfectionism, a hectic schedule, whatever. Whatever it is you feel that yells, "You're crazy! You can't do that!" in a creative setting is Resistance. But Steven encourages all of us to take heart. The gut-wrenching you and I feel can actually be viewed as something positive amidst the process - something to build off of - instead of something to fear. Here are some of Pressfield's own words from his book:

"The more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it."
---
"Resistance is directly proportional to love. If you're feeling massive Resistance, the good news is, it means there's tremendous love there too. If you didn't love the project that is terrifying you, you wouldn't feel anything. The opposite of love is not hate; it's indifference.
---
"The more Resistance you experience, the more important your un-manifested art/project/enterprise is to you--and the more gratification you will feel when you finally do it."
---
"Never forget: This very moment, we can change our lives. There never was a moment, and never will be, when we are without the power to alter our [course] .
This second, we can turn the tables on Resistance.
This second, we can sit down and do our work."

I find such comfort in these words. Instead of fearing the resistance, I can remember that it is not a red pen, but...in a way, a green light to keep going. I am on my way, and there is something worthwhile to discover in all this.

Steven also goes on to say, "Remember, the Muse favors working stiffs. She hates prima donnas". So I don't always wait for inspiration. Instead, I sit down in anticipation that inspiration will meet up with my perspiration. I sit down at my piano yet again, take a deep breath, and remember: I'm not performing heart surgery...I'm just writing a song. Let it out, come what may...& leave the cap on that mangy Red Pen. :)

(All Too) Rare Days

2010-04-09T16:28:00.004-05:00

The passage of time is a strange, blurry thing. Weeks have gone by, and I have only pale Polaroid memories. But they become more vivid as I grow nostalgic, intentionally combing over what life has been like lately. So many of the moments have been rich, challenging, warming, thanks-inducing, etc. Nate's parents arrived in town a few weeks back, and odds and ends I'd been dreading around the house suddenly got accomplished. Mom and I had inadvertent off-white brush strokes in our hair from painting the front porch. Dad installed towel hooks, and the antique door-knocker I found for $4.99 at an old gardening store over a year ago. I have gone on several mile bike rides lately with Nate without those pesky to-do lists nagging so loudly inside my head. Ah, bliss.

As I leaf through other quick-shot memories, events of The Civil Wars come into focus. We have been bustling lately! We had our first headlining-out-of-town show in Birmingham, and it was sold out! The hundreds of people in that room, the energy, the laughter, the immense "performer's buzz" that met me on that stage at WorkPlay...it lingered with me for days after. A sumptuous outdoor brunch (complete with vintage tablecloths & home grown flowers lazily bursting out of mason jars) followed the next day, given by a friend in her backyard. That meal rivaled any restaurant brunch I could buy anywhere. I remember sipping coffee, hearing birds chirping overhead and thinking that Spring had finally arrived. What a long, long Winter it has been...

We (The Civil Wars, that is,) have had more shows: a very fun one in Atlanta, then home for laundry and repacking, only to fly up to chilly Boston for another show. John Paul, Nate and I had a great time bopping about Harvard Square, watching the many studious pedestrians scuttling quickly to their expensive classes. We played a spot not far from the Harvard campus called the Lizard Lounge, and were happy to find that the place was packed out even though we'd never played there before. (More than once, we have been thankful for the way our free download has continued spreading over the months. We are at 50,000+ downloads now!). Supporters of our music have been coming out of the wordwork, and we were glad to find more friends in Bean Town.

Days have melted into one another, as they often do. But this week was a special one, indeed, as we went back into the studio with Charlie Peacock to continue work on The Civil Wars full length album. John Paul and I had been trying out our new ditties during shows, and were both thankful to have had that experimentation time before heading into the vocal booth again. It is amazing how playing something live before recording feels so different than recording something never performed live before. We nearly sailed through the new songs we'd played out, and had to find our way around the newer, less tested material. Still, as we worked through parts, learned new harmonies and found new ways to work as a team, the results were exciting. We recorded over a dozen songs this week, and I already miss being in the company of good "Charlie&co". They are like family to Nate, me and John Paul. We shall be back soon for overdubs - what I like to call putting "muscle to the bone" of the raw vocal performances- and I can hardly wait. I can almost hear the added elements even now in my head...

On top of all of this, I am still focused and excited about solo music, too. I've been elated with the way my new We Mapped The World EP has been received this week. (It debuted Tuesday!) It's been encouraging to get letters and feedback about the ways the songs are hitting people. Continuing to take risks, to push myself, and to continually try to break new creative ground can seem overwhelming at times. But finding out that someone enjoys what I spend hours laboring over is a thrill beyond any words I can string together.

Today is one of those (all too) rare days when - even amidst some fog and challenge remaining in my life - a small pilgrimage towards thankfulness welled up to overflowing within. I was reminded more today to be aware of what I do have. My life is crazy, but it is a good one. I am grateful for what I get to do with my days, thankful for the man that I'm married to, and thankful for adventurous people like you who are willing to journey with me, too.

Hope you have an amazing weekend.

The "I Don't Know's" In Life...

2010-03-22T17:35:00.005-05:00

Do you ever wonder why on earth you spend so much time on Twitter, Facebook or blogs? Every once in awhile I feel I'm just adding to the white noise, and it discourages me from wanting to type at all. That being said, the beauty of blogs is that you become your own publisher. No red ink edits, no cut off, no deadline restrictions. A blog is a free, clear, open space - a white canvas. Whatever colors I paint with in words are neither wrong, nor right...but simply, mine.

But since the New Year, for many reasons, I've not been super motivated to write. I've not felt I've had many words, honestly. I've even struggled bringing myself to crack open my journal. For those of you who don't know me well, this is an extremely strange phenomenon. I've been known to write 14 pages at a time, front and back, without so much as a hand cramp. I probably have 15+ thick journals of all shapes, colors and textures filled with my inner ramblings over the years. I can't remember a time when I haven't put ink to paper. But this, dare I say, has been a strange exception of a season.

I can't figure the quieted pen out, quite frankly. A lot of life has happened in the last months. Maybe some things take time to process, and silence is needed before words can be put to them. Perhaps the pen has quieted to make room for other creative endeavors. I have been surprised by new insights I've been stumbling upon in a poetry therapy class I'm in with a dozen amazing women. Personal songs of mine are very slowly eeking their way out of me, as long as I give myself space to muster up the courage to pursue them. And hours in studio for The Civil Wars continue to creatively teach me right now, as we keep writing and recording new material for our full length (due out in late Spring/early Summer).

All the while I'm learning that I cannot fight where I am at. I will wear myself out trying to rush through challenging seasons, and possibly miss things I'm meant to face. I'm learning the freeing art of simply saying, "I don't know", and giving it time. I'm realizing how important taking time out to be outside is for my soul. I'm also realizing that I have an inner critic that can literally sap all creative inspiration from me if I don't name it and fight it. Further still, I'm learning more and more that comparing is truly a cancer of the soul, unnecessary and unfruitful in every way. That the "I don't know's" in life can be gifts to keep me humble, curious, aware and truly alive. And I'm learning that gratitude - the art of thankfulness - just might be the nucleus of all wonder and joy.

Hope these ramblings find you well today...

Taking The "Scenic Kraut"...

2010-03-02T19:40:00.006-06:00

What a unique week it's been so far. On Monday, I would have never guessed that a quick comment I made at a corporate dinner in Madison, Wisconsin, a few weeks ago would've transpired into a giant, mobile hot dog pulling up in front of my house. But lo and behold, Oscar Mayer surprised me. I tooled around for an hour or so in The Weinermobile "sitting shotbun", taking the "scenic kraut" around town, and watching people's glum faces turn into big smiles when the giant dog drove by. It was hilarious. I "never sausage a thing"...oh, the puns that the trained drivers had were endless, and those were just a few that I remembered. But life is too short to take yourself too seriously, right? Laughter is good medicine, indeed...

Besides serendipitous rides in giant hot dogs, I've been writing new material with John Paul for our upcoming full length album, watching my sweet nephew overnight, and getting ready for a quick trip to Chicago tomorrow. If any of you are from Chi-town, I'd love recommendations of your favorite spots, shops, & restaurants, etc!

Like The Water

2010-02-14T12:28:00.003-06:00

photo by http://www.majorlycool.com

Happy Valentine's Day, friends. Flowers, cards, dinners...full of great expectations and hopes. This day can be so sweet to some, and can be disappointing in many ways for others. Whether you are in a romantic relationship or not, I hope you feel the warm blanket of Love all around you today. Nobody speaks of the depth and mystery of this better than Wendell Berry:

Like The Water
by Wendell Berry

Like the water
of a deep stream,
love is always too much.
We did not make it.
Though we drink till we burst,
we cannot have it all,
or want it all.
In its abundance
it survives our thirst.

In the evening we come down to the shore
to drink our fill,
and sleep,
while it flows
through the regions of the dark.
It does not hold us,
except we keep returning to its rich waters
thirsty.

We enter,
willing to die,
into the commonwealth of its joy.

What We Want

2010-02-09T11:16:00.003-06:00

Hey friends,

It is already February, and I am still trying to get into the swing of a new year. Is anyone else feeling this way? Just a bit out of sorts? I find myself wrestling with dreams...things I long for...in the midst of getting day to day tasks accomplished. Could these dreams, in fact, be arrows pointing me in a truer direction for a new year? To move with the changes instead of fight them? To continue on stronger, wiser than before? I stumbled across this poem a few days back, thanks to a friend. Here is a little poetic food for thought as you go about your busy week, wrestling all the while, as well...

What We Want
by Linda Pastan

What we want
is never simple.
We move among the things
we thought we wanted:
a face, a room, an open book
and these things bear our names --
now they want us.
But what we want appears
in dreams, wearing disguises.
We fall past,
holding out our arms
and in the morning
our arms ache.
We don't remember the dream,
but the dream remembers us.
It is there all day
as an animal is there
under the table,
as the stars are there
even in full sun.

from Waiting for My Life (1981)

Wars & Little Feet...

2010-01-29T12:36:00.006-06:00

It is snowing here in Nashville today. Not the mamby-pamby light flurries that don't stick to the ground like we've had of late, but a legitimate blanket of white is falling outside my window. I love the sound of snow, the soft quiet the comes over a town being lovingly attacked by tiny, blanched parachutes. As is customary whenever even a rumor of flurries are in the air, Nashville shuts down. So I am left with a lovingly still afternoon to reminisce about the last few days. And what a strange and awe-inspiring 6 days it's been for us here.

Last Sunday, The Civil Wars experienced our very first headlining show in Nashville. It was SOLD OUT completely, packed to the gills! The energy in the room was electric, and the audience was captive. Our show was generously hosted & broadcast live by the local radio station here in town, & we had a brilliant time. I bought a new dress for the occasion. JP wore a new shirt to go with his Billy Reid suit. And one of my absolute favorite stores, Imogene & Willie, lent me a fabulous vintage necklace. We were dressed to the 9's, but we experienced nothing but 10's that night. Thanks to everyone who came out or listened live online!

photo by Ashton Smith

The very next day, as Nate and I were wrapping up a late dinner with dear friends who'd just come back from England, we received texts from my sister. She was going into labor! We rushed home, changed quickly into comfortable clothes, and made our way to the hospital. Both Nate's and my heart was pounding. Nate provided the music for Sara to listen (and contract) to, and I was given the initial task of taking photos. But the night went more quickly than we thought. I had the somewhat unplanned privilege of being labor coach #2 (alongside Sara's husband, Jeremy) during the entire labor and delivery...something I will never forget. What a jaw-dropping, intense and beautiful process to witness. Not even 2 hours later, little Dylan was born into the world - perfect, healthy, pink and crying. It was an honor to be in the room, to actively celebrate my sister and bro-in-law's story of love. And what a wonderful next chapter has come about, indeed. Parents just flew in from CA to help. Mom, Baby and Dad are home now- all doing well. And I've spent most of the last couple days just marveling over little ears, little hands, little toes, little feet...

Grinning In A Grocery Store...

2010-01-21T13:20:00.007-06:00

A little over a year ago, Nate and I risked everything we owned to start our own music company so I could make my music again. Braving the journey to create in a new way, finding ways to share it with the world, and laying our dreams on the line has had its steep challenges at times. There have been countless long hours, (and many sleepless nights), all in the name of hoping to grow our young company. And somehow...with blood, sweat and tears... the songs have been finding homes - in the hands of people at shows, with supportive listeners online, and also on TV. And that kind of cumulative support is lifeblood to us independents. It's also what helps us continue to be able to do what we love. It's definitely an adventurous way to make a living, and we are grateful for each person that helps make it possible.

And I have to say, this week has been a little surreal. A NY Times article, magazine advertisements (like the pic below), commercial spots on major TV networks during prime time television...what a trip. I'd have never guessed that fooling around with melodies and different phrases on my iPhone Voice Memo app in my house months ago would eventually become the new slogan and song for an institution of a brand like Oscar Mayer. Now, when I go grocery shopping, I get the grins walking past the meat section. : )

property of Oscar Mayer

Love-Sorrow

2010-01-11T12:22:00.005-06:00

photo by: http://pro.corbis.com/images

We all know loss in one way or another. The sharp edges of broken ideals. The wincing pain of a love now gone. The nagging ache of a job lost. The dull bleakness of hope that seems to have evaporated. And then...oh this poem, this poem. A call to reach, and tend to the soul. Such beautiful pictures set against such painful knowing. Mary Oliver has become a dear, poetic oasis for me over the years. Her words - whether of nature, truth, beauty or pain - have always resonated with me. This poem has been walking beside and with me lately:

Love-Sorrow

Love sorrow. She is yours now, and you must
take care of what has been
given. Brush her hair, help her
into her little coat, hold her hand,
especially when crossing a street. For, think,

what if you should lose her? Then you would be
sorrow yourself; her drawn face, her sleeplessness
would be yours. Take care, touch
her forehead that she feel herself not so

utterly alone. And smile, that she does not
altogether forget the world before the lesson.
Have patience in abundance. And do not
ever lie or ever leave her even for a moment

by herself, which is to say, possibly, again,
abandoned. She is strange, mute, difficult,
sometimes unmanageable but, remember, she is a child.
And amazing things can happen. And you may see,

as the two of you go
walking together in the morning light, how
little by little she relaxes; she looks about her;
she begins to grow.

-- from "Red Bird" by Mary Oliver

Wherever you are at today, I hope you'll give yourself the courageous license to walk with whatever it is that you may be dealing with today...not running from the ache, nor letting it overtake you. Depth and light can come from these hard places. So take her hand, tend to her, and go walking with her for a little while. I will be striving to do the very same thing today, too...

Like Watercolor...

2010-01-04T14:45:00.004-06:00

2010. For some this is a new, fresh start. A time to attack the fresh, unblemished year. For others, it does not feel this way. Pigments of 2009 have bled over to 2010. And I am one of those hoping for shades of Spring before Winter is due to pass, hoping for color in a period of gray. I am in a season of introspection, of more quiet, and of some tears. I do not understand the way life washes together sometimes, and quite frankly - I know it's none of my business. Being given the sterile blueprint would muck all the art of living up, as much as I'd like to see it sometimes.

This is when faith, like watercolor, bleeds together with the questions, the hopes, the shades of life on our canvas. There is a great unknowing- never being quite sure how the colors will blend, will move, will bleed into each other. But in the end, the hope is that this release and this trust will blend into something richer, more meandering, more beautiful than you could ever have envisioned. This is what I hope for today...

photo by www.biffybeans.com

Cough Cough : Lessons in Quiet

2009-12-17T14:32:00.003-06:00

Life has been crazy lately. The Civil Wars went on tour with Seabird for a few weeks, playing a different city every night, sleeping sporadically, cramming in a van filled with 6 dudes, trekking through LOTS of snow, and laughing all the while. Amidst it all, I was being so diligent, too - washing my hands constantly, taking vitamins, drinking water, eating as healthy as possible. And then - BAM! - on the last night of tour I got slammed with an illness that ended up sadly cutting a string of New York City shows for The Civil Wars short.

There is something humbling about getting sick. There is something humbling further still when you lose your voice. I have been coughing like a champion so much in the last 72 hours that my stomach muscles hurt, and all that hacking has caused my voice to tap out. As much as I would love to call you back, Sir...and call you back, M'lady...my body says "I don't think so"...and I have been given no other option but to listen.

To listen, indeed. Closing my mouth has been quite a teacher over the years. It is so easy to forget the sheer beauty, wisdom and importance of listening. Several years ago, I was singing 250 days a year, and I was performing "too much, too loud, too often" as the specialists diagnosed when I began having problems. Their requirement of me? To go on a month-long fast from speaking or singing, etc. Whispering was even a no-no. I had to be absolutely silent.

Looking back on that time of absolute quiet, I have few memories of feeling isolated. More so, I have pleasant memories! Simply being given the duty to listen and not speak taught me so much about how useless so much of my daily chattering really was at the time. Shutting my mouth really allowed me to see how beautifully layered other people around me are, how fascinating their stories are woven together, and how important it is to not let those moments of listening just pass by...but to engage that. To embrace it. To try to not just HEAR someone else, but to really LISTEN to someone else. I learned more about people in general & about nuances of the soul in that span of time than almost any other that I can remember. It was a condensed course in getting outside my own sphere, my own routine, and it forced me to look outward as it taught me inwardly, as well.

Today, I am reminded by my forced quiet yet again how a sickness like this can help me reprioritize. And though I'm not stoked to have had to cancel shows, or to feel like I'm coughing up a lung or two waking up in the morning, I am thankful for the reminder that life is precious. Health matters more than my calendar. People matter more than my to-do list. Life is too short.

I hope NONE of you get sick anytime soon, but that you stay happy and healthy this celebratory season. But I DO hope that, during this busy holiday time, you can make space to take some moments to quiet yourself. To remember what really matters. To take time, and to truly spend time listening, investing in others.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and all kinds of happy to you this year! :)

A Sacred Skinny Dip

2009-11-13T10:00:00.003-06:00

"It is a solemn thing for a soul to grow ripe" - Emily Dickenson

A solemn and beautiful thing indeed. A very wise woman that I know passed this quote around a room that I happened to be sitting in a few days ago. These words have be sunning on the porch of my brain ever since, warming into new thoughts each passing day.

When I first read the word "solemn" in great Emily's quote, my initial connotations took me towards feelings of sadness, of heavy-ness...as if this word were a black suit with no smile lines on its face. But as I've been pondering solemnity more, the starched suit has been replaced with more of a sacred skinny dip into a midnight lake. A quiet, invigoratingly personal journey towards living more fully. Solemn has now begun to sound sacred, deeply meaningful, necessary and rich...

I am sitting in my home this late morning, pondering how magical this week has been. And I don't mean magical as in flawless, or without tears, but the kind that reminds me of being fully alive in my own skin. Thankfully tapping into the ruddy earthiness found within the changing seasons of a soul. Embracing that new wrinkle on my face without disdain, because it carries stories with it. Remembering the richness of truly FEELING - of losing and learning, of old chapters becoming new ones as the elements ripen experiences...of feeling the beautiful growing pains of a heart expanding over time. It is a sacred thing, indeed.

I am saying goodbye to my 26th year in less than 24 hours, and stepping into year 27 very excited for what is to come. I have a feeling this is going to be a big year of soul ripening in every way. Thanks for coming along the journey with me. Hope you have a great weekend.

Fast-Forward...

2009-10-21T12:17:00.005-05:00

Hours melted to days which then melted to weeks on the road. I cannot tell you how much FUN being on the Ten Out Of Tenn tour was. Each city had it's own flavor to take in, with it's own creative brand of people to enjoy, and we TOT'ers played each night like it was our last. As a bohemian family, we watched Fall dust over the South, Midwest and East Coast during this picturesque time of year. I have countless fond memories walking city sidewalks with the crew, in search of coffee or that shop all the locals said we had to go visit. Scarves. Chill in the air. Dinners out together. New friends made out on the road. Charlotte, Richmond, Chicago, Boston, New York City and more... memories that will last a lifetime.

And then, as if we all sat down to watch a movie in fast forward, it all suddenly came to a halting end. Finishing a run of nearly 20 gigs together, invisible credits rolled as we sang our last show in Nashville. We all savored the evening with as much non-teary bliss as we could muster, singing out a little stronger...looking at each other with fondness and the awareness that this was it for now. Hugs all around afterward. Promises to see each other soon over coffee dates, double dates and future gigs together.

We all have hit the ground running, it seems. For example, Andrew Belle is back up in NYC playing gigs, Madi Diaz is driving around town with a respected producer picking out the site for her amazing music to be recorded, KS Rhoads is back out on the road with Erin McCarley, and I have spent the last week writing 9-14 hours a day with David Archuleta...not to mention shoring up last minute tweaks for a studio EP plus a music video shoot for The Civil Wars. We have all been having fun, and we've also been hopping!

But today is one of those rare days where quiet called out over the chaos. The hum of the bus is no longer around, no vocal booths calling out today to be sung in. And so the non-noise begins to speak...reminding my mind that I need to be left to wander and soak in thoughts. To reflect...to pray. And in this peaceful moment, I am thinking intently today of my friends whose lives are in the midst of drastic change. One of my dear friends, Missy, was very recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. She bravely went into surgery to have her thyroid and some related glands removed just yesterday. My other friend and kindred spirit, Brie, is being given pitocin as I type for her overdue baby boy inside. It is a wondrous, curious juxtaposition: one friend literally having death removed from her body, while another friend is pushing life out of hers.

I am sobered and hopeful today, reminded that life is so layered...so complex...so precious. I'm reminded to keep things in order of true importance even amidst all this busy-ness. To remember...to reflect...to listen...and to love. Because it can all go by in fast-forward if I we don't stop and look around. Hope this note finds you well wherever you are on this Fall Wednesday...

Time Continuum...

2009-09-22T00:33:00.006-05:00

I had to ask somebody today what day of the week it was. "Monday? Really?" We haven't even been out on the road a week for Ten Out Of Tenn, and yet it feels like time has been suspended in some strange black hole. This tour is truly summer camp on wheels. Full of adventure, fun and already rife with stories to tell the kids one day.

Inside this strange time continuum exists communal living on a whole different level. Bunks stacked 3 high that we jokingly call "dream cocoons". It's socks in the hallway. It's watching Back To The Future 2 for 3 straight days in a row (because one of us falls asleep every time). It's inside jokes and ridiculous humor. It's the white glow of a dozen Mac computers. It's taking turns showering in different cities, if you can get a shower in at all. It's canon ball diving in hotel pools after a show. It's 1am pizza. It's folding each others' laundry. It's press-on tattoos. It's running in the rain together. It's loading-in and loading-out of each venue, each of us sharing the load. It's The Square Room, The Reux House, The House Of Blues. It's tambourines, drums, lights, kid pianos, xylophones, guitars, new faces, cables, set lists, pianos, and linking arms each night for each show.

I'm loving being out here right now with each amazing person, and I'm thankful for all the people that have come to our shows. We have more to go, more cities to see!

It's 2:30am, and Back To The Future 2 is playing...AGAIN. I must away to join the quoting frenzy...

Ten Out Of Tenn - literally.

2009-09-16T20:30:00.006-05:00

My red suitcase is packed. My yellow baby glockenspiel is in my bus bag. My heart is a little blue thinking of being away from my good husband for awhile, but there are neon adventures awaiting me on the open road...

I am joining 9 unique, creative and ridiculously talented artists on Volume 3 of the Ten Out Of Tenn tour (check out the link to see who the other artists are!). We, a traveling pack of eclectic, independent musicians from Tennessee, are linking arms - playing for and with each other on stage each night - to create a one-of-a-kind show.

Our rehearsals (lasting 8-10 hours a day) over the last few weeks could have been absolutely exhausting under normal circumstances. Instead, all the hours spent practicing in a windowless space were full of laughter as much as hard work. Each person seems to have their own flavor of humor, quirk and musicality...and I have a sneaking suspicion that this tour is going to be a memorable one.

We are loading up tomorrow morning and hitting 25 cities around the country in the next 4 weeks! It's hard to believe it, but the Ten Out Of Tenn tour this Fall will (very ironically) mark my 10th year of professional music and travel. I feel too young to say I've been doing this a decade! But alas, 'tis true. It doesn't matter how many years I've been doing this, though. I still have butterflies in my stomach about heading out tomorrow. In this new era of music for me, I feel like I'm starting fresh all over again. I'm excited about this tour, about what playing live together will be like, about what I am going to learn, and about the new faces I will encounter along the way...

I'm also excited for you to get to know the Ten Out Of Tenn crew and their fantastic music. Come out to some shows, and bring friends! Check here for show dates and tickets, and I'll see you soon out on the road...

This Porcelain Vantage Point

2009-08-31T13:35:00.007-05:00

I am laying here in my pajamas at 2:45 on a Monday afternoon, in the very Northern CA house I grew up in. This might sound enjoyable, except for the fact that I've been WWF body-slammed by a menacing stomach flu for the last 48 hours. Life recently for me has consisted of ice chips, grape flavored Pedialite, chicken broth and a makeshift bed inches away from the toilet.

I'm still trying to look on the bright side of things, even from this porcelain vantage point. It could always be worse, right? I DID realize something yesterday: there is something strangely comforting about getting sick when you're back in the home of your childhood. I've not only had wonderful Nate, but my Sassy Mo & Dad, to be Florence Nightingale in my time of need. They have all been beyond fantastic. What more could a girl ask for?

I'm also thankful this bug hit me AFTER my whirlwind week in LA, or else I would've missed out on some epic moments there. I had a photo shoot with the talented Reid Rolls...

I dined with precious people, actually took time out and hit Sycamore Cove in Malibu for an afternoon with friends...

...and performed my first-ever show at Hotel Cafe. The show at Hotel Cafe went better than I'd even expected, and the place was packed! It was a brilliant week in LA, indeed.

Photo by Ross Reyes

photo by Kojii Helnwein

The songwriter's conference I flew into NorCal for starts this evening, but I don't have to really dive in and start teaching until a couple days from now. Until then, I wait for my body to fight this enemy virus, and dream of having enough energy to actually take a shower. :) Hey... I still get to be in my pajamas on a Monday. : )

Here's to all of us looking on the bright side a little more today, wherever we're at. I hope this note finds you well...

Whimsy & Mischief in British Columbia

2009-08-22T17:30:00.014-05:00

25 people, from different parts of the country. Actors, graphic art designers, movie producers, inventors, film directors, counselors, poets, musicians, all of us vagabonds of sorts. All traveling to a remote oasis in the Canadian Rockies. We all took planes from our varied cities. Then we drove rental cars. After that, we crossed the border and began to hear "about" pronounced "abooot" in spades...and we we knew we were getting closer. Add some ridiculously fresh sushi for dinner, then a hostel for some quick sleep, and back on the road again. Driving just a bit more, we found the coast, hopped a ferry, cars and all. Then we drove some more again, (we - the loopy, traveling Nashville crew), singing ridiculous songs and laughing until our voices hurt. We finally jumped on a water taxi after nearly 7 hours of travel en masse, and skuttled closer towards the Princess Louisa Inlet. We wound our way through azure waters encircled by stunning mountains that left us all silent. Our eyes drawn up and out beyond the horizon. And, in the distance, a small wooden speck gradually grew into the cabin oasis that we'd been looking for...

This is a home that belongs to a very special man. An owner of a West Coast law firm, but by no means your average lawyer. A man dedicated to selflessness, whimsy, jaw-dropping generosity, and unrelenting optimism. He and his one-of-a-kind family built this oasis specifically for rest and rejuvenation for those curious enough to come all this way. And Donald Miller was kind enough to invite all of us to share not only in this serene locale, but in the magic of Bob and his family for several days.

Before this trip, I was lower than I can remember being in a long time. Life can just be so messy, can't it? When things pile higher than you feel you're capable of tackling, when prayers feel stale, when tectonic plates shift and grind internally, etc. This place was a giant deep breath. Waking up to seals poking their sea-soaked bodies out of the water to see what we were up to, sipping a cup of coffee while overlooking a snow dusted mountain, fresh thoughts to ponder unhindered by time, a place where it all could stand still, etc. Words can't describe how badly I needed this trip.

One very wise thing all 25 of us were challenged with the first day we arrived was to unplug and to pay attention. It is amazing to think of all the static noise we have in our brains on any given day...and it took nearly another 24 hours until the cacophony of sounds inside began to fade away for me. I was pleasantly relieved to find that I could finally hear the sound of my own heartbeat a little more. It begged the questions: What had I been ignoring? What had I left unsaid? What had I been missing?

So I unplugged. I climbed rocks, jumped off cliffs into the chilly blue depths, lounged in warm sunlight, had long talks with new friends, laid on the lawn for hours watching white hot shooting stars. I hid behind huge waterfalls, got happy green bruises adventuring in nature, sneaked away to solitude by the shoreline. And that's when I opened my journal, paid attention even still further, and finally let the tears come...
The call to be present, aware, whimsical. It can be so quickly stolen by how busy each day can get. But the poetry, nature, community, and stillness of this trip reminded me how important it is to be quiet and listen.

I wish I could have scooped you all up and taken you with me to this spectacular place. But even if I didn't fit you in my suitcase, I hope today you can find some way to be still. Sit for just another minute. Grab a magnifying glass, and look at something closely. Write down that itching thought in the back of your mind. Take a second to breathe a little deeper...to listen to your own heartbeat again.

Have a great rest of your weekend...

Berry's Words In Lieu Of My Own...

2009-08-03T10:48:00.004-05:00

I have felt very quiet lately. Life can do that to us sometimes. I find, quite simply, that I don't have many words right now. While I cease to find words of my own, I have found myself craving Wendell Berry, a favorite poet, novelist and thinker. Perhaps these words can speak for me:

“When despair for the world grows in me, and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life...may be -- I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought or grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”

Here is a poem of his that I found this morning that I love...

What We Need Is Here

"Geese appear high over us,
pass, and then the sky closes. Abandon,
as in love or sleep, holds them to their way,
clear in the ancient faith: what we need is
here. And we pray, not for new earth or heaven,
but to be quiet in heart, and in eye,
and clear. What we need is here."

Hope these words nestle into your heart in the ways you need them to today, too...

The New...

2009-07-21T14:38:00.008-05:00

There is a lot of New happening right now:

I am writing new music each week- for The Civil Wars, with other artist friends, or for me. I'm in the studio right now with Jeremy working on a track to a new song called "Turnaround" that I wrote with my friend, Trent Dabbs last week. And my awesome producer just tried to slip in a cow-bell sample to see if I was paying attention just now. Genius.

There is a NEW baby on the way in our family! No, not me...my big sister. : ) I am very excited about the Little Addition arriving in January! First grand baby in the immediate fam.

Another New? I've been having new musings about what a full-length album would sound like in the near future. Who I would want to make it with...what on earth do I want to say...when would I release it? etc. I'm trying to give my brain room to wander and roam freely as I move towards that in the next few months.

I signed with a new booking agent who is AWESOME. I am very excited to be going back out on the road, and doing so backed by such a great group of people. Many more shows are now in the works, and I'm hoping to show up at a town near you really soon.

In the meantime, I am also gearing up for a new tour that I'll be heading out on in just around a month! The Ten Out Of Tenn tour is a group of 10 independent artists living in TN that are banding together for a month to hit the road in Willy Nelson's old tour bus. Oh. So. Fun. We will be scouring the South, Midwest and East Coast on a 25-city run like musical bandits, backing each other on stage together each night. I am so curious what this new chapter on the road will look like. I have so many memories of past travels, and am wondering what kinds of new experiences a whole new cast of characters will bring. I remember saying at one point a few years ago that I thought I'd NEVER go back on the road again. I know, I know. I can hear the chuckles from Upstairs even now.

With all this New happening around me, I've had mixed emotions of feeling simultaneously excited and stiflingly overwhelmed. Yesterday, the How's and the When's and the Why's were getting so loud that I had to literally step outside to catch my breath for a second. I took a few quiet minutes, sat down on my back deck of my house, stared up at the perfect blue sky, breathed deeply...and tried to let it all go. I realized I had a choice: brace against all these Unknowns, or choose to just keep walking forward, trusting the winding will work itself out along the way. I feel I have more questions than answers these days, but maybe this is exactly the beautiful meaning of the New: metamorphosis. Change truly changes us, and when that happens growth is inevitably right around the corner.

photo taken by John Burcham

Spinning Plates

2009-07-13T11:26:00.003-05:00

Please forgive my lack of blogging recently. I'm sure your lives are busy, too, during these summer months. Travel has picked up a bit more these days. I just returned from a benefit concert in Dallas for Blood:Water Mission, where I had the chance to perform alongside Derek Webb, Dan Haseltine from Jars of Clay, Chris Williams, and Bethany Dillon. Blood:Water is amazing. Since its launch, this non-profit has raised millions of dollars & partnered with more than 600 communities in Africa to provide life-saving water and health needs for almost 500,000 people. It's hard to believe that $1 provides one African with clean water for an entire year, but it's true. And I was glad to be a part of an evening that raised more money towards such a worthwhile cause.

I feel like plates have been spinning all around me lately, and I'm trying my best to keep each unique sphere in motion without crashing. Each endeavor has been exhausting on some levels, but also very rewarding on others. Getting back out on the road, co-writing for other artists, beginning to dream up a full length album for myself, writing for TV/Film projects, and writing new material with JP for The Civil Wars. BY the way, thank you to everyone who has spread the word about our free album download! We've seen over 8,000 downloads in under 10 days!!!!!! Keep sharing!

Must away quickly to a meeting! Hope this note finds you happy, healthy and well as you find your own plates spinning today!

FREE FULL ALBUM DOWNLOAD!

2009-07-01T11:02:00.009-05:00

They always say the best things in life are free, right? :) I am so very happy to announce that John Paul White and I are releasing a live 10 song FREE album to download from The Civil Wars - click here: http://thecivilwars.com Hope you enjoy and please spread the word!

Tears & Polaroids

2009-06-26T10:20:00.007-05:00

It has been a full last couple weeks. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling a little winded. We dove head-long into work the day after we returned from Scotland, had family visit twice from out of town (fun!), celebrated Nate's 28th last week (where has the time gone?!), and a beloved family member got into a car accident (nearly a head-on collision!) just a few days ago. It has been an odd combination of confetti and tears within the same, small span of time...

Add to that the deaths of some major icons in the last few weeks. People we all grew up with, felt like we knew in some strange way...whether or not they ever knew us. The digital age of Twitter and Facebook notified me of each loss more quickly than the major news corporations did, and I couldn't help but think life these days happens at a breakneck pace. It makes me wonder: is that always a good thing?

Sometimes nestling myself in the cocoon of the studio helps me take a deep breath from the freeway speeds of life. It helps me regain perspective...lets me take a bird's eye view and a chance to snap a musical Polaroid of it all. I've been thankful for the time I've had at a friend's home-studio lately to record some songs that I have written.

These are songs I've written entirely by myself. A first for me. Laying these home-made creations down in studio has felt very revealing, very "naked" in a way. But, at the same time, it's felt liberating. For some reason, the songs that have been flowing out of me alone seem to be more moody and a little more mysterious at the moment. I've tried not over-thinking it (which is, quite frankly, very unusual for the stress ball I can be). Just the other day, I recorded a song called "Lover, Find Your Cover", and I am still unwrapping the lyrics that I penned. What does it mean concretely? I couldn't quite tell you. But instead of trying to suss them out, I've sought to let the words simply live. I've built a track around the melody and the lyrics, and the piano sounds like its old, weathered self underneath my fingers. The cello that a friend laid down echoes beautifully underneath it all, and somehow...somehow...the song has begun speaking more than it ever has. I'm excited to share this song, and the other new ones, with you soon.
In the meantime, here are a few photos of the studio I've been working in:

Hope you have a great weekend!

My Padre...

2009-06-21T15:19:00.006-05:00

Today it is all about Dad. For some this is a great day of celebration, and for others this day is bittersweet. I would like to hope that for those of us who have fathers still around, or for those who have fathers that are no longer around...that you have some part that can be celebrated. Even with our varied experiences with our fathers - good or bad - they greatly shaped us into the people we are today.

I am undeserving, but very thankful, to have a great Dad. I remember many years at home, scurrying around the kitchen as a little girl with Sassy Mo & Big Sis to bring "Padre" breakfast in bed on this special day. That sweet man ate more rubbery eggs those past Father's Days with a smile on his face, often saying it was the best meal he'd ever tasted in his whole life. Sometimes lying is a good thing. : )

Years have gone by, and I've grown from a little girl to a grown woman who deeply appreciates the man that my Father is. He taught me what a knuckle ball was, taught me to love the great outdoors, how to enjoy a good joke, how to savor "superfluous verbiage", & showed me what a good man looks like. He took me out on countless Dad/Daughter dates, told me he loved me every single day & always opened the door for us Williams women. It was his example and love that helped shape me into the woman I am today, and who also helped pave the way for me to recognize another remarkable man when I met him - my husband. : )

Dad, thank you for investing in me so much over the years...for asking about my "highs & lows" each day around the dinner table growing up...for believing in me, challenging me...for marrying Nate & me in the redwoods 5 years ago...& for just being my goofy Dad. Happy Father's Day! I love ya, Rohair!

Anniversary in Edinburgh

2009-06-10T10:23:00.014-05:00

As I hugged the Tartan Club members goodbye at the Edinburgh airport last week, my handsome (albeit sleepy-eyed) husband greeted me there with a suitcase of his own that morning. Nate had flown across the Pond to meet me for another week in glorious Scotland!

Edinburgh was the perfect place to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. While it bustles like any city would, there is a friendly calm that rests in the air. People greet each other warmly in their lilting Scottish brogue, old couples stroll through the parks, prams are pushed by new mothers toting their "wee bairns", and even on the sunniest of days the winds from the watery Firth of Forth keep the air crisp indeed. Nate & I savored the laid-back ambiance, sleeping in each day, seeing the sights, catching a train outside the city for a day with a friend (thanks for the Stirling pics of us, Libby!), seeing a show or two, and meandering hand in hand around this gorgeously historic city.

As a Scot might say, here are a few "wee photos 'a toook frem'er time 'en Auld Reekie" *smile * :

Edinburgh Castle...

Princes Street Gardens...
New College (where my Dad went to university for a bit!)...
The Royal Mile...
Wellington Coffee...
Au Bon Vivant Restaurant...
Harvey Nichols Cafe...
Princes Mall...
Stirling (a 3o minute train ride outside Edinburgh)...

Stirling Castle...

William Wallace Monument...

An unforgettable trip, and a "right tibbity-boo" time we had, indeed...

Last Days of Pitlochry...

2009-06-01T07:37:00.005-05:00

Music has continued being written in many of the historic rooms of this house, or out on the veranda. The sun has been showing off these last days, and we've taken full advantage of the "summer in Scotland" weather that all the locals have been talking about.

As night has fallen these last two days, each evening has been lovely in it's own right. On Saturday night, we walked into the tartan-clad dining room of the house to find a feast for a king before us. "Pookie", the chef, slayed us all again with her unbelievable cooking. We supped in style, for sure...
The next evening, we all hopped in cars and headed a half hour away to Taybank, were we musicians had been invited to play at the well-known Taybank Pub there. The intimate room was packed, and it was singing in the round for us all. We sang some old songs, mostly the new ones crafted in Scotland, and made some friends there. It was a fabulous night!

I am off to the studio in a minute to finish up one of the many tracks I've worked on with The Tartan Club here. None of us wants to leave this magical place, but we head to the airport in the morning. We are soaking it all in while we can!

Pitlochry - Day 3/4

2009-05-30T06:27:00.002-05:00

Amidst writing the last couple days, we also stole away to another estate owned by a friend's father in the highlands. Several thousand untouched acres filled with stag, sheep, grouse, pheasant, and hares the size of small dogs. It was staggering beautiful. We loaded into the Jeep and the Land Rover and 4-wheeled it over boulders and adventurous roads winding up to the highest hill on the property, where we discovered that a lavish picnic lunch had been prepared for us on a large Moroccan rug. The view was jaw-dropping. Lush green radiated off the mountainside scape, and the sun was out in rare form. I laughed with the crew, hiked for a few hours, walked among the heather, and even managed to fall into a river once we descended into the valley in a failed attempt to walk amongst some ruins. We headed into town about an hour away a bit later, where we dined on fish in chips...with my wet socks and wellies from the earlier river debacle. It has been a beautiful last few days, full of fun and memories to last in my mind like favorite postcards. Today has been full of writing, though not without some croquette breaks to keep the Scottish mood going... : ) Enjoy the photos!

Pitlochry - Day 2

2009-05-27T20:03:00.012-05:00

It has been quite a full day today at the Allean House. We rose this morning from our opulent individual rooms, and had a sumptuous breakfast before heading to our first writing session of the week. By 11am, I walked past the green house, down the wooded path to the lake house just feet away from the loch. Kyle Ryan and artist Madi Diaz (seen below) and I had a great time writing in such a breath-taking setting.

After our late lunch break, a group of us went hiking up into the hills of Pitlochry. I took in some truly beautiful Scottish landscape. I saw houses that looked like they literally belonged in a Jane Austen book, an old stone church first built well before America was founded, nearby fields full of sheep and highlander cows, etc. The sky was classic blue, the wind was cool, but pleasant while keeping up a steady pace. I breathed in the clean air and continued to marvel at where I was on this great planet...

I wrote another tune today in the conservatory (see below) after a sumptuous dinner with the crew, and just laid down the vocal in the makeshift studio in one of the many studies of this castle/house. It is very late here (2:30 in the morning!), but I wanted to share some photos of the day before I scurried off to bed. Enjoy!

Pitlochry - Day 1

2009-05-26T12:29:00.006-05:00

We flew into Edinburgh earlier this morning (thank you, Ambien, for giving me my first good nights' rest on a plane ever!), and we headed for the Allean House in Pitlochry. Rolling green hills rose and fell, yellow oil seed flowers dusted the landscape, and white sheep topped off the view as we drove along to the scenic destination.

Words cannot describe the splendor I've taken in this first day. This glorious house, originally built in the 1700's, is an eye-wateringly beautiful place. In just the few hours I've been here, I've already walked along stunning grounds, soaked in the sun whilst laying in a field of almost-budding daisies, played croquette out on the lawn with the crew, and canoed amidst rainbow-dusted showers to the other side of the loch to walk amongst ancient ruins. The hours spent with the whole songwriting crew has been easy and full of laughter, and I've been pinching myself all day. It's all feeling quite honestly like a fairy tale. I am inspired. In awe. Thankful. Off to write in the morning. Enjoy these first photos!

To Scotland I Go...

2009-05-24T17:15:00.004-05:00

Photo by Allan Wright

I am packing up my sentimental red suitcase today that Nate and I bought a year ago on our 6-week European adventure. It's hard to believe that was a year ago now...gah, how time has flown. I started this blog so friends could keep up with us as we traipsed from country to country back then. It's crazy to think of how many things have changed in our lives the last 12 months.

This time, instead of filling up the beloved crimson bag with goodies from Italy, I am packing sweaters and a pair of wellies for Pitlochry, Scotland. I'll be there for a week to be a part of a writing retreat with several other musicians from all over. A very generous friend opened up her family's sprawling castle (which she insists we call "a house"!) as a creative retreat, and it's nestled up to a beautiful loch amidst rolling, emerald hills. I am very excited about this trip, and curious to see what kind of creativity will be stirred up in such a stunning place. I'm going to try and steal away some time in between writes to snap some photos and blog about it in the coming days.

Another cause for excitment: Nate will be flying in after the writing retreat ends on June 2nd! We are going to rendezvous in Edinburgh and stay a week to celebrate our 5 year wedding anniversary!!! Pure bliss. : )

I hope this note finds you well this Memorial Day weekend! I'm off to finish packing...

The Occasional Eclipse

2009-05-17T16:46:00.005-05:00

What a week it's been! Had a radio interview with a station in Vancouver, a TV interview with a local news channel here in town, worked in the studio all week long, and even wrote a song until 2 in the morning via video chat with a friend in LA. And on top of all of that, I heard my song on the season finale of Grey's Anatomy. : )

I planned a tasty gourmet meal at home for us to celebrate - just Nate and me. We dined in style, talked in awe about all that has been happening, savored dessert, and even managed to get in a dance in the living room (thanks to Frank Sinatra) before friends came over to watch the show with us.

Right before Grey's was set to start, kindred spirits filled our house. We all huddled on the couch around the TV, and cheers erupted when "Charmed Life" started playing. I sat there leaning in, elbows on my knees, propping up my mouth that was left open in a shock-induced half-grin. I couldn't believe it was ACTUALLY happening! It was surreal, to say the least.

Nate and I shared a sweet smile between us as the song closed out, and like that... it was on with the finale. That moment was like an eclipse you've been waiting on for years. The eagerness, the excitement had been building, ears and eyes perked up to catch the glistening moment. And then, it finally came - beautiful, instant, unforgettable.

I am thankful. I continue to marvel at where this winding road is taking Nate and me. It is ever an adventure. Filled with hard work, long days, and the occasional eclipse that reminds us to keep going...and that we just might be on the right path after all.

I hope this note finds you well this weekend.

Sassy Mo...

2009-05-09T16:56:00.009-05:00

My Mom is a wonder. She is a creative soul, a selfless creature, a faithful wife, a humorist, a woman I know well...and yet, still a bit of a mystery that is ever-becoming to a woman. I have so many memories with this former Mid-Westerner turned Californian! Being rocked to sleep in her arms as a toddler, being lulled into a warm slumber by her singing every stanza of Amazing Grace. Traipsing through the Michigan woods as a little girl, going on "nature walks" together with my older sister. This patient, maternal soul held nearly every SINGLE thing I deemed a "treasure" on those walks - a dead leaf, a Petoskey stone, a gnarled stick...and she managed to celebrate each find with me along the way.

The memories could go on for pages, and pages...

She taught me to love sound, whether it was classical music, harmonies in a Beach Boy's song, or someone's laughter echoing across a grocery store. She taught me to love nature, the stillness required to hear a blue bird chirping, and the freedom a forest can give your imagination when its explored. She taught me about the magic tucked even in the smallest of moments - that each one was worth savoring - and she taught me about Who we have to thank for all the beauty around us. I owe a lot to this woman...

She never vied to be my "best friend", has never been a "stage Mom", but always stood in a delicate balance of intentional mothering and consistent openness as I was growing. She has always listened to me...encouraged me...challenged me. She's always aimed towards respect, towards dialogue instead of diatribe, and no topic of conversation was ever too taboo with her...traits I hope I can carry on when I become a mother one day. She pointed me towards True North as I grew up, and loved me even when I veered off course a time or two...(or three). And that fierce love is what paved the way for us to be friends as I've come into my own.

Mom celebrated my infantile finds on our nature walks years ago, and she continues to celebrate the journey I'm on to this day. Not as a girl, or just a daughter, but as a woman. That love from her along the journey of discovery counts for more than words can express. You are an amazing woman, Sassy Mo, a rich example of a mother & a wife. You are also someone that I am proud to call my friend. I love you! Happy Mother's Day!

Brite Revolution & Grey's Anatomy

2009-05-07T14:54:00.003-05:00

Hope this note finds you well today! Just wanted to let you know I released another new song today called "Fine Line" (I'm releasing a brand new tune each month) available exclusively to download at Brite Revolution.com for subscribers.

The subscription is $4.99/month and gets you unlimited, exclusive downloads from all the artists there (Katie Herzig, Matthew Perryman Jones, and many more) featured on Brite. First month is free! Plus, a portion of your subscription goes to helping non-profit organizations like International Justice Mission! Check out my Brite site:

http://briterevolution.com/artists/joy-williams

Also, as many of you probably know, tonight is the 100th episode of the hit ABC TV drama, Grey's Anatomy. Why do we mention that, you ask? Well, Nate and I just got word that my song, "Charmed Life", (on my One of Those Days EP), will be featured during the opening scene of NEXT WEEK's season finale of Grey's Anatomy, airing on May 14th!
I'm so thankful...so stoked! Feel free to spread the word and tune into the show next week!

Caleb & Kelsea's wedding!

2009-05-01T13:27:00.005-05:00

It was beautiful & brisk in the mountains of Utah yesterday- a perfect backdrop for Caleb & Kelsea's wedding in the park. All the tulips were out in bloom to celebrate along with the rest of us...Caleb looked so handsome in his brown suit, and Kelsea glowed as she walked down the grassy aisle barefoot with her Dad. There was happy tears, laughter, dancing and unforgettable moments together as the celebration unfolded. I am so excited to say that I now have another fabulous sister...

Grampie...

2009-04-27T18:02:00.008-05:00

Nate's beloved Grampie passed away over the weekend. He was a dear soul to many. To me, he was a consistent email buddy, an inquisitor, an avid supporter, a prayer warrior, and a sweet spirit with a thick East Coast accent. We are all missing him a lot these days, but celebrate that Grampie is now fully free, whole, and fully at rest.

Love you, Grampie.

Eddie's Attic & The Civil Wars

2009-04-26T11:13:00.008-05:00

Nate and I hopped into our Element and hit the road Friday afternoon. Sunlight flooded the car as we drove, and Spring was showing off her colors on the way to Georgia. The wearisome week melted as we got closer and closer to our destination spot in friendly Decatur - a Berkeley meets Mayberry type of town - and we were able to breathe a little deeper down there. The reason for our trip? Our second show for The Civil Wars.

Tucked in a tiny roundabout between 2 brick buildings, you'll discover the sign & old wooden door for the famed venue of Eddie's Attic. This historic listening room has hosted a slew of well known musicians over the years, and Eddie even told me John Mayer used to be the doorman for the place back in the day before his ricochet to stardom. We had the privilege of opening up for a fully recovered Will Hoge that night. (Will almost died last year when he was hit by a truck while riding his scooter around Nashville). The people there were wonderful, attentive, and the room was PACKED OUT! People spilled out to the open rooftop patio to watch the show on TV screens outside because of the sold-out show. It was a great night of music, laughter and connection with the people who came. John Paul and I felt honored to be there, and Eddie said he wants to have us back there soon! We are also stoked to share a live video of a new song of ours from that evening called "Poison & Wine". Enjoy!

Beverly Thrills

2009-04-22T12:37:00.005-05:00

Last week in LA was unlike any other trip I've taken out to the City of Angels. For starters, I wasn't out there solo like I normally am. Nate and I took on that crazy town together!We were lucky enough to stay at a beautiful home in The Hills because of a dear friend's generosity...I honestly felt like the house became a little oasis of rest after long days in NoHo, Silverlake and Hollywood. A view of the entire LA scape could be seen from our bedroom window, the place teemed soothingly with quiet, and the plush livingroom made way for priceless conversations at night with our fantastic host. I could often be found sipping my morning coffee beneath the shade of a friendly lime tree outside on the veranda, or reading by the gurgling fountain nearby.

Meeting after meeting, write after write, vocal booth after vocal booth... it was non-stop morning to night for 7 days straight. Whether it was A&R breakfasts at Swingers, songwriting in Studio City, shows, or tv/film meetings in Santa Monica, the pace that is LA was relentless...but also invigorating.

A writing highlight of the week was working with an artist named Tim Myers, who's had staggering success in tv/film over the last year and a half. Within a few hours of meeting him for the first time ever, we worked up a tune last week that I think mayyyyyy have just landed a spot for a national commercial. *fingers crossed!* We shall see...

On top of the meetings and writes, I was also a part of 2 gigs in town. The first show was with songwriters David Hodges, Amie Miriello and Mitch Allan at Molly Malone's. The informal, in-the-round performance was a chill evening filled with lots of laughs. It was such fun to sing some of my songs and see a few familiar (and many not so familiar!) faces listening attentively out in the crowd. The second show was at Hotel Cafe later in the week with a band called Huntingfield, and it was a trip to sing in that classic location off Hollywoold Blvd to a full house on a Saturday night.

Other highlights? Having a free hour to walk hand-in-hand along the Santa Monica pier with Nate...great conversations over mouth-watering dinners with our favorite friend around town... Silverlake hang with a fellow musician friend...& Pinkberry throughout the week, for a way to melt away the midday madness...

We hit the ground running when we landed back in Nashville late Sunday night/Monday morning. I've been in the studio almost every day to work on Golden Thread, a new song I wrote with Trent Dabbs. It will be debuting exclusively, along with other bonus material, on Brite Revolution soon. Check out this site for more details.

Hope you are having a good week!

Standing Room Only

2009-04-11T12:25:00.006-05:00

Oh this week, this week! What a week it's been! John Paul White and I played our very first show ever at The French Quarter Cafe in East Nashville on Tuesday. This venue off the beaten path was meant to be more like a glorified rehearsal, but we were shocked and thrilled when over 125 people showed to pack the place out! It was standing room only, and that evening marked the beginning of The Civil Wars in a way I'll never forget.

My nerves were rattling that day leading up to the show as we practiced and practiced. Butterflies continued as we stepped up on that stage in our classic, black and white vintage attire. But once the first guitar chord was played, the ease and comfort wandered in like an old friend to sit with us on stage. And in that moment, it was like everything hushed. The crowd became almost unnervingly attentive during the entirety of our set, so quiet...no banter or clinking of glasses that is classic to venues like that. It was as if we all collectively drew in for those moments together. I can remember looking out and seeing Nate beaming at me, friends from around town, musician comrades, and even the rector of my church sitting just a few seats away from the stage. I could almost feel the energy in the room...and the bright warmth of applause that rushed over us after each song. It was a magical night.

I finally fell asleep around 3am from all the excitement (that I often refer to as a "show buzz"), only to wake up a few hours later to head to Charlie Peacock's studio to record.

Tucked in the lush hills of Nashville, The Art House is a one-of-a-kind oasis in the midst of suburbia. An English garden now blushes in front of the old Methodist church that was gutted years ago to make room for this creative space. John Paul and I stepped into Charlie's home and could immediately feel the comfort, ease and safety of this place. So between Wednesday and Thursday, we spent morning, noon and night recording our songs in that creatively sacred cocoon. ALSO an experience I'll not soon forget.

Now it's off to the coast for another full week of music as of tomorrow. Nate and I are LA bound. I have writing sessions, Nate has some important meetings, and I'm going to be performing at Molly Malone's and The Hotel Cafe in just a few days. It will be a whirlwind trip for sure, but I'm excited to see what will unfold...

I hope this blog finds you well. Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Music Video Debut : One Of Those Days

2009-04-04T15:55:00.007-05:00

It's another first. My first-ever music video wrapped and was posted just a day or so ago! Our no-nonsense director, Kip Kubin, did a stellar job filming. And our friend Mike did an excellent job enacting an Average Joe having a gnarly day. : ) It was a very fun experience...

Overall, the response has been killer, which we've been thankful for! (There have been a few angry people who apparently don't believe there's a place in Heaven for those who smoke or drink, but those comments have been few and far between). We've had overwhelmingly positive feedback, friends have been Tweeting in support, and the video has already had a few thousand plays. Hope you enjoy a visual depiction of what it's like to just have...one of those days. (Feel free to press the HD button on the bottom right of the Youtube window, and let it load for a minute, to get the best viewing experience!)

Glass & Sand...

2009-03-31T11:42:00.005-05:00

I could almost smell the ocean breeze as I was packing for a long weekend away from gray Nashville. Sunscreen? Check. Sandals? Check. Bathing suit? Check. Done packing. :) The sand and sun were beckoning, and I could almost hear the sounds of the waves in my ears. I was eagerly anticipating four whole glorious, sun drenched days at a posh home off the water that a generous friend of a friend was letting a few lucky couples inhabit.

Nate and I locked up our house, turned with bags in hand towards our cars...only to realize that Nate's Nissan had been broken into. Ugh. My stomach dropped. This is the reality of the neighborhood we live in...eclectic, close to the city, and full of surprises. And we got ours in the form of shattered glass on the street that day. We were both thankful nothing had been taken, but the wanton (and inevitably expensive) damage to the car was enough to take the wind out of our sails for a moment. But we'd be late meeting up with everyone if we didn't jury-rig the open gap where a window used to be somehow. A few minutes later, we shored it up with a garage bag and duct tape before going on our way. We'll just have to deal with that when we get home.

The tension of the car drifted away with each passing mile as we friends carpooled down to Rosemary. This European-inspired beach town feels like an oasis from the crowded beaches and Spring Break chaos normally equated with Florida. There are more bicycles than cars roaming the narrow, tree-lined roads, and beautiful homes glow with natural light between well manicured lawns. The sound of the ocean can be heard through every open window...
My humanity, my questions, my anxious thoughts...they are put into perspective when I stare off into the vast expanse of the sea. What is going to happen in the next few months? Like all the pieces of glass I saw on the ground a few days ago, so much of life is seeming scattered these days...in process...being creatively birthed...pulling, growing, challenging...making room for something rich and good in the swirling circumstances of our life together. Both glass and sand are used to smooth, after all.

We keep moving steadily on. Who knows what the future is going to bring? It's an adventure we both feel passionate about, and the steady waves remind us to release all those unanswerable inquiries out to the vast expanse we're staring at these days...

{Cue Sigh Of Relief}

2009-03-26T16:22:00.007-05:00

So I am at home on the couch after several days in the land of Texas, thankful to be back. I strolled down memory lane with Nate (who went to college a few years in Dallas), I ate fried alligator tail, and overcame a bit of a milestone for this ever-budding creative spirit: I played the ivories and sang...alone.

You'd think after 8+ years of singing on stages I'd get used to it. Nope. My hands were shaking more than they ever had as I stepped onto the stage this last weekend. I took a deep breath, uttered a few silent words, and asked for the ability to be present as I played. I made a few bobbles, but I was there. In it. Alive. And it was a thrill. There were a few shining moments to keep me invigorated, and some forgotten chords to keep me humble as I walked off stage. : ) Thanks for the thoughts and prayers that night.

I did it. {Cue sigh of relief and a small smile}

Applause or Crickets

2009-03-20T13:50:00.004-05:00

It is a day of Change. I read somewhere that today is officially the first day of Spring, and it seems the birds and flowers outside are celebrating right along with the rest of us. A new season is upon us all...

That seasonal shift happened a day early for me, actually. Winds of change blew in when I got a call yesterday from my Warner/Chappell rep confirming that I was now a free agent in the song-publishing world. No more red tape. No more contract. No more steady salary.

I am FREE. Free to create what I'm passionate about, free to continue pop writing with people I've built relationships with around the world, free to pursue more of my dreams. Though moments of panic arise about finances and the unforeseen future, I feel strangely at peace in knowing I’m not alone going through this. I believe God is going to clear a path for Nate and me along this on-going adventure, as has happened so many times before. Your thoughts and prayers are appreciated as we continue on this journey...

Another change is sweeping through tomorrow, as well: I am flying to Dallas to play my first ever solo set. It's finally here. Just my voice and the piano...and a few hundred people in attendance. (No pressure. Ha) I am nervous, but I am practiced. I have run through the songs nearly every day in preparation for this industry conference, and so whatever happens tomorrow night will happen. It will, inevitably, be far from perfect...but it will be honest if anything. So I suppose I can hold my head up high...regardless of the sound of applause, or the sound of crickets, tomorrow night.

Here's to a new season! Happy Spring, friends...

Falling by The Civil Wars

2009-03-17T00:31:00.003-05:00

A new video from The Civil Wars is here for your eyes and ears. "Falling" is the very first song JP & I wrote together for our then unnamed band about a year ago. I hope you enjoy!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Brite Revolution

2009-03-15T19:47:00.005-05:00

I wanted to let all of you know about a new website that I am a part of called Brite Revolution (http://briterevolution.com). Brite Revolution’s mission is to help artists release new music on a regular basis while supporting a number of non-profit causes.

I will be releasing a brand new song every month on Brite as well as acoustic versions of songs, live recordings, demos, remixes and/or other back catalog songs. You can also find videos, blogs, photos and other exclusive content.

Brite Revolution donates 10% of its gross subscription revenues to the non-profit causes of your choice. So when you sign up, you can pick who you would like to help support.

Other artists on Brite Revolution are: Katie Herzig, Griffen House, Andy Davis, Matthew Perryman Jones, Todd Snider, Billy Cerveny, Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors, Randall Goodgame, Caedmon’s Call, Andy Osenga, Waterdeep and Ginny Owens. Your $4.99/month subscription get’s you all of their new music and helps to make a difference somewhere in the world!

As a thank you for your support I would like to give you a free month’s membership to Brite Revolution. Just click the link below and go from there. Thanks a ton and enjoy!

http://briterevolution.com/freemusic

Also, my direct artist link is:
http://briterevolution.com/artists/joy-williams

Have a great week!

d'art photographie

2009-03-09T12:12:00.005-05:00

Sunshine is pouring through my windows today, and the daffodils Nate picked for me yesterday are smiling brightly from a vase nearby. They are beaming just above my line of sight past my laptop. Could Spring actually be here??

It is a perfect weather for today's adventures. A fantastic photographer named Laura Dart has come in from out of town to do a few photo shoots, and I am lucky enough to be one of those people. Check out d'art photographie to see what I mean. She has an innately artistic eye when it comes to details and moments, and I'm excited about spending time with her this afternoon. I have a feeling she's going to be a sweet hang, too.

What to wear? Hair up, hair down? A hat, maybe (to tame my tresses that have not been trimmed since last Spring's European bob)? I'll figure something out...no worries. On a Spring day like today, there is winsomeness in the air...I want to grab ahold of some.

Twitter...

2009-03-06T13:36:00.005-06:00

I read an article a few months ago that said we are cultivating a culture of untamed self-importance through blogs, MySpace, Facebook, etc. I've heard older people rant about it before, too : "Who in the world cares about what you wonder about, or what clothes you bought at the thrift store, or how you stubbed your toe on the couch?"

I don't know, honestly.

But a friend told me last night that she Twitters, and that she's signed up to follow everybody from President Obama (oh yes people, he Twitters!) to Ashton Kutcher to Martha Stewart. I gave pause when my friend said Martha had apparently lunched with Ludacris earlier that day. "Yeah right!", I said. "You can create any kind of false reality you want with that. I could say I'm having tea with Prince Charles if I wanted to, right?". She promptly showed me the photo of the rapper and domestic goddess posing over a meal together. I have to say, my curiosity was piqued.

So I guess we do in some small way want to know just how those outside our immediate sphere spend their days. I can stay current with my friend in CA who is about to have her baby any second, and I can discover where Justin Timberlake gets his coffee. What a strange world we live in.

I just signed up on ...

Everyday sounds...

2009-03-03T17:54:00.006-06:00

The hum of the dishwasher is going. I am sitting, reveling in the sonic white noise. Does this sound comfort you like it does me? The whirring, the low drone of swirling jets, the knowledge that clean dishes are on their way without so much as the push of a button. A sigh of relief just came out as I typed that. Simple sounds bring simple pleasures...

I had another wonderful Tuesday morning with women I respect and can open up to. I do not speak in any way of money when I say that these women are rich. The waters go deep within these feminine spirits, the wealth of wisdom brims, and their quiet call to Beauty leaves me breathless on days like today. The sound of their voices, their laughter, their questions, their hearts this morning... it brought my soul both food and rest today.

Another sound that brought pleasure? The sound my piano made under my elementary fingers today. When the right chords were struck strong and true, it was like the vibrations echoed and broke into little cabinets I never knew I had inside of me. I'm practicing daily for this show in Dallas coming up...still nervous...but letting the chords melt with my melody, in the hopes that each time I play is one more boost of confidence I need.

I am looking forward to hearing the familiar voice of my sweet husband when he walks in the door another 45 minutes or so from now. Nate just began renting a stellar space for our company office in the the historical factory-turned-rental-complex, Marathon Village. The space has been restorative for Nate's sanity, and mine. I don't think either of us realized how crucial a place for him to go to work (and then leave from) each day was. Now I have the privilege to long for Nate's return after a solid day's work.

The dishwasher went through it's cycle, and so I am left with another sound I enjoy but very rarely find: silence. I think I'm going to soak it in for awhile...

What were some sounds that brought you a moment of rest or pleasure today?

Tired Eyes

2009-02-19T21:53:00.006-06:00

The winds are cold outside, and I'm hunkered in one of my favorite Nashville studios yet again tonight. This place is the very same one I recorded my EP in, and it's quirky charm is undeniable. Small oddities are everywhere, Christmas lights are strung haphazrdly around this partially wood-paneled room, and an iconic antique lampshade of mountain serenity illuminates this eclectic room in a sea of nostalgic light.

Nate is on his laptop in a satellite chair. Jeremy is at the console, watching recorded sonic waves move in curious patterns on the screen. My ears (and theirs) are keenly tuned to plucked guitar strings traveling real-time from one room to the other. One day I hope to play the guitar beyond a C or G chord, but today is not that day. So in the meantime, I called upon a long-time friend for a favor. There is something so simple and lovely about a well played guitar. It does something good to my soul.

My spirit is weary tonight. I'm just feeling drained. I attribute it to a collection of long days, some sleepless nights, creative blood-letting, some necessary introspection, a few tough conversations, and a whopping head cold this week. I've battled tired eyes and a bit of a tired heart this week in February. But moments like this, being washed in lovely music surrounded by great people, make me forget the weight of the world outside. It calls me to recall how good the simple things really are. My handsome husband sitting just a few feet away in ever-steady support...good friends offering their talent and time to add to my musical musings... kindred spirits sleeping in our guest bedroom back home...and for the calm of this curious studio tonight.

Hope you are warm tonight wherever you are...

No More Secrets!

2009-02-13T20:01:00.006-06:00

No More Secrets!

At long last, I can finally tell you about something I'm very excited about. On top of working on my own music, I'm working on a new band project with John Paul White- a truly amazing singer, songwriter and guitarist. We are only still scratching the surface of what I feel is bigger than the both of us, and we will both be updating you as often as possible with music, videos, and show dates. Please bookmark http://www.thecivilwars.com to stay in the know, and to sign up for our mailing list.

In the meantime, check out the video we’ve made, and get the free MP3 download we recorded, of Leonard Cohen’s “Dance Me to the End of Love”.

www.thecivilwars.com
www.myspace.com/thecivilwars
http://reverbnation.com/thecivilwars

Never say never, right?

2009-02-07T17:43:00.010-06:00

There is a shift in the air today. Cold bitter winds are giving way to warm breezes as the sun finally decides to show up - fashionably late, of course. This February day is one of old colliding with new.

In a matter of multiple burned discs and paper work filled with percentages, I nearly managed to fit my entire last year of pop songwriting into a mailer bound for L.A. My publishing company - Warner/Chappell - and I are back to where we are at every beginning of a fresh year: "option time". I find it somewhat ironic that companies call this fish-or-cut-bait scenario an "option", as is it only theirs to make. This is not a mutual decision. I am at the whim of a newly hired executive whom I've yet to meet, someone who has been making major cutbacks within the entire W/C system since he arrived on the scene. I may be one of the cut back. I may be one who makes the cut another year. I don't know.

Some days I wonder what it would be like to have a profession that was steady as the rising sun. I could've become a dentist, right? People are cracking teeth chewing on ice or needing cavities filled from too many sweets. Or I could've studied to deliver babies, right? People are always falling in love and creating little human beings.

I sat down with a dear friend of mine, who is not in the music industry, and we talked about her "steady 9-5". The more and more I really look deeper into things, the more I realize: the idea of security is mostly a myth. Even my dear "9-5-er" does not have the same benefits she once did, or the same assurance that her job will still be around in the next 6 months. Branches close. Hospital wings close. Money dries up. Jobs fade.

So what are we left with? I suppose one thought is to recognize that security does not ever truly depend solely on circumstances, but on something Deeper. This reality beckons me on some levels to pursue a passion over a pension, living over simply making one.

Where am I going with all this? Well, I swore to myself a few road-weary years ago that I would never want to pound the pavement ever again. I also swore that I wouldn't ever record ago, genuinely feeling that to be the truth. But never say never, right? With the music having returned to my insides, with the release of the EP (and the reality that Warner/Chappell is not the end-all-be-all should it go away), I've thought once again about giving The Road another go. I do...I want to go play shows. And yet I immediately have to fight my own fears in admitting that to you. It's "risky"...meaning, more precisely, that it's what I desire and fear simultaneously. The When and the How of it all feels big to me in not being determined yet. But I can feel it coming around the corner, like the warm air today...promising a new season arriving sooner than later...

As some of you may know, I've been learning how to play the piano. I'm diving in feet-first in a few weeks: I'm playing 3 songs by myself in Dallas - just me and a piano. No security blanket of a band, no leaning on a guitar playing friend I've traveled with for the last 4 years. I am scared, and yet I am totally invigorated by the challenge of this. I might sink, or swim...I'll never know unless I get out there and try.

Giving Birth To A College Student

2009-01-31T12:37:00.007-06:00

What a week it's been! A sweet friend from out of town sent beautiful flowers our way on Tuesday. Other friends texted congrats, called, etc. Nate and I went out to a lovely brunch to celebrate, and found ourselves rather speechless about this special day we'd been spent so much time and energy preparing for.

Many musicians liken creating and releasing music in terms of giving birth, and I am of that ilk. In no way lessening the true beauty of actual pregnancy and child-bearing, Nate and I both acknowledged that we sensed a slight pang of what we imagine postpartum to feel like. Creating this EP was profoundly personal to me, more than any other project I've made up to this point. Not only that, but it was a labor of love both Nate and I worked on. We spent many months "pregnant" with ideas, both created space for my music in our home (figuratively and literally), and both prepared endless details for the day when the EP would finally be ready. So when that day actually arrived, the elation also gave rise to a sense of anxiety in releasing it into the world.

And releasing music is void of sweet nurseries you can tip toe back into to see the little bundle sleeping quietly. No, releasing music is like giving birth to a walking, talking college student. Ready to do what it was inately created to do- stand on its own and to travel.

Does that make sense at all to you? Maybe that just sounds wierd, but it's been the best way I've discovered in describing some of my emotions about this week. I've been thrilled, and I've been nervy as anything. I've been hopeful, and I've been overwhelmed. And yet, Nate and I have both begun realizing that, even these emotions, are a part of the celebration process. It is wonderful to recognize our limits of control, and to be reminded once again to release the outcome.

In the middle all those thoughts, we continued to stuff and seal pre-orders for mailing. The actual EP's didn't arrive from the factory until the DAY of release, so we've been hustling to get them out as quickly as possible. I became pals with a silver Sharpie pen over the last couple days as I signed EP's one by one. : ) They should all be mailing out Monday!

I have been so thankful for all the rallying support we've receieved, and was blown away to find my EP in the Top 30 pop albums on iTunes this week. Thank you for downloading it, and thanks to those who continue to spread the word about this home-spun project from Nashville.

I hope this note finds you well...

It's official!

2009-01-27T00:11:00.003-06:00

It is 12:43am, and it's now official : my EP releases to iTunes today! I am thankful, curious, a liiiiiiitle anxious, and mostly stoked.

http://itunes.com/joywilliams/oneofthosedays-ep

Nate and I have been working hard these past few days to get all the pre-orders ready for shipping ASAP... Faces go with each of these mailing stickers, and though I haven't met every person, now I know that some live on Pleasant Drive, or in Apt B, while some others live across the world in Melbourne or Salzburg. I've felt warm as I've attached each name on the mailers alongside Nate in our tiny office-turned-EP-mailing-room.

So the day has finally come, indeed. Let the adventures continue... : )

Table 61

2009-01-24T16:28:00.005-06:00

It was 2003. Nate was in his last years of college, working his way up at a record label, and waiting tables at an Italian restaurant called Carrabba's to make ends meet. He wore khaki pants, a white apron around his waist, a white button-up, and a black tie. I wore my favorite, vintage red jacket from a CA thrift store, and had just walked into the restaurant after an overseas tour with a couple of match-making friends.

Nate had been told about me, and I'd been told about him. In fact, the very first time Marisa and Jesse met Nate at the restaurant earlier in the Fall, they left me a voicemail. "Hey Joy, it's Marisa and Jesse, and we just want to let you know that we just met your husband, and his name is Nate". I thought they were crazy.

But my friends, Kristina and Seth, had Nate as a waiter a few weeks after that, and Kristina called me saying I HAD to meet this guy. My friend, Danny, told me a week later that he waited tables with "this awesome guy named Nate". Suddenly coincidence started seeming more like arrows pointing in a certain direction...

So, a few months went by. I finally sucked up my pride (and my stubborn anti-man policy after having had my heart broken a year and half earlier)...and drove with the lady Nate cheerleaders to go eat dinner at CARRABBA'S and meet this mysterious, handsome, good-souled waiter.

I had no idea just how very much that one dinner would change my life.

That was 6 years ago. And yesterday may have been just an ordinary Friday night, an end of the work week to many. But January 23rd has always been a special day to Nate and to me, because that was the night we met for the very first time.

We went back to Carrabba's last night to celebrate. When we walked in to the buzzing restaurant, there were throngs of people waiting for any open table. The 2 brunettes who greeted us at the door told us the wait would be a little over an hour. Nate ever-so-sweetly mentioned why we had come to dinner, and I have never seen 2 women melt like they did last night. Both of the girls told us to wait RIGHT THERE. They were going to go talk to the head hostess.

Would you believe that in under 15 minutes, we were sitting not only at a table in the restaurant, but at table 61...THE EXACT table where we met? It seemed word had gotten around to the entire waiting staff within that short span of time. Even our waiter knew the entire story before we could say, "hello". We were spoiled rotten last night, treated like royalty by everyone there.

It was a magical evening of being together...celebrating...reminiscing...and being thankful for the divine circumstances that happened - past and present - at Table 61.

10,000 hours

2009-01-19T17:00:00.006-06:00

Back to blogging in 2009! Forgive the lateness! Nate and I had such a great holiday season... did you?

Our holiday family times are always marked by loads of talking and loads of gourmet food. Dirtying up our own pots and pans, or going out is the name of the game whenever the 6 of us get together. The dinners and the conversations had us sitting around many a table for several hours over those days spent together. Christmas was like that, and so was New Years, when we rang in 2009 with a sumptuous meal at Rumours in East Nashville...
But those sweet hours went by quickly. And after Nate & I kissed my parents goodbye at the airport, we turned our car around and drove up to the Smokie Mountains with some friends. And we had ourselves our own happy, little commune for 3 days. The guys constructed their own ping-pong table from lumber they bought earlier, the ladies lounged in the jacuzzi, some of us read, some played cards, the whole gang cooked... and we never left the house the entire time we were there. T'was a classic trip indeed...

I don't know if I'm the only one, but do you feel like you're still trying to find a rhythm after that long break? In the last few weeks, I've found myself miserably at a loss for any regular schedule, and notice this even in the pile of dirty laundry that is quietly mocking me from the closet.

Maybe part of my challenge to get back into the normal rhythm of life is a marriage conference Nate and I made time to go to a few days into January. Dan Allender spoke on intimacy with a keeness that pierced like a beautiful scalpal. None of us - whether it was couples married 30 years or 30 days - left that conference without tears, bearing marks of that truth on our souls. I'm still unpacking all the goodness of it, to be honest... Nate and I both are...

In the world of music? I've been traveling a bit more for writing, and even for a few shows. Not only that, but the EP releases digitally all around the globe NEXT WEEK on the 27th! I am excited about the prospect of this release, and am so curious to see how people will respond. (We've already had an enthusiastic response from the pre-order at sensibility music, which has been awesome! Thanks to those who've already ordered!)

I've been tap-tap-tapping the piano keys on this MLK Jr. Day as snow has been falling outside my window. I've been trying to mimick the relatively genius fingers of my producer, Jeremy, on these tracks...easier said than done. I've pounded the keys more than once today, poor piano. More lessons, more patience, and more hours of practice are calling to be put in before I will get the hang of these. Malcolm Gladwell would probably say I need to remember the rule of 10,000 hours... and he would be right. Have any of you read his latest book, Outliers? Fascinating!

I digress. I'm getting hungry. And once again I remember that, in my lack of any semblance of a schedule, I have forgotten to buy groceries for dinner. Poetic justice, indeed. I should get going...

Today has been a day to remember and celebrate an individual who changed the course of history. Tomorrow is going to be another day to celebrate such change... : )

A Soul On Tip-Toe

2008-12-22T23:58:00.005-06:00

It is late. I have still not taken off my winter coat, since the night-time chill from the outdoors has somehow seeped into the marrow of my bones tonight. I'm sitting at my piano, just thinking...remembering...

Recording my new EP over the last few months has been a blend of a sweat, pursuit, vulnerability, patience tests, saving pennies, and sweet surprises. But the pace has not slowed with the completion of "One Of Those Days" project. Silly me for thinking it would slow down...

Nate and I have been pulling long hours lately- Nate feverishly on his laptop and me at the piano. It's what we get for starting our own independent music company, I suppose. : ) Nate's mind has been fine-tuned over the years for music business, budgets, marketing, etc...and how he's managed to get so much DONE for my music in such a short amount of time amazes me. His belief in me throughout the process of this EP has been - and still is - such a humbling and invigorating force.

Though the physical disc doesn't release until March 3rd, pre-order for the EP is up as of TODAY! I've been tinkering away on the ivories in the last little bit to create extra sonic goodies for the Early Bird Buyers. Feel free to go to sensibilitymusic.com if you want to pre-order the "One Of Those Days" EP and receive a digital copy early, plus the exclusive bonus material.

I am thankful tonight. For Nate, for the music inside that I doubted would ever return, for The Divine Madman, and for the friends that brought it all to fruition. I am excited about the future, though it is almost entirely uncertain in more ways than one. I am also feeling a little vulnerable, too. I'm anxiously excited, wondering just who in the wide world will find their way to the songs I wrote a few months back. I am a soul standing on tip-toe tonight, wondering what will happen next...

Must go to bed. I hope you have an amazing Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Pine needles, icicles, and buttons...

2008-12-14T22:06:00.005-06:00

Yesterday, I caught myself wishing for flannel, a pair of boots, some snow and an axe. Call me a romantic, but I've always loved the idea of tromping through a white-capped forest to cut down my own humble Frasier Fur. No trees wasted that way, no orphaned timbers left to dry out in some parking lot somewhere. It seemed so very unadventurous walking into the garden section of Home Depot to pick out our pine-needled friend. Still, we found a lovable, clumsy timber that was just our speed.

I tend to pick Christmas trees out like I used to pick pets when I was a little girl. I'd look for the runt of the litter, and I'd immediately fall in love. So it was with our tree this year. Nate and I had a blast hanging ornaments on our quirky friend while Christmas songs played overhead.

Paying homage both to vibrant color and to friendship, I used an authentic Spanish wrap that a Kindred Spirit gave me to skirt the Yetton Timber.

Nate and I were inspired to hang lights up outside our home, as well - a first for us. I researched how to properly icicle our house (three cheers for Google!), Nate grabbed the ladder, I tugged and pulled at the lights, and Nate was the grand master of afixing the twinkles to our eaves. They turned out well, and have been glistening through our living room windows ever since...

And I have a confession to make: I'm of the strange ilk of Savers that has a habit of keeping ribbon anytime someone hands either Nate or me a present. I don't quite know how or when it happened, but I have an entire tall bin in my closet specifically for re-useable gift bags and pretties that I've salvaged. This year, Anthropologie doled out buttoned-sewn ribbon for gift-wrapping, and I took a shining to it so much that I made a wreath to give it a spotlight on our front door.

May your days be merry and bright...

No decorations...yet

2008-12-10T10:20:00.005-06:00

I woke up this morning to the sound most people rouse from (unless you have small children) - the alarm clock. I shuffled out of bed, and looked out the window to see the day ahead of me. Gray and rainy. I couldn't help but yawn.

My writing session today was postponed until the afternoon, and now would be the perfect time to finally festoon the house with signs of Christmas. No decorations are up yet in our house because of travel and starting up our own company - sensibility music - these days. Our last month has been a flurry of details and learning curves. And as I've read on Facebook and MySpace, I've begun to think that I may be one of the last to decorate for this festive season. The only signs of outward holiday spirit is a wreath hanging on our front door, and our stockings that are dangling off of our tall armoire (because we have no fireplace) in the livingroom. Outdoor lights - ready for perking up the roof - are sitting in a box on the kitchen table, the decorations have been extracted from the attic, and I think a tree is all we need to get this show on the road.

My Mom and Dad are flying in from California on Christmas day, and this will be their first "Tender Tennessee Christmas" (I used to sing that song at the top of my lungs growing up when Mom popped Amy Grant's record on). Nate and I are stoked to have the fam coming over our way for a change, to experience Christmas in our own house with people we love.

My sister and bro-in-law will be also be making their way to TN for Christmas. They'll be arriving next week, but not just for the holidays. Because of a stellar job offer for Jer, they are MOVING HERE!! I am beyond elated, and honestly don't think it's actually settled in that my Big Sis will be 15 minutes away after December 16th. I don't think it's really hit them, either...

I never thought Nate nor I could actually say that we have family living nearby. But, in less than 2 years, Nate's bro has moved here from Utah (and given me my first sister-in-law!), and my Sis and bro-in-law will here from CA!

Beyond the decorations, the nastalgic music, the hustle & bustle of this season ... it really is family being close by that I'm most excited about this Christmas.

Still, a girl has got to put up a tree...I know, I know. : ) I will. TOMORROW!

Advent

2008-11-30T14:46:00.002-06:00

Nestled in pews with people of all shapes and stories, a harp's haunting, plucked chords of O Come O Come Emmanuel lightly danced off the stained glass windows above us. The cathedral was quiet this chilly morning. Still, but calm. There was a contemplative stirring that was palpable...of longing...of anticipation...a kind of dual awareness of Past and Future that Advent brings.

I sat with tears in my eyes this morning...

Pass it down...

2008-11-23T17:08:00.007-06:00

I can still remember being itty-bitty (like this little girl above), standing on a wooden stool next to my Mom in the kitchen. I was constantly in awe as I grew up over how she kneaded bread, braised meats, or concocted serendipitous recipes from whatever was left in the pantry when times got tight. Cooking was always an adventure in our house, often with a delicious outcome...but it was never a spectator sport for me or my older sister. Mom almost always wanted us to join in, and we did from as early as I can remember. I can still feel the thick apron of hers I borrowed and clumsily tied around my waist, (which looked like a floor length dress on my kid frame). Countless times I can recall getting my hands wet with eggs... getting flour all over my face...smelling spices and learning that this goes with that...and my Mom having the patience to laugh with me even when I'd accidentally botch a recipe (salt and sugar look very similar, ya know!).

Mom taught me to see cooking not as a duty, but as an art form. It is truly creating something with your heart and your bare hands, and it is meant for sharing, for bringing people together ...for putting smiles on faces while tummies fill up.

I have taken her culinary cues and found new tricks of my own over the years, and I find much enjoyment sharing them in return with my Mom and my friends. It's all about passing it along, right? It is Thanksgiving week, after all... : )

For a fresh tasting, savory turkey, here are some frilly extras (beyond the normal fare) I like to add inside a turkey cavity before it goes in the oven:
Quartered clove-studded onions (5-10 cloves),
White wine (the alcohol cooks out and leaves a fabulous flavor),
Quartered grapefruit and oranges,
Fresh rosemary sprigs

Another yummy trick my Mom taught me for tasty turkey:
Make 1-2 inch slits just under the skin of the turkey breast. Then, slice a refrigerated stick of butter thinly. Fit the butter pieces into the slits of the turkey, underneath the bird's skin. Pull the skin back together for as tight a seal as possible. It will look like a funny turkey going into the oven, but it keeps the breast from drying out and gives it an awesome flavor! (Season and spice as you normally would)

And who says it has to just be plain ole pumpkin pie for dessert? After having lived in Northern California for 15 years, my sassy Mom has shown me how to make pumpkin cheesecake with a gingersnap crust that is mouth-watering! (For a similar pumpkin cheesecake recipe, click here)

I left CA 8 years ago for Nashville, and the South has rubbed off on me a bit when it comes to the kitchen. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've become a fan of sweet potatoes. Even if you're NOT a lover of that particular spud, you may want to try this heavenly recipe of sweet potatoes with a praline topping that can be found in another favorite cookbook of mine. Even veggie-hating-kids will eat this dish!

So, like my Mom did with me...Pass it on, and pass it down. : ) I would love to hear about Turkey Day recipes you have in your family, as well. Happy Thanksgiving!

No Slouch...

2008-11-22T17:17:00.009-06:00

I was thumbing through my journal a few days ago. Laughingly, it seems that almost each penned entry starts with some sort of sentence like this: "These last few weeks have gone by like a whirlwind"... "I just looked up and a whole month has passed"...blah blah blah.

Old habits die hard. My first inclination for an opening sentence with this blog had the same belated, time-conscious overtones.

I know life is busy when my inbox fills up to almost triple digits with yet unanswered mail and I start taking showers every OTHER day to capitalize on the extra half an hour. Or when I look down at my fingers and wonder just when and how that chipped nail polish got there in the first place.

Life HAS moved at the speed of sound these last few weeks. But the upside of it all? All of the events have been truly lovely. And though my soul is still a little weary from the bustling pace, it is thankful to be so full.

Family from all around the country gathered in Nashville on November 7th. I watched in teary happiness as my younger brother-in-law married his most beautiful bride, Elise. (Photo by Eden Frangipane)...
My Spanish Whirling Dervish flew in for a week just a few days later (and no we didn't mean to all wear flannel at the same time!)...
For the following days, I was tucked away in Smoakstack Studios to work on collaborative music with a ridiculously talented musician friend...
And on the last day of recording, I happened to turn 26...
This has been no slouch of a month. : ) I can hardly believe the holidays are right around the corner. Has life been going by this quickly for you, too?

Rattle & Hum

2008-10-26T16:47:00.006-05:00

This last week of songwriting in LA was a lightning-paced trip. I often look forward to these visits, but always take one big gulp of figurative air to last me through the week before there's a chance to breathe again. My most basic rundown of a day? Wolf down a Whole Foods breakfast bar as I input a destination address into my rental car GPS, wade through traffic on "The 405" or "The 10", arrive at a studio, meet up with co-writers, hang a few, then wrack brains collectively several hours for original melodies and lyrics. Finally looking up from a laptop or guitar, the sun has likely gone down, ultimately reducing 5+ hours into a 3 minute pop song. Head into the vocal booth to sing down the demo, then rush quickly out to a dinner meeting that you're undoubtedly late for because of more traffic. Engage new face (or very familiar face) over dinner, return around midnight to friend's lovely apartment in West Hollywood, write back emails until 1am or 2am, crash on the couch, and repeat...for a week. :)

Though I couldn't stand that pace all the time, (don't know how the locals do it!), I always feel strangely invigorated going out there. The air is dry, the food is fresh, the pace is quick, and the possibilities are endless. I met some increadibly talented, fascinating people in music and entertainment this last week, and even had several run-ins with individuals i admire and respect creatively. This is the electric bonus to being in that crazy town.

Still...I always seem to forget what an alternate reality the rattle & hum of that city truly is until I visit it once again. And I am always ready to return home at the end of my week.

At the moment, I've officially melted into the groove of my green couch. I'm wearing Nate's red flannel shirt, a most cozy fall accessory to my lazy afternoon. A football game is background noise instead of traffic jams, the sun is richocheting off trees outside my living room instead of the Hollywood sign, and Nate is making me dinner as I type. I'm so glad to be home.

Grandpa...

2008-10-18T17:27:00.009-05:00

I love my Grandparents. Even through his thick glasses, Grandpa's blue eyes still twinkle with stories from his colorful life. And retelling stories is what grandparents are supposed to do, right? It's in the manual.

I think Grandpa has a deep need to recite these life snapshots to himself just as much as he needs to share them with us. He is able to remember his youth, his impetuosity, his pin stripes, his courage. No matter how feeble his body has become, these stories pump life through him just like the blood in his veins.

He always starts stories with, "Ya know, that reminds me...". For those who didn't know, that was your cue to pull up a chair before he transitioned into, "Have I ever told you about the time when I...?". And off he would go. Always with the usual repertoire. He's never deviated from his 20-or-so same tales. When I was younger, I would imagine Grandpa spinning a Lazy Susan where his usual adventures were stored, deciding which one he'd tell by closing his eyes and just grabbing.

Do I remember the time when he was the Upstate New York jitterbug champion in 1939 ("or was it 1940?"), a ladies man who danced at the clubs Glenn Miller played at? Yes, I remember that one. But tell it again, Grandpa... : )

Did I recall that he married my grandmother 63 years ago after having only known her a few weeks? Yes, happily I do. "She had great legs!", he adds without fail for a laugh. And there is Grandma, rolling her eyes with a girlish smirk.

Only in the last few years, Grandpa has been able to put some words to his experiences in the War. It is silently understood that there are a myriad of hellish sounds, images and emotions from that time that he will go to the grave with. But what he can share is fascinating. He was a highly decorated WWII pilot, who saved many men with his daring rescue flights. He was also a POW who endured utterly horrific hardships. An entire wall of his living room is now festooned with his medals and letters of honor.

He went on to become a Penn State grad, a pastor, a home owner, a father of two, an international missionary, an author, a speaker at presidential and pentagon occasions...and my Grandfather.

I saw the aching of joints and labored breathing it required him to even walk down to the kitchen last weekend, cane in hand. I found myself wishing I could have seen those legs jitterbugging like they did way back when...in a fine suit, cheeks ruddy red from dancing the night away.

One day I will...

Leaves & Lovers

2008-10-12T11:44:00.008-05:00

The trees are turning, as if the leaves have been kissed by Love and are beginning to blush one at a time. There is a fullness in the air, a crispness in the morning that I revel in. I find myself wanting to reach high up on my top shelf in the closet to reach for my thick sweaters. But alas, it's still 87 degrees here in Nashville.

This last week has felt like a large on-ramp to the freeway pace that life is going to take in the next couple weeks. I have wrestled with a sense of urgency and anxiousness a bit lately, which knocked at the door of my heart when I got word that my Grandpa was very ill and in the hospital. Nate and I (along with family from CA) are heading down to Georgia today to spend some quality time with the man that we all love...but never really feel we actually knew deep down. I am looking forward to kissing his forehead and holding his hand...letting things go and holding on to the good memories...

Nate and I cannot stay long with Grandpa, as life shifts into another high gear over the following days. I head to Mussel Shoals, AL, for an anticipated write with John Paul White...then I drive back and host my beautiful, future sis-in-law's bridal shower at the house. After that, I'm off to a whirlwind week of writing in LA. And upon returning home after that, Nate's family will be in town to get ready for the wedding festivities of Trav & Elise! Our lives will be very full in the next few weeks...

Before driving down to Georgia to visit Grandpa, Nate & I spent most of yesterday taking engagement shots for Trav & Elise at a hideaway outside of Nashville called Arrington Vineyards. It was such a great day! Tucked in the rolling hills, this beautiful farmland served as a perfect backdrop for the beautiful couple. The raspberry wine at Arrington was also a lovely, refreshing compliment to the day, as well. Trav & Elise looked stunning! Here are some shots...

Pianos & Pictures

2008-09-27T12:36:00.010-05:00

It is a quintessentially lazy Saturday. The kind you never plan for, but hope for. Nate and I had breakfast with Travis and Elise at Marché this morning, and the easy banter consisted of their upcoming wedding details..."how are flowers coming along?"..."did your wedding dress arrive yet?"... etc. It is so sweet to dive into conversations like this with my future sister-in-law. (Gah, what a long, stodgy title. Can't we shorten that somehow? Just 'Sis' suits me, I think.) They tie the knot in Franklin in under 2 months. I can hardly believe it's here...

We filled our tummies, and off we drove to our house nearby. We sat and listened to a duet I sang with John Paul White that we'd recently recorded, who has become a musical comrade over the last year. I also had a first today: I played my piano and sang a song I wrote 100% on my own called "Tightrope".

I know, I know... myriads of people write their own songs every day. It's NASHVILLE for crying out loud! I was JUST at The Ryman watching The Swell Season show earlier this week, (which was riveting), where I heard 2 hours worth of original music from the movie, "Once", from Glen Hansard, Marketa Irglova and The Frames. Not that big a deal, right?

Well...for me, this was a huge breakthrough. Over the last 8 years, I've been the queen of collaboration. I never wrote a song alone in the entirety of my CCM career, and my current job with Warner/Chappell is based almost solely on co-writes with or for artists/tv/film, etc. But I've been making time to dive back into questions like, "what do I want to say? How do I want it to sound?". These creative musings have seemed endless outside the pressures of a label, of CCM radio, or commercial word candy tricks according to LA. This internal risk of writing alone has been like throwing the doors open to let fresh air in. (Not without some frustrated pounding on the piano, I might add). But I didn't know how much I needed it until I started doing it. One song down, and endless more to write. I'm on my way...

Earlier this week, my friend (and acclaimed photographer) Tec Petaja offered to do a photoshoot for me as I enter back into the realm of making some of my own music again. I sang at his wedding earlier this year, and our trade? A day of his ridiculous photo skills. It was bartering at it's finest, but I definitely believe I got the better end of the deal. :) I also had the chance to showcase some of his beautiful wife's handiwork during the shoot, as Chelsea makes timeless hair pieces and all other asundry of lovelies she sells online. (Some shots of my photo shoot with Tec are up on her site!). You should really check them both out. It's almost illegal that they are, a) so talented, and b) freakin' supermodels. ha.

Also, my wonderful friends Talitha, Missy and Kayleen helped me with hair, make-up and clothes. They did an incredible job and I'm so thankful for their willingness to help.

A few behind-the-scenes shots that Missy took:

Plans for the rest of the day? To get OFF of my computer, to rest with my husband, maybe watch a movie, and to try cooking Chicken Tikka Masala for the first time. Yup, I'm getting my Naan Bread on...

Tree Hugger

2008-09-05T19:43:00.004-05:00

I got another fix of Home last week. I come from a little town in Nor Cal where tree hugging is as common as ordering a latte at the local coffee shop. While I am not a fanatic, I have always had a fondness for the cinnamon bark and skyscraper dimensions of Redwoods. And tucked high up in these natural towers, I hugged a few ancient trees of my own.

An eco-sensitive zip-line canopy tour of the Redwoods - a first in all North America - was constructed with care within the camp I grew up at: Mt. Hermon. While Nate and I were there teaching at a songwriter's conference (a relatively life-changing experience), we stole away to take a family outing... several hundred feet up on the air.

Pure exhilaration is experienced up on the shoulders of a towering Redwood. Looking down below, a crisp little river scuttled along...suddenly much smaller than it looked on the ground. Holding our breath on the first step off the platform, the zip supported each soul - one at a time- as we glided like we were auditioning for the lead role in Peter Pan. The low hum of the line cut through the air...and my childhood dreams of flying came closer to reality that afternoon. We zipped from tree to tree like our own brand of flying squirrels, taking in the silent autobiography of each barked spire we visited.

We all had a blast careening high above the stable ground below. The pictures can't catch the height nor grandeur of what framed our experience, but they are sure fun for memory-sake.

DVR...

2008-08-19T15:41:00.002-05:00

Pajamas. God's gift to the ill and the lazy. I have sniffled in sickly revelry over the comfort a 5 year old pair of pj's has afforded me at this moment. A ratty robe (why do we ALL own one?) is wrapped around my un-showered frame, a water bottle is by my side (must stay hydrated), and the distracting sights of the Olympics are flashing to keep me company today.

Praise be for DVR during these low days. *ha* Nate and I have been able to watch the most exciting, as well as unlikely, Olympic events at the click of a button. We shouted at the TV when the last men's swimming relay was underway with Phelp's 8th gold medal on the line. We watched Nastia give her flawless performance in women's gymnastics. But did you also know you can win a gold medal in Ping Pong (...oh, excuse me, "table tennis"), as well as in Trampoline? We saw the events and the medal ceremonies with our own eyes, and chuckled in bemusement at the slight absurdity of it all.

I hate being sick, the slowing down of muscles and mind. But I had it coming. Life had been going at a feverish pace, and so my body thought it would follow suit. So much writing, so much travel, so much social commotion that my body finally said, "Enough!". My sweet husband has been a picture of selflessness, doing laundry...cleaning the house...bringing me soup...putting up with my grogginess...making me tea, etc. I married a gem.

This season feels like SUCH a waiting game for us. I have a couple songs that are currently on hold with a major artist, which could be great professionally if they were cut. And while Nate has taken several meetings and been offered several jobs, none of them are truly lining up to be the right next move. We still sense purpose in this season, but I'd be lying if i didn't say we are growing a little weary from it all after 9 months. Sometimes I wish Life had a DVR button like our TV, where we could fast forward to see the next event God was tossing our way. It is on it's way... patience is needed...and more chicken soup today....

Here & There...

2008-08-06T18:21:00.008-05:00

Life has been busy here in Nashville.
Nate & Brian officially finished the fence weeks ago, which looks awesome...

Nate is still watching sweet Memphis here and there...

We had wonderful visitors for a few days - Mom & Dad Yetton...

Nate surprised me with a beautiful, underwater orchid bouquet (he spoils me rotten!)...

And *drum roll* ... Trav & Elise bought a HOUSE!

I've been songwriting like crazy ever since I returned from LA, and I leave for Estes Park tomorrow to teach a songwriter's seminar up in the mountains. Nate has had a series of great meetings around town, and this season is full of Adventure for all of us!

Rock & Roll...

2008-07-30T03:02:00.003-05:00

I arrived in sunny Los Angeles this last Sunday for my first-ever week long solo song-writing trip. I have my little gray Ford rental, GPS to help me navigate the city, a friend's couch to crash on, a hair-brained schedule and a sense of adventure that is making writing sessions here all the more exciting.

But the most unexpected surprise came while I was sitting at a stop light in a friend's black Mercedes SUV this afternoon. David, Kate, their 1 year old daughter I were waiting for red to turn to green when all of the sudden the car began rocking furiously! It was as if 2 huge men were pushing on opposite sides of the car doors- back and forth, back and forth. The movement was so strong we were all disoriented for a moment. But as we looked around us, we saw street signs were undulating, stop lights were swinging and other cars were rocking just as we were. EARTHQUAKE! 5.4 on the Richter scale, to be exact. This was no devastating quake thankfully, but it was definitely a bit of a free adrenaline rush for the entire city.

The unanticipated shifting brought back memories of other "tremmers" and small quakes that were commonplace when I was growing up in Nor Cal. This time, a few items fell from grocery store shelves, dogs barked, extra-hot-non-fat-soy-decaf somethingerothers rattled on their tables. But this bustling town actually stopped to take a rare, communal look around for a moment because of it. I felt a sort of kinship with this quirky California state all the more today, thanks to this tectonic surprise.

Fruition...

2008-07-16T09:59:00.006-05:00

Many of our friends are having babies these days. In fact, 3 friends have had 3 babies in the last 2 weeks...and there are more brewing in wonderful tummies around us these days. We Yettons are not with child, which is very okay with us. :) Instead, we're finally...after months and months...seeing something else come to fruition around our own home - a FENCE. *laugh*

Nate has been working back-breaking hours to get this fence done right with our friend Brian, whose wife is also due any day now with a beautiful baby girl. Posts have been put in and cemented, and today cross posts will be sawed, hammered and nailed with proficiency. The thought of no longer having our backyard as a driveway is thrilling to me. I can plant a herb garden, we can have friends hang back there during our grill outs, and who knows...maybe even get a dog now?

There is something very wonderful about building something, and I can see it in Nate's eyes. The daily progress seen, the sweat used to construct, the conversations men have with hammers in hand.

On top of all the MANual labor that's taking place around our house, I might have forgotten to mention that my handsome husband has also set about another task he's been juggling when not drilling, sawing or pounding. He's been - not nannying - but "MANnying" for our friend's precious son, Memphis 2 times a week. Nate is wonderful with him, and they get along famously. Babies, babies, all around us these days... and we don't mind it at all. :)

Must run. Heading to a writing session...

California

2008-07-04T15:47:00.005-05:00

We just returned from several days in Northern California! It was a wonderfully restful time in the redwoods, by the ocean, up at Lake Tahoe, etc. Our Next Chapter has been so curiously open these days that neither Nate nor I realized how much we needed the getaway. The soul is grounded in scenic places such as these.

Time spent with family...celebrating Nate's 27th birthday...bike rides by the ocean with old friends...watching dolphins surf the Pacific waves...Monterey Bay Aquarium with bro and sis...laughing contests with my parents, etc. I'd be lying if I said we didn't dream of moving here one day. If only...

Here are some highlights of our trip:

4th Anniversary

2008-06-12T23:59:00.004-05:00

Tonight is one of those nights it feels vibrant and invigorating to be alive. This whole day felt that way, a celebration of life and love together with each other. I woke up this morning to Nate bringing me tea in bed, and we must have talked for a few hours rehashing the last 4 years of our life together. A sweet time indeed...

I wrote with Charlie Peacock today, and Nate hung an anniversary gift up in our home - an old chandelier from Spain that we discovered the other day in a dusty antique shop. We met up later as the sun was setting to get ready for our anniversary dinner at Flyte.

We had 3 courses of beautiful food and old wine in tall glasses together. Conversation never ran dry, and we laughed...discussed...inquired...and simply celebrated 4 years of life together. What a remarkable adventure it is to love and be loved...

Weekends & Weddings

2008-06-09T21:44:00.005-05:00

Balmy winds have replaced sweet summer nights here in Nashville. The soft, oven air wrapped around us this weekend at a friend's wedding that Nate and I attended. Our artsy friends, Tec & Chelsea, said their "I do's" in an old barn surrounded by sprawling acres of rolling hills. I sang a few songs, Nate filmed the ceremony... and the sweat mixed with the tears during their beautiful exchange of vows. Blue grass players plucked in the yard after the ceremony, people wore cut off's and sandals, and it was a fried chicken buffet for everybody in classic Southern fashion. It was a beautiful, creative, warm wedding with tons of character to savor with friends and family...

Nate and I also had some Michiganders staying at our house this weekend. :) Brie & Steve spent several days with us, and the time spent with them was golden. These kindred spirits kept us laughing all day long, and we were grateful for conversations fresh from out of town. We just hugged their necks farewell this morning, already speaking about potential times we'd see each other again.

Something exciting is happening this week, a special date in Nate's and my story together. June 12th is our anniversary, and this Thursday will be 4 years of marriage! The journey has been beautiful...surprising...adventurous...rich. I am a grateful woman typing tonight...

Lake Martin...

2008-06-02T10:25:00.004-05:00

This last weekend was a wonderful rest from the routine in Nashville. All the way up past Birmingham, there is a sleepy lake that calls for BBQ's, sun-bathing, boats and friends. The air was thick and sweet... tree frogs sang baritone ... and for a day or so, we were able to escape in this epically lazy Lake Martin...

Cruises and a Question...

2008-05-25T01:22:00.007-05:00

Nate and I just returned from a work-week aboard a ship called the MS Fascination. It was like a floating CCM music festival to Mexico and back. :) Not a vacation, but enjoyable in some spots none the less. We returned with some funny stories, some new friends, and some sun on our faces.

We arrived home late last night, and TODAY has been thoroughly exciting. Nate's younger brother had a surprise planned today for someone he dearly loves. Family and close friends had all kept the secret safe for a few weeks, helped plan, made arrangements, etc. But this afternoon, Trav came over to our house to help turn preparations into reality. Nate and I got to help set the stage for this important evening in the living room, and we raced out of the house when we heard a familiar car pull up in our driveway so they could be alone. The low-lit living room glowed with candles... fresh flowers stood tall... champagne chilled ... ambient music played ... and Travis proposed to his beautiful Elise just a few hours ago!

A fantastic night of celebration ensued with the newly engaged couple at Rumours East. We wished Mom & Dad in Utah could've been there with us, but Nate & I represented the Yetton fam at the table with Elise's parents. Tears flowed, stories were retold, laughter ran rampant and it was a purely priceless evening of unforgettable memories...

Vamping...

2008-05-14T21:47:00.004-05:00

Alright. I'll admit it. Blogging has eeked its way under my skin after our 6 week adventure across Europe, and I don't want to stop. I enjoyed the rehashing ... the immediate nostalgia required in order to tap letter keys into memories on my screen. And I've discovered more friends who have blogs as well, so I don't feel nearly as self-indulgent. :)

Reverting back to the routine of our "usual" lives has been anything but normal. Why? Because even after jet-lag wore off in a week or so, what's remained has been an Adventure-hang-over leaving us a bit breathless at times. We'd anticipated culture shock arriving in Europe, but no one warned us of the culture shock America would slap us with upon our return...

The first time I stepped into the red and white wonderland of Target I genuinely felt overwhelmed by the endless aisles of products lumped in one place. I had really begun enjoying the incremental walking trips Europe required... around the corner to the bakery for bread...past the post office to the pharmacy for Tylenol...a quick jaunt to the grocery for milk, etc. I caught myself yesterday wishing for The Tube when I was stuck in traffic, and had to chuckle at myself...

Life rambles on, and we just have to vamp a melody along to the soundtrack that God conducts each day. We all do, no? Nate and I both feel changed somehow by this trip, in more ways than we know how to describe. Paradigms have shifted within, but we are grateful for these new ideas about the world around us. They are stretching us. Nate continues to pray and discover as he searches for his next chapter ... and I am plugging away at songwriting with a new fervor after this trip.

A friend from Rome is staying with us this weekend, and then we Yettons board a cruise ship to Mexico. The Adventures continue... :)

Tunes for Friends

2008-05-02T13:50:00.003-05:00

We Yettons wanted to share some of the music that made up our journey's soundtrack. Some of it released while we were traveling and some of it was discovered along the way as we trekked from country to country. Below is a track listing along with where each artist is from:

1) Goldfrapp - A&E (UK)
2) The Do - On My Shoulders (France)
3) Foals - Olympic Airways (UK)
4) Camille - Paris (France)
5) DeVotchKa - The Clockwise Witness (US)
6) Orchestra di Piazza Vittorio - Sona (formed in Italy - but really from all over the world)
7) Fleet Foxes - Mykonos (US)
8) Emily Loizeau feat. Andrew Bird - London Town (France & US)
9) The Raconteurs - Salute Your Solution (US)
10) Laura Marling - Ghosts (UK)
11) M83 - Graveyard Girl (France)
12) Dawn Kinnard - Fortuneteller (US & UK)
13) Guillemots - Falling Out of Reach (UK)
14) Emilie Simon - Dame de Lotus (France)
15) Cut Copy - Feel the Love (Australia)
16) The Heavy - Colleen (UK)
17) Portishead - Machine Gun (UK)
18) Lykke Li - Dance, Dance, Dance (Sweden)

Click here to download the mix:
Yetton Euro Mix

ENJOY!

Home...

2008-04-29T21:45:00.005-05:00

It was a flawless day of flying and going through customs yesterday (thankfully!), though it was a long one. Nate and I found ourselves sighing often on the plane rides. Not just from the boredom that comes from sitting for hours upon hours, but from the melancholy reality that our trip was coming to a close.It was surreal- we woke up at sunrise on the southern tip of England, only to arrive in Nashville as the sun was going down. We tried hard to stay awake until night had turned in TN, but by 10:00 we were pretty much bumbling idiots from the fatigue and time change. Finally falling into our bed (our OWN bed!) by 10:30 felt like nestling into a cluster of clouds stolen straight out of Heaven. But jet lag is a rude alarm clock. Nate's internal clock roused him at 5:30am. For me? 6:15am. And so we watched the sunrise again for the 2nd day in a row. :)

It is a little odd being back. Walking into our house last night conjured up emotions that resembled the first time I stepped back inside my parent's place after I'd graduated and moved away. Still very much Home, but faintly foreign at the same time.

We are very happy to be closer to the people we love... friends & family we missed consistently while we were away. Catching up today was rad, even if it was just over Instant Messenger. (I caught a sinus bug that also brought on laryngitis, courtesy of the recycled air on the planes). It is a treat to enjoy the comforts of home once again. But... I'd be lying if I said we weren't missing the daily, neon Adventure of the last 6 weeks.

We return so grateful. We return changed. We return a bit wordless about it all still. It was just so rich. Thanks for journeying with us along the way...

Castles & Farewells...

2008-04-27T11:41:00.003-05:00

After a fun Thursday evening in Epsom/Ewell with friends, we hopped a train bound for the sea on Friday morning. And the last few days in England have been sweet here in Felpham. We've been fortunate enough to stay in a house literally yards from the edge of the water, with lovely views and lovely people. Simon & Sandra's family have been beautiful to be with, spoiling us with sumptuous dinners and piano solos from 3 year old Monty and 6 year old Poppy. (Barty, 11 months old, smiles at anything, always making us feel like a million bucks...or is that a million pounds? Poppy just told me it would, in FACT, BE in pounds.)

This sea-sprayed town has been the home of William Blake and the land where several Dukes have nestled into their castles since the early 1100's. It's been a place to rest...read children's books to small souls...spy inside the walls of history some more...and take in one last breath of the salty air before heading home tomorrow. HOME. TOMORROW. It seems so bittersweet to type that.

We leave Felpham at 6 in the morning, and fly out of Heathrow... having been forever changed by this priceless adventure.

Tate Modern...

2008-04-24T07:27:00.005-05:00

Nate, Missy and I headed to the Tate yesterday. Another rainy morning turned into a sunny London day, and our walk to this modern museum was a pleasant one. We ducked out of the sun into the cool of the gallery halls, and were eager about what our eyes would see...

This place teemed with the unusual, violent, minimalist, humorous and lovely. Carl Andre's neat pile of tan bricks called "Equivalent VIII"...deemed Art. The famous signed latrine (called "Fountain") by Marcel DuChamp in 1917... deemed Art. Our minds were stretched like rubber bands by surrealism, cubism and many other "-isms" in this old power plant turned museum. I found my senses alive as I walked around this curious place...

Everywhere I looked, the "NO PICTURES" signs angrily stared down my hopes of shutter-bug-bliss. Still, I rebelliously took a couple shots before my conscience got the better of me. My rebel pictures were of 2 paintings:

Monet's impressionist masterpiece, "Water-Lilies" ...
And Henry Matisse's colorful work, "The Snail"...
...is it just me, or does this piece of Matisse's work not look like something any one of us could've brought home from our 2nd grade art class project? (only smaller, obviously). Why did this get hung posthumously in a gallery while other works akin to it stayed magnetically stuck to a parent's refrigerator?

And then an obvious thought struck me. Maybe THAT'S just IT. That the true allure of art is that it cannot be given a grade or marked with red ink. It defies convention or uniformity. And THAT'S why we love certain pieces, hate certain paintings, prefer this sculpture to that one, etc. Creativity allows for a wide range of opinions about each created piece. Art simply cannot help but evoke a visceral, emotional response...and perhaps THAT is the beauty - the magic - of it all.

There were so many memorable pieces that remain etched in my mind, (albeit without the aid of my digital camera). Pieces like Picasso's "Girl in a Chemise", Alberto Giacometti's fragile, petite figurines in clay... Jackson Pollock's famous "Summertime: Number 9A" or the postmodern work of Cy Twombly's, "Quattro Stagioni".

Nate and I walked across the Millennium Bridge, filled with these colorful expressions swirling in our head. (We were on our way to meet up with a friend who works at the BBC). And as the sun kissed our faces, and the wind from the river invigorated each step...I thought of how grateful I am for these curious, sometimes chaotic, always colorful weeks we've had overseas.

Off to meet up with a friend of a friend (Julian & Amanda), and then off to the coast of England tomorrow to stay with beloved Simon Hawkins and family. Only a few days left before we return home...

London Town... again

2008-04-22T12:44:00.005-05:00

Nate and I breathed a sigh of relief after a long day of travel from Prague that included planes, trains and automobiles. Arriving in beautiful, blustery London felt like returning to a home away from home after our weeks of travel.

We've been resting and meandering around the city that we so adore. Yesterday, we met up with friends at Neil's Yard in Covent Garden...walked around tulip-drenched Hyde Park...sipped and supped at a Moroccan restaurant...and went to a stellar show at Shepherds Bush Empire where Blonde Redhead (http://myspace.com/blonderedhead) blew us away with their electric performance.

Today, we stayed outdoors up at Harrow-On-The-Hill in the patio area of The Castle Pub to savor the warm sun that Spring so generously offered us. The next few days will be more of the same- resting, hanging, savoring the last remaining days on this side of the Pond...

Prague of Bohemia (or the Czech Republic)...

2008-04-19T08:04:00.006-05:00

As I have written to a few friends already, if Prague was a woman, she would be a complicated one. Madame Praha is graffiti, she is 100 spires, she is oppression and freedom in the same breath. She was home to Kafka, the love affair of Mozart, the secret window into Bohemian Jewish folklore, and the muse of famed art-nouveau artist Mucha. You can feel her stories tucked within the walls and streets here... secrets that haunt, beckon...

Nate and I have gotten to know this lady city a bit over the last few days. We climbed 287 stairs in the Cathedral of St. Vitus surrounded by the Prague Castle walls to see a panorama of the city, a hike well worth the rewarding vista. We lost track of the minutes spent up there... taking in the Gothic town with it's red tile roofs separated by the ash black Charles Bridge.

After a full day of sight-seeing, Nate serendipitously mentioned we should check out one of the many concert halls in the area to see what was playing. Within 2 hours of the inquiry, we were sitting 7 rows back from The National Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Beethoven's 3rd symphony ebbed and flowed rapturously in our ears... piano concertos brought water to both of our eyes... and movements from "Eroica" put goosebumps on our skin. The night was simply transcendent.

I am sitting in a smoky cafe right now, watching navy gray cigarette puffs dance gracefully in the air. Nate and I bid farewell to Madame Praha in just a few hours... and are bound for London once again.

Salzburg, Austria

2008-04-15T10:58:00.004-05:00

The last few days in Salzburg have been lovely. The crisp, clean air and mountain water has been good for cleansing our city-saturated souls. Yesterday, Nate and I were enamored by the PERFECT spring weather in this picturesque town. We re-enacted a scene from "The Sound Of Music" as we skipped through the vine-drenched archway in Mirabell Gardens, walked inside The Cathedral of Salzburg (another place Nate sang with his college choir), and felt our breath stolen by the Austrian Alps when we reached the top of the Fortress overlooking the city. It was another unforgettable day where the beauty surrounding us quietly demanded an emotional response. The mountains brought me to tears, and we both found ourselves wordless...sighing contentedly...taking it all in.
Gutentag!