Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Recording at Secret Society in Portland

The beautiful upright grand at Secret Society



My sister Grace (Mojave Bird) taking some pics

The red carpets, kind people, soft rain outside, soft lighting, made for such an easy and beautiful space to record these songs.  The piano's sound was so full, and the strings and hammers were right at my chest and head, so I was surrounded in these beautiful tones, and the touch of the keys was so easy to play, even the low notes were easily coaxed with quiet notes.  

I set up my space with pictures of all my 3 children, my sweet Otto, the baby in the belly (ultrasound) and Luna in her zebra costume.  A bundle of sage, bringing me back to the days I lit it all the time for peace and survival in heavy grief.  There was so much love all around these songs. I listen to them now and am so full. I am excited to share them, but want to wait for the balance to come.

I recorded this bunch of songs for me, to fulfill my heart, and it has done that, is doing that. I love hearing them.  It's so wonderful to do something out of delight, and meaning more than any other purpose.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Recording Was An Amazing Experience

Portland, how beautiful you are in the Spring. Trees packed with full, white blossoms, a rainbow of tulips filling yards, daffodils and flowers that I don't know.

I am just back from recording - 3 days with John Askew at Secret Society and his studio Scenic Burrows. Pics coming soon but I left my camera there! So when it comes, you'll see this gorgeous piano, an old upright grand, that I had the honor and pleasure of playing.

This project has taken shape as a timeline of experience - the coming and passing and loving of my golden son Otto, and all that he brought us, another world, a lifetime of love and missing, a deepening. Since I am a mama of a toddler now too, music has become more simple and straightforward because that is what the shape of my life allows - so it's an album of voice and piano and full of tenderness.

The sound coming from these sessions is the most full and clear than any project I have yet done, and it is full of ambience and movement - so even though simple, it is rich and alive and stirring.

I was afraid a little, pulling up to the piano bench the first day, of what I was opening up to - what I wanted to share. But the assurances and direction that John gave made it easy, and trust is the most important aspect of recording for me. I had a perfect nest of support.

And so came the songs, live, and the experience of playing this music, of these 3 days dedicated to pouring out my heart, to singing love to my boy, and receiving back from singing the piano strings, have left me glowing and sore. It has been a sacred experience.

Part of me just wants to leave it here, safe and perfect, and yet I know this music wants to find its way in the world, and so I will see where it goes. I am so proud of it, so grateful to it, amazed at what has come out. I feel love for it.

More soon.