Whole lotta love

Here’s a rare photo of the songwriting process in action. My ten day retreat (read: house-sitting gig) on the Long Island Sound was good for the creative soul. So was the 4 pm happy hour on the porch over looking the water every afternoon.
NYC singer/songwriter Kay Ashley joined me there for a few days of intensive rehearsal for our new harmony-driven super duo: Grace & Havoc. More on that in the days to come. We had a dinner party one evening and Kay broke out her ‘Kayzoos’ and treated us to a lovely rendition of “Whole Lotta Love.” That’s my dear friend Annette Guarrasi enjoying the serene sounds of Kay's kayzoos. She is a supremely talented actress/writer/comedian/singer and soon-to-be mom. Go Annette!

Well, a whole year has gone by since I began my most recent incarnation as a singer-songwriter. Let us pause briefly to reflect on the past 12 months:
-I was heckled (once) and appreciated (more than once.)
-I brought some people to tears. I bored some people to tears (note to self - inebriated college-aged men in bars are not my target demographic.)
-I was a winner and a loser, but it was an honor to be nominated (for real).
-I was discovered. I was ignored. On those occasions I was ignored I would sometimes think to myself ‘Do you know who I am?!” and chuckle.
-It sometimes takes effort to remember I’m driven by a love for music (ultimately fulfilling) and not by a desire for positive feedback and recognition (nice, but ultimately unfulfilling).
-I’m so grateful for everyone who has let me know how much they enjoy "Under the Ash Tree". I want more people to hear my CD. A lot more.
-I’m not a natural entrepreneur. Are you? I need ideas.
-I love musicians. I love people that get music and musicians. Now that's a whole lotta love.
J.