Your Spirit Is a Work of Art ~ Album Preorder!

Hi friends! My brand new album, Your Spirit Is a Work of Art, has been over a year in the making, and I couldn't be more excited to announce its impending 2020 release! This project has taken me on quite the adventure ~ starting from the first creative ideas in Worcester MA's Studio 50, to Fraser Performance Studio in Cambridge MA, to NYC, to the musician's mecca Abbey Road Studios in London... and finally, into your hands (or ears)!

Before I get into the project, here's a live video we recorded at On Deck Sound Studios in CT of one of the album tracks, "David". It was recently nominated for "Video of the Year (solo artist)" in the Limelight Music Awards:



THE BACKSTORY:

This project means a lot to me: I feel that it is the most authentic representation of my voice to date, and I am passionate about the message and sense of purpose that has fueled the process. Your Spirit Is a Work of Art is first and foremost a collection of musical vignettes about the journey of getting in touch with your inner voice and honoring who you are; about recognizing the fundamental gift that lies within each and every one of us. It's about learning to honor and express ourselves, and learning to hear and honor the journeys of those around us.

The concept for the album first came to life in early 2017 when a dear friend of mine unexpectedly passed away. This person was the type of soul who shed a light on the path of all who had the privilege to know him; he was the type of person who saw the beauty and potential in every living being. On a personal level, he was someone who saw my own potential and believed in me before I could even do that myself. His passing was a heartbreaking reminder of the impermanence of all things, and it instilled a sense of urgency in me: The time is now. The time is now to embrace the ones you love. The time is now to forgive. The time is now to follow your dreams. The time is now to see and honor the beauty in everything. 

This message was echoed when I attended a songwriters intensive in the outskirts of Chicago a few months later. What I thought was going to be a high-pressure week of learning the rules and techniques of songwriting turned out to be something else entirely. We learned about songwriting, yes, but more importantly I found a community who encouraged me to be myself and express my voice more authentically than I ever had before; who inspired me to embrace the connective power of vulnerability and the beauty of human imperfection. I walked away with this key message: Write honestly. Write what you know. Write what you don’t want to know about yourself. Write what you’re scared to know about yourself. The key to great art is this: Be you. The unabashed, unadulterated you. The job of a great artist is this: Peel off the mask, and offer what’s left as a gift to the world. The greatest gift we can offer to the world is the gift of our unique self, and the only real responsibility we have to ourselves and others is to build love and connection through living the truth. I came home with a sense of purpose: To honor the call of my own soul, to speak my authentic truth, and to invite others to do the same.

In the making of Your Spirit Is a Work of Art, I endeavored to stay true to the energy with which I was creating it: I wanted to capture the imperfect beauty of the human condition. Unlike my previous studio works, this project is minimally produced, with very few edits or embellishments: It's the closest we could come to capturing the human feeling of a live performance in a studio setting. The album itself is a collection of short stories, character sketches, and personal letters set to music. You'll meet a wandering minstrel, a wise old owl, a war veteran, a ghostly couple, among others...  Some of the songs are distinctly personal to me, while others venture further into imaginary landscapes, but all contain elements of the central message: whoever you are, wherever you are, you are beautiful ~ as you are. Imperfect, messy, fumbling, or awkward as you may feel: you are a work of art.

Your Spirit Is a Work of Art features several award-winning songs, and has been dubbed by Nick Noble of The Folk Revival "a work of poetic insight... worth listening to again and again." (Read the full review at www.kalafarnham.com/nick-noble-review). 

I just want to pause here to say thank you to those who made it possible to bring my vision to life:
Producer - Rich Kneeland 
Co-producer - John Witti
The Lunar Strings - Alex Korolov & Daniel Grip
Percussionist - Phillip Andrews
Mixed media artist - Phillip LeBlanc
Photographer - Tim Martin 
Graphic Designer - Dale Farnham
Christopher Park and Andrew Walter at Abbey Road Studios, Antonio Oliart at Fraser Performance Studio, Mark Thayer at Signature Sounds Studio, and Andrew Yanchyshyn at Threshold Recording Studios

Me and "The Lunar Strings" ~ Alex Korolov and Daniel Grip!

Producer Rich Kneeland and I listen in to some tracks at Threshold Recording Studios

^The tattoo I got in commemoration of my friend's passing. The semi-colon represents "your story goes on;" the butterfly wings made of thread represent transformation. Together they signify the idea that the stories of those we love live on through the threads they weave in the tapestry of our lives; that we are forever transformed by our loved ones. A lot of meaning in one little scribble!


OK SO, WHERE WILL THE FUNDS GO?

As you may know, the current public health crisis is leaving many full-time musicians like myself, who rely on public events to pay our living expenses, in an unexpected state of financial duress. We’re facing significant losses due to the bans and shutdowns necessitated during quarantine. That said, the funds raised by this pro-order campaign will first and foremost go to recouping the thousands of dollars counting of monetary loss that my business is facing and to paying basic living expenses.

Any contributions over that will go towards business costs involved in the creation of this project, as well as make it possible to fund this year's goal to promote the album via national radio campaign, attend folk conferences and festival events, and follow through on US tour plans.

Your help means more than ever now. Even a small pledge can work wonders with a community effort, so please consider contributing what you can and please please share with your friends! Every little bit of a support makes a difference. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your support!


WANT TO CHIP IN? HERE'S THE PERKS!
*Please leave your contact info when donating so I can send you your rewards after the campaign ends!*

$5 or more:
Single download of my song "Elijah"!

$10 or more:
Digital download of Your Spirit Is a Work of Art!

$25 or more:
A signed copy of the CD and a handwritten thank you note!
PLUS all previous perks!

$50 or more:
"Your Spirit Is a Work of Art" tee shirt!
PLUS all previous perks!

$75 or more:
"Your Spirit Is a Work of Art" leather journal!
 PLUS all previous perks!

$150 or more: 
1 hour Skype session on the topic of your choosing: creative coaching, a music lesson, collaboration, life & philosophy, whatever you'd prefer!
PLUS all previous perks!

$300 or more:
Do you have an event, video, or other project you want original music created for? Or do you have a song idea? a poem you want to turn into lyrics? a melody? I'll work with you to make your vision a reality and you'll receive a finished recording of your custom song!  
OR
A series of three 1 hour Skype music lessons / creative coaching / session of your choosing!
PLUS digital download, signed CD, handwritten thank you note, tee shirt, leather journal

$500 or more:
I'll play your house party, wedding, holiday celebration, or other event!
(travel fee may apply outside of New England)
OR 
A series of six 1 hour Skype music lessons / creative coaching / session of your choosing!
PLUS digital download, signed CD, handwritten thank you note, tee shirt, leather journal



THE "MAKING OF"~  PHOTO JOURNAL!

Many thanks to the late John Witti ~ "Woody" ~ for his dedication to chronicling the process behind the scenes and making this photo journal possible ~ and more importantly, for his boundless sensitivity, understanding, compassion during the process of bringing this vision to life. 

Taking a stroll through London before our mastering day at Abbey Road Studios!    

On the steps of the one and only Abbey Road Studios! This is still so surreal.

When in Rome...

When in Rome Part 2.... Signing the Abbey Road wall

There it is again...

Totally random, but we found Shrek in London and here's proof!

We also found a carousel. Who doesn't love carousels?

Daniel Grip lays down some gorgeous bass tracks. You have got to hear this guy play.

There he is again! He and Alex are the brains behind our string orchestrations (they did a brilliant job)

Alex Korolov gets ready to lay down some killer mandolin tracks. You have got to hear this guy play too!

There he is again, on cello this time. You talented multi-instrumentalist you!

I had the honor to record with this beautiful Celtic harp at Fraser Performance Studio ~ courtesy double-Grammy winner audio engineer Antonio Oliart!

Hands down the most gorgeous piano I have ever touched, 9' grand at Fraser Performance Studio. It is rumored Ben Folds touched this piano weeks before I came in... I never wanted to wash my hands again! (don't worry, I did!!!)

Producer Rich Kneeland and Mark Thayer of Signature Sounds Studio work out some finishing touches back at home in the Quiet Corner of CT

The late John Witti, co-producer, takes a peek out the window on the train over to NYC ~ Thank you for blessing us with your presence. Until we meet again <3