Wholehearted singer, songwriter and guitarist

Journal

Star Stuffing!

by Ellis

Mar 18, 2013

Hi everyone!

First, a quick show announcement: If you have friends who live in Minneapolis, please invite them to my official CD release show on March 29th! Here's the Evite. If you do invite a bunch of folks, please email me and tell me about it. I'd like to thank you personally!

Now, onto the ramblings. I've been thinking about stars lately, and I've been trying to write a song about how we are all made of star stuff... star stuffing! ha ha ha! :)

So imagine my surprise when I was sitting at our local Unitarian Universalist church yesterday morning and Justin our minister was talking about stardust!

I'm so glad we happened to be there yesterday. Now that I think on it, we've only gone two other times since Ruby was born! I’ve been wanting to go back there for a while, and yet we often end up just lounging around on Sunday morning.

Back to the point of this story.... The talk was “cracking up, cracking open”. And when he go to the part about us all having a bit of stardust in us, I realized something. Longtime readers of my newsletter will say, 'Ellis, you've realized this before'... but I keep forgetting!

I remembered yesterday that everything I struggle with and juggle and try to manage is the stuff of my life. None of it is a problem, it’s actually what makes my life bright and full and shiny. I often have this thought that if I could just clear away the obstacles, which are constantly changing, then I would run like the wind, so to speak.. happy and free.. laughing and dancing... totally fulfilled and alive. And to-do list totally completed.

The truth is there are so many of those moments (well, minus the completed to-do list!) It was wonderful to remember that! Wow there is so much to celebrate. What are you celebrating? I'd love to hear from you.

sending so much peace, love and music,
ellis

On being a guest on A Prairie Home Companion

by Ellis

Feb 27, 2013

This has been a wonderful month! I had the awe-some opportunity to be a guest on A Prairie Home Companion on Feb 9th. You can listen to archives for the show online here.

My friend Wesley from Eugene OR asked me some fun questions about the show, and I'm including my answers here:

Wesley: Did you approach them or vise versa?
Me: They contacted me. But I have sent in CDs for consideration before.

Wesley: Did you speak with Garrison? A staff person?
Me: I spoke with Sam Hudson the broadcast engineer/talent producer.

Wesley: Did they ask for a CD? Did you have to audition?
Me: Well I was lucky enough to be invited to play a benefit show for Jerry Newton, who was running for the House of Representatives in Anoka, MN. Garrison Keillor was the main act along with four musicians opening the night. I think I was the second artist to perform and I just knew that Mr. Keillor wouldn't be there yet or would be in a dressing room far far away.

I was surprised and delighted that he was there early enough to hear all the music. It was wonderful that he listened to everyone. He was back stage and I remember him coming into the auditorium to sit in the audience during my second song. I got to play three songs that night and for me, just having him in the audience was the coolest thing ever.

That night I felt like I had already been on A Prairie Home Companion because I got to share the stage with him. Garrison is a master at storytelling, performing, and connecting to the moment and with the audience. It's exciting to share the stage with someone like that I admire so much!

Wesley: Did they apologize for taking twenty years to get you on the program? :)
Me: No. I feel honored to have gotten to participate at all. It's a wonderful legacy of artists to be a part of. I had actually stopped sending materials the last couple years just because someone mentioned I might not be the right fit for the show. So, I had kinda let go of that dream. In that way, even having Garrison in the Anoka audience, I didn't assume I'd get invited to take part in the show. A few tears of joy and amazement shot out of my eyes the afternoon I saw the email from Sam asking if I'd like to "stop by the Fitsgerald with my guitar".

Wesley: Did you have a practice session?
Me: There were 2 sound checks and a casual kind of rehearsing. I didn't know the line up of the show until right before it started. I wasn't sure how much or how little Garrison and I would chat, or what we would chat about. Also, I didn't know exactly how the last song medley would go. We had a rough sketch and my job was to follow Garrison's lead. I did know we were starting with "The Eyes Of Texas" which was so so fun and I had a general idea of the next songs, but there were also new lyrics on Garrisons music stand! It was so so fun to be lighthearted and spontaneous while relying on Garrison's solid direction.

Wesley: Did you work with the Shoe Band?
Me: Yes! What an incredibly talented group of folks! The band is there for the sound checks and rehearsals, and they record everything for reference. And I have to say that Rich Dworsky is a master band leader! He charted my two songs in about 5 min once we decided to collaborate on them. The ease and professionalism of everyone was really inspiring to me, and also made it all more fun!

Wesley: What clothes did you wear?
Me: Show clothes! I have a handful of outfits that are simple and feel good to perform in. That night, I wore a blue collar shirt and black pants. Here is a link for photos.

Wesley: Did you decide which songs to sing or did they have a hand in it?
Me: I chose what songs to show them. I was encouraged in advance to provide some variety at sound check. And I was also thinking about the theme too. In the end all the songs I played ended up in the line-up. I was told to expect songs to be cut, so it was wonderful to get to play four out of five of them! Only one ditty didn't make it because of time.

Wesley:Did you wait in a green room, on stage, in the wings.
Me: I did a bit of all three! I did have a dressing room upstairs, and I felt extra fancy because some sweet friends Maggie & Jim sent a gift basket and it was waiting for me in there! I felt like a rock star!

Wesley: Were you more nervous than usual, or less?
Me: I would say a bit more and also normal amount of nerves. They come with me to every show I think because I care so much. :) I was surprised at how comfortable I felt playing during the show and then got nervous because I worried I was too comfortable! Really, performances go the best when you can embrace each new moment without obsessing over the ones already gone by!

Wesley: Now how did you feel about the whole thing?
Me: I felt really great about it overall. I was invited to take part in someone else's creative party and I felt like I gave my whole heart to it, while being a mindful guest too. Whenever I join in as an artist to something not just about me, I always want to add to it, but not take away from it by sticking out too much! I found the show's crew and Garrison really make it easy for an artist to do that.

I was all at once calm, enjoying the show and incredibly nervous. I believe I have a fair amount of control over what I choose to focus on, so I did my best to keep coming back to ease and fun. It was such a treat to be there on a show I've heard so many times on the radio. I couldn't stop smiling! And really, this was the biggest audience I've gotten to sing to in one performance (or all my performances in my whole career combined) so far.

I kept reminding myself that I've been on stage hundreds and hundreds of times and that this was no different. And yet it was totally different all at the same time. How cool. I learned that I can do it and it's my hope that I get to practice these kinds of awesome situations again. It's helping me grow as a performer and I want that. I also excited for people to have the opportunity to hear my songs and I'm happy that the integrity and meaning came through even if I was a little nervous at times.

Wesley:Do you think you will go back?
Me: Heck yes! Well, I sure hope so. Garrison and Sam Hudson who is the Broadcast Engineer/Talent Producer asked me back that night at the end of the show. I've sent them dates that can work for me and I'm crossing my fingers! I would love to get to take part in the fun again. I think this one experience has already helped me grow as a performer and I would love to learn more. And I know my music has spread to quite a few more people too.

Surrender

Jan 12, 2013

Happy and peaceful 2013! I hope this January time is going so well for you! I’ve been home for a month, and it has been wonderful to spend so much quality time with my family. My daughter is now 2 and 3/4‘s and she is just chat chat chatting about everything. Sometimes she wakes up and she’s still talking about the topic from when she was falling asleep!

Every year, instead of a new year’s resolution, I pick a word for the year to focus on. I've found this to be a much gentler approach for me than resolutions. I find that my well meaning resolutions often lead to judgement and disappointment. Instead the goal is to look, notice, explore and remember the intention behind the word. I just can’t get it wrong, and I like that! I can easily get caught in self-improvement ideas which often sound good on the surface but really are just sneaky ways of rejecting who I am now. And it just doesn’t feel good.
So with that in mind, this year’s word is: surrender.

This word inspires me to practice “not knowing”, to open my heart to whatever is happening right now, to allow for more space, more ease, and to practice letting go of the stories I make up about myself and others that get in the way of my ability to be attentive and caring. There’s a song of mine called “No More Running” that starts with the line “I want to live undefended”, and I really do. I am interested in being more free, open, kind, responsive, and more wholehearted in the ways I relate to myself and others.

A New Live CD

Dec 12, 2012

Hi everyone!
I hope your holiday time is bright and happy. In light of recent events, I am poignantly reminded how lucky I am to get to have shared time with the ones that I love! So maybe even more than a bright and happy holiday, I wish for you to feel such appreciation, joy, and love in the next couple weeks sharing time and your holiday traditions with your loved ones.

There are so many exciting things coming up in the next few months! First, I’ll be featured on “ A Prairie Home Companion” on Saturday Feb. 9th. I'm sad to say that it's nearly sold out. I tried to reserve an "Ellis block" of tickets, but it was too late. Dang! But you can listen online or on your local radio station. I am so thrilled to be included in the show’s musical family and can’t wait to share the fun with you!

Some additional great news is that I will be releasing a new live recording! Thank you especially to White Bear Lake Unitarian Universalist Church, where I recorded the show in October. The show sounds great and I can’t wait to share it with all of you.

You can pre-order the record to be among the first to receive it! There will be a full 2 set show version (with talking and laughing) as well as a 3rd CD that has selected songs without applause or all my chit chatting. I will list the set from that night so you know what songs are on it. I’m also toying around with the idea of adding a couple new ones too for bonus fun! We're finishing it in early 2013!

Last thing: Next year, there will be a way to make your donations/ Listener Supported Music sponsorships tax-deductable. More info coming in January on that! Please let me know if this is something you are interested in.

That's all the news for now. Thanks for reading and please do send me a note. I'd love to hear from you!
much peace love and holiday joy,
ellis

My distracted friend Brain

Jul 30, 2012

My distracted friend, Brain

I love thinking about my brain from the perspective of a curious outsider, let's call "Brain". Brain is not fully me, I've decided, but more of a friend and collaborator that I'm hanging out with constantly. A coworker who shares my cubical and who is always there chatting away, distracting me.

I recently learned that my friend Brain is a little different than other brains. I found out that Brain has adult ADHD. I know it's probably not shocking to many of you, but it was to me... and I gotta tell you - it explains a LOT. Knowing this has helped me to appreciate my unique and particularly right-brained qualities.

I started meeting with an ADHD coach and I learned some wonderful ideas about working with creative brains like mine. So as a result, I'm getting more organized, writing more songs, and feeling so much better about my brain and my abilities. It has been so so helpful!

I'm wondering, are there other unique-brained folks out there who could use some tips and ideas? If so, drop me an email and let me know! If there is enough interest, I'll share some of the things I've learned in future newsletters.

Investing in Artists So I have this idea: what would happen if we decided as a culture that the arts were necessary? What if we rushed to support the arts every time there was a financial crisis? Imagine the ideas, growth, innovation and healing it would provide.

I was talking with Terri about this, and we were thinking, wouldn't it be cool if there were still a Patron of the Arts mindset towards the arts?

Then we started thinking, what if an artist didn't have to rely on just one Patron, but instead had a whole community of them? Sort of like how Minnesota Public Radio has membership drives. Membership is totally optional, letting people decide their level of support, and it allows MPR to give away the programming.

I would LOVE to give away my music!

I intend to continue to write really inspiring songs and make excellent recordings even if people don't buy music anymore (which some people say is the future). So the question is, how can I do that?

And so kind of as an experiment, I'm creating this thing called Listener Supported Music. It's definitely a work in progress... But if enough people are into it, we'd love to keep developing it and also expand it to include other artists.

Would you be excited to help create art in this way?

I don't mean just supporting me and my music (although that would be wonderful :) but I mean creating a culture of supporting artists directly. Not just buying their art, but helping them to create it.

So, tell me what you think!

Read more about Listener Supported Music.
Suggest other artists you'd like to support in this way.
Become a pioneer member!

so much peace love and music,
ellis

ps. As I was writing this, I thought of two artsts who I want to support. And as soon as I finish this, I'm gonna write them checks. Small checks, but still. :) I'm realizing I don't need to wait for a formal invitation or until we've created a platform to give in an organized way. I can do it now. I would so love it if this idea spread and folks just started sending money to artists (of all kinds) whose work they love.

And special thanks to Kristen and Jess from Michigan who were the pioneers of this idea many years ago! And also thanks to all the folks who joined my Angel program and Song of the Month Club - ya'll inspired this idea, too!

Take the 21 day challenge!

I love watching TED talks. One I want to share with you this month is by Shawn Achor called: The Happy Secret To Better Work

In his talk, he suggests there are some strategies you can do that will actually change your brain and make you happier and more optimistic if you did them every day for 21 days.

Here are two of them:

1)Each day think of three new gratitudes or things you appreciate.
2)Each day, tell a story to someone or journal about something good that you experienced in the last 24 hours.

Research shows that focusing on good things is training your brain to see the good, and actually will make you happier and even more productive.

Will you take the 21-Day Challenge with me? Let me know! I'm starting tomorrow (August 1st).