Retreating, Resting, and Renewing - January Newsletter

 

Hi everyone,

 

Happy New Year! I hope 2022 is off to a good start for all of you. For those of you in the northeast, I hope you are staying warm and dry during this storm!

 

I have been in a bit of a retreat and rest mode. My one show scheduled for January was postponed due to the pandemic, and I have not been very active on social media. I have been enjoying puttering around at home, reading books, and streaming TV shows. (Cobra Kai and Manifest are two faves. Next up is Only Murders in the Building.)

 

I have however, in spite of retreating and resting, been continuing to work on the new album. We are getting closer to having a finished product, and I hope to release in the late spring. For a listen to a song written during the pandemic, There's A Band Tonight, click here. I don't think I have even played this song out in public yet. It was inspired by the opening of an episode of Ken Burn's Country Music, in which they show a picture of an old club with a sign that says "Come on in, there's a band tonight."

 

In the coming weeks I will start to really think about putting everything together for the album release, and preparing for shows I have in March and beyond. So please stay tuned; I'm really looking forward to sharing this album with you and getting back to playing live. As always, thank you so much for your support!

:) Kirsten

Creative Musings

I believe taking time for rest and renewal is essential to a creative live. You need to refill the well, so to speak. And winter seems like a natural time to do this.

Last year, a couple of friends and I had an informal book group, and we all read the book Wintering by Katherine May. She speaks of literal winter, and of the "winters" of life - the difficult times we all go through, no matter how in control we think we are.

The idea is that there is power in wintering - in resting, retreating and renewing when you feel called to do so. There is no need to avoid it. In fact, it is better not to. It is best to winter, and emerge in spring stronger and healthier. 

This has been the case in my creative life. I have learned that rather than be frustrated with my lack of creative energy, or writers block, or what have you, it is better for me to accept it, to lean into and to take some time to refill the well. After many years, I have faith that the creative spark with return, even stronger than before.

Good Stuff

Of course, I have been listening to a lot of music during this time of relaxation. After months of hearing from various sources how wonderful Carly Pearce's album 29:Written in Stone is, I finally got around to listening to it. And it is really good. It has a lot of traditional country leanings, while still sounding modern. A few of my favorite tracks are 29, What He Didn't Do, and Day One. The whole album is worth a listen though, I definitely recommend it!